The Prince - A Book Review

The Prince

I recently finished reading Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. Some critics I've read criticize Machiavelli, saying he was a brute who believed that 'the end justifies the means'. I would rather bounce his thoughts and insights against my heart than criticize... (kind of a new idea for me... hey, I'm changing). A selfish end does not justify gruesome means... a righteous end may. We are each personally responsible to weigh our motives, think before we act, and act righteously. 

 

This book is as instruction manual for new princes who have taken responsibility for territories full of people who very well may hate them. Surrounded by new people and confusing situations, a prince turns the hearts, minds and will of the people to what is righteous (as he believes it) and preserves his integrity in the process. This, for me, is not unlike a new Christian or someone who has decided to turn over a new leaf.  I was very encouraged by this book. A prince can lead a kingdom and I can lead my life, family, friends and even business associates to a new perspective... no matter how long we have been messed up and angry.

Self-Protection Terrorism

Sometimes we want to blurt things out, out of a sense of self-protection or individual right.  The truth hurts, we rationalize.  That's right!  The truth does hurt.  It also hurts to practice self control for the better good of everyone concerned; to realize when it is more right to shut our mouths when our complaints are true, we're right, the opposing party is dead wrong, and we would be perfectly justified in saying so, loudly!

Folding My Boxer Shorts

I think I get a little arrogant or maybe presumptuous at the end of this one. Either way... I mean it.

Given the choice ahead of time, how many of us would spend any great portion of our lives folding our boxer shorts?

Neurosis is a disorder of the mind. Check it out for yourself on webster.com. What do you feel compelled to do on a daily basis? How do you spend your time?

I am examining how I spend the only hours that I will ever have. This is a very encouraging process, because I have discovered that I don't have to keep doing things the same way that I have always done them.

Folding our boxer shorts is a funny example of a lot the things that we do without knowing why or how it contributes to our destiny.

I used to feel like I could not do any of the things that I really wanted to do because I condemned myself for not having a perfectly appointed living space, drawers and all.

After I have fathered orphan children, built clinics, created films, painted canvases, written pamphlets and books, changed minds and generally contributed to the recovery of broken lives... THEN, with what little strength remains, I will organize books, shuffle papers and fold boxer shorts.

I am no longer condemned by my own sense of perfection in the little things.  Of course,  there's no excuse to be a slob... but every little thing needn't be just so.

Internship Testimony

I am proud to say that I graduated Valedictorian from the New Horizon Leadership Institute in Fife, Wa. 

I entered the program at 23 years old, with a lot of life experience already behind me. I had a great job, a really cool apartment, the whole deal, but I did not have a handle on myself. My relationship with God was on the way to back-burner, side project failure. I had to get on track, for the sake of my destiny, I needed direction.

Failure is an option in all of life. The Leadership Institute is a great place to fall. I've had the opportunity to face my strengths and my weaknesses here. Mentorship has guided me to find my identity. Mentorship expanded my ability to face the adversity that attacks me whenever I step out to act on my convictions.

I entered the program looking for a concrete step in the right direction and that is exactly what I found.

These are all the crazy interns. I'm in there, far left wearing the Flash tshirt... I've got hops!