Farmer Washington

The following is an excerpt from my new book 8 Attributes of Great Achievers, Volume 2

“I was but the humble agent of favoring Heaven. . . . My first wish is . . . to see the whole world in peace, and the inhabitants of it as one band of brothers, striving who should contribute most to the happiness of mankind.”

-George Washington

“Time after time [Washington] gave up the comfortable security of his personal life in order to serve his country. On three separate occasions he retired from public life, fully expecting to live out his days in the quiet of his plantation. And on three separate occasions he answered the call to return the service of his country sacrificing his own desires for the peace and safety of America.”1

After his eight years of service as the first president of the United States, he returned to his life as a farmer. His granddaughter Nelly Custis wrote of his return to the farm, “Grandpa is very well and much pleased with being once more Farmer Washington.”2 When a person came to the farm looking for General Washington, his grandson Parke Custis gave these directions, “You will meet, sir, with an old gentleman, riding alone, in plain drab clothes, a broad-brimmed white hat, a hickory switch in his hand, and carrying an umbrella with a long staff, which is attached to his saddlebow: that person, sir, is General Washington.”3

Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, wrote of Washington, “No man ever lived, more deservedly beloved and respected. . . . [He] maintained a modest diffidence of his own talents. . . . Possesst of power, possesst of an extensive influence, he never used it but for the benefit of his Country.”4

Long live the memory of George Washington, the great servant leader!

Learn more at www.CameronCTaylor.com

References

1. Jay A. Parry and Andrew M. Allison, The Real George Washington (National Center for Constitutional Studies, 1991), 605.

2. Stanislaus Vincent Henkels, An Extraordinary Collection of Washington's Letters, Washington Relics, Revolutionary Documents and the Rarest Works on American History (Times Printing House, 1891), 5.

3. Horatio Hastings Weld, Pictorial Life of George Washington (Philadelphia: Lindsay and Blakiston, 1846), 182.

4. Michael and Jana Novak, Washington’s God (New York: Basic Books, 2006), 4-5.

Doing Your Personal Best

The following is an excerpt from my new book 8 Attributes of Great Achievers, Volume 2.

Humble leaders focus on doing their personal best and are not worried about how they are doing in relation to others. The legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden provides a powerful example of this principle. He wrote, “I never talked about winning or beating an opponent. In fact, I rarely mentioned the opponent’s name. One player joked that just before games our manager would go to the lobby and buy a program in order to know who the team was playing that day. ‘Let them worry about us,’ was my philosophy. My job, and the team’s job, was to get us as close to being as good as we could get.”

“In 1962, UCLA reached the Final Four for the first time ever. We did it with a group of young men Sports Illustrated described as having ‘no height, no center, no muscle, no poise, no experience, no substitutes, and no chance.’” UCLA lost seven of their first eleven games that year, but everyone “kept working hard and improving. . . . Their effort produced dramatic results as the season progressed, and UCLA won 14 of the final 18 games, became Pac-8 champions, and went to the NCAA tournament. In the regionals at Provo, Utah, the Bruins outscored Utah State and then Oregon State to advance to the Final Four. . . . This was quite a surprise to most basketball fans around the country. Our 72-70 loss in the last seconds of the Final Four semifinals to the defending and eventual champion, Cincinnati, provided great evidence of how one can ‘lose’ and still win. . . . Cincinnati’s best was slightly better than ours. . . . The final score can never make you a loser when you’ve done your best. . . . What is success? For many it’s trophies or blue ribbons. . . . But I don’t measure it like that. The highest success is in your effort—giving it your personal best.”

One of John Wooden’s most influential teachers was his dad. His dad taught him early and often, “Johnny, don’t try to be better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can be.”

References

(John Wooden with Steve Jamison, My Personal Best (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004), 4, 114-115, 119, 120-123, 195)

Learn more at www.CameronCTaylor.com

George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!

“Our success on the track was only a very small part of our lives, but we hoped it had taught us a disciple that was transferable to other spheres.” – Roger Bannister

In 1952, Roger Bannister set the goal to be the first man to run a mile under four minutes and intensified his training. The record for the mile run remained at 4:01.4 seconds for nine years. “For years, the four-minute mile was considered not merely unreachable but, according to physiologists of the time, dangerous to the health of any athlete who attempted to reach it.” (Bruce Lowitt, “Bannister Stuns World with 4-Minute Mile” St. Petersburg Times, December 17, 1999) On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4, setting a new world record and breaking the proclaimed “impossible” barrier. In an interview, Bannister said, “There was a mystique, a belief that it couldn’t be done, but I think it was more of a psychological barrier than a physical barrier.” (David M. Ewalt and Lacey Rose, “The Greatest Individual Athletic Achievements,” Forbes, January 29, 2008)

                                                 

Once Roger Bannister removed this psychological barrier, the door was opened for others to achieve this feat. On June 21, 1954, just forty six days after Bannister had set this record, John Landy broke Bannister’s record in Turku, Finland, and today there are hundreds of people who have run a mile in under four minutes.

