Jack’s Winning Words  2 17/20
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”  (John Quincy Adams)  On this Presidents’ Day, JQA gives a good description of what a president should be…a leader.  In your opinion, which president has been the best leader?  For me, it was FDR…leading the country out of the Great Depression and to the conclusion (almost) of WW 2.  He wasn’t loved by all, but his 4-time election says much about his popularity.  ;-)  Jack

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Abraham Lincoln.  He had the most to overcome as any President.  He had to keep this United States united, which was probably his hardest job.===JACK:  He did have a difficult time during his presidency.  Yes, he was an outstanding leader.  On 2nd thought, maybe he WAS the best leader.

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  I think Abe and JFK, primarily because of the push for equality and civil rights.  I agree with FDR, though.===JACK:  ."No better words than...."Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."===RS:  Agreed.....perhaps adding .."or your fellow man" following "your country."===JACK:  Now, you're sounding preachy.

FROM WILLMAR REV:  A random thought for a random day-- "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1) . . . Being mindful of the One who is in control of the one in control and how temporal leaders are, I do try hard to appreciate and pray for the one's elected or I've found I am in charge of following . . . reminds me of being asked to select the "most appreciated" senior pastor I have have worked under (seven in fact) . . . they all have added to my pastoral journey, missing some and not so much others . . . curious at times which one God selected as His choice mentor for my best regards!?!?  0;-) ===JACK:  What do you think?  Was Bonhoeffer wrong in rebelling against Hitler?  Are you ready to requote Romans 13:1?  Just asking..===REV:  ..I’m sure it is worth re/quoting if being placed in the Scriptures as such, but I think I would be guilty of taking the Bonhoeffer route and grabbing the horns of the alter afterward asking forgiveness if necessary...you’ve heard of that before, haven’t you, asking forgiveness instead of permission? 0;-)===JACK:  I think that there's a difference between quoting scripture in a Bible study and being forced to live and react to the scripture in real time.===REV:  I would think situations like these fall in line with “Thou Shalt Not Kill” and the history of wars.===JACK:  There are situations means choosing the lesser sin.

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Unfortunately, Adams was not a great leader....yet, a wonderful thorn in the side to the slaveholder...some of us are better at that.===JACK:  JQA didn't say that he was a leader.  He was describing the qualities of a leader.  Do you agree with his description?===JOHN:  I think being a leader involves something more than that.   Think, for example, of Washington===JACK:  Of course, leadership is more than a description put on paper.  As for Washington, most of what I know about him is what historians have said.  They might have overstated...like cutting down the cherry tree...and not lying. Some have said that Trump is a great leader.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  Trump!===JACK:  Yes, I saw the fans cheering as he sped around the Daytona 500 racetrack yesterday in his limo.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  ANYONE but TRUMP! He's the worst!!! Being a voracious reader, I've read bios of most of our Pres. and I do admire the personal integrity that Harry Truman personified; He took most of his expenses out of his own pocket, never charged the gov't. a dime for living expenses, or personal correspondence: When they had company for dinner or guests in the White house, they paid for groceries, etc! Unheard of today. But of course Giants like Washington the first to serve, with no real guidance to go by (!), Lincoln in such turbulent times, FDR (and Eleanor!) in terrible economic times, and World War 2...so there are many  to laud (or criticize, as we are wont to do!).===JACK:  The current situation?  I think that you have to "live" it to believe.  I wonder what the (unbiased) historians will write?

FROM ST PAUL IN MESA:  amen to that, Jack!   to overcome polio and rise to the highest office in the land is truly remarkable and especially in a day when handicapped people were almost looked down upon. ===JACK:  He was not a perfect person.  In today's world, Eleanor might have been a better leader than he was...but it is what it was.  In his time he was the leader that was needed.