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The news
is filled with devastating reports, almost on a weekly basis,
of famous men who fall from grace — either morally,
ethically, or criminally. How do you avoid the pain of public
humiliation and judgment? What are easily identifiable signposts
that trapped “great” men? |
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 Let
him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
— 1 Corinthians 10:12 |
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What
do you think of when you hear the following names: Kobe Bryant
(NBA player), Jimmy Swaggart (television evangelist), Ted
Haggard (church leader), Gary Condit (congressman), Bill Clinton
and Monica Lewinsky?
What do you think of when you hear the occupation of “Catholic
priest”? My thoughts, and I’m sure the thoughts
of millions of others, are:
 How in the world
could these people let themselves do this?
Why did they
give up so much for so little?
They worked
hard for what they had — why did they give it up for
that?
What would make
them compromise their dreams?
In reality we are asking, “What was the cause of this
great man’s fall?”
Many who ask “why” fear that the same thing could
happen to them. They should be concerned... because it could.
All of us are vulnerable. We have feet of clay and successful
people have fallen since the beginning of mankind. Adam did.
Cain did. Abraham lied; his son Isaac did the same. At all
levels, among all genders, ages, cultures, occupations, and
positions, people have made decisions that cost them too much. |
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Some
ask “why” because they fear for their organization,
university, company, or church. When a leader falls, it is
expensive. It can take months, years, and possibly decades
to rebuild confidence and trust. Productivity and fruitfulness
are lost. Others ask “why” with a cynical “I
told you so.” They don’t trust leadership —
never have — and likely never will. They have been hurt,
set up, disappointed, and have watched or experienced this
kind of thing before.
There are reasons people make bad choices, and it doesn’t
happen overnight. There is an evolution — one thought,
decision, or move at a time. They decided to go to the wrong
place, ask the wrong question, look at illegal or immoral
materials, or have a conversation with someone they knew was
compromising. The behavior began somewhere. When their lives
are analyzed, there are hints, oversights, and road bumps.
The thought process had been going on, but the decision wasn’t
made until the opportunity presented itself. Some men who
have begun walking on the precipice of compromise call it
a perk of their position and believe that they have rights
that others do not have. Their thoughts may be, I’ve
earned this and I deserve it because of who I am. |
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Some
actually have the ability to do something morally wrong, and
then walk into another room and conduct business in a professional
way. For instance, a minister that I once talked with met
ladies in the bar of whatever hotel he was staying in (the
hotel that was near the church he was speaking in on Sunday).
He would lie about his career, get her to his room, and do
his thing. Then, somehow, he would isolate that behavior in
a “mental room” and go to sleep, wake up in the
morning, and preach about righteousness. That doesn’t
make sense to most of us, but some have become really good
at compartmentalization. Others expect their peers and subordinates
to keep quiet about what they see or hear. Executives, CEOs,
CFOs, politicians, pastors, priests, etc. can all begin to
rationalize. I believe that people with tremendous responsibility
and powerful influence within their company or community should
be well compensated, but how much is too much? What behavior
crosses the line? There is a line. How far is too far?
Regardless of how long it took before they were caught or
why they thought they could do it — the end result was
the same. Incredible loss — shock to those who admire
them — distrust in the organization — hundreds
leave the church. Many of us put the newspaper down and ask
ourselves, “Are their any leaders out there that we
can trust?” There are and you can be one of them. |
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Extract
taken from "Why Great Men Fall" by Wayde Goodall |
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Why
Great Men Fall
The
news is filled with devastating reports, almost on a weekly
basis, of famous men who fall from grace either morally, ethically,
or criminally. Wayde Goodall, a pastor and mentor, is fascinated
by this modern phenomena, and offers wise counsel for others
to avoid the pain of public humiliation and judgment. By focusing
on well-known examples, Goodall, through his compelling writing
style, points to easily identifiable signposts that trapped
great men. The profiles in Why Great Men Fall give pause to
others in similar environments: corporate execs, ministry
heads, even fathers and husbands struggling to maintain their
families. Goodall explains why biblical morality is the key
to avoiding ethical failure. His thousands of hours of counseling
also provide unique insights into the character flaws that
contribute to falls from grace.
