Doing some studying for the Chapel's message on Integrity, I cam across this devotional on integrity and let me tell you, it was to good to steel and it was to good not to share it with you. Integrity is an lost art in our world today and sadly it has crept into the church as well. We must understand that integrity is not only a vertical act of worship but a horitzonal act as declaration. We really don't know who powerful our integrity can be in helping others understand God. But having integrity can lead people to the lord. Read on and enjoy.

Integrity on Display - Acts 20:16-20:36 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV)

If you want to have the kind of a church Like the kind of a church you like,
You needn't slip your clothes in a grip, And start on a long, long hike.
You'll only find what you left behind, For there's nothing that's really new.
It's a knock at yourself when you knock your church.
For the it isn't your church- it's YOU!

Real Churches are made, not by people afraid Lest someone else gets ahead.
When everyone works and nobody shirks, you can raise a church from the dead!
And if when you make your personal stake, Your neighbor can make one too.
Your church will be what you want it to be,
For it isn't your Church - it's you!

We've been asking ourselves the question, "what is the church supposed to look like?" We've talked about the church being a caring community, how we need to reach out to the community through difficult times. That we need to move out of our comfort zones to bring people to Christ. It's a place where everyone has to be involved and be part of God's team! If we are the church we really long to be we will share the gospel of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, with those who so desperately need to hear it.

Today we must realize that there is a world of people watching us, and we need to be models of integrity. We are all examples to the world, some of us are good examples and some of us are bad examples; but we all have great influence on others, either for or aCorinthians In 1 Corinthians.11:1, Paul tells the Corinthians: "You should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's." That is a powerful statement of integrity, if you ask me! Integrity is defined: "A being complete; wholeness. An unimpaired condition; soundness. Uprightness, honesty and sincerity."

Let me read to you 2 different passages from the Book of Acts, and you tell me there is a message that needs to be proclaimed here. OK?

Acts 5:1anyone's Acts 20:16-36

Ananias and Sapphira got put into the Book because they lied to God, because they lacked integrity. Now why do you think God would even tell us about this couple if it werenÂ’t as an example for us? Maybe God knew what kind of people He would be dealing with in 21st Century America. Talk about lack of integrity! Listen to this:

Documented in a book by James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth, (1991), Americans were asked: "What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?" Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:

Would abandon their entire family (25%) Would abandon their church (25%)
Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)
Would give up their American citizenships (16%)
Would leave their spouses (16%)
Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
Would kill a stranger (7%) Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor about 100 years after Paul's ministry, and philosopher, identified the following traits of a successful person: 1) Consciousness of an honest purpose in life. 2) A just estimate of himself and everyone else. 3) Frequent self-examinations. 4) Steady obedience to what he knows to be right. 5) Indifference to what others swindlek or say.

Charles Swindoll, in Growing Deep in the Christian Life, tells about a man who bought fried chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The attendant at the fast food outlet, however, inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day's business--a bucket of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken. Swindoll writes:

"After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to enjoy some chicken. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken--over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. By then, the manager was frantic.

"Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. "I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money here."

"Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, "Let me call the newspaper. " I'm gonna have your picture put in the local paper. You're one of the most honest men I've ever heard of."

"To which the man quickly responded, "Oh, no! No, no, don't do that!" Then he leaned closer and whispered, "You see, the woman I'm with--she's, uh, somebody else's wife." One can be honest and still not have integrity. When we say that we are modeling integrity, there is a wholeness to it! It is not just one aspect of life but through and through this one is a man of integrity!
Let's examine Paul's life and see if we can see some of the major characteristics of a man of integrity!

1. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DEBT: To serve (douleuo = be a slave) Christ. (19)
Paul W. Powell said,"God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His goal is not to pamper us physically but to perfect us spiritually." I believe Powell has it right. When we come to Christ, we do not put ourselves in a position to bargain or negotiate. I'll serve you IF I don't have my life threatened or I'll serve you BUT don't send me to Africa!

