Values Clarification

Brian Tracy, a prolific e-communicator, wrote in his July 11 email regarding The Need to Lead, “The greatest need we have today, in every area, is for men and women to practice the values of integrity, discipline, responsibility, courage, and long time perspective, both as individuals and in their families. These are the key qualities of leadership. “

There is a question that comes to my mind—what is the foundational source of these values. Some solid biblical responses can be found in 1 Corinthians 10.31, Colossians 3.23, and Matthew 22.37-39.

Tracy goes on to say that the greatest need we have today is for men and women to practice these values; these are the key qualities of leadership.

Tracy then quotes Immanuel Kant’s “Universal Maxim.” Kant suggested that “you should live your life as though your every act were to become universal law for all people.” Continuing he writes, “The very best judge of truth for you is to ask, ‘Is it true for me?’” Here is where you have to stick with me. I know this sounds relativistic. It sounds that way because it is. However there are some great points of application coming up! Hang in there.

Tracy contends that if everyone were encouraged to live in this way our society would be much improved. I think Tracy fails to account for total depravity, but now comes the good part. Tracy offers four questions to stay on track; questions to help us focus on living out our values. For the Christian community, a modified version of these questions can be helpful for us in continuing the journey on which God has placed us.

The four questions are:

1. From a spiritual perspective, what kind of community, workplace, school, would my community, workplace, school be if everyone in it was just like me?

2. Spiritually speaking, what kind of family would my family be if everyone in it was just like me?

3. What kind of church would this be if everyone in it was just like me?

4. What kind of Sunday school / small group would this be if everyone in it were just like me?

Are the values you profess being lived out in the arenas of life in which you live?

Foundations of Your Worldview

Read this quote this morning:
Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself.

A few moments later, I ran across this quote:
God gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

The first comes from Oprah Winfrey; the second, from Solomon in Proverbs 2.6. The question seems to be, Who's view of the world and the way it works are you going to buy into?

Who are You Playing For?

By-and-large college athletics maintains a degree of purity that professional sports has lost. If you are not a sports fan, stick with me as this is not a story about sports per se.

Especially during the college football bowl season and the NCAA basketball tournament there are a number of human interest stories that transcend the athletic competition.

I’ve been moved by stories of athletes escaping war-ravaged homelands to achieve academic and athletic success along with much valued freedom; or of young men who have lost both parents due to drugs and gang violence and have successfully taken on the responsibility of raising their younger siblings while attending college and excelling in sports.

This past week, another inspiring story has risen above the excitement of athletic wins and losses.

Stephen Curry is a 20-year-old sophomore basketball player for Davidson College. Davidson is a 1,700 student liberal arts college near Charlotte, North Carolina. Curry played remarkably well and led his team to unprecedented success in the 2008 NCAA Basketball Tournament. While his accomplishments are record-worthy, what has gained significant notice are his feet—or what is on them.

On Curry’s NIKE basketball shoes, is a handwritten quote, “I can do all things…” Often this type of writing would be a sure sign of bravado or cockiness. That frequently happens in sports. Curry is different. He has exhibited a humility that's perfectly at odds with the statement he penned on his shoes.

"It's easy to give a lot of glory to yourself when you have a lot of success," Curry said in an ESPN.com interview. "And I could get into the mind-set that everything I'm doing is because of me. But I just can't think like that."

So it seems the writing on his shoes is not the product of a me-first mentality or an overblown ego lurking beneath a shell of false modesty. There just wasn't enough room to finish the quote.

"Oh, that," Curry said. "It's Philippians 4:13: 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.' It's always been one of my favorite Bible verses. … I realize that what I do on the basketball court isn't a measure of my own strength. Having that there keeps me focused on the game, a constant reminder of Who I'm playing for."

Stephen Curry is an accomplished athlete. He is also an outstanding spokesman for Jesus in his own unique way.

It is helpful to realize that you too can be an outstanding spokesman for Jesus, and you don’t need to be an accomplished athlete. Curry used the opportunities and tools available to him to share his faith. You can too.

What is "your game?" What are you doing in the arena in which God has placed you that points to Him?