Leaders avoid Sticks and Stones

July 14th an article appeared in Reuters regarding the clash between Palestinian Muslim and Christians over a "Peeping Tom" who was discovered in a clothing store near Bethlehem. The result of this discovery sparked a night of rioting, quelled only by police intervention. Hmmmm, I believe this might serve us well at this point to consider the vast misinterpretations of love, dressed in the clothes of religion. To say that "peeping" is an acceptable procedure; definitely not. To take the instance and produce from it an entire night of rioting; not a positive solution, rather a case of spiritual appendicitis. Here is humanity, caught in the throes of the melodramas of the human soul. Mental bitterness"s precluding forgiveness and emotional reactions contributing to the loss of peace. Only the Mind of God can overcome the natural human instincts of mankind. Law results in only punishment without hope of mercy; the entrance of God"s Spirit brings life, both to the sinner and those sinned against.

Quote Luke7:36-50 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee"s house and took His place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that He was eating in the Pharisee"s house brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind Him at His feet, weeping and began to bathe His feet with her tears and to dry them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, He would have known who is touching him-that she is a sinner. Jesus spoke up and said to him, Quote: Simon, I have something to say to you. Teacher, he replied, speak. A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts from both of them. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt, replied the Pharisee. You have spoken rightly," replied Jesus.

In another account on leadership with Jesus, we see Him entering the temple early one morning. John 8 records:" all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. (Now we see hypocrisy entering stage left). Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. (Pride, here-adultery police, my comment) Now Moses in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned, but what do You say? This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them. He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more. The Jesus spoke to them again, saying I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Mankind is not low on or slow to the sin factor. Yet no one who wishes to improve himself in leadership potential can afford to dig a large hole of self-contempt at his own stumbling. Rather, a leadership potential looks for light in the darkness of his own hole. The hole was evidence of negative thinking. Can't we express negative numbers in math as one hole dug; negative one?

Mankind shifts the paradigm of negativism, legalism and hypocrisy by looking to God"s truth in every situation or circumstance. A light illuminates my book, so I may read more clearly. God"s truth illuminates the proper course of direction I am to take, regarding any situation. "A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention" Prov. 15:18. Leadership among any populace of any nation must first look to truth. Many books espouse truth only one book states that what it says:" is purified and true; a perfect shield to all who put their trust in it". Psalms. I would think any leader would require a perfect shield, for certainly he will be surrounded with many enemies!