Comments on: I Almost Sold My Integrity Again, This Time for $3.78 http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/ There's so much more to life and faith than this. And we know it. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:04:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris_Tomlinson http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-1003 Chris_Tomlinson Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:24:23 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-1003 Krista, tell Emma thanks for me. And thanks for the invite. I might end up traveling to Minneapolis more for work in the future, and I might take you up on your offer. As for the age appropriateness of the book, I think it may be worth a shot. I don't discuss anything in detail that would be inappropriate--the chapter "Window" does discuss purity vs lust in a more general manner, so you might preview that. But otherwise, the stories should relate to a mature 6th grader and the implicit theological principles that are discussed may provoke some good discussion. Let me know if I can be of help in any way... Krista, tell Emma thanks for me. And thanks for the invite. I might end up traveling to Minneapolis more for work in the future, and I might take you up on your offer. As for the age appropriateness of the book, I think it may be worth a shot. I don't discuss anything in detail that would be inappropriate–the chapter "Window" does discuss purity vs lust in a more general manner, so you might preview that. But otherwise, the stories should relate to a mature 6th grader and the implicit theological principles that are discussed may provoke some good discussion. Let me know if I can be of help in any way…

]]> By: 5MinutesPlease http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-1001 5MinutesPlease Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:41:44 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-1001 Emma says that you made a good choice. You are a good role model. Emma has already faced poor character with her classmates. They are only in 6th grade--still babies! We are very proud that she follows in the foot steps of the Good Shepard. Chris, I am wondering if you feel that your book is age appropriate for a mature 6th grader? I have read 4 chapters randomly. I am taking it in pieces. Also, late greeting from Minneapolis. We hope you had a nice visit (assuming for work). But if you ever want to see the sights or have dinner with an "average" family, you are welcome in our home. Emma says that you made a good choice. You are a good role model.
Emma has already faced poor character with her classmates. They are only in 6th grade–still babies! We are very proud that she follows in the foot steps of the Good Shepard.
Chris, I am wondering if you feel that your book is age appropriate for a mature 6th grader? I have read 4 chapters randomly. I am taking it in pieces.
Also, late greeting from Minneapolis. We hope you had a nice visit (assuming for work). But if you ever want to see the sights or have dinner with an "average" family, you are welcome in our home.

]]> By: Jeff Eklund http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-1000 Jeff Eklund Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:48:36 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-1000 Chris; you really made me think on this one. How many times do I get the 2.25 and 3.25 right and then I blow it? Wow! I took the family (wife, 3 kids) to see Fireproof and afterwards we went to 'bucks for a refreshment. The lady who was working there was a little snippy with my 9 year old and I said to him "that woman is not very nice, give her your order". Man, right from the turning in $2.25 and stealing something invaluable. I always think that Satan has an apprentice watching me but when I am finally starting to "get it right" he steps in and shows his helper how to get it done, Screwtape anyone? Thanks for the Spiritual Inertia thought; a little at a time and a whole lot of listening to the Holy Spirit. Chris; you really made me think on this one. How many times do I get the 2.25 and 3.25 right and then I blow it? Wow! I took the family (wife, 3 kids) to see Fireproof and afterwards we went to 'bucks for a refreshment. The lady who was working there was a little snippy with my 9 year old and I said to him "that woman is not very nice, give her your order". Man, right from the turning in $2.25 and stealing something invaluable. I always think that Satan has an apprentice watching me but when I am finally starting to "get it right" he steps in and shows his helper how to get it done, Screwtape anyone? Thanks for the Spiritual Inertia thought; a little at a time and a whole lot of listening to the Holy Spirit.

]]> By: Chris_Tomlinson http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-966 Chris_Tomlinson Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:36:51 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-966 Amen. The software license thing is always a killer. I know what it feels like to be liberal in this way ("it's no big deal, and they don't need the $") and a legalist too (judging folks every time I hear them say they've done this), because I've been in both situations. At the end of the day, God owns that $479 anyway, so if we spend it and He wants us to have the $ back, He'll get it to us somehow. But there's treasure we gain when we live out the reality that truth and righteousness are more valuable than money, and it's a treasure that lasts. Thanks for sharing your story and your wisdom. Amen. The software license thing is always a killer. I know what it feels like to be liberal in this way ("it's no big deal, and they don't need the $") and a legalist too (judging folks every time I hear them say they've done this), because I've been in both situations. At the end of the day, God owns that $479 anyway, so if we spend it and He wants us to have the $ back, He'll get it to us somehow. But there's treasure we gain when we live out the reality that truth and righteousness are more valuable than money, and it's a treasure that lasts. Thanks for sharing your story and your wisdom.

