"What Does It Mean To Be A Man Of Integrity?"

By Martin

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).


“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).




Unfortunately, there are many men, and women, in our society that lack integrity.  First off, what is integrity?  The easiest way to describe integrity is the way I learned it in the Army; integrity is doing what is right even when no one else is looking. Doing what is right, even when no one else is looking, is important.  But doing what is right even when the end result will most likely be disciplinary action, punishment, or isolation is even more important. When I was in Officer Candidate School (OCS) for the US Army and when I worked for the railroad, both times I was faced with an ethical dilemma.  In OCS, it was the instructors physically abusing the students; in the railroad, it was my boss specifically instructing contract personnel to violate safety rules for productivity purposes (productivity over safety).

Looking back on those situations, I can tell you right now, it would have been a lot easier to just look the other way, like everyone else in my OCS class and on that railroad facility.  But, I am a man of integrity and I cannot just look the other way, especially when I know it is wrong.  There are not many people that will reward you for having integrity.  Actually, it is more likely that the opposite will happen.


By Martin


Paul and Jesus’ half-brother James both have something to say about men of integrity.  I have adopted these two verses as my life’s verses.  “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Not only does a man of integrity do what is right, he speaks in the same manner; lies do not become us.  When I was a kid, I remember taking a $20 from my parents. I looked into the pouch of money and thought, ‘they won’t miss this, they have plenty’. About ten minutes later, my mother came to me and asked me, in the politest way possible, if I had taken the money. My flesh wanted to say no, knowing that if I said yes I would receive a good beating. Nevertheless, I told my mother the truth and gave her the money back. I told her exactly what I had thought when I took it, "I didn't think you  guys would miss it". But they did miss it! Thankfully, I did not receive any punishment for taking the money, or for telling the truth for that matter.

God feels the same way about us. We are His children and when one of us goes astray He searches tirelessly until He finds us again (metaphorically speaking since He knows where we are at all times and our every word and thought). God loves you because you are His child. Regardless of how our parent’s love(d) us, He loves us even more. He has charged us, men, to be the head of our family as Jesus is the head of the church. As the head, we are called to do what is right at all times; even though it will be hard at times.

As for me, I might not be a senior manager for the railroad because I wouldn’t look the other way.  And, I might not be a company commander because I wouldn’t keep quiet. But, I know that God is watching down on me and He is proud of me. He is always watching. What we do on earth builds our home in heaven. 

Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? If not, you can do so this very moment by asking Him into your heart and allowing Him to be your Lord and Savior. I encourage you to get into a Bible-believing church and surround yourself with good Christian men. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

Don’t be afraid that you have done too much to be forgiven. If you have not taken anything else away from this testimony, please take this away, God will forgive you regardless of what you have done; blasphemy against the Spirit is the only sin that you cannot be forgiven for. “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).

Dear Lord, thank You that You so loved the world ~ that You so loved me ~ that You gave Your One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. I am not defined by what I have done or by who others say that I am. Your Word says that I was fearfully and wonderfully made by You. Your Word also says that as I trust You I become a new creation. As I study Your Word and seek You, You have the power to transform me from the inside out, through the renewal of my mind. Please help me to trust and believe in You with all my heart and that I am forgiven. Thank You for loving me with everlasting love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

T.A.N.D.E.M.: "To Have And To Hold"

T.A.N.D.E.M.: "To Have And To Hold"

"To Have And To Hold"

By Martin and Zoe Howard

Family Motto: A family that prays together stays together.




"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8



On July 25, 2012, we celebrated 9 years of marriage. As we reflected on the last 9 years, we both agreed that God is the glue that keeps us together and strong. For those who don't know our story, we met through a singles website. Two weeks later got married. Everyone who loves and cares about us thought we were crazy. And, well, they had a point!

Was it love at first sight? Maybe. Were we crazy about each other? Yes! And we still are! However, one thing has become evident to us throughout the last 9 years and that is that God had EVERYTHING to do with our union. When Martin tells our story, he says that he knew all he "needed to know...Zoe's heart and that she loved God and family" and the rest he "would learn in time". When Zoe tells our story, she says that Martin "felt like home to me from day one....I loved his heart and his great smile. He was a gentleman and a family man".

In the last 9 years, we have moved six times, lived in four different states (NE, TX, UT, VA), lost two babies, welcomed two premature babies into the world (both healthy today), experienced health challenges, owned two homes, got laid off from two jobs, experienced financial stress, experienced the challenges of military life, transitioned to homeschooling our children, a close family member passed away, and two friends we were close to and loved dearly committed suicide.

We have had our share of ups and downs in our 9 years of marriage, but the one thing that has remained constant is the LOVE and power of God in our lives and in our marriage. Scripture tells us that God’s love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8), for God IS love (1 John 4:16). We have learned that love is not a feeling, but a choice. A decision to stay committed to each other no matter what.

With everything life throws at us on a daily basis, if we don’t put on the full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and fight for our marriage, especially when the going gets tough, our marriage will be in trouble. Our enemy, the devil, will use any and every opportunity he gets to try “to steal and kill and destroy" our faith (John 10:10) and our marriage.

The devil knows he cannot steal our salvation, so he will try to steal our JOY every chance he gets. Well, guess what? Our victory has already been won on the cross. We are not supposed to carry life’s burden on our own. We need to "Fireproof" your marriage (http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/) and remember that, in a fire, we never leave our partner behind. Whatever challenges any of us are going through in our marriages, we need to be intentional to remember that our spouse in not our enemy; the devil plays tricks on us (he lies, he deceives) and he is our true enemy; he is the fire in your marriage. We need to be intentional to attack the devil (with God's Word), not our spouse. We need to be intentional to send the devil back to where he belongs and claim our victory. We need to DECLARE our victory, BELIEVE in our victory, and RECEIVE our victory.

We have learned that the secret to success and happiness - not only in marriage, but in ALL things - is in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the rest will be added to you". God has a plan for our marriage and that plan is to prosper us, not to harm us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Declare and claim your marriage victorious in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hold on to God’s promise of hope and a future. Ask Him into your heart and into your marriage today. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" (Proverbs 3:5-6) and for your every need, for He is faithful. He will "stengthen you and help you" in your time of need (Isaiah 41:10), He deliver you from evil, He will restore you, and He will set you free from captivity (temptations, addictions, idols). His Word does not come back void.

6th Wedding Anniversary - VA Beach - 2009

9th Wedding Anniversary - Omaha, NE - 2012







Dear Lord, please come into our hearts and into our marriage. We surrender all to you and you alone. Thank you for the work you are doing in our lives, in our marriage,and for all that is yet to come!! In Jesus' Name, Amen.



POWER VERSES

1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV ~ “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”

2 Thessalonians 3:3, NIV ~ “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one”

Psalm 18:35, NIV ~ “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great”

Ephesians 5:23-25, NIV ~ “Wives, submit to your husbands in everything, as the church submits to Christ. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”