Considering all that Christ has done for us, the debt that we have is to serve him as a slave! Paul faced some serious opposition, so it is not like he is saying it's a piece of cake to serve God! Hardly! But the opposition or lack of it is not the determining factor for the person of Integrity: There is a debt to be paid and I will pay it, no matter the price!

The great philosopher, Plato, lived more than 400 BEFORE Christ was born. Even then, he understood the meaning of integrity: "And yet, my friend, I would rather that the whole world should be at odds with me, and oppose me, than that I myself should be at odds with myself and contradict myself."

DO YOU CARRY THAT DEBT?

2. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DECREE: Turn from sin and turn to God and have faith in Jesus Christ. (21)

Doesn't make any difference Jew or Gentile, 1st or 21st Century: The necessity of turning from sin and turning to God, and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was a one-sermon preacher! In fact, that was the same message that Peter harped on, once he got his personal integrity straightened out: (4:38) "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."

DO YOU CARRY THAT DECREE?

3. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DECISION: To go where the Holy Spirit compels you to go. (22) There were times when Paul would have liked to go some places to preach the Gospel, but the Spirit prevented him from going there. And he never anticipated going to Macedonia until the Spirit showed him that was where he was supposed to go. Are you at the place in your spiritual development where you are drawn irresistibly by the Holy Spirit to do some thing, or go some where, or to speak to somebody? Don't you think that one who models integrity should be guided by that Higher Power of God?

What would it take for you to be a person of integrity and be guided, directed by the Holy Spirit? Are you willing to pay that price?

4. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DESIRE: To finish the task the Lord Jesus has given to you. (24)
Abraham Lincoln said, "I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me." That is noble. But Paul's was even more noble! NLT says "But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus " the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love."

Is that your burning desire, friends? If you are a model of integrity, don't you think you should have a desire that consumes you? One that you are willing to live to accomplish and die if you have to?

5. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DISCLAIMER: You know, that statement down in the fine print of the ad telling you about the great deal some car dealer is going to make you: Zero down, Zero Interest, Zero Payments (Disclaimer: That's only on the 3rd Tuesday of the 6th week of 15th month)

Paul's Disclaimer is a bit more straight-forward: I am innocent of your blood " BECAUSE I have faithfully proclaimed to you the whole will of God. (26) (READ NLT)

Now of course, if you have not faithfully proclaimed all that God wants for your family and friends, you can't make that Disclaimer, can you? Can you honestly say I am innocent of your blood if you have not been faithful to make know the claims of God? Paul is presenting an Old Testament concept of personal responsibility for proclaiming the warning! Listen to what the Prophet Ezekiel says, Ezekiel 33:1-9

6. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DEDICATION: Now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace his message that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. (32)

I understand what Paul is saying here. I've done the best I could do, before God. When you have done your best, all that is left to be done is commending the hearers to God! Ultimately, of course, it is very safe to dedicate people to God because He loves people so much that He gave his only Son on the cross for them. It is He, and He alone, who is able to build us up and give us an inheritance. If we are going to get an eternal inheritance it will come from our Loving Heavenly Father!

7. INTEGRITY HAS ONE DUTY: I showed you how to live as a Christian! (35) You can argue about my methods. You can compare me to the silver-tongued orator, Apollos. You can think I'm rude; that I have something against women! You can make all kinds of complaints about my ministry but folks, one thing you have to say He lived like Christ!

That's the question I must leave you with: Are you living like Christ? Are you a walking, living, breathing model of Christian integrity among the people God has given you?

I think the Church God wants us to be is a church full of models of integrity certainly not hypocrisy. Am I right? I certainly hope our highest aspiration is not to be like Ananias & Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit! How much better to Follow Paul as he follows Christ!

Yesterday during our Chapel Chat, we had a heart to heart about the difference between a co-pilot the driver. I realted to a Jeep Rally that my son and I went on . . here is a picture from the event.

