"Who is the greatest President of the United States?" A new Gallup poll posed that question to Americans as President's Day approached this year. The names given most often were Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln.

The group just behind those names included other familiar names such as Bill Clinton, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, George Washington, and Jimmy Carter.

The poll also asked respondents who they would rather see as President today. 60 percent said Abraham Lincoln, while three in ten said they would prefer George Washington.

It is hard to say exactly what makes a good President. The fact that the majority of Americans said they would prefer a man like Abraham Lincoln or George Washington likely reflects our desire to have a strong leader, and a leader we respect in the White House. Perhaps it also reflects a call for integrity in leadership at all levels in society. We need to pray for President Bush that he would lead this nation with a heart of integrity and wisdom.

Psalm 78:72 "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them."

Ann Landers says, "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do absolutely no good."

Matthew 25:45 NASB "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'"

Former Senator Alan Simpson said: "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters."

Proverbs 19:1 KJV "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

Joseph Ellis has a lot to brag about. He's the recipient of the 1997 National Book Award in Nonfiction and a Pulitzer Prize winner, yet for some reason, he felt the need to embellish his list of accomplishments with "distortions," as he put it, about his past achievements.

When his propensity to exaggerate came to the surface, he was forced to apologize for lying about serving in Viet Nam and scoring the winning touchdown for his High School football team. His service records do not show any tour in Viet Nam and his High School Annual does not indicate that he was on the football team.

Now the other areas of his life and accomplishments of the respected colonial-era historian are suspect. It is hard to think a man is telling the truth, when he has a track record of lying. As a result of the scandal, Ellis will no longer teach his class, "Vietnam and the American Culture" at Holyoke College and there will always be an asterisk next to his scholarship.

—http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/style/books/A26198-2001Jun20.html, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Mark Wyatt

Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: [17] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, [18] a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, [19] a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

Thirty years ago, Ron England made a bet with his brother that he could collect one million pennies. Now that Ron has saved 3.6 tons of copper in his Granada Hills California garage, he is having a hard time cashing his $10,000 fortune.

England says neither the US Mint, the US Comptroller of Currency, coin collectors, nor his local bank are interested in cashing the pennies in, at least not without charging England a fee to perform the job. England says, "I've been working seriously for the past two weeks to get rid of these pennies. It's kind of frustrating. Nobody will take them without charging me."

To make matters worse, England's brother Russ doesn't remember making the promise to give his brother a meal in Paris if he successfully raised one million pennies. Russ England told a local newspaper that he didn't remember the friendly wager. He said,

—Reuters, A Million Pennies Saved, Nothing Earned, July 1, 2004, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Sounds to me like he may not be good for the meal. Too bad. A man’s word ought to be worth something.

James 5:12 (NASB) “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under judgment.”

What would you do to win 1 million dollars? Hope and Norm Davis from Tennessee had to answer that question in front of 12 million television viewers.

Norm and Hope were selected to be contestants on the reality television show, "The Amazing Race." On the program, teams raced from one destination to another using clues they gathered along the way. One team was eliminated on each program that aired.

Norm and Hope decided their appearance on the program was a "win-win" situation regardless of the outcome. For them deciding between one million dollars or keeping their integrity and values was no choice at all. Hope said, "We knew that our boys would be watching the show." That and other factors kept the couple from straying from the Christian values and morals that guided them in everyday life.

The couple paid for their honesty though. They were eliminated on the second show which aired March 13th. The Davises refused to stretch or bend the rules unlike other teams. They also stopped to help other contestants finish portions of the race. They were "laughed at", and though they helped other teams along the way, were not given help when they needed it. The couple laughed when they said, "Everyone says we were too nice."

Norm and Hope received little media coverage, noting that the show's producers focused more attention on teams that bickers, used profanity, or acted deviantly. The couple says they put into practice what they learned all their life - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The greatest challenge in life is not to become rich and famous, but to life a live of transparent integrity.

1 Peter 2:11-12 "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."

—http://www.bpnews.net, April 4, 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich admitted in a radio interview that he was having an extramarital affair as he led the charge against President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair. In an interview with Focus on the Family Founder, Dr. James Dobson Gingrich said, "There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards. There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standard." Gingrich argued that he should not be viewed as a hypocrite for pursuing Clinton's infidelity saying President Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice, not martial infidelity. Gingrich said, "I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level rendering judgment on another human beings, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the law, I have to no option except to move forward and say that you cannot accept perjury in your highest officials."

Reports of extramarital affairs have followed Gingrich for years, because he has been through two messy divorces. Until now, he had never personally discussed the allegations. Gingrich added, "There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them. I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I'm not proud of."

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2936446. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 7:4-5 (GW) "How can you say to another believer, 'Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you have a beam in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer's eye."

An assistant high school football coach was suspended for at least a year after he was caught on videotape moving a field marker to help his team. A rival school scouting the game shot the videotape that showed Paul Bryan improperly moving the marker to help San Pedro High School gain a first down on a critical play. San Pedro eventually scored on that drive, and went on to win the football game against Gardena High 13-12.

Bryan, who has been coach at the school for 23 years, did not comment on the disciplinary action except to say that he expected a two-game suspension. San Pedro High School's Principal Dian Geib said Bryan will still teach at the school, but added, "That was a pretty blatant act. In order to set an example and not be looking over our shoulders next season, it was important to out a clear message that San Pedro is a place of academic excellence, sportsmanship, and ethics."

William Berry, an assistant coach for Gardena High said the punishment "shows people you can't do something and get away with it." Devin Carter, a running back for San Pedro told reporters, "It makes us look bad."

—Associated Press, High School Coach Suspended for Moving Field Marker, November 30, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV) "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Robert Nuranen recently returned a library book he checked out 47 years ago. Along with the book, Nuranen gave the library a check for $171.32 to cover years worth of late fees. He checked out the book "Prince of Egypt" to complete a ninth grade assignment. Nuranen said his mother misplaced the book while cleaning the house years ago. Though the family ran across the book every so often, Nuranen said when he found it in a box in the attic; he knew it was time to return the book.

The book with the last date due stamp of June 2, 1960, was part of Nuranen's fascination with Egypt. He has since visited Egypt along with 54 other countries, but admits he never finished reading the book. Librarian Sue Zubiena says the library lost any record of the book years ago, but added,"I'm going to use it as an example. It's never too late to return your book."

—http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/man-racks-up-huge-fee-for-overdue-book/n20070107101409990001?cid=2194. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 5:23-24 (CEV) "So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, [24] leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God."

In her book, "Carolyn 101", Carolyn Kepcher writes, "Without your integrity intact, you've got nothing."

Proverbs 3:3 (HCSB) "Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart."

In his book, "Next Generation Leader", Andy Stanley writes, "Pretending erodes respect much quicker than an admission of uncertainty. Uncertainty exposes a lack of knowledge. Pretending exposes a lack of character."

Exodus 18:20-21 (HCSB) "Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. [21] But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place [them] over the people as officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens."

An effort to boost morale among Uganda's poorly paid and sometimes corrupt police force is paying off. Two officers who declined bribes and fought off robbers were awarded the equivalent of $300 each after they refused to take bribes and arrested thieves attempting to steal school exam papers days before students were scheduled to take the tests.

Authorities said four robbers attempted to get test papers from a store holding secondary school papers. Since many junior officers in the Ugandan force take bribes to overlook minor traffic offenses, the thieves tried to bribe the police first. When that failed the thieves produced weapons and tired to steal the tests at gunpoint. The officers arrested one of the robbers at the scene. Though the others fled, they were arrested later.

