consistent?

I think integrity is something most people seem to lack, myself included.
People are so variable; our behaviour varies each day with our mood, a 'bad day' at work can make even the most ideologically loving and faithful husband snap, shout, or hurt his wife. Even the weather affects how we feel and so how we relate to people and react to events in our lives.

Once, when Jon Foreman was speaking about a similar subject to this he said that he would try to be the same person on and off stage, infront of the cameras and lights, and backstage alone with a person who slightly annoys you and you'd prefer not to have to talk to.

This is a good goal for all of us to aim at. The amount of times I've stumbled with this is overwhelming. Going to church on sunday, singing the songs at the top of my voice, praying genuinely and enthusiatically, and reading the bible intently, but then getting back to school with the 'lads' and the crude humour and the gossip and the poking fun at the odd ones out, and thinking "well, yeah all that stuff I believed on sunday was lovely and brilliant, but maybe I'll just tone it down a little monday-friday?". The irrational embarassment I felt was enormous. I would conceal my christian self inside my head, in order to fit with the status quo; minimise conflict. Somebody says: "Sam, why are you doing that, I thought you were a christian?" and only being able to reply "yeah, well..." before finding some excuse to go somewhere else.

Politicians are strange people. At least, the current five in our area are. None seem to have a strong set of moral guidelines they will stick to; none will hold firm to solid principles if the crowd drifts the other way. The top priority appears to be altering your opinions and beliefs to suit to group of people you are promoting yourself to.

Peter, when asked if he knew Jesus, although he had been a passionate follower of his, denied this three times. When the crowd had hailed Jesus as the Mighty King who was going to save them from their controlling Roman masters, Peter, along with the other disciples, was desperate to be seen standing next to Jesus, basking in glory. But then when popular opinion turned, he followed it.

In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus' message is this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.'

Neither cold nor hot. Sharp language.
We need to find who we are (God can help with this, ask him) and stick to it. Stand by our convictions and our principles. We need not be shaken by the troubles of daily life.

2 Timothy 1:7 'For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline'

Let's not be timid. Let's remember who we are, and the spirit of power we've been given.