Finishing up what has been a great series on James....
Authenticity: Exposing Hypocrisy. Pastor Brent Deffenbacher.
"Patience in Suffering"
Really two main thrusts to the service today:
1) Theodicy or the question of evil came up today. And it's always a struggle.
Pastor Brent told of his anger with God at seeing all the injustice in the world...
For me the best answer to this is from C.S. Lewis: "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
2) Patience.
From James 5:7-11, Of what to do when you are in the midst of suffering: "You too, be patient and stand firm...." Stand firm equals calming our hearts when we are suffering. During difficult times growth occurs.
Further reading...Psalm 40 &121; Isaiah 40:27-31; Philippians 1& 2:8-11; James 1.
Relevant song of the morning...
Matthew West...the motions.
As to how it applies to James:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
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