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New York - Shopping guideA tiny storefront in Chelsea devoted to a new line of beauty products with mod, minimalist packaging doesn't sound particularly revolutionary. But Malin+Goetz is a bit of departure. In an industry built on a slick-as-porcelain ethos of flawlessness, Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, the couple behind the line, decided on a different approach. "It's a sense of honesty and openness that we're going for in both our products and our space' Goetz explains. "We'll never use expressions like 'reduces the appearance of fine lines?"
They never even talk about wrinkles or pores or slough-ability. There are no promises of miracles or "refining powers"; don't expect wonder ingredients culled from caviar, placenta, or an obscure Japanese kelp. Malin and Goetz operate in a much simpler, dichotomous, "clean/dirty" kind of world: They can help you take care of your hair, your face, and your body as unpretentiously as is possible outside of Duane Reade.
As far as the products are concerned, this means the info-the ingredients, the instructions-is right up front, in tidy, color-coded block print. There's "Face Cleanser." And "Body Wash." And "Hair Shampoo?' There are thirteen basic products in the line, and Malin promises that any plans for expansion would be every bit as fundamental-customers, for example, have been begging for something with a little sunbiock.
Their retail store on Seventh Avenue is exactly the kind of perfect, clinical white space you'd expect from a skin-care company: It suggests a rosacea-free world of fresh scents and orderly living. But the "store:' by architect Craig Konyk, is actually a white box, set within a typical exposed-brick-and-clanging-pipes city storefront. The fourth wall literally opens to show the often messy, stacks-of-paper truth of a start-up. A large swing door reveals a long steel table upon which Malin and Goetz do their thing: fill orders, launch plans, drink-and spill-coffee from the deli across the street.
It's not a very "beauty" concept for an industry that tends to live in fantasy and excess. These guys believe that the same face wash can work oily or dry, boys and girls. (They offer themselves as living evidence of harmonious, derma-androgy- nous living: Goetz is oily. Malin is dry. And since they founded the company, their tiny bathroom has become far less cluttered.)
Of course, all this simplicity is a gimmick of its own-it should come as no surprise that Matthew Malin is a veteran of Kiehl's, which prides itself on a similar paring-down yet still manages to charge $60 for a mysterious black jar labeled LYCOPENE FACIAL MOISTURIZING CREAM.
But for now, it's comforting to see the beauty world embrace a company that will never promise to turn back time, and the reality check provided by that messy back room, warts and all.


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A 22-year-old American man who posed as a high school student and led the school's basketball team to a successful season has been arrested.
Guerdwich Montimere claimed to be 16-year-old Jerry Joseph and enrolled at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas, a school made famous by the book and movie Friday Night Lights.
Montimere also claimed to be homeless and was taken in by the school's basketball coach.
Four years older than his teammates and opponents, he led the team to the Texas state playoffs before he was recognised at a tournament by coaches who saw him play for a Florida high school in 2007.
"I feel like I was hit by a ton of bricks," district athletic director Leon Fuller told the Associated Press. "In my 50 years in education, I've never heard of anything like this."
Montimere was charged with presenting false identification to a peace officer. If convicted he could face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $NZ3,500.
England slump to 20-6 against South Africa at Lords
London (AFP) - England suffered a stunning collapse as they slumped to 20 for six in five overs after being sent into bat by South Africa in the third one-day international at Lord's on Monday.

subset: commoncrawl


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Since our 2009 Global Economic Crime Survey, governments around the world have taken action to address their faltering economies and this has directly impacted on those who work for, and with, the public sector.
This public sector analysis of our 2011 Global Economic Crime Survey examines the current fraud landscape, taking a close look at who is committing economic crime, what new types of fraud are emerging and how they can be addressed.
In the following video, Public Sector Research Centre Director Nick Jones talks to Ian Hillier and Andrew Miller from PwC about the survey findings.
Given the pressures placed on both individuals and organisations, we have, unsurprisingly, seen a rise in the number of frauds committed against the public purse.
Government and public sector organisations worldwide will need to be increasingly vigilant and proactive when fighting fraud, alongside the wider challenges they face.


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We truly believe it's the chicest palette, step out in style with our range of must have styles in crisp white. Perfect for events, going out, wishing it was still summer, and beyond. Of course, you can always add pops of gold or rose gold as a nod to that ultra-chic Hamptons vibe we all love to nail.


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Nice thick straps for support and comfort!
Fabric: 80% Nylon/20% Xtra Life LYCRA® fiber
Posted by Julie on 3rd Apr 2014
I purchased the Zinnia color for my daughter to wear at practice. The color of the suit looks like a gorgeous summer sun set. My daughter likes to wear "fun" suits to practice and this one is more than fun. We always buy the same size for speedo and they always fit.
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text: I have been around FSU for many years. I have 2 daughters who were skaters and one is now a judge. Both have daughters. I am such a happy grandma. My youngest sent me a video of 2 1/2 Gabby. I babysit for Gabby and we dance and do lots of different kinds of music. I did not teach her this. I am getting her skate in Feb. We do watch some dancing with the stars.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM31pGeN11A


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forum: Everything else
#41 Fri 31 Jan 14 9:24pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
Grandmadamada wrote:
the heat doesn't reach the centre of the loaf and the so called chick is still alive and populates the whole bread again ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ahhhhhhhh .
#42 Sun 02 Feb 14 4:21pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
http://www.jamieoliver.com/bloggers/vie … p?id=35459
I did it today to cheer us up while emptying our cellar from water it's raining raining raining
Last edited by Grandmadamada (Sun 02 Feb 14 4:21pm)
#43 Mon 10 Feb 14 4:25pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
chickpeas crepe with poppy greens, ham and latteria stravecchio inspired by a post shared by MsP .... was it an Indian or Turkish recipe?????
I adapted it thinking of the procedure I make for hummus, starting with thyme and oregano in the mortar with garlic, adding chickpeas, lemon, vinegar and evo oil as if I was doing pesto. It makes me think I feed my family with healthy food
Last edited by Grandmadamada (Mon 10 Feb 14 4:25pm)
#44 Mon 10 Feb 14 7:10pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
It looks and sounds so good, Mada!
#45 Fri 28 Feb 14 7:32pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
carnival crostoli
#46 Fri 28 Feb 14 7:42pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
#47 Sun 02 Mar 14 11:17pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
sourdough panini with multigrain homemilled flours
#48 Sun 02 Mar 14 11:26pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
They look wonderful, Mada
#49 Mon 03 Mar 14 11:30am
Re: madamada's kitchen
sometimes I feel this kitchen belongs to us both Maree and we could close or open it at our choice thanks for coming in and enjoying the smell of bread and milled flours
#50 Mon 03 Mar 14 12:12pm
Re: madamada's kitchen
My pleasure, Mada. Good things (yummy things) come out of your kitchen


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'Koats for Kidz' program underway
THE PARALEGAL BEAGLE is hosting its second annual KOATS FOR KIDZ 2013 to benefit the children of the Deschutes County Family Drug Court Program. Last year was a huge success and this year we have 37 children in need.
