Merlin's Mustache

I keep wondering today what the people I used to “know casually” before the pandemic hit with its lock downs, are really, deep down thinking these days, and on so many subjects that we are experiencing. I have always found making social phone calls repugnant. I’m not the type that prior pandemic, socialized on the phone. I jumped into texting with both feet for its brevity, conciseness, and even better, it provided evidence if I ever forgot the communication. Now if I resort to email and if the subject is of consequence and considerable depth, I much prefer attaching a document as it may easily be used or modified for another application later.

All the above is said because in my daily activities now in this synthetic pandemic exercise of life, I’ve dropped verbal communication substantially because my life simply does not intersect other humans verbally in person. This is perhaps a great time saver but quite contrary to my past out-going demeanor historically. I thrive meeting new personalities and seldom prior the pandemic did I meet  a stranger that the foundation for a friendship was not lain.

And my concern here is very specific in nature; I am concerned about what is transpiring (or not) in the hearts and minds of my Christian brothers and sisters. So far I’ve not heard, seen, or read substantial evidence anywhere that we as believers are “overflowing” amongst each other with “righteousness” as we pursue fellowship. Personally, I find my mind is working substantially overtime because it has virtually unlimited time to inwardly, may I say even “selfishly” to process, as I am challenged by the many books and scripture I either read or hear expounded.     

For example, our pastor each week rolls out a smorgasbord of delectable challenges for our consumption and possible implementation during the next week. I confess seldom do I ever engage during the week in conversation with anyone else in the congregation about these delectable morsels direct from God’s word to sanctify us into righteousness to attain His eventual praise “Well done, faithful servant….” In the business world, this procedure would be viewed as bordering insanity; dispensing pertinent truth to the employees (congregants) each week with little or no provision for cross fertilization, feedback, or processing. Eventually, the “morsels” are simply forgotten, because they seldom if ever stay in view long enough for any effective processing, and leading to compromise and/or implementation. How discouraging this must be each week for conscientious pastors with visions and dreams for their congregations when it seems once we’re out the door, all is forgotten!

But yet this is exactly the way traditional churches have functioned for years. And just perhaps the pandemic forced restructuring will either remove the blinders or our spiritual cataracts. There has to be scads of materials, papers, books and podcasts written on this phenomena. I have not spent a minute searching the internet because I’m just writing you now with what I’ve been “compelled” to say to my readers who possess a tad of history with my words.

For example, today our pastor’s lead in question was “what are we inviting people to?” with the text taken from I John 1:1- 2:2. The three points were fellowship, faithfulness and forgiveness. In SS, we spent most of our time exploring fellowship and its subsequent synonyms: koinonia, communion, participation, etc. The point was made fellowship as promoted in scripture too often today in our church becomes merely socialization, perhaps like a club of similar interests to discuss flowers, gardening or antique cars or tractors (mere idols even!). However, in such clubs the discussion one hears is usually centered on their interests, whereas I tend to think church fellowship discussions seldom if ever center on spiritual sanctification. Pay attention at your next church fellowship event. Perhaps we ought to add the “F” word “friendship” which is really the precursor word for “LOVE” which is the foundational word for everything biblical since God is love.

Personally, I believe I struggle spiritually most in being friendly or inclusive of non-members (no matter who, whether in church, out of church, new age, globalists, etc.) Who of those whom I could (if I would) intersect with daily am I even coming close to inviting into friendship with me? I maintain we’re totally kidding ourselves in the church if we think we can muster real spiritual fellowship with anyone without first extending our genuine friendship and simply love them without an agenda as Jesus did, does, and will, always our free-choice, totally non-manipulative, simply being attracted by His overflowing love.

No question folks! This is difficult when our “fellowships” indeed are riddled with interests and fractions of all stripes and persuasions that literally steamroll our sanctification pursuits. Perhaps today this sin of non communication for us in its myriad of forms and levels that must be addressed first by each one of us before we do so corporately or we will be as ineffective (even decimated) as was Israel soon after the Jericho miracle of deliverance when they went up against Ai with flagrant sin in their camp and were soundly defeated.

Perhaps even Paul’s admonitions in I Corinthians 11:17-34 are worthy of our study and application. I have been told there are several ways we can become all things to all people.

1. Listen. We are often too eager to share our own thoughts, jumping into the conversation before we really hear what the other person is saying. We all  appreciate being heard; when we extend that courtesy to someone else, he or she is more likely to listen what we have to say. By listening first, the other person becomes a an individual we care about rather than simply a mission field to convert.

2. Be kind. This should go without saying for Christ followers, but, unfortunately, we can forget kindness in the passion of the moment. This is especially true on social media. Online anonymity leads many people, even some professing to represent Christ, to make rude or hate-filled comments.

3. Be sensitive to culture. Western culture is changing rapidly and in many places Judeo-Christian principles are no longer accepted or even understood. By first listening to discern where people are spiritually and then finding commonality with them, we may be able to reach those hungry for a truth they’ve never heard.

4. Deal with prejudice. Prejudice of every kind has been part of human history since the beginning. Despite how hard we try, we all carry some form of prejudice against certain other people groups. Ironically, even those who denounce prejudice of any sort are usually quite prejudiced against those who they consider prejudiced! Admitting to God our own pride and repenting of our judgmental attitudes and lack of love must be an ongoing process for Christ-followers wanting to follow Paul’s example of being all things to all people.

I’ve been told the goal of a Christ-follower is to be inoffensive in every way except in the matter of the cross. The message of the cross naturally give offense, but we cannot water it down. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (I Cor 1:18). Jesus warned us not to be shocked when the world hates us – it hated Him first (John 15: 18). Our message is offensive to human pride and contradicts the sin nature, so our behavior and our attitudes should not give offense. To follow Paul’s example, we must humble ourselves, let go of our “rights,” meet people where they are, and do whatever Jesus calls us to do. He died to save them. We must love them enough to tell them that in ways they can understand. Taken basically verbatim from www.gotquestions.org

FYI, I currently know no one more skilled than the author Andy Andrews, who has authored more than a dozen books filled with short stories geared for the churched  to be mentored in the art of these four points. For the unchurched, he  captivates his readers as they are subtly drawn into or exposed to possibly considering, perhaps even adopting “a new perspective” as Andy continually presents “Jones” as he literally coaches everyone he encounters. Which I fully believe is the mandate for all of us Christ-followers!

I suggest if you are “reading and understanding” this blog with any degree of longing understanding, perhaps for a more purposeful life, and spiritually in sync,  you strongly consider investing a portion of your precious time in reading one of Andy Andrew books. Begin with “The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.” Ten short chapters, each introducing you to a person in crisis whom encounters Jones. When you’re done, your only assignment is to tell me who you think Jones is…. I do have loaners for you locals…

Also, there is no doubt that my mind has been greatly stimulated by my currently reading the updated Eric Metaxas book on “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” It no doubt is adding several dimensions to my observations and concerns for the “confessing” church as it was deemed and referred to in Germany after the regime clearly controlled the “brownshirt German Christian Church” after the mid-thirties.  If any of you are seeking a most interesting pertinent church historical read, though be aware much of it is quite comparable to the shenanigans we are witnessing in our government and culture today, I highly recommend Bonhoeffer.

Incidentally, to help us rise above the negative about us and focus on His truth, I recently heard that for Christ-followers, every morning is Easter morning. Go forth every day in the Light of Easter!>>>>>merlin

PS.