  USA
UK
Canada |
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Why
Good People Mess Up: Keys to Upright Living in a Seductive
World
Why do
good people fall into immorality and hurt the people they
love most? Why does it seem that today's most visible, powerful,
leaders are so easily giving in to temptation despite the
loss of reputation, respect, and position that it inevitably
brings? Why Good People Mess Up explains the powerful unseen
forces that can drive people into adultery and other sexual
sins. It includes practical guidelines and understanding for
everyone involved — help and hope for those who want
to stand in the face of overwhelming compulsions, and knowledge
and forgiveness for those who have been hurt. The truth is,
nobody is immune to sexual temptation. Why Good People Mess
Up helps us understand why this is such an issue in our postmodern
world. With a focus on historical, theological, and cultural
causes combined with a solution-oriented look at the personal
causes of moral failure, this book is a highly effective tool
for maintaining purity in our immoral world.
USA
UK
Canada |
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Every
Man's Battle: Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey
Modern
men are in a tough position. They are surrounded by sensual
images available twenty-four hours a day on a variety of media:
print, television, videos, internet. It is impossible to avoid
such temptations, but thankfully, not impossible to rise above
them. The process starts when men realize two things. First,
they aren't alone. In fact, sixty-five percent of men indicated
they have a problem with pornography. Second, there is help.
Honest, real, life-changing help, written in a brother-to-brother
style. A practical, detailed plan to help men find freedom
from sexual temptation God's way. Includes a special section
for women, designed to help them understand, empathize, and
support the men they love. Perfect for men who have fallen
in the past, those who want to remain strong today, and all
who want to overcome temptation in the future.
USA
UK
Canada |
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Every
Man's Challenge: Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey
God tests
a man. Into the flow of everyday life He sends “pop
quizzes” — those unexpected trials that show us
what we’re made of; that reveal the true quality of
our faith and character; that show our willingness to obey
Him. It does take guts to stand firm in facing what life throws
our way. We need courage to acknowledge our own weaknesses
and to change. We need understanding in handling moral dilemmas
and family crises. Thankfully, God has given us the strength
we need. By His power we can “participate in the divine
nature” and triumph over our sins and the temptations
and corruption of the world. The forty “exams”
in this book, comprised of Scripture, stories, and reflective
questions, will give you the necessary tools to draw closer
to God and win life’s battles. Used in your devotional
times or for personal reflection or group study, you’ll
find strength to overcome sexual temptation, learn how to
love your wife better, and gain increasing confidence to live
as Christ did.
USA
UK
Canada |
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The
Game Plan: The Men's 30-Day Strategy for Attaining Sexual
Integrity
Men
everywhere are under attack — your neighbor, your
coworker, your pastor, even your husband. And, even in Christian
homes, 40% of men have fallen to this foe that can destroy
marriages and ruin lives. Who is this devastating adversary?
Pornography. It floods our airwaves and PCs, assaulting
the senses, and luring its prey to return again and again.
Drawing from seventeen years of counseling practice, and
using material that he's taught for more than ten years,
Joe Dallas is helping readers face this enemy. Equipping
those who have been caught up in pornography or other forms
of sexual sin with the ability to abandon that behavior
and never return. Using the acronym ROUTE — Repentance,
Order, Understanding, Training, and Endurance — Dallas
walks readers through the steps necessary to attain —
and maintain — sexual integrity.
USA
UK
Canada |
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Hedges:
Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It
Hedges
is a unique book because it doesn’t just tell men how
to solve their marital problems. Instead it empowers them
to build a defensive wall around their marriages, preventing
serious problems before they begin. There has never been a
more critical time than right now for a book such as this.
It will specifically tell you how to plant hedges against
temptations… temptations that can ruin a marriage and
bring devastation to a family in the blink of an eye. Just
for men, Jenkins has completely reworked his guide for safeguarding
your marriage. He offers practical, biblical advice on exercising
faithfulness, plus tips on building protective borders to
defend against lust and temptation. Many new topics are discussed,
including societal changes and the Internet. Features a new
study guide and a DVD of the author.
USA
UK
Canada |
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Respected
gospel star Kirk Franklin revealed his X-rated secret on The
Oprah Winfrey Show — he was once addicted to pornography.
Where can men turn if they want to escape the stranglehold
of porn that is ruining their lives, careers and relationships?
Breaking
Free From Pornography |
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From
the television to the Internet, print media to videos, men
are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It
is impossible to avoid such temptations... but, thankfully,
not impossible to rise above them.
Every
Man's Battle |
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The struggle
for purity is intense. A college student himself, Joe Knable
knows the great effort it takes for holiness. He shares insight
from other singles, both male and female, with a straightforward
style, and looks at God’s plan for sexuality and abstinence.
Read this extract from his book
Sex
and the Single Guy |
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With
the divorce rate steadily climbing and infidelity creeping
into even the happiest marriages, in a society that trivializes
adultery and its devastating effects, with temptation and
opportunity coming at you from all directions — how
can you keep your marriage from becoming a statistic?
Hedges:
Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It |
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