When the awards were made, an official from the Ugandan National Examination board told reporters, "These officers showed a high caliber of integrity. They refused a bribe and stood up to the thieves."

—Reuters, February 23, 2005, Two Policemen Rewarded for 'Integrity'. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Jeff Datwyler thought he was just being conscientious about litter when he stopped to pick up a stray envelope on the street in Salem Oregon. Inside the envelope Datwyler found a check for $15,000. He knew someone would be looking for the money, and since the check was drawn on his own bank, Datwyler immediately turned the check in.

The bank determined the check belonged to retiree William Goods. Oddly, Goods was at another bank preparing to cash the missing check not realizing it had been lost. As he reached into his pocket for the check, his phone rang.Goods said, "I got a call from the credit union saying they'd found it. It happened simultaneously. Just as I was reaching for it in my pocket, the phone rang."

Goods says he was happy the check was returned. He added, "I'm sure thankful there are honest people."

—Associated Press, Oregon Man Finds Stray $15,000 Check, September 16, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Psalm 15:1-2 (NASB) "O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? [2] He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart."

A police chief who gave himself a ticket for a traffic violation has received e-mail from all over the world congratulating him on doing the right thing. Chief Dick Knoebel drove past a stopped school bus with its lights flashing in September. When he realized what he had done, Knoebel wrote himself a ticket for $235 and penalized himself four points on his driving record. The story came to light after it appeared in court records and media reports. Knoebel says he received 150 e-mails from places like Thailand, Russia and New Zealand. Two people sent him money to help with the fine, but he turned down the offers.

Knoebel said, "Police officers do good things everyday, and that doesn't get reported. All you hear about is the news when a police officer is in trouble." He said he answered every e-mail he received. Knoebel added, "If they took the time to e-mail me, I at least thank them for their comments."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SELF_TICKETING_CHIEF?SITE=AP. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Peter 2:15-16 (GW) "God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. [16] Live as free people, but don't hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God."

A fund raising initiative spurred by a good deed is benefiting a homeless shelter in Kansas City, Missouri. 21 years ago, Overland Park Police Sergeant Dan Carney, helped a man when he ran out of gas on the way to a job interview. Carney gave the man all the money he had, $8. Carney recently received a check form the man who now lives in Arizona. Alfred Edmond said he always planned to repay Carney, but lost his card. While doing some cleaning Edmond found Carney’s address and sent the money to him.

Carney said the $8 check encouraged him to pay the good deed forward. He decided to help a local shelter by starting the Give 8, Ask 8 campaign. Carney is asking people to make an $8 donation to the mission, and then ask 8 other people to do the same. Within a few days, the idea had raised over $3000, enough to serve 1500 meals at the facility. Carney said even though 21 years had passed, Alfred Edmond encouraged him. He said, “I felt like his integrity is an inspiration.”

--Man Wants to Pay Good Deed Forward, http://www.kctv5.com/news/18859845/detail.html; March 5, 2009. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Hebrews 10:23-24 CEV We must hold tightly to the hope that we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. We should keep on encouraging each other

What do you do if you have a zoo without a zebra? The Marah Zoo in Gaza recently faced that question. Their answer? Take a donkey, cut its hair short, and dye its fur black and white. For most in Gaza who have never seen a zebra, it worked. “Don’t tell anyone,” said Mahmud Berghat, the zoo’s director, “The children love him.” The donkey, however, seemed to know something was wrong. He stood in the back of his cage, with his head down, turning away from the spectators.

When you try to be something you are not, it never turns out well. You can’t fool God or the people who know you anymore than you make a zebra out of a donkey. Integrity is the surest path to confidence and well being. It is better to be honest about who you are than try to be a zebra when you are really a donkey.

--http://digg.com/world_news/Zoo_Paints_Donkey_To_Look_Like_Zebra Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and David Johnson

Proverbs 10:9 (ESV) “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

Byrd Baggett defines integrity as “doing what you said you would do, when you said you would do it, and how you said you would do it.”

1 Kings 9:4 (KJV) “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:”

Chairman, President, and CEO of Republic Airlines, Bryan Bedford says nine years ago he decided to bring God to work with him, and says he and the Lord have been building the business together ever since. Bedford has infused his Christian faith into the company’s vision statement and says it has made the company stronger. Though some employees say they are not sure how to respond to Bedford’s open expression of his faith, Bedford is not shy about sharing his faith routinely signing company newsletters “ I pray for God’s continued blessings on our families and our airline.”

Republic’s vision statement boldly proclaims, “Every employee, regardless of personal beliefs or world view, has been created in the image and likeness of God.” Bedford says he wants the company’s vision to be a reflection of who he is. He says, “This tells you where I come from, what makes me tick, and this is what I believe and what the company value system is.” He adds, “I needed to be a whole person in all facets of my life each day.”

Republic Air CEO put his faith to work, http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13786516; November 15, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Luke 6:45 (GW) “Good people do the good that is in them. But evil people do the evil that is in them. The things people say come from inside them.”

An experiment using ordinary housecats put some dents in theories about catnapping. Many owners have wondered what their cats do while they are away during the day. Researchers in California decided to find out, by equipping fifty cats with collar cameras that took a picture every 15 minutes. Based on the photos, housecats spent 22 percent of their time looking out of windows, 12 percent of their time was spent interacting with other family pets and roughly 8 percent of their time climbing on chairs or kitty condos.

The collection of 777 photos in the study showed cats looking at a television or computer, DVDs or other media 6 percent of their time, and another 6 percent hiding under the table. What surprised researchers was the low percentage of time cats spent sleeping. Though the impression of most researchers was that cats slept most of the day, the photos revealed cats slept just six percent of the time. Animal behavioral scientist Jill Villareal who collected the data said, “What surprised me was how active the cats were. I believed my three cats were sleeping during the day.” Villareal said the results may lead to further studies.

--What do cats do all day? Kitty cam has answer, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34262078/ ; December 3, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Timothy 4:12 (CEV) “Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity.”

Brain Davis may not the biggest name on the PGA Tour, but he could one of most honest. During a playoff at the Verizon Heritage, Davis was facing Jim Furyk, and hoping for his first ever PGA Tour win. Davis’s approach shot on the first playoff hole bounced off the green and into some nearby weeds. When Davis tried to hit his ball back onto the green, his club may have grazed a weed during the backswing.

PGA rules state that if a golfer’s club strikes any material around the ball during the backswing, it constitutes a two stroke penalty. Such a penalty in a playoff situation meant instant defeat for Brian Davis. Davis went above and beyond the call, when he called a rules official after the shot. Davis believed he saw the weed move, and asked the official to review the television replays. The official confirmed the movement, but said it could only be detected with slow motion. When the official issued the ruling, Davis conceded the victory saying, “It was one of those things I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. And I thought we’d check on TV, and indeed there was movement.” Davis’s decision to be honest cost him the win, and almost $400,000 in prize money.

--Davis concedes playoff to champ Furyk, http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=5110442 ; April 19, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 11:6 (CEV) Honesty can keep you safe, but if you can't be trusted, you trap yourself.

At one time a computer virus was designed to cause trouble for unknowing computer users, and perhaps give the creator a reason to brag about their accomplishments. Newer viruses and malware have moved toward benefiting their creators by stealing valuable identity information, such as credit card numbers and passwords. A new computer virus was designed to make the creator rich, but it uses an entirely different approach. A Japanese gang has developed and distributed a virus that threatens to publish a computer user’s online browsing history unless they pay a $15 ransom.