Bottom line, just so you know, in order for me to accomplish the four points above ( to listen, be kind, be  sensitive, counteract or eliminate prejudice), I must learn to utilize the dreaded phone and invest my precious time in listening, while being kind, sensitive and counteracting prejudice wherever encountered. Using the phone frequently for voice interaction/communication from here forth is what I need to surrender to His process today. Yes, and perhaps even after all the social distancing criteria are long forgotten and we return to more normal social interactions.

Scott Peck, in “The Road Less Traveled,” began by saying, “Life is difficult” followed by “Once we truly know that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it, then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact life is difficult no longer matters.”

Yes, once again I am cruising about in Dr Henry Cloud’s book, “Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality” where on page 172 he states this phenomena. “If you orient yourself to the reality that nothing good is going to happen if you can’t first deal with the bad things that are going to happen, then you are ready to have something good happen. Once you understand that principle, you are in the program.” Relax, I read this several times too before I finally understood it. I believe this principle is bedrock in order to achieve your life’s productivity in all dimensions…. merlin)

Continuing in that vein, Cloud states “ But if you can’t orient yourself to that reality, nothing good is going to happen, because that reality will not go away. It is still the nature of the universe regardless of the frenzy of today’s pop culture’s rhetoric or consuming narrative. It is true that in your business life, personal goals, and relationships, you will encounter problems. Period. If you are not prepared to meet them and resolve them, then they will be the end of your hopes for making anything work, either personally or professionally.” (or even spiritually if you are fortunate enough to possess that dimension.. merlin)

Dr. Cloud on page 173 told while attending an Easter gathering, a friend, a CEO  of a company, shared that he was about to hit a rough spot. In order to clear the deck before he left on a long trip later in the month, he had scheduled some difficult conversations surrounding relational issues for the next week that he needed to face into. He admitted it could get pretty tough.

Picking up on face into, Dr Cloud had also heard the CEO earlier use the words lean into. I have learned over the years, passive people such as myself, for example, tend to talk about events in such a way that removes us as “actors”, and instead, we view ourselves as being “acted upon,” and not the cause of what has occurred. In other words, “I ended up here” as opposed to “I chose to be here.”

Personally this “ending up” reminds me of when in life I’ve been tempted to adopt the popular victim-hood mentality. Fortunately, I never could allow myself to adopt that crutch though I’m not entirely sure why. Was it because my parents and community positively modeled free enterprise and opportunity so strongly and effectively as opposed to godless communism /socialism, even though our Minnesota county was statistically as impoverished as Appalachia during the sixties?

Or was it because of my spiritual heritage? Raised in a very conservative faith theologically, I was taught that although I was endowed with seeds of greatness, my future spiritual success (material success was always secondary) was visually portrayed as the narrow way vs. the broad way, so early on in life, I was trained to evaluate my life decisions in this very simple easy to grasp spiritual dimension. In other words, my outcomes were my choice. Understand I never felt manipulated or coerced, just loved. But I waas aware God had a plan for my life and I was looking forward to making his plan happen. And therein, was my biggest problem. Naively I was determined to make it happen regardless, even if it were my own version on the narrow way! Big mistake! Pity my folks as they endured their eldest marking the days off on the calendar from twelve months out until I packed up my few bags, got on my motorcycle and drove off to Hesston Kansas to begin college.  

I still remember well as a high school junior driving home in our family’s ’58 black 4 door Chev together with my girlfriend Pam, my parents and two younger siblings, after we had attended our high school’s Friday evening Class Night event, the week prior commencement. Later Pam commented as I was driving her home, how she had observed during that 20 minute ride how much my parents loved each other. Later, I recalled thinking that was really strange for her to say, and especially so since she was in the front seat beside me sitting directly ahead of them and unable to comfortably even see them. I just now realized perhaps she was able to observe them in the rear view mirror. But now years later, I realize perhaps the stark contrast that was so readily apparent to her, was obscured to me as I’d not yet experienced negative family relationships in the painful dimensions as had Pam and many of my peers.

Likewise, I now understand how this CEO deliberately chose problems as issues to face and lean toward, not away from. And to think, he even scheduled the events to repair the situations, as opposed to passive persons like me, merely waiting for it to happen, blow over or even worse, for me to actively avoid it and even run from it. Apparently, the CEO preferred to deal with issues promptly, actively, and directly. Plus, he wanted to make sure the problem was fully resolved before his later trip avoiding from having it linger and causing any more damage than it had already inflicted throughout his kingdom.

Dr. Cloud goes on to say this was just the way this successful CEO lived all of his life. He did not avoid his problems, whether personally or in his business. He was rewarded in his career for his integrity and values-driven business and has grown a company based on promptly addressing customers’ problems and solving their issues in ways that leaves them better off than before the problem occurred. He has also been chosen by governments to do business in special projects that others were denied because of his reputation as a “fix what is wrong with integrity” kind of person.

In his cloud of witnesses he has left many satisfied partners, customers, employees, and others, as well as revenues in the billions. He epitomized “no problems, no profit” in the way of “face problems and become very profitable,” both in relationships and financially. And again, for the person ‘in Christ’ facing in and leaning in as this CEO aptly demonstrated, though I am not at all privy to his spirituality, imagine with me if such an insightful businessman were also under the umbrella of the Holy Spirit, I dare say the world has yet to see what could be accomplished by such a personality if he/she was so loyal in their obedience to God.

To summarize, I propose profits are earned by conquering problems best viewed as opportunities sought. Therefore, facing, embracing and solving problems are our mandate for a fulfilled life and not to be avoided. (merlin 03/29/21)

May I offer the rough analogy of going to a dentist to repair a tooth as a challenge that you usually can’t wait to get fixed; either to eat comfortably again or sleep through the night. But that is only true if your past experiences with dentists have been good and has led to resolution of pain without much trauma.

But, and this is a big but, if your past experience with dentists has been traumatic, and painful, you may have a dentist phobia, and you will avoid going. So, your avoidance keeps the pain intact and you by not facing the problem, will not experience the “profit” of getting it fixed. It is critically important we face the demands of our realities having the character and integrity to do so, based on either our prior experiences or our observation’s of others.

As a result of their character abilities, successful people face into embracing problems and their accompanying negative realities. Their internal equipment allows them to do this. And a portion of this equipment is this mind-set and attitude that facing the bummer music sooner rather than later, will be better for them in the end.

For example, Dr. Cloud said he is frequently amazed at how talented and competent individuals will allow their careers and relationships to be stalled out, disrupted, or even destroyed by avoiding the negative realities that make them uncomfortable. Actually, this overt denial of how bad the situation really is, becomes quite interesting and closer to home for many of us, when we get into the underlying issues, whether it be in business, academia, church or family.

For example, consider the wife who won’t confront her husband’s addictions, temper, selfishness, etc. or the husband who won’t confront his wife’s control issues, spending, various obsessions, etc., or vice versa. To do that would mean really getting out of our comfort zones and putting our arms around the problem in a full embrace …. And that usually means being much too vulnerable for our comfort!

We began this post with the quote from Peck saying, “Life is difficult” and oh, how well we each can echo that after the past year! Never did we anticipate the unfolding of history as we have witnessed it to date nor are we alone in our current uncertainty for we are reminded the last Tuesday Christ was on earth prior to his crucifixion, a similar cloud of pending chaos was descending on Jerusalem.

Actually, if you read the suggested reading for yesterday from Matthew 24:1- 25:46 you will be reminded of the numerous times during our year of confusion and lawlessness that we have heard these poignant scriptures referenced frequently in vivid detail to substantiate our town crier’s message in our increasingly oppressive current events. As then, Christ, who only needed to obey his Father, whereas everyone else from Pilate on down to the responsive thief on his cross, all had or have the same question demanding an answer from us, “What will you do with Jesus?”

