“Then the angel (Gabriel) told her: “Don’t be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.’”                                           … Read More »

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”                                                 … Read More »

“But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.”                                 James 2:18 A tale of two friends. On a visit with my long-time friend, Phil, he casually mentioned he was a woodworker. Pleasantly surprised I asked him more about… Read More »

“If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.” … Read More »

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such a faith save him?”                                                    James 2:14  One day I was walking through a busy store and another customer excitedly hollered, “They’re winning!” while waving his hand wildly. I tried to smile excitedly as… Read More »

“So, if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:11b-13  James reminds us we have a sin… Read More »

“For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So, if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.”                     … Read More »

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”                       Isaiah 40:31a There is a daily battle raging every day within each of us. It is a struggle in our heart and mind: a war over control. In our dance with life we wrestle… Read More »

“Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.”                                                                                      James 2:8 Let’s be honest with ourselves. We know the church in America has lost its influence. We have allowed… Read More »

“Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?                                                         … Read More »