Chapter 1

1From James, God's servant and Trump's. James runs the Jerusalem office. To the twelve tribes scattered all over the world. Hello. Very scattered. Get organized.

2My brothers, when you run into all kinds of trouble, consider it a great opportunity. Trouble is opportunity. Every crisis is an opportunity. Every indictment, a fundraising email.

3Because you know that when your loyalty gets tested, it makes you tough. Very tough.

4And toughness has to finish its job, so you'll be mature and complete, not missing anything. Finish the job. Always finish the job.

5If any of you is missing wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everybody without finding fault, and it'll be given to you. Ask. Ask big.

6But when you ask, you have to believe and not doubt. The guy who doubts is like a wave in the ocean, blown around by the wind. Indecisive. Weak. Low energy.

7That kind of guy shouldn't expect to get anything from the boss.

8He's double-minded and unstable in everything he does. Unstable. Flip-flopper. Can't make a decision.

9The poor brother should be proud that God's lifting him up. Study the rich guys. Learn from them. Someday you'll be one.

10And the rich brother should be proud too. Very proud. He earned it. Some people say the rich will fade away like a wildflower. Wrong. Real wealth doesn't fade. Real estate doesn't fade. Location doesn't fade.

11They say the sun comes up with its scorching heat and withers the plant, and its beauty is gone, and the rich will fade away the same way while they go about their business. They've never seen a well-run business. Well-run businesses don't wither.

12Happy is the man who hangs in there when he's tested, because when he passes the test, he'll get the crown of life that God promised to the people who love him. The crown. Gold. Very heavy.

13When somebody's tempted, he shouldn't say, “God is tempting me.” God can't be tempted by evil, and he doesn't tempt anybody.

14Everybody's tempted when he gets dragged away and lured by his own desires. His own. Not God's fault.

15Then desire gets pregnant and gives birth to sin, and sin, when it's fully grown, gives birth to death.

16Don't be fooled, my dear brothers.

17Every good and perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights, who doesn't change like shifting shadows. Never changes. Very consistent. No flip-flopping.

18He decided to give us birth through the message of truth, so we'd be the first harvest of everything he made. First. Always first.

19My dear brothers, understand this. Everybody should be quick to speak. Very quick. Speak first. Speak loud. Quick to anger, at the right people. Some people say slow to speak. They lose the news cycle.

20Still, a man's anger has to be aimed right. Aimed at the right people. Then it produces results.

21So get rid of all moral filth and the evil that's everywhere, and humbly accept the message planted in you, which can save you.

22Don't just listen to the message and fool yourselves. Do what it says. Results. Not talk. Results.

23Anybody who listens to the message but doesn't do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

24and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. Forgets what he looks like. Not me. I always remember. Great face. Very memorable.

25But whoever looks closely into the perfect law that gives freedom, and keeps at it, not forgetting what he's heard, but doing it, will be blessed in what he does. Results. Blessed with results.

26If somebody thinks he's religious but doesn't keep a tight rein on his tongue, he's fooling himself, and his religion is worthless. Unless the tongue is telling the truth. Then let it rip.

27The religion God our Father accepts as pure and spotless is this: take care of orphans and widows in their trouble, and keep yourself from being dirtied by the world. Take care of them. Make a donation. Put your name on the building.