I likend church involvment and ownership like the difference between the two seats in a car the passanger may do all the talking they want, but it's the onwer of the car that has their hands on the wheel, doing all the effort.

Here is another related devotional that I found on a site I view from time to time.

Slow Down!
By: Kristen L. McNulty

If you enjoyed this Impact devotional, the author would love to hear from you.

If you'd like to reprint this devotional, please email the author first and she will get back to you within 24 hours. Thank you for your consideration.

"You're rushing, doing everything anything on the verge Not even thinking about what if you're doing is absurd I don't mean to be the one to cut in, but you might want to stop and think about what you're doing."

Everyday Sunday- Wait

Those lyrics some from the song Wait by Everyday Sunday and they were the inspiration for tonight's impact devotional.

I've often wondered how people can go through life and not even stop to ponder what the purpose of their day-to-day activities are. I've seen people rush and do activity after activity and after a while have no idea why they are doing what they are doing.

I think the reason we don't give ourselves the opportunity to stop and reflect about anything is because we are way to busy. That is why it is possible, and so often occurs, that people only really start to question the purpose of their lives in their later years. We often see seniors who can't "go, go, go" anymore, looking back over their lives and seeing the mistakes, the regrets, the things they would have changed. It's unfortunate that they waited until their senior years to realize this because in most cases it's too late to change.

What would happen if people in their 20's, 30's and 40's took the time to decide what's really important and adjust their schedules according to those priorties? I'm convinced that if we took the time to do that before our senior years, the following would happen:

-God would become a bigger part of most people's lives.
-Families would be attended to and be healthier as a result.
-Marriages would be stronger and therefore the divorce rate would drop.

And Money would become less of a motivation.

But you see, these things aren't occurring. Why? Because Satan knows these truths as well as God does, so he does everything in his power to make sure we are so busy that we don't reflect until it's too late to change.

This is even occurring in the Christian community. We are often running from activity to activity without taking the time to examine what we're doing this all for. It's so easy for us to assume that just because we're busy with so called Godly things that it's right. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but just because you're busy with church or religion doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean that you're not going to have regrets.

Let's use an example. Let's say you're the mother or father of two kids. As a parent your first responsibility is your children, they are your ministry. If the only so called "Christian" thing you accomplish is raising to Godly children, that is of more eternal significance than you filling your days with church activities while ignoring what's going on at home.

You see, the most important thing you can do is to have a good relationship with God and your family. If after that you have time for a ministry outside of the home, that's great but don't let the ministry become more of a focus in your life than the one you are supposed to be ministering for. Like Jesus said in John 6:27, "Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose." Jesus didn't say spend your energy on a soup kitchen or even a radio show. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that Jesus can give you. If the day ever comes that I get so busy I'm running around like a chicken without a head on, I'd much rather drop this radio show than sacrifice the time I spend growing in my faith. Even though I enjoy it, even though it is making a difference. If I do not spend the time looking after my spiritual walk, then I can do this show but God would not honor it because I would not be honoring Him with my life and therefore with this show.

Let me ask you: Have you sacrificed your time with God to do so-called Godly things? If so, you need to change this, even if that means taking some time off or even stepping aside from ministry for a while. Even if that means turning down expansions or promotions or opportunities.

Also, have you decided what's important in your life and then adjusted your schedule accordingly? If not, please do so. It would be a disaster to discover at 80 the things you should have changed at 50 or 30 or 20. Take the time now to determine your priorities and then give them priority on your schedule. Even if that means change. Even if that means dropping one thing for the sake of another.

This week I would like to challenge everyone out there listening to this to take some time in prayer to examine your schedule with God. If there's a conflict in what God wants versus what you are doing, it's less painful to figure that out now and change it, than for it to be too late to change it at all.

Well, as a sit down to type today’s brown blog I have to share it is my birthday. So on my special day let me give you a scripture and a story

STORY

There is a story of a dad and a friend from work took his little daughter, Ellen, to a movie for her birthday. After they left the theater, while dad was bundling up Ellen against the cold wind, his friend asked her how old she was.

