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Key Bible Verse: The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John Acts 4:13. Bonus Reading: Acts 4:7-22

My first teaching job also involved coaching. One day, I walked into the teachers' lounge and overheard three or four coaches and one teacher huddled around a table after lunch was over and the women had cleared out. They were talking in a crude way about some of the more attractive female students of our school. I could not believe what I was hearing. I thought, How can they sit here and make explicit sexual comments about 16-and-17-year-old girls they teach?

Finally, as calmly as I could, I said, "Hey, gentlemen, I know that I'm the brand-new teacher here and the youngest in the room. But what you are saying is absolutely unprofessional and uncalled for. Imagine being a father of one of these girls listening to how you are talking about them! I think this needs to stop and stop right now." It got very quiet. Before anything else could be said or done, the bell saved me and I left the room.

Later that day I went to each teacher and, trying my best not to come across as self-righteous, said, "I'm not down on you personally, but I think this was inappropriate. I have real convictions about this." [continued 2/20]

—Chip Ingram in Holy Ambition

My Response: Have I ever moved from privately held conviction to taking a stand publicly?

Thought to Apply: It is important that people know what you stand for. It is equally important that they know what you won't stand for.—source unknown

Adapted from Holy Ambition (Moody, 2002) by permission.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Give me the courage, Lord, to take a bold stand for truth and justice, even when it's risky.

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