North Bend Church of Christ - Discussion Forum: Wildfire

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North Bend Church of Christ » The Church of Christ » Bulletin Articles

Wildfire - by Norm Russell

Mark Magill
#1

Posted on 08/21/2016 10:40

Administrator

Posts: 91
Joined: 08/07/2011 15:24

If you have been following the news, you know that California is suffering from fires that are out of control. One fire, known as the "Bluecut brush fire" is so massive that 82,000 residents are under mandatory evacuations from 34,500 homes. Thus far it has burned 31,689 acres of vegetation and continues to spread by the hour. The fire fighters are working long hours in an effort to bring it under control. However with the drought that has plagued the state for the past five years and with the winds that are blowing the flames, there is little they can do to contain it.

It saddens all of us to read of people who have worked hard to buy, build and occupy their homes only to see it go up in flames. Many treasured items are lost and can never be replaced.

The brother of Jesus, wrote to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed throughout the Roman empire. He gave some very practical counsel in how one was to live out their faith. We have that communication in our Bibles and it is called "The book of James." It probably would be better referred to as "the letter of James."

It is in chapter 3 that the writer speaks about one's use of the tongue (3:1-12). He has much to say regarding the tongue. He refers to it as something small but powerful. He calls it a fire, and it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life and the source of that fire is hell.

James wants us to understand that if we are not careful in our use of the tongue, we will cause sever damage to ourselves and to others. How many reputations have been destroyed because someone could not avoid speaking about things that should never be mentioned? How many people no longer follow Jesus Christ because someone's tongue was out of control?

The language James uses is very graphic. A tree cannot produce a fruit that is foreign to it and neither can a fountain produce fresh water and salt water at the same time. His point is, you cannot be a person who speaks blessings and then at some other point speak curses.

The control of the tongue, James tells us, is impossible. It is a deadly poison, a restless evil. That tells me that it is essential that we pray for God's Spirit to take control of our thoughts as well as our tongues. We want to be a blessing to others not a source of discouragement.

Continue to pray for families in California that are suffering much and let us continue to be a blessing to others here at home.

--Norm Russell

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Wildfire - by Norm Russell
Mark Magill	#1 Posted on 08/21/2016 10:40
Administrator Posts: 91 Joined: 08/07/2011 15:24	If you have been following the news, you know that California is suffering from fires that are out of control. One fire, known as the "Bluecut brush fire" is so massive that 82,000 residents are under mandatory evacuations from 34,500 homes. Thus far it has burned 31,689 acres of vegetation and continues to spread by the hour. The fire fighters are working long hours in an effort to bring it under control. However with the drought that has plagued the state for the past five years and with the winds that are blowing the flames, there is little they can do to contain it. It saddens all of us to read of people who have worked hard to buy, build and occupy their homes only to see it go up in flames. Many treasured items are lost and can never be replaced. The brother of Jesus, wrote to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed throughout the Roman empire. He gave some very practical counsel in how one was to live out their faith. We have that communication in our Bibles and it is called "The book of James." It probably would be better referred to as "the letter of James." It is in chapter 3 that the writer speaks about one's use of the tongue (3:1-12). He has much to say regarding the tongue. He refers to it as something small but powerful. He calls it a fire, and it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life and the source of that fire is hell. James wants us to understand that if we are not careful in our use of the tongue, we will cause sever damage to ourselves and to others. How many reputations have been destroyed because someone could not avoid speaking about things that should never be mentioned? How many people no longer follow Jesus Christ because someone's tongue was out of control? The language James uses is very graphic. A tree cannot produce a fruit that is foreign to it and neither can a fountain produce fresh water and salt water at the same time. His point is, you cannot be a person who speaks blessings and then at some other point speak curses. The control of the tongue, James tells us, is impossible. It is a deadly poison, a restless evil. That tells me that it is essential that we pray for God's Spirit to take control of our thoughts as well as our tongues. We want to be a blessing to others not a source of discouragement. Continue to pray for families in California that are suffering much and let us continue to be a blessing to others here at home. --Norm Russell