Certainly, your answer can wait indefinitely today but at your own peril. Realize waiting ( or procrastinating) for the facts and confirmation from science is not without a price, and statistically, those lives left in the balance are often trashed. The roaring lion is good at his game. Without the Spirit , we tend to become a lost cause!

And, actually, if the history (which really is His story) and the facts and the science are all examined under the untainted criteria of true science as authored by God in His infinite wisdom exhibited not only on this micro planet we call earth but throughout the galaxies, one must conclude as stated, “In the beginning, God.”

 So, as we “in-Christ” prevail until that day, consider the triumph proclaimed in the Easter message when “His blood spilled for us” broke the bondage of Sin once and for all, and demoted Satan to be a defeated foe until his final destruction. Likewise, until God destroys this earth, good will trump evil, life will trump death, love will trump hate, and God’s justice will ultimately be served.

I suggest in celebration we consider the flooding value of forgiveness just sweeping over us! Of restitution coming instantly! Followed by restoration… And on all fronts … Even for the years the locusts have eaten! Now, add in total peace, love, and joy into the mix.>>>> Happy Easter!

Blessings on your journey home through the darkness of Good Friday and then bursting into His glorious light on Resurrection Sunday morning! Live in the Victory we’ve been given>>>>> merlin

As promised , we will look in on Dell since the November 3, 2003 article in Business Week as quoted in the prior blog “Three Common Denominators…” Unknown to me when I began that blog, was that my son Ben has a close friend, James, who joined Dell three years prior to the article. James relayed how on March 22, 2000, the stock price was $57.58. Three months later when he joined Dell, the stock was hoovering around $50. But six months later the dot-com bubble had burst, and on December 20, the stock price was down to $16.47. Indeed it appeared, Dell had an long arduous path toward recovery.

But fast forwarding almost three years to February of 2003, Dell stock climbed to $22.65 accomplished by such choices as first-ever layoffs, outsourcing, and other cost-cutting measures, that fed directly into the positively counteracting the negativity cited in the Business Week article. The efforts of Michael and Kevin no matter how successful Dell’s breath of talent’s, brains, competencies, and alliances were able to muster, there was still this thing that was the overflow from Michael and Kevin’s personal make-up, by humbling themselves and intimately sharing their personal integrity and portraying their courage to meet the monumentally oppressive demands of this scenario’s realities.

James identified for me  the following milestones Dell accomplished in becoming the powerhouse it is today.

In 2007 Rollins resigned and Michael returned as CEO

In 2009, Dell purchased Perot Systems for $4B.

At the end of 2013, Michael Dell and Silver Lake purchased Fortune’s ranked 51^st company for $24.5B

In 2016, the same twosome purchased EMC for $67B; at the time, the largest ever tech acquisition.

In December 2018, Dell Technologies was relaunched as a public company with a $35B Market Cap sequenced in 2019 @ $38B, 2020 @ $55B, 2021 @ $66B.

Just now I googled ‘Dell EMC” and a CRN article by Mark Haranas on March 2, 2021, stated “Dell Technologies is trading at all time highs this week by reaching $83.48 per share, up from $28.87 nearly one year ago, representing a massive 189 percent share increase. In a huge win last week, Dell reported its best revenue year in the company’s history by generating $94.4 B in total sales for its fiscal year 2021, which ended in February.  

An extraordinary accomplishment in deed for a business to achieve. And I maintain such success is easier for our materialistic minds to quantify for a business as opposed to success in a spiritual realm. Too often spiritual successes are later riddled with graft, corruption and abuse, such as recent disclosures for Ravi Zacharias.

I personally was deceived over 30 years by Ravi and from where I sit now at my writing table, I see three of his books on my book shelves I’ve not yet burned. It will soon be a year ago I listened to his memorial service while I was working in the garden, telling my pastor neighbor that Ravi was one of the bright lights whom exposed my sin from past decades. Ravi’s writings and speaking spoke to me at a time when I myself was being lifted out of the mire of comparable personal deceit by the Holy Spirit. And this was not of course, the first time I’d been keenly disappointed by an author or church leadership.

I just now checked the internet since its been several months since I read up on the details. On the www.rzim.org website, you will find an “Open Letter from the RZIM International Board of Directors on the ….”

The last paragraph states “ The findings of this investigation have convinced us more than ever of the necessity and sufficiency of the gospel. No one is without the need for a savior. Sin resides in the heart of human being. Jesus is the only person who is exactly who he says he is and the only savior worthy of our ultimate trust and worship. Jesus is fully committed to truth and to justice, and he unqualifiedly stands with victims.”

Immediately following then is a button to link you to a “Report that was compiled by an independent investigative firm, Miller & Martin PLLC. It contains disturbing content and graphic language and has not been edited by RZIM.”

I simply mention the above spiritual deceit, for in these days of media sensationalism in spiritual circles, whether we are the followers or leaders, we are set up for such disasters, whether by Satan or if not even purposefully engineered. The same is true in the political arena and the challenge for everyone, but especially for the believer or a Christ follower, is to exercise extreme caution in our news sources as we are now literally inundated by millions of ‘experts’, authors, podcasts, blogs, you tubes, etc. Consider my high school and college years in the sixties when we were dominated by only three major TV news networks and the perhaps 15-20 major magazines of that era arising from the boom years after WW II. And of course, newspapers than yet were prospering.

Personally, since we’re on the subject, I have found I must simply turn off the media inputs and limit my news sources to a few I’ve learned to trust over the years. As you, I am continually being sent clips, you tubes, and articles by well meaning friends, which serve me well to round me out with a continual flow of additional sources of materials and ideas, that they have already run through their “threshing machine” so to speak, so we can quickly and more capably compare our “grains of truth” against the scriptural standards.

But for what it’s worth, I read far more scripture now than I ever did prior. Personally, I read it out loud as though I were before a congregation but here’s a twist I learned recently, I do so with hymns being played not merely as background music but with sufficient volume for tempo, contrast, and another source of truth, not conflicting, but enhancing. Yeah, I know it sounds strange but when the lights go out and the internet dies, we’ll all go back and join our Amish brothers with lanterns and merely our own voices. Absorbing scripture, reading or listening to truth writings, and a vigorous prayer life are key today to thriving in all dimensions of life in this media driven culture.  

I include the following four Life Dimensions as necessary for living a fulfilled life: 1.) Attitude – Cultivating a positive mindset and emotions, 2.)  Body – Nourishing with fuel, movement and rest, 3.) Connections – Nurturing healthy positive connections, and 4.) Dreams – Purposely living a life of your dreams as provided you by your Creator. These four dimensions when under girded with a vibrant spiritual foundation, will serve you well.

Wow! We have certainly deviated from beginning with the Dell accolades progressing through the RZIM update as we attempt to flesh out our grappling of assessing spiritual success. The first Bible standard that comes to my mind just now is Matthew 7:16-20 which states “by their fruit we will know them.” I shall take the liberty to quote these famous verses from Matthew 7: 15-29 from The Message Translation since many of you know the KJV and the NIV nearly by memory. This version is vastly different!

15-23 “Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma, look for character.  Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. Knowing the correct password – saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance  – isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience – doing what my Father wills. I can see it now – at the Final Judgement thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I’m going to say? ‘You missed the boat, All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’

24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, home-owner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that house. It was attached to the rock.

26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on a sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

28-29 When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying – quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.

