"To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful." -- Edward R. Murrow, journalist
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Inevitably, once you've clarified your values and beliefs, you'll notice something: my behavior doesn't always match my beliefs. For example, I might say I value family but if my schedule shows I'm hardly ever home, there is a gap between what I believe and how I behave. In order to live authentically, something must change -- either my beliefs or my behavior. If I'm unwilling to change my belief because I feel it is non-negotiable, then my behavior must change.
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How does a person live with authenticity? For starters, it begins with clarity in terms of what you believe. What are your values? Convictions? Non-negotiables? Authenticity means being true to the real you. Once you've clarified your beliefs and values, ask yourself this question: Does my behavior match my beliefs?
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Why do I love to preach? When describing how he approached preaching, Richard Baxter, the great reformer from 500 years ago, said, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.”
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We do not need to manufacture great things for God; God is more than capable. But here is the incredible part: God chooses to display his power within us. As we make ourselves available to God, it is “his power at work within us.” This explains why we find ourselves serving in ways we never thought possible. It is the reason why normal people do extraordinary things. Having spent fifteen years in California, I had the opportunity to watch people surf. A good surfer is not deemed good because of her ability to manufacture the waves. That’s impossible. It is her ability to ride the right wave that makes surfing enjoyable. The same is true in your faith walk. Too often, we think it is our job to generate spiritual activity. It’s not. It’s our job to discern where God is moving and then align ourselves with his power. When…
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