A list of new coats needed can be found on our Facebook public event page KOATS FOR KIDZ 2013, where you will find the child's kid #, age, size and gender. Simply choose which child you would like to provide a new coat for and post that Kid # under the list. The list will be updated daily.
For those without Facebook, please contact The Paralegal Beagle at (541) 728-6933 or visit our website at www.theparalegalbeagle.com to view the current list on the GIVING BACK page. Please be sure to contact the Paralegal Beagle as soon as you have dropped off your donation and provide the kid # you are donating for.
All donated new coats must be in no later than December 1st. Donations may be dropped off at Pack, Ship & More in the Wagner Mall (1900 NE Third Street, Suite 106).
Coats will be distributed to the children on December 16, 2013.


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Every naked person on basic cable seems to suffer from this mysterious disease that blurs the genital areas. If we work together we could find a cure for blur-itis by the year 2012.
All of the women who get breast implants on Doctor 90210 seem to contract blur-itis shortly before and after their operations.
by marlasinger January 30, 2007


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Imprinted paper cup designed for cold beverages and features a full color full wrap design.
These sturdy 12 oz. white custom paper cups, imprinted with your logo, make great promotional items for a variety of occasions. Sold in units of 1000 (10=10K, etc.).
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Logo Cups are a crucial addition to any successful restaurant's day-to-day marketing. Look at the logo drinkware of a restaurant and you'll see the extra details that go into their products. Oftentimes Logo Cups are so attractive that people want to keep and reuse them. ePromos' personalized napkins and cups are very popular with restaurants on the cutting-edge. These foam and paper to-go cups are strong, durable, and very practical. We also provide Promo Cups for special events planning. Bring beverages to life at your next publicity event with a promotional cup that best represents you.
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I posted this in another thread about linebackers, but figured I'd give it it's on thread.
A guy to keep an eye on a little later in the draft is Nico Johnson. 5* out of high school and had a solid but quiet career at Alabama (freshman All SEC). His biggest problems were the amount of talent surrounding him. I'm not convinced a guy like Minter would be that much better (if at all) than Johnson and you could get him later. At Alabama he was more of a run stopping linebacker, while Mosley was more of a passing down LB but he still moves REALLY well for his size and rarely gets knocked back. Another guy I'd be REALLY happy to land. He's listed at 6'3 245 but it seems Alabama's guys always measure a little shorter at the combine/pro day. What I like is that he seems to be under the radar right now, perhaps because he wasn't a consistent starter (depended on what type of offense Alabama faced, run heavy vs pass heavy).
junior highlights:
Gets to the outside really well, plays gaps well, shows an ability to shed blocks, reads plays really well and although there's not much footage here of him in coverage, he shows that he can handle it. Most importantly I see him taking on big SEC RBs and standing his ground.


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Lakeside Framed Print by Cindy Taylor
- Overview
A lake's quiet serenity inspired Cindy Taylor to take this photo. Her smart choices give the photo a polished charm: sepia tones create a warm-weather feeling, the walkway echoes the land and line of trees just beyond the lake, and an equal measure of sky above the lake gives the image balance.
- Beveled white mat is archival quality and acid-free.
- 18" square has a glass front.
- 25" square has a Plexiglas front.
- 48" square has a Plexiglas front.
- Alder wood frame.
- Inkjet-printed image on 270-gram paper.
- Frame backed with D-rings for wall mounting.
- Dimensions & Care
18" Square
- Overall: 18" square
- Print Size With Mat: 13.75" square
- Print Size Without Mat: 16.75" square
25" Square
- Overall: 25" square
- Print Size With Mat: 20.5" square
- Print Size Without Mat: 23.75" square
48" Square
- Overall Size: 48" square
- Print Size With Mat: 42.75" square
- Print Size Without Mat: 46.75" square
- Clean glass with standard glass cleaner.
- Clean Plexiglas with a soft damp cloth.
- Wipe frame with a soft dry cloth.
- Shipping & Return Info
Please allow approximately 2 weeks for delivery.
This item will ship directly from the manufacturer and is not eligible for rush shipping or Next Day Delivery.
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 4-5 business days.
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We can arrange for next day delivery to most destinations within the contiguous 48 states, for an extra charge of $17.50 per address. If we receive your order by 6pm PT Monday through Friday, you'll receive your order the next business day; orders placed on Friday after 6pm PT through Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Note: Next Day Delivery service is not available for some oversized items, White Glove Delivery, out of stock items, personalized items or for items shipped directly from the manufacturer.
Select oversized items have an additional delivery and processing surcharge; this charge is listed below the item price.
View the complete Shipping and Delivery Information page.
We take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of each and every Pottery Barn product and we hope you love your purchase. If for any reason you do not, you have 30 days – or 7 days for all Quick Ship upholstery items – to return your purchase for a full refund or exchange. You can return most non-furniture items to your local Pottery Barn store – FREE.
Delivery fees are non-refundable and prior purchases are not eligible for a price adjustment. The following items are non-eligible for returns or exchanges:
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Questions? See our full Returns Policy.
- About the Artist
Artist Cindy Taylor started her career as a floral designer, with a passion for photography. A traveler at heart, Cindy finds inspiration in the light that colors our world no matter where she is. She seeks to share her positive worldview and appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us through her photographs of varied subjects, each with lovely, romantic, lighthearted qualities in common.


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Welcome to the IURC's Natural Gas Division webpage. Here you will find rate comparison data, utility tariffs, 30-day filings, lists of jurisdictional and with drawn utilities, industry reports, national issues affecting Indiana, as well as administrative materials and forms for regulated utilities.
The division monitors and evaluates regulatory and policy initiatives affecting the natural gas industry, as well as reviews and analyzes regulatory proceedings initiated by Indiana's natural gas utilities. These proceedings can be complex, sometimes taking 12-18 months to process, and may include such issues as rate changes (including gas cost adjustment costs and general rate changes), financing, alternative regulatory plans, service area matters, conservation initiatives, as well as customer assistance programs.
For additional information about the natural gas industry and utility regulation, please click here.


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I have a 2003 Discovery with the manufacturer's defect found on the Technical Service Bulletin issued by LRNA on 3-14-2003 stating that the failure of an oil pump is a design defecr. LRNA has refused to repair my Rover even after the Service Manager and the Dealership owner have informed them that I have the technical alert in hand. I have turned this over to a lawyer who specializes in this area. The dealership owner told me he could not believe that LRNA is refusing repair and setting itself up for litigation like this, however it is now in the attorney's hand and I am ready to see them go down. LRNA has the ethical and moral obligation to make good on their admitted defect. I have given LRNA every chance to right their wrong and they have slammed the door in my face. The VIN range is all 2003 Discoverys ending with 3A771801 – 3A808362 My attorney is getting ready to file a lawsuit on my behalf regarding the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Oil Pump Failure causing the need to replace the entire engine assembly. He is also reviewing it for the possibility of a class action lawsuit. If interested, you can contact him....Michael Wing at 251-433-7468. The Technical Alert can be seen at: http://home.comcast.net/~bhcmbailey/lrna_tsb.pdf
You haven't stated why they are refusing to fix it, but my guess is it's because your vehicle is out of warranty.