]]> By: Greg Ryan http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-965 Greg Ryan Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:06:44 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-965 I needed to open a PowerPoint presentation. I went to Office Depot and picked it up ($479.00 as I remember) and set it right back down. No way I thought, there has got to be someone I know that has that program. A good friend of mine had it and insisted I install it on my computer. (Who was I to argue?) Microsoft didn't need anymore money and I only needed it for that one file. I got the program from my friend, took it home and as I opened the drive, I heard in my head, "What are you doing?" I explained to myself, Microsoft did not need the money and I only needed the PowerPoint program for this one file. Still again, The voice inside my head said, "It is not about Microsoft or the money, it is about right and wrong." It took me 15 minutes to decide not to load the program. Right is right, whether it is $3.78, $479.00 or $357,000. It will never turn out wrong doing the right thing. Can't say that about doing the wrong thing right. My recent post <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/odob/~3/vnduKPDe0k8/god-teach-me-to-number-my-days.html" target="_blank">God, teach me to number my days</a> I needed to open a PowerPoint presentation. I went to Office Depot and picked it up ($479.00 as I remember) and set it right back down. No way I thought, there has got to be someone I know that has that program.
A good friend of mine had it and insisted I install it on my computer. (Who was I to argue?) Microsoft didn't need anymore money and I only needed it for that one file. I got the program from my friend, took it home and as I opened the drive, I heard in my head, "What are you doing?"
I explained to myself, Microsoft did not need the money and I only needed the PowerPoint program for this one file. Still again, The voice inside my head said, "It is not about Microsoft or the money, it is about right and wrong." It took me 15 minutes to decide not to load the program.
Right is right, whether it is $3.78, $479.00 or $357,000. It will never turn out wrong doing the right thing. Can't say that about doing the wrong thing right.
My recent post God, teach me to number my days

]]> By: Chris_Tomlinson http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-952 Chris_Tomlinson Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:47:45 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-952 To Krista's daughter--you have a great mom. Moms are the most influential people on the planet, particularly ones like yours that care enough to teach you truth! To Krista's daughter–you have a great mom. Moms are the most influential people on the planet, particularly ones like yours that care enough to teach you truth!

]]> By: Chris_Tomlinson http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-951 Chris_Tomlinson Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:42:29 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-951 Hey Debbie, thanks for sharing your story. I had a similar story a few years back--but with $100 and I didn't get it back =) But as you say, God is in the 2.25s! Hey Debbie, thanks for sharing your story. I had a similar story a few years back–but with $100 and I didn't get it back =) But as you say, God is in the 2.25s!

]]> By: 5minutesplease http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-950 5minutesplease Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:48:26 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-950 Excellent. To turn toward integrity on the little things does it make it easier the next time. I am glad that you reminded us of this. (Because it can be just as easy to turn toward the evil again and again, when it presents itself.) I appreciate your thoughts as a mom. I am going to have my 11 year old read these last two posts. I need to demonstrate for her by my actions of integrity that she will continue to follow the same path. My recent post <a href="http:\/\/5minutesplease.wordpress.com\/2010\/03\/08\/to-love-your-neighbor-mothers-act%E2%80%94your-act\/" target="_blank">To Love Your Neighbor: Mother’s Act—Your Act</a> Excellent. To turn toward integrity on the little things does it make it easier the next time. I am glad that you reminded us of this. (Because it can be just as easy to turn toward the evil again and again, when it presents itself.)
I appreciate your thoughts as a mom. I am going to have my 11 year old read these last two posts. I need to demonstrate for her by my actions of integrity that she will continue to follow the same path.
My recent post To Love Your Neighbor: Mother’s Act—Your Act

]]> By: Sarah http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-949 Sarah Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:42:17 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-949 I love the concept of spiritual inertia, and what it means to me is practice! We have to continue to practice doing the right thing (especially when it doesn't come easy) After a while it becomes easier, but only if we keep on keeping on. And most of the time it is only us who knows how hard it is or was or will be! But God always does and he's on our side cheering us on! I love the concept of spiritual inertia, and what it means to me is practice! We have to continue to practice doing the right thing (especially when it doesn't come easy) After a while it becomes easier, but only if we keep on keeping on. And most of the time it is only us who knows how hard it is or was or will be! But God always does and he's on our side cheering us on!