 I realize I included an additional nine verses beyond what was necessary to make the point “by their fruit you will know them.” But frequently I sense a ‘spiritual momentum’ when reading so I continue on capturing the additional blessing beyond merely the specific truth being sought and this is an excellent example: charisma vs character; who preachers (ambassadors) are IS the main thing; serious obedience, doing what my Father wills; his words are not merely ‘incidental additions to your life;’ attached to the rock.  

Candidly speaking, success for many professing Christians today, is likely best summed up by by not hearing these words at the Final Judgement “All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here!”

This time I think I’ll just reverse the emphasis of the prior blog’s titles to “Three Common Denominators For NOT Building Successful Businesses NOR Expanding The Kingdom of God….. Lackadaisical competencies of the scriptures, leveraging selfishly and building alliances for self-recognition, that will automatically destroy or vaporize any possibility of possessing personal integrity.

Blessings on your journey home toward the Final Judgement hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant…… Enter into the joy of your master!” >>>>>merlin

Competencies, Leveraging & the Integrity To Not Screw It Up!

It has been over ten years ago now I first read “Integrity: the courage to meet the demands of reality” by Dr. Henry Cloud which came out in 2006. After reading it, I resolved to make it required reading and conversation if I ever was graced again with employees.

Quoting from his preface, “You have heard all your life that character counts. You have desired integrity in yourself and in the people with whom you work. You have felt its affects, suffered when it is not present, and benefited when it has. You know that it is real.

But, too often, we do not connect the dots with how the integrity of character really works day to day, and how it affects our real results in the areas of life which matter to us most. We do not think that the way to more profits is a shift in our own character makeup, or if we do, we often do not know where to begin. Nor do we know how sometimes how to make personal shifts that will make our relationships more fruitful.

You will see how character traits supercede gifts, talents, and ability, and the ones who don’t, ultimately fail. And, the fun part will be finding that all of us can grow in all of these areas, and that the journey itself is of great value. So, join me in that journey, as we look at how Integrity is the courage to meet the demands of reality.”

Dr. Cloud begins Chapter One by telling how a friend of his out of her concern for her two twenty some year old sons, asked if he would take her two sons out for lunch and talk to them about success. They had been asking numerous questions about how some people become so successful making it ‘big.’ Perhaps he could give them some guidance since they were in the asking mode. Dr. Cloud replied likely not, since that really wasn’t his field. But she kept coming back with the likes of “you’ve worked with a lot of successful people. Just take them out and tell them something. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just give them somethings to think about.”

So, thinking he had been perhaps too dismissive, Dr Cloud relented and finally agreed to lunch, which instantly fired this mother on a mission up, and she would then not quit hounding him until he would tell her what his three points would be to her sons. Though the process weaves through pages, I’ll boil them down to succinctly this. People who become leaders , or really successful tend to have three qualities.

Number One: They have some set of competencies. They know their field, their industry, their discipline, or whatever. You can only fake it so long boys, so your get yourself in the library, the internet, or wherever and master your craft.

Number Two: Besides, skills they have to be what I call an alliance builder. In other words, they have to take their competencies and what they do well and build alliances with others who have competencies and resources and form relationships that are mutually beneficial. As a result, they leverage what they do well to much greater heights than just being ‘good’ at their job. They forge relationships and partnerships with people like investors , regulators, distribution centers, their boards, city governments, Wall Street, or whoever it is that has the capacity to make whatever they are doing bigger.

  Number Three: “Then I would tell them that they need to understand that the people who possess the first two abilities are a dime a dozen. There is no shortage of talented, brainy people who are very, very good at what they do and are equally able to work the system and schmooze other people to get things done. But if your boys are truly going to make it, they need the third ingredient as well: They have to have the character to not screw it up. That is what I think I will them if you have to know right now.”

Personally now, looking back soon to be fifty years since college graduation, I may be tempted to think my vision of those early years is now twenty-twenty. I particularly know exactly when I didn’t default by accident, or simply made a mistake, because I deliberately chose on numerous occasions as I have heard it said already, “with my eyes wide-open,” knowing exactly when I didn’t possess the needed ‘character’ for the situation at hand, and consequently, I most certainly did totally screw it up. See now why this book is so personal to me?

About five years ago I was compelled to give a copy of this book, Integrity, to a businessman I had never met, but I knew firsthand he had some very difficult decisions to make, similar to those facing the Dell CEO Michael S Dell and President Kevin B Rollins after the global crash in PC sales after 2001. Business Week magazine in its November 3, 2003 reported the following:

“When Dell and Rollins met privately in the fall of 2001, they were confident that the company was recovering from the global crash in PC sales. Their own personal performance, however, was another matter. Internal reviews revealed that subordinates thought Dell, 38, was impersonal and emotionally detached, while Rollins, 50, was seen as autocratic and antagonistic. Few felt strong loyalty to the company’s leaders. Worse, the discontent was spreading: a survey taken over the summer, following the company’s first-ever mass layoffs, found half of Dell Inc.’s employees would leave if they had the chance.

What happened next says much about why Dell is the best-managed company in technology at the moment. At other industry giants, the CEO and his chief sidekick might have shrugged off the criticism or let the issue slide. Not at Dell. Fearing an exodus of talent, the two execs focused on the gripes. Within two weeks, Dell faced his top 20 managers and offered a frank self-critique, acknowledging that he is hugely shy and that it sometimes makes him seem aloof and unapproachable. He vowed to forge tighter bonds with his team. Some in the room were shocked. They knew personality tests given to key execs had repeatedly shown Dell to be an “off-the-charts introvert,” and such an admission from him had to have been painful. “It was powerful stuff,” says Brian Wook, the head of the public sector sales for the Americas. “You could tell it wasn’t easy for him.”

Michael Dell didn’t stop there. Days later, they began showing a video tape of his talk to every manager in the company – several thousand people. Then Dell and Rollins adopted desk props to do what didn’t come naturally. A plastic bulldozer cautioned Dell not to ram through ideas without including others, and a Curious George encouraged Rollins to listen to his team before making up his mind.”

Listen to some of the actual words there: Impersonal, emotionally detached, autocratic, antagonistic, loyalty, focused on the gripes, shy, aloof, unapproachable, tighter bonds, including others, listen to his team. These are not usually the things you hear in in business and success training, but they are things of reality. No matter how huge the success that Dell’s talents, brains, competencies, and alliances brought about, there was still this thing that was the overflow from a person’s makeup, his integrity, and his courage to meet the current demands of his reality.

As was told in Point Number Three to the boys, ultimately we all have to pay attention to it, because attention will be given to it. Attention from half a workforce willing to leave a company if they had the opportunity merits a lot of attention! It is better if we do it proactively as Michael Dell did. Don’t we wish all CEO’s would heed that kind of feedback and take those kinds of bold steps, or how about politicians, pastors, spouses, or parents? It would solve a lot of problems.

Dr Cloud goes on to say “The reality to see here is that this stuff matters. Connecting with others in a way that makes them feel understood and valued is key to life and the basis of building trust and loyalty. From that base, everything else works. To do that requires the kind of character that is oriented towards others and makes proactive connections with them in a way that builds bonds.

I suggest you read again and ponder Dr Cloud’s three points for the mother on a mission for her two sons. In fact, when I read this book and these three points (gaining competencies, leveraging & being an alliance builder, & then, the integrity not to screw it up) I am visualizing how I can utilize them in “Living & Building the Kingdom of God,” my churches motto or mission statement. Sadly, I’m not so sure today that many church members ever think of applying these three points to their faith when it is exactly what is required of his followers. Read the Gospels and Pauline passages, especially I & II Peter for similar marching orders!

