Brother Dave

I know some folks get a bit uncomfortable whenever someone starts talking about religion outside of the proper setting (i.e. church, synagogue, TBN). But I just can't help myself. So off into the realm of the spiritual I go. Next stop....Kingdom of Heaven!!

I read excerpts from the Book of James in the New Testament today on the air. James was the half brother to Jesus and the book was written around 40-50 A.D. It's a letter to the "twelve tribes" throughout the world, but it's words are just as true today.

I like to read from the New Living Translation Bible for a few good reasons. First of all, it's not like reading Shakespeare. And secondly, most regular folks can relate better to it.

The translation follows the "equivalence" or "thought for thought" method of translation rather than a more literal method. The goal is "to create a text that would make the same impact in the life of modern readers that the original text had for the original readers"

Here is one of the excerpts that I didn't get a chance to read on the air;

Listening and Doing

JAMES Chapter 1

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.