LOL

James 2:1

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME JAMES!!!!!

Obviously James has never been to a church before. Or he would realize that churches are filled with people who do nothing BUT show favoritism. Clique here and clique there....OH, all in the name of "Ministry" for sure. (Sarcasm COMPLETELY intended!)

But do you realize that this is one of the main reasons why some people are completely turned off by some churches???

This post is gonna be short and sweet today because I want to leave some of what I want to say on this matter for tomorrows reading but here it goes:

Showing favoritism is the opposite of making people feel welcome. I pray that at Emmanuel this NEVER becomes something I need to preach on because we continue to WELCOME people into a growing healthy relationship with our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

More to come tomorrow!!!

P Biddy

At the Heart of Hypocrisy

James 1:26-27

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Hypocrisy is basically saying one thing and doing something opposite or different than what you said. At he heart of it is often the desire to "BE" religious.

As James finally finishes up this thought on being doers verses hearers only this might be the the climax of it all. People these days HATE religion....And who can blame them??? Religion is based off of a bunch of rules and regulations that you are "supposed to" follow...But what James is saying is that if Religion was PURE it would be done from the heart.

When you worry about SERVING OTHERS first (whether it's orphans or widows or WHOEVER) then you are LIVING OUT your faith. Paul calls that LIBERTY.

When you live with an understanding that you have been given liberty IN Christ because of what He has done for you, then you won't WORRY about following rules...you will DESIRE to serve your Lord.

And you will NEVER have to SAY a word about your "religion" because you faith will SPEAK volumes and your walk and talk will match up. (and put an end to the hypocrisy that IS religion)

Peace out friends.

Just DO it!!!

James 1:25

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Obviously James is beating a dead horse here with the DOing but it really needs to be.

The "Just Do It" 1988 Nike ad campaign(insert trademark symbol here), was chosen by Advertising Age as one of the top five ad slogans of the 20th century, and the campaign has been enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. It was beaten to death in the late 80's and early 90's and Micheal Jordan was immortalized in the process. (OK, and he was a fairly good basketball player and could really shoot the rock!!!)

All that being said, whenever something is said repeatedly....It gets noticed!!!

It's like High School. I remember my science teacher say repeatedly...."If I say it more than twice it's probably important and WILL BE on the test."

Weeeeeellllllll....

Don't just HEAR the word (or Law) without putting it in practice. (Practice??? You're talkin' bout practice??? - Allen Iverson; 2006)

YEAH PRACTICE!!!

Hope that makes it clear...Just DO it!!! (WORD!!!)

Face Off

James 1:23-24

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

When I read this verse I think of the 1997 movie with John Travolta and Nicolas Cage "Face Off" where they assume each others identities and then eventually try and kill each other. There's one point in the movie when Travolta wakes up "faceless" and then forces the doctors to attach Cages face to him. When the surgery is done he looks in the mirror and is taken back at who is looking back at him. It's someone he really doesn't KNOW. He even struggles through trying to ACT like Cage would to the people he knows.

That's sorta what James is describing here. When we hear the word do we walk out the doors of the church or a small group and forget what we heard and how we should act because of it.

It's just like looking in the mirror and seeing a face you don't recognize....because you really never knew the guy in the mirror to begin with. You act like you've never even been in the presence of the word, and you struggle with HOW you should act.

Here's an idea!!! Try to LISTEN to the word and let it mold and shape you. (Just an idea of course?) And then the "man in the mirror" (Did anyone start humming Micheal Jackson???) will match up with the word.

Once again...Be a DOER!!!

Put up or shut up

James 1:22

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves

I gotta be honest here....I often wonder "if James were alive today would he not be a perfect PHILLYBOY"???!!!

I mean how more in your face can James be? You only PROVE your faith by doing what the word says. This is probably the #1 indicator of a REAL Christ follower. Why not just say Christian??? Because I also believe that this could be the #1 deterrent to Christianity. (When we don't!!!)

We've got plenty of people who go to buildings on Sunday and "hear" the word, but they let it go in one ear and out the other. They call themselves "Christians" and yet don't FOLLOW the word of God (who IS Jesus Christ).

They walk out of the building and go back to "their" lives and never let the word of God resonate in them and allow the changes that need to take place happen. They DELUDE themselves or dare I say: Are DELUSIONAL!!! They think that by simply "doing church" they are doing the word....Oh contraire monfraire!!!

Listen friends, It's one thing to claim you are a Christian and it's a TOTALLY different thing to actually FOLLOW Christ. When you are following Christ then your walk matches up with your talk, and your actions speak louder than those words.

Don't just be "hearers".....BE DOERS!!!

Pride vs. Humility

James 1:21

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

This is probably THE hardest thing for anyone who is not yet a believer.(And even for those of us who are) We can define "filthiness" and "wickedness" in many ways (some of us have very "colorful" pasts) but when it comes right down to it they can be defined but what WE want.

