true piety.

well... during my trip here in Massachusetts, my family's been
doing some QT... all from the Book of James. :]
one of the titles were "true piety" .... James 1 : 12-27

all of these are madd true. when i highlight the verses...
i'm just saying which tuched me the most...

12. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, becayse when he has stood the test, he will recieve the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."; For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14. but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
15. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
17. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
18. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
19. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20. for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
21. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24. and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
26. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
27. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

DO i ever blame God for tempting me when i have actually sinned against Him? honestly?... jeah... of coruse i have.
people fall into temptation because of greed and selfishness. i know that i'm greedy and selfish... but i'm not shure what i'm selfish for.... i gotta find that out...

the last verse got me really thinking... see ...
in James 2 : 1 - 13 ....... the whole passage is important..
but i just took these 3 verses out...
5. Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6. But you have insulted the poor. Is it not hte rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7. Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

if someone has a party, and invited EVERYONE to it... all the rich people come and all the poor people come... the host recognizes both.... all the rich people get high quality service... and the poor people go around... ignored by waiters and glarred at by the rich people.

if someone goes around in an the poor places... alleyways in manhattan, the snotty people would spit on the bums and just... curse them out.... and they didn't even do anything....

you know the parable of the rich man and Lazarus rite? .. Luke 16 : 19 - 31.
the rich man went straight to Hell.. and Lazarus went straight to heaven.

no?... you don't think so?...
ugh... all this thinking is getting me all mixed up.


=MoNkEy=


ps... elliot's being a pain in the ass throughout this whole vacation...