Speak truth.

While watching an old episode of NCIS, I heard the lawyer, M. Allison Hart, say, "truth is overrated".

Ugh!

This morning, as I walked through Proverbs 12, it seemed to me every verse was speaking about truth or the lack thereof. Coincidence? I think not...

Lately, after every political debate for both parties, state of the union addresses, and just about every other public discourse, one can find a news article or Facebook post talking about "Fact Checking" the content of a person's speech. In fact there is a website dedicated to nothing else but checking facts in the public sector. Factcheck.org Hmmm, why?

The world has a disease. Speaking half-truths or blatantly lying has replaced solid research and integrity. Going through college and then post graduate studies, we were always warned to produce material gleaned from peer-reviewed articles, journals, and recognized sources. Those warnings also came with stern rebukes for anyone who decided to plagarize. Site sources!! Oh, and internet content was to be scrutinized even more closely.

Why then do so many public officials and "leaders" spout out statements that aren't factual? What is the endgame in their responses? Do they make honest mistakes? Have they internalized the half-truth in their soul so much that they believe it is absolutely true? Are they lazy? Or.....

Do they rely on an uninformed society to simply hear the information, drink it in, and nod our heads in agreement?

Here are a few scriptures from my reading today:

5."The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful."

17. "A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies."

19. "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. 20. There is deceit in the hearts

of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace."

22. "The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men (and women) who are truthful."

(Proverbs 12:5,17,19-20,22, NIV)

Be discerning. Read daily. Pray often. Seek godly guidance. Weigh another's words carefully and ask questions. Be truthful. When there is an urge to speak half truths, stop! It is better to say "I don't know" or remain silent than to speak something out of ignorance.

Seek godly wisdom and truth. It is the one source that needs no fact checking. It provides freedom for those who seek it and for those who live into it.

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my

disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NIV)

PS: Abraham Lincoln's I-phone was found downtown near the monument.