Listen, sin is FUN or WE wouldn't do it.....But it's not that God is this cosmic kill-joy who wants to take away all our fun. Sin, while sometimes fun, also has consequences. And because God loves us more than we love ourselves He wants us to choose His will over some sort of temporary satisfaction that often leads to destruction.

Now I don't want to run down a laundry list of sins and their possible pitfalls, but if you're a living, breathing human then you have probably dealt with the feelings of emptiness after one of these temporary ecstasies....Or worse. (Or still are??)

But as James puts it "in humility" receive the word that imparts eternal life.

God's way is SO MUCH better than YOUR way. Trust me, I know...I wasn't always a Pastor....

If you want or NEED to submit YOUR will in humility to His then why not do it right now. Just ask God to take away the "filthiness" and "wickedness" that are your desires and ask Him to fill you with the words that can save your soul.

I PROMISE....it will be the best thing you've ever done in your life!!!

P Biddy

The GREAT deterrent

James 1:19-20

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.

These verses have so much wisdom it's not even funny. I just think about how many times if I would've just kept my mouth shut in my marriage... how many less times I would've ended up on my couch!!!!

But it's so much more than that. Instead of LISTENING (which by the way is more than just HEARING) and trying to understand the heart and motives of the one who is speaking, we jump to conclusions and get angry instead. When it comes right down to it, this is rooted in our PRIDE which is why James calls it the "anger of MAN".

This is a HUGE problem within the church as well. Too many times we don't LISTEN and try to understand the heart and/or motives of why someone is doing a certain ministry or mission and because it's not what WE want WE get angry and it is detrimental to the success of JESUS' church. It does nothing to "achieve the righteousness of God."

So the next time you feel like getting ANGRY either inside or outside the church....TRY "LISTENING" instead of just hearing....and let the righteousness of God be fulfilled.

He's got the goods

James 1:17

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Once again it is not ironic that a comment like this comes on the heal of the verse before it; "Do not be deceived my brothers".

It's strange to me that this deception takes place so easily. When something crappy happens in our lives we are quick to curse God out and blame him for it, but when's the last time you said "thank you" for a good thing or perfect gift in your life and gave Him the glory. (Oh not us....we're good at taking credit for the good stuff!!!)

But think about this. When the crap hits the fan in your life are you not being deceived into blaming the wrong person. Or why are you BLAMING in the first place?

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and does not change. There are reasons for everything and in Romans Paul tells us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him" and so why not instead of playing the blame game why don't we believe that our God has GOT THE GOODS!

Once again....Don't be deceived my brother's!!

Have a blessed weekend.

Where the rubber meets the road

James 1:14-16

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.

So did I turn into Big Apple or not? For a good cheesesteak...OF COURSE!!!! (I just can't resist) Which is really the point here.

James tells us that when we are "dragged away" by the temptation it gives birth to sin. It's not until we let the enticement get the best of us that sin takes place but if you and I don't have the power to resist we allow the enemy to deceive us.

Really....what good comes out of our sin? Temporary satisfaction of something that has NO eternal value. Which is where the "deception" is.

No matter how good cheesesteaks are, I guarantee that if I eat too many eventually my arteries will harden from all the grease (NO grease, No good cheesesteak!!!)and I will have a heart attack and die.

And just like that, I can guarantee that the more sin you have in your life the farther you will get from the perfect will of God and death (or eternal separation from Him) will be you eternal destiny.

Brothers, Don't be deceived!!! That's exactly what the enemy wants.

See you tomorrow!!!

The Devil made me do it!

James 1:13-14

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

I remember when I was little (I mean age not height)there was that age old adage "The Devil made me do it". It was the excuse that you could through out there like a trump card or a mulligan to try and relinquish yourself of all responsibility for your actions. But inevitably I would still end up with a punishment or a spankin'. (YES, my parents spanked my butt and I'm THANKFUL.)

But this verse this verse says that the temptation to sin (or fall short of perfection) comes DIRECTLY from MY evil desires!!! OUCH.

You mean I can't blame the devil? I guess not.

Listen friends, let me dispel something that is a lie from the pit of hell this morning.....You are NOT GOOD!!! (None of us are) We have been born will desires that are not in line with God's perfect will and the bible calls it our "sin nature" and sorry folks but it's all yours!!! And so when your sin nature gets a craving for something, a desire for something, you are enticed by that desire and are dragged off by it.

Here's a great example: I'm hungry (it's natural!!) I drive by Big Apple Pizza (out here in Sparks, NV...By the way BEST cheesesteak in Reno!!!) I think of how mouth watering delicious said cheesesteak is going to taste.....And I have 2 options: 1) Pull in and get a cheesesteak and fill that desire or 2) Keep driving by.

Tomorrow we'll look at what happened....But if you know me....Hey, get a napkin!!!