Once a computer is infected, the virus takes a screenshot of every site visited online. When the virus posts a warning that the sites will be published online, many users are embarrassed because they have visited sites they would not want their family, friends, or employers to know about. Authorities say if the ransom is not paid immediately, the program goes online and posts the information with search engines so it can be incorporated into search results. The potential for embarrassment and the relatively low ransom means the gang could potentially reap huge profits. Though computer experts recommend using anti-virus software, they say the best way to avoid the virus is not to download copyrighted material illegally and to steer clear of pornographic websites. They caution anyone who becomes a victim of a ransom-ware virus, not to give out credit card information because that information would likely be sold to the highest bidder as well.

--New porn virus holds your browsing history hostage, http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/19/new-porn-virus-holds-your-browsing-history-hostage ; April 19, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.
The best way to avoid getting caught is to avoid the trap in the first place.

Matthew 10:26 (CEV) Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.

A new study in the former Soviet country of Russia found that more than half of Russians think bribing officials is the best way to solve their problems. Finds presented by the Levada Center showed that Russians still pay bribes to get better medical services, and “purchase” their driver’s licenses. Many also continue to bribe police officers when they are caught violating traffic laws, or pay to help their children avoid the draft and get a better position at the right school. Ten percent even said they had paid to arrange funerals for relatives and loved ones.

When Russian President Medvedev took office he pledged to fight the country’s graft and build a law-abiding state. He said he dreams of a land where everyone observes the rules rather than looks for ways to get around them. His plans still have a long way to go, since the survey found only ten percent of respondents believe that only “cheats and criminals” bribed officials. 30 percent of those polled said people offering “cash in envelopes” are actually “ordinary people who have no other way to solve their problems.”

Half of Russians believe bribery solves “problems”, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64C1ZD20100513; May 13, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 15:27 (ESV) “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.”

In 2006, Fox Television, NBC Universal and several other broadcasters sued the FCC for what they said was a vague and unevenly enforced policy. The lawsuit stemmed from an FCC warning when Bono dropped a curse word on a nationally televised awards show. Since then, a Federal Appeals court struck down the FCC’s edict saying it was vague.

Fox Networks released this statement, "We have always felt that the government's position on fleeting expletives was unconstitutional. The inherent challenges broadcasters face with live television ... must allow for the unfortunate isolated instances where inappropriate language slips through."

--http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/13/news/economy/fcc_indecency/index.htm?hpt=T1 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jeff Langley

I’m not in a position to comment on the legal ruling, I’m not an attorney, but it strikes me that inappropriate language can’t slip past the lips of someone whose heart is right. What is in our heart comes out of our mouth. The remedy isn’t to change our speech patterns; it is to change our heart.

Proverbs 19:1 (NASB) “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.”

James Livingston keeps his promises. Some of them just take a long time. In 1942 his parents allowed him to enlist in the army to fight in WW II. He had to promise to get his high school diploma when he returned. “Through the years,” James says, “I have thought to myself; ‘you promised your momma you would get your diploma,’ but I hadn’t. I’ve got to do it before I pass away.” At age 86 James Livingston graduated with the Screven County High School Class of 2010.

Proverbs 3:3 (AMP) “Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.”

A court in German recently ruled that a company cannot fire a man because he allegedly stole 1.8 Euro cents (two U.S. cents) worth of electricity. The company’s Network Administrator, Oliver Beel lost his job after charging his two-wheeled electric vehicle at an outlet in the building. Beel says he had plugged the vehicle into a power source for an hour and a half and was asked to remove it.

Even though he removed the plug, Beel was fired for theft of company property. The court said the action was not appropriate to the offense because such a minimal amount of electricity was involved, and Beel had worked for the company for 19 years. The ruling pointed out that other employees regularly charged cell phones and digital photo frames at company expense.

--http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68232X20100903, September 2, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Though this case might be a bit extreme, it is a good reminder to live above reproach in everything we do.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (CEV) “Put everything to the test. Accept what is good (22) and don't have anything to do with evil.”

A new study by a private research group has found over half of private small business executives say they expect employees to steal something of value from their company within the next year. The Chubb Private Company Risk Survey asked executive at 451 for-profit companies in the United States. Most of the companies had annual incomes of less than $25 million. The survey asked the companies if they had experienced employee theft over the past five years. Only thirty percent had actually experienced losses due to employee theft during that period. Most of those surveyed said employee theft was the second most financially damaging event a company could experience. According to the executives, employee practices liability lawsuits were the most financially damaging.

--Half of small companies expect staff theft: survey, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69P31J20101026; October 26, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Proverbs 11:3 (GW) “Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin.”

People find many treasures in thrift stores. Yekaterina Shneyderova, a 22-year-old student at Kennesaw State University in Georgia discovered $2,000 in an envelope in a cash box for sale. The envelope had an address so Shneyderova gave the money to the store manager who returned it to Ronald and Imogene Crowder. The Crowders gave Shneyderova a $200 reward and the cash box.

--The Week, February 4, 2011 p. 4 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Ms. Shneyderova could have kept the money and no one would have ever been the wiser. She had honesty in the dark. Just as Daniel, who when ordered to cease praying, did not change his practice. He could have acted obedient in the light and prayed in the dark, and no one would have known. (See Dan 6.) Integrity is living in the dark what you would practice in the light.

Proverbs 4:23-27 (CEV) Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life. (24) Never tell lies or be deceitful in what you say. (25) Keep looking straight ahead, without turning aside. (26) Know where you are headed, and you will stay on solid ground. (27) Don't make a mistake by turning to the right or the left.

Police officers are sworn to uphold the law, but a Texas officer was recently suspended after he was caught taking food and drinks from the department’s refrigerator. When officers at the Deer Park police station found their food kept disappearing, they complained to Chief Gregory Grigg. Grigg said though the thefts were minor, he considered it a problem because the perpetrator was most likely an officer who had been sworn to uphold the law.

Chief Grigg decide to set up a sting, so he had investigators set up a hidden camera at the refrigerator, then stock it with cans of energy drinks. A few days later, Officer Kevin Yang was caught taking the bait. When asked about the energy drinks, Yang never admitted guilt, but the video got him suspended for 30 days. Grigg says the suspension will cost Yang about $4500 in lost pay, and he faces a misdemeanor charge of theft. He added, ”I think it will be a long time before we have anything missing out of the Deer Park Police Department refrigerator after this event.”

--Cop suspended after stealing lunch, http://www.wsmv.com/story/17005558/cop-suspended-after-stealing-lunch; February 23, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 11:5 (HCSB) The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

In Integrity Is a Lost Art, Eric Herrstrom writes, “For the church to be believable, the message that leaders speak must line up with their behavior.”

Psalm 7:8 (AMP) The Lord judges the people; judge me, O Lord, and do me justice according to my righteousness [my rightness, justice, and right standing with You] and according to the integrity that is in me.

Some define Integrity as what you are when no one is looking. In order to expand into the Mexican market, Walmart spent $24 million in bribes to Mexican officials. An American law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act forbids U. S. companies from paying bribes abroad. The effect of the law is to hobble American firms doing business in developing nations where “to grease palms” is the standard way to do business.

--The Week, May 11, 2012, p. 40 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Is it right for companies to use immoral means to compete in places where immoral practices are the norm? A person of integrity would be upright and honest regardless of the business climate.

Deuteronomy 16:19 (ESV) You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.

