Sorry for the long delay.  Since we last met my pastor at church wrapped up the book of James.  What a interesting book.  I really love his blunt "take it or leave it" style.  He just tells you like it is, and he has no time to worry if he stepped on your toes, or bruised your feelings a little.  Chapter 3 is really the heart of this entire book.  And the heart of the heart is learning to tame your tongue.  They say, and Pink Floyd sung about it , that money is the root of all evil, but I disagree.  Money is the back up quarterback to the tongue.  So many arguments, strife, feelings, assaults, murders, and wars could, and should, have been avoided if people could just either say something nice and constructive, or shut up all together.   The wrong word, to the wrong person, at the wrong time as brought so much evil and sin to the this world.   As James laments for such a small part of the body, it can leave so much destruction in it's wake.   In chapter 4 James asks bluntly will you go thru life humble or proud.  Pride is the wingman for the tongue.  It's continually urging it to selfishly say the most vile and hurtful things.   As the Book says, 'pride goes before the fall" .   My favorite part of chapter 5 speaks to me about my love of getting to point.  James plainly and bluntly says let your yes be yes and let your no be no.  There no need to ever utter the phrase "I swear to God" .   If your yes is yes and no is no than there is no need to invoke God the convince.   Let your word be your bond.   Ok that wraps up James.  My plan now is to post tomorrow from the sermon I heard last Sunday from 2 Kings chapter 5, the cleansing of Naaman.  Then to start to go over one of my favorite books, the book of Esther.   May God bless you and yours.   

I'm a very simple guy.  I just don't enjoy small talk.  I'm a "let's get to it" kind of guy.   I love how the Bible just get's to it from the start.  The very first verse settles any doubt as to why or how we came to be.  If you truly believe in your heart that the Bible the word of God, and is everlasting to everlasting, then all else should be easy to digest and believe.  God spoke the heavens and the earth into being.  If there is a God, and He has that power and ability, then everything else is a snap.  The creation of man, woman, the parting of the Red sea, the bringing down of walls of Jericho, Gideon and fleece, Jonah and whale, and most important, the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  The God of creation did those and so very much more.  I know this and believe this because I know and believe Genesis 1:1 to be right and true.   God Bless!!!  

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs (John 21:15).