 Perhaps you ask “To do what?” Begin by considering your own kids or perhaps your grand’s. Or the  college grad that just moved back in with his folks next door. Perhaps that grad is you, or perhaps you’re the parents with the grad upstairs again. Realize  opportunities to meet the current demands of your realities are always awaiting you, whether within or outside your family.

May I suggest, for a change of perspective, just once, you forget all about yourself and look around you. Who can you take an interest in, offer wisdom , but most of all, just offer your willingness to listen, really listen. Perhaps you first need to start with your spouse, or one of your children, then an uncle, or a niece. Such opportunities abound. Don’t be shy. Get inspired! Read or listen to Andy Andrew’s book “The Noticer” to prime your pump. Likely a good idea if you seek His guidance first or your attempt may not end well. He’s been waiting for you to ask for His help. Apparently, exceptional intellect is not required; inspiration and obedience though, are usually in short supply as is prayer and scripture reading. Forget the foxhole mentality; do both for their pure enjoyment before the bombing starts.

Next blog post we’ll learn how Dell has fared since the Business Week article in 2003 until today. Did Michael Dell’s integrity, his courage to meet the current demands of his reality, actually serve him well?

Don’t forget that for Christ’s Mission Possible, it is all about gaining competencies, leveraging & being an alliance builder, & then, the integrity not to screw it up!

Blessings on your journey home>>>>merlin

By Wesley J. Smith on March 7, 2021 in Conscience originally published at The Epoch Times. Wesley Smith is Chair and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. Wesley is a contributor to National Review and is the author of 14 books, in recent years focusing on human dignity, liberty, and equality. Wesley has been recognized as one of America’s premier public intellectuals on bioethics by National Journal and has been honored by the Human Life Foundation as a “Great Defender of Life” for his work against suicide and euthanasia. Wesley’s most recent book is Culture of Death: The Age of “Do Harm” Medicine, a warning about the dangers to patients of the modern bioethics movement.

“That’s insane!” These days, how often do we say those words? The litany could go on and on.

Dr. Seuss is suddenly persona nongrata, six of his books removed from publication because they are “racist” and “hateful.” That’s insane!

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has become a widely reviled personality because she claims that boys are born male and girls, female? That’s insane!

Statues of Abraham Lincoln are being torn down and schools named after the Great Emancipator renamed in the cause of fighting racism. That’s insane!

Woke educators decry mathematics education focused on getting “the right answer” as an expression of white privilege and patriarchy. Suddenly math is about social justice. That’s insane!

No. Actually, it’s not. “Canceling,” as it is called, is a coldly calculated strategy implemented with malice aforethought. The goal isn’t to persuade. Social excommunication, media de-platforming, and the trashing of venerable traditions doesn’t seek to reform institutions or promote societal improvement. Rather, the point is to destroy every traditional religious, social, and political institution judged guilty of constructing Western Civilization, toward the end of rebuilding society in the image of Woke.

Let me put it more simply: The French Revolution is attacking the American Revolution.

The French Revolution? Am I nuts?

I don’t think so. Sure, circumstances are different. Antifa and their allied corporate woksters are not attacking a king living in splendor as the common people starve. And to be sure, no guillotines have been installed in public squares chopping off heads. Well, at least not literally.

But I believe we are in the midst of a social upheaval every bit as radical and potentially destructive as the one that tore France apart in the late 18th century, a revolution that aims at demolishing traditional Americanism as thoroughly as the original version did the French monarchy.

The French Revolution isn’t just an historical event. It can also be thought of as a metaphor that describes a particularly destructive Utopian zealotry. Similarly, the American Revolution can refer to more than the events culminating in the founding of the United States, but also, as the embodiment of a value system of ordered liberty and individual freedom. The values of the two upheavals—both historically and as metaphors—could not be more antithetical.

Realizing that the neo-French and American Revolutions are not all one thing but in the real world can share attributes, we can make the following general observations:

• The French Revolution is Utopian and believes in the perfectibility of society that requires a strong centralized power structure. The American Revolution is, paradoxically, conservative. Its locus of power is the free individual.

• The French Revolution focuses on self-indulgence. The American, on self-restraint.

• The French Revolution is authoritarian. It deploys institutional power to coerce adherence to the revolution’s values. In today’s parlance, that goal is equity, meaning equality of outcomes. The American Revolution stands for equality of opportunity, by creating a system in which people are enabled to go as far as their talent and character allow without regard to the color of their skin, their sex, or any other categorization.

• The French Revolution tolerates only approved speech. It dictates acceptable lexicon. The American Revolution understands that reasonable people may differ. The answer to bad speech isn’t to punish but refute it with better speech.

• The French Revolution detests traditional religion—particularly orthodox Christianity—and seeks to establish a mandatory secularity in the public sphere to which all must give obeisance. (For example, the Equality Act would impose transgendered ideology throughout society, including forcing women’s sports to let biological males compete.) The American Revolution upholds the free exercise of religion—that is, the right to live according to the precepts of one’s faith—as a fundamental human right. (Thus, religious pacifists may legally escape conscription into the military, even in times of war.)

• The French Revolution feels, that is, its arguments are based mostly in hyper emotionalism. Its great potent tools are moral panic and the aroused mob sweeping all before it. No disagreement allowed. The American Revolution thinks. Its most effective strategy is free and open discourse as applied to established moral and legal principles, from which people are allowed to dissent.

• The French Revolution believes in “positive rights” secured by an all-powerful government—even if that means citizens are coerced into their provision. The American Revolution perceives rights as emanating from God or as integral to human nature. Thus, government isn’t established to guarantee happiness but maintain an open and free society for its pursuit.

The Bible says we will be known by our fruits. I think that is also true of philosophical systems.

The historic fruits of the French Revolution have been despotism, death, and destruction—in the Reign of Terror in France, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and catastrophic Cultural Revolution of China, all of which were pursued with French Revolutionary values and zealotry.

The fruits of the American Revolution have been rising levels of personal freedom in the West unheard of in human history and the creation of the most prosperous society on earth. It is why downtrodden people from the world risk life and limb to get to the United States. They believe in the American Dream.

It will take time for the passions fueling our American French Revolution to bank. But if we stay resolute and defiant, if we resist succumbing to the Jacobins’ bullying, that day will come. As the old saying goes, the Revolution always eats its own.

But I fear our situation is going to get worse before it gets better. Today, Dr. Seuss was canceled. Tomorrow it could be Mr. Rogers—he was, after all a white, male, Christian pastor, who depicted living in a privileged suburban neighborhood, and spoke to his audience of children in the oppressive binary terms, “boys and girls.” Off with his head!

The following is our final look at Chris Hedge’s book “The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm & Love Well in a Culture of Compromise” beginning Pg. 240.

“Once the spiritual groundwork has been laid, we can work on being Christ’s ambassadors in the world around us. As I promised you earlier, there are no set scripts, shortcuts, or easy answers here. It takes time to lay the spiritual groundwork and to invest in relationships. There’s no magic formula.

However, I do have suggestions. Below are five approaches or attitudes of response you can incorporate as you engage with the people God has given you to influence. Because I am frequently asked how I handle certain situations, I’m including a very basic conversational response, based on my past experience, for you to use mostly as a prompt to get started on each of the five. Again, you don’t need to memorize these or say them verbatim when talking to someone about cultural challenges. Just keep it real, and let God’s Holy Spirit give you wisdom and discernment about how to respond and what to say.

