During my college years at Taylor University, one of my favorite things was when Dr. Jay Kesler, my mentor and friend, recited the beginning of a poem by James Whitcomb Riley before giving his message in one of the fall chapel services each year. In honor of Jay and of the first frost in Batesville, Indiana, I'm sharing the poem this morning. I hope you enjoy! When ... [Continue Reading]
The Litmus Test for Wisdom
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 Something that I have been striving for over the years is wisdom. I want to be a wise person, and I want to make wise decisions. Why? Because I know that, if I make wise choices, my life will go so much smoother than if I ... [Continue Reading]
The iPhone and My Life
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. –James 3:16 Last January I indulged and became the proud owner of an iPhone. It’s a beautiful thing, and it changed my life in ways that I never expected. To be honest, I had been lusting after it for a long time, and when I finally got it I was thrilled. That was until ... [Continue Reading]
Beware of Smokey!
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! –James 3:5 Admittedly, I love fires. Having missed autumn in the United States for the past two years, I’m ecstatic about being able to have campfires for toasting marshmallows and hot dogs. Fires are great if they are used in the right ... [Continue Reading]
The Mysterious Spring of Water
With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. –James 3:9-10 It’s hard to imagine an underground spring that breaks through the ground with both hot and cold water. Unless there’s some scientific anomaly ... [Continue Reading]
Pardon me, Mr. Perfect!
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole tongue. –James 3:2 One of my favorite movies from my teenage years is Dumb and Dumber. There is a poignant scene where Lloyd drives several hours in the wrong direction on his and his friend Harry’s trek across the United States. Harry ... [Continue Reading]
Think Twice Before Becoming a Teacher
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. –James 3:1 There is a tendency sometimes for people to want to share their knowledge with those who are younger or who aren’t as knowledgeable. While this is a worthy endeavor, James warns teachers here that they have a great load of responsibility ... [Continue Reading]
Is It Enough to Believe?
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder! –James 2:19 The Democratic Party made an interesting decision this past week to take the word “God” out of its Party Platform. The result was a firestorm of people claiming that the Dems don’t believe in God, and it led to one reporter sharing the statistic that 87% of Americans believe ... [Continue Reading]
Two Peas in a Pod
But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. –James 2:18 One of my all-time least favorite phrases is, “good Christian.” I think it irritates me because there really is no such thing as a “good Christian.” That’s the whole point of Gospel: we can’t be good. If we could be ... [Continue Reading]
Don’t Give Me Judgment… I Need Mercy
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. –James 2:13 I’ll never forget an experience that I had during my first year of working in the church. Every Tuesday at noon we held a “Pastor’s Prayer” time where people would come and pray with the pastors for requests that were shared by the church family. One dear, old saint ... [Continue Reading]
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