Walk in Integrity

The righteous walk in integrity—
    happy are the children who follow them!
A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes."

                                                Prov 20:7-8

My grandchildren are growing up and I am growing old. One word that they have heard from me an awful lot over the years is "integrity." I have admonished them many times to "walk with integrity" and to "speak with integrity." That is to not embellish stories so that the stories fall apart once the details of the story begin to be questioned and to not be creating drama for drama's sake.

I usually do not remind anyone other than my grandchildren to walk and talk with integrity. But, that is not because I don't want to. I simply don't feel that it is my place or that it will do any good. My grandchildren, though, I have major amounts of hope for so I remind them of the way the Lord would have them go so that they might have peaceful and fruitful lives. The "others" usually just get the "eye." My grandchildren also know about the "eye." Many times over the years, when my eldest granddaughter and I have been together, she has asked me, for no apparent reason at all: What?" I will respond, "I didn't say anything." She complains that I looked at her with that "eye." That is usually when I start wondering and questioning what she is up to; what she is planning that she doesn't want me to know about. I do this because I care about her life and her future and not just life in this world; but, in the Kingdom to come.

The righteous are those who are cleansed by the blood of Jesus and because he abides with and in them, they will desire to walk in integrity, to walk in the way of his truth. Happy are the children who follow those who walk in integrity. Happy are the children who follow Jesus.

May God keep you in his truth, talking and walking in integrity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Words Of Our Lips

Our faith, what we believe, is evidenced in what we say and do. Do we promote God's will even as we pray that His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven? Or, do we promote false gods of this world by what we say and do? 

Those things that we profess that we believe should agree with the things that we say and do in all aspects of our lives. When we say that we believe one way and purposely do something else; we not only become traitors to God; but, to the words of our own lips. We cannot teach others to live in God's way that He might be glorified while we live in a way that contradicts what we say.

May God help us to live with integrity; that the words of our lips and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in His sight and glorify He who is our Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

God's Peace - Pr. J

You Shall Not Bear False Witness

The Eighth Commandment.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

"Sticks and stones can break your bones; but, words can never hurt you." Wrong, words can kill! They can destroy life. They can kill a spirit and; yes, they can even lead to death of the body in a whole variety of ways. Think about the one who is on trial and someone would bear false witness against him or her sending them to prison for life or aid in that person receiving a death sentence. Think about the young woman or man who is trying to overcome obstacles and bullies continue to beat them down with words. Not only can this lead to a loss of an abundant and joyful life; it can lead to serious depression and in some cases suicide. Consider the married person falsely accused of adultery, what will their partner who in their pain and anger, do to the ones he or she feels has betrayed him?

 

Do not deceive yourselves. There are no little white lies when it comes to bearing false witness against your neighbor. Lies will destroy your neighbor. Lies will destroy you.

 

God does not desire that anyone be harmed in any way. May He help us all to speak with integrity and to help our neighbors when they are down.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Honor Your Father and Mother

The Fourth Commandment.

Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother [that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth].

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

In this fourth commandment we are told that we are to honor those who have authority over us so that it may be well with us and that we might live long upon the earth.  Think about the chaos in so many homes and our school systems because many young people; rather than honor their parents or teachers, are allowed (and sometimes encouraged by other people in authority) to be outright disrespectful; defiantly rejecting all authority. How much learning can be done in this kind of environment? How many children are being taught to disrespect and connive against our police officers who have sworn to protect us? It makes it very difficult to serve and protect or teach anyone when one is being cursed at or emotionally or even physically attacked.

 

God has given each of us people in our lives who are meant to teach and guide us; to care for us. Parents, police officers, teachers, doctors, employers are just a few examples of such people today. Sadly, not all of them have our best interests at heart. There are those who think that everything should be done for their glory to the detriment even of their children and those who might work for them.  Martin Luther reminds us, in the Large Catechism, that even though the Commandments do not speak directly to the duties of those in authority; scripture reminds us all that we are to love and care for one another. This applies to parents as well as others who might have the duties to teach or care for or protect us. If we teach our children that it is all right to disrespect others; they may also learn to disrespect us.

 

We should honor all in positions of authority and those in authority would be wise to guide those who they have authority over; to teach them the ways of the Lord. If honor, respect, and even integrity could make a come-back; then we would all live long and peacefully upon the earth.

 

Pr. J

 

P.S. I confess that while writing this blog this morning, I have been biased by knowing too many   parents who encourage their children to be blatantly disrespectful toward others and who also encourage their children to use alcohol and other drugs as well as to promiscuity.

Thou shalt not take name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.

The Second Commandment.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

I confess that every now and then my lips will release a word or maybe two or three or even that should not be spoken. I am very aware that I have sinned as soon as something slips out of my mouth that ought not to have.