Anyone know if anything has happened with this....?
My Rover has had its oil changed every 7500 miles or so. Never hard driven and all of a sudden at 51,000 miles a horrible rod knock coming from the engine. Luckily everything is still intact, However, the mechanic states it will need a total rebuild of its lower end due to starvation of oil, but this is on a 2004 Discovery. LRNA hangs up the phone by accident, avoids my calls, relays me to endless department heads till I give up waiting, ignores my emails, lies to me, denies any fault and wont even help with the labor charges if I had them rebuild it themselves. This is in violation of the Lemon Law. I would jump on the class action suit if it came about.
Any updates on what has occurred with this or others through LRNA? I have a 2003 Discovery and this just happened to me 2 days ago -- car starting making horrendous engine noises/oil pressure warning came on, while driving on the highway at 65mph. No warning signs prior to this happening. I had the car towed to the dealer on a Sunday and was shocked when they called me Monday night to tell me the entire engine was ruined due to oil starvation -- basically the oil pump had malfunctioned, causing the engine to erode. I need to buy a new car. This is ludicrous and ridculous. The LRNA rep I spoke to was down right rude to me. I filed a complaint against them and have written a letter. This is unacceptable. These are obviously not isolated problems -- I'm finding lots of online "friends" with 2003s that had similar melt downs. I am now stuck with a car at my dealership that is worth $0 and I am even more distraught because the dealer keeps calling trying to sell me the new 2009 LR3. Are they serious? I'm not going near these cars ever again!
I just started having the same problem! I don't know my VIN number so I didn't check against the VIN range that has a warning out. That documents is no longer accessable--the one with the warning and the link. We need to get together and take action against Land Rover! I, TOO, have a 2003 discovery! THIS IS WRONG. Did the guy who started this thread settle with land rover? Land Rover told me I have to replace my entire lower engine unit. WHAT THE HELL!
Did you settle this with land rover? I heard the knocking, they tell me oh its bearings, not rods, we need to replace the lower engine... WHAT? Why? I can't find the The Technical Alert you reference:http://home.comcast.net/~bhcmbailey/lrna_tsb.pdWhere can I find a copy of the alert? The link doesn't work.I just started having the same problem! I don't know my VIN number so I didn't check against the VIN range that has a warning out. That documents is no longer accessible--the one with the warning and the link. We need to get together and take action against Land Rover! I, TOO, have a 2003 discovery! THIS IS WRONG. Land Rover told me I have to replace my entire lower engine unit. WHAT THE HELL!
WE ALL need to call Land Rover North America and put the presssure on! Call them at 1-800-637-6837 Option 9 -- have your VIN # availale and report a case -- ask for LInda at ext 2876. Honestly she was very rude to me and said "What do you want Land ROver to do?" I was appauled and said "I'm left with a car that doesn't run and I want compensation for it!!" She didn't believe me that this was more than just me having this issue -- I told her to look online for herself at this thread for one! Put the heat on LRNA! We need some help here!
why is this thread loaded with people with only 1 or 2 posts on them? lol
[b]Recommend special shops[/b]
I spoke to Michael Wing today, the attorney mentioned in Sigler 12's note of 3/21/08. Mr. Wing advised me a law firm in San Francisco, California is considering filing this class action lawsuit. You need to contact the firm of Girard Gibbs and speak with Dylan Hughes at 1-866-981-4800 or 1-415-981-4800 to obtain further details and join in this suit. We cannot let Land Rover get away with this. They issued a Tech. Service Bulletin in March 2003 and knowingly sold these faulty vehicles and now they expect us to pay $10,000 for a new motor. This is not right! We as American consumers have to fight back!Not sure if anyone else has experienced the gas cap/filler neck seal issues as well. I have replaced the gas cap three times since I purchased this pre-owned car in November 2007. After filling the tank and tightening the gas cap to the max, it loosens up causing my Check Engine Light to come on. I then have to have it scanned to find out the gas cap is loose. I called Land Rover North America and was told they have received no reports on this and that it is an isolated incident. I recently found out a service action was issued against this in December 2003. This too is faulty. It loosens and fuel vapors leak from the filler cap. They apparently don't think that is a safety issue worthy of a recall. Good luck to us all.
I have a 2003 Discovery II that was purchased in August of '08. It had roughly 64k miles on it and about a week ago I pulled in to my friend apartment complex, ran inside for about 20 minutes, came back out and turned my car on and it made this terrible noise like metal shards flying throughout the engine. When I jumped out to inspect it, oil was gushing out from behind my belts. I had 74k miles on when this happened. Changed the oil every 3k miles and babied this car like it truly was my child. Honestly, this car was better taken care of than my own health. I had it trucked into the Land Rover Dealership here in Tulsa, OK. The next day they called me and said that my oil pump exploded and destroyed my camshaft and the only fix was a brand new engine. WHAT THE %@#&!! My family has owned Rovers since early 1990. This was personally my third Land Rover. All were bought from the dealership so I thought they would give it to me straight. Well, after I got the call I did a little research. The internet was inundated with people that have had the same problem as I have. I am most defintely calling the Girard Gibbs Firm. I beleive we should all get a new engine on Land Rover because they new the problem and then left us to deal with it. How do you create a reliable customer base when you stick it to your customer? Best wishes to all that encounter this problem and those who haven't, replace your oil pump asap! -Zach
I have same problem as above at about 64K. I have owned since 20k. Oil pump exploded two weeks ago during long trip (2003 Discovery). After letting it sit a couple of weeks to determine options, I had it towed to a shop for repair / replacement. They will let me know this afternoon if it appears that a pump and bearings may work - otherwise salvage or rebuild motor. My vehicle is not in the VIN range reported but I wonder if the problem went on for a while. One shop indicated they are using 4.0 blocks (or even installing 4.0's). A short block or long block does not make sense unless obtained from UK. I also have a 94 (175k) that runs great and an 04 that has had a broken throttle cable and window regulator motor problem in it's young life. However, I think I learned my lesson or will buy only "seasoned" LR's.
I've been doing a lot of research on this problem and I see SO many forum posts where people have the same problem I've had, practically word-for-word. Does anyone have any recent news/updates on this? I have an inoperable 2004 Discovery that I make payments and maintain insurance on. I really need to make a decision here on what to do, but I can't find any definitive answers on what the best route would be. I still owe quite a bit on it, so selling isn't really an option. I feel like LR should have to do something about this, especially seeing how many people are in the exact same situation.Does anyone know if a class action suit is still on the table? Thanks!
No, you're just the same doofus using a different name...I'll buy yours...i'll give you a hundred bucks...(i must be bored)


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I'm encouraged again as I come to this text in James. As you know, we're studying this wonderful epistle of James and I draw your attention to chapter 4 with a thankful heart that you're here and that you're eager to study God's Word. What a joy and what a wonderful blessing it is. I thank you for your faithfulness and for the appetitive that you demonstrate for the things of God by your faithful attendance, not just to a service but to the hearing of the exposition of His precious truth.
