Scripture: James 1:26-27
If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless. True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.
Thought for the Day: In the last three days, I have received emails, calls, Facebook notes and text messages from 14 states and two countries. They have come from Christians of every denominational stripe, from a Jewish Rabbi, two Mosques and an agonistic who lives overseas. People care! When things seem so out of control, it is good to be reminded how there is a community of the concerned. It is much larger than we might initially think. In the book of James, it is clear that our author is passionate about embracing and manifesting the Word and not just speaking words. So many people who contacted me had a desire to do something, and their offerings seemed truly genuine. People want to express their concern, but I meet more and more people who feel a calling (even the agnostics) to be more than words.
Prayer: Keep us together, O Source of All Lives, and teach us how to take your Word and live in such a way that community is formed, solidified and sanctified. Amen.
UPDATE: As many of you heard, we had a team that went into the church buildings Wednesday morning and discovered some pretty amazing news. There appears to be no water inside. Of course, there is still water everywhere, including the lower parking lot. At this time, the campus remains closed on Thursday, and we will make a decision about Friday at some point during the day. We also Postponed the Garage Sale scheduled for Saturday. We discourage anyone from coming to the buildings as Cypresswood Drive remains closed to traffic. Keep the prayers coming for the larger community of Houston, and as you are already doing, be that neighbor to your neighbor.