One of the definitions of integrity we usually give is a person who acts the same way in public and private. The privacy of the internet has given people a place to be anonymous. Some users who seem to have no integrity are really taking advantage of the numerous comment capabilities available on many websites to say things that would not be acceptable in polite company.

The practice is called trolling and it gives a person the ability “to cuss out a stranger with even more vigor and impunity than you can a bad driver from the safety of your own car.” Psychologist Tom Postmes of Exeter University in the U. K. says “The enjoyment comes from finding a context in which you can let go, take a moral vacation.”

Politics, race, gender, and religion all serve as lightning rods for troll rage. The resulting comments would rarely be used if the person were accountable for his or her words.

Perhaps the trolls on the comment boards give us a preview of what society would be like if there were no rules.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

The National Association of Evangelicals has prepared a new code of ethics for pastors and is asking church leaders from all denominations to sign it. Dr Joel Hunter, senior pastor of a church in Florida is a board member and one of the first pastors to sign the document. He said the document is designed to emphasize that those in ministerial leadership must live above reproach. Hunter says personal conduct is just as important as theological knowledge. He thinks the document is a good outline of what expectations of those in ministry should be, and could be considered both a teaching device and a reminder.

The document does not mention any specific rules or infractions, but lists five primary areas of consideration. It encourages those in leadership to be trustworthy, seek purity, be accountable, and to promote fairness. Each of the principles is backed up by a verse from Scripture which supports the concept. Hunter said ministry leaders need to recognize how important personal integrity, upright conduct, and lifestyle are. He added, “We don’t want to be legalistic. We are not into a bunch of rules. What we wanted to do is give people a way to commit their life to holiness and excellence looking to Scripture as their standard.”

--Pastors Urged to Sign Newly Released Code of Ethics,
http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastors-urged-to-sign-newly-released-code-of-ethics-76624,
June 14, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Psalm 55:22 GNB “Leave your troubles with the LORD, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated.”

With economic uncertainty growing in Europe, many observers say they fear corruption could make the economies of troubled nations more vulnerable, and could increase the time required to overcome the current problems. They note that few countries in Europe regulate lobbying of government officials, and most provide easy access to public information which has helped a culture of corruption to grow. The group, Transparency International says these factors allow political and business leaders to divert public funds with ease. They point out that this corruption is creating more problems because public money is being spent inefficiently and be skimmed off at a time when record high unemployment is reducing government revenues.

The organization pointed out that audit procedures in those countries are also weak, because laws do not require independent audits, which means public officials know how they can get away with cutting corners. The report said the countries experiencing the most financial troubles have major problems with their method of public administration. The biggest concern is that officials are rarely held accountable for their actions. Their actions are not technically illegal, but leaders often use their influence to win contracts for friends and influence policies. The problem is confounded by parliamentary bodies failing to enforce current laws, or enacting more effective policies. Transparency International summed up their observations saying, “The links between corruption and the ongoing financial and fiscal crisis in these countries can no longer be ignored.” --Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

--Corruption in Europe could slow recovery: study, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/06/us-eu-corruption-idUSBRE85509920120606; June 6, 2012,

Proverbs 14:32 GNB “Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.”

A western Pennsylvania judge spent the day in the courthouse, but not where she usually serves. Cambria County Judge Linda Fleming was picked up for a 36-member panel assignment for a criminal case. Rather than excusing herself, Judge Fleming decided to set a good example for others and accepted the Jury Summons. She was among 119 people who reported for jury duty at the courthouse about 70 miles west of Pittsburgh. Fleming even sat through a video in which she and four others explain the judicial process, and thought it was strange that the woman next to her didn’t recognize her in the video. The judge was not seated for the case because one of the attorney’s did recognize her and objected to her being on the jury. She said she declined the $9 each juror is paid for a day of service and said was glad she could set an example for others.
— Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Western Pa. judge sets example by doing jury duty, http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2012/10/05/western-pa-judge-sets-example-by-doing-jury-duty , Accessed October 5, 2012

Philippians 3:17 (HCSB) Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

Café del Soul noticed that a nest of German Cockroaches attacked their place of business with a vengeance and infested the restaurant. Rather than running the business as usual they wrote a public letter to their customers posted it everywhere and called the Health Department on themselves. This caused the Health Department to investigate all the restaurants in the plaza. Even after being cleared by the Health Department Café del Soul has elected to remain closed until they are confident that the roach infestation is resolved. —Jim L. Wilson and Gabriel Rodrigo

http://millvalley.patch.com/articles/caf-del-soul-calls-health-department-on-itself-for-cockroach-infestation-says-bugs-affect-other-shops-in-plaza Date Accessed: 10/30/12

Even though it is tough to do what is right some times, we must live honest and upright lives. We are called to as believers to have Integrity. So the next time you face a moral dilemma give it up to God in prayer and know that by doing the honest and right thing that you are doing what is pleasing to the Father. He will reward you.

1 Kings 9:4–5 (HCSB) “As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and in what is right, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David: You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.”

When someone says, “Enron,” what comes to your mind? With most people the very mention of the word, elicits thoughts of “scandal.” The bankrupted company remains the poster child for corrupt leadership and corporate greed to this day. Enron, a Houston, Texas based energy commodities and servicing firm that crashed like a falling star in 2001, when an elaborate accounting scandal, hiding poor financial management and performance, brought loses of $74 billion to investors, life-savings lost for many employees and thousands of employees lost their jobs. Ironically, before its fall, Fortune Magazine had named Enron as “America’s Most Innovative Company” six straight years.

Integrity runs deeper than skillful marketing in a public relations campaign. In an October 2011 article in the Wall Street Journal, Robert Hurley pointed out that the marketplace integrity crisis won’t be solved by a code of ethics, but by rebuilding trust. He wrote, “Just because customers or employees think you are ethical (moral, honest and fair) does not mean they will or should trust you. Trust comes from delivering every day on what you promise—as a manager, an employee and a company. It involves constant teamwork, communication and collaboration.”-- Jim L. Wilson and David Powell

--“The 10 Worst Corporate Accounting Scandals of All Time” http://visual.ly/10-worst-corporate-accounting-scandals-all-time and “Trust Me” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204138204576603031565507232.html (accessed 2-28-13)

Integrity begins with the little things and affects all levels, from corporate officers, down through middle management all the way through the organization to support employees. So, as a Christian, whether you’re custodian or CEO, your work both makes and reveals your integrity. Do it well!

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) (23) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI resigned, which was a surprise to all. However, the media reported that he decided to resign after receiving the results of an internal investigation, “with 300 page, two-volume dossier that laid bare a sordid tale of blackmail, corruption and gay sex at the Vatican.” The nine month investigation has led to the pope’s sudden resignation, “It was on that day, with those papers on his desk, that Benedict XVI took the decision he had mulled over for so long.” The Pope would not compromise his integrity and decided to resign as something really bad happened under his leadership. --Jim L. Wilson and Tin Le

-- http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/22/pope-leaks-fallout/1938321/ (accessed 2-28-13)

Proverbs 10:9 (ESV) Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

In 2013, Sarah Darling of Kansas City, Mo., dropped a donation in a homeless man’s cup; and when she did, she left something very special behind!

Billy Ray Harris, 55, was sitting in his regular spot on the sidewalk when Darling dropped her donation into his cup. Until he packed up for the day, he didn’t notice that Darling had accidentally dropped her engagement ring in with the change.

“When I finally decided to leave I got on my bike and dumped the change into my hand and there was the ring,” Harris told NBC’s Michelle Franzen.

