Thursday May 5, 2016  HONEST TEA  (HONESTY)

Today I listened to a sermon regarding integrity.  Integrity is an interesting word.  We have many words in our English language that take on many different meanings when used in different contexts.  Some words in the dictionary are actually entered more than once, each entry having their own definition.  The word INTEGRITY has many synonyms, but the interesting thing is that each synonym all point to one, and only one meaning.  Here are the synonyms of integrity:  honesty, truth, truthfulness, veracity, reliability, and uprightness.  These synonyms are the character qualifications that men of character possess.  There is one word given as meaning the opposite of integrity.  That word is “DISHONESTY”.

An example was given in the message I listened to about a tea company named “HONEST TEA”.  This tea company set out to do a challenge called “THE HONESTY CHALLENGE” when they set out tables of tea on street corners of major metropolitan areas in The United States.  Next to the tea they put out a box and the basic idea of the challenge was that when a person takes a bottle of tea, they were instructed to leave a dollar in the box.  It was an honor challenge.  It was found that the most honest city in the United States is Atlanta, Georgia.  It was documented that 100% of those who took the tea left a dollar (as a hidden camera showed).  The least honest city in the United States is Washington D.C.  Not only did people not put money in the box, but if there was money in the box, they took the tea and then took the money out of the box.  That too was documented on film.  I just wonder if this tells us more than we want to know about those who live in Washington D.C.?

In this same sermon, the late General Norman Schwarzkopf was quoted;

“THE ROLE OF CHARACTER ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE KEY FACTOR IN THE RISE AND FALL OF NATIONS.  AND ONE CAN BE SURE THAT AMERICA IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE IN HISTORY.  WE WON’T SURVIVE AS A COUNTRY BECAUSE WE ARE SMARTER OR MORE SOPHISTICATED, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE STRONGER INWARDLY.  IN SHORT, CHARACTER IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE BULWARK AGAINST INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FORCES THAT LEAD TO A COUNTRY’S DISINTEGRATION AND COLLAPSE.”

 (The above information was taken from the message I heard on the website:  www.southlandchurch.org   Sermon title: First Timothy:  “Dialed In To Character”, presented on August 30, 2015.

Now as we all know, this is a crucial time in our country as we are currently in a presidential election year.  I personally do not vote based upon party labels.  I try to watch as many of the debates as possible with an open mind as to whom I think would be the best president for our country.   I have only the information that is available to all of us.  It is interesting to hear what is said in the debates, to read each candidate’s history, and to listen to both conservative and progressive news stations in order to form an educated opinion about each candidate’s integrity and character.  So much hinges upon who leads this country.  We are heading into a difficult era for our society.  In case you haven’t noticed, our country is in dire straits.  As a country we cannot balance the annual budget which has resulted in an extremely high national debt.  And we are more divided than we have been since the Civil War.  So the big question is…who should I support?  And who should you support?  We all have our own biases, and our likes and dislikes.  We come from different backgrounds, different nucleus “societies” within our larger society, and have different issues that we want to see succeed or not to succeed.  So…what to do?

What is the most important factors upon which we base our vote?  What about character traits?  What about past history?  What about integrity?  What about the principles our country was founded on?  What about our Constitution?  What are the most important messages that we need to focus on when the candidates are vying for the office of the President of the United States of America? 

Personally, I think General Norman Schwarzkopf had deep insight in regards to what he said.  I fear our country is headed for the cliff.  I don’t really think it matters at this point for whom we vote.  All I know is that ultimately God is in control and He has a plan.  I believe His plan is already in action.  I only have a few years left before I am an old woman, dead and buried.  I hesitate to think how different our country will be when our grandsons come of age.  

QUANDRY

By Kathleen Martens

May 5, 2016

What kind of words can be said

That one has not already read?

Each have their own choice

And the vote is our voice.

What is truth and what is veracity?

Who speaks fact with capacity?

Has integrity gone to sleep?

As for promises, who can keep?

The future looms with a shadow,

Like being up a creek without a paddle.

Who will steer the right direction?

What will we see in our reflection?

God, thank You so much for being in control.

Thank You Lord for the peace that reigns in my heart amidst all the chaos of this world.

Thank You Lord for Your protection over the hearts and souls of my children and grandchildren.

Thank You Lord that You gave me such a man of integrity to be my husband.

Thank You God that I had the opportunity to live in a time before the world was so angry.

Lord, thank You for Your sweet Spirit that abides in me.

Thank You for the beautiful sunshine today.

Thank You for the rain on Tuesday.

Thank You that I have eyes to see all the beauty that is blooming around me.

Thank You for my dog friends next door, Dexter and Duke.

Thank You for such a helpful husband.

Thank You for all the pictures I have taken in my lifetime that bring joy to the lives of others.

Thank You for pencils.

Thank You for indoor toilets!

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL MY FRIENDS WHO READ THIS BLOG.  AND LORD, ALSO BLESS ALL MY FRIENDS WHO DON’T READ THIS BLOG.