Characters

If an actor can become a president, a president can be an actor. Bill Clinton

Character and Democracy

If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterward defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the Hand of God. George Washington, Comment at the Philadelphia Convention, May 14, 1787.

Tyranny of Good Intentions

Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. — Daniel Webster

Character and the Next Generation

It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn. –George Washington

Charisma v. Character in Leadership

According to John Maxwell in Leadership Wired (vol. 5, no. 19) character is more important than charisma in leadership for the following reasons:

1. Character sets you apart—There was a time when people who lacked integrity stood out from the crowd. Now the opposite is true--charisma can make people stand out for a moment, but character can set them apart for a lifetime.

2. Character creates trust—Leadership functions only on the basis of trust. If you pull out trust, then you will lose your leadership foundation.

3. Character promotes excellence—If you lead people, good character sets a standard for everyone who is following you. People will eventually become like their leader. If leaders compromise on their standards, cheat the company, or take shortcuts, so will their followers.

4. Character gives staying power—During the tough times that all leaders face, character has the ability to carry you through, which is something that charisma can never do. When you are weary and inclined to quit, the self-discipline of character keeps you going.

5. Character extends influence—Charisma, by its nature, doesn't last long or extend very far. It's like a flash of gunpowder. It produces a quick, blinding light, but then it's gone. The only thing left is smoke. Character, on the other hand, is more like a bonfire. Its effects are long-lasting. It produces warmth and light, and as it continues to burn it gets hotter, giving fuel that burns brighter.

Clarity

God is sovereign and shall remain so despite what the Supreme Court and federal district courts of this land say. – Roy Moore, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, following his removal from office

In the Beginning...

BOWENBLOG will hit several topics, but you can count on most of it to be about politics from a Christian perspective. I’m sure there will also be some Christian apologetics thrown in for good measure.