“It was really worth some money,” Harris said. “Worth enough that he was ready to give me four grand right there on the spot.” Harris thought about taking the money, but he said that his grandfather raised him to be honest. He knew in his heart he could never take the money.

The next day Darling realized that the ring was gone. When she returned to Harris’ usual spot, there he was waiting with her ring!

“It was just such a feeling of loss when it was gone,” she told Harris. “I am eternally grateful to you.” Sarah Darling and Billy Ray Harris hugged each other when they were interviewed by TODAY. --Jim L. Wilson and Ray Webb

Today News, February 17, 2013; http://todaynews.today.com/_news/2013/02/17/16994285-homeless-man-on-returning-engagement-ring-i-was-raised-to-be-honest?lite (accessed 2-28-13)

Psalm 41:12 (ESV) But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

Sixty-nine percent of Internet buyers research a product before purchasing. Eighty percent of them say they change their purchasing decisions based on negative product reviews and eighty-seven percent say they have made up their minds based on positive reviews.

What kind of feedback do your actions receive? --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 3:3-4 (ESV) (3) Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Bismark Mensah, an hourly employee at the Walmart in Federal Way, Washington was helping a woman load groceries into her car. As she drove off, he noticed she had dropped an envelope. The envelope contained $20,000 in cash. Mensah, who immigrated to the United States from Ghana, flagged the woman down to return the money.

After turning down a reward and even a date with the woman’s single daughter the young man was treated as he had treated others. Walmart named him the winner of its “Integrity in Action Award” and promoted to a full-time position at the store. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Matthew 7:12 (ESV) “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

In 2010 San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt discovered that he was being overpaid $500,000 because of a clerical error made when the club prepared his contract. Three different people told the pitcher that the contract was fine and that he could keep the extra money. Affeldt contacted the team and had the contract redrawn to correct the error. He called his manager and told him that he couldn’t keep the extra money. Affeldt added, “I won’t sleep well at night knowing I took that money because every time I open my paycheck I’ll know it’s not right.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Jeremy Affeldt returns $500,000 to San Francisco Giants after noticing clerical error in contract, by David Brown, http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/jeremy-affeldt-returns-500-000-san-francisco-giants-174036471.html, Accessed May 15, 2013.

Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV) (6) For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (7) he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, (8) guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

An unemployed teacher noticed a bag in the street as she was driving home, so she stopped to see what it was. She doubted it contained anything at all, until she saw the label reading “Chase Bank.” Candice Scott said it looked like a gallon size baggie with a blue zipper on the top. She almost didn’t stop because she thought it might be a dirty diaper. After a dump truck ran over the bag, Scott decided to pick it up, and discovered two huge bundles of hundred dollar bills wrapped in rubber bands. She immediately took the money to the nearest Chase Bank branch and had to bang on the glass for several minutes before the branch manager finally came to the door. The bank manager thought Scott had been in an accident or had been robbed, until Scott showed her the bag of cash. The bank later revealed that the bag contained $20,000, and had no idea how it had fallen in the street. The bank manager was thankful to get the money back and thanked Scott for returning the cash. Scott added, “She told me I’m the most honest person in the world, and I said ‘or the dumbest.’” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Unemployed Texas teacher returns lost bag containing $20G, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/19/unemployed-texas-teacher-returns-lost-bag-containing-20g, Accessed June 19, 2013.

Proverbs 11:3 (CEV) If you do the right thing, honesty will be your guide. But if you are crooked, you will be trapped by your own dishonesty.

Scripture calls us to a life of integrity. We are seeing less integrity displayed in the lives of our public figures including politicians, businessmen and athletes. We have given in to moral relativism and thus devalued the meaning of integrity. In sports it is the idea that any rule that seems unnecessary can be broken. Phil Taylor, writing in Sports Illustrated makes the point that breaking the rules is a violation of integrity and honesty. The correct way to deal with unfair rules is to work to change them.

The life of a Christian ought to champion integrity. Any Christian, especially those in the public eye, should seek to live with unimpeachable integrity. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

“Rules Are Meant To Be. . . Rules,” Sports Illustrated, October 14, 2013, p. 68

Proverbs 11:3 (HCSB) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

In November 2013, near a Louisiana casino, almost a quarter of a million dollars fell out of an armored car. When the drivers noticed their error, they retraced their path and found Officer Jessica Luebke guarding the money. When she noticed the money on the side of the road, she secured it and called for the Sheriff’s office.

District Administrator Jon Reeves said that it was fortunate that an officer of the law found the bag, "It would have caused a lot of trouble if somebody else had found it."—Jim L. Wilson

-- http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/11/armored_car_drops_223600_in_ca.html (accessed 11-25-13)

I would like to think that if one of you found that bag, you would have done exactly what Officer Luebke did, not because of where your profession, but because of your integrity.

Proverbs 19:1 (NASB) Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

German taxi driver Thomas Gunter dropped off his elderly couple fare at their Wurzburg, Germany home. Later Gunter discovered they had left an envelope containing the equivalent of $335,000 in euro notes. Rather than keeping the money the cab driver returned to the home and returned the package to the then-distraught couple.

When asked about it he said “Keeping the money would probably be the downfall of the old couple.” Gunter also turned down a reward for returning the envelope.

A person of integrity can walk with his head up with nothing to fear. Had he kept the money he would always be looking over his shoulder. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 11:3 (NKJV) The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

Minnesota teenager Erica Clark found $2800.00 in a McDonald’s parking lot in an envelope filled with $100.00 bills. She immediately called her Dad, who asked her to come home so they could turn the money into the police.—Jim L. Wilson

Proverbs 2:20-21 (NLT) “Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. (21) For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.”

A person with integrity understands that honesty is lived in public and private. What would you do if suddenly you were presented the opportunity to take $37,000 from the bank anonymously? That was the situation a Maine man found himself in when a software glitch caused the ATM machine he was using to begin spewing cash at him. He excitedly began stuffing the bills into a shopping bag.

A woman who was waiting in line to use the ATM alerted police who arrived as the man was gathering his newly discovered wealth. “Unpersuaded by a ‘finders keepers’ argument, police force the man to return all the cash to the bank. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

2 Corinthians 1:12 (HCSB) (12) For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace.

In his book, Making the Grass Greener on Your Side, Ken Melrose writes, “When we honestly walk our talk, we link our beliefs and our behaviors. There’s congruence between the two because why we do something is as important as what we do. Both beliefs and behaviors are integral parts of our character. Those people who say one thing and do another have failed to achieve this integrity. Regardless of what they say, their behavior will betray them because the behavior is ultimately the product of their beliefs.”-- Jim L. Wilson

Proverbs 19:1 (NKJV) “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”

In the motion picture, The Patriot, Gabriel Martin, (played by Heath Ledger) interrupts a worship service already in progress to enlist soldiers for the militia. As Rev. Oliver, (played by Rene Auberjonois) resisted, Anne Howard, played by Lisa Brenner took the floor to support Gabriel’s request.

She says, “Dan Scott, barely a week ago I heard you railed for two hours about independence. Mr. Hardwick, how many times have I heard you speak of freedom at my father's table? Half the men in this church, including you, Father, and you, Reverend, are as ardent patriots as I. Will you know, when you are needed most, stop at only words? Is that the sort of men you are? I ask only that you act upon the beliefs of which you have so strongly spoken and in which you so strongly believe.”