Many people have been conditioned with thoughts of what can’t be done. Studies have shown that within the first eighteen years of our lives, the average person is told “no” more than 148,000 times. (Shad Helmstetter, What to Say When You Talk to Your Self (New York: Pocket Books, 1986), 20) We are constantly being told by parents, friends, teachers, television, and co-workers what we cannot do.

To achieve the impossible, we must strive to find solutions instead of excuses. Instead of saying, “I can’t do it,” we should ask, “How can I do it?” Instead of saying “I can’t afford it,” or “It’s impossible,” begin asking the questions, “How can I afford it?” and “How is it possible?” This small change in our approach to life will produce great outcomes. Elbert Hubbard wrote, “The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.”

Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television, the baby incubator, the electron microscope, radar technology, gastroscope technology, astronomical telescope technology, and the fusion reaction tubes, had a simple motto for his laboratory, “The difficult we do right away; the impossible takes slightly longer.”

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13, NKJV

“All things are possible to him who believes.”

Mark 9:23, NKJV

Share the Gift of Books this Christmas

The price for a case of books is heavily discounted to only $4 per book with free shipping. You can order cases at the prices below at www.DoesYourBagHaveHoles.org

8 Attributes of Great Achievers - Case of 20 books for $80

Twelve Paradoxes of the Gospel - Case of 20 books for $80

Does Your Bag Have Holes? with audio CD – Case of 22 books for $99

Preserve Protect & Defend – Case of 46 books for $189

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.”  

-Garrison Keillor

George Washington and the Outhouse

Ethan Allen was a patriot and Revolutionary hero who often concluded his letters and writings with the phrase “most obedient and humble servant.” In the spring of 1775, Allen organized and executed a plan that resulted in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the British’s main base in the region. On September 24, 1775, during an attack on Montreal, Allen was captured by the British. As a prisoner of war, Allen was detained in several prison ships with extremely harsh living conditions. After two years and eight months of being inflicted with cruel and malicious punishments, he was released as the result of a prisoner exchange. After his release, Allen was granted “the rank of colonel by brevet in the army of the United States of America, in reward of his fortitude, firmness and zeal in the cause of his country, manifested during the course of his long and cruel captivity, as well as on former occasions.” (Journals of the American Congress from 1774-1788, Volume III (Washington, DC: Way and Gideon, 1823), 66.)

Following the end of the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Treaty of Paris, “Allen ‘had occasion to visit England,’ where he was subjected to considerable teasing banter. The British would make ‘fun of the Americans and General Washington in particular and one day they got a picture of General Washington’ and displayed it prominently in the outhouse so Mr. Allen could not miss it. When he made no mention of it, they finally asked him if he had seen the Washington picture. Mr. Allen said, ‘He thought that it was a very appropriate [place] for an Englishman to keep it [since] there is nothing that will make an Englishman [crap] so quick as the sight of General Washington.’” (Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2005), 151.)

New Book Preserve, Protect & Defend

My new book Preserve, Protect & Defend has been well received by readers. Here are a few of the comments I have received.

“This book is amazing . . . You'll read it in a day, as it’s hard to put down. Way to go, Mr. Taylor. I’m excited for whatever you’ve got coming out next!”

“Preserve, Protect & Defend is masterfully researched and expertly presented. . . Mr. Taylor skillfully weaves entertainment with education.”

“Thank you for writing this wonderful book. I could not put it down. I will share it with as many people as I can.”

“Preserve Protect & Defend is full of truth. You don’t often find a book that educates and  entertains at the same time. This one does. There was a nice mix of suspense and information. I downloaded it to my kindle first, and then bought a paperback to re-read and share with friends.”

If you have not yet ordered Preserve Protect & Defend you can get it at the links below:

http://www.doesyourbaghaveholes.org/

http://www.amazon.com/Preserve-Protect-Defend-Cameron-Taylor/dp/097968613X/

If you already have the book and would like to share it will others, you can order a case of 46 books for only $189 (only $4 per book) with free shipping at http://www.doesyourbaghaveholes.org/

We Are All Enlisted

The paperback version of my new book Preserve, Protect & Defend will be released Monday, October 1st. You can order the book on my website at www.DoesYourBagHaveHoles.org for only $8.95. From now until October 5th, for each copy of the book you order you will receive a free book. That’s two copies of a great book for only $8.95. I am confident that you will love this book, so your bonus book is for you to give away to someone you think will enjoy the book too.

