I’m sure you can remember times in your life where someone has had a lasting impression on you. That person would be a person of principle and character. I picked up this quote from Dan Hawkins Leadership blog. Here is a paragraph from Dan’s article where he references a letter from Orrin Woodward. This paragraph lets you get a feel of why so many people across the country are pointing to Orrin as a man of principle. “One of my favorite theologians and statesmen of history is a man named Abraham Kuyper. Mr. Kuyper was a strong Dutch minister that taught that God was working out His sovereign plan through culture. He taught that Christians were called to redeem culture through their Godly example and business ethics. Mr. Kuyper did a series of talks at Princeton in 1898 known as the Stone Lectures which I strongly recommend to anyone concerned about the current state of our culture. Abraham Kyper said, “When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy with all the fire of your faith.” As Randy was presenting the slides, my mind kept drifting to how this vehicle is my main opportunity to influence culture and make a difference. I was led to Christ, as a direct result of my involvement in the business, through the ministry of Billy Zeoli and Bob Dickie. My world view was formed through reading the Christian classics and asking what was truly important in life.”
Men of principle are not yes men. They are not people who are looking for approval from the masses or will say anything just to get some extra votes. When you find those people they stand out. They stand out because courage and principles are rare in our current culture. Read the words of another man who stood on principles.President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Americanism means the virtue of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood – the virtue that made America great.” “The things that will destroy us are prosperity – at – any – price, peace – at – any – price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get- rich – quick theory of life.”
Can you see any of the signs that become evident when people lose their principle and character? Edward Gibbon recognized the loss of principles and character in his magnum opus ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’? He wrote about the five attributes that marked Rome at its end:
1. Mounting love of show and luxury (affluence)
2. Widening gap between rich and poor
3. Obsession with sex
4. Freakishness in art masquerading as originality
5. Increased desire to live off the state.
Inside the LIFE business you will find many leaders who have accomplished so much and yet they are not done. They understand that now is the time for the worker, business owner, coach, and minister to gather together and restore the lost are of leadership. They are people of character. Getting around people like the Policy Counsel and Orrin Woodward strengthens the ‘Resolve’ to take the 'Challenge’ to sharpen our ‘Mental Fitness’. This is the future of leadership. God Bless, George Guzzardo
