Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles

March 20, 2007

A Word From The Wise

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READ: James 3:1-12

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. —Proverbs 21:23

About this cover

James, a “pillar in the early church” (Gal. 2:9), recognized the great destructive power and the danger of an uncontrolled tongue. He was not alone. Men and women in many cultures have warned us about the need to guard our speech. This bit of verse by an unknown writer says it well:

“The boneless tongue, so small and weak, can crush and kill,” declared the Greek.

The Persian proverb wisely saith, “A lengthy tongue, an early death.” Sometimes it takes this form instead: “Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”

While Arab sages this impart: “The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”

From Hebrew wit, the maxim’s sprung: “Though feet should slip, don’t let the tongue.”

A verse from Scripture crowns the whole: “Who keeps the tongue doth keep his soul.”

Is it any wonder that James likened the tongue to a little fire that sets a great forest ablaze, or to the very small rudder that turns a mighty ship in a storm? (James 3:4-6).

O Lord, help us to learn a lesson from the wise. Help us to hold our tongue and not let it slip. —Haddon W. Robinson

There are some silent people
Whose praises should be sung;
They preach a mighty sermon
By guarding well their tongue. —Posegate

Wise is the person who knows what to say and when to say it.

Bible in public schools

Georgia is poised to introduce two literature classes on the Bible in public schools next year, a move analysts say would make the state the first to take an explicit stance endorsing — and funding — biblical teachings. (AP GRAPHIC)

Fairview Women's Ministry Lunch

Photos taken by Pam Espinosa-Smith. Remarks from Pam as well.

Hi Everyone,

Here are some pics from the Women's Ministry Lunch today.

What a great time of fellowship!

Pam :)

Following the American Idol Show, Anyone?

Sabrina Sloan fan site - One of the contestants on American Idol this year, Sabrina Sloan, grew up at Saddleback. Her mother was a long-time staff member at the church. Pastor Rick has not been shy about asking for people to vote for her. So check out her fan site and don't forget to vote for her this week!



Sabrina Sloan was born Sabrina Scherff in Long Island, New York on October 31. Happy Halloween! The family relocated to Southern California, where Sabrina spent the rest of her childhood. Sabrina was a singer virtually out of the womb, and loved to delight friends and family with her performances. At the age of 3, she climbed on a table and belted out “Tomorrow” from Annie at Chucky Cheese’s. No stranger to performing in front of a crowd, Sabrina grew up singing at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. Her first real starring role was as “Dorothy” in The Wiz performed at her alma mater, Mission Viejo High School. That role solidified Sabrina’s aspirations to be a performer. [ Rest of the Bio ]

The Festival of Purim

By the Lord's providence, last night's Bible Study was on the Book of Esther.
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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men dance while celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim in a synagogue in the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem March 5, 2007. Purim is a celebration of the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. Picture taken March 5, 2007. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen (JERUSALEM)

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Esther 9 (New Living Translation)

The Festival of Purim

20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes, 21 calling on them to celebrate an annual festival on these two days.^[f] 22 He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.

23 So the Jews accepted Mordecai’s proposal and adopted this annual custom. 24 Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted to crush and destroy them on the date determined by casting lots (the lots were called purim). 25 But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole. 26 That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots.

So because of Mordecai’s letter and because of what they had experienced, 27 the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year. 28 These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. This Festival of Purim would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote another letter putting the queen’s full authority behind Mordecai’s letter to establish the Festival of Purim. 30 Letters wishing peace and security were sent to the Jews throughout the 127 provinces of the empire of Xerxes. 31 These letters established the Festival of Purim—an annual celebration of these days at the appointed time, decreed by both Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther. (The people decided to observe this festival, just as they had decided for themselves and their descendants to establish the times of fasting and mourning.) 32 So the command of Esther confirmed the practices of Purim, and it was all written down in the records.

Easter Musical 2007

Presenting the Easter Extravaganza and Musical

April 7 and 8, 2007

http://www.fairviewalliance.org/announce.html

A visit with the Saldi Family

I was able to free up some time Thursday afternoon so that I could visit with Maribel, Resty and their two sons, Jeremiah and Joshua.

By the grace of our Lord, considering what he's gone through in the previous months, Jeremiah is doing just fine. Praise the Lord!! GOD is good all the time!!

Joshua, born February 16,2007, is doing A-OK as well.

Resty and Maribel expressed their heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the prayers from their Fairview Church family.

They also expressed their wish to one day be able to buy a used vehicle, preferably a minivan, so that they'll be able to, together with the two boys, come and worship at Fairview every Sunday.

I look forward to one day invite and have Resty and Maribel bless the Fairview Alliance Church family with a special music in a form of a Worship chorus. They both can sing and Resty plays the guitar too.

Here are photos I took during my visit.


Jeremiah with Dad (Resty)


Maribel and Joshua


Joshua sound asleep as he is cradled on the arms of his loving mother, Maribel.


Lean on me when you're not strong - Jeremiah rests his head on dad's shoulder.

Blessings everyone!!

Lito