After her stirring speech, Gabriel asks, “Who's with us?” and one by one, the men stand. The key to her speech was her asking the important question,“Will you know, when you are needed most, stop at only words? Is that the sort of men you are? I ask only that you act upon the beliefs of which you have so strongly spoken and in which you so strongly believe.”—Jim L. Wilson

--Roland Emmerich, The Patriot (Culver City, CA: Columbia Pictures, 2000) DVD, 57:58-60:55.

1 Peter 3:16 (NKJV) “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”

When Dan Kennedy stopped to pick up an orange bag he found out that it was heavier than he thought it would be. When he checked inside, he found it was full of cash. Kennedy said the bag was filled with smaller bags packed with currency including $50 and $100 bills. He estimated each bag contained around $22,000. He tried to catch up with the truck it fell out of, but he couldn’t. Instead, he drove to a police station and turned the money in. Authorities said they were stunned when Kennedy turned in the cash. Kennedy said it never occurred to him to do anything other than turn the money in.--Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Utah man returns 75-pound bag of cash found on highway,
http://news.yahoo.com/utah-man-returns-75-pound-bag-cash-found-213057117.html, Accessed April 2, 2015.

Psalm 41:12 (HCSB) You supported me because of my integrity and set me in Your presence forever.

Do you remember the first Mr. Coffee commercials? For more than ten years, Baseball’s Joe DiMaggio stood in front of the cameras lauding the great taste of drip brewed coffee. However, when Mr. DiMaggio wanted to indulge in a hot drink, he fixed himself a cup of instant Sanka.

In the mix of things that is not a very big deal. Most people don’t actually expect celebrities to use the products they promote. But in life it is a big deal. You never know who is watching you live. If you proclaim to be a Christian, the way others view your life can mean the difference of eternity to observers.

Live a life in tune with your professed beliefs. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Proverbs 11:3 (NASB) “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.”

Mike Vegas ordered pizza and wings from a pizza company. He only had time to eat one slice of pizza before he left for work, so he put the rest of the order in the refrigerator to eat later. While he was at work that night, he kept getting message on his cell phone, but he didn’t pay any attention to them. The next morning when he got home, he took the order out and when he opened the box of wings, he discovered what the messages were about. The deliveryman had left about $1,300 in cash inside the wing box after switching a box of wings and the evening bank deposit. Vegas says that he was tempted to keep the cash, but he knew he shouldn’t, so he called the store and gave it back to them. The manager of the restaurant thanked Vegas and gave him free pizza for a year. He said, “Thank you so much for this, honest people are hard to find these days.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

California Man’s Pizza and Wing Delivery Comes With Cash Surprise,
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/california-mans-pizza-wing-delivery-cash-surprise/story?id=33921383, Accessed September 21, 2015.

Titus 2:7 (HCSB) in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.

VW is a flagship German company representing the highest standard of reliability. Volkswagen has been synonymous with quality and high standards for at least the last 25 years. However, U.S. regulators recently discovered that the auto giant had been installing special software in its supposedly clean-diesel cars so it could cheat on emissions tests. The good name of VW is being drug through the mud.

It only takes one failure, one lapse of good common sense, one weak moment to ruin a reputation years in the making. The same is true of our Christian life and witness. We need to remember the value of a good name. Our integrity is one of our greatest assets when living for Christ matters. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Proverbs 22:1 (HCSB) A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.

Kent Broyhill was a student at the University of Nebraska. Like a lot of college students, always trying to find a place to park on a crowded campus, he collected a number of parking tickets. When told the university only accepted cash for the fines, Broyhill promised to return with the bills. Alas, in all the activity surrounding graduation, he forgot about the tickets and was only recently reminded of them. He sent $100 to the school’s Parking and Transit Services along with a letter of explanation that he had neglected to return to pay his tickets in 1974.

That is right. The tickets were over 40 years old. No debt is too old or too small that a person of integrity will not attempt to make it right. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 21:3 (HCSB) Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Integrity

Johnny Duckworth, a 50-year-old busboy who works at a Colorado diner, doesn’t have a full-time job, a working car, or a home of his own. But when he found an envelope stuffed with $3,000 in cash left by a customer he promptly gave it to his boss who returned it to its owner.

The boss, Randy Emmons then started an online fund raiser, hoping to raise $3,000 to pay some of Duckworth’s bills. A grateful Johnny said, “It’s going to change my life,” as the fund grew to more than $28,000.—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Integrity

The Boston Marathon is arguably the most prestigious foot race in the country. It has strict qualifying times that a runner must meet to run the big race. Another way to enter the race is with a charity team, usually requiring a person to raise thousands of dollars for the charity. Some runners choose another way to enter. They cheat. Either they cheat in a qualifying race by not running all the miles or they get another runner to run the race using their electronic tracker, recording a time for them they did not earn.

A 50-year-old firefighter cheated to get in the 2015 race. He cut the course at his qualifying race, a marathon in 2013, submitted a time he knew was false, and took a spot at the Boston starting line in 2015. “This is absolutely deflating,” he said after Runner’s World presented evidence of his course cutting. “My life and my job are based on integrity. And I cheated.”

A Christian’s integrity, as much as a firefighter’s, is a valuable aspect of their character. Living for Jesus requires us to live lives of truth and integrity. –--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell .

http://www.runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/dozens-suspected-of-cheating-to-enter-boston-marathon

Proverbs 28:18 (HCSB)“The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong will suddenly fall.”

Police in Connecticut say they were surprised when a man charged with stealing a television set twenty-seven years ago flew all the way from Florida and turned himself in. When 60-year-old Randy Iannacone heard that there was a warrant for his arrest, he immediately turned himself in. At the police station, police arrested and charged Iannacone with third-degree larceny stemming for the 1989 theft of a television from the place where he worked as a janitor at the time. Iannacone was released with a promise that he would be back to appear in court the following week. When asked about the case, Iannacone had no comment, but Police Lieutenant Paul Resick said he thought it was “pretty cool” that the man had turned himself in.–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Man turns himself in on charge of stealing TV in 1989, https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-turns-himself-charge-stealing-tv-1989-155547820.html?nhp=1, Accessed April 12, 2016.

Titus 2:11–12 (HCSB)“For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, ¹² instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,”

Integrity

An unidentified Syrian refugee gave Police in Minden, Germany 150,000 Euros (over $166,000) that he found in a cupboard a charitable organization gave him.

While we don’t know who he is, we do know what he is—a man of integrity. Imagine, a man with such great need, finding so much, but having the integrity to give it to authorities.—Jim L. Wilson

Proverbs 11:3 (HCSB) “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.”

In Thailand, a medical school caught prospective students cheating on an entrance exam. The three students used glasses with embedded cameras to send the test questions to people outside who then looked up the answers and transmitted the answers to the student’s smart watches.

I would think one profession we would like to be sure were qualified would be our doctors. But some Thais expressed admiration for the cheaters ingenuity. I prefer my doctor to have intelligence, not creativity.

Actually, I would like every person I have dealings with to have integrity. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Proverbs 2:20–21 (HCSB)“So follow the way of good people, and keep to the paths of the righteous. ²¹ For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it;”

A man who accidentally left $187,000 behind in a cab has his money back thanks to an honest Boston cab driver. Raymond “Buzzy” MacCausland, the driver, said he picked up a man who told him he has homeless and had been living in a shelter for the past six months. He said at one point the man got out of the cab to meet a friend, leaving a bag of money behind. When he did not return in 30 minutes, MacCausland drove to man’s hotel to look for him. When he could not find him, MacCausland asked hotel staff to help look for some identification in the bag of money. He then went to nearby police station and turned the money in. Authorities later returned to the unnamed man after police determined he was the rightful owner. The man gave MacCausland a reward for returning the money. Local Police Commissioner William Evans said, “This hackney driver exhibited exemplary behavior and his honest deed should be recognized.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Boston cabbie turns in $187,000 left behind in his taxi, By Mark Pratt, https://www.yahoo.com/news/boston-cabbie-turns-187-000-left-behind-taxi-191431593.html?nhp=1, Accessed July 5, 2016.