The reviews from the readers of the e-book have been extremely positive. Many have commented, “I couldn’t put it down.” The following is one of the comments I received:

“Cameron has created a work that transcends all others. He beautifully merges history, truth, and an edge of your seat thriller into a book that you cannot put down. Preserve, Protect and Defend is one of the best written narratives.”

The following is one of my many favorite stories from the Revolutionary War. The account, dated December 31, 1776, was recorded by a sergeant in the army. “Our men . . . were without shoes or other comfortable clothing; and as traces of our march towards Princeton, the ground was literally marked with the blood of the soldier’s feet. . . On the last day of December 1776 the time for which I and most of my regiment had enlisted expired. [Washington called the regiment into formation and urged them to reenlist. The drums beat and Washington called for volunteers willing to stay to step forward.] Not a man turned out. The soldiers worn down with fatigue and privations, had their hearts fixed on home and the comforts of the domestic circle, and it was hard to forego the anticipated pleasures of the society of our dearest friends. [Washington turned and began to ride away, and then stopped.]

“The General wheeled his horse about, rode in front of the regiment and addressing us again said, ‘My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected, but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty, and to your country, which you can probably never do under any other circumstance. The present is emphatically the crisis, which is to decide our destiny.’ The drums beat a second time. The soldiers felt the force of the appeal. One said to another, ‘I will remain if you will.’ Others remarked ‘We cannot go home under such circumstances.’ A few stepped forth, and their example was immediately followed by nearly all.” (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 20 (Philadelphia, PA, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1896), 515-516) “God Almighty inclined their hearts to listen to the proposal and they engaged anew. Let it be remembered to their Eternal honor.” (Gerald M. Carbone, Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution (New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008), 58)

America is again faced with a crisis that will decide our destiny. You are needed to enlist in the cause for freedom. You have a unique opportunity to serve your country in the fight for freedom and to be a part of the glorious cause of America. Your work is needed to teach and inspire others to learn and live the principles of freedom.

First Chapter of New Book

I am excited to announce the release of my new book “Preserve, Protect, and Defend.” The book is currently available for the Kindle and the Nook. The paperback version of the book is scheduled to be released in September. After reading the e-book, please send me a testimonial I can put in the printed book. As a thank you for your testimonial, I will send you a signed copy of the paperback book when it is released.

Link to Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Preserve-Protect-Defend-ebook/dp/B008VEICO8/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344633818&sr=1-6

Link to Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/preserve-protect-defend-cameron-c-taylor/1112449594?ean=2940014858960

I love reading and writing about the founding of America and the Founding Fathers. There is a great spirit that resonates with the founders and history of The United States of America. I am grateful for their sacrifice, dedication, and integrity.

The revolutionary war was one of the longest wars in our history, lasting eight and a half years. One percent of the population sacrificed their lives in the glorious cause of America. “If we were to fight for our independence today and the war was equally costly, there would be more than three million of us killed.” (From speech “The Glorious Cause of Freedom” delivered by David McCullough on September 27, 2005) Abigail Adams wrote in a letter to her husband John in 1777, “Posterity who are to reap the blessings, will scarcely be able to conceive the hardships and sufferings of their ancestors.”(Cokie Roberts, Founding Mothers (New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2004), 97)

Writing this book has helped me to better understand those who fought and suffered to establish a new independent nation, and has renewed my appreciation for the principles the founders put into the U.S. constitution to establish and protect freedom. As the blessed recipients of this freedom, we must ensure that their sacrifices and principles are not forgotten and freedom is not lost. Enjoy the book.

Chapter 1: Commencement

“Any last minutes changes you would like to make to your speech, Mr. Vice President?”

Aaron Banner smiled at his assistant and answered, “No changes. Thank you.” He had spent half the night memorizing his speech. He had never been very comfortable with teleprompters, and reading a speech made it harder for him to really connect with his audience, so he did his best to deliver the speech from memory and from the heart.

Aaron asked for a few minutes to be alone. Moments of solitude were usually brief due to his full schedule and being constantly surrounded with staff. Once alone, he went over his presentation notes one final time, then knelt and prayed for the Lord to strengthen and guide his words. As he was completing his prayer, there was a knock at the door and the voice of his assistant saying, “Mr. Vice President, it’s time.”

Forty thousand people were gathered at Stanford Stadium for the 131st commencement ceremony. It was a nice sunny day with a beautiful clear blue sky. Sounds of chatter echoed through the stadium as the crowd waited for the ceremonies to begin.

