The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett continues:

This Week:  He Went to Paris 

In “He Went to Paris,” Buffett tells the story of a man searching for answers to “questions that bothered him so.”  The Bible contains a similar story:  the story of a man named Job who loses everything and, therefore, has lots of questions for God.  The largest part of the book is discussions between Job and four of his friends on why such awful things have happened to him.  His friends are sure they know the answer. Job is not so sure and demands God respond.  God does respond, but God does not give any answers. Instead God points out to Job how he cannot possible understand the mysteries of God.  Job’s conversation with God ends with the following:

1 Then Job answered the Lord: 2 ”I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ”Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ”Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” 7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has done.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. 10 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends;  Job 42:1-10a

• What unanswered questions bother you so?
• Can one have faith and still have unanswered questions?
• What do we do with our unanswered questions?
• Where do we find answers?

These are some of the questions, we will explore this Sunday.