William Wilberforce

Hey ,
so I finished up George Washington and then went straight into William Wilberforce 1759-1833, the father of the abolitionist movement he is sometimes referred due to him being the champion in the british parliament for helping to end the slave trade throughout the western world. A movie was made about him 'Amazing Grace' I haven't seen it but I hear good things.

Willam Wilberforce grew up with the social elite, he was from a wealthy family and was a christian from an early age but christianity did not play a major role in his life until later on when he began to see his role in parliament as more than just being a socially acceptable and good natured politician, but as a chance to change the course of history and end a trade which demeaned human life and went against God's word. He was a bright, intellectual person a brilliant politician and speaker. He had the gifts to make a great impact in a society that for the most part did not see God as playing a major role in their lives, that thought of being a devout and faithful christian was embarrassing and not acceptable as an intellectual. William Wilberforce found his way to God through friends like John Newton and Isaac Milner, the encounters with these two men and many others led wilberforce to make the greatest attack on the slave trade in that time. and ultimately with God's power ending it all over the world, or well making it illegal, I guess it has not ended, but still it was a great victory for human rights and changing the views of christianity in England.

It is interesting to see a man so oblivious to the reality of Christ like most of us, but yet God changed him so quickly and worked in his life so affectively. I think this is because he surrendered his life, he let go of his pride. He acted on what He knew and saw to be true. He was a great man because he did what God called him to do. He sacrificed for a cause greater than his own, and we remember him for that. We would not have remembered him if he had been just another politician. but because God used him to bring about great change and that wilberforce accepted, we are inspired by this great deed and sacrifice.

until next time

zm

Seven Men by Eric Metaxas

Hey John,

So I started reading the book '7 Men'. It is basically about seven of Eric's role models of what a man should exhibit in his life. I read through the introduction and part of the first chapter.

He explains why he rights this book, in part it is to share what he considers 7 of the greatest men that have lived, but also to address concerns that in this age many men have lost any sense of what being a man means. He breaks it down to the phrase 'Question Authority'. Due to such events as the Vietnam War and Watergate Scandal people for the first where really exposed to what a Presidents failings, and men in power mistakes and failings. which led to a rejection of their authority, and a resentment towards many other significant leaders through out history. We began to see the attack of long time role models and the actions that they partook in when they were in office or in charge. Exposing the truth that they messed up or that they were not so great because of whatever scandal they were apart of. He sites George Washington, Christopher Columbus, Abraham Lincoln as some of the historic men who have fallen to such scrutiny. Eric seems to think however that as a society we have gone from one extreme to another. That American public started out believing Authority without questioning, and now that many things are exposed we have gone to the polar opposite side, where noone is trustworthy and every action a leader takes should be reviewed. He states that we tend to focus on all the negative aspects of men and women and what they have done, these thoughts tend to lead us as men to not have a foundation of role models to emulate what a great man is composed of, well all except Jesus!! but there have been great men none have been perfect but many have shown the great qualities of integrity, self sacrifice, compassion, and heart. Jesus being the prime example of what a man should be and heart that he should have. All of the seven men that Eric discusses in his book at some point displayed these qualities in the face of what we would call worldly wisdom, The sacrificed their personal wealth advancement, life for a cause greater than their own. That is what made them great and inspiring to other men. Eric wants men to have a role model an inspiration to be the great men that God calls us to be.

He starts with George Washington, and accounts his childhood and early career as a many seeking advancement and personal gain, Washington had great ambition. He was a politician, a war hero, and a wealthy statesman all before the revolutionary war. While he did partake in some questionable actions, he maintained a character that spoke of high integrity and compassion to his soldiers, friends, family, and much of the U.S. His actions on the field of battle and off were testaments of what a man should be and what his heart should feel. Eric Metaxas references this speech as one in which Washington shows how much of a self sacrificing, compassionate, and strong man he is.

Gentlemen:

By an anonymous summons, an attempt has been made to convene you together; how inconsistent with the rules of propriety, how unmilitary, and how subversive of all order and discipline, let the good sense of the army decide...