1. Keep your standards high and your grace deep.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Cor. 1: 18–20)

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth to deal with how culture was affecting their church. He encouraged the followers of Jesus there to keep the standards high but in a grace-filled way. He pointed out that those who think they are smarter than God will at some point discover their own limits and end up frustrated. To illustrate this, Paul asked several rhetorical questions: “Where’s the smarty pants who thinks they know so much? Where’s the wise guy or the know-it-all? Where’s the ‘enlightened expert’ of the times? Hasn’t God shown you all how silly your views are compared to his?”

Obviously, this is my paraphrase, but I think you get the point of what Paul was saying. He concluded, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor. 1: 25).

Throughout the rest of his letter, which we know as 1 Corinthians, Paul confronted culture and culture’s norms but managed to do so with grace. He clearly took a strong stand against sinful behavior and immoral standards and practices, but the way he did it displays compassion and not condemnation, heartfelt concern and not self-righteous indignation.

Similarly, we need to think less about who we might offend and, with grace and truth, take a stand for God’s Word. I suspect many of us don’t like dealing with this culture clash between the world’s ways and God’s ways. We often want the world to like us more than we want to stand strong for God’s ways. The reality is that the world is going to think God’s ways and standards are foolish. They are going to want us to change (may even soon demand we to do change..mle) what we believe.

So here’s the real question: What are we going to do when we face this dilemma? What’s our response going to be when confronted with a clash between the culture around us and the God we love and want to serve?

We should do as Jesus did and keep the standards high and the grace deep.

Everyone in Jesus’ day knew the Ten Commandments and that adultery was wrong, but then Jesus came along and said, “If you’ve ever even looked at another person and lusted, you’ve committed adultery in your heart” (Matt. 5: 28, my paraphrase). In one sentence, Jesus made an adulterer of almost everyone in the audience! Jesus didn’t lower the standard. He pointed toward a higher standard, and then he refused to condemn those who fell short of it.

In other words, he didn’t cave to the cultural pressure so that he could be liked and accepted. Jesus didn’t say what people wanted to hear or what would make them feel good. He pointed to a higher standard and then provided a way out for those who would repent. See the difference? The standard got higher, but the grace got deeper.

This is how we should engage the culture and its standards. Let’s stick to God’s way and God’s Word. If the Bible calls it sin, then it’s sin—period. Let’s not give into the pressure to change because the world thinks it’s foolish. God’s ways will always be foolish to the world. Instead, let’s point to a higher standard but extend the deep, abundant grace that we all need.

When faced with a discussion about any moral issue, I often say something like this:

We all fall short of God’s standards—you, me, everybody. But let’s not change his truth to fit what we want. Let’s ask God to change us to fit what he wants. That’s why he’s God and we’re his creation. He knows what’s best for us and loves us enough to tell us those boundaries. Moral standards aren’t man made; they’re God-given.

2. Accept people without approving of their behavior.

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way” (Dan. 1: 8).

Jesus confronted the culture around him all the time. Remember the scene found in John 8, where a woman was caught in adultery by the religious leaders and Pharisees? They brought her before Jesus, who had been teaching in the temple courts, in hopes of tripping him up. They reminded Jesus that the law under Moses required that anyone caught in adultery be stoned. These leaders plotting against Jesus hoped that he would either refute the law of Moses or else indirectly endorse killing the woman standing before them in the midst of a large crowd.

Jesus didn’t fall for it, however. We’re told that Jesus began writing something in the dusty ground with his finger. When the religious leaders kept goading him, Jesus said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). Then he started writing in the dust again as the Pharisees and other religious leaders walked away.

While we’re not told what Jesus wrote, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a list of specific sins each of the religious leaders had committed. Maybe it was something else, but whatever it was, the message was clear. When Jesus asked who was left to accuse her, the woman told him none remained. He replied, “Then neither do I condemn you. . . . Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8: 11).

Jesus masterfully accepted and respected her without approving of her behavior. He showed compassion rather than join in with her accusers. He gave her a hopeful doorway out of her sinful life. There’s no better model for how we engage those around us who are participating in behaviors God identifies as sinful.

When faced with someone I know and care about who is living in direct contrast to the ways of God, I usually try to express something like this:

God loves us just the way we are, but too much to let us stay that way. He doesn’t condemn us, but he does want to change us. I think it’s similar to how I feel about my children. I try to love each one uniquely and unconditionally. But I still want them to do what’s truly best for them – not just whatever they feel like doing.

3. Never let the tone get contentious.

“When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact” (Dan. 2:14).

The irony of this approach is that our culture loves to encourage and exploit contentiousness. For many people, businesses, and organizations, any time spent in the spotlight of public attention—no matter how controversial the catalyst—is valuable. Social media and our Internet-driven culture reinforce the belief that everyone’s opinions, on all topics and at all times, not only matter but must be shared. And as we’ve all learned by now, plenty of mean-spirited critics and “haters” thrive online just by ranting and raving.

Perhaps it’s even worse when a personal conversation becomes contentious, with each party suddenly becoming defensive or even angry and antagonistic. However, the moment that dynamic surfaces, the opportunity for any real communication has pretty much disappeared. Whenever a friendly, respectful discussion becomes a political debate, power struggle, or theological boxing match, it feels like a personal attack.

Everyone quits listening at that point and either runs for cover, retreating and withdrawing, or prepares to fight, looking for points of attack. The examples set by Daniel and Jesus are clear, not to mention numerous others including Paul and James: our words matter because they reveal our hearts. Here’s what Jesus himself had to say about the power of our words to reveal what’s inside us:

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt. 12: 34–37)

The moment you make engaging with other people about “being right,” you need to stop and check your heart. You may need to apologize, share what you’re feeling, or leave and try again another day. But arguing with someone, let alone condemning them and their behavior as sinful, has never won a single person to the Lord. Even if they don’t show it or you can’t see it, most people already feel the weight of their secrets, their sins, and their struggles. They don’t need someone pressing down and adding to that weight. They need hope. They need someone who says, “I know what that feels like, but now I know the freedom of being forgiven.”

 If you struggle with letting your emotions get out of hand when relating to nonbelievers, then the best remedy I know is spending time with God. His heart always replenishes our experience of grace. When we encounter his mercy, love, and forgiveness, it’s hard not to pass it on to those around us.

Whenever I find myself in a cultural conversation that heats up, I usually try to change the tone of our discussion by saying:

 Hey, I can tell we’re both passionate about our beliefs. But I don’t want to argue about this. I’d rather have a relationship with you than win an argument. We can come back to this another time—tell me about . . . [your pet, your kids, your job, whatever will change the topic and build a relational bridge].”


4. Lead them to truth by identifying with their struggle.

“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives” (Jude v. 22–23 NLT).

We should never shame or condemn people for their feelings—including same-sex attraction or desires to do immoral things. Why? Because we all have feelings, and just because we feel a certain way doesn’t mean we have to act on those feelings.

I have my own set of desires outside of God’s standard. In fact, I’m aware of it every time I read Scripture. As I have said, I’m not predisposed to monogamy. If a beautiful woman walks by, my flesh wants to lust. When this happens, I don’t just accept my lustful feelings; instead, I identify them as wrong, repent, and thank God for his grace and ask him to do a work inside of me. And we do the same thing for anyone who is struggling with anything. We embrace them as long as they desire repentance.

If they don’t desire repentance and want you to approve of their sin, then, obviously, that’s something you cannot do. However, withholding your approval does not mean condemning them. Too often, our culture likes to go to extremes—either we’re in full agreement or else we’re totally opposed. This kind of attitude makes it even more difficult for us as Christians to accept others without approving of their sinful standards or behaviors.