"I can't tell you," Ellen said. "I have my mittens on!"

Well, I cannot use my fingers to tell you my age, but it is for much different reasons than Ellen's.

I turn 44 today and if you look at my picture some might say, with all that gray hair, I look even older. I can’t remember when the gray hairs came in but they’re up there and I just have to deal with it. But I did find my new favorite scripture.

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come.” (Psalms 71:18 NRSV)

May your day be better then mine.

As we spend much of the day with family and friends, one thing comes to mind that more then every before in the history our nation needs prayer. From the influence of our nation with the other nations of this world to the the the moral fiber of our roots. We need prayer

And talking about prayer and history, I came across a recording of some of the prayers that were offered up on July 4th in the floor of the United States Senate.


1861 (July 4), Senate Prayer

The following prayer was offered by Rev. Byron Sunderland, D.D.

Almighty and everlasting God, be not angry with us for our sins, which we only confess and deplore; but pardon our offenses and extend to us Thy favor. We thank Thee for Thy goodness on this anniversary of the nation a day tenfold more precious by reason of our present troubles, and sacred to the heart for the ever memorable Declaration of our fathers, in which Thou didst begin more openly to give us a name among the nations of the earth. We thank Thee for all Thy manifold and abundant mercies hitherto to make our nation exceedingly great and glorious; but now disasters have befallen us and darkness broods in the land. And now we ask Thy mercy as the Senate is convening at a most momentous crisis of our history. Give to Thy servants all needed help. Add to their deliberations wisdom and unanimity, and profit and speed to their conclusion. Bless Thy servant, the President of the United States, our veteran Commander-in- Chief, and all that have functions in the civil and military power. May the angel of Thy presence walk in the Cabinet and in the Congress and in the camp, to go before, to purify, and to direct the now greatly and universally-awakened love of country. And we beseech Thee to guide us, to overrule and order all things, and so to cause that nothing shall fail, that the disorders of the land may be speedily healed, that peace and concord may prevail, that truth and righteousness may be established, and that Thy Church and Kingdom may flourish in a larger peace and prosperity, for Thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. (Source: Congressional Globe, 37th Congress, first session, new series, 1, 4 July 1861.)

1918 (July 4), House Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D.D., offered the following prayer:

Our Father in Heaven, the inspiration of every generous impulse, every high and noble aspiration, we thank Thee from our heart of hearts for the "Spirit of '76," which gave to us the immortal Declaration of Independence, which led on to victory and the formation of our Glorious Republic, which has not only been the wonder but the admiration of the world. We thank Thee for the day which will be celebrated with more than usual interest throughout the length and breadth of the land. The native born and the naturalized citizen will vie with each other in making it memorable.

For the first time in its history it will be celebrated by our sister nations, who are engaged with us in fighting for the same principles for which our forefather fought, in a world-wide war for humanity, liberty, justice, and equal rights for all mankind.

May it furnish new inspiration to us and our allies, which will bring victory to their arms; then an everlasting peace; to the glory and honor of Thy Holy Name. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-House, 65th Congress, second session, 56/9, July 4, 1918, 8668.)

1943 (July 5), Senate Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, D.D., offered the following prayer:

Our fathers' God and ours, on the birthday of national independence we confess our dependence upon Thee. Without Thee we are lost in spite of the overwhelming might of our national arms.

We thank Thee for those pilgrims of faith who came hither in their frail barque across mountainous seas and who stepped upon strange shores with the salutation to a new world, "In the Name of God. Amen." The Nation here established, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal has acknowledged that Name above every name and reverenced it, has built its altars, reared its temples, and raised its steeples, emblems of a faith that points to the skies and wings its sure and certain way to God. Make that faith of the fathers, we pray, real to us in these tempestuous days. Save us from a freedom of speech so empty that we have nothing worth saying, from a freedom of worship so futile that we have no God to adore, from freedom from want and fear with no creative idea as to how to use our plenty or our security for the redemption of our social order and for the salvation of our own souls. Let all that is low and unworthy in us sink to the depths. Let all that is high and fine in us rise to greet the morn of a new day confident that the best is yet to be. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-Senate, 78th Congress, first session, 89/5, July 5, 1943, 7160.)

