Bible: James 1:1-6

Wednesday we had Ladies Group about Sin.  Meditate on Romans (e.g. 7, 8, 10, 12) and Galatians 2:20.  I wonder what it says about my heart that I’m more bugged by pet peeves than by sin?  People don’t have a sense of responsibility over themselves nowadays.  Why aren’t we made perfect immediately?  It’s interesting that someone commented that it appears that older people have a harder time accepting this than younger ones due to experiencing more of the fallenness.  We went around the room answering different questions, and mine was “What types of things do people do in an attempt to do penance for their sins?”  I was reminded what a friend shared with me: “If there’s no way I can make up for it between me and you, then at least I could turn it back on myself, through psychological or physical self-punishment.”  Thus there are those who punish themselves (Christians skipping Sunday services), others who try to make it up (Catholics starting to go to Sunday services by confessing to a Father), and those who will get something to symbolize/remind them not to do the sin again.  Thoughts?

I went to WaMu to set up an account with them (they’re so much better, with FREE online bill pay, etc.) so that I could start paying back my UTEP Perkins Loan.  For dinner I met up with Christina Tam at Japaneiro.  She told me how some of the teachers, since the principal decided to retire after about 9 years, serenaded him with “Wind Beneath My Wings” LOL.  Afterwards we took a walk around Sugar Land Town Center then headed off to Bible study.  By the end of the night, Branden, Jeffy, Howard Chiu, Jason Chow, Joe Chen, DeHorne, Janet Poon, Charlene Tanhehco, Elizabeth Wong (with her freshly cut hair), and Jamie Fong were there.  Jessie Tan and her boyfriend Alex brought shrimp chips and the Good Humor Ice Cream Variety Pack (drumsticks, ice cream sandwiches, and bars - interesting that it says “not a low fat food” but then the front says “50% less fat from regular ice cream”).  I ate the sundae cone and the sandwich, yum!  My cellphone fell out of my back pocket onto the sofa so Daniel Shen brought it back to my house.  Andrew Fong led the study, following Rick Warren’s guide on James:

How to Profit from your Problems

CONNECT:  Why are you here [at Bible study]?  To be encouraged, to be held accountable in weekly study of the Word, to better our “technique” in studying the Word, to grow - in community.

GROW

• “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  James didn’t brag that he was the half-brother (son of Mary and Joseph) of Jesus but instead emphasized that he was a disciple same as everyone else.
• Problems: 
  (1) inevitable (it’s “when” not “if”), 
  (2) unpredictable (”face/fall into”, suddenly), and
  (3) variable (”many kinds”, in duration, in shades of colors), and (4) purposeful (”develops”, produces).
• Purposes: 
  (1) purifies my faith (”Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water!” Eleanor Roosevelt),
  (2) fortifies my patience (endurance, staying power), and
  (3) sanctifies my character (mature, like Jesus) through the Word and through life circumstances.
• Handling: 
  (1) rejoice in (not “for”) the problems (not masochism, not divorce from reality, not martyr complex, I Thessalonians 5:16-18) because “we know“,
  (2) request/pray for wisdom to learn (otherwise God’s going to send us on another “desert lap”), and
  (3) relax (verse 6)
• Why does Jesus ask us to consider it pure joy when we face trials?  It’s inevitable, so you might as well make it a choice to be joyful in them rather than miserable in them.  Do not deny but seek joy in God, knowing He has a purpose/plan and is in control.  Trials is the first step in the process, pressing on towards maturity/completion/perfectism/prize.  Pure joy can’t be marred by circumstances.  I Peter 5:10-11 says we He will restore us and we will bring Him glory.
• In handling problems, which of the three is hardest for you?  Relaxing is hard because we are wired with a f(l)ight mechanism, our instinct is to do something about it.  Rejoicing is hard because circumstances are hard and it’s hard to see beyond that.  “It Is Well with My Soul“
• What does James tell us to do when we find ourselves in circumstances that don’t make sense?  If we don’t know what to do, we lack wisdom, so ask - for wisdom.  He will not punish us for asking.  We are not to be passive but to participate in His process.

SERVE

• Read II Corinthians 1:3-7.  How has difficulties in life prepared you in service to others?  Encourage another that s/he is not alone, not weird.  Maybe you’re going through something not for yourself only but also for another, someone who will be needing it even more.
• How has God comforted you?  And how has that been used to comfort another?  Even with a PVC, her surgery went well. 

SHARE with nonbelievers

• How can a life of problems open doors for evangelism?  They’re able to relate and know that Christians suffer problems the same as nonbelievers.  You can show them the other way of handling it, of using God’s wisdom.  The witness is in the approach, not “if” problems come. 
• In the five arenas (Family, Fun, Factory/Firm, Fellowship, and Friends), where can you start witnessing?