George H. W. Bush perhaps lost the election in 1992 but he continues to gain fans even today.  Maybe you read the article or saw on a broadcast of his latest act of kindness.  One of his Secret Service agents has a two year old son undergoing treatment for cancer.  The boy lost his hair which led his dad and some other agents to shave their heads in unity.  Seems that Bush 41 could not let them show solidarity alone.  He also had his head shaved in support of this child.  Even those with nothing good to say about Republicans have to salute the heart of such a man.  Many people do not realize that he and his wife lost a daughter many years ago to a similar form of this illness.  He says that such an act is only the right thing to do if you are a caring person.  No wonder a few now look back on this man and wish for his grace in public life.

Samuel was a man much like Bush 41.  We talked today about how Samuel would stand before people who rejected him with a humility we do not see much in these times.  His words would be a declaration of his integrity along with direction on how these people should live.  You do not become a person worth imitating by accident.  It takes a conscious choice on who you wish to be.  You do not make this decision when the moment of crisis arrives.  Such a life is one born of a concrete decision that you will be God's person no matter the situation.  Samuel opted early in his life that God would be his priority even if others rejected him.  He expresses such a value to it that even his critics recognize he did not go about injuring others in any way.  That cannot be said about far too many of us.

When your values of mind and heart are shaped by a relationship with God then you take serious ever obstacle to that view.  Samuel will warn his listeners about being complacent in their dealing with sin.  Our usual definition of sin is whatever the other person is doing that is bad.  Being ruthless in our own self examination is rare.  Sin may not always be the visible ugliness some project.  Subtle is the normal pattern of evil.  This is why the enemy is often described as a liar or deceiver.  He operates in our blind spots so we do not notice his handiwork.  To allow God to deal with our sin will be painful at the start.  Remember that the healing that follows that process will last eternally. 

Our world could use many more people like Bush 41 or Samuel.  This goes beyond being President or a great prophet.  To have the everyday person that no one may ever read about living such a life would transform our society.  To have families that radiate with God's presence would leave a legacy for a lifetime.  To become churches that major more on character than our conduct would bring about authentic renewal.  These two men make such a choice on how to live.  Why don't we?

Bro. Trey