James chapter 4, we're returning again to two verses in this wonderful chapter. Let me read them to you...verses 11 and 12. "Do not speak evil one of another, brethren, he that speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law you're not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver that is able to save and to destroy. Who are you that judges another?"
Now as you note, throughout the epistle of James there are various subjects dealt with. The link that ties them all together is that they are tests of a living faith, tests of a genuine faith, tests of a saving faith. And certainly this little section of two verses likewise fits into that basic theme, as we shall see in a moment.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." These two verses speak of the issue of slander, the blasphemous sin of defaming other people. And in line with the words of Jesus, what you speak in your mouth indicates your heart, a slanderous tongue, a habitually speaking evil of other people betrays an unchanged heart. So the tongue and the speech of the tongue is truly a test of living faith, as we saw back in chapter 3 in great detail. Jesus also said in that same text of Matthew 12 in verse 37, "By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned." The reason He could say that is because the words that you speak are the revealing of your heart.
When Isaiah the prophet, as you well know, expressed the guilt and the shame and the overpowering sense of his own sinfulness before God, he said it in these words, "I am a man of unclean lips...or I am a man with a dirty mouth, I dwell amidst people with dirty mouths," and that was the truest and most obvious expression of the sense of his own sinfulness for it is out of the heart that the mouth speaks. In fact, somebody said the mouth is the tunnel through which depravity exits the heart.
Now James had much to say about that, and I don't want to belabor the point. You remember our study of chapter 3 verses 1 to 12, he talked about the tongue's power to condemn, the tongue's power to control, the tongue's power to corrupt, the tongue's power to combat and the tongue's power to compromise. And in the end he summed it up by saying that a fountain doesn't send forth sweet water and bitter, verse 11, and a fig tree doesn't bear olive berries and a vine doesn't bear figs and a fountain can't yield salt water and fresh. And what he meant to say by that was your speech shows your heart that there can't be a difference in the two. Whatever's inside of you is going to come out of your mouth. And so James pointed out that the use of the tongue is indeed a test of living faith. A new man in Christ has a new tongue, a new speech. Salvation has a profound effect on your speech because it changes your heart from which your mouth speaks.
Look with me at that for a moment, that thought, by turning to the fourth chapter of Ephesians. And let me remind you of a certainly familiar text of Scripture, Ephesians 4. Picking up the thought at verse 24, "Put on the new man which after God has created in righteousness and true holiness," and just to grab the thought that what he says here is you have put on the new man, the new self, which after God is already created in righteousness and true holiness, so when you become a believer if you have put on Christ, if you have put on the new man, it is a holy and righteous new man therefore, he says, put away lying, that's one misuse of the tongue, speak every man truth with his neighbor for we are members one with another. Be not angry, rather be ye angry and sin not, that is put away not only lying from your speech but angry talk. Let not the sun go down on your wrath. Don't give place to the devil. Let the one who stole steel no more but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he may give to him that needs. Then let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers. In verse 31, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, let it all be put away from you with all, kakia, with all evil. Be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Now the dominant theme through all of those things has to do with your speech. And if you are a new man it should reflect itself, it will reflect itself in your speech and it should reflect yourself in your speech more and more. And that's a concept you have to grab. Because you're a new creation your speech will be new, but even though it's new it isn't all it ought to be. And so while the Apostle may say you're a new man therefore you have new speech, he will also say, "And your new speech ought to be newer and newer and newer all the time." So there will be a demonstrated change in your heart coming out of your mouth but you will not be all you ought to be and so you must continually submit to the power of the Spirit of God that you might live out the fullness of that new creation.
Turn in your Bible also for a moment to the third chapter of Colossians. Paul writing along the same lines of the new man and describing that if you're a new creature it's going to show up in your life, talks about that. In verse 8, "But now you also put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth, lie not to one another." Now all of those are primarily attitudes of the heart that come out in the speech. Put all of that away. Why? "Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man that is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." In other words, since you're a new creation, you have a new heart, you will have a new speech and make sure that your speech is all that it ought to be.
And then in verse...well actually in verse 2 of chapter 4 he also talks about speech, but go down to verse 6, verse 2 is the speech of prayer, verse 6, "Let your speech be always with grace, gracious speech," that is the idea of spiritual speech, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, truthful, loving speech that ministers grace. "Seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every man." What does it mean "seasoned with salt"? Speech that halts corruption. Salt stops the process of decay. Speech is to be wholesome then. It is to be cleansing. It is to be purifying. It is to be an influence that rescues conversation from base things and evil things.
So sanctified speech will be the mark of a new person. That doesn't mean it's all it ought to be, it will be there, your salvation will change your speech but there's still a lot we have to work on and that's true in every dimension. We are new creations in Christ. We think differently. We act differently but we're not all we ought to be and so we commit ourselves daily to allow that new creation and that new speech, along with all the other areas of newness, to dominate our lives.
Now one way that sanctified speech is violated is through defaming one another, and that takes us back to James chapter 4. Slander, backbiting, this term is often translated in the New Testament. And this then becomes also a test of genuine saving faith in James' epistle, as well as for a Christian a test of carnality and/or spirituality. But where you have a life pattern of habitual, malicious, condemning, slanderous speech, it betrays an evil nature...not a new creation in Christ. And it's not just a tongue issue, it's deeper than that...deeper than that. James has already talked about the tongue, so let's go a little deeper here and get somewhat behind the tongue.
A person who continually speaks evil against another person is really not dealing with a tongue issue, they're dealing with a heart issue, right? And what did we say last time the issue is? Where does slanderous speech come from? It comes from a heart that is filled with one major sin, pride...pride that manifests itself in envy and jealousy and ultimately hatred, and it comes out of the mouth in the form of slanderous speech. So we've looked at all of that and that's just a very brief review. And with that general background, we approach this very brief text, let's just look back at it for a moment and see what we saw last time in microcosm.
"Do not speak evil of one another." And remember what I said last time? That doesn't mean you don't confront sin like Matthew 18 says if your brother is taken into sin you go to him and you expose the sin and you talk about it and if he doesn't repent, you get two or three witnesses and if he still doesn't repent, you tell the whole church and you send the whole church after him. This is not contradicting that. This does not tell us that we shouldn't discern and expose sin. What it commands is not to stop exposing sin with righteous intent, but to stop manufacturing evil about a person with an unrighteous intent. Big difference...big difference. It's slander that is malicious in intent. It's slander that is lying, not speaking the truth.
So, James says...stop this sin of lying about people with a malicious intent. And he is pointing again to the fact that if in the church to whom he writes there are those people who claim to be Christians but their life pattern is that of slander with malicious intent, it rises out of a heart that is controlled by pride, manifests in jealousy that ultimately ends in hate that comes out of the mouth in the form of malicious talk. And if that's the case, then there's every reason to question the legitimacy of a claim to salvation because the tongue is betraying the claim.