Psalm 25:21 (HCSB) “May integrity and what is right watch over me, for I wait for You.”

INTEGRITY

Officials with Wells Fargo Bank said they were happy that a Pennsylvania woman did the right thing when an automatic teller machine gave her too much money. Kristina Edwards told a local newspaper that she went to the ATM to withdraw $60. When the machine produced $380, she tried to chase down the customer in front of her incase the money belonged to them. When she found out that it didn’t, she called the bank and they asked her to return it to a bank branch when she could. When she did, a spokesman says Wells Fargo is grateful Edwards returned the money after the ATM malfunction.–By Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 11:3 (HCSB)“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.”

In 2016, Colin Kapernick, the 49ers quarterback, gained national attention by not standing for the National Anthem. His choice was a personal act of protest against recent acts of police violence against African Americans, but erupted into a national media controversy for the NFL. Kapernick has drawn the ire of throngs of dissenters, including military veterans, police officers, NFL coaches, and other athletes and celebrities.

Kapernick won’t stand for the national anthem, but neither will he stand in line to vote—he didn’t bother going to the polls to cast a vote in the 2016 presidential election, saying, “You know, I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote,"

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/49ers/2016/11/14/colin-kaepernick-voting-would-have-been-hypocritical/93786182/

Regardless of what side of the “stand or don’t stand” debate—we can all agree that everyone must decide what they will “stand for in life,” because we influence others by where we take our stand. —Jim L. Wilson and Ben Hsieh

Psalm 1:1 (HCSB)“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers!”

Alex Younger, the real-life head of MI6, Britain’s Secret intelligence service, recently said that James Bond would have never made it into the service if he had been a real person. He went on to say, "An intelligence officer in the real MI6 has a high degree of emotional intelligence, values teamwork and always has respect for the law -- unlike Mr Bond."

The fact is, real heroes are rarely flashy and entertaining. This is true in the Christian faith. Our heroes of the faith are often deeply flawed people. They are our heroes because they point us to a greater God. If you seek to live a holy life, you probably won’t be well-known, and it’s better that way. —Jim L. Wilson and James Whitten

Jake Bowers was driving his family to a park near their home when he found $14,000 in cash by the side of the road. When he saw the bag, he thought it might contain a laptop, but was surprised to find that it was filled with $100 bills. He took the bag to a local police station and it was returned to the owner. A police report said the owner of the money had taken it to a car dealer, but left without buying a vehicle. He told police he must have put the bag on top of the car and driven away. Bowers said finding the money was a surprise, and he was simply trying to set a good example for his children. By Jim Sandell

Ohio man turns in $14,000 found on side of road,

Proverbs 2:21 (CSB)“For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it;”

StubHub made a mistake, and Jordan Benedict benefited from it. Benedict snatched two Game 2 tickets for the 2017 World Series for $9.00 apiece. Thinking it might be a mistake, Benedict called StubHub. Some would say that was a foolish call, but I view it as an act of integrity. StubHub agreed that it was a mistake, but honored the deal, only asking that Benedict accept different seats for the same price. Again, some would say their decision was foolish, but I view it as an act of integrity.

When a homeless woman saw Cameron Diaz drop her wallet outside a Beverly Hills restaurant, she immediately attempted to return it to the workers in the restaurant. However, they would not take the wallet from her and asked her to leave. Determined, she stayed outside the restaurant until the police arrived and she give the lost item to them.—Jim L. Wilson

In the annual Gallup poll regarding how honest and ethical most Americans rate different professions the clergy doesn’t come out looking very good. Only 42% of Americans view the clergy as high or very high in honesty and ethics. It has been declining every year since 2009. One reason for the decline is the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.

Nurses top the list of ethical professions. Clergy rates just below Judges and just above auto mechanics. Car salespeople and lobbyists are at the bottom. It is important for each of us, Nurses, Pastors, and lobbyists to live our lives with integrity and honesty. Polls and generalities do not make us honest people. That is our job. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

http://news.gallup.com/poll/224639/nurses-keep-healthy-lead-honest-ethical-profession.aspx

I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.

Commenting on Billy Graham’s influence, Pastor Rick Warren said, “This man’s integrity and lifestyle were so right and his heart was so God-directed that it came through in his words and presence. With God, the direction of your heart is even more important than your sins.” —Jim L. Wilson

but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.”

Billionaire J.B. Pritzker removed five toilets from his second mansion so it would be classified as “uninhabitable,” and as a result the value dropped on “the 6,378-square-foot mansion's assessed value from $6.3 million to about $1.1 million,” which drastically dropped his property tax liability.—Jim L. Wilson

Prov. 11:3 (CSB) “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.”

Mike Seidel, a reporter for the Weather Channel is getting some heat over social media for the way he stood while doing a broadcast. Instead of facing the camera squarely, when Hurricane Florence was approaching North Carolina in September of 2018, he shifted his weight to the side and stood like he was bracing himself against the wind. However, during the live broadcast, a couple of young men strolled in the background without any indication that a strong wind was blowing.

The Weather Channel responded to the social media outcry by saying, “It’s important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete, and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1:00 a.m. ET this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted.”

There are always two sides to every story. Really, only Seidel knows if he was embellishing the situation or not. In the end, a clear conscience is more important than public opinion.—Jim L. Wilson

“Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.”

In 2004, 12-year-old Girl Scout Paige Woodie found $3 on a New Jersey street. Woodie and he friend Jackie took the lost cash to Monmouth Beach Police Department and turned it in, in case the owner was looking for it. 14 years later, the police department found Woodie and returned the money because no one ever claimed it and they decided to give it to her. Woodie will have to split the cash with her friend because both were present when it was turned in. Sgt. Jeff Godwin from the department said, “I think we should all expect our children to do that and really expect nothing less from them If you raise your kids right, they’re going to be honest and hopefully that’s what we can all take from the story.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Proverbs 10:29 (CSB)“The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the honorable, but destruction awaits the malicious.”

In the movie Courageous, Javier Martinez, a Hispanic construction worker, gets laid off from his work, leaving his family under a tight financial strain. In an early move scene, Javier arrives home; his wife is in the kitchen with only rice and beans to feed her family; he gives the last dollars he had for her to buy food for their children. As the movie plot advancesJavier is working in the factory when the CEO of the company to the office calls him and the following conversation ensues:

CEO: “Mr. Martinez, the reason I call you here is because I am looking for an additional manager to oversee inventory and shipping, carries more responsibility but it pays more. Does it sound like something you would be interested in?

CEO: “But before I make my final decision, I would like you to work a shift in that department next week." The CEO hands Javier a report, "you will see a list of seventeen crates in this sheet, but one of those crates will be going to a separate warehouse. Mr. Martinez when you report the inventory, I would like you to report that we received only sixteen crates.”

CEO: "yes you are right. I have another purpose for the extra crate. You are on my team, right? Because I cannot really use people, who are not on my team. Think about it tonight and give me an answer in the morning, but I want people who really want this job.”

