ARE PEOPLE STILL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR REPUTATIONS?

INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER...



INTEGRITY.

A life lived with integrity - even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shinning star in whose light others may follow in the years to come.

Denis Waitley


CHARACTER COUNTS


"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope."1



Interestingly enough, where I grew up (quite a few
years ago now), in our grade school English classes
every story we read had a moral, and over the door of
every class room was written a motto such as,
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your
might,"2 that was quoted from the Bible. We were also
taught the importance of keeping one's word. In fact,
a man's word was his honor. It was a mark of
character!



Furthermore, every week during school hours students
had to attend a religious instruction class of their
choice. One had to have a letter from one's parents if
he/she were to be excused from attending.



But where have those values gone today? Cheating in
school is the norm for far too many students. Recently
we heard on TV how one teacher failed a student whom
she caught cheating on her final exam. The cheater's
parents were so outraged that this teacher was forced
to resign! Teaching at Harvard Business School
several years ago, Chuck Colson noted that the
students didn't have a clue about ethics. Hence we
reap results such as the Enron debacle. And millions,
at least in the Western world, are spending millions
every year on getting rid of wrinkles and the like
because they are much more concerned with their
external image and appearance than inner character.



It seems for many that we have forgotten that
character counts!



According to the organization, Character Counts, "The
Six Pillars of Character are: trustworthiness,
respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and
citizenship," to which we could add a seventh,
personal honesty.



Don Johnson, author and producer of "Afterglow,"
wrote, "Financier J. P. Morgan once commented that a
man's best collateral is his character. Alfred Armand
Montapert said, 'Reputation is what folks think you
are. Personality is what you seem to be. Character is
what you really are.' House Speaker, Jim Wright, upon
his resignation, quoted Horace Greely who stated,
'Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take
wings, those who cheer today may curse tomorrow, only
one thing endures--character.' Charles Spurgeon wrote,
'A good character is the best tombstone. Those who
loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you
when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on
hearts, and not on marble.'



"Someone has said 'character is what you'd do if you
knew no one would ever find out.' I like Samuel Smiles
words, 'Sow a thought and you reap an act, sow an act
and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a
character, sow a character and you reap a destiny.'"3



Whether we believe it or not, character does
count--for time and, if you are a Christian, for
eternity!



Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to always
remember that character counts and help me to so live
that my life will always bring glory and praise to
your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."



1. Romans 5:3-4 (NIV).
2. Ecclesiastes 9:10.




<:))))>

Your Friend
Ramona P.