Planners, Watch Out!

I had intended to do a more detailed camping post by now, but time disappears way too fast! Those of you who haven't read Anna's post about camping yet should do so here. She did a great job summarizing the weekend (of which I participated in most - but not all of the events! No line dancing for me!)

I'm still doing summary/paraphrases of verses in James. Today's verses are perfect for me who wants to have the rest of my life figured out right now:

James 4:13-16: Pay attention you planners who think you know what you'll be doing for years. You don't even know what will occur tomorrow! Your life is like a mist that disappears. You should say, if it's God's will, we will live and do this or that thing. The way you're doing it, you are evil in boasting and bragging. If you know the good you ought to do and don't do it, you are sinning.

I guess these verses are really a comfort. We don't have to know the end from the beginning because we know the One who is both the beginning and the end!

The Results of Self-Seeking - James 4:1-7

These notes are from Pastor Tony Butler's Sunday night sermon on the book of James on October 14th.

(I'm finally 'caught up' on posting sermon notes. So you should soon just be seeing one of these a week!)

1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

We know that James was written to Jewish Christians. Part of the reason we can tell this is the introduction to James. Also we see that there is not a defense of the faith in James as there would be if it had been written primarily to unbelievers. When reading James 4, we have to wonder what was going on that these words had to be written to Christians? Wars, fights, murder.

It says they come from the desires (hedonism - living for pleasure) that war within your body. People were coveting, but not getting. Then they were murdering, but still not getting what they wanted. They didn't get it because they didn't ask God. When they asked, they didn't received because they asked with wrong motives (literally evil desires) so they could use it for their pleasures.

4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

It could be that within the believers James was written to there were many unsaved people in that church. Maybe some people in that church actually died due to covetousness? James is one of the earliest epistles. We can see from this that right from the beginning, there were problems in the church. People often say they want to get the church back to the way it was in the beginning. If this is typical of the early church, we really don't want our churches to be like this - with murder going on in the church! Based on James saying that some of the people were adulterous and a friend of the world, he could have suspected that many were not even saved.

In church history, there have been thousands killed in the name of Christianity. This occurred especially from about 1000 AD to the reformation because people believed the Church took the place of Israel completely. Therefore they thought it was a good thing and only right to kill heretics.

So maybe this statement about murdering is not that strange. It's happened in the past and must have been happening in some form in the early church.

5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

Verse 5 is actually two statements: Do you think the scripture says without reason? and Do you think the spirit in us envies intensely? But grace overcomes all this and gets Christians beyond fights and jealousy.

For the most part, people in the church seem to be self-seeking and just not care about the truth. They gossip, stay baby Christians, and remain only convenient Christians. They may say they believe it's the last days, but it is not evidenced by their lives. Church and prayer meeting attendance is down and people's lives are not changed.

This helps us understand what James is writing. It's not just his day, but ours too. James is saying that horrible things happen due to self-seeking.

6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

But self-seeking is not from God. He gives grace to the humble. The answer is to submit ourselves to God and Satan will flee from us. Stay faithful in the race - don't give up. don't let what you see in others deter you from seeking God.

Envy and Selfish Ambition Bring Every Evil Thing - James 3:13-18

These notes are from Pastor Tony's sunday night sermon on October 7th.


13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.


Proper conduct and walk always comes with genuine faith. Can Christians have bitter envy and self seeking in their hearts? Yes, it is part of the flesh, but blessing should come from us, not envy and self-seeking.


We can not be genuinely happy for someone else's prosperity in our flesh, only with God's help. Our goal in all we do should be God's glory, not our own advantage.


15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.


Confusion and every evil thing come with envy and self-seeking.


Self seeking and envious people are plotters and pre-meditated - they bring every evil thing into the body. We must be careful with our motives and thought lives. Envy and self-seeking people are earthly, unspiritual and demonic. We can be dangerous people to either Satan's people or to the church.


When your life is about what you want, confusion and every evil thing is there. You will have the potential to do great harm to the body of Christ. Most Christians are deceiving themselves by denying their own envy and self-seeking motives.

How can I serve Jesus? Serve your brothers and sisters in the Church.


17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.


Sometimes we will have problems with each other. But mature Christians will sown peace through righteousness (Ro 14:19).

