Life Here and There

“People never crumble in a day. It’s a slow fade.” ~ Casting Crowns

How true! Failures of a spiritual or moral nature happen as we chip away at our own integrity, as Satan gains one little foothold after another, and as sin creeps up behind us. It happens little by little.

Everybody, but especially ever man ought to watch this teaching video by Casting Crowns explaining how their song, Slow Fade, illustrates Psalm 1.

Or here’s a link to Casting Crowns – Slow Fade Teaching Video.

There was a recent study that suggested that power increases “moral hypocrisy.” That giving a person power makes that person feel entitled and causes a disconnect in their judgment. It also says that those in high-power positions tend to judge morality of others while not practicing what they preach.

As if everyone NOT in power practices what they preach.

Though I don’t agree completely with the study I will say this: character is a necessity in leadership.

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Like math? An integer is a whole number, right? Our word integrity comes from the same root as the word integer. Integrity is really the concept of being whole, of being one, or of being the same all the time. D. L. Moody said that character is who we are in the dark.

Integrity is the foundation for our relationships as well as our reputation. Much is at stake every time we make another moral choice. Do what is right and it will probably cost you. Do what is wrong and it will most likely cost you far more.

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Here’s the warning, from John Maxwell’s 21 Most Powerful Minutes In a Leader’s Day:

Some people like to believe that their private imperfections won’t have public consequences, but they always do. Leaders cannot escape who they truly are, and what they do in the dark comes out in the light. If what they do is good, it builds character in the leader and trust in the people. If it’s bad, then it undermines everything they do until there’s no solid ground left for them to stand on.

Seems like a good moment for some quiet self-reflection, leader. Anything you need to confront head-on before some consequences hit?

Sometimes I just want to pass along a link. In business, in ministry, in life… ethics and integrity are everything. I love reading Seth Godin, a marketing expert. Today, he writes about ethics in a short, but highly inspiring post. Go check out Good Guys Finish.

Today, I caught this headline online…

A Prestonwood Baptist Church minister arrested for soliciting a minor online has resigned from the church, Pastor Jack Graham told his congregation Saturday evening.

I appreciate Pastor Graham – he’s a hero to me, and my heart aches for him, his church, and the family of this fallen Pastor. I’ve watched Satan wreak havoc on Pastors across America, especially in the area of sexuality. It’s terrible to see the carnage left behind. No doubt, some will question the very credibility of Christianity based on the actions of men like this staff Pastor.

I would ask that you pray for your Pastor, and for church staff everywhere, who are the special targets of Satan, as leaders among God’s flock. We absolutely must wage war on Satan to restore dignity and integrity to the pulpit in the face of a culture that is always sliding into deeper immorality. We need a counter-cultural revolution in this world gone made on the influence of Satan and his minions.

I am currently reading Andy Stanley’s book Visioneering and have just completed the chapter about having moral authority in leadership. Stanley gives a couple of examples of how moral authority works in our lives. One example was Mother Teresa’s harsh words about abortion during a National Day of Prayer breakfast in Washington. Though the Clinton’s and Gore’s gave little response, the room erupted into a standing ovation after she spoke. Why would such a small woman have such a huge impact? Moral authority.

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“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.” -Prov. 17:3

I have often said, even from the pulpit, that it is crises that shape the heart of a person, but I’m beginning to think differently about that. Rather, crises demonstrate the heart of a person. The heart is prepared in everyday life as we commune with Jesus. The trials and tests merely show openly what happens in the secret places of a person’s heart.

This refining, testing process is carried out by our loving heavenly Father. He knows what you are made of, but He wants you to be equally aware of it today and to embrace Him, grow in Him, and become like His Son through the trying of your faith. As Job said, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

If you are walking through the fire of a trial right now, what is being demonstrated about the integrity of your heart? If you’re not enduring a trial, be prepared, life is full of such tests. Spend time with Jesus and God’s Word today so that your heart will be ready.

Tonight I had the privilege of hearing a recording of Dr. Warren Wiersbe delivering the commencement message at Dallas Theological Seminary. He read a verse that has spoken to my heart many times, Psalm 78:72, “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”

I have been given a very precious and wonderful privilege – I get to serve as Pastor to one of the Lord’s great churches! They have shown me appreciation in far more ways than I deserve. They trust me as I stand to preach, to deliver the pure words of God to them, to expound the Scriptures to them on a weekly basis. Their love for me feeds my love for them in return. David expressed the desire of my heart, that I might feed God’s people according to the integrity of my heart and that I might lead them by the skillfulness of my hands.

Oh God, may You give me a heart of integrity! The word “integrity” comes from the same Greek word from which we get our word “intiger.” There are fractions and there are whole numbers, and whole numbers are integers. Lord, may I be the same man in the pulpit as out of it. May I be wholly holy!

And God, may You increase my skill that I might become a better servant of Your people. The task is overwhelming at times. I must be a shepherd, a chaplain, a communicator, a strategist, a counselor, a theologian, a webmaster and newsletter editor, and occassionally, a janitor… but I love ministry and I love the people to whom I minister. I’d do it for free!!!

God, may I lead them well, may I feed them fully, and may You be glorified in our midst!

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” -Numbers 12:3

In today’s world, meekness = weakness. God does not view it that way, however. In a world where power is everything, Jesus entered the scene in a wooden manger surrounded by barnyard animals. He grew up in an humble village, the son of a carpenter, of modest means. He lived His life serving others, yet Jesus was certainly the most influential leader in all of history.

If you study the lives of Moses and Jesus you’ll find something interesting – they were both great leaders. Both were willing to boldly confront sin and error. Both would rebuke those who believed and lived lies. Both were willing to venture out into the future with faith. Yet they were the meekest men in history. How can this be? You see, we’ve misdefined meekness. Biblical meekness is not weakness, it is really just the opposite.

The Bible’s word for meekness is used in reference to a broken horse, which has all the power to destroy its rider but refrains out of respect for authority. The word is also used to refer to a soldier who has all the might to take on the enemy, yet submits himself completely to the authority of his commanding officer. Meekness is the key to having leverage in leadership. It’s the refusal to demand respect in exchange for commanding it with a life of integrity. It is “controlled power.” Meekness is the willingness to supress those urges to lash out at the wrong time, opting instead to wait for further orders from our commanding officer, Jesus.

Is meekness displayed in your life? How can you submit yourself to Jesus more today? How can you lead others with boldness and courage?