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James 3:14-16 Commentary

James 3:14-16 says: However, is you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in the ways that deny the truth.

Next, all of this means that if we disclose selfish ambitions inside of our hearts, then the Lord God will be disappointed.  For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom, but of the world.

Moreover, I want to say that I used to be just like what the Bible verses are talking about.  I used to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana for a total of 18 years.

 This means that from the age of 7 years old until I turned 25 years old, I was inside of the streets of Dayton, Ohio and doing the things that were of the world.  Just like Theologians used to say that the Lust of the Flesh; The Lust of the Eyes, and; The pride of Life is of the world.  I know that this is a plan of action that is utilized by Satan Himself.

However, it affects man spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically as well. I know for me, it caused me to disrespect all of my authority figures, and act the fool at school.

 I started using vulgarity at an early age as well.  I have changed a whole lot since 1990.  I know that I read the Bible, say my prayers each day and night.  I also read the Bible a whole lot.  I am still learning all about the Bible and how to comply with God Himself.  Frankly, I have to learn how to officially stop using vulgarity for good.  I ask God to always forgive me; whenever I commit a sin of this magnitude.

In Addition, I have to stop arguing with other people because it is not worth it.  What I am doing right now, is taking a walk away from my environment.  I learned this during my anger management classes.  At least, it keeps me out of trouble.  It also keeps me away from the Criminal Justice System. 

Meanwhile, I have been reading and studying Bible verses like this so that I can learn how to watch the things that come out of my mouth.  My AA Sponsor stated to me that I have to start all over doing the 12 Steps of AA Recovery.

 I am starting all over because things have changed whenever it comes to the curriculum of the self-help programs.  I know that there are new things that I have to write down when it comes to working the 12 Steps.  I have to write down a powerless list, accountability list, and responsibilities list as well.

I am responsible for my AA Recovery.  I know that my AA Sponsor is responsible for telling me the things that are feasible in the 12 Steps.  I am responsible for listening and learning these things.

Furthermore, I am supposed to help those who are suffering from alcoholism and other drugs.  I know that every time I read Galatians 6:1 it convicts me.  What this Bible verse is saying that a spiritual person always has to help those who are committing sin.  I also have to be careful myself.

The Bible itself is a manual of rules, regulations, and precepts when it comes to governing human behavior.  I know that things have changed for me during the last 14 years.

 I will admit that I was court ordered to move back to Dayton, Ohio because I was non-compliance for an extended period of time.  Therefore, from 2010-the present, I was ordered to take certain medications for my behavior.  The Mecklenburg County Courts sent me back home because I was evicted out my residence three times in one year.

I know that this is not a laughing matter, but a person’s behavior can and will get you into trouble.  I know that I have to resolve all of my active issues before I pass away.  I have to make direct amends with my family members and friends to whom I have offended in the past.

I also know that I have to pay my student loans debt of $28,000 dollars in interest from my student loans while I was a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

 I was enrolled in my classes in August of 2003.  I had other student loans to pay in another state.  I have to pay a whole lot of money to all of my creditors.  During that time, I was online at my job.  I was solely responsible for crashing computers by looking at porn online.  By doing so, I ended up causing a Worm Virus that contaminated the hard drive of the computers.

Even though, I was responsible for doing a lot of damage to the computers each time that I used them.  I ended up losing my job because of my behavior.  The University of North Carolina at Charlotte classified me as a threat to the public safety of the staff and student body of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Campus Community as of Wednesday April 9, 2009.  I was terminated from my job.

I know that this is something that I am supposed to keep to myself.  It even affects me whenever I am applying for jobs anywhere in the United States.  I am also a victim of age discrimination as well.  There are employers who will not hire me because I have to be certified in certain things.

Finally, I want to inform all of you that I am doing a lot better right now.  I know that things have changed for me during the past 14 years.  I am putting things into perspective right now.

 I have been clean and sober for 34 years now.  I have been trying to still pay on my student loans.  I know that every time I apply for a job of any kind, they will be asking for a reference from my previous employers.  I have to be transparent by saying that this is a very serious matter.

In Conclusion, I want to inform all of you that I know how to survive in any city that I have lived in during the past 34 years.  I know that my life is really what I am supposed to make of it.

 My biggest problem is that, I am not able to obtain any job because of my past.  I have changed my overall behavior because I am going through Continued Commitment because of my behavior.  I know that there are people who are trying to compromise my information and use it against me.