The Tongue and Teachers - James 3:1-12

These sermon notes were taken from Pastor Tony Butler's sermon preached at Fountain of Grace Church on September 30, 2007

James 3

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

Teachers will receive the greater judgement and are held to a more strict standard because they are telling people what God's word says and means.

Make sure you know the context of the passage when you're teaching a class.

A mature or perfect man is at the place he was intended to be. It's a person who is never at fault with his speech. If a man can control his tongue, the discipline in that person's life is so great that he'll control his whole body.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Every one of us (especially teachers) are potential arsonists since we have tongues. The context of this passage is teachers, but the application is to everyone. The only thing that prevents forest fires due to to our tongues is maturity in Christ. The more mature we are in Christ, the less we feel the need for people to fulfil us. It's good to be content with God and satisfied with meditation on Him.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water

If you don't control your tongue, it messes up your whole life.

Note to ladies: Keep your phone conversations short and your words brief when in conversations in a group.

Your tongue stays lit 24 hours a day. It's a world of evil and its source, if we're not controlled is hell itself. We nee to go to God far more than to other people. Be still and know that He is God.

It's impossible for you to tame the tongue, but not for God. We must understand how deadly the weapon we possess really is.

James 2 Summary

Those of you who read this blog may feel like I'm stuck on James! I'm actually using it for my morning devotions in addition to hearing it preached on Sunday nights. I like studying for myself the same passages that are preached - I tend to get more out of both that way! Anyway, this morning it was time to summarize James 2. So here it is:

Since you are believers in the Lord Jesus, don't show favoritism to the rich. It is evil to judge this way. God has actually chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in faith and be given the kingdom promised to those who love him. You insult the poor, yet it's the rich who exploit you, drag you to court, and slander Jesus' name. It's right to love your neighbor as yourself, but a sin to show favoritism. If a person obeys the entire law, except for one small part, he's guilty of breaking all of it because he is a lawbreaker. Behave as a person who will be judged by freedom giving law. Mercy always wins over judgment.

Is there any benefit to a person saying he has faith if he can't show it by his deeds? Is it possible for such a faith to save him? If you see someone without clothes or food and simply wish him the best, but do nothing to help - is it of any use? In that way, faith without actions is dead.

A person could say one person has faith, another deeds. Try to show your faith without deeds and I'll show you my faith by my deeds. Just as belief in one God is not sufficient for salvation (as proved by the demons), faith without deeds is pointless.

Foolish people! Would you like proof that faith without works is of no value? Look at Abraham. He is considered by us righteous because of his deed of offering Isaac on the alter. So his faith was made complete by his action. Abraham's belief was proved his action and so he was given righteousness because of his belief, and even called God's friend. Similarly, even Rahab was considered righteous for hiding the spies. Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

Faith and Works

These notes are taken from Pastor Tony Butler's sermon on James 2 preached at Fountain of Grace on Sunday night September 23, 2007. I've added to them a little (specifically all the things that occurred in Abraham's life between the 1st and 2nd pronouncement of righteousness).

James begins this passage by asking a question:

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

Next he backs up his argument that both are needed with an illustration to show that faith is useless if there is nothing connected with it.

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

There must be an integration of works with genuine faith (Rom 4, Gal 3:6-14, James 2)

Romans 4:11 He received the seal of righteousness he had by faith

Gal 3:6-14 The law represents you doing works, we receive salvation through faith not works

You might ask, Does a person have to ask Jesus into their life and only after a certain amount of good works over time are saved? Or is a person saved immediately?

The answer is that faith gives us salvation the moment we believe. Works are proof to others that we are saved. Works are not something that save us.

The passage continues with an illustration of Abraham.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

We must look in Gen 15:5-6 to see where Abraham was first counted righteous. In this passage, God appeared to him and promised him that he would have a son. Then we read in Gen 15:6 that "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Abraham was about 75 and this time, and because he believed that God could make his descendants like the stars, God counted him as righteousness.

Fast forward in time until Abraham was around 113. Abraham has gone through many things in this time period. He had Ishmael through Sarai's maidservant Hagar (at age 86), he received circumcision (at age 99) and had his name changed by God to Abraham, he spoke to the angles about Sodom and Gomorrah, he tried to trick the Abimelech king into thinking that his wife was only his sister, his promised son Isaac has been born (at age 100), and he was now being tested by God.

