Monday's thoughts

"How Do You Do A Bad Job?"
The prophet Isaiah is really three people. Some scholars argue that it's two people but I think a strong point can be made for the fact that there is an Isaiah who wrote before the Exile as Israel was waiting for the end to come and the Assyrians and Babylonians were in line to take them over. Then someone writer who used Isaiah's name wrote the section of Isaiah that happened while the people of Israel were in captive and in exile in Babylon. A third writer, using Isaiah's name, wrote about that time in Israel's history when they were liberated and free to return home. Some scholars believe 2nd and 3rd Isaiah were the same author.

The division of the prophet is as follows:

First Isaiah -- Chapters 1-39 (before the exile)
Second Isaiah -- Chapters 40-55 (during the exile)
Third Isaiah -- Chapters 56-66 (after the exile)

This coming Sunday we will be looking at First Isaiah. We will be thinking about the "call" of Isaiah and how he was called to speak to his people knowing they wouldn't be willing to listen.

On Labor Day weekend I wanted us to think about those jobs we have had to take that we really didn't want. I will have of consider what it is to have to do a job that is impossible knowing you are being set up to fail.

In the troubled economy where we are currently many people have jobs that are like that. They are forced to do work that they know will not succeed but they do it anyway.

How do you work at something with the fear that it is pointless? How do you do a bad job? How do you keep up a positive attitude?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster