The Importance of Integrity

I have learned many lessons in my life. One thing that has been clear to me as I have sat and listened to countless stories of heartache and pain, is that it is so important to be a person of integrity. Integrity will either make or break a person. I want to be a man of integrity because I believe God calls us to that.

If you do a Google search on the word integrity, you will read things like: the quality of being honest, having strong moral principles or moral uprightness. I believe integrity to be the way someone is when no one is watching. If you are one way in public but are different in private, no one will trust you. Integrity is when your public life matches up with your private life.

As you read through the Bible, we come to understand the importance of telling and living the truth. In the book of Proverbs 6, we read a list of what the Lord hates. Each example that is listed in this passage has to do with integrity. The reason for this is because truth is one of God's attributes. He is the Truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life." God and dishonesty do not operate in the same room. Also, we read in John 8:44 that the devil, is the "father of all lies".  Therefore, if a person is living in dishonesty, they are in a sense giving birth to death and giving ground to the enemy. If a person is not walking in integrity, then they are probably not walking with the Lord.

Integrity is something that takes a person a lifetime to achieve, but only takes a moment to destroy. Integrity is built over a lifetime of living in and walking with the truth. It is claiming what David said in Psalm 101:2, "I will walk in my house with a blameless heart."  God desires for us to be the same person in public and in private.

Imagine with me. Imagine if I were to fall into a sin that would severely damage my reputation as a follower of Christ, as a husband and dad and as a leader in the church. The affects of one fleeting moment would have a ripple affect that would throw away years of service and integrity. It would take me a long time to rebuild the trust of my family, friends and our community.  It would be as if I were to take a pillow outside on a windy day, cut it in half and let the feathers blow all over town. Then, go out later and try to gather up all the feathers to put my pillow back together. There is no way. The damage would already be done.

In conclusion, how does a person walk in integrity and avoid driving in a ditch? It takes tenacity. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit at work in a person's life. It also takes accountability. It is important to have people in your life who will ask you the tough questions. People who love you enough to point out your blind spots. Even in this setting of accountability, honesty is the key. If you can't be honest with yourself and close friends, then you will surely wind up in a place of failure. In a world that is becoming increasingly dishonest, may our lives be marked with the Truth. May our private lives match our public, to the honor and glory of God.

Man Is Born For Trouble

Up until two weeks ago, our family, the Hartleys have been fairly free of trouble. We have faced the death of grandparents, we have experienced serious injuries, we have dealt with a difficult transition in life, but never in our wildest dreams would we think that one of us would get cancer. We have all been fairly healthy over the years.

When I received the call from my Mom and heard, "Fred, we received terrible news today." My heart sunk. I wept over the phone with my Mom. I remember the feeling I had. It was almost as if I was punched in the stomach. I have always been close to my sister. She and I have been together for all but two years of my life. For the first time, I felt vulnerable. For the first time, I thought, how could this happen? This was the most difficult news I have ever received.

As I have processed this news and the reality of my sister's diagnosis, I am reminded of some of the posts that I have written in this blog previously. It was almost as if God was preparing me for this news. God makes it very clear in His Word (Job 5:7): "Man is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." In other words, adversity will come to a person's life and God allows it to happen.

Since God has allowed my sister to experience this disease, and He has allowed our entire family to grieve and experience this with her, then He certainly has a purpose for it. God does not do anything without a purpose. No matter what God has done throughout history, He has had a special plan. At the end of each day of creation, we read in Genesis 1 that, "He saw that it was good." Every person that has ever been created, God says are "fearfully and wonderfully made." These are two examples of the fact that God never makes a mistake. Even in my sister's disease, He has a design, He has a purpose.

In light of that, we as a family have prayed that God would reveal His plan to us. I am also praying, personally, that God will minister to my own heart. Ultimately, we long to see Jesus glorified through this journey that we are on. I am trusting God for complete healing for my sister. In addition, I am asking God to sanctify me more wholly as I long to understand more of God's character through this journey. 

We, as a family, are in the process of being inside the Refiners fire. We are being pressed, stretched and tested through this journey. I am praying that we experience what Job says in 23:10, "But He knows the way that I take, when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." I want to experience all that God has purposed for me through this journey with my sister. I look forward to sharing these insights through this blog. I want to come forth as gold.

In closing, I want to encourage those of you in the midst of a trial, open yourself to the Holy Spirit's work in your life. May the Lord meet you in your valley. May you experience the height and depth of the love of Jesus. Oh how He loves you and me, He gave His life, what more could He give.

Jesus, show me Your way.  Have your way in me.

One Week After the Boston Marathon

It's sad to think of all the tragedies that our country has experienced this last year. It started last Summer with the mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, CO. Then, last December, we were saddened by the news of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, PA. Then, most recently, one week ago today, we received word that two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, leaving many people severely injured.  Each of these were heinous crimes committed by people living in darkness.

