I'd been saving this old story for a rainy day, but since we talked about this very topic on Wednesday night in the adult class I thought it might be more helpful to trot it out now to really reinforce what we learned from the fine session Brian taught.

About 45-50 years ago, my uncle went into the small bank in Lisbon, Ohio to borrow some money. He was a young man, unmarried, and I am not sure he even had a full time job, but I *think* he needed the money to buy a car. My son would probably laugh to know that even back in the old days, before I was born (and thus before dirt was invented. since I am "old as dirt" to him) people went to school, got jobs, drove cars, lived full lives, and somehow got by without the internet, video games, and pizza delivery. Yes. it's a stretch but I think he can handle the concept.

In any case, you can probably guess what happened. My uncle had no real assets, and no real credit. He was just starting out in life. It just so happened that he was applying with a loan officer at the bank who was not all that old himself, and at least not a long term resident of the humble Village of Lisbon. He looked over the paperwork my uncle filled out, and using charts and guidelines determined he was a "high risk" borrower. So, he had to tell my uncle no. Gloomily my uncle thanked him for his time and walked out of the bank and headed home (yes, it's a small town, and you can walk from home to everything important like the bank, grocery, butcher, schools, etc).

If that was the end of my story I would never have heard about it years later, but something interesting happened. The loan officer tiled the paperwork, and the bank manager casually asked him about it. The officer told the manager how he had tried and tried to find a way to lend the money but was unable to because of the borrower's lack of any real credit. "That's too bad" the manager said. "What was his name?" "Crihfield", replied the officer.

Immediately the manager sent the loan officer out to find that young man and bring him back. Running out into the street, he chased down my uncle and, kind of stunned, he returned to find himself approved for the loan. When asked why the bank had changed its mind, the bank manager said "Aren't you Merel Crihfield's son? Merel has been an excellent customer for years both personal and with his business. He's an honest man. and any son of his is welcome here."

What "good" is a good name? Let's just say that a good name is not only good for you, but your children, your friends, and your family. My grandfather built scores and scores of homes in that town. He did hundreds if not thousands of service calls to fix boilers. wiring, you name it. He had a construction company that also did plumbing and heating service. In all the years he worked, I am unaware that anyone ever called him a liar or a cheat. He wasn't perfect. He probably had enemies, but he certainly had integrity!

The story has one last chapter to it. Later, my uncle went home and told his father what had happened. "Wow", my uncle said, "you sure do have a good name in this town." "I'm passing that name on to you", my grandfather replied. "Don't ruin it, live up to it!"

You call yourself a Christian? Where did you get that name? What does it do for you? Will you ruin it, or will you live up to it? Think about it!

Randy