This Week's Scripture: Wisdom from James

The Letter of James is often called Christian "wisdom" Literature. Jesus himself was also a wisdom teacher. Jesus focused less, however, on conventional wisdom concerning behavior and more on provocative themes like what constituted true righteousness. We are lucky, then, to have the practical wisdom found here in the letter of James (as well as elsewhere in the New Testament).

In this passage, it is helpful to see James' teachings on behavior as flowing out of the understanding of God's gifts he puts forward in the first paragraph: Wisdom and good behavior are not ends in and of themselves, but rather are gifts given for the fulfillment of God's purposes. They are, therefore, part of the transformative mission of God.

From the Letter of James:


Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

You must understand this, my beloved:let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves* in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for School Supplies!

Food, fun and calories are the rule at Grace United Methodist. We had a bunch of homemade ice cream and a toppings at our annual Ice Cream Social to raise money and supplies for the Texas City ISD. We had a blast!

Scripture for this week John 6:56-69

Jesus has been teaching a number of difficult teachings in the synagogue at Capernaum. Previously, he described himself as the "Bread of life" (v 35). That caused controversy. Now he creates even more controversy, causing many of followers to leave him. Jesus said:

'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ ⁵⁹He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ ⁶¹But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. ⁶⁵And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’

Pictures from our Trip to Galveston

Here are a few photos from our recent UMW trip to Galveston. We took a ride around the bay on a large paddle boat that leaves from Moody Gardens. We had a lot of fun and got some good food afterward.

Scripture for June 28th

This Sunday we will be looking at Mark 5:21-43. We have spent the last few weeks working through Mark, and we will continue doing so in the weeks to come.

There are two wonderful stories in this passage. One is about Jesus healing the reportedly dead daughter of Jarius. The second is about Jesus healing a woman suffering from hemorrhages. A common factor in these healing stories is how unexpected the healings were. In both cases, Jesus healed despite good reasons for hopelessness for both Jarius and well as the woman.

Enjoy these passages about how the hands of hope reach even the hopeless.

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live."

So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well."

Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"

And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'"

He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."

He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.