We Christians must separate ourselves from this worldly practice. We should rejoice when our brother/sister rejoices and weep when our brother/sister weeps. Perhaps this is called “bearing one another’s burdens”.

Then the Devil stepped forward. Addressing the imps he said, “Your methods are too crude. Permit me for one moment to make a recommendation.” Going up to the hermit, he asked, “Have you heard the news? Your brother has been made Bishop of Alexandria.” Then a scowl of malignant jealousy clouded the serene face of the holy man.

What do you think? Would that tactic work on you?

“I took the invitation, and went down and saw the two men who had the saloon, and I said:

‘Is that a genuine invitation?’ They said it was.

‘I thank you,’ I said; ‘I will be around, and if there is anything here I don’t like I may have something to say about it.’

They said, ‘You are not going to preach, are you?’

‘I may.’

‘We don’t want you. We won’t let you in.’

‘How are you going to keep me out?’ I asked. ‘There is the invitation.’

‘We will put a policeman at the door.’

‘What is the policeman going to do with that invitation?’

‘We won’t let you in.’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘I will be there.’

I gave them a good scare, and then I said, ‘I will compromise the matter; if you two men will get down here and let me pray with you, I will let you off.’

I got those two rum-sellers down on their knees, one on one side of me and the other on the other side, and I prayed God to save their souls and smite their business. One of them had a Christian mother, and he seemed to have some conscience left. After I had prayed, I said: ‘How can you do this business? How can you throw this place open to ruin the young men of Chicago?’

Within three months the whole thing smashed up, and one of them was converted shortly after. I have never been invited to a saloon since.”

Do you think such a thing could happen today?

What examples or illustrations come to your mind that would help a new Christian arise to this understanding?

The man didn’t move or reply. The usher called the manager over, who said, “I must ask you to move.”

Still the prone man didn’t reply. So the manager called the police. “Get up or I’ll have to take you in,” the officer said. “Where did you come from, anyway?”

The man finally stirred and said, “The balcony.”

Have you ever felt condemnation toward another who was down and out? How can we judge someone when we haven’t walked in their shoes or understood what they have gone through that brought them to that place? Let’s be a little more understanding. Our job is not to judge, but to assist others on their spiritual journey. How are you helping?

The most popular lookup for the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary that year, however, was the word integrity. The definition given is: “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” It’s used to describe those who are unwilling to be bribed or morally corrupted. Why was that word on the top of the list?

Could it be because integrity is so lacking that many don’t know what it looks like in someone’s life? Why do you think it was the number one word?

I believe sometimes we think that whatever seems right is the right thing to do. But, if doing what seems right violates our integrity in the eyes of another, is it really worth it? Keeping our word is always the right thing to do. Jesus said, “Let your yea be yea and your nay, nay.”

A short time later, when the man and woman opened the bag in a nearby park, they were shocked by its contents. They immediately drove back to return it.

The manager had already reported a robbery, so police cars and a TV crew were on the scene. How relieved he was to get the money back! He said to the couple, “You should be featured on the evening news for your honesty.”

“Oh, please, no publicity!” replied the man nervously. “She’s not my wife.”

People sometimes have a warped sense of integrity. This couple wanted to do the right thing on one hand, but were doing the wrong thing with the other.  What do you think makes people have such a double standard?

During a break, the hallways were jammed with men. One hungry guy who was stuck by a food stand bought a hot dog, but the mustard was clear across the concourse. Undaunted, he handed the dog to the next man and requested, “Mustard.” Off it went.

The woman who sold the snack laughed and said, “Honey, you aren’t going to see that hot dog again.” “Yes, he will,” someone replied. “These guys are Christians.” Sure enough, the hot dog made it back – with mustard.

In a world when we can’t trust one another, Christians should be a beacon in the darkness. Have you seen integrity work in your world?

I remember when she decided to retire from teaching children. I tried to talk her into staying, but she was a pioneer. She observed so many young women in the church deferring to her, and she knew no one would step up to becoming a teacher as long as the “older women” were doing it all. So she stepped aside and forced some younger, not so experienced, ladies to gain the experience they needed for the future of the church. This classy lady later struggled with Parkinson’s disease that stripped her of her functionality, but never her faith. I will miss Barb. What will you remember about Barb Schieber?