October 8, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, October 8.
The power of an idea.
In the fall of 1960 John F. Kennedy was running for president. Election Day was about a month away when he gave a speech at the University of Michigan. In that speech Kennedy shared the idea of a national program to enlist young Americans to give two years of their lives, following their college graduation, to go to poor countries as ambassadors of goodwill. He called this program the Peace Corps.
Kennedy won that election, of course, and in one of history’s most famous inaugural addresses he encouraged us to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. After a month in office he gave an executive order to create the Peace Corps and Congress quickly ratified that order. In the 65 years since, over a quarter million young people have served in 142 countries, aiding in the areas of education, agriculture, technology - making a difference, spreading goodwill. The power of an idea.
Human nature leads us to selfishness. Our sin nature leads us to put our needs and wants ahead of the needs and wants of others. We are tempted by power and privilege. In the tenth chapter of the gospel of Mark we see James and John coming to Jesus and asking that they be seated on his right and left in heaven. On hearing this, the other disciples became upset, not because of this selfish request, but because they might be left out of this special blessing. Jesus replied, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all”.
The power of an idea.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