These are the people who have scammed me out of money in the past.  This includes a woman to whom that I was involved in a relationship with from September of 1989 to September of 1990.

 I was responsible for giving her money just to satisfy her drug appetite. During a four-month period, I had given her money to do whatever she wanted because I was working two jobs during the time from 1989 through 1990. I am not going to mention her name but there are many people who know who I am talking about.

I have managed to pay my rent and other bills right now because I am no longer involved in any online relationships.  I know that I am solely responsible for engaging in reckless behavior by giving people money that I did not know.  This had taken place from Friday March 13, 2008 through February 28, 2010.  I have given several people a total of $16,977 dollars in Western Union Funds.  I had given a young lady a vast majority of the money.  I had given her a total of $8,865 dollars in Western Union Funds. 

I also had given a young lady some money from September 1, 2016 through July 2, 2017.  I was responsible for giving her a total of $1,550 dollars in Western Union Funds because she stated that she was from Accra, Ghana in Africa.  I want to inform all of you that I used to play the fool myself for a number of years. 

In Summary, I want to inform all of you that this is all my fault and no one else.  I will admit that I felt so bad that I have to start all over in the 12 Steps of AA.  I know that I am taking entirely too much medication for a number of ailments.  To put things into perspective, I am responsible for my own actions.

 I have made a number of mistakes in the past.  Right now, I am paying all of my bills first and foremost.  I am also changing everything in my personal life.

 I know that I have been responsible for making changes in my life because I am staying out of trouble.  I no longer have a desire to drink alcohol and beer.  I no longer have a desire to smoke Crack Cocaine and Marijuana Cigarettes.  Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me from myself.

Good Day!! My name is Anthony H. and I am a grateful recovering alcoholic.  I would like to share my experience, strength, and hope regarding Sponsorship.  First of all, I would like to say that having a sponsor is the first and foremost when it comes to communication with other members.  For me personally, I was court ordered into the fellowship by the Dayton, Ohio Montgomery Common Pleas Courts simply because I committed drug related crimes.  I also had a mental illness as well.  To be honest with all of you, having a sponsor is a person who is capable of assisting me and giving me advice; while in the program.  I know that my very first sponsor and I got into a fist fight because he was too demanding.  He really did not know how to be a sponsor and he got mad at me because I was in the streets too much for him.  Even though, I had completed the 12 Steps, I was a person who was a follower of the streets.  I was transitioning out of the street gang culture, and it was very hard at first, but I had to take care of myself and my own family.  Sponsors are people who are experienced in the AA Program.  I will admit that I am a Sponsor myself and the people who I am sponsoring are involved in street gangs.  There are 3 of them who had recently relapsed and I told them that I will be there for them after they are released from treatment.  I had advised and suggested to the men to attend meetings on a daily basis.  I also told these men that they have to avoid having a sexual relationship for one year.  They had to abstain from having a relationship with a woman.  These men had to get themselves together first and foremost.  I help them with things that pertain to Alcoholics Anonymous.  My suggestion to a newcomer in the Fellowship is to attend 90 meetings in 90 days, read the 164 pages of the AA Book.  I also tell newcomers to also call me if they are interested in me as a sponsor.  I also tell newcomers that they will have to establish a relationship with a Higher Power or God.  My objective as a sponsor is to help each person and myself to get through the 12 Steps.  I can only advise and suggest to another fellow alcoholic.  I cannot tell them what to do.  I can show them a better way of life that is much better than drinking and getting high.  My name is Anthony H. from Dayton, Ohio and I am a grateful recovering alcoholic.  My topic is Sponsorship.  My sobriety date is May 2, 1990.Thanks for allowing me to share.

How do I balance work from home life?  First  I usually thank God for allowing me to wake up in the morning to breathe Your Precious Breath of Life and to move my arms and legs.   After I pray I eat breakfast and read a chapter in the Bible.   My work life consists of typing essays and blogs at the library.  I usually stay and complete my daily tasks by finishing up my own assignments.   After my work week I stay at home and clean up my apartment.   On Sunday and Tuesday night after work, I would attend Bible Study at Fort McKinley United Methodist Church in Dayton Ohio.  On certain days during the evening,  I would visit my therapist at the Wellness Card Center located in Dayton Ohio.   In some cases I would go to the NAMI Connections Meetings online each week.   After 9:00pm I’m usually in bed until 6;00am. I get up at 6:00am-7:30am, I take a bath and take my medication before I eat breakfast.   I leave at 9:00am going to work at the Library for a few hours per day and at least 30 hours per week.