]]> By: Debbie http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-945 Debbie Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:43:53 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-945 Chris, once again, you encourage my heart and make me smile. My husband and I walked this walk (and still do).Once, my husband and young daughter found $50 on the supermarket floor. He took it to customer service and turned it in. The service people said to check back in 10 days, if it hadn't been claimed, it was ours. Good friends of ours (strong believers who in fact taught at Bible school and had been pastors) thought we were crazy."The customer service people will just keep it and say someone claimed it. You should have kept it. What difference would it make?" What difference would it make? Well, for all we knew that was all the money whoever lost it had. Regardless, God would know, the great cloud of witnesses would know, we would know (our daughter would know). What difference would it make? It was the right thing to do. The money wasn't ours. It belonged to someone else. If the customer service people chose to keep it, that was not our concern, it was God's. It was between God and those people. What we did was between God and us. 10 days came and went, perhaps even more. My husband went back. The money had not been claimed and we were 50 dollars richer. And the customer service people did not "steal" the money. There is a freedom and joy that comes with integrity and walking right with God (sometimes its a hard won freedom and joy -- but worth it. I'd need to tell you that we didn't come to this integrity without God doing a "little" work on us.) No small or large amount of money provides the satisfaction that God's grin does. ( We didn't deserve that $50.00 and wouldn't have missed not getting it back (we liked it though :0) ) But it was good to be able to let our friends know that "those people" had not been dishonest, that had the people who really owned that $50 come by they would have gotten it back. And who knows how God used it in their lives to encourage them to see that God sees the unseen and that's what matters.) Bless you, God is in the 2.25's and 3.25's of life. Thanks again!!! Chris, once again, you encourage my heart and make me smile. My husband and I walked this walk (and still do).Once, my husband and young daughter found $50 on the supermarket floor. He took it to customer service and turned it in. The service people said to check back in 10 days, if it hadn't been claimed, it was ours. Good friends of ours (strong believers who in fact taught at Bible school and had been pastors) thought we were crazy."The customer service people will just keep it and say someone claimed it. You should have kept it. What difference would it make?"

What difference would it make? Well, for all we knew that was all the money whoever lost it had. Regardless, God would know, the great cloud of witnesses would know, we would know (our daughter would know). What difference would it make? It was the right thing to do. The money wasn't ours. It belonged to someone else. If the customer service people chose to keep it, that was not our concern, it was God's. It was between God and those people. What we did was between God and us.

10 days came and went, perhaps even more. My husband went back. The money had not been claimed and we were 50 dollars richer. And the customer service people did not "steal" the money. There is a freedom and joy that comes with integrity and walking right with God (sometimes its a hard won freedom and joy — but worth it. I'd need to tell you that we didn't come to this integrity without God doing a "little" work on us.) No small or large amount of money provides the satisfaction that God's grin does. (

We didn't deserve that $50.00 and wouldn't have missed not getting it back (we liked it though :0) ) But it was good to be able to let our friends know that "those people" had not been dishonest, that had the people who really owned that $50 come by they would have gotten it back. And who knows how God used it in their lives to encourage them to see that God sees the unseen and that's what matters.)

Bless you, God is in the 2.25's and 3.25's of life. Thanks again!!!

]]> By: Read this and think “JOHN 6″ « Mambrino Baptist News http://cravesomethingmore.org/2010/03/08/i-almost-sold-my-integrity-again-this-time-for-3-78/comment-page-1/#comment-944 Read this and think “JOHN 6″ « Mambrino Baptist News Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:14:57 +0000 http://cravesomethingmore.org/?p=1557#comment-944 [...] by pastorpaul on March 8, 2010 Here is a helpful post; especially the CS Lewis [...] [...] by pastorpaul on March 8, 2010 Here is a helpful post; especially the CS Lewis [...]

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