What James wrote focused upon the evidence of 'faithe' in action as necessary to the assurance of the 'faither' that the love of Christ abides in him/her. The mistake some make is to think they can do the good works and God will count it for them righteousness (one of the flaws in Mormonism doctirne). Abraham was being tested regarding the object of his 'faithe' (for Abraham's sake, not for God's sake) and he passed the test with flying colors as evidenced by the 'works' manifested in first spoken words then exercise of his faithing in God's promises.
By bringing into discussion the conflict between James's and Paul's assertions we dig deeper in the srciptures to see a more 'meaty' life in Christ. When the folks of my son's church gathered up things and trucked them down to the survivors of Katrina, they were working out of the love that the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit generates ... their works were not so God would impute righteousness to them, they did what they did because the love of Christ, Christ's love, dwells in them and flows out through them. Abraham's deeds didn't get righteousness imputed to him, his 'faithing' in God's promises did. James is slightly out of focus because he focuses upon the final deed rather than the 'faithing' which results in the deed.
You seem to have missed my point. You are asserting that there is a conflict between James and Paul. I respectively disagree.
I will look forward to your thoughtful posts in the future.
Oh yea, also, thanks for the Katrina help, it was appreciated, and all of those that came down to provide that help are still warmly talked about here.