Bible Study log
Branduin says 'but the second verse also confirms that we ALL stumble'
Branduin nods at Amahl.
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Branduin says 'so we should not be totally surprised when a minister falls into sin....'
Branduin says 'because not only are they looked at more'
Branduin says 'they are also under more attack by Satan'
Branduin nods sagely.
Branduin says 'NIV says  We all stumble...'
Branduin says 'in many ways.'
Amahl says 'and yet, they are still just ordinary people'
Branduin says 'IF anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is perfect'
Branduin says 'and able to keep his whole body in check'
Branduin nods sagely.
Branduin says 'well i will admit  my mouth gets me into trouble more than i would like to admit'
Branduin nods sagely.
Branduin says 'like tonight'
Branduin says 'i just posted a topic on my blog that I KNOW will get me into trouble with some folks'
Branduin says 'about the war'
Branduin says 'but it is how i feel'
Branduin says 'but that doesn't mean that my intentin should be to cause harm'
Branduin says 'intention'
Branduin says 'my intention should be to convey my points with other's feelings in mind'
Branduin says 'but i am not perfect  so that isn't always how i come across'
Branduin nods sagely.
Branduin says 'cyto  do you have anything to add?'
Branduin pokes Cyto in the ribs.
Branduin giggles.
Cyto says 'aside from smart alecky comments that would get me in trouble, just for the sake of it not really :)'
Branduin nods at Cyto.
Branduin hugs Cyto.
Branduin says 'well next verse begins to talk about how our mouths can be used to control us'
Branduin says 'welcome stryfe'
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Stryfe says 'thank you'
Branduin says 'look at this example, and it is true'
Branduin says 'i grew up riding horses'
Branduin says 'and know for a fact that it is easy for ahorse to do what it wants when it does not have a bit in it's mouth'
Branduin says 'but the mouth tends to be very sensitive'
Amahl says 'or when it bites down on the bit so you can't move it'
Branduin says 'so to control the horse  you can put a piece of metal in it called a bit'
Branduin says 'and you have more control over the horse'
Branduin nods at Amahl.
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Branduin says 'also a ship'
Branduin says 'the rudder tends to be very small but it guides the whole ship in the way it should go'
Branduin says 'the rudder of our lives is our tongue'
Branduin says 'the Word says that out of the heart the mouth speaks'
Branduin says 'we betray our hidden thoughts more than we know when we speak'
Branduin nods at Amahl.
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Branduin says 'notice the last part'
Branduin says 'what a great fire a little memeber can start!'
Amahl says 'Or as we say in the US "Oh me and my big mouth!"'
Branduin says 'in terms of our bodies the tongue is quite small'
Branduin nods at Amahl.
Branduin grins mischievously.
Valhalla says 'not only in Us ...'
Branduin says 'but look at what problems it can cause ;)'
Branduin beams a smile at Valhalla.
Branduin says 'sometimes I say things just because i feel a certain way'
Branduin says 'or because it is my opinion'
Cyto says 'also "Foot-In-Mouth Disease"'
Amahl chuckles at Cyto's joke.
Branduin says 'and i have to remember that if I am not careful, i can hurt people's feelings'
Branduin says 'and cause them to have a hard time here on Ark  just because i lead bible study'
Branduin nods.
Branduin says 'this has happened too many times over the past week'
Branduin says 'and saying we are sorry doesn't always cut it'
Branduin says 'so we SHOULD think FIRST'
Branduin says 'before we say things'
Branduin says 'that not only goes for teachers but for all Christians'
Branduin says 'people are watching us'
Branduin says 'to see if we are going to live up to our name'
Branduin says 'or OUR Name'
Branduin says 'if we take the Name of Christ, we have to be prepared to do what He asks us'
Branduin nods at Amahl.
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Branduin says 'and we have to be prepared to watch our tongues  especially when it comes to dealing with those whose faith is not as strong as ours or do not know the Lord'
Branduin says 'this verse says that our tongues can be set on fire by Hell actually'
Justified waves happily.
Amahl waves hello to Justified.
Branduin hugs Justified.
Branduin says 'Satan just loves to use us to tear each other down'
Justified hugs Branduin.
Branduin says 'but it is our job to watch what we say and how we say it  in order to build up the Body rather than to tear it down'
Branduin says 'but it is very hard'
Cyto looks at Branduin and proclaims 'Amen!'
Branduin nods at Cyto.
Branduin says 'very hard  and sometimes we need help'
Branduin says 'that is where our friends can assist us'
Amahl beams broadly at nothing in particular.
Justified says 'controlling our brain is very important too because it all starts with thought processes'
Valhalla says 'no matter they belive or not ...'
Branduin says 'we can ask someone to be an accountability partner'
Branduin says 'exactly justified'
Branduin says 'well valhalla  you are able to tell when i have said something mean aren't you?'
Valhalla says 'eh?'
Justified says 'very difficult in our present conditioned'
Amahl says 'and yes Valhalla.  Our friends such as yourself can let us know when we've offended them.'
Branduin says 'you had said whether they believe or not'
Branduin nods.
Valhalla nods.
Branduin says 'well you know what my responsibility is?'
Valhalla says 'i mean that if you believe, and i don't believe you can always ask me for help, even if we must talk and i can advice you'
Branduin says 'my responsibility is to listen to you when you tell me i have offended you'
Branduin nods at Valhalla.
