Dear GodChaser

Have you ever wondered if you would pass the character test in life?  If you have, there is a simple question that can always help you know if your character is intact: What would I do if no one else would ever find out?

When you look at the header for this month’s letter, you see the boy scout.  Because when we think of character, we think of this organization whose oath includes the very basis of good character—trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Quite a list! In their oath it states they pledge to “do my best, do my duty to God and country, help other people at all times…” Such things of character.  Things they strive to live by whether on the stage or in the backyard when no one is watching. That is true character.

What you would do if no one would ever know, is the measure of true character.

Character is developed in the stress of life.  These stressful processes present some difficult decisions; but character is so critical that comfort must often be sacrificed to preserve character.  My dad has often said that God isn’t as interested in our comfort as He is in our character.  How true!

We all know people who have sacrificed their character for personal gain.  We often see it played out on our news stations.  Politicians, school teachers, policemen and even ministers.  People who became more consumed with their own personal needs, than they are with what was ethical or right.

I want the people who I influence to be motivated to recheck their personal character account.  To ask ourselves what we would be capable of doing if no one else ever found out.  I remember hearing an account of a movie several years back where a couple was faced with a dilemma.  The title of the movie was Indecent Proposal.  The story line was one of a wealthy man wanting to give the husband a million dollars for the opportunity to spend one night with his wife.  We as Christians may quickly say there is no way we would succumb to such a proposal—BUT:

• Have you ever kept the change you received when it was more than you were owed?
• Have you ever cheated on your tax statement?
• Have you ever fudged on a resume?
• Have you made promises to people you have not kept?

I don’t want to sound to “preachy” this month, but I am very stirred by the lack of character in our culture.  I see a generation coming on who don’t seem to understand that sometimes you just stick with something because you pledged to!

I know the erosion has been a slow process and some of the steps weren’t in of themselves bad things.  I remember when I was a boy my dad would only buy one brand of car and usually only one brand of gasoline—we got the tiger in our tanks!  His generation had a brand loyalty that we have lost. They also were a generation full of character. I fear we have not only let the brand loyalty go, but the character factor also.  No one seems to even care if a politician lies or a CEO has been caught embezzling. We have slipped so easily from the foundations of our nation where a handshake meant everything.

I am not proposing going back to that method, but I am recommending that we all run the character check on ourselves and make sure we are in alignment with what God wants us to be.  One sure way to know if you should do something or not is to ask yourself if you would do it if Jesus were there with you.

I want to be accountable to Him in every aspect of my life.  Whether it is the influence I may have been privileged to have, to my personal time with Him or in my finances or my relationships—I want them all to match the character of a Godly man.

How about this spring giving yourself a character check-up?  If we are going to be God-Chasers, we need to chase what matters!!  And character matters!

I am checking my character and chasing after Him!
Tommy Tenney

PS…. I have two very exciting news items to share with you all! 

Last month when all the Grammy celebrations were taking place, we at the Tenney house had quite a celebration of our own!!  My mom was reading the USA Today and ran across an article about Aretha Franklin being honored at MusicCare during the pre-Grammy events.  Mom was so surprised when she read that Aretha Franklin had sung One Night with the King  at this auspicious occasion!!  That is the theme song from our movie of the same title and my dear wife Jeannie wrote the song!!  What an honor to have the soulful voice of Aretha Franklin singing her song! Jeannie is so talented and I am so blessed to have her by my side.   She wrote this song 5 years ago when I was beginning to preach on Esther.  As I ministered one night, she took out her pen and wrote the entire song and sang it at the end of the service.  We would have never dreamed it would be the theme song to a movie and sung by “The Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin!  Thank you for allowing me to share this exciting news with you.We also recently received an email from a fellow “chaser” in Lebanon, who informed us that One Night with the King is now being played in theatres in that nation!  He asked us to all join in prayer that the “women in veil” will come to experience one moment in God’s presence and be changed as a result.  Pray with us!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER JEANNIE’S MUSIC VIDEO OF ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING.