PRAYER IS LIKE OXYGEN FOR THE SOUL – JAMES 5:13-20

Dear Friends, “If we follow the general rule that a person can survive forty days without food, four days without water, but only four minutes without oxygen, then we might conclude that oxygen is the most important.” (Living What You … Continue reading

LIVING EACH DAY FOR THAT “DAY” – THE COMING OF THE LORD – JAMES 5:1-11

Dear Friends, If we don’t do the spiritual math by factoring in eternal blessings for obedience to our Lord in this brief life then costly, faithful obedience can be very difficult to understand and carry out. This is a constant … Continue reading

HOPING AND PLANNING WITH WISDOM AND HUMILITY – JAMES 4:6-17

Dear Friends, “I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into … Continue reading

SPIRITUAL ADULTERY – LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES – JAMES 4:1-5

Dear Friends,                                                                            “What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? 2 You are jealous and … Continue reading

THE MOUTH SPEAKS OUT OF THAT WHICH FILLS THE HEART – JAMES 3:1-18

Dear Friends,                                                            “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a … Continue reading

IT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE – A FAITH THAT WORKS – JAMES 2:14-26

Dear Friends,                                                           “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and … Continue reading

PRE-JUDGING IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE AND MERCY JAMES 2:1-13

Dear Friends,                                                           “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and … Continue reading

RECEIVE GOD’S WORD WITH HUMILITY AND OBEY GOD’S WORD FOR BLESSINGS – JAMES 1:19-27

Dear Friends,                                                           “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (Vv. 19-20) James moves from the … Continue reading

The Anatomy of Sin – James 1:13-18

Dear Friends,                                                           “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” (i.e., to sin); For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; (God tests our faith to purify and strengthen us –but never tempts … Continue reading

PAUL’S HEART, PAUL’S VISION, PAUL’S CO-LABORERS – ROMANS 15:14-16:27

In this closing section of the book of Romans we get to see Paul’s heart, Paul’s vision, Paul’s co-laborers and his tireless work for our Savior. “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are … Continue reading

UNITED BY LOVE FOR OUR SAVIOR – ROMANS 14:1-15:13 – PART III

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not … Continue reading

“Real gold is not afraid of the fire.” James 1:1-12

Dear Friends,                                                           “Faith without works cannot be called faith. It is dead, and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith … Continue reading

LIVING EACH DAY FOR THAT “DAY” – THE COMING OF THE LORD – JAMES 5:1-11

Dear Friends, If we don’t do the spiritual math by factoring in eternal blessings for obedience to our Lord in this brief life then costly, faithful obedience can be very difficult to understand and carry out. This is a constant … Continue reading

HOPING AND PLANNING WITH WISDOM AND HUMILITY – JAMES 4:6-17

Dear Friends, “I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into … Continue reading

SPIRITUAL ADULTERY – LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES – JAMES 4:1-5

Dear Friends,                                                                            “What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? 2 You are jealous and … Continue reading

THE MOUTH SPEAKS OUT OF THAT WHICH FILLS THE HEART – JAMES 3:1-18

Dear Friends,                                                            “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a … Continue reading

IT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE – A FAITH THAT WORKS – JAMES 2:14-26

Dear Friends,                                                           “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and … Continue reading

PRE-JUDGING IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE AND MERCY JAMES 2:1-13

Dear Friends,                                                           “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and … Continue reading

RECEIVE GOD’S WORD WITH HUMILITY AND OBEY GOD’S WORD FOR BLESSINGS – JAMES 1:19-27

Dear Friends,                                                           “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (Vv. 19-20) James moves from the … Continue reading

The Anatomy of Sin – James 1:13-18

Dear Friends,                                                           “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” (i.e., to sin); For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; (God tests our faith to purify and strengthen us –but never tempts … Continue reading

PAUL’S HEART, PAUL’S VISION, PAUL’S CO-LABORERS – ROMANS 15:14-16:27

In this closing section of the book of Romans we get to see Paul’s heart, Paul’s vision, Paul’s co-laborers and his tireless work for our Savior. “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are … Continue reading

UNITED BY LOVE FOR OUR SAVIOR – ROMANS 14:1-15:13 – PART III

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not … Continue reading

“Real gold is not afraid of the fire.” James 1:1-12

Dear Friends,                                                           “Faith without works cannot be called faith. It is dead, and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith … Continue reading

UNITED BY LOVE FOR OUR SAVIOR – PART II – ROMANS 14:1-15:13

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” “The fellowship is broken. The power of darkness grows. All will be sacrificed. All will be lost unless we unite against … Continue reading

UNITED BY LOVE FOR OUR SAVIOR – – ROMANS 14:1-15:13 – PART I

“The fellowship is broken. The power of darkness grows. All will be sacrificed. All will be lost unless we unite against evil.” (From the Lord of the Rings – the Two Towers)   The quote from the Lord of The … Continue reading

IT’S ABOUT TIME – TAKE TIME TO LOVE – ROMANS 13:8-14

  “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves (agape) his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” … Continue reading

GOD-ORDAINED AUTHORITY -ROMANS 13:1-7

 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they … Continue reading