MEM

"James 4 The Cause of War". The truth of this chapter is not limited to war between nations or people groups but also between family, friends and neighbors.

James seems to have an inspired insight on the world’s problems in a nutshell. Any person with a heart to resolve life’s issues will have to honestly admit to what is stated in these short verses. Whether it be between nations, religious groups, political groups, co-workers, neighbors or even with oneself, the cause is laid bare and the answer made clear:

James 4:1 NAS What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Reading other versions of this text can also be helpful in comparing them.

This context is worth some inner examination by asking:

- What is it that causes my unrest?

- Do I have issues with others?

- Why does my spouse (friend, neighbor, boss …) not see my side of the story?

The Apostle John agrees:

1John 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

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Hebrew ‘Humble’

- Transliteration: `anah - Phonetic: aw-naw'

- Definition:

- Strong's: A primitive root (possibly rather identical with H6030 through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally or figuratively transitively or intransitively (in various applications). - abase self-afflict (-ion self) answer chasten self-deal hardly with defile exercise force gentleness humble (self) hurt ravish sing, speak, submit self-weaken X in any wise.

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- Transliteration: `anah - Phonetic: aw-naw'

- Definition:

- Strong's: A primitive root; properly to eye or (generally) to heed that is pay attention; by implication to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing shout testify announce: - give account afflict (cause to give) answer bring low cry hear … witness.

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Isa 66:2 "For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Looking forward necessitates humility - Honor YHVH and others.

Proverbs 6:3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

WHO TOOK MY MONEY?

Actually, Democrat President Kennedy and Sergeant Shriver were the first ones to misuse the Social Security account.  They used Social Security funds to start the Peace Corps.   Not the first or last time our money has been taken from American citizens and given to foreign nations.

Things every US citizen should know and remember about Social Security and changes made:

A History Lesson on Your Social Security Card . . . Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn't know this.   It's easy to check out, if you don't believe it.   … a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican . . .

Facts are Facts

Social Security Cards up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes.   Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the message, NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION, was removed.

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program.

He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be Completely voluntary.

No longer Voluntary

2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program.

Now 7.65% on the first $90,000.

3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year.

No longer tax deductible

4.) That the money the participants put into the independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program.

Under Democrat President Johnson the money was moved to the General Fund and Spent.

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

Under Democrats Clinton & Gore Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed.

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federal government to 'put away' -- you may be interested in the following:

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democrat Party.

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?

Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?

A: That's right!   The Democratic Party.   Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments!   … Even though they never paid a dime into it!

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

(Surly one more cause of conflict - our theme. Humble oneself and draw near to God.)

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

Not all items verified

Do you remember that word? Would you believe the email spell checker did not recognize the word Murgatroyd?

Lost Words from our childhood: Words gone as fast as the buggy whip! Sad really!

The other day a not so elderly (65) (I say 75) lady said something to her son about driving a Jalopy and he looked at her quizzically and said "What is a Jalopy?"

He never heard of the word jalopy!! She knew she was old..... But not that old. Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle

About a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included "Don't touch that dial," "Carbon copy," "You sound like a broken record" and "Hung out to dry."

Back in the olden days we had a lot of 'moxie.' We'd put on our best 'bib and tucker' to' straighten up and fly right'

We were 'in like Flynn' and 'living the life of Riley'', and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China!

Back in the olden days, life used to be swell, but when's the last time anything was swell?

Swell has gone the way of beehives, pageboys and the D.A.; of spats, knickers, fedoras, poodle skirts, saddle shoes and pedal pushers...AND DON'T FORGET.... Saddle Stitched Pants

Oh, my aching back! Kilroy was here, but he isn't anymore.

We wake up from what surely has been just a short nap, and before we can say, Well, I'll be 'a monkey's uncle!' Or, This is a 'fine kettle of fish'! We discover that the words we grew up with, the words that seemed omnipresent, as oxygen, have vanished with scarcely a notice from our tongues and our pens and our keyboards.

Poof, go the words of our youth, the words we've left behind

We blink, and they're gone.

Long gone: Pshaw, The milkman did it. Hey! It's your nickel. Don't forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, Fiddlesticks! Going like sixty. I'll see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels.

Wake up and smell the roses.

It turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing stuff! ("Carter's Little Liver Pills" are gone too!)

We of a certain age have been blessed to live in changeable times. For a child each new word is like a shiny toy, a toy that has no age. We at the other end of the chronological arc have the advantage of remembering there are words that once did not exist and there were words that once strutted their hour upon the earthly stage and now are heard no more, except in our collective memory.

It's one of the greatest advantages of aging.

Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth...

See yah later, alligator!

O-ki-do-ki

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FABULOUS 50'S…

NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN...

WE WERE GIVEN ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS:

.............OUR MEMORIES........

Do you understand that humility is an important Christian concept? Yet it has no meaning until after you have demonstrated a clearly superior performance. It is only then that you can acknowledge those who have contributed to your success, or by saying a man can have nothing except he receives it from heaven. One who boasts of his own achievements is a braggart, and one who boasts having no achievements is a fool. Are you willing to acknowledge Christ in all your ways, and give Him the glory due Him? If you have this attitude of humility then you are in a position for God to pour out His power through you, for then He can trust you to handle the response properly.

Do you take credit for all your ideas? Have you ever said an idea came to me? This implies an external source. If your thought processes don't lead to a new idea by direct logical sequence, then where do they come from? God’s word asks what you have that you did not receive, and implies that the answer is nothing. It is a position of humility to acknowledge that you can't take credit for your own creativity, but you are called to be poor in spirit. If you acknowledge the Creator with gratitude He is prepared to pour out creativity on you in ever greater measure. Isn't that better than claiming credit for little?

(Adopted from a blog post by Dale Cresap)

Psalm 10:17 O LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble; Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear

Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.

Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear it and rejoice.

Psalm 69:32 The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.

Psalm 76:9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah.

Psalm 37:11 But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)