America’s Founding Fathers Greatest Leaders Civilization Has Ever Known!

The American Revolution Produced the Greatest Leaders Civilization has ever known. It has been said, that events do not make the leader, but the leader emerges from the challenges of the event. At the time of the Revolution, America was blessed by the great leaders who emerged.

I hope you enjoy this extract on Leadership from: The Founding Fathers on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips

While it was clear that the American people were ready to fight for their freedom, it was equally clear that the British government seemed intent on taking over the reins of authority and power. In the process, America’s prosperous economy was in danger of being destroyed; its citizens, persecuted and taxed to death; and the people’s individual rights, persona; property, and colonial territories taken from them.

What were they to do?

The Americans were David against the Mighty Goliath of Great Britain- whose empire was the strongest economic power on earth with the largest and most powerful navy and army. The Americans had no army, no navy, no kings or queens to look to for leadership. And there were no precedents for a colony breading away from its parent country to form a new and independent nation. It simply had never before been done. How ere the Americans to overcome such overwhelming odds?

Clearly, the American people needed leadership. But new leaders would have to rise from within their own ranks-which is exactly what happened. As a matter of fact, history regards the crisis of the American Revolution as having produced some of the greatest captains of true leadership that civilization has ever known.

Why Myth Matters

By Dwight Longenecker

One of the most tiresome misconceptions of the cynic in the street is his idea of myth. He uses the word “myth” to mean “useless fairy tale.” A myth is a fantasy, a fable or a fanciful fiction.  At best it is a harmless children’s story. It might be a pretend story told for a religious purpose or at worst it is an intentional fabrication devised to hoodwink the gullible.

Yes, some ancient fanciful stories are called myths and have a religious dimension.  This fact makes the definition of myth even more complex and therefore more easily misunderstood. Because ancient Greeks and Romans told stories about Zeus and Jupiter, and because they were fantasy stories, and because Zeus and Jupiter were gods, the cynic in the street concludes that all stories from ancient times that feature the supernatural must also be fanciful old time stories that may be somewhat entertaining, but which are all make believe.

To the scientific man a myth is a curious but valueless cultural artifact from a superstitious age. The worthlessness of myth is rooted in the work of several academics from the turn of the twentieth century. The Englishman E.B. Tylor is considered the father of “cultural evolutionism.” He considered myth and primitive religion as failed attempts at science. Myths, in his opinion, were the theories that primitive people devised to explain the world. Now that we have science we know better, and we should discard myth. Religion, Tylor thought, was a holdover from those primitive mythological times, the root and fruit of a backward, superstitious mindset.

"I Can Think"

The Brain firing when we think!

Last evening, I spent time with a remarkable woman, whom I shall name Sylvia.

At one point in the conversation, Sylvia began to relate some of her life history.  She was born in a small Czechoslovakian village during World War II.  At the age of six, Sylvia and many children, were forced to watch the German army burn down their homes and shoot the all the men of her little village. After, fleeing to Germany, Sylvia worked to create a life for herself. She recounted to me, how she was blessed to receive a very good education from Catholic nuns. This education taught her to work hard and to always strive to better herself.

Years later, she arrived in New York City. One of the first things told to her, was that she had to find two jobs! Laziness was not tolerated and everyone had to do their share. Sylvia’s drive to better herself, guided her all her life and through many jobs. 

She recently retired. Days before her retirement, she was busy training the young girl who was to replace her. The girl asked Sylvia, how was she able to know exactly what to do when things were difficult. And the answer Sylvia gave is one of the most powerful statements I have heard in a long time.

Sylvia’s answer was brilliant in its truth and simplicity: “I can think.”

“I can think.” Isn’t this the whole purpose of educating our children? To teach them how to think? To have our children think logically and for themselves so that they will not succumb to today’s group think.

 This is why, such things as precise diagramming, Latin and Greek root words, critical thinking problems, Logic…, are of extreme importance. This is why a full Liberal Arts curriculum is so valuable. A Liberal Arts curriculum teaches children how to think critically and determine their own lives. A liberal arts education’s goal is to nurture the growth of human talent in order to prepare individuals for a fulfilling and meaningful life in a free society.

“I can think” should be the raison d’etre of every education system.

“I can think” should be the goal of every curriculum. 

“I can think” should be the graduation criteria.  

God’s gift to us is the ability to reason. Let’s not forget, in the midst of the busyness of teaching, that “I can think,” is the best gift we can give to our children.