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    At our core we desire to have a pure heart, to have integrity, to be trustworthy. Yet Jesus, the one who knows all the truth about us, at one moment in his earthly ministry “would not entrust himself” to those critical of him and he told them that the reason was simple, “he knew what was in a man” (John 2:24-25).

    To possess integrity is a lifelong quest. Seeking to make our heart’s motives and our life’s behavior reflect honesty, transparency and trustworthiness day in and day out is not easy. Paul, God’s chosen apostle, wrote, “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind” (Romans 7:21-23). Paul knows me pretty well, how about you?

They want to know where God is when they are hurting.

    At times, I find myself in attendance at a special dinner with 1-200 people. Often it’s served buffet style. Go through the line, make your selections, then go sit at a table with people you don’t know. On many occasions, I’ll be seated first at a table for five. When someone walks to my table I extend a warm invitation: Sit here with me and “help build my character up.” Usually the person will chuckle and then join me for dinner. Was I making conversation with my quip? Of course! Is there an element of truth in my quip? Absolutely!

    I need help building my character to reflect a life of integrity. Do you?

    Author Patrick Morley says the story of the human race is the story of “human weakness and frailty” and that each of us leaves a “trail of broken relationships and unkept promises.”

    Do your unkept promises and shaky human relationships bother you? Me too. I have found some help for strengthening my integrity. It’s long and slow work, but I’m encouraged by my improvement. I have a seven-step plan that I’ll gladly share with you if you’d like to see it. There is no cost to you.

    Write to herald@abilene.com and then put "attn: Randy Becton" in the subject line, asking for the 7 step plan on integrity.