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CONSISTENCY

Two French government ministers traveling to the unveiling of a new radar speed trap outside Paris were caught exceeding the speed limit as they went to the event. Reporters using handheld radar guns recorded Transport Minister Gilles de Robien's car traveling through Paris at 62 mph in a 43 mph zone. Meanwhile the Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who is in charge of the current law and order drive in France, was clocked at 64 mph in the same zone.

Sarkozy's office later issued a statement pleading special circumstances, but not admitting the car's speed. The statement aid, "The minister's vehicle was traveling in a secured environment behind two police motorcycles who fixed the speed."

Excuses and explanations aside, it is poor leadership to break the very laws you are charged with enforcing. None of us, not even government officials are above the law.

—Reuters, Ministers Fall to Own Road Safety Push, November 11, 2003. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

1 John 1:8-9 NIV "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

CONSISTENCY

Police cited Fred Swain for driving while intoxicated after crashing his automobile twenty miles south of Salt Lake City on June 21, 2006. His blood-alcohol level exceeded Utah's legal limit by almost .04 percent. A week later Swain resigned from his job. He was the commander of the Utah Highway Patrol's drunken driving unit.

—http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/01/D8IJ0VE80.html Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

1 Corinthians 10:21 (HCSB) [21] You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons.

CONSISTENCY

According to George Barna, not much changed with the "state of the church" over the last five years. There were only two only noticeable differences. One was a five percent increase of those who say they are "absolutely committed to the Christian faith." Good for us, right?

Not exactly. The other difference was a five percent decrease in the number of people who attended church in the last week.

REV, July/August 2001, p. 71 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

James 2:26 NIV "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

It is not unusual for someone to sue a business or agency for job discrimination, but it makes the news when the commission being sued is the one in charge of fighting discrimination in the workplace. Paul Doyle resigned from his job and brought a law suit against the Illinois Human Rights Commission, alleging that they give preference to women, the young and blacks.

Doyle called his action ironic. "It's outrageous." He said. "It's like the firehouse burning down. What kind of example are these people setting for the other employers in the state?"

—Chicago Tribune, May 2, 2000, p. 1 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

To cite a cliche, it is important to practice what we preach. Romans 14:22 NIV Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

It only took a few seconds for a father's pride to turn into concern. Gabriel, his four-year old was practicing his memory verse after getting home from Christian preschool. Without hesitation, he said: "Be ye kind one to another." Ephesians 4:32

Before his Dad could respond with "That's a great job Son," Gabriel said, "Now I'm going to beat [hit] Michael."

How often are we like Gabriel, quoting Scripture one minute, but doing the opposite of what it says the next? I can understand a four-year-old doing it, but what about mature Christians?

—Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Glenn Hawkins

James 1:22 KJV "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only"

Randall Terry, the anti-abortion activist of Operation Save America (formerly Operation Rescue) recently began a new organization to protect traditional marriage Loyal Opposition. Unfortunately, it came at the same time his Church, The Landmark Church of Binghampton, N.Y. is disciplining him, for "a 'pattern of repeated sinful relationships and conversations' with married and single women." Though he denies the charges, Terry admits that he is presently separated from his wife.

—ReligionToday, February 16, 2000 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

The world will immediately dismiss a faith we aren't willing to live. Unfortunately, we rarely have more than one chance to live what we say we believe.

"Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again?" Mark 9:50

Seventy-five Metro buses are driving their routes around the District of Columbia with the following message emblazoned on their sides in foot high lettering: "DC Public Schools Wants You. Go To Class It a Blast!!!" The D.C. public schools paid $41,000 dollars for the public service announcement to encourage literacy.

Unfortunately for the school district, no one noticed the missing apostrophe and "s" until the signs were already attached and driving around the district. Superintendent Paul Vance said he was outraged by the error. "It reinforces the perception that we are less than competent," he is quoted as saying. D.C. Council member Sharon Ambrose told the Washington Post, "What an embarrassment. The message is, unfortunately, probably going to be that someone in D.C. public schools doesn't know how to write."

—January 5, Washington Times Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

The same sort of message goes out when Christians fail to live the faith they say they believe. Our lips may speak of a righteous God, but our words are an embarrassment to the Savior when we live unrighteous lives. We may speak of God's love, but our failure to show love to others speaks even louder.

Matthew 23:3-4 NIV "So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. [4] They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

What kind of qualities do you think it takes to be a nurse? Compassion? Strong stomach? Dedication? I'd agree with all of those, but I'd also have to add an adventurous spirit.

The nursing profession is actually, well, dangerous. A recent study showed that the profession had an injury rate of 18.2% compared with an average for all workers of 8.1%. Another way to state the problem is that Registered Nurses report a higher rate of injury and illnesses than construction workers.

According to the nursing world website, "Among the leading causes of injury and illness for registered nurses are health care restructuring, latex allergy and poor indoor air quality." Latex allergy, I understand. The nurses have to wear latex gloves as a safety precaution. I also understand that downsizing would increase the rate of injuries and illnesses among nurses.

It is unfortunate, but every profession has to look at the "bottom line" and make decisions based upon profitability, not just quality of care. It is too bad when the fiscal decision results in an unhealthy environment for the care giver and the patient alike.

But poor air quality? Can anyone justify that? Shouldn't a health care organization know better than other organizations about the importance of clean air and good ventilation?

How could it happen? Well, "knowing" something and "doing" something are two different things. Knowing is the first step, but without follow through, the knowledge is in vain.

—http://www.nursingworld.org/readroom/usworker.htm Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

James 4:17 KJV "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

I need the commitment of a Mark Washburne. Mark made a commitment back in 1989. It was not a commitment to devotionals though, it was a commitment to run. “The 55-year-old college professor from Mendham, N.M., says he has run every day since Dec. 31, 1989. Washburne’s streak has endured through illness, injury, ice storms, and a brief marriage. He has logged more than 33,000 miles.”

 --USA Today April 28, 2011 p. 13D Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell 
 

According to the U.S. Running Streak Association, of which Washburne recently became president, his streak is 83rd in longevity. Mark Covert of Lancaster, California began his streak on July 23, 1968. 

To be official, a runner has to run at least one continuous mile within each calendar day without assistance. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB77) pray without ceasing;