The Spark

On to "Wisdom", Part 1

2009-09-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

James 3:13-14

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

First off I want us to remember that James is still talking to THE CHURCH, not necessarily individuals (Although just about everything in scripture can be applied to our individual lives specifically!!!)which is why he says "Who AMONG you is wise and understanding?"

And what is it that sets you apart in the body as having wisdom? 2 things; showing it by your deeds, and having the ability to discern what the mission is by being gentle by not causing rifts or roadblocks in the GREAT commission. How do we know?

Because James points out the OPPOSITE attributes of those people who are wise. They are jealous, and selfish, and arrogant people who are very prideful and are looking out for #1....THEMSELVES!!!

And James (being the straight forward, in your face man that he is) says that when you have those attributes in the church, you "lie against the truth"....OUCH!!

I GUESS THAT'S NOT VERY WISE!!!!

Tomorrow....we'll see where this kind of WISDOM comes from.

Til' tomorrow....PEACE OUT!!

P Biddy

Prayer and Leadership

2009-08-25T18:42:00.001-07:00

Not quite sure who's even reading this blog these days but I want to ask for those of you who are to please pray for me.

I believe my "honeymoon stage" as the Pastor of Emmanuel First Baptist, Sparks NV has come to a screeching halt and we are going to be tested to see if we are REALLY committed to be Kingdom Builders or simply Christians "going through the motions".

Which is why, if you're reading this, I want to ask that you pray for my leadership and that I will stay the course even when the proverbial STUFF hits the fan.

Thanks,

P Biddy

Taming the Tongue, Part 2

2009-08-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

James 3:7-11

For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

To finish up this thought process of "Taming the Tongue" I want to focus on 3 specific sections or words in these verses that I believe James uses to drive his point home.

They are "full of deadly poison" (vs. 8), the word "curse or cursing" (vs. 9&10), and the word "bitter" (vs. 11).

James equates the tongue as being full of "deadly" poison for a reason. Gossip and backbiting can literally doom a church; which leads us to the word curse.

kataraomai is the Greek word for curse and literally means to speak DOOM into someones life. (Which of course is the exact opposite of what blessing is)

When doom and gloom is all that comes out of the mouths of those in the church then nothing but "bitterness" is what comes out...WOW what coincidence!!!

This is why James uses the very terminology he does to explain that the tongue can ruin the body of Christ if we let it turn the freshness and blessings of God into nothing but bitter poison used by the enemy to curse and ruin it.

There's really no place for the believer to allow both the blessing of God and the cursing of one another in the body of Christ.

So in the words of Rodney King....Can't we all just get along!!??

Peace out.

P Biddy

Taming the Tongue, Part 1

2009-08-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

James 3:3-6

Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

I've heard this portion of scripture misrepresented more than any other. People use it to proof text what the want to say about what you and I would call "cussing"...This is NOT what James is talking about!!!

Context is KING when understanding scripture and actually READING the words is just as important.

James starts out with putting bits in the mouths of horses to steer the whole BODY. Why did he use this analogy? Was he a jockey or have a horse fetish? NO, and NO!!! He uses it because of the fact that the analogy is PERFECT for what he is trying to get across to THE BODY.

Gossip, slander, grumbling, complaining, and all other types of speech that tear apart at the unity of the BODY of Christ is a fire straight from the pit of hell. Satan wants nothing more than people IN the body to tear itself apart from the inside out because when we do it for him it makes his job MUCH easier.

Such use of the tongue (the smallest part of THE BODY) can set the WHOLE CHURCH on fire. How many churches have split because UNITY could not be reached? I'll tell you that any time a church splits, Satan wins a battle.

Now I know that what he intended for evil God can in turn use for good, but God doesn't intentionally set the church of Jesus Christ on fire so that He can make more denominations!!! As a matter of fact it is completely contradictory to what Jesus prayed for in what is known as the High Priestly Prayer that Jesus prayed right before He went to the cross. He prayed for UNITY in HIS body.

We'll finish up this "tongue thang" tomorrow but for now here's a question....

Are you and your tongue building UP the body or tearing it apart???

But until then....

2009-07-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog article and let me know what your thoughts are?

www.thomrainer.com/2009/07/what-the-unchurched-dont-like-about-christians.php

P Biddy

Heading to Camp for a Week

2009-07-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

So I'm gonna take the week and spend some time back in the "grass roots" of my ministry.....Teenagers!!!

I'm heading to Camp for the week with Darin (My "Family Guy")and so I'll have to start the questions when I get back.

Here's praying kids don't hate me now!!