God told Abraham to take his "only son, Isaac, whom you love. . . Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering (Gen 22:2)". Abraham did what God said and actually tied up his son, laid him on the alter and took out a knife. The Lord appeared to him just before it was too late and told him to stop. He said (Gen 22:12), "Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Then he says (Gen 22:16-18) "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

This willingness to kill his only descendant linked by context his faith with an action. Hebrews 11:17-19 shows us that Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead. His believe did not manifest until the trial of offering up Isaac This was the seal of his faith. It couldn't be shown unless the faith was genuine. Abraham found out through the trial what he really believed.

Gen 22:16. Because Abraham was willing to offer up Isaac, God said he would make his descendants like the stars. God promised him that same thing before in Gen 15. God knew what Abraham would do, so that's how he could say it in the past and in Gen 22:16 that is was because of his obedience (in time/space history). The reality and power of it are visible at that point of belief.

We also know that Rahab believed because we see what she did.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

In other passages, Paul is arguing from a point in time showing the process of salvation. We are saved at the moment we believed. Those who try to use this passage in James to show that works are required for salvation should think about whether that means that only 1 work is required every 35 years (as it was with Abraham)?

James is talking about practical salvation. Righteousness that accompanies genuine faith is seen through good works.

No Cliques! James 2:1-5

Last Sunday night, Pastor Tony preached on the first part of James 2.

James 2:1-5

1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

Here are the notes I took (not quite as many as last week!)

Don't have cliques (show favoritism)
Q: Is is ok to be closer to some people?
A: There were some people closer to Jesus than others. Being close to people is not a clique
- However, you compromise the truth of God (by placing different value on different people) when you favor one group or another
- Everyone struggles with racism and bigotry. It's in our flesh but goes against the gospel.

It's always best to be humble and take the lesser place
- "wearing a gold ring" - literally a gold fingered man. In NT times a rich man wore jewelry on his left hand. If he was rich, he would have a gold signet ring. This ring could be used to stamp bills (similar to how we scan credit cards today!). This was a wealthy man
- They thought the rich man had more value than the poor
- When showing favoritism through racism or bigotry, you became judges with evil thoughts (which is against the Bible)
- Be careful who you put on a pedestal - especially if they are ones with fame and wealth
- Don't look at the outward person to judge their importance

God exalted the poor and has chosen them to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom.
- If you don't have much, you will pray more which deepens your intimacy with Christ

Looking in the Mirror - James 1:22-27

This evening Pastor Tony preached on the last few verses of James 1.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

verse 22 tells us that we are deceived if we just listen to the word, but don't act on it. We are given the truth of God's word to set us free, but we must act.

v.23-24 speaks of the man who looks at his face in the mirror and then goes away and forgets what he looks like.

Pastor Tony pointed out that the word forget refers to something not being at the for front of your mind. It's like we each do in the morning after brushing our hair or teeth while looking in the mirror. At the time we think about what we look like (and maybe see how bad our sunburn is!). But once we go about our lives, we are busy and other things occupy our minds.

That's what the person who just hears the word but doesn't do it is like. He realizes that things are wrong in his life, but forgets about it and allows his mind to be set on other things.

The comparison is to the one who looks in the perfect law of liberty and puts his full attention on it. He continues in it and doesn't forget about it. This person is constantly applying God's word and he will be blessed (see Psalm 1).

How often you you (or I) think about and meditate on the world of God throughout the day? Do we apply what we've heard to our daily lives? We as Christians think we love one another and know all about forgiveness, but what about the times when we are hurt deeply (whether in a real or perceived way)?

The Bible says to forgive (70x7 times) and go to the person. When we are challenged by what it says, and don't do it, it is sin. It's easy to rationalize and justify our selves, but that's self deception.

Verse 26 turns to another important issue - the tongue. It says that if you think you're religions (which is the outward practicing of an inward confession) but don't bridle (to put a bit in your mouth: note that a bridle controls a more powerful animal like a horse) your tongue, you deceive yourself and your religion is useless.

