Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Character Matters

Bob Pitman has been preaching this week at Trinity Baptist. I have been looking forward to these few days for over a year. I have not been disappointed. The messages been simple, biblical, and much needed. Like an arrow hitting the bull's eye, his messages have hit the spot in my life and in our church. And, like a sponge absorbing water, I have been soaking up the preaching of God's word.

I have found myself a few times asking, "What is it with Bob Pitman?" Our church is sitting almost spellbound as this simple, yet well known preacher preaches. He is in demand. Just look at his schedule. This year he will preach all over America and in several foreign countries. What does he possess that causes grown men and women as well as children to be captivated? He seldom raises his voice. His calm demeanor is not the least bit intimidating. I am comfortable in his presence as if I had known him most of my life. What can I learn from Bob Pitman? What is it with Bob Pitman?

This is my answer to what "it" is. "It" is character. Character matters. It is character that causes folks to stand in line after the service to shake his hand or simply speak to him. It is character that causes an entire congregation to sit enthralled at his message. It is character that causes young parents to bring their babies up to meet Bro. Bob. Character. That's what it is. He doesn't need to be a name dropper. Doesn't need to flaunt his education to gain credibility. He is who he is...and his life is marked by character.

Character. The lost and unbelievers will never trust our message if they can't trust us. Character matters.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Applauding Sin

Just a few nights ago David Letterman admitted to having had several sexual relationships, over the past few years, with women on his staff. He came forward after being threatened and to "protect" the women involved...or so he said. I didn't see the actual show when he made his admission. I stopped watching Letterman years ago. He is not a reflection of anything I respect, admire, trust, or believe in. He is a pitiful example of late night entertainment. His jokes are not funny, his political views are left of the far left and his remarks about Christians are almost blasphemous.

When he said, on national television, that he had actually had sex with several women on his staff, the audience applauded. They clapped. A few whistled. Some laughed.

Something is terribly wrong when a talk show host can admit to doing the worst and most shameful... and he's praised by the media as if he did something right. I am not mad at Dave. He's a dog. And dogs do what dogs do. I am upset that many Americans, evidently, don't have a problem with Dave doing what he did.

After his remarks toward Sarah Palin and her daughters, he deserves any backlash that comes his way. He deserves to lose his show. He deserves to be sued by every woman he ever had a relationship with. He deserves to become a "has-been."

He's an old man who is not cool...is not funny...hasn't got "it"...and doesn't even realize it. If I do what Dave has done, and admit it with a smirk on my face, I deserve to be ignored, ostracized, condemned and jailed. His sin isn't unforgivable but it almost is. Shame on any of us for applauding this silly man.

Gal 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."