 

It is troubling; though, that it seems many do not even recognize when they have taken God's name in vain. I know many love Him; but, for some reason they don't always recognize when they are speaking against Him. Sometimes, it needs to be brought to their attention.  

 

Yes, sometimes I find myself asking others not to be swearing. No, I do not always ignore it when people take God's name in vain; when they blaspheme His Holy Name. I will ask them to please not take my God's name in vain; to not blaspheme against my God. I usually stress "my God" in attempts to make it clear that they because of their language they have made it evident to me and others who might be around us that He is not their God; that they do not worship Him. If He were their God, they would not be using His name in such a manner.

 

There have been times I've been in discussions (usually with younger family members) and I've gotten responses like OMG or Oh My God! (Father, forgive me for even writing it as an example.) My response to that is usually "I am not your God" and I walk away. 

 

I find the language today atrocious. There is very little respect for one another and definitely not for God in many conversations. His name is thrown around like it was something cheap and disposable. It is even used in conversations to bully others; to persecute them.

 

I have also been known to use the phrase "speak with integrity" on rare occasions. Admittedly, the lies have to be pretty bad before I do that. I have let people know that if they want me to understand what exactly is going on they will have to get their stories straight. Sometimes stories get so twisted, in order to justify one's own actions, that it can be difficult to glean the truth from the tale. This lack of truth-telling also blasphemes the Name of God when it is one who claims to bear the name of Christ that is speaking.

 

His Name is above all names and it is eternal. It ought not be used in rampages meant to hurt others or to justify our own sinful ways. It can and should be called upon for the healing of the nations. Use it wisely. May the Lord our God bless the words of our lips that we might glorify His Holy Name in all that we say and thing and do.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Peter 3:1-7 Beauty

1 Peter 3:1-7 NIV

Beauty comes not from name brand clothes and jewelry; but,
from what you do and who you really are.

Each succeeding generation of women seems to pick up fashion trends that they think will make them more attractive to men. I've lived a for a few of these generations and I'm thinking that hasn't been working well. Take a look back at photos of when you were a teen. Would you really adorn yourself like that today? Fashion trends change just about every year. They will be eaten by moths or rust away. But, the love of a caring woman with integrity will last a lifetime.

St. Peter suggests that real beauty comes from within and is expressed by our behavior and not by what we wear.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV A Servant's Heart

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV
We are free to do as we please. St. Paul chose to use his freedom to become a slave (servant) to everyone to win as many to Christ as possible. He did not lord it over others. He became like them so that they would be open to hearing the Word.

If proclaiming the gospel is a priority for us in this world then sometimes we have to give up a few things (die to self) in order that others might be willing to listen and hear. Those who would serve others need to be willing and able to walk, as the saying goes, a mile in the shoes of others.

My husband and I own an adult foster care. Direct care is not one of the easiest professions. Not everyone is called to the health care profession. It takes a lot of patience as well as a lot of compassion and empathy. It takes a bit of dying to self for the sake of others. My husband does the hiring after I review the applications. Since you cannot work in health care if you have certain things on your criminal record, that is one of the primary things I look for along with experience. I check the Michigan Corrections web-site to see if they have spent any time in prison or if they have any arrests for sexual misconduct that they did not report on their applications. They will have to have a more thorough background check later if we decide to hire them. I also always check (I believe most employers today do) Facebook and other social media. I want to know if the attitude I see on their page is all about "me" or if they have a servants heart. If you want to serve the elderly, the physically or mentally disabled know that you cannot do it well unless you are willing to give up a part of yourself and walk a mile in their shoes. Compassion, empathy, and integrity are all necessary attributes for one who would serve others.

We are free to do as we please. But, servants are willing to die for the sake of others. Jesus did.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 5:1-10 Lying To God.

Acts 5:1-10 NIV
I have been lied to and about so many times that there is no way that I could even count the times. We all have. Frankly, it makes me a bit weary. Sometimes, the lies are used to make someone look like someone they are not; like they are in the right and are doing good for others; while they are in truth, not.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira attempted to make themselves look righteous. They wanted to look as generous as the others who had sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church for the good of all of the people. But, they withheld some. Their sin was not in keeping some for themselves. The sin was in attempting to lie to God the Holy Spirit. God knows everything we say and think and do. It is just a bad idea to try telling God lies. The humans that we might tell lies to; usually know that we are not telling the whole truth, as well. We may not be able to prove the lies; but, God knows the truth.