Now it's a fine line and we go through it all the time. You can be a Christian and speak maliciously. You can be a Christian and slander. But if that's the pattern of your life, then there's every reason to question whether you are a Christian. If your heart is controlled more by pride than anything else, it's questionable that you're really redeemed. Why? Because the dominant attitude of the heart of a converted person is an attitude of...what?...what is it? God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Who are the people who have the heart that is the heart God enters? The humble. God resists the proud, He gives grace to the humble, chapter 4 verse 6. That's why verse 10 says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He'll lift you up." That's talking about salvation. Remember we went through that? If you want to come to God and be saved, you come with a humble heart. If you have a proud heart and that's the characteristic of your life, then there's every reason to question the claim you make to be a Christian.
You can tell everything you want to know about a person by their speech. Oh yes, all of us from time to time say things that are malicious, slanderous, gossip, backbiting...I mean, we all can fall to that. But where that's the pattern of life and pride dominates the heart, and envy and jealousy seem to be constant companions in the spirit of a person, there's reason to question the legitimacy of a claim to salvation. James is laying out these tests much like John did in 1 John.
Now to enforce the prohibition, James calls for the mind to be under control. If we're going to stop speaking evil of one another we have to understand some things. Remember them? We gave you four of them last time. We have to consider what we think about others, what we think about law, what we think about God and what we think about ourselves. Those four...others, law, God and ourselves, we have to take a good look into our own mind and discern what our attitude is toward these four specific features.
Do you remember the first one? We went into that last time. What we think about others, notice verse 11, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother..." Three times the reference is made here and with great import so that we are conscious of the fact that slander within the community of faith is slander against a...what?...a brother. That's a violation of Philippians 2, of the humility of Jesus Christ. That's a violation of the principle to look not on your own things but on the things of others. That's a violation of the statement in Philippians 2 to consider others better than yourself. It's a violation of the attitude of 1 John 2:8 to 10 and 4:20 and 21 which says if you say you're a believer you ought to manifest it by loving your brother. And so we have to take stock of how we feel about others. If you're going to control your tongue, if you're going to have a tongue that speaks well and not evil of people, it's going to be because you understand who it is you're speaking of and you understand they're your brothers in Christ, that is they're children of God, joint heirs in Jesus Christ. They are the special objects of the affection of the Savior who chose them in Him before the foundation of the world. And that you speak evil of those who are indeed precious to God. And if I can see fellow Christians as God's children, God's beloved children for whom the dear Savior died and if I can see them as those upon whom He eternally set His love and if I can see them as my own brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I will dwell forever, then I can control how I talk about them. That's the issue. That's the issue.
Look with me to Matthew 18 for a moment and let me enforce this in the teaching of Jesus with a passage we went through in our study of Matthew, tremendously potent passage. I go back to this again and again and again and prior to doing a study on Matthew I don't think I ever, ever studied this chapter. I didn't think it really had much to say and now I understand the ramifications of it to be so far-reaching it may be the most significant chapter in the gospels relative to the life of the church. In fact, it no doubt is because it describes how we as God's children in Christ are to treat each other. Some people think this chapter is about little babies. It isn't about little babies. The children here are not physical children, they are spiritual children. Unless you become as a little child you can't enter the Kingdom of heaven. Once you come in, you're still a little child. And the first thing He begins to say in verse 5, "Whosoever shall receive one such little child," not a real baby, but a spiritual child, "in My name, receives Me." In other words, how you treat another believer is exactly how you treat...whom?...Christ. How you treat another Christian is exactly how you treat Christ. And that's why in verse 6 it says, "When you offend one of these little ones who believe in Me," not a baby, babies don't believe in Christ, but when you offend a believer, a childlike believer, and all of us are childlike until we come to maturity in Christ in His presence, when you offend another believer, that is such a serious thing, "it would be better for you that a millstone be hanged around your neck and you be drowned in the depths of the sea." In other words, you'd be better off dead than to do anything to offend another believer.
In verse 7 He says, "Woe to the world because of offenses." He can't be talking about babies because even the world doesn't offend babies, for the most part, they love babies. But spiritual children, the world offends them all the time. The shock is, we expect the world to offend Christians, we certainly don't expect Christians to offend Christians, but they sure do a good job at it.
And He says in verses 8 and 9, "If you're doing it, you better take serious action." And He uses sort of a proverbial statement it's about if your hand is offending you, cut it off; if your foot's offending you, cut it off; if your eye's offending you, pull it out. In other words, take drastic action to prevent yourself from ever offending another believer.
Verse 10, "Don't look down on them," kataphroneo, thinking down, despising one of these little ones. Why? Because the holy angels of heaven are looking at the face of the Father. Why? The Father is concerned about His children, His face expresses that concern, the holy angels are watching His face in order to see the expression of His concern so they can go to the aid of His children.
And verse 12 says the Lord is the kind of Shepherd that if He has a hundred sheep and loses one, He goes and gets the one. That's how precious they are to Him because the Father doesn't want any of those little ones to be destroyed. And when you destroy them, and He's not talking about spiritual annihilation here, He's just talking about devastation. When you do it, you're violating God.
So how you treat another believer is a very, very important issue. Now let's go back, with that in mind, to James chapter 4. And what James is saying here is do not speak evil one of another, brethren, and then says, "Brother, brother."
In other words, get it in your mind who you're talking about here. When you maliciously attack with evil jealous, envious intent another believer and speak lies about that person in order to slander and backbite and gossip and criticize and harm them and ruin their reputation and discredit them, when you do that, just remember who you're doing it to, one for whom Christ died, one who is His own elect, one who is His own beloved child and so doing you offend God, you offend the holy angels, you offend Christ, you offend the Holy Spirit who dwells in them, to say nothing of offending them. Pretty serious territory.
Now a second controlling factor, and that was just a brief review. A second controlling factor as you think about your speech is what you think not only about others but what you think about law...what you think about law, verse 11. "He that speaks evil of his brother or condemns his brother, sentences him to judgment, is speaking evil of the law and condemning the law."
Now follow the line of reason. Since loving each other as brothers is God's law summed up, when we fail to love we violate God's law. That's what he's saying. So when you slander your brother, you slander the law that forbids you to do that. When you condemn your brother, you condemn the law that forbids you to do that. Condemning and slandering the law means you disregard it. You judge it unworthy of your attention.
Now you say, "Well what's the connection here? If you slander a brother, isn't that a sin against love?" Yes, it's a sin against love but the law is basically a code that expresses all the factors of love. So when you slander your brother, you're sinning against love and since the law is best summed up in love, you're sinning against the law.
Let's follow that thought. Go back to Exodus chapter 20, and I think you'll see this a fascinating thing. We've looked at Exodus 20 in the past but let me just see if I can't pull you back through it and refresh your spirit about this. Here's the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20, and I want you to understand that the Ten Commandments that you perhaps learned as a child are nothing more or less than ten features of law verbal...pardon me, let me say that again. Nothing more than ten features of love verbalized, okay? The Ten Commandments are ten features of love verbalized.
For example, "God spoke all these words saying," verse 1, "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, you shall have no other gods before Me." That's a statement about love. That tells me that love is loyal to its object. Be loyal to Me, He says. If you love Me you won't have any other gods. Love is not fickle, love is loyal. Love is single minded. Love is undivided.