We know we shouldn't gossip or speak in anger, or demean with sarcasm, or tell bad jokes, but what do we do? If you don't bridle your tongue, the walking out of your faith has no value - that's pretty harsh, but it's what the word says.

Examine your conversation at home, at work and with friends. Religion always starts at home. If it's not real at home, it doesn't matter what it looks like at work or church.

Out of your heart, the mouth speaks. A good tree bears good fruit. Let your speech be seasoned with grace. Too much junk is discussed by Christians. If your tongue is not significantly changed by your religion, it's a useless religion.

It's not just your speech that shows your faith, we're also told what is considered to be a pure and spotless religion: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep yourself unblemished by this world.

The picture to bring to mind is of a woman wearing a white wedding dress and walking through a coal mine. She will be extremely careful to keep the dress clean. In the same way, we must purpose to keep ourselves pure in this filthy world.

We are told to go to people in trouble. We are to see the needs and act on it. It's not just saying we ought to religiously go physically visit people (although that's good to do). The world visit means to see that their needs are actually being met. When God reveals a need to you, you should act on it.

Make certain that your life matches what you profess in practical ways.

Good Gifts, Listening, and Anger (James 1:16-20)

These notes are from Pastor Tony's Sunday night message August 26th at Fountain of Grace.

James 1:16-20

16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Note that every good and every mature or perfect gift comes only from heaven above (where Jesus is from). The earth rotates and the shadows have constant variation, but there are no variations in God's character. Everything has come from above and is good.

God set our value, not by our works, but through his Son by giving us the righteousness of Christ. Just like Christ's character, our value in his sight will never change. We're part of God's plan. We're actually his first fruits and part of God's harvest and in that we're something that glorifies Christ.

Only good comes from God. The same is not true of us. We need to ask God to give us the same kind of consistency. We won't totally reach it until eternity, but we are to strive to be like Christ. Verse 19-20 speak of anger. If anger is a person's response to you when you share a difficult truth with them, it's less likely that you will want to confront or correct them. We need to be quick to hear God's word, be quick to listen and slow to wrath.

Measure your temper by how you are with your family, not by how you are with strangers or people in the Church. Constancy is a fruit that should be in us (as it is in God). It can also be described as self control. When people know that you're consistent, more people will come to you for you to minister to them. A person's spouse is more likely to approach the other to correct and encourage if their spouse is constant in temper.

Be swift to hear. We should not listen to figure out how to respond, or listen to pick out words to attack and defend against. We shouldn't just listen to what is being said, but should have ears to hear what's really going on (the deeper issues). The most difficult thing to do is to really communicate. It's hard to really hear what people are saying. Realize that we do chose our responses. We often turn to wrath before we even really hear what's being said. Wrath doesn't produce God's righteousness in us. You will never regret being a peace maker, humbling yourself or really listening. If you don't understand what the other person is saying, sometimes it's best to discontinue the conversation for a time in order to separate and pray. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath, it gives place to the devil. Listen to others!

Loving others is impossible without God, but he has given us himself so Christ in us can handle very situation.

Trials and Temptations (James 1:12-15)

Here it is almost Sunday already and I have not yet posted my notes from Pastor Tony's sermon on James last Sunday!

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Pastor Tony begin by reminding us that the temptation, testing and trials are useful because they reveal you for who you are. We were reminded that no one is beyond messing up. We shouldn't be surprised when we fail - God certainly is not. When you mess up, it's a chance to see who you are and who God can be in your life.

Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny him and yet said in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for him. God promises a crown to those who stood the test.

The passage goes on to remind us that God will never do anything in your life to entice you to sin in action or word. Trials are to see who you are and who he is, not to cause you to sin. We are drawn away by our own evil desire. Our flesh is selfish and self-absorbed. A satanic lure that looks attractive to you is what entices our selfish desires. We can be enticed by satisfaction, pleasure or any goal other than God such as keeping up with others, a desire for power. Satan can place thoughts in your mind (remember Peter who told Jesus he wasn't going to die, and was rebuked as speaking Satan's words). Satan can entice us by helping us justify what we want. People can look for things that satisfy themselves in crowd dynamics. A relationship with Jesus is really a lot of one-on-one time walking and seeing who we really are.