Branduin says 'yep and my part is to listen to you'
Branduin hugs Valhalla.
Valhalla says 'no matter i am not a believer. and i can always ask some of you to prey for me, even i am not a believer'
Branduin nods.
Branduin says 'yep sure can'
Valhalla says 'i know'
Branduin says 'and we do and will :)'
Valhalla says 'soprry to interupt you ...'
Branduin says 'that is called putting our faith in action'
Branduin says 'no problems'
Branduin nods at Amahl.
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
Branduin nods at Amahl.
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Branduin says 'look at these last two verses for tonight'
Justified says 'absolutely you are important to us'
Branduin says 'it has said that we have to watch our tongue'
Branduin says 'and anyone who can tame the tongue is a perfect person'
Branduin says 'and then it tells us in verse 8 that '
~Verse to Room from Amahl~
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Branduin says 'just as justified said, we are not perfect yet'
Branduin says 'no one can tame their tongue'
Amahl says 'no matter how we try'
Branduin says 'but it is our responsibility to try'
Branduin says 'and our responsiblity to make amends when we need to'
Branduin says 'does that make sense?'
Branduin says 'our tongues may be small but they can devastate people'
Branduin says 'we need to watch how we say what we say'
Justified says 'the Lord can help in this manner but sometimes it's very hard to face my sin as it makes sense'
Amahl says 'when we make a mistake, we accept responsibility for our error and apologize'
Justified says 'agreed'
Valhalla says 'the tongue is just a weapon, used by heart and soul ...'
Branduin says 'notice that i said we need to watch HOW we say what we say'
Branduin nods at Valhalla.
Branduin says 'it is a weapon'
Amahl says 'Aye, but many weapons have two edges, and can cut both ways if you're not careful'
Branduin says 'but it can also be a tool'
Cyto says 'but not just a weapon'
Branduin nods at Cyto.
Valhalla nods in enthusiastic agreement with Amahl.
Branduin says 'and it is for us to make sure that we use it as much as we are able as a tool'
Cyto says 'the tongue was made for communicating love'
Valhalla says 'sorry again for interruption'
Cyto says 'and can be used to heal'
Branduin says 'valhalla  you have not interrupted, you have helped ;)'
Branduin nods at Cyto.
Branduin pats Valhalla on his head.
Branduin says 'ok any comments?'
Amahl says 'you have participated as much as anyone else.  (That is the plan)'
Valhalla shrugs helplessly.
Branduin says 'yeah you have done great valhalla :) better than some who come all the time LOL'
Branduin grins mischievously.
Branduin says 'any question?'
Valhalla says 'just a comment'
Branduin nods at Valhalla.
Amahl listens intently to Valhalla.
Valhalla says 'it's not necessery to belive to make such conclusions'
Branduin says, 'ooOOooOOooOOoo.'
Branduin says 'you are so right :)'
Valhalla says 'it's just simple people communications'
Branduin says 'would you believe that most of the bible is like that?'
Branduin says 'it makes sense :)'
Amahl nods at Branduin.
Justified says 'I agreed'
Valhalla says 'mmm no, not most, but some parts probably yes'
Justified says 'you are correct'
Branduin nods.
Justified nods.
Valhalla says 'don't think i have never read the bible ...'
Valhalla says 'i was a believer before ...'
Branduin says 'well we will just have to find out which parts do that'
Branduin says 'you wanna help us?'
Valhalla says 'no!'
Branduin giggles.
Branduin snaps her fingers.
Cyto gives Valhalla a brotherly hug.
Branduin listens intently to Valhalla.
Amahl says 'well she had to ask ;)'
Valhalla says 'i lost my fate ... or let's just say i don't want to believe any more'
Branduin nods.
Valhalla says 'i believe in other things now'
Branduin nods.
Valhalla says 'but i don't hate you, just because you believe :)'
Branduin says 'and we don't hate you either :)'
Amahl says 'and we don't hate you, because you don't'
Amahl encompasses Valhalla in an ENORMOUS bearhug!
Valhalla says 'it's perfectly wrong that other believes hate christianity, or that christianity hate other believes'
Branduin says 'valhalla  can i ask what you do believe in now?'
Branduin nods at Valhalla.
Justified says 'and we love you just because you are you'
Valhalla says 'hm, i am Pagan/Asatru'
You hear Branduin hrm.
Valhalla says 'not sure that you know what's this :)'
Branduin says 'interesting  do you practice that?'
Valhalla says 'ah ... don't think it's good place to comment that ;)'
Valhalla says 'suggest topic off and continue'
Branduin nods.
Valhalla says 'i am here for other reasons'
Branduin says 'ok we will talk some other time about that'
Branduin smiles softly at Valhalla, showing the love of Christ in her eyes.
Valhalla says 'no, we won't :)'
Amahl nods.
Branduin says 'ok so any prayer requests tonight?'
Branduin says 'i have a couple'
Branduin says 'i went to the store just before study and my friend who works there said her niece is dying'
Branduin says 'i think she has cystic fibrosis'
Branduin says 'she is 20 and in college'
Branduin says 'but has started breathing very shallowly  she has lived with it since she was 6'
Branduin says 'so please keep them in your prayers'
Amahl nods.
Justified nods.