The Founding Fathers, Unzipped

The Founding Fathers, Unzipped

The Constitution’s framers were flawed like today’s politicians, so it’s high time we stop embalming them in infallibility.

He may have written the Declaration of Independence, but were he around today Thomas Jefferson wouldn’t have a prayer of winning the Republican nomination, much less the presidency. It wouldn’t be his liaison with the teenage daughter of one of his slaves nor the love children she bore him that would be the stumbling block. Nor would it be Jefferson’s suspicious possession of an English translation of the Quran that might doom him to fail the Newt Gingrich loyalty test. No, it would be the Jesus problem that would do him in. For Thomas Jefferson denied that Jesus was the son of God. Worse, he refused to believe that Jesus ever made any claim that he was. While he was at it, Jefferson also rejected as self-evidently absurd the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, and the Resurrection.

T.D. Jakes Gives Leadership Principles

Image by Old Shoe Woman via FlickrT.D. Jakes Gives Leadership Principles

he motto "igniting the flame of servant leadership," and Jakes certainly did that. He told the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, showing that God Himself knew that the way up was down. He reminded us that if we exalt ourselves God has promised to humble us, but if we humble ourselves, God will exalt us.

But he did say that many white Americans cannot appreciate the significance of realizing that the American Dream is accessible to all Americans.

He pointed out that companies that do not change, such as the grocery story A&P, no longer exist. He told us to not surround ourselves with people who think just like we do, and that diversity is not just in the color of skin but also in how we think. Meeting new people, understanding new people and even experiencing their pain helps us to be more accessible.

"Businesses wither and become stale if they stay the same." But the message that he emphasized over and over again was that "the only way to become big is to get small enough to serve." A quote I jotted down in my notes is: "Real power is not at the top, but at the bottom."

Related articles

• T.D. Jakes on Eddie Long: Just Pray (theroot.com)
• The Mind of a Servant Leader (linked2leadership.com)
• The Only Way Up Is Down (setwatchman.com)
• Dallas-area schools will stop using Jakes' church for graduation (chron.com)
• Franklin Graham wrong to question Obama's Christianity (cnn.com)
• Leadership by JC (anamcgary.wordpress.com)

Biblos.com: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages

Biblos.com: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages

To Understand All Is To Forgive All

"To understand all is to forgive all."


To understand all is to forgive all.
"This was a powerful insight for me. I saw that the only reason I still harboured anger and hatred was because of my incomplete understanding. I saw that even if I did not have the power to understand all yet, still forgiveness would be correct. I should not deprive myself of peace of mind and the liberation of forgiveness because of my incomplete understanding."