If a judge does it...

I ran across an article recently, where a federal judge got into hot water when the details of his personal life came out via his divorce court proceedings. Apparently this judge had spent quite a bit of time and money in a ‘gentlemen’s club’ (why they call them ‘gentlemen’s club’ is beyond me – are there any gentlemen in there?? – anyway, I digress).

My point is not to rail against the ‘dens of iniquity’ (we’ll save that for a later lesson!), but rather how one of the news reports printed an excerpt from the US Federal Judges Code of Conduct. It reads:

"Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny. A judge must therefore accept restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly. The prohibition against behaving with impropriety or the appearance of impropriety applies to both the professional and personal conduct of a judge."

I couldn’t help but think, that if a secular judge is asked to accept a limit of personal freedoms, in light of the honor and responsibility that they carry with regard to the public, how much more should we, as ambassadors for Christ, willingly accept restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen, in order that our ministry of the gospel might not be hindered? Kinda makes you think…

Anyway – we have a lot of really exciting things that are starting up very soon – a new Women’s Study, an Evangelism training class, a worship and communion service WITH a meal available!

I also want to remind you that coming up THIS SUNDAY we will be having our monthly special offering for the Holy Grounds coffee shop upfit! I heard from our landlord this week that things are moving forward with the repairs they are going to be making to the building, and Lord willing we can pull our permits within the next few weeks. So the time is coming where we will begin purchasing materials and paying contractors! Pray for PROVISION! Pray for what the Lord might allow you to give.

pastor Clay