A Man of Integrity

Years ago while in high school I was given a book by Foy L. Smith entitled "The Days of Thy Youth". In one chapter of the book he tells the story of an old gospel preacher named Theophilus Brown Larimore.

T. B. Larimore was riding out west in a railway passenger car when outlaws came along side and halted the train. The robbers boarded the car and began demanding that the passengers drop their possessions into a bag; watches, jewelry, gold coins, wallets and anything else that could be exchanged for money. They came to Larimore and he placed a few crumpled dollars into the mouth of the sack. The outlaw asked if that was all he had and he told him it was.

As the thieves started to leave, the preacher called out to the leader who returned to him. "Sir", he told him apologetically, "I find that I have misrepresented the truth. When you asked me if that was all I had I told you it was, but then discovered I had put a one dollar bill in my vest pocket." Larimore extended his hand with the dollar bill toward the outlaw. The leader of the bandits was taken back and didn't know what to say to this. After a few moments he told his men to give the preacher back everything they had taken from him saying, "It is good to meet and honest man."

It used to be that a man's word meant something. Deals were finalized by handshakes. If someone said they'd do something, they did it. The grocery stores had counter checks without names or numbers, you filled those in. You could go into the corner store and if the clerk was busy, you'd put your money on the counter and leave yelling across the way, "Money's on the counter." Our parents left the front door unlocked 24 hours a day. You could leave your bike on the driveway, your car unlocked or your purse in the grocery basket and when you returned it would still be there untouched. Oh, there were exceptions, but they were few and far between in small town America where I grew up.

Today, however, it's a different story. We lock our doors and we have security systems installed for extra safety. Our cars have alarms and we are told never to leave valuables in plain view. Our sales slip is checked when we leave a store, our garages are locked and handshakes are just a greeting.

People fudge on their taxes, lie on their golf score and blame someone else whenever something goes wrong. We don't trust the president, politicians, lawyers, salesmen and often even preachers. We follow someones promise with "When I see it, I"ll believe it." We feel fortunate when the waiter forgets to put a charge on our check or the clerk inadvertently charges us too little.

Kathy and I were at a restaurant a couple of years ago in Plano. When I looked at the ticket I noticed that she had forgotten to charge us for one entire meal. I pointed this out and could tell the waitress was stunned. The manager came by and asked if something was wrong, so I explained to him the situation. He looked at me as if to say "You're complaining because your bill is too low?" It took 10 minutes to get it corrected and the manager told me he'd never had anyone do that before.

It's sad when honesty and integrity are so rare that it surprises people when it occurs. Yes , sometimes the truth hurts. Yes, sometimes being honest gets us into trouble. Yes, it's embarrassing at times to admit our weaknesses or faults. But to be viewed as a person of integrity and character far outweighs the negatives.

I hope someday that someone will be able to say about me, "It's good to meet an honest man."

God On Texas Ballot

One of the most controversial propositions in the 2010 Republican primary is Proposition #4. In fact it's bringing more attention than the Perry-Hutchinson Governors race. Proposition #4 states:

Public Acknowledgment of God - The use of the word "God," prayers and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as permitted on government buildings and property. - YES or NO

Go online and you'll get all types of reactions most positive but also several calling Texans, idiots, loons and a few names I can't print here. It's strange I didn't hear this kind of uproar when one person would take an entire school district to court and win a decision that would keep hundreds from saying a prayer publicly before a football game or graduation ceremony.

What's really sad to me is that this type of proposition has to be on the ballot at all. It will overwhelmingly pass on the GOP ballot. But that's as far as it will probably go. Why? There are actually two reasons. First, most Christians leave Christianity out of politics. It's rare even to see a politician really let his Christian faith be shown once in public office. Secondly, Christians do not stand up for Christ in public the way we should.

Why is the Muslim religion the fastest growing religion in the world today? Part of it is because they take it seriously. They honor God and do not allow anyone to desecrate his name. Christians go to movies and are entertained by shows that continually abuse the names of God and Jesus. Muslims pray at least five times a day. Christians pray on Sunday and sometimes at meal times. Muslims are required to give a certain percentage of everything they own, not just their income. Christians for the most part will give a percentage of whatever is left over.

To let the world know what we stand for shouldn't take a ballot. It doesn't take violence. It doesn't demand that we walk around with a "better than you" attitude. It simply takes standing up for Christ everywhere we turn. Christianity is still the largest religious group in the United States. For Christ to win we don't have to force it down people's throats, we just have to live it even in the face of verbal persecution.

If we don't like the movies that are being made, then don't go. I guarantee you that the face of movies would change if the Christians of this country stopped pouring our money into them at the box office. The law says we can't have a prayer over the loud speaker, but nothing says a fan can't start the Lord's prayer in the stands. I would wager (if I did anyway) if someone did start the Lord's Prayer in the stands basically the entire stadium would join in.

The strongest power in this country is that of God the Father and Jesus Christ being lived in the lives of individuals. If Christians would just live like Christians, let their faith be seen in actions and words then I believe we'd see a changed country.

Proposition #4 may never get passed the Republican agenda. But that doesn't mean that God is silenced. Only Christians have the power to silence the name of God.

Don't Knock It 'Til You Try It

What's the strangest food combination you've ever eaten? When growing up I learned to like liver and cooked carrots by dousing ketchup all over them. I like peanut butter on my waffles, crunchy of course. When I eat my peanut butter sandwiches I sometimes put the potato chips on the peanut butter in the sandwich.

My father-in-law liked onion on his apple pie and my mother loved a glass of buttermilk with cornbread crumbled inside. And who hasn't enjoyed a tasty Miracle Whip sandwich or a slice of pineapple dipped in horseradish sauce.

But my grandfather had one strange combination I had never heard of and have yet to try. He liked peanut butter and mashed potato sandwiches. Then I heard of people who have peanut butter and mayo sandwiches, pickles on their peanut butter sandwich and even ranch dressing and peanut butter.

My uncle used to make fun of his step-dad and the peanut butter and mashed potato sandwiches. Then one day my grandfather told him, "Don't knock, 'til you try it." So my uncle jumped off the deep end and tried it. And you know what? Right! He liked it!

I see people go through life always knocking what other people like before they've even tried it themselves. I hear people criticizing churches whose doors they have never entered. They judge people without even knowing them.

I'm reminded of the story of a man and woman who moved to a certain neighborhood. Whenever the couple would visit peoples homes the husband would always stay close by his wife. He would never let her leave his side even for a short time. After a few years the couple moved and the families they left behind began to criticize him. They would talk about how much of a chauvinist he was and how he acted so much like a tyrant to his sweet wife. Finally, a fellow neighbor who knew him better than everyone else spoke up. "What you don't know," he said, "is that his wife is a kleptomaniac. By keeping her by his side he was both protecting her as well as your belongings."

So before we become judgemental of people. Before we criticize this or that. Before we present ourselves as being disgusted over someone or something. Let's take the time to know what we're talking about.

Chances are it will change our entire view of things and we just may like it!