"The Stuff of Integrity"

“The Stuff of Integrity”

 

In 1996 I was privileged to attend the Promise Keepers’ Pastors’ Conference in Atlanta with about 42,000 of my best friends. This was a life-changing experience as God worked in me to reshape my thinking and, as a result, the last 13 years of my pastoral ministry. When 42,000 men raised their voices in adoration and praise it was a preview of eternal worship in Heaven which we’ll enjoy as God’s redeemed people.

During one session the emcee asked all those 65 and older to stand. As they did a thunderous ovation recognized their many years of faithful service. The next day it was announced that, despite the urging of others, one man didn’t stand because it was one day before he reached the “magic age”. He was then invited to stand and was loudly applauded for his integrity and truthfulness. (As a side note, the Promise Keepers motto is “Men of Integrity”.)

There’s an old adage (generally attributed to Benjamin Franklin) which says, “Honesty is the best policy”. This reflects the principle to “Speak the truth to each other….” (Zechariah 8:16) and follows the example of Jesus who was “…full of grace and truth.” (John 1:18). Sadly, our culture today has made truth relative rather than absolute. But our “…God of truth….” (Isaiah 65:16) hasn’t changed His mind—“…The Lord hates…a lying tongue….” (Proverbs 6:16-17).

Abraham Lincoln is reported to have observed that “A liar better have a good memory”. (Politicians, take note!) The ability to recall faces, facts, events, and other things is a desirable trait but (as with time, money, and many other things) it’s to be used in proper ways (…Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome….” (Nehemiah 4:14).

The Apostle Paul admonishes us to “…put off falsehood and speak truthfully….” (Ephesians 4:25). As with the Promise Keepers’ attendee, our honesty will earn the respect of those around us and, more importantly, God’s blessing (“Who may stand in {God’s} holy place? He who…does not…swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord….”—Psalm 24:3-5). This is the stuff of which men (and women) of integrity are made.

What am I made of?

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Time for the Shredder"

“Time for the Shredder”

 

A few months back I put copies of my completed 2015 tax return in the box where I store my records. I noticed the carton was getting pretty full so I checked the dates and found they went back to 2003 (six years beyond the time the IRS requires that they be kept). So I spent part of an afternoon feeding the unneeded papers into the shredder (I had to stop a couple of times to keep it from overheating). I learned from this to get rid of unnecessary materials year by year rather than letting them pile up indefinitely.

When my brother Dave and I were preparing our mother’s house for sale we found many years of tax and other financial documents our father had saved which met with the same fate as did my outdated records. Likewise when Karen and I, along with her sister Sandy and her husband Rick, cleared out her mother’s apartment. The mountains of fragments in all three cases testify to the benefits of keeping current with what’s needed and what’s not.

Many of us have allowed past humiliations, embarrassments, hurts, and struggles (to name a few) to build up in our lives. These memories clutter our minds and can hinder us from progress by binding us to fear of failure. Certainly we can learn from our experiences in life, both good and bad, but the Apostle Paul calls on us to “… (forget) what’s behind” (that is, don’t dwell on the defeats of the past) “and (strain) toward what is ahead….” (Philippians 3:13). Once we’ve confessed and repented of our sins (“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”—Proverbs 28:13) God removes them “…as far as the east is from the west….” (Psalm 103:12). In other words, they’ll never meet us again.

If we’re bogged down with “junk” from the past it’s time to get out the shredder. Why not write down “…everything that hinders….” (Hebrews 12:1) and as a symbolic act of accepting God’s forgiveness grind them up. I’ve done so—and it’s freeing because of what Jesus has done (“…If the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.”—John 8:36). And let’s do so as soon as we become aware of them to keep them from piling up so we can “…run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1).

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"The Dash"

“The Dash”

 

During my ministry I’ve participated in about 260 funerals, many of which were followed by graveside services in a number of different cemeteries. As I wait for the Funeral Director to finish with his responsibilities I like to walk among the headstones to look for familiar names and interesting epitaphs. As I do so I can’t help wondering what these people were like and how they’re remembered by those who knew them.

Most monuments include the years of birth and death separated by a dash. That mark represents the person’s life, some brief and others lengthy by human standards. In that small space are tucked the qualities and events which made that person who he or she was. And often the epitaph on the stone reflects it in a few words. Examples include “He died climbing” for a man who fell from a peak in the Alps; “A servant of God” for a faithful believer; “Safe in his Father’s arms” for a child. All simple but meaningful.

In Mark 14 a woman was criticized by onlookers for “wasting” expensive perfume by pouring it on Jesus’ head. As He often did, our Savior confronted the faultfinders and defended this woman for her act of love by saying, “She did what she could.” (Verse 8). In other words, she honored her Master in the best way possible for her.

What will the dash of my life say? That’s the epitaph I’m writing day by day. I pray it’ll be, in the words of Jesus, “He did what he could.”

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Unneeded Exercise"

“Unneeded Exercise”

I participate in a Men’s Bible Study in our community which has been focused on Proverbs and its principles of wisdom for daily living. As we came to Chapter 18 we found two related statements: “He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame.” (Verse 13) and “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” (Verse 17). We saw this as a warning against jumping to conclusions, to which one of the group said, “That’s the only exercise some people get!” Sad but likely true.

While we may not engage in it as much as we should, most of us acknowledge that “…physical training is of some value….” (1 Timothy 4:8). As far as I know, though, jumping to conclusions isn’t part of any recognized exercise program. But it’s an activity in which we may participate more than we realize.

There’s an overlooked account in Joshua 22 which illustrates the danger of this practice. The God-directed campaign to take possession of Canaan had been completed and the 2 ½ tribes who’d requested and received their inheritance east of the Jordan River were released to occupy their territory. Joshua, however, reminded them to “…keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you….” (Verse 5). Upon returning home they set up an altar, and when the western tribes heard about it they saw it as an act of rebellion and prepared for war. But before launching an attack a delegation was sent to ask why the altar had been built. The 2 ½  tribes were horrified that their motive had been misunderstood and assured the representatives that it was intended to show national unity (see verses 21-29). So civil war was averted because the facts were sought before coming to an unwarranted conclusion.

How often have I (and maybe others) fallen into this trap of unneeded exercise and cast judgment on others before hearing and understanding the full story! Together we must heed Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT): “…Be careful not to jump to conclusions….” This will go a long way in preventing conflict in families, churches, and communities.

Friends, it’s time for a new exercise program: “Love one another.” (John 13:34).

Blessings!

Jim McMillan