Reflections on Statesmanship
A series of essays
- The Statesman Is Not Limited by His Own Ability October 8, 2024The Statesman Is Not Limited by His Own Ability The complexities of administering nations in this interdependent world, where actions in other parts of the world limit our options, makes us wonder whether administering nations is outside the ability of the unaided human being. Then, the thought arises as to whether the Designer of government ever ...
- The Statesman Envisions Our Nations as They Are Intended to Be October 8, 2024The Statesman Envisions Our Nations as They Are Intended to Be Our Creator paints a wonderful picture of what to us mortals seems like an unattainable achievement. He vividly describes the future of His Kingdom on this earth when He, through Jesus, will reign on the earth. God briefly describes that kingdom: The God of heaven will ...
- A Statesman’s Insights for Becoming a Statesman October 8, 2024A Statesman’s Insights for Becoming a Statesman In the history of imperfect humans as leaders, one stands out: King David of ancient Israel, who governed for 40 years. Our Creator described him: I have found David My servant; I have anointed him …. I will also make him … greatest of the kings of the earth (Psalm ...
- The Statesman Living a Life with the Maximum Significance August 15, 2024The Statesman Living a Life with the Maximum Significance The Statesman, I am convinced, wishes to invest his or her life in the most significant way to improve quality of life for fellow humans. For decades, I have been privileged to walk alongside Statesmen. I have been greatly influenced by listening to their hearts. As I ...
- The Statesman Committed to Building Others Up August 15, 2024The Statesman Committed to Building Others Up A useful way to look at the life of the Statesman is through the perspective of relationships. There are several critical ones in the Statesman’s life. First, there are the people served. Whatever the Statesman’s position, there is a population affected by each one’s decisions. Since the ultimate goal is ...
- The Long Term Planning of the Statesman August 15, 2024The Long Term Planning of the Statesman We all recognize that a major part of the genius of the Statesman is the ability to see into the future and to effectively plan for it – to make decisions that impact much longer than the term in office. As expressed by Edmund Burke in the eighteenth century: The ...
- The Vacuum as It Relates to the Statesman May 6, 2024The Vacuum as It Relates to the Statesman The seventeenth century French philosopher Blaise Pascal described a vacuum in the heart of each human. I am convinced this vacuum has profound implications for the Statesman. Specifically, I would like to discuss with you the implications in the life of the Statesman of leaving this vacuum unfilled. ...
- The Statesman Understands the Authority of Office May 6, 2024The Statesman Understands the Authority of Office What makes Government special among the institutions our Creator established to ensure an orderly society, alongside Family and Religious Institution, is the authority Government has been given. In order to properly exercise the authority of office, it is necessary to understand the authority granted to Government and to the ...
- The Statesman Embraces the New Person Necessary to Govern May 6, 2024The Statesman Embraces the New Person Necessary to Govern King David, who ruled three millennia ago is often considered the greatest king. He becomes an interesting model for us because he manifested the same human weaknesses as we all share. And yet, he represents victory over our human weaknesses to do good for the people, which ...
- The Statesman’s View as Shared Beneficiary February 12, 2024The Statesman’s View as Shared Beneficiary A part of the human condition is a shortsightedness that we must compete with each other so that I can only benefit at someone else’s loss. But is it really to my advantage to benefit from someone else’s loss of advantage? Is it not possible that by employing our ...