Secondly, love is faithful. He says in verse 4, "Do not make any carved image, any likeness of anything in heaven above or in earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. Do not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me and showing mercy on thousands of them that love Me...there it is...and keep My commandments." Love is faithful to obey. Love is faithful to obey the object of its affection. It is loyal in spirit, it is obedient in behavior. That's just a characteristic of love.
Thirdly, love is respectful, verse 7, "Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain." Someone you love, you don't misuse their name. You don't desecrate their name. You don't run their name in the dirt. Love is loyal to its object, love responds in obedience, faithfully to the devotion of its heart toward that object, love is respectful, it speaks to lift up, it speaks to exalt, it speaks to honor its object.
And fourthly, verse 8, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days you labor and do your work, the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God, in that you do no work...you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your man-servant, your maid-servant, your cattle, any stranger in your gates, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." You know what this tells me? Love is set apart. Love is dedicated. Love is sanctified. Love, in a sense, is reverent, if you will. But I think the main idea here is love is just dedicated. Love is so devoted that there are times when it gives all its attention to its object. Love is loyal. Love is faithful to covenant and obedient. Love is respectful. Love is devoted at some times totally to its object. And then that all relates to God, that all relates to what Deuteronomy 6 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your...what?...heart, soul, mind, strength," Deuteronomy 6:4 and 5.
Now as we follow from verse 12 He turns to love among men. And He says, first of all in verse 12, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long on the earth which the Lord your God gives you." Love is submissive to authority. Love is submissive to parents. Love is never rebellious. Love is never lawless. Love is never...are you ready for this?...ungrateful for what parents have provided. Love is never hateful. Love is never resentful. Love is always submissive to its object. So what He's saying is...Children, submit yourselves to your parents...which is to say if you love your parents, that's not even an issue, you'll do that.
Verse 13, another principle of love. "Thou shalt not kill." Do you kill somebody you love? Not hardly...not hardly. I don't have a sign in my house reminding me, "Don't kill your children." That never enters my mind. I love my children. I don't need that kind of law because I have in my heart a dominant law of love. And love doesn't take a life. Love is never murderous. Love upholds the sacredness of life. Love would never take away the object of its affection.
Verse 14, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Love is pure. Love never seeks to defile anybody. Listen, when a guy comes to a girl and says, "I love you, let's go to bed," he doesn't love her, not when he wants to steal way the purest thing she has. That isn't love. That's anything but love. You see, love exalts the purity of its object. Love treats its object with sacred reverence.
Verse 15, "Thou shalt not steal." Love is selfless. Love is giving. Love doesn't take, love gives. Love is unselfish. Again it's a principle of love articulated as a command.
Verse 16, love is truthful. Love would never lie because love would never want to falsify. Love would never want to give somebody the wrong impression. If you love somebody, you want them to know the truth. If you love somebody you want them to know exactly the way it is. So, "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor," that doesn't fit love. You're not going to lie about your neighbor if you love your neighbor, you're going to tell the truth. Why would you want to slander your neighbor if you loved him?
And verse 17, love is content. Love doesn't covet a neighbor's house, a neighbor's wife, a man-servant, a maid-servant, an ox, an ass or anything that belongs to the neighbor. Because love loves the neighbor. You see, love is loyal, love is faithful. It keeps covenant. Love is respectful. Love is so devoted and dedicated that there are times it gives itself wholly to its object. Love is submissive to those in authority, not rebellious and lawless. Love is protective of others, never murderous, but always upholding the sacredness and the right of someone else to live. Love is pure, never seeks to defile. Love is unselfish, always gives doesn't take. Love is truthful. It has no pleasure in a lie because it seeks only the best for its object. And love is content with what it has and would only wish the best for someone else. And that second half of the Decalogue is summed up in the words of Leviticus 19:18 which says, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as...what?...thyself." If you love your neighbor like you love yourself, you'll submit, you'll protect, you'll keep their purity and so forth and so on.
Now do you get where we're going? You get where we're going? We're going to Matthew 22:37 where Jesus said this, "On this hang all the law and the prophets." On what? "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." On this hang all the law and the prophets. Why? Because all the law is, is an articulation of love and all the prophets did was apply the law. That's the issue.
Do you remember Romans 13? Look at it. As Jesus summed up the law in Matthew 22, Paul summed up the law in Romans 13:8, listen to what he says, "Love one another, for he that loves another has fulfilled the law." Isn't that something? If you love somebody, you've fulfilled the law. Why? The law says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," verse 9, "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not covet." And there's the second-half of the Ten Commandments. "And if there's any other commandment, it's briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Love takes care of it because verse 10 says, "Love works no ill to its neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of...what?...of the law."
So you see what James is saying, do you? What James is saying is if you slander your brother, that's not love and if that's not love, then you've broken the law. Got it? That's the flow of thought.
Now back to James and look at chapter 2 for just a moment. In James chapter 2 verse 8, "If you fulfill the royal law," the royal law is the law of love, "according to the Scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, you do well. But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin and are convicted of the law as a transgressor."
In other words, if you don't treat people right, you break the law. What I'm saying to you is a breach of love is a breach of law, a violation of love is a violation of law because all God gave His law to do was to regulate man's love toward Him and toward his fellow man.
So, if we defame someone, if we speak maliciously against someone, if we get our tongues wagging with gossip and slander and backbiting and saying things that are not true, we violate the law at its very heart because at best the law is an articulation of love's principles. So, James says, chapter 4, such kind of speech speaks evil of the law and condemns the law. In other words, it shows utter disregard for the divine standard...utter disregard for the divine standard.
Now we're going a little deeper, stay with me now, we're going to submerge a minute here, into the nature of this and every sin. Listen carefully. James does not condemn this slander as a violation of personal affection, although it is that. He does not condemn malicious backbiting talk as a violation of kindness, but as a violation of God's law. And law has no article here which emphasizes in the Greek the qualitative character of law. It violates law as law, and law as love. The law of love is grievously attacked by slanderous speech.
Now think with me on this. The fact that such a sin violates law is the sinner in effect saying...I am superior to law. Did you get that? That's what the sinner says. That's why every sin is a sin of pride because what you're saying in effect is...I know what God said, but this is what I'm saying. And if you think God is in charge, you're wrong, I'm in charge. That's what the sinner says. That's what I say when I sin, that's what you say when you sin. I know what God says but I am not subject to God's law, I have a higher law...my law. And I know God said don't do it, but I'm doing it. You have a higher law than the law of God. The unimaginable reality is that the one who disregards the law of God in his behavior is himself affirming that he is above that law...that he doesn't have to be bound by that law, that he is living on a plain higher than the law of God and not subject to its authority.
Dear folks, will you get that in your mind that that's what sin is? Sin is not some little slip over here in the corner without major implications, sin is in effect saying I am superior to the law of God. I am not under that law. I am not bound to that law. I will not live by that law. God can't tell me what to do. I'm in charge. That's what sin says. Attacking law is judging one's brother as, putting it in a Latin term, "eio ipso??". In other words, you're judging the law itself. If you judge your brother, you condemn your brother and you're condemning the law that protects your brother by calling you to love him...and you're saying you're higher than that law. You're saying the law of God is unworthy of my behavior, the law of God is useless. It's a fearful disrespect.