In previous blog posts, I have addressed the sovereignty of God and why He allows these thing to happen, so I won't spend time with that here. I simply want to address the fact that our world needs Jesus. I am most certain that none of these tragedies would have happened if the murderers were living in Christ. Jesus makes all the difference. He is the answer.

Jesus words in John 10:10 are very clear, "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Those who align themselves with the thief will walk in darkness. There are many false religions in the world that lead down a path of destruction. Verse nine in that chapter says that those who trust in Christ will be saved. When we make the decision to follow Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who will radically change our heart and minds. We will no longer walk in the darkness of sin and death. We will step into the light of Jesus which inspires us to greatness. The blinders come off of our eyes and enable us to see the world as God sees it. We are changed people. The work of the Holy Spirit will bring about the fruit of the spirit which is: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Our world is decaying before us. As followers, we know that the world will become a more and more dark and sinful place. We need an awakening. We need revival. We need followers of Jesus who are willing to be salt and light in their workplace. People who are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's reach our neighbors for Christ. Who knows, we may have Tsarnaev's living next door to us.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Stop Doubting and Believe

I see too many Christians living as if Jesus were dead.  C'mon man, there is so much evidence to the contrary.  First of all are the eyewitness accounts of those who were with Jesus.  We read of those in the Bible and other books.  Then, we have the power of the Holy Spirit which came on the day of Pentecost.  Jesus promised there would come a Helper following His ascension the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit now resides in believers and is operational in those who have surrendered completely to Him.  I have seen the Holy Spirit work in my life and in the lives of others, further evidence that Jesus is alive.

Too often we allow our circumstances in life to create doubt that leads to our falling away from our faith in Jesus Christ.  This happened to Thomas.  We read in John 20:24 that Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared on the first Easter.  Thomas withdrew from fellowship.  Thomas was dealing with the fact that his master, Jesus, had just been arrested and crucified.  He was distraught, depressed and had fallen away from his faith in Jesus.  We know this because when the disciples told him they had seen Jesus, he didn't believe them.  He wanted visible evidence.  Jesus met Thomas in his doubt.  Jesus wasn't turned off by Thomas' doubt.  Instead He proved to Thomas that He was alive.  Jesus told Thomas, "Stop doubting and believe."

Many of us need to hear those words, stop doubting and believe.  Are your circumstances so great, that you are questioning God's goodness and love?  Jesus wants to meet you in the middle of your circumstance.

If Jesus were to walk into the room where you are right now, how would you respond?  I know that I would fall on my face in worship.  This is how I want to live my life.  Romans 12:1 says, "Offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship."  We can worship God with our lives and live in light of Jesus' resurrection, by the power and filling of the Holy Spirit.  

In order for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we need to be completely surrendered.  If we're riding the fence of doubt, our witness will be mediocre.  Jesus doesn't deserve a mediocre follower.  There is no room in the kingdom of God for fence riders.  Jesus deserves His followers to be all in.

These are difficult days to follow Jesus.  The government is making it more difficult to hold to our Biblical values and faith.  When persecution comes, our faith will be tested.  Only those who are all in will take a stand for Jesus.

May our lives be empowered by His Spirit, may we be ignited with a holy passion to represent Jesus well.  May we live as if we've just seen Jesus.

Power Outage

Super Bowl 47 was filled with drama. Of course, the Super Bowl is much more than the two teams playing for the NFL Championship.  It has become a national holiday.  The game was exciting, most of the commercials were entertaining and Beyonce proved her critics wrong after her lip sync debacle at the inauguration.  However, what overshadowed the Super Bowl was the power outage that came minutes into the third quarter.  Jacoby Jones had just run back at 109 yard kick-off return for a touchdown putting the Ravens up on the 49ers by a score of 28-6.  The lights went off and the New Orleans Superdome was completely dark.

How could this happen?  The whole world was watching this unfold.  Did someone forget to pay the power bill?  Someone suggested the 49ers were trying to disturb the momentum of the Ravens.  The city of New Orleans power company must have been frantically working to get the electricity turned back on.  As players kept loose on the sidelines, the lights gradually returned.  Thirty four minutes later, they continued the game.

As I reflect on this power outage, I'm reminded of Acts 1:8.  This Scripture says, "You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses."  I know of many "Christians" who are dealing with a power outage.  God calls us to live unashamedly as witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are called to be His witness.  The source of the power behind our witness is the Holy Spirit.  The person who is bold and confident in sharing their faith is one who is completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit.  If we're not full of the Holy Spirit, then we will have a power outage.

I'm sure that many people feel as if the city of New Orleans took a black eye because of the power outage.  What a bummer to have the whole world watching your city host the Super Bowl and then to have the power go out.  Far greater than that, is the embarrassment we are as we fail to be the witnesses God calls us to be.  For those of us who have called upon the name of Jesus Christ to be saved, we have the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives in us.  We also are able to pray again and again for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit as we become empowered.  It is not a matter of mustering up the courage to share our faith, it is about being empowered by the Holy Spirit and allowing the life of Jesus to speak through you to a world that is lost.