P Biddy

Question 1 - A teaser

2009-07-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

OK...So it's 10 pm out here in Nevada and I've had a REALLY busy day, so I'm gonna use a mulligan here.

I actually mentioned this part of the question on Sunday:

How tall are you?

Assuming that this was meant to be a "funny" I will still pacify this trivial question with this witty response.....

It depends!!!

When I joined the Navy they put 5' 6" on my "official" Military ID card....However, upon further review I realized that was just "Military Intelligence" which is really the worlds biggest oxymoron.

SOOOOOOO.....in all reality, I am actually only 5' 5 & 1/2" tall.

Hope that helps!!!???

Tomorrow I promise to answer one of the "serious" questions!!!

P Biddy

New Segment

2009-07-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

So yesterday at Emmanuel (the church I Pastor) we stole a page from Pastor Mark Driscol and did a question and answer session and even though the service turned "Pentecostal" (1 Hour, 45 min long....) I STILL couldn't get through 3 of the questions.

And so, starting tomorrow, in am effort to not slight ANY of those questions, I will be posting the question and then answering them here on my Blog.

See you all tomorrow!!!

P BIddy

How Ironic!!!

2009-06-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

James 3:1

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

Yeah, that's pretty much why I became a Pastor.... Cause I want "stricter" judgment.

ARE YOU FLIPPIN' KIDDING ME???!!!

But yet that's what this verse is saying. That those of us that choose to be teachers of the word are held to a much stricter standard and judgment.

BUT HERE'S THE CATCH....NOT BY YOU; but by God.

This past Sunday I got my very first "nasty gram" from a woman who claimed to be a believer who wrote that my "testimony was empty" and that my sermon was "nothing but a show" and that my "type of Christianity does nothing for the Kingdom of God". (OUCH!!)

To top things off, she handed this note to one of the ushers, who in turn passed it along to me. (In Philly we call that being Chicken ______ , but I digress.)

Anyway, what hurt me the most is that this woman (who didn't have the Christian decency to at least give me the note herself) has NO IDEA how much pressure a Pastor is under and that I am already being judged more strictly by the God of the universe whose standard is impossible to reach.

And yet, because I LOVE HIM so much....I try to study His word, and try to uphold it to the highest standard it deserves....and YES most times fall short, and yet still serve Him with ALL I AM.

Ma am' I know you won't read this, but if for some odd "Chance" you do let me say that if you REALLY knew me, then you certainly wouldn't have judged my heart and passion for my Lord as nothing but an empty show, but of someone who loves their Lord and wants to PASSIONATELY make sure that everyone hears the truth that the God of the universe loves them and sent His Son to die for them.

And IF I DON'T tell them....then I'M THE ONE who gets judged more strictly...and I really don't need anymore judgment from God when there's people like you out there trying to do it for Him.

P.S. I FORGIVE YOU!!!

P Biddy

The Importance

2009-06-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

James 2:26

For just as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

If I may....Let me say....this is really where James takes out the hammer and nails this sucker home!!!

I'm going to do something real quick and so I hope you follow me as I switch gears.

Here are some verses from Ezekiel 37 and they go something like this:

37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
37:2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry.
37:3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
37:4 Again He said to me, “ Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’
37:5 “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.
37:6 ‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

The word "breath" in these verses is the Hebrew word RUACH which is translated to wind, breath, or spirit. And so in these verses the prophet Ezekiel is talking about dead people coming to LIFE because of the breath (or SPIRIT) of the Lord being breathed into them for one reason and one reason only....That is to "know that I am Lord" (Not me of course, but God)....anyway, I digress....

Friends, without the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of you (or breathing NEW LIFE into you) then you will be DEAD (or Eternally separated from God) for....well, ETERNITY.

James is equating "Faith" without "works" in the same manner.

He is saying....If you do not have the works of your faith, it's just like doing religion without having the Holy Spirit.....It's Useless!!!

Listen friend, if you have no idea what in the world I'm talking about and you need to KNOW for sure you will be in an eternal relationship with God in heaven then please e-mail me to find out more about what I'm talking about. It might just be the most important e-mail you ever send.

bminnes@sbcglobal.net

For the rest of us....who call ourselves Christians....Can you see how IMPORTANT the proof is in the pudding???

Are you TRULY living out your Faith?? Our are you simply going through the motions??

Grace and peace.

Further Evaluation

2009-06-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

James 2:18-23

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.

There are 2 things that catch my eye when I read these verses. The first one is the fact that DEMONS not only "believe" in God but they KNOW God and shudder. It's funny to me that some people claim to have "Faith" or "believe" in God and yet really have no fear for their eternal future. Once again proving that it really doesn't matter what you SAY you believe but IF you actually live it out.