You have to put sin in its context. You have to see it for what it is. You're saying the law of God is unworthy of my attention, it is unworthy of my affection, it is unworthy of my obedience, it is unworthy of my submission...and that, dear friends, is blasphemy. You're really like the usurper, Satan, himself...so am I when we sin.
Go back to verse 11, the end of the verse, "But if you judge the law, or if you condemn the law by ignoring it, violating it, you are not a doer of the law...he says...but you're a...what?...judge." You've just climbed up on the bench and you're in charge. You've rejected your position as one under the authority of the law. And you've taken a position above the law. You are in charge. You are more worthy than the law is.
Now if you live your life that way, James says, then your salvation is questionable. If that's the constant pattern of your life. See sin for what it is here, will you? Yes, sin is a violation of the brotherhood. Yes, it is a violation of love. Yes, it is a breach of affection. Yes, it is a violation of brotherhood. But more than that, it is rebellion and usurpation of authority. It is blasphemy against the law of God. And where is the humility in that? And since God gives grace to the humble, how do we know God has given you grace if you live that kind of proud approach to life?
And James isn't through with his logic. He's going to go a step further. Follow the third thought, the sin of slander is not only a result of what one thinks about others, and what one thinks about law, but, thirdly, what one thinks about God. And this is a logical progression. Look at the first part of verse 12, "There is one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy." You know what that means? There's no room for you on the bench. Get off. There's already one there. Who in the world do you think you are? There are no vacancies in the trinity. They're not waiting for you to show up and call the shots. When the slanderer puts himself above the law, he takes the bench and he endeavors to dispossess God.
Now let me tell you something. For years I studied the fall of Satan and I didn't understand how it was or what it was or what the dynamics were when Satan wanted to be like God until I understood what it was for the sinner to think himself higher than the law of God. We remember that Satan said "I will be like God, I will be like the Most High," five times he said "I will, I will, I will, I will, I will." And he sought the place of supremacy. He sought to come out from under the submission that was his under God and to be above God and be in charge. And that's been the essence of every sin ever since. So if you struggle to understand that, it's because you struggle to understand the meaning of any sin because any sin is the same kind of "I will, I will, I will, I will," the desire to usurp the role of judge, to push God off the bench and be in charge and be the one above the law, rather than the one under the law. This is the frightening sin of Satan and this is the frightening sin of pride and this is the frightening sin that every sin follows.
We've come across a great truth here, that all sin violates God's law, all sin asserts that the sinner is above the law, and therefore strikes a murderous blow at God Himself. In fact, sin at its very core is would-be deicide. Do you know what I mean by deicide? The killing of God. All sin says, in effect, I want God dead and I want to be in charge. Boy, that's a heavy thought. That's why the psalmist in Psalm 51, David, after his terrible sin said, "Against Thee, Thee only have I...what?...sinned." How did he sin against God by having a relationship with the wife of Uriah? How did he sin against God by sending Uriah out to be killed? How did he sin against God? Because he came out from under the authority of God's law, said I have a higher law, get off the throne, God, I'm judge and lawgiver. And that strikes a blow at the very character of God and the authority of God and, in effect, is the would-be murder of God. Sin is a very serious reality.
In giving the trespass offering in Leviticus chapter 5 verse
19 it says, "It is a trespass offering," why? "He has certainly trespassed against the Lord." Every sin is against the Lord. Every sin is against the Lord. Why? Because every sin, in effect, condemns the law and usurps the role of authority. You become the lawgiver and you write your own law and you push God off and the assumption is...God, I wish You were dead so that I could be in control. And that was the sin of Satan and that is the prototype of every sin that every person has ever committed.
Do you remember that Nathan said to David, "Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in His sight?" Why have you done that? And David said to Nathan, verse 13, "I have sinned against the Lord." And he had. And so has every sinner who has ever sinned.
You see, the law...as we saw this morning...is the expression of who God is. And to disregard and disobey that law is to devalue that law and to value one's own opinion more than the Word of God and therefore to kick God off the throne and take over. Set yourself up as the ultimate authority.
So James reminds us, let's look at verse 12 for a moment. "There is one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy." The literal Greek text says, "One is the lawgiver and judge." In fact, the sense of the text is, "Only one is the lawgiver and judge...only one." The One who gave that law is the One who will judge men by that law. He is both lawgiver and law-applier, which is what a judge is. And that One is God, obviously.
The word "lawgiver" means "the one who puts the law in place." That word is used in...it's not very often used, in fact this may be the only place in the New Testament...I found one place in Psalm 9:2 in the Septuagint of the Old Testament, but this is the one who puts the law in place. And the judge is the one who applies the law. And the Greek text says, "Only one is lawgiver and judge...only one." That's God.
Isaiah 33:22 puts it this way, "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King, the Lord will save us." Only one. And he says He's able to save...look at that, He's able to save and to destroy. That's how He applies the law. In the application of the law He saves those who are protected from the law because of the faith in Christ and He destroys those who are unprotected because of no faith in Christ. The word "save," sozo, means "to rescue from danger, to rescue from destruction, to save from perishing." Lost men are perishing. God is able to save them. Jesus came to save His people from their sins, Matthew 1:21 said. God is able. The word "able" is there, it's the word from which we get dynamite. He has the power to save, the power to deliver.
So God gave the law. God applies the law. God has the power to deliver men from the penalty of the law. And He also has the power to exact the penalty of the law and to destroy men. Strong word, apollumi, utterly destroy them. It doesn't mean annihilate them, it means to put them into eternal loss, eternal estrangement, eternal hell.
So you can't usurp that place. There's only one lawgiver. There's only one judge to apply the law. There's only one who has the power to acquit by mercy through faith in Christ. And there's only one who has the power to condemn. And that's God. And the folly and stupidity and brashness and blasphemy of sin is that it says...God, get off the throne and out of the way, I'm in charge. That's the essence of sin's pride.
He is lawgiver. He is judge. He is Savior. He is executioner. Do we need to even reinforce that? It's so many places in Scripture. Do you remember the words of Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 39? Listen, "See now that I, even I am He and there is no God with Me, I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal, neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand." I'm in charge of healing and I'm in charge of killing.
In 1 Kings 8:39, and there He's speaking about His power to judge and His power to save. First Kings 8, I think it's verse 39 also, if my memory's right, yes..."Then hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive the plea to God, and do and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest," then this in parenthesis, "for Thou, even Thou only knowest all the hearts of the children of men." Only God knows. Only God can apply the law because only God knows the human heart and the law can be violated not only on the outside, but, of course, on the inside. So you're the only one who can know, you're the only one who's in a position to judge. There's only one judge. There's only one lawgiver.
