Caution, Complaining Christians Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James One interesting exercise is to imagine that your conversation is being recorded and printed for your benefit or critique, whatever is applicable.  We have already heard from James that the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts…forest set…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James Okay, we jumped over the skeptical fence last week.  To the skeptic who says, “Bring it on” to the dangers of wealth, James speaks like a prophet and warns that the very thing we seek, as to wealth, slips through our fingers like sand: ‘misery is coming…

Be Slow to Anger – Part 5 Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James James continues in his black and white descriptions of good and evil.  He has knocked us off our fence-sitting.  He has identified true and false repentance.  He has taken on the arrogant and proud Christian straightforward.  Now, in that same…

Be Slow to Anger – Part 3 Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James Have you ever asked yourself, when do major life changes happen, if ever?  In those around me?  In me?  Are my changes or accommodations just gestures for the moment, through the tincture of time, only to revert to old…

Part One Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James The summary verse that outlines this New Testament book is James 1:19.  We are now in our third section which will finish the book – ‘be slow to anger.’  Even in the early church, the behavior and conduct was not exemplary.  In at least some…

Quick to Listen – Part 3 Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James Few things attract more than genuine humility; few things repel faster than phony humility.  For James, the guessing game is straightforward, as measurements are offered up to test and evaluate each of our lives. James 3:13-18 13Who is wise and understanding among…

WISDOM & SUCCESSFUL LIVING:  Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James Few things in life are move valuable than experience.  Admittedly, it is wearing on the soul at times.  The elder saint who said, ‘The hard thing about life is that it is so daily’.  But, in the words of Mark Twain, ‘Do not…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James We are in a very contemporary discussion – frankly a dispute – about history in our country.  The foolish actions of some to tear down statues and monuments, without regard for the historical contribution to the issues of racism in our country, has been disheartening.  As…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James Mercy Over Judgment (Part 2) In even the most simple analysis, we are born and grow, we increase in size and stature – hopefully with wisdom – and we (and our parents) have as an end goal for us a responsible and independent-living adult making contributions…

As is often in life for those of us committed to living like Jesus, the price tags are all wrong!  Least is most, last is first, and here, the poor are wealthy! James 2:5-7 5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:  Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James On this holiday weekend, many are less fortunate.  We do not have the luxury of living separate and apart from the needs and challenges of our community.  To be engaged in the Kingdom of God requires involvement in the world we live, with compassion and commitment.…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Studies in James To date, we have drawn out six lessons from James 1.  This is strategic and important because it both defines how to live successfully and how to navigate through the crucible of hard times which populate all of our lives. These six lessons to date can…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Part 5 of 12 So far in this series, we are working on understanding living successfully with wisdom.  So long as we have the gift of life and health, the challenge remains in front of us. In summary, our first four lessons for skillful living during hard times, from James 1, are…

Life Lessons from Hard Times – Part 3 of 12 Continuing with our series on Wisdom and Successful Living, we have found that wisdom is both from above and necessary in our daily living.  It is a life skill that comes with knowledge and practice. It is the Hebrew term chokmah, which means skillful living or wisely winding your life…

Part 1 of 12 Continuing with our series on Wisdom and Successful Living, we have found that wisdom is both from above and necessary in our daily living.  It is a life skill that comes with knowledge and practice.  It is the Hebrew term chokmah, which means skillful living or wisely winding your life with skill around the circumstances you…

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