Can I be frank?

James 1:9

But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position

I love how God works. Yesterday I shared in our service how last weeks verse about trials came at just the right time for me; well today's is a reminder of what I felt yesterday.

Last week was a BUSY week physically, spiritually, and emotionally for me. There were so many things going on that I wasn't sure if God made a mistake by only making days 24 hours long and maybe He could've stretched His creativeness into 8 or 9 days before He rested!!! Anyway, I digress....

And I gotta be honest with ya....As I sat in Worship yesterday, this overwhelming feeling came over me that I had not given God EVERYTHING I was supposed to last week. You see, sometimes if the enemy can't make you bad, he makes you busy....And as I sat there I cried out to God and said "Lord, I'm sorry if I half- ______ (Insert Philly language here) it for you this week, but I need you to use me to do YOUR work."

And when I got up to preach the message what I saw was a sanctuary fuller than I've seen (other than Easter last year) and people who were worshipping and ready to receive a message from HIM.

And when we finished yesterday, and I went into my office and looked at the count sheet and saw how many people were there I sat back for a moment and thought "Lord I can't believe you choose to use ME, cause I'm certainly not worth it."

Friends, this morning I just want you to realize as I have: That "the brother (or sister) of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position!!!"

Father, please keep us there; humble. AMEN

Condition of asking

James 1:6-8

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Being Double-minded is like being two-faced; saying one thing and then doing another or in other words, saying one thing but believing another.

It's often the case with some Christians. They know all the "Christianeze" and can quote scripture and make it sound like James Earl Jones doing a verizon commercial. But just like James Earl AINT' the one doing the dancing....those Christians may not be the ones believin'.

It's the ole' don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk principle. If you don't believe that God can and WILL give you wisdom then why waste your breath???

Listen, I'm not saying that it's wrong to doubt from time to time, but when it comes to asking God to give you the wisdom you need in a situation it's VITAL that you have the faith that he will give it.

Most times it's our impatience that causes us to make the wrong decisions and not waiting on God to reveal His will. (Which by the way is why these verses are on the heals of James talking about patience and endurance!!!!)

So when you ask for God's wisdom....BELIEVE that God wants to give it to you...And then WAIT. (But that is SOOOOO 21st century Un-Amercican isn't it!!!!)

Well, have a nice weekend.

P Biddy

Need wisdom? Why not ask!

James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

God is not a jeannie-in-a-bottle, BUT this may just be the one time He is like one.

God tells us that if we lack wisdom, just rub the magic bottle called PRAYER and "ask and you shall receive"!!! Now here's the catch...His wisdom may not be the wisdom you were expecting.

In Isaiah 55:8 God tells us:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.

And so HIS wisdom may not be exactly what you were looking for. But it will ALWAYS be better than yours. (I know it's better than mine!!!)

But don't be afraid to ask. God gives generously and without reproach (or finding fault). God knows you're imperfect and he doesn't hold THAT against us....But there are conditions....and we will talk about that tomorrow!!!

So tune in tomorrow....same bat time, same bat channel.

P Biddy

Part Duex - Trials

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James says that trials help TEST your faith and help in the maturation process. James was either a sadistic fellow OR this is the way God perfects our faith. (I'd choose door number 2 by the way!!!) And so we should consider them "pure joy"???

And I'd scream a resounding YES!!! Once again, IF you are trying to be LIKE Christ then think about all the pain and turmoil and suffering He went through and He was God. Just think of how much more we NEED to go through just to become more like Him.

Trials come in MANY shapes and sizes, and the Bible says that God will only give you as much as you can handle. But even in Jesus' darkest hour, He cried out to His father. (And not in a barrage of cuss words!!!!)

When you are facing a trial (or trials) in your life...Are you crying out to the Lord of the universe for help??? Or is that the time you start relying on your own power AGAIN???

P Biddy

Sprint or Marathon?

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I figured we'd start off with the book of James. In the book of James it starts off with something that I think we often forget. Even though everything in our society keeps getting more and more about instant gratification driven, our faith is not. As a matter of fact, James talks in terms of endurance.

You don't just wake up one morning and say "I think I'll run a marathon today!" and you don't wake up one day and have the faith of say...Abraham. It takes training.

And so here's the question for each of us to ask ourselves: Are we willing to put in the time it takes to have that kind of faith???

It takes prayer, reading your bible, and according to James...Trials (of MANY kinds). And so are those things that you are looking forward to in order to have faith that is "perfect and complete"???

Same time tomorrow batfriends!!!

P Biddy

Re-Launch

Welcome to The Spark.

I set this blog up over a year ago and have been in the process of getting settled in at Emmanuel First Baptist Church in Sparks, Nevada. From now on I hope to post daily on my thoughts on things like truth, life and whatever comes to mind.

See you in the morning.

P Biddy