(photo by John Plashal)

 

WE ARE IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS

of Joe Biden’s presidency. I’m told this is something he’s always wanted. Now that he is a President comes the hard part, doing the work of a president. God give our President wisdom and courage. He will need both in the days ahead. I wish him well as I have done my previous 14 presidents.

 

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” —Jesus (Matthew 20:26)

 

TODAY HE IS SEATED IN THE OVAL OFFICE

making decisions just like other presidents before him. It’s what presidents do. It’s what leaders do. It’s what parents do. Make decisions. Some good. Some not so much.

 

“The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground.” —Sir Winston Churchill

 

BEING THE PRESIDENT

of anything is a great honor. Being President of the United States is a great responsibility.

 

“He who has great power should use it lightly.” —Seneca

 

“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” —Jesus (Matthew 5:37)

 

I WONDER IF HE KNOWS HOW SOON WE FORGET?

Presidential greatness is sitting in a rural field in Virginia. There are 42 presidential heads decaying in Croaker, Virginia, near Colonial Williamsburg.

 

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” —Benjamin Franklin

 

THE BUSTS

were once part of a functional tourist attraction called Presidents Park that went bankrupt in 2010. Howard Hankins, a man who was involved in the creation of the park was also hired to destroy the presidential heads by putting them in a stone crusher (ouch!).

 

“If a king judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever.” —Solomon (Proverbs 29:14)

 

“The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision.” —Ken Blanchard

 

 

 

“A HISTORIAN

himself, Hankins didn’t have the heart to do that and, fortunately, had the means to spend a lot of money and come in and transport all forty-two statues,” says photographer, John Plashal. It was a huge task since each statue reportedly weighs between 17,000 and 22,000 pounds.

 

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” —Hebrews 13:7

 

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” —Max DePree

 

THE BUSTS

include George Washington all the way up to George W. Bush and have sat on Hankins’ land for seven years decaying. A smaller bust of Barack Obama is under lock and key since someone tried to steal it. There had not been time to create a larger one for Obama before the Park went bankrupt.

 

“The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.” —Tony Blair

 

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.” —Asaph (Psalm 78:72)

 

“A ruler should be slow to punish and swift to reward.” —Ovid

 

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” —Paul (Philippians 2:3)

 

BE YOU PASTOR OR PRESIDENT

the religious denomination or professional group, the business corporation or political party that called you to lead will demand you be reshaped to their expectations. It will take courage, integrity and humility to be true to the One who really put you there.

 

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” —Max Lucado

 

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” —Jesus (John 13:13-16)

 

WHEN YOU BELIEVE YOU DESERVE HONOR

get real.

 

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. —Paul (Romans 12:3)

 

THE ONLY HONOR TRULY WORTH HAVING

comes from Above.

 

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

    and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

    and crowned him with glory and honor.” —David (Psalm 8:4,5)

 

This is something our grandkids should know, don’t you think? Who will help the parents ‘show and tell’?

 

May Jesus keep us close.