Category Archives: James Madison

Founding Fathers and Humility

Posted on by October 18, 2015

Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_StatesThis is a quote that reminds me of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and others of our Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes:

“Something Very Beautiful happens to a people when their world has fallen apart: A Humility. A Nobility. A Higher Intelligence Emerges at just the point when our knees hit the Floor.” –Marianne Williamson

The world had fallen apart for these men, and they came to the rescue with humility, nobility, and a belief in the support of a Higher Intelligence. Their knees often hit the floor. read more

James Madison and The U. S. Constitution, Then and Now

Posted on by September 28, 2015

constitutionAfter 16 weeks of unrelenting work, the U. S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. It was truly a miracle! Those who attended the Convention worked hard, studied hard, listened hard to others, and even prayed hard. They knew what they were doing was important for the centuries.

James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, had remarkable success in bringing together the most influential and wise men in the colonies, including George Washington, who didn’t want to be there at first. read more

George Washington Says Listen Up!

Posted on by September 24, 2015

Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States“Listen twice as much as you talk and others will hear twice as much of what you say.” Nido R. Qubein. Nido should know. He’s the President of High Point University, and a professional speaker.

This quote reminds me so much of George Washington. George would listen carefully to his soldiers in the Revolutionary War—and you know how that turned out!

I think the best example of Washington’s listening skills took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. George was elected President of that convention, even though originally he didn’t intend to attend. He listened to his friend James Madison, and decided he must be there. read more

The Constitution, American History and Economics

Posted on by September 25, 2015

Just thought you’d like to know about how you can get a little more learnin’. You know, things about George Washington, James Madison, Patrick Henry, and important documents like the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and much more.

Hillsdale College has more than 830,000 students enrolled in its free online courses, covering topics such as the Constitution, the principles of free-market economics, American history, the Western Heritage, and more. These courses are transformative—they can and will have a profound effect on the future of our country, especially at such a time as this. read more

Hebrew Law and U. S. Law

Posted on by September 23, 2015

Illgegal Trial of Christ coverI’ve been re-reading a 2 volume work by Walter Chandler entitled “The Trial of Christ.” This book explains the Hebrew rules of court in great detail. It likewise explains the Roman laws, which were necessary because Judea was a nation conquered by Rome prior to the trial of Christ.

The amazing thing is it’s a wonder that anyone was ever found guilty of a crime punishable by death because the rules were so stringent about witnesses and judges (members of the Sanhedrin). But then as you read the accounts in the four Gospels of what transpired to bring Christ to the cross, you see vividly how many of the laws and rules of procedure were intentionally violated. read more

And To Think It All Started With 10 Commandments

Posted on by January 17, 2013

On the wall in my law office, next to my grand bookcase full of law books, I had a framed cartoon.  It wasn’t a very large cartoon, but it made a point. The cartoon drawing showed a man, presumably a lawyer, standing in front of an enormous bookcase, full of law books. The man’s image of a thought balloon held these words:  “And to think it all started with just 10 Commandments!”

On July 4, 1776, 56 representatives from the original 13 colonies in America chose to begin a new nation. They declared our independence from Great Britain with an inspired document. That was the beginning of the United States of America. read more

“I Cannot Live Without Books!”

Posted on by July 20, 2012

It is interesting and even fascinating to me how much respect and reverence our Founding Fathers had for books. Of course books were then very expensive and dear. And there was no modern technology to compete: no computers, iPads, internet, telephones, cars, refrigerators, radio or television. Still, they knew how important books were to their education, knowledge, getting ahead, and even sometime their very existence.

With apologies to Nancy Sinatra, the Founders of this nation knew “these books were made for reading, and that’s just what you’ll do. One of these days these books will make a scholar out of you!” read more

Christopher Columbus and James Madison Stood by Their Decisions

Posted on by October 13, 2011

October 12 is officially Columbus Day. I hope you enjoyed it, and maybe even thought a little bit about Christopher Columbus! Columbus was a gifted sailor, mapmaker, navigator, and astronomer. One of his foremost characteristics was being persistent. He was decided that he could find a way across the oceans to sail East by going West.

He devised a plan and prepared a presentation to obtain funding. He first presented this plan to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. It was rejected. With dogged determination he went to Portugal and laid out his plans to the King. It was rejected. He moved on to France and showed the possibilities to their Monarch. It was rejected. He traveled to England and made another attempt to convince someone to support his ideas. It was rejected. read more

Constitution Day

Posted on by September 24, 2015

I realize we don’t celebrate this day like we do the 4th of July, but nonetheless I am surprised at how little people seem to know about it.

On September 17, I asked 7 or 8 of my friends and acquaintences a few simple questions. (Notice they weren’t all ‘friends’ or you would have expected them to be as patriotic as I am.)

The people I asked were young or old, white or black, educated or not so educated, as a sampling of our population. One of those was even an ex-Congressman. read more

The Constitution: “What? A Half a Bar of Soap?”

Posted on by September 24, 2015

Constitution Day is coming up on September 17. The Constitution of the  United States was unanimously (at the request of Benjamin Franklin) adopted by the People of the United States, through their representatives to the Constitutional Convention on that date in 1787.

Fifty-five wise and noble men put their all into the creation of that immortal document. Among these wise men, two were indispensable, or absolutely essential to its adoption. Without George Washington, the Father of Our Country, and James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, our U. S. Constitution would never have been created. read more