The second is that James uses Abraham, the father of the Jews, to describe what TRUE FAITH looks like.

Now I gotta tell ya....I LOVE my girls and if God told me to take one of them up onto a mountain top and slay them I might just tell the Big Guy where to go. (Just being honest here!!!) and yet, here's Abraham who TRUSTS God sooooo much that he takes Isaac and is ready to sacrifice him and because of his faithfulness God credits him as "righteous", and it says God called him his "friend". WOW!!!

Can you say you are a "friend" of God??? Do you have that much FAITH that you would do ANYTHING God told you to do??? Once again, just being honest....I'm not sure I do.

But that's why we're on a journey with Him, and that's why He shows us more grace than we really deserve....Because He loves us so much more than we can even love ourselves.

And I don't know about you....But THAT thought makes ME shudder!!!

Peace out.

The Illustration

2009-06-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

James 3:15-17

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “ Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Let me just start off by cutting to the chase (and excuse me for being a bit Philly here...) but James' point here, in a nutshell, is this:

PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!!

Faith, at it's core is trusting or believing; it's really that simple.

But Faith is not something you merely HAVE, it's something you PROVE by what you DO.

(Please let ME Illustrate)

Let's say you have never jumped out of an airplane before? You get up to, ohhhh I don't know, 6000 feet....and the Instructor says, "OK JUMP!!!"

NOW.... how do you know you have FAITH??? (Faith that what you learned is true, faith that the chute will open, faith that you will land safely....)

ALL kinds of things are racing through your mind and IF YOU JUMP, then didn't you have trust (i.e. FAITH) in all those things which led you to DO SOMETHING. (i.e. Jump)

See, you could "Tell" the instructor you have all the trust in the world, but without actually jumping you have proved nothing....You're "so called faith" is USELESS.

So are you DOING your faith???

Tomorrow....A further evaluation from James.

The Inquiry

2009-06-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

James 2:14

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

What a way to break back into this blog!! What a question huh?

It might just be one of the greatest questions of the Christian faith amongst, well, Christians. (Or "self proclaimed" Christians)

Why do I say that? Well, it's ironic to me that when a non-believer "sees" someone "acting" like Christ then it's fairly obvious that that person is "saved" (Or at least that there's something different about that person that intrigues them to want to know why??)

But among Christians this is almost the great debate. (And I'm gonna shoot real straight with ya on this one!!!)I believe that's because most Christians are just flat out content with having their "personal salvation" (I hate that term by the way) that they could care less if they "do" ANYTHING with it. And so it becomes the "inquiry" into weather or not a person is REALLY saved or not???

Let me be crystal clear for you if you are a believer.....God didn't save you JUST for YOU!!! God chooses to USE you to be a vessel to save others, and so if there's EVER a reason for someone to ask "Is _________ saved because he/she has NO WORKS" then friend maybe you just don't get this salvation thing.

If God wanted to save you for you then why at the moment you accepted Jesus Christ did He not rapture your butt up into the heavens for eternity RIGHT THEN???

Answer: Because there are WORKS that He has prepared in advance for you to do. (Eph.2:10)

Think about it, and tomorrow.... James' Illustration.

Grace and Peace.

Father's Day

2009-06-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

SLACKER

OK, so as I sit here on June 20th, 2009 I feel like such a slacker. I've been through bronchitis and hernia surgery that kept me off my game and writing every day on this blog. As a matter of fact what it really taught me was that obviously it doesn't take much to get us distracted.

And so a day before Father's Day 2009 I am determined to honor my Ftaher by not being distracted again.

I started this thing and want to make my Yes, "YES" and so starting Monday morning I will be picking back up where I left off in James.

If you are still out there and have been waiting, I will also try and interject some discussion thoughts as well.

Til Monday.

Brian

Sure fire way NOT to judge

2009-03-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

James 2:2 -4

For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

How many times do we see someone walk into our fellowship and before we ever meet them have already sized them up???

Either way, good or bad, we have preconceived something about that person.

Well do I have a sure fire way to help us out....and here it is:

Have the perspective of God instead of the perspective of man.

I love the song by Brandon Heath, Give me your eyes, because it describes just that.

It says:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

How cool is that????

So here's the 50 million dollar question we all need to ask ourselves:

Do we have THAT perspective when we see people??? I sure hope so.

Glad to be back!!

LOL

2009-02-25T16:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-24T15:55:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2009-02-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-19T19:14:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-18T20:14:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-13T11:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-12T18:00:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-02-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-02-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-02-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-02-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

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