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Priority of Patience

10/9/2022

James 5:7-12
Fall time is here and the garden is just about done producing. Over the course of the summer seeds have been planted and we watched them sprout. With the proper sunlight, fertilizer and water the plants have grown and produced a harvest that we could only dream about just a few months ago. Gardners and farmers: work the ground in preparation for harvest, weed the ground for a pure harvest, and patiently wait for the harvest. All crops take a certain amount of time, water, and sunlight to grow. We just need the patience to wait for them to grow. In this passage James first provides a simple spiritual challenge or exhortation. This challenge is then followed by two examples of how others displayed a patient faith. James then adds two specific ways to practice or exercise patience and thus display their faith in God. The general challenge or encouragement is to live a life of patience (7). This is followed by the example of patience in waiting as seen in the farmer (7-8), and the prophets plus Job and their patience in pain (10-11). James also provides the practical ways to exercise the practice of patience by not grumbling (9) and being reliable in the promises that are made (12). We may struggle at times with a lack of patience, but have we thought about how it reflects our faith in Christ? When we live patiently under trials we will patiently long for the day of Christ’s return. When we speak with patience it reflects our faith in God even in times of frustration. When we live a life of patient faith we are an active witness of God’s transforming power that enables us to endure. This week, may we be patient people who display the greatness of our God.

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Sharing of Resources

10/2/2022

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James 5:1-6
Do you know where the monetary coin the penny came from? Originally, the root word itself was used across various European countries to describe a financial coin. Later a powerful Anglo Saxon king named Offa, created the first English penny, around 765-775, that was actually made out of silver. As the years progressed, and pennies were spent in various transactions, the usage of the word eventually spread into literature. In 1522, Sir Thomas More wrote a book titled Four Last Things. In this book ,he is the first one to actually record the famous phrase; “A penny for your thoughts.” The meaning behind this is that one person in a conversation has fallen silent and thoughtful. The other person then gently asks for them to reengage in the conversation by stating, “A penny for your thoughts.” That gentle persuasive tone is not what we see James using as he opens chapter five. Instead James gives a strong warning about the misdirected worldly priorities of possessions and wealth. James calls out to the wealthy in his audience and reminds them that riches have brought misery, which is the result of trusting their wealth and not placing their faith in God (1). James says that their priorities (2-3) and their practice (4) are out of order. They are seeking to save and serve themselves by hoarding what God has given them. The result is that they have missed the purpose of wealth by being Godly stewards (5-6). Instead of sharing the blessings of God with others, they have squandered God’s blessings on themselves. As a result, they are unable to see their coming destruction. For us today a life of faith lives believing that God owns everything, that God provides everything that I own, and that God has called me to manage, not hoard, what He has given. A penny for your thoughts?

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Grace Is No Joke

4/4/2021

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Ephesians 3:1-13
The first of April is known as April Fools’ Day. This is simply a day where certain ones of our friends or associates will create something that seems real yet is not real in order to play a prank on our gullible minds. Our minds have come to understand and accept what is normal and when there is a new change we want to accept it as well. In 1957, the BBC news reported that there was an excellent harvest of spaghetti in Switzerland. There were even pictures of workers harvesting spaghetti from tree branches. Some people even called the news station to inquire how to start their own spaghetti tree. They were told to place spaghetti noodles in tomato sauce and see what happens. We may laugh at the misfortune of some, but we still have people in our world that reject the greatest reality as nothing more than a hoax. In Ephesians 3:1-13 Paul reminds the church of the reality of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection that unites people through salvation in Jesus Christ. That is good news! This display of God’s grace was, as Paul says, a mystery now revealed (2-6) that he is now privileged to share with others (7-9). His message (10-12) is simply to proclaim that Jesus is alive and has accomplished salvation through His death and resurrection. That is good news and not a joke.

For more see EPHESIANS

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Priority of Patience

Sharing of Resources

Grace Is No Joke

Pastor Ken

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