Thus much, gentlemen, I have thought it incumbent on me to observe to you, to show upon what principles I opposed the irregular and hasty meeting which was proposed to have been held on Tuesday last - and not because I wanted a disposition to give you every opportunity consistent with your own honor, and the dignity of the army, to make known your grievances. If my conduct heretofore has not evinced to you that I have been a faithful friend to the army, my declaration of it at this time would be equally unavailing and improper. But as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common country. As I have never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty. As I have been the constant companion and witness of your distresses, and not among the last to feel and acknowledge your merits. As I have ever considered my own military reputation as inseparably connected with that of the army. As my heart has ever expanded with joy, when I have heard its praises, and my indignation has arisen, when the mouth of detraction has been opened against it, it can scarcely be supposed, at this late stage of the war, that I am indifferent to its interests.

But how are they to be promoted? The way is plain, says the anonymous addresser. If war continues, remove into the unsettled country, there establish yourselves, and leave an ungrateful country to defend itself. But who are they to defend? Our wives, our children, our farms, and other property which we leave behind us. Or, in this state of hostile separation, are we to take the two first (the latter cannot be removed) to perish in a wilderness, with hunger, cold, and nakedness? If peace takes place, never sheathe your swords, says he, until you have obtained full and ample justice; this dreadful alternative, of either deserting our country in the extremest hour of her distress or turning our arms against it (which is the apparent object, unless Congress can be compelled into instant compliance), has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts at the idea. My God! What can this writer have in view, by recommending such measures? Can he be a friend to the army? Can he be a friend to this country? Rather, is he not an insidious foe? Some emissary, perhaps, from New York, plotting the ruin of both, by sowing the seeds of discord and separation between the civil and military powers of the continent? And what a compliment does he pay to our understandings when he recommends measures in either alternative, impracticable in their nature?

I cannot, in justice to my own belief, and what I have great reason to conceive is the intention of Congress, conclude this address, without giving it as my decided opinion, that that honorable body entertain exalted sentiments of the services of the army; and, from a full conviction of its merits and sufferings, will do it complete justice. That their endeavors to discover and establish funds for this purpose have been unwearied, and will not cease till they have succeeded, I have not a doubt. But, like all other large bodies, where there is a variety of different interests to reconcile, their deliberations are slow. Why, then, should we distrust them? And, in consequence of that distrust, adopt measures which may cast a shade over that glory which has been so justly acquired; and tarnish the reputation of an army which is celebrated through all Europe, for its fortitude and patriotism? And for what is this done? To bring the object we seek nearer? No! most certainly, in my opinion, it will cast it at a greater distance.

For myself (and I take no merit in giving the assurance, being induced to it from principles of gratitude, veracity, and justice), a grateful sense of the confidence you have ever placed in me, a recollection of the cheerful assistance and prompt obedience I have experienced from you, under every vicissitude of fortune, and the sincere affection I feel for an army I have so long had the honor to command will oblige me to declare, in this public and solemn manner, that, in the attainment of complete justice for all your toils and dangers, and in the gratification of every wish, so far as may be done consistently with the great duty I owe my country and those powers we are bound to respect, you may freely command my services to the utmost of my abilities.

While I give you these assurances, and pledge myself in the most unequivocal manner to exert whatever ability I am possessed of in your favor, let me entreat you, gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures which, viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained; let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your country, and place a full confidence in the purity of the intentions of Congress; that, previous to your dissolution as an army, they will cause all your accounts to be fairly liquidated, as directed in their resolutions, which were published to you two days ago, and that they will adopt the most effectual measures in their power to render ample justice to you, for your faithful and meritorious services. And let me conjure you, in the name of our common country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, and as you regard the military and national character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation of the man who wishes, under any specious pretenses, to overturn the liberties of our country, and who wickedly attempts to open the floodgates of civil discord and deluge our rising empire in blood.

By thus determining and thus acting, you will pursue the plain and direct road to the attainment of your wishes. You will defeat the insidious designs of our enemies, who are compelled to resort from open force to secret artifice. You will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings. And you will, by the dignity of your conduct, afford occasion for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind, "Had this day been wanting, the world had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining."

General George Washington - March 15, 1783

so I think that this book is going in a good direction, I think Eric is right to an extent about how we view role models and great men now a days. I think we need role models and mentors that show us how to be great men, not in terms of fame and power. In terms of integrity, strength in heart, self sacrificing.


till next time John,

zm