Post Category → Evan Offstein

Question & Thought and ANDs for August 5th, 2015!!!

Question & Thought and ANDs for August 5th, 2015!!!
Good Wednesday Morning!
1. Question – Do you believe one must govern a state before becoming a president? Or, do you believe one must run a successful business before one becomes president? Do you believe one has to be a senator or congressman before one becomes president? Does one have to be a leader to write a book on leadership? Does one have to be a pilot to write a book on flying?
2. Thought – Of all my life experiences, I think the writing of Stand Your Ground has been, by far, the most humbling. The reasons are far and many, but, one particular stands out in the forefront of my intellect. And it may be a common concern to many. The concern is best relayed through a series of questions. Think for a moment, as I did, upon the following – “Must one have been a professional player to become a professional coach?” or “Must one have had a prior entrepreneurial experience to teach classes on entrepreneurship?” Or, more broadly, what level of involvement does one have to possess before they can become a subject matter expert?
This question was particularly troubling for me. You see, in the writing of this book, I was slowly becoming a subject matter expert in the field of honorable leadership while simultaneously coming to grips with my own limitations as a leader. (Stand Your Ground by Evan H. Offstein)
“Over the course of time many Americans have forgotten that ‘we the people’ are actually at the top of the food chain as far as authority is concerned in this nation. The Republicans don’t run our nation. The Democrats don’t run our nation. We do. However, by dividing and engaging in political squabbles, we have allowed the government to grow so large and powerful that it has become the boss, progressively taking charge of all our lives.” (Ben Carson, MD)

AND:I’ve actually had a similar discussion with two different pastors.  In some ways, I yield to their expertise of general theology.  I consider myself at a disadvantage because I have never read our Bible completely, nor have I even opened up the Quran.  That being said, I have read excerpts of both.  I was disappointed at how both pastors supported Islam and the Quran and in so doing, discounted the Holy Bible and ‘some’ of its scripture.  In essence, justifying Islam’s bad behavior with comparison to Christianity’s bad behavior.  Flawed logic IMO.

The difference today: Radical Islam proclaims the just killing of infidels in the name of Allah.  Radical Christianity seeks to end the killing of innocent life in the mother’s womb. (America’s legalized abortion just may be history’s largest genocide.)  Arriving at these two very different perspectives on life illustrates the profound foundational differences between Islam and Christianity.

 

Great Jefferson quote….

AND:”…better that one person die than that a righteous nation should perish.”  (Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi)

And although “Thou shalt not kill” is still a commandment of our Judaea Christian God and high on the hierarchy of commandments, self-preservation is as well.

I can’t defend the Qur’an.  Haven’t read it.  But I believe in the Christian quote that “By their fruits ye shall know them”.  Judging by that standard and since the whole world is buying into secularism, socialism and accepting immoral conduct as the norm, we’re all in trouble.  Torturing, beheadings and bombings seems worse but not that much.

AND:Mark, I have experienced this throughout my life… Youth through adulthood.  The desire to fit into a group often overtakes the internal virtues against acting out certain mannerisms of the group.  In my adult years and more lately than ever, I’m finding myself standing my ground for morality and virtues.  It isn’t easy.  It isn’t like I was ever popular…but standing my ground makes me even less popular.  The sad part is the number of people who secretly support my stand, but continue to either act as the whole group or shy away to not draw any attention. The result of such behavior is I stand alone.  The perception is I am the only person going against the grain…I must be wrong.  I know I am not wrong, but when surrounded by cowards, the majority rules…I am wrong by default.  Do that enough times, and one gets permanently labeled.  Humans prefer the life of lemmings to that of the lion…all must run with the group…even if the group runs off the cliff.  Our current society is running towards the cliff with many already being pushed off by the very momentum of idiots who still are too nearsighted to see the danger looming ahead. Would be a great relief if the cowards will finally rise up in courage and support the ones who make the stand to stop the insanity.  The cowards will finally see they are truly not as small a number as they assumed.

AND:Ethics such a simple task made difficult by circumstances. Ethics, do the right thing every time.  Of late it is asked but what is the right thing, nothing is really right or wrong. How unhappy one must be not knowing right from wrong good from evil.  How much internal struggle must occur to ignore good and embrace evil, to know the truth but to not utter it due to what someone might say or to incur the wrath of the option of others. Is it not liberating to cast off the view of others and set a course of true ethical behavior. Today there are few that have a moral code at all, the circumstances and all.  The planned parenthood evil is largely ignored the white house even stated that the film was inaccurate.  What evil must lurk in the heart to make such a statement. What hell can that evil bring. Well folks if we do not stop it we will certainly witness it.

AND:It was HaShem’s second commandment…and a dietary one at that.  Isn’t it interesting that Christian teachers find dietary commandments so strange…but the second commandment of all time was a Dietary commandment?

Shavua Tov!

AND:I like all of those too. I think Trump loves this country & truly does want to make it great again. But, I’m not sure I trust him NOT to okay policies, real estate acquisitions, bills & anything else that would benefit his own interests AFTER he’s done being President. He will always be a business man, I think, looking out for #1-

himself. The fact that he’s using his own money to campaign is very appealing. But, Trump is not a Christian. I’m not sure how that will play out for Christians. I do LOVE how he’s not taking any crap from the mainstream media.

Cruz is a Christian. He seems to be Conservative. I need to learn more about him. G’night Mark

​Debate tomorrow night. I wonder????​

 

rem – know the why or lose the way! 
Question & Thought & ANDs.

Question & Thought for June 9th, 2015!!!

Question & Thought for June 9th, 2015!!!
Good Tuesday Morning!
1. Question – If you could pick one missing link in leadership what would that link be?
2. Thought – The crucial question of my entire research program at West Point and beyond is not “What do great leaders share in common?” Instead, the question that I attempt to answer is “What do the greatest leaders share in common that distinguishes them from everybody else?”
In the end, I found that the missing link between great, good, and horrible leadership at all levels and throughout all organizations was that of honor.
​By honor, I simply mean the attributes of leaders who shape their actions and decisions against a higher, usually noble principle. ​(Stand Your Ground by Evan H. Offstein)
“There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.” (Alfred Korzybski)

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rem – know the why behind the what! 
Question & Thought & ANDs.