Vice President Banner came through one of the stadium tunnels and walked toward the large stage that had been assembled on the football field for the occasion. The audience, seeing his entrance, rose to their feet and stood in silence. By the time Aaron reached his seat, most of the crowd was standing, watching him silently. As he took his seat, a member of the crowd pierced the silence and shouted, “We love you.” A large smile filled Vice President Banner’s face, as a chuckle rippled through the crowd; he then signaled with his hands for the audience to be seated.

Stanford’s eleventh president, John L. Henry, took the podium to begin the commencement saying, “On my way to the stadium today I walked passed a mother taking a picture of her graduating son with his father. I overheard the mother say, ‘Let’s try to make this look natural— put your arm around your dad’s shoulder.’ The father retorted, ‘If you want it to look natural, why not have him put his hand in my pocket?’”

President Henry paused to let the laughter take its course and then continued, “Your families are extremely proud of you today. You cannot imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing, knowing they will not have to write another check to Stanford University.” A roar of approval from the audience greeted this comment. President Henry waited for the cheering to subside and continued, “Since I know you did not come today to hear me speak, I will be brief in my introduction of our keynote speaker. We are honored today to hear from a public servant, advocate of freedom, philanthropist, man of faith, and fiftieth vice president of the United States, Aaron W. Banner!”

Thunderous applause filled the stadium as Vice President Banner rose to take the podium. As President Henry and Vice President Banner crossed paths they firmly shook one another’s hands. The noise of the crowd covered the sincere thanks Vice President Banner gave to Stanford’s president for his introduction. President Henry put his arm on Vice President Banner’s shoulder as they stood together momentarily, conscious of the snapping cameras capturing the moment.

President Henry took his seat as Vice President Banner stepped in front of the microphone. Aaron waved and smiled as he waited for the clapping and cheering to subside. After a few moments, a hush fell over the entire stadium, as the audience anticipated his first words.

He began, “It is an honor to be invited to speak to you today. Each of you in this audience—graduating students, parents, friends, siblings—each and every one of you has been given special gifts and talents from God which only you possess. There are specific ways in which each of you is to make the world a better place. To quote Victor Frankl, ‘Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.’ Preachers are here to minister to our souls; doctors to heal our diseases; teachers to open up our . . .”

His next words were lost as the sound of gunfire echoed viciously through the stadium. Shouts of fear and anxiety permeated the crowd as they frantically sought to find cover. Rapid shots seemed to be coming from every direction. The lead Secret Service agent was behind the vice president on the stage, and to his view, everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. As he sprinted toward the vice president, he saw the vice president’s body jolt to the left as a bullet hit him from the right and his body then jolted to the right as he was hit by another bullet from the left. Several more shots were fired in quick succession as the vice president’s body folded over and began falling to the floor.

The agent continued his lunge in an attempt to catch the falling vice president and cover him from further fire, but it had all occurred so quickly, and he was unable to reach him in time. He watched in horror as the vice president fell to the ground. Vice President Banner’s head was first to hit and absorbed the full brunt of the fall. His body soon followed, hitting the floor awkwardly.

The agent quickly secured himself as a human shield over the wounded vice president to protect him from further harm, but the sound of gunfire had ceased. Other agents gathered with their weapons drawn, encircling the vice president’s body as he lay unconscious on the platform. The rest were searching for the source of the shots and radioing university and city police for assistance in apprehending the assassins. There were times the vice president wore a bulletproof vest, but today was not one of them.

An ambulance, prepositioned at the stadium for the commencement ceremonies, was quickly brought onto the field as closely to the raised platform as possible. Aaron Banner’s limp body was quickly secured onto the stretcher and placed inside the ambulance. As they attended to him in the ambulance, he remained unconscious.

Stanford Hospital was less than two miles away and the ambulance sped through traffic with the siren blaring, hoping to get him medical attention in time to save his life. Calls to the hospital had been made, alerting them that the vice president had been shot and would be arriving shortly. The medical staff quickly made the necessary preparations to be ready for his arrival. The ambulance pulled under the covered awning in front of the emergency entrances at high speed, and even before the ambulance was at a full stop, the medical staff raced to open the doors and rushed the vice president into the emergency room.

The doctors were prepared to treat the numerous gunshot wounds that had been reported. But what the doctors found astounded them. The vice president had multiple bullet holes through his clothing, but there was not one scratch on his body.

The vice president lay unconscious on the operating room gurney, but his heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels were all reading at normal levels on the monitors. He was taken from the operating room for an MRI to see what head trauma he had suffered. As the doctors reviewed the images, no trauma to the head or brain was detected, but there was a large bump and bruise forming where his head had hit the ground.