One way to live within this tension, however, is by identifying with their struggle. Other people are turned off when we come across—even unintentionally—as better than them, self-righteous, or legalistic. Nothing turns me off like a smug attitude, no matter the situation. When we display humility, authenticity, honesty, or even humor when appropriate, we relate to others as human beings, person to person, and eventually, heart to heart.

Once that heart connection takes place, you’ll find people are much more willing to hear the truth. When they know you and trust you and see that you’re for real, then they want to have what you have. They want to know Jesus.

When people defend their actions based on their feelings, I try to identify with the struggle our feelings can cause:

“You know, I struggle too. My feelings sometimes get in the way of the kind of person I want to be, the kind of person God wants me to be. I often desire things outside of God’s will for my life. While I’ve learned we can’t always change our feelings, we can evaluate them, see where they’re leading us, and ask God to change us.”

5. Paint the picture of what it looks like to come home.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15: 20).

No matter what someone has done or not done, it’s never too late for God to forgive them and to transform their lives. Our job is to make sure they know this, to paint an accurate and vivid picture of what it’s like to come home to the Lord. There are numerous ways to do this, especially once you know a person and have developed a level of trust or a heart connection with them.

Look for opportunities to build bridges and care for people every chance you get. This is the example we see throughout Jesus’ life. When he saw someone’s need, he met it—and then he addressed the greater spiritual need. Let those around you know you’re always willing and available to listen, to talk, even to pray with them. You’d be surprised how many non-Christians will ask me to pray with them. The goal is to always show a welcoming spirit of kindness, generosity, and graciousness. Leave the porch light on for them. This gives them a strong sense of the safe place that stems from coming home to God.

Look for opportunities to build bridges and care for people every chance you get.

When people reject God’s way, sometimes the best thing to do is wait and let them realize for themselves that going their own way doesn’t work. When they choose their own direction, I usually say something like:

If you ever change your mind—if you ever decide that your way isn’t working— if you ever find yourself in a miserable place and want to come home, I want to be the first person you call. I’m always willing to listen and help however I can.

Be the Daniel of Your Day

Let me honest with you. If you’re willing to adopt these five approaches, you will still struggle at times with what to say or how to respond to those around you. You might still have a hard time not letting your emotions erupt when confronted with culture’s sinful standards. You may even find yourself more aware of and sensitively attuned to the clash between God’s ways and the ways of the world. But the key is not to give up.

As we saw time and time again, Daniel stood his ground – even risking his life – to oppose the cultural pressure surrounding him. He didn’t argue, defend, explain, or debate. He simply made his boundaries clear with direct, respectful communication. As a result, Daniel shone like a beacon of God’s truth for seventy years, valued and esteemed by four different Babylonian regimes.

When culture shifts – and we know it always will – we believers should get excited. Because in the midst of these chaotic unsettling times, we live (and function) on solid ground. In Christ we possess the hope the world needs. And like the prophet Daniel, we are catalysts for redemptive change, people of influence who know our goal is not to be right, but to be effective. People who are willing to stand when it’s easier to bow under the weight of culture. People whose light shines brighter in the darkness of a sinful culture.

The world is waiting to see what you’ll do with what you’ve been given. Let them always see Christ in you. Let all that you do be done in love. Have we learned to love?”

Again, this is really good stuff and so pertinent for resourcing believers in the battle right now!! Contact me and I will email you the documents for distribution. Continued Blessings As You Go Forth>>>>  merlin  

I awoke at 4:59 am today, having entered the world of rest the evening prior at 10:28 pm according to my sleep monitor. I didn’t want to stay awake, I yearned for more. So I tapped my tablet and reactivated the music I’d been listening to the evening prior, a playlist from All SE Samonte Hymns 139 that is my music mainstay. Now at 6:39 AM I’m on #60 “Where He Leads Me.” All that time I have been quietly listening to these hymns, drifting in and out, just reflectively thanking God for his love to me, as expressed in so many diverse thought patterns and compilations of melodies, that continually flood my memory this morning of the life and times of my earliest recollections up to this very moment. Music is such an “enabler of worship” that we all innately possess but so seldom do we avail ourselves of its potential in meaningful “clips” throughout our busy hectic days.

This morning I soon realized returning to blissful sleep was simply not happening. About 5:35 I had an attack of sneezing. At least ten of them, followed by a constantly runny nose using up 5-6 tissues. This is very unusual for me. This winter I’ve learned such fits of suffering require multiple capsules of Vit C; this was severe enough to warrant swallowing 4. Prior my max was only 3. We’ll see if it works this time. Right now I’m listening to # 67, “God on the Mountain” as sung by the Higher Ground Quartet, one of my favorites. “But it’s down in the valley, of those trials and temptations That’s when faith is really put to the test. For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.” Indeed!

Next up was # 68, “Sin Will Take You Farther.” And isn’t that the truth. If only I had possessed my present clarity of focus when I was a teenager and quite unconsciously without purpose, went about choosing the foundational pillars for many of my future relationships, associations, and investments without being tethered to many meaningful spiritual resources. I am thinking now of such as a vibrant daily devotional life, the presence of  a focused mentor(s) guiding me through key decisions while suffering major losses, and unfortunately, not always being fully open to accepting the overtures of a concerned fellowship where I could  intimately experience the joys and benefits of a nurturing community.

While writing this, I’ve been listening to “Just over Yonder,” “Trust His Heart,” “Sing to Me of Heaven,” “Trust and Obey,” “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” “No Friend Like Jesus,” “My God and I.” “Until Then,” and I will conclude with #78 on this You Tube track of 139 hymns with Michael Overholt’s “Daddy, Will You Be There For Me” as sung by the Esh Family.

I have been blessed, invigorated, and prepared for whatever my day may dish up for me. Hopefully you were encouraged as well! And yes, the Vit C worked within the hour, helped no doubt, by several steaming cups of Loretta’s fresh bone broth.

Before I leave I want to share a few prayer pointers I discovered recently from Matthew Kelly in his last book “Dig the Well Before You Get Thirsty.” He calls it “The Prayer Process.”

1. Gratitude: Begin by thanking God in a personal dialogue for whatever you are most thankful for today.

2. Awareness: Revisit the times in the past 24 hours when you were and were not the best-best-version-of-yourself. Talk to God about these situations and what you learned from them.

3. Significant Moments: Identify something you’ve experienced today and explore what God might be trying to say to you through that event (or person).

4. Peace: Ask God to forgive you for any wrong you have committed (against yourself, another person, or him) and to fill you with a deep and abiding peace.

5. Freedom: Speak with God about how he is inviting you to change your life, so that you can experience the freedom to be the-best-version-of-yourself.

6. Others: Lift up to God anyone you feel called to pray for today, asking God to bless and guide them.

7. Finish by praying “The Lord’s Prayer” or another of your choosing.

Frequently, I do this in the evening as I wind down my day writing down the date on a 3×5 card and numbering 1-6 and summarizing my reflections on each of the six, Gratitude, Awareness, etc.  The next morning during my devotions I then review the prior evening’s comments and perhaps even prior days if warranted.  

I’ve learned the Christian life is all about a relationship with Jesus and following his commandments, not merely intellectual assent as popularized today in this “bow-down” culture. And I am still failing miserably far too often. The secrete? Simply stay tethered!