I'm thinking also of Proverbs, kind of on my feet here(??), Proverbs 15 verse 11 reinforces the same thought. "Sheol and destruction are before the Lord." Boy, what a statement. God is in charge of hell. God is in charge of destruction. "Fear not those who destroy the body," Matthew says recording the words of Jesus, "but fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." What a fearful statement our Lord gave. You want to be afraid, be afraid of the God who can destroy the body, Matthew 10:28, and the soul in hell.
The point of these scriptures and a myriad other scriptures is that God is in charge of eternal destiny. God is lawgiver, law applier, and executioner and Savior as well. Now the point is this. When you or myself sin, we try to rise to the point of deposing God. And that's why sin is so hateful to Him and should be to us.
Now if this sounds kind of foreign to you, it's because we have such a watered-down view of our sinfulness, don't we? We see our sinfulness in the puniest terms. Basic extant evangelical theology is so weak and witless when it comes to sin that we pass it off as if it were a small thing. And if we truly understood sin as the would-be deicide attempt where we want to execute God and replace Him with ourselves, maybe we get a different view of how He sees our sin.
Sin attempts to depose God. Sin taunts the power of God and dares Him to show His vengeance. Sin disdains the omnipotence of God. And sin even despises the grace of God and the mercy of God by abusing the fact that He is forgiving.
William Barclay said, "It is a reckless man who deliberately infringes on the prerogatives of God," a reckless man.
In the 1600's, a man by the name of Ralph Vining wrote a book called The Plague of Plagues, which I have read repeatedly and continue to read. It's a book about sin. It's not a popular book. In fact, I doubt that anybody ever wrote a book on sin that was popular. You'd have to buy it in a brown bag. But in 1600's Ralph Vining wrote this, "The sinfulness of sin not only appears from but consist in this...consists in this, that it is contrary to God. Indeed it is contrariety and enmity itself. Carnal men, or sinners, are called by the name of enemies of God. But the carnal mind or sin is called enmity itself. Accordingly it and its acts are expressed by names of enmity and acts of hostility, such as walking contrary to God, rebelling against God, rising up against God, striving and contending with God, despising God, hating God, resisting God, fighting God, blaspheming God. And in short, it is atheism, it is saying there is no God. It goes about to ungod God. It is God murder," he said.
When Pharaoh said, "I know no lord above me," Exodus 5:2, he said what every sinner says. I'm in charge, there's no lord above me, I'll do what I want. In short, sin is the dare of God's justice. It is the rape of His mercy. It is the jeer of His patience. It is the sleight of His power. It is the contempt of His love. And it is the demeaning of His law. And it reveals a hate for God and a pride that is unthinkable blasphemy.
So get a grip on what your sin is. And if you're going to deal with your tongue and the rest of the sin in your life, and if I am, it's going to be because of what we think...what we think about others, what we think about the law, and what we think about God.
And finally, what we think about ourselves. And this is...this is the arrow to the heart. James just drives this one home with a vengeance. Look at the end of verse 12, "Who...and I'll add a little MacArthurism...in the world do you think you are sitting in condemnation on someone else? What are you, the paragon of perfection? Who do you think...what gives you the right to come off as the judge of all the earth? Are you the holy standard? Shut your mouth," he's saying. Who do you think you are? That "judge" is present participle, who makes a habitual pattern to condemn other people...judges your neighbor or another. Is that humility? Are you in a position to do that? Boy, that's strong words...strong words.
I was reading about an old fable this week, a man who committed a terrible crime and the gods hit him, this was in some of the old Greek literature that I once in a while read, the mythology. There was a man who committed some crimes and the gods cursed him and his punishment was the rest of his life he could only see people as grizzly gaunt skeletons...couldn't see their flesh and their muscle, their tissue, their faces. Everyone he saw was gaunt, stark, grizzly skeleton...no charm, no beauty.
And I thought to myself, there are people who see people like that anyway and they haven't been cursed. They're like G.B. Hardy of whom...G.B. Hardy who said of a friend, "He could find the manure pile in any meadow." They're the kind of people who no matter what their good...what good might be available, they don't see it. Most people probably live like that, but Christians shouldn't. And maliciously defaming one another, you know, sometimes I get so weary of that...people saying things maliciously about folks that they don't...they don't know whether they're true, and on the other hand, some people know they're not true but say them anyway.
I read something this week that shocked me. I don't know if you had occasion to read about this. The writer puts it this way, "They were a happy little family living in a small town in North Dakota...even though the young mother had been entirely, had not been entirely well since the birth of her second baby. A simple and a humble little family. And each evening the neighbors were aware of a warmth in their hearts when they would see the husband and father being met at the gate by his wife and two little children. There was laughter in the evening, too. And when the weather was nice, the father and the children would romp together on the back lawn while mother looked on with happy smiles.
"Then one day a village gossip started a story saying that the father was being unfaithful to his wife...a story entirely untrue. But it eventually came to the ears of the young wife and it was more than she could bear. Reason left its throne and that night when her husband came home there was no one to meet him at the gate, no laughter in the house, no fragrant aroma coming from the kitchen, only coldness and something that chilled his heart with fear. And down in the basement he found the three of them hanging from a beam. Sickened in despair the young mother had first taken the lives of her two children and then her own.
"In the days that followed the truth of what had happened came out. A gossip's tongue had wrought a terrible tragedy."
The power of a slanderous tongue. But not only can it create havoc in this world, but it slanders God Himself. So James says stop doing it and if you continually do it, you better test the genuineness of your faith. Let's bow together in prayer.
Each of us in our own hearts, doing some soul searching, a little inventory maybe about our tongue, our speech, the things we say...and if we have maliciously spoken evil of someone unfairly, unjustly, without cause, if we have spoken lies, if we have spoken words of hatred or backbiting, gossip behind someone's back, this is the time for confession, time for heart examination. And none of us is without sin because the one who doesn't sin with his tongue, it said in James 3, is the perfect man and none of us is that.
Father, we come to You again, a people who need to confess our sins, the sins of our tongue. Lord God, we who are new creations, may it be manifest in what we say, not just some of the time but all of the time. Help us to bring our unredeemed flesh into harmony with that redeemed new nature. Help us to speak grace. Help our speech to be seasoned with salt so that it arrests instantaneously a corrupt conversation and brings healing and purification. Help us to speak words of edification, building up and strengthening and blessing and encouraging one another. Help us never to say anything that in any way would offend another believer whom You love and to whom you look and the holy angels. Help us to forgive each other and love each other and restore each other and hold each other up. Help us to think right about ourselves and to think right about others and to think right about Your law and to think right about You. And cleanse us from those sins that have been brought to mind and heart tonight...for the Savior's sake, we pray. Amen.
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text: Junkbox blues duo Henry Hill Kammerer and John "Lord Buckets" Johnson are back in their usual blues stomp form and will perform at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at Taroko, 62 E. Main St. Hillstomp's music is a bit of Northern Mississippi trance blues, Appalachian music and punkabilly. Local "blackgrass" group Stereotyped will open the show. The cover is $5.


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Victory Red Irons help the Red, White, and Blue win the Ryder Cup!!
I have just been able to see the Nike Victory Red Forged TW Blades for the 2009 product line. Some of you may have noticed Paul Casey using these to help the United States win the Ryder Cup. (more…)