Everything Rises and Falls...

The latest mega church, moral failure is no secret anymore. Bill Hybels and Willow Creek church have been plastered all over the news.

It is yet again a hit against the church but more importantly a hit against Our Creator whom we represent. 

Bill Hybels is credited for a lot of great accomplishments and one of the biggest ones is the Global Leadership Summit. This leadership conference has touched the world and is probably more well known then Willow Creek is. 

Bill will be remembered for his quote...

Everything rises and falls on leadership

Hey, I've even been known to quote this one. It sounds so great!

But ever since light has been shed on his past... I can't help but say the quote in my head and now something just sounds wrong.

Clearly EVERYTHING does not rise and fall on leadership. 

I think we are using the wrong words. The more I think about it and look into it, the more I see a lack of integrity. 

These situations always make Christians ask what went wrong and could this happen to me? And we should ask those questions! 

The answer is, we are human and yes it could happen to us. We need to look into our lives and begin to ask God to reveal to us where we lack integrity in our lives.

My dad always told me and my siblings to "do what's right, when it's right, even when nobody is looking". This is how I see integrity.

So let's start to look into our lives now. It's the little things that matter really. It is the things that we know are wrong, but we don't think are a big deal, or we think we can handle it. 

Once we make a little decision that doesn't seem like a 'big deal" or we just think that people are up tight... we start down a slippery slope. 

I have been known to say stuff like that. But the more I see these types of failures in life the more I wonder if it all started from one little decision that wasn't a "big deal" for them. 

Maybe everything doesn't fall on leadership... Maybe everything falls on Godly integrity and character. 

When little decisions come up in life that require an opportunity to sacrifice your integrity, just ask this question... Is it pleasing to God? 

It's so simple! You aren't being over spiritual either! If you have trouble saying yes, then don't do it! 

Ask yourself this question and then commit to the answer. I am not claiming to have all the answers, but I do know that something needs to change. We can't afford to miss the little things anymore because they more turn into something bigger.

Everything rises and falls on Godly integrity and character.