Interesting that our Anabaptist forefathers could not understand a Christianity which made regeneration, holiness, and love primarily a matter of intellect, of doctrinal belief, or of subjective “experience,” rather than one of the transformation of life. They demanded an outward expression of the inner experience. Repentance must be “evidenced” by newness of behavior. One’s whole life was to be brought literally under the lordship of Christ in a covenant of discipleship, Their focus was not so much the inner experience of the grace of God, as it was for Luther, but the outward application of that grace to all human conduct and the consequent “Christianizing” of all human relationships. The true test of the believers, they held, is discipleship. The great word of the Anabaptists was not “faith” as it was with the reformers, but “following” (Nachfolge Christi). Quoted Harold S Bender’s “The Anabaptist Vision” Pg 20.

Blessings as you GO FORTH MORE AWARE, FACILITATED & EMPOWERED>>>>> merlin

^{This is the first of two posts from Chris Hodges “The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm & Love Well in a Culture of Compromise” taken directly from its final pages providing both light and reassurance. John Maxwell penned the following} “The Daniel Dilemma inspires us as it convicts, reminding us that the desperate, hurting people around us don’t need to be proven wrong – they need Jesus . With tenderness and strength, compassion and clarity, Chris Hodges shows us how to be humble servants of God, just like the prophet Daniel, influencing our culture instead of being consumed by its humanistic hunger. This book is a field guide to effective interactive living amongst the citizens of our broken 21st century world today – a must read!”

“Being a person of godly influence in an ungodly culture requires much more than just a personal opinion and a Bible verse. It requires a vibrant deep-seated personal faith and a sustaining intimate relationship with God, along with an ever-present reliance on him as your daily power source and guide. In fact, based on what we’ve seen exemplified by Daniel, here is a short list of what we need to do to get started on being a person of influence in our culture:

Know our God-given identities (Ch 1)

Settle our core values (Ch 2)

Be ready to stand our ground in the tests of life (Ch 3)

Worship God (Ch 4)

Don’t worship other gods (Ch 5)

Give our lives fully to Jesus (Ch 6)

Identify our pride (Ch 7)

Put our feelings in their proper place (Ch 8)

Give God control of our lives (Ch 9)

Understand the brevity of life (Ch 10)

Focus on our priorities (Ch 11)

Heed the warning signs of weariness (Ch 12)

Learn how to connect before we correct (Ch 13)

Let God change us into his likeness (Ch 14)

The attitudes and decisions from these chapters need to be in our hearts and minds before we take on the world around us. They equip us in ways that simply can’t be attained through any other means. They compel us to grow closer to God and to use this closeness as the motivation for how we stand up in a “bow-down world.”

As God does a work in us, we become vessels that he can use to impact others. Loved by God, saved by his Son, and empowered by his Spirit, we can influence the culture around us two major ways: spiritually and relationally. We need first to be prepared spiritually, and then we can engage in cultural relationships with maximum positive impact.  

“We humans are triune beings: body, soul, and spirit. It’s the spirit part of us that is like God and will live forever. And because each and every person has a spirit and is made in the likeness of God, we will always be on a spiritual journey. Like homing pigeons constantly returning to their nests, our spirits are continually in search of their Creator. This innate spiritual part of us explains why we are the only part of creation that worships. And it’s also why we need to fight the cultural battle spiritually.

How do we do that? The same way Jesus did. He came face-to-face with the Devil when he was tempted in the wilderness (see Matt. 4 and Luke 4), and every time the Enemy tried to tempt him, Jesus responded with a verse from the Bible. He used the Sword of Truth to defend himself from the Enemy’s attacks. Think of it this way: Jesus didn’t confront the Devil as God. He confronted the Devil as a man with the Word of God. We should do the same thing. Because each and every person has a spirit and is made in the likeness of God, they will always be on a spiritual journey.

Here are five scriptures and five model prayers we can pray (make them your own) for the people God has given us to influence:”

1. Pray that the Father would draw them to Jesus.

 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6: 44).

I remember the day I gave my life to Jesus. I had been in church my whole life, but this day was different. Something was stirring inside of me. I’m still not sure how best to explain it. I just knew that God was dealing with me, and I needed to respond. There was this natural, magnetic pull to the truth of the gospel—an invisible, irresistible tug on my heart. This is something God does, not something we can make happen out of our own striving, so we need to be faithful in praying that the Father would draw those he’s placed on our hearts to Jesus.

Father, I pray for the people around me, that you would supernaturally draw their hearts to you. Send your Holy Spirit to them, and give them the desire to give their lives to you. Help them to recognize their longing for more as spiritual, as a thirst only you can quench. Open their ears to hear your voice.

2. Bind the spirit that blinds their minds.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4: 4).

The truth can be right in front of some people, and they still can’t see it. That’s because something is in the way. Something is blocking their view of God. We can pray against whatever is in the way, though, so they can see the light of God. We can pray that they would see the truth without any obstacles or distractions interfering.

Father, bind the evil spirits that are blinding the minds of the people around me in the name of Jesus. I pray that they would be able to see clearly, to recognize who you are, and to give their hearts to you. Remove all hindrances the Enemy would use to distract them from your truth. Open their eyes, Lord, that they might see Jesus.

3. Let loose the spirit of adoption (personal relationship with God).

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8: 15).

Many people think Christianity is just another religion. They only see God through the lens of the organization and institution of the church. They may even feel frustrated, angry, or betrayed by people in churches they have encountered or by religious legalists and their hypocrisy. But God didn’t come to build an organization. He came to have relationship with his children. He wants his kids to come home. Praying for people to have personal encounters with the living God makes a huge difference.

Father, I pray that people will understand how much you love them. Loose the spirit of adoption for the people around me, so that they come into a meaningful relationship with you. Stir in their hearts a longing to come home, to hear your voice, and to see you welcoming them with open arms. Let them know you are always running to meet them and hold them close.

4. Pray that believers will enter into positive relationships with the lost, and pray that we will see the opportunities that come across our paths.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matt. 9: 38).

This one is twofold: we can pray for other Christians to influence the people around them positively, and we can also look for opportunities to influence others positively ourselves. God’s plan to reach people is worked through those who already know and love him. Jesus asked us to pray for people to go into the world and be salt and light. He came to bring the good news of the gospel to all people, and his desire is that everyone would know and love him. As his “spiritual farmers,” we should be attuned to opportunities to plant spiritual seeds in the lives of the people we encounter each day. We may have no idea who has already been praying for them and the culminating impact a kind word, a compassionate act, or a loving attitude can have to draw someone to Christ.

Father, I pray for the lost around me to meet believers who will influence them in a positive way. Lord, let my life shine in such a way that people want to know the God I serve. Allow others to see my genuine love and concern for them in all that I say and do. Let me be your hands and feet to serve them and let them know just how much you love them.

5. Release the spirit of wisdom and revelation on them, so they may know God better.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph. 1: 17).

It’s that “eureka” moment. That “aha!” when it finally clicks. It happens in class when you suddenly understand the math equation or how something works. The most important moment for it to happen is when the lights come on spiritually. People need to see their own sin, see what Jesus did on the cross, and see the hope that comes from giving their life to God. They need wisdom, not just knowledge, of spiritual things and insight into how spiritual things directly impact them.

Father, I pray for the people around me to experience the spirit of wisdom and revelation. I pray that they would truly understand their spiritual condition and see what Jesus did for them on the cross. Help them to have the information and experiences needed to come to you, so they can understand all you have for them.”

_{I suggest you study these five scriptures & prayers from the book beginning Pg. 235 to guide you in become a shining light for those persons deceived by the globalist agenda & postmodern culture.}

^{The above is so pertinent for resourcing believers to help others exit their pitch black caves as we are empowered! Contact me and I will email you the documents for distribution, or even better, buy the book and prepare! The next post is equally vital beginning on Pg 240. Continued Blessings As You Go Forth>>>>  merlin}