1962 (July 5), House Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Bernard Braskamp, D.D., offered the following prayer:

Psalm 11: 3: If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?

O Thou Eternal God, may our minds and hearts be stirred with a deepening sense of patriotism and gratitude as we continue to think of that day of high and holy memory in our national history when a company of God-fearing men were guided by Thy divine wisdom to sign the Declaration of Independence

Grant that the blessings of freedom, which were purchased at a tremendous cost and which we prize so highly and are privileged to enjoy in such an abundant measure, may always be coordinated with the spirit of self-discipline.

Help us to cling with increasing tenacity of faith and fortitude to the great truth proclaimed by George Washington in his Farewell Address that religion and morality are indispensable and our national greatness if we allow them to be subverted and obliterated by secularism.
Hear us in the name of our blessed Lord. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record- House, 87th Congress, second session, 108/9, Thursday, July 5, 1962, 12703.)

1969 (July 2), Senate Prayer

The Chaplain, the Reverend Edward L. R. Elson, D.D., offered the following prayer:

We thank Thee, O God, that the freedom we celebrate in coming days is not an attainment, but an obtainment that it is Thy precious gift to man as part of his createdness. We thank Thee for the daring of our forefathers in reclaiming their "ancient rights." We thank Thee, too, for the heroes' valor, the patriots' devotion, the prophets' vision, and for all the blood and sweat and toil by which our freedom was purchased. As we commemorate our national independence accept again the declaration of our everlasting dependence upon Thee. In all our joy and thanksgiving enable us to remain a nation "under God," and give us grace and goodness to minister to mankind in His name. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-Senate, 91st Congress, first session, 115/14, Wednesday, July 2, 1969, 18185.)

1974 (July 3), House Prayer

The Chaplain, Rev. Edward G. Latch, D.D., offered the following prayer:

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalms 33: 12.

Eternal God, stir Thou our minds and stimulate our hearts with a high sense of patriotism as we approach the Fourth of July. May all that this day symbolizes renew our faith in freedom, our devotion to democracy, and redouble our efforts to keep a government of the people, by the people, and for the people truly alive in our world.

Grant that we may highly resolve on this great day to dedicate ourselves anew to the task of ushering in an era when good will shall live in the hearts of a free people, justice shall be the light to guide their feet, and peace shall be the goal of humankind: to the glory of Thy holy name and the good of our Nation and of all mankind. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record- House, 93d Congress, second session, 120/17, Wednesday July 3, 1974, 22130.)

1992 (July 7), House Prayer

The Reverend Norman A. Hjelm, director of faith and order, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States, New York, NY, offered the following prayer:

Lord God of hosts, God of the nations: By your grace and in Your patience You have allowed this our land once again to celebrate its birth, its primal guest for liberty, justice, and equity. And we are grateful.

And once again by Your grace and in Your patience You have called this House-- responsible men and women who are equally faithful and unfaithful, righteous and unrighteous before You, each other, and the people-- You have called this House to the exercise of its solemn task of the legislation of law and the formation of the Nation.

Remind these Your servants that liberty, justice, and equity remain ahead of this Nation as tasks yet to be fulfilled and not as goals already reached.

Maintain before us a clear dedication to the needs of those in our midst who are on the outside because of age, ill health, race, sex, poverty, and urban or rural degredation.

And consecrate anew this Nation to the exercise of imaginative and sacrificial leadership in a restless and violent world which still struggles for authentic justice, peace, and a safe home in Your creation.

Accept now, O God, the labors of this day and the frail lives of Your servants in this House. To You be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. (Source: Congressional Record-House, 102d Congress, second session, 138/99, Wednesday July 7, 1992, H5981.)

Have a blessed week.