After this Javier arrives home and has an intense conversation with his wife, Carmen, his wife tells him that they really need that job.

CEO: I don't know yet, please have a seat. I trust you had time to think about our conversation yesterday.

Javier: “Mr. Tyson, I am very grateful to have a job here, but I cannot do as you asked.”

Javier: “Because it is wrong sir, it would be dishonorable to God and my family to lie on that report?”

CEO: “Javier, may I shake your hand? Young man you just gave me the right answer. I have been looking for someone to manage inventory and shipping, and quite frankly you were the last person on my list. But I need someone I can trust. Would you take the job? We will adjust your pay.

CEO: Good, then the job is yours. Congratulations! Oh, and Javier, thanks for your integrity, is rare.”

Then, the assistant manager who was there shakes the hand of Javier as Javier exits the office, and he says: “Well done Javier, after six times, I was getting discouraged.”

Javier chose to be faithful to God, and to be righteous no matter the cost. God will always honor your faithfulness and righteousness. —Jim L. Wilson and Carlos Andres Rodriguez

Courageous movie (2011). Directed by Alex Kendrick, written by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick. Affirm Films/Provident Films/Sherwood Pictures, distributed by TriStar Pictures.

Proverbs 21:3 (CSB) “Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Georgia Police said they warned drivers who stopped to pick up lose money on the freeway that they need to return the cash. Authorities said the cash blew out of an armored truck after a side door opened on Interstate 285 near Atlanta. Motorists took videos that showed other vehicles stopped on the highway as people grabbed money from the roadway. Police said the exact amount of missing cash is not known, but they saw license numbers of many of the cars, and they will follow up with the owners to ensure they return the cash. Police said they were thankful that there were no crashes or pedestrians hurt in the incident. They added, “While we certainly understand the temptation, it’s still theft and the money should be returned.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Psalm 51:6 (CSB)“Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.”

Manuel Torres was fired from his job with the Lee County Sheriff’s Department because he refused to be alone with a woman who was not his wife—in this case, a female deputy who his superiors ordered him to train. –Jim L. Wilson

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/08/22/court-will-decide-if-sheriffs-deputy-can-be-fired-refusing-work-alone-with-woman/

Greta Thuynberg, a Swedish teenage activist in the climate change movement recently awarded prize from the Nordic Council in recognition of her “breathing new life into the debate surrounding the environment and climate at a critical moment in world history.” Even though it came with a $52,000.00 prize she turned it down.

She explained why on her Instagram account, “The Nordic countries have a great reputation around the world when it comes to climate and environmental issues. But when it comes to our actual emissions and our ecological footprints per capita — if we include our consumption, our imports as well as aviation and shipping — then it's a whole other story.”

Regardless of your views on this particular debate, isn’t it refreshing to see someone who lives what she says she believes, even when it cost her financially? —Jim L. Wilson

Indeed, we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people.

What would you do if you discovered the bank had deposited $120,000 in your account by mistake? Robert and Tiffany Williams from Pennsylvania made such a discovery. Admitting later that is probably wasn’t the best thing to do; they went on a wild spending spree. They bought an SUV, a race car, a four-wheeler, a camper, a car trailer—and also loaned their friends $15,000. Eventually the bank discovered the mistake and authorities have charged the Williams with felony theft, along with requiring them to repay the funds.

Thinking they would not be discovered Robert and Tiffany took money that was not theirs. Most of us do not have the opportunity to take advantage of a mistake that large. But how about the times we are less than honest about mistakes made in our favor? Everything we do or say is to be done with our relationship with Christ in mind. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

George Condash did the right thing when he discovered a box of cash outside his credit union—he turned it in. As it turned out, a security guard left it behind when servicing the ATM.

The Credit Union did give him a reward for his good deed, but Alicia Stewart, the bank’s cash manager told reporters that they would have called police if he had taken the money. Likely police would have found because their security camera had a shot of him picking up the box and the license plate on his car.

“I would hope that the average person would turn that in, but not everybody thinks that way," Stewart said. "Not everybody is cognizant of the cameras around them.”

Some people define integrity as who you are when no one is watching. In the age of security cameras everywhere, we would be wise to know that someone is usually watching.—Jim L. Wilson

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/us/good-samaritan-returns-money-to-bank-trnd/index.html

Parisa Dudley said she believes her son learned important lessons when he returned an envelope of lost cash to the owner. Dudley said her son Foster found a bank envelope with $900 at a department store. There was a receipt from a local credit union along with a person’s name and signature. Dudley asked if they could keep the money when he found it, but she asked him how he would feel if he had lost that much money. Foster told her they had to return the money, so they called the store manager and the local police. When the owner of the money came, Foster was there to give her the envelope back. The owner hugged him, and the manger of the store added a bonus by giving Foster a $100 gift card for his kindness. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Don Shula was arguably the greatest coach in the history of the NFL. He took his teams to the Super Bowl six times and over his career won a record 347 games. He is still the only coach to have a team record a perfect season, the 17-0 Miami Dolphins in 1972. In an interview just before he died at age 90, he said that is not what he wants fans to remember about him. The football coach said “I want them to say that he won within the rules. I want them to say that we did it the right way, Always the right way.”

It is refreshing to know the one who played by the rules is still the best. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

1 Corinthians 9:24–25 (CSB) “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.”

Spanish runner Ivan Fernandez Anaya was trailing Kenyan runner Abel Mutai in a cross-country race at an event in Burlada, Navarre. 32 feet from the finish line Mutai mistakenly thought he had crossed the finish line. Anaya had the opportunity to win the race, but he did not. Instead, he caught up to Mutai and guided him into first place, gesturing to his fellow runner and rival to keep going.

Anaya said later that he did not deserve the win. Seeing that gold medal would remind him for the rest of his life of the day he missed a chance to do the right thing. Fernandez Anaya chose kindness over victory.

In a day of banging trash cans, deflating footballs, taping opponents’ practices, here is a refreshing reminder that there is still integrity in the world of sports. One of the keys for good Christian living is integrity. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Over 20 years ago Tom Cook and Joe Feeney decided to split any lottery winnings they might have in the future, and they shook on it. In June of 2020 Tom Cook won, and true to his word, he is splitting his $22 million winnings with Feeney. Cook said, "A handshake is a handshake, man," —Jim L. Wilson

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.

Steny Hoyer tweeted the following after John Lewis died, “America has lost a towering moral figure, & I have lost a dear friend. John Lewis lived his life with purpose and in service, as close to a Christ-like figure as I have ever known. He is a beloved colleague, a trusted representative, & a man of integrity.” —Jim L. Wilson

In his book Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, Timothy Keller says, “To discover the real you, look at what you spend time thinking about when no one is looking, when nothing is forcing you to think about anything in particular.”

The customer was in a hurry. She failed to scratch off the last number—the million-dollar number and handed the lottery ticket to an employee to throw away for her.

Ten days later, Abhi Shah, the son of the owner of the Lucky Stop convenience store in Southwick, Mass noticed the unscratched ticket in the trash. “I scratched the number and it was $1 million underneath the ticket.” Shah said.

He remembered who had asked him to throw the ticket away because she is a regular customer, so he contacted her to let her know she had won.

Police Chief Joshua Potvin lost his law enforcement license after the Main Criminal Justice discovered that he had an officer text him while he was in a meeting. He created a cover story by entering a false entry about a suspicious person at the Fryeburg fairgrounds, using a fairgrounds employee’s license plate in the report.