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Month: October 2022

When God Uses Drug Addicts and Prostitutes

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? James 2:25 Years ago, when our kids were young, we were sitting in church one Sunday morning when the pastor read about Rahab the prostitute. My son, who hadn’t…
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Rock Jumping and Faith

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? . . . So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17 My kids and I have long enjoyed rock jumping – leaping off a stony ledge into a body of water.…
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Where I Feel Like a Model

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. James 2:1 A couple years ago, my wife and I took a trip for our 20th anniversary. I’ll not mention the destination, except to say that it was a beach vacation. On our first day at…
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Liberal or Conservative?

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 I spend a fair amount of time in addiction medicine, where I work alongside others who have the same desire to help the addicted. I…
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80’s Rock Ballads and Faith

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 My wife and I were both born in the 70s but when it comes to music, we’re children of the 80s. So, lately, we’ve been listening to an 80s rock ballad station.…
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The Diabetic and the Donut

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:25 As Christians, we understand that we’re saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our relationship with God is a gift that we can’t…
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My Problem with Church Music

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was…
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Renovation

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21 My wife loves those home renovation shows where they take an old, dilapidated house and, in the span of 60 minutes, transform it into something new and amazing. I see the…
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Anger Creates Toxic Relationships

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19 I once nearly got into a physical altercation with a buddy . . . while arguing about church politics. The problem – beyond our collective stubbornness – was…
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Not Naturally a Morning Person

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:17-18 I…
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