The Most Known Billy Graham Rule, 1/3rd of Dementia Cases are Preventable?, Are you the richest person in America?
Business
The Most Known Billy Graham Rule
If you speak with anyone that thinks they know what the Billy Graham rule is, they are most likely referring to the rule about avoiding even the appearance of sexual immorality. We discussed in a previous post how Vice President Mike Pence follows the rule by never eating alone with a woman other than his wife.
Billy Graham needed his rules for the preservation of his ministry. He had seen how other ministries had fallen and was determined not to let the same happen to his. Graham even had someone from his staff enter his hotel rooms before he would. They were concerned that someone might plant a photographer and a naked woman in the room to sully his image. To this day, Graham is a staunch follower of his rules. Though he is 98 years old and requires care givers, he is always certain to never have just one caregiver in his room. There are always two. That is dedication!
Some friends had recommended a series by Andy Stanley called “Guardrails” as a more recent interpretation of the Billy Graham rules. I listened to the one on sexual purity and it was fantastic. Here is what I learned.
- Guardrails have to be in a safe zone or they do not work. Their job is to keep you from the danger zone.
- Because guardrails are in a safe zone, most people feel they are “too confining” and will not follow them.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 tells us to flee from sexual immorality. Not to be careful or not get too close, but to flee!
- You can almost fully recover from most other disasters, but not sexual immorality.
- Imagine the difference in the world if more people fled from sexual immorality. Less people in prison, less poverty, fewer broken homes. There is nothing that would not improve if we could improve our families by fleeing from sexual immorality!
- But, most people will not follow Stanley or Graham’s advice because it is too confining. It is too counter-cultural.
- Our culture baits us to the edge of sexual immorality and then chastises us when we step over the guard rail. Culture is like the bully who was always trying to convince you to do something stupid and then acts like he wasn’t there when you get caught!
- We would want our loved ones to flee. Why don’t we do it ourselves?
- Now is your chance to never look back on a mistake with regret.
Stanley created his rules based on the myriad of disasters he has witnessed during his many years in the ministry. He breaks them into rules for marrieds and singles.
Guardrails for the Married
- Do not travel alone with members of the opposite sex. At Andy’s church, if a man and a woman both need to leave one campus and travel to another campus they will take separate cars.
- Do not eat alone with members of the opposite sex. Almost every affair that Andy has ever been aware of started with a meal. If you find yourself stuck in a situation where you cannot avoid it (the husband got sick or called into work) then call your spouse to see if he or she is OK with it.
- Do not hire cute members of the opposite sex because you want to help them. Do not deceive yourself. Get them help, but do not hire them.
- Do not confide in or counsel members of the opposite sex. They need help. They do not need you. Get them help. Andy has seen many pastors and counselors lose their marriages in affairs that started as counseling.
- When you feel your heart or desire drifting towards someone other than your spouse, you must tell someone. This is weird and uncomfortable. That is because we are not used to living in accountable relationships with fellow believers. Get over the weirdness and save your marriage by confiding in someone who can hold you accountable and give you good advice.
- Yours spouse needs to know your guardrails so they can call you on it. They must be comfortable with your guardrails.
In our next post, we’ll dive into Andy’s advice for singles and see if we can find some other examples of leaders following his advice.
Health
One-Third of Dementia Cases Could be Prevented?
At least 35% of seniors who lose their independence and their pasts could retain their dignity and memories until they died of something else if we could eradicate nine modifiable health and lifestyle factors. This is according to the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care as reported in the Los Angeles Times.
In 2015, approximately 47 million people are living with dementia at an estimated cost of $818 billion. The number of dementia sufferers is expected to triple by 2050. Anything we can do to reduce this impact will improve lives and save billions in care costs.
Below are the modifiable factors identified in the study. Note that the ApoE-e4 gene variant is not currently modifiable and responsible for 7% of a person’s risk of dementia. Compare that percentage to the risk from the preventable factors below.
- Educational Attainment – Failure to complete more than eight years of school. Responsible for 8% of a person’s risk.
- Hearing Loss – Addressing this risk in midlife can reduce your risk by 9%.
- Hypertension – Address this in midlife and reduce your risk by 2%.
- Obesity – Control this and reduce your risk by 1%.
- Smoking – Accounts for 5% of your risk.
- Depression – 4% of risk.
- Physical Inactivity – 3% of risk.
- Social Isolation – 2% of risk.
- Diabetes – 1% of risk.
Notice that many of these risk factors travel together. Smokers tend to get less physical activity and have higher risks of other health conditions. Hearing loss can lead to social withdrawal that can lead to depression.
Knowing these risk factors allows us to take action as individuals and as nations to attack this problem. Let’s get moving!
Life, Fun, Whatever!
Ted Jones was the son of the founder of Edward Jones Investments and was managing partner of the firm from 1968 to 1980. I saw this quote hanging in the office of a friend of mine who is an Edward Jones adviser and loved it. I wanted to share it with you.
Though Ted was far from the richest man in America, people asked him why he did not take the company public to increase his wealth. This was his reply.
When we count the things we have that money cannot buy, aren’t we all rich?
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