The rest of the story for Ananias and Sapphira was that when they lied to Peter and to God, they died. They died immediately. When we lie to protect ourselves and our own egos; a bit of us dies inside, as well. We are not who we were or who we can be in Christ Jesus. Make every effort then to speak and live in the truth with integrity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 12:1-12 What You Have Said In The Dark

Luke 12:1-12 NIV
I'm figuring that everyone has secrets. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are just pure gossip that really are not secrets at all. They're not secrets because they are spread from household to household, behind closed doors, presumably in the dark, so no one else will know. But, everyone knows the lies that have been told; the damage one attempted to cause while living in the darkness.

Here's the kicker: the secret does not remain secret. It will eventually be revealed by the light. Sooner or later the door opens and the sun comes out. The truth is known. One day, all will know the secret. But, for now, it is enough to know that God knows.

Speak with integrity. Speak with truth. Live in the light of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 23 - Speaking Without Integrity

It is going to be one of those very busy weeks. Last night as I had begun working on one of the four sermons I have yet to prepare, my granddaughter, Cassie, was cleaning the house. She even dusted a few pictures! On the window ledge in my office is a framed quote given me by my friend, Jennifer Lynn, at my ordination. It says: "Comfort the Disturbed. Disturb the Comfortable." Cassie wanted to know what it meant. I told her it was my job description.

"Well, what does that mean?" she asked.

"It means," I told her, "that when someone is hurting or troubled, I am to comfort them with the Good News of Jesus the Christ. And... when someone becomes too comfortable in themselves and are busy hurting or troubling others to make themselves feel good about themselves, then I am to disturb them a bit by confronting their ways. Kind of like when you start doing things that are not good for you or anyone else, I have to confront you about it."

I continued by telling her that the saying actually comes from a newspaper writer (Finley Peter Dunne), who used these words, "comforts th' afflicted, afflicts th' comfortable" to describe, in part, a newsperson's job description. It means we are to speak with integrity and that means comforting those who need comforting and sometimes speaking to those who are a little too comfortable with their sins about it.

"Oh," was the only reply I got from Cassie before she went on cleaning.

One of my pet peeves is what I call "speaking without integrity." Makes me a little crazy when young people do it. Makes me even crazier when adults do! That is twisting or exaggerating stories so no one gets to hear the real truth, the whole truth. Often it is done so that the speaker looks a little more innocent than they actually might be and someone else looks worse.

Cassie's dad simply refers to "speaking without integrity" as "too much drama." Twisted stories and half truths cause a lot of problems, a lot of drama, not just for people around them, but for the speakers, themselves. When too much drama caused by speaking without integrity enters the picture that is usually when I end throwing a rock into the pond and disturb the too comfortable.

There were many prophets in Jeremiah's day (as there is today) that spoke without integrity. They did not speak the truth. They twisted God's message to the people to please themselves as well as the people. The LORD speaks through Jeremiah warning them to quit twisting the word of God to make themselves more appealing to the people. Speak the truth. Speaking the truth might get you persecuted; people really may not want to hear the truth; but, it is better to speak the truth than to lie in God's Name. It is better to keep your lips still than to speak without integrity. It is better for all who would speak the lies and it is better for all who would listen to stand on the word of God rather than appease the itching ears. Families, communities, even entire kingdoms will fall for the lack of the truth.

But, for those who will hear the truth, there is Good News, indeed! We have a Good Shepherd who will guide us in all truth; who will guide us in His way. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, our LORD! Listen to Him and follow!

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Jeremiah 7 - A Den of Robbers?

“‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, 'We are safe'—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.'" (Jer 7:9-12 NIV)

This lesson from Jeremiah reminds me of one of my favorite things on Facebook this past Advent Season. It was a picture of Jesus in the temple turning over the tables of the money changers. The caption said, "If anyone asks you, 'What would Jesus do?' Remind them that flipping over tables and chasing people with a whip is within the realm of possibilities." Just in case you doubt that Jesus would do this, see Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, or John 2:15.

So often we forget who God really is. Maybe, we never got to know Him in the first place. I have had way too many people tell me that they just can't believe in a God who is this grandfatherly figure who just adores His misbehaving children looking down over us from the clouds with this gentle smile on His face. Today and often, if we're reading the scriptures, we get a different picture. Of course, then I will probably hear that some can't believe in a God who is so violent that He would turn the tables over on the money changers or chase them with whips. 

It seems that there will always be a reason to not worship Him. There will always be another reason for not following in His Way. But, know this, according to the word given to Jeremiah, "But I have been watching! declares the LORD."  We are not safe to do all those detestable things. We have been saved from bondage to them, but we are not safe to do them. The LORD is watching. He does know which gods we serve. He does know whether we live honestly and with integrity. He knows how we treat our neighbors. Just saying.... 

God's Peace - Pr. J.