Desire to have it your way then gives birth to sin. The devil can't "make you do" anything - it all begins with your own desire. A check on your desire for money can be made by realizing that if you love money more than God's word it will be seen by how you compromise God's word to get more of it. This can be done by "kissing up" to certain people in order to get a promotion.

Then sin is born. It's a helpless baby we think we can handle. We feel superior and in control of it. But, it grows and when fully grown it brings death. The further we get from Jesus, the more susceptible we are to Stan's attack. You'll discover what you are and you will reap what you sow. We are guilty and responsible for our own sinful desires.

The message wan't one that made me "feel good." It's a reminder to examine the motivation of my heart. In me is nothing good but for Christ.

Asking God for Wisdom (James 1:5-12)

On Sunday evening, Pastor Tony continued his series on the book of James. He covered verses that are confusing to me and gave some suggestions as to his interpretation of them.

In verse 5, we find that God give wisdom bountifully (more than is required) and does not reproach us for asking for wisdom.

When we ask for wisdom, we are told in verse 6 that we must ask in faith without doubting. This is a hard verse to understand. How can a person know if they are asking in 100% faith? Other passages in the gospels talk about someone who doesn't have faith saying I believe help me with my unbelief. Is God making a requirement for us to work up complete faith in this one area alone and if we don't have it then he won't give us anything? It doesn't seem to match up with God's character and how he deals with man to say that a person who asks and doubts a little is an unstable man in ALL he does.

Pastor Tony shared how he has struggled with this passage and doesn't feel that he has it figured out. However he did point out that the would double minded means two minded. It might refer to going partially to God for wisdom and partially to the world. We should be single focused in going only to God for wisdom. He said that there is probably a greater aspect to this then we see.

No matter else the verses mean, we can be encouraged that in the person of Christ there is a great supply of wisdom for us.

Verse 9-11 speak of the rich and the humble brother. Pastor Tony pointed out that the more you get in life the more you are in a sense demoted because God chose those who are poor to be rich in faith. People never seem to think they have enough, but always want just a little bit more. God says that you have more when you have less. You are to boast in your poverty because you are rich in faith and because you have God. Having more will never complete you or make you happy. We should never find our contentment in material things that God gives us bit only in he person of Jesus. God does bless us at times with material things. If he has blessed you, praise him.

Verse 12 speaks of a crown of life that is not salvation but a special reward for those who persevere under the trials of life. It's a crown of victory given because you understood the trial and let God be glorified through it.

Killer Baby (as Pastor Tony calls it)

I'm taking a break from Romans and going through the book of James for the next few weeks. Today I read James 1:13-15 which talks about the deception of sin. It comes as an evil desire that entices a person to sin and then brings death. This evil baby picture is one I borrowed from Pastor Tony that he uses to illustrate these verses. Check out Pastor Tony's excellent devotional "The Child who Grows Up to Kill" here.

Pure Joy!

Pastor Tony has started preaching a series on the book of James on Sunday nights. I've always enjoyed the book of James, and I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say. The following are taken from my notes from his sermon. I think summarizing my notes here on the blog might be a good way to reinforce to myself what was taught. Writing them here will also allow me to find the notes later!

The first few verses of James 1 do (as Pastor Tony said) have to do with attitude. We're supposed to consider affliction, trials and testing to be pure joy (or to count it all joy as other translations say).

Tony reminded us that as Christians we're in one of three states: about to go into a storm, in a storm, or coming out of a storm. There are lulls at times, but the storms will come.

Our response to those storms reveals where we are in our spiritual life. I don't really like what it reveals about me because I tend to complain (though mostly to myself) when I'm in a storm or confusing time.

It's a comfort to be reminded that God is allowing us to go through trials to accomplish something as verse four says that "perseverance must finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." So these trials are not for no reason. They could be a gift to us so that we won't lack something in our lives. We're reminded of Romans 8:28 and how in all things God can work for our good and his glory (if we're of the ones who love him and have been called according to his purpose).

We're to pray that God will let each trial have it's perfect work. That's a hard prayer, especially if you're in a trial right now. But, if you and I want to be made more like Christ, isn't that what we really want? We just don't realize that it takes trials to make us who we want to be.

God, please use these trials in my own life to make me more like you.