Get in the basket

9 Men decided not to eat a soulless lunch in front of a soulless computer in a soulless cubicle and instead met up downtown to discuss things eternal.

The Thang: James 2:14-26

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[a] is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

FNGS:

Larry Killian and George Wormsby both commute to Greenville every day from Atlanta -> 85 North and 85 South

Moleskin:

Thrilled and humbled to have been led to such a great group of men, across F3 Nation. #thanksDredd #thanksOBT

-Works are the evidence of genuine faith.

-Works are the result of your heart being changed, but not the cause of your salvation.

-Don’t just go to church, but also pay attention to those in need of food, clothing, HOPE and LOVE.

-Be aware of mentoring programs

-Doing good works is “putting your money where your mouth is” or “getting your hands dirty”.

-Outside of charities, what are good works we can do that round out our faith?  -Resisting the temptation at work to be lazy; putting God in front of our career; putting family in front of career; Stepping up when co-workers aren’t adequately serving clients, cutting corners, or being unethical; avoid a hyper-competitive attitude that brings glory only to yourself as it would be difficult to be cutthroat about business and also be welcoming to church or to follow Christ.

-When God gives us trials and challenges, we are drawn closer to Him.  When we are “on top of the world”, we feel bulletproof as if we don’t need Him.

-The title, “Get in the basket” comes from an illustration YHC heard one time.  A professional tightrope walker/bike-rider was preparing to ride his bike across a tightrope strung over Niagara Falls.  It’s a long way across, a long way down, and almost certain death if he doesn’t make it.  He asked the large crowd gathered, “Raise your hand if you think I can make it across.”  Being a professional who had done it many times before, hands shot up across the crowd.  “So,” he continued, “since you are so confident in me, who will be willing to sit in my basket as I ride this bike across?”  Of course every hand went down.  Following Christ is not just believing in our mind that He is capable, it is believing with our hearts and putting true faith and confidence in His ability to get us across in the basket.  Through Him alone, with none of our own power.

Closing thought: Keep your head on a swivel and be aware of opportunities God is giving you to practice your faith and not just talk about it.  Allow your entire existence to be transformed by your faith in God and do not compartmentalize it or keep it close to the vest.

Sounding off in the comments is welcomed and encouraged.