I was reading my Bible today, my morning study comes out of the American Patriot’s Bible, a New King James version.

I was reading about Jethro’s advice to Moses (Exodus 18) and came across this.

“…able men, such as fear God…” (v21)

Character Matters – Noah Webster, known as the “Father of American Scholarship and Education” and author of the famous Webster’s Dictionary, stated:

In selecting me for office, let principle be your guide, Regard not the particular sect (party) of the candidate – look to his character…It is alleged by men of loose principles or defective views of the subject that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men “who rule in fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”

The structure of politics that Jethro gave Moses is still in effect today. Moses at the head, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, fifties and tens. For us Americans, that would be Federal, Regional, State, District, County/Parish and municipal.

Throughout my life I have heard, “any man that runs for office a 2nd time is a crook”, and “we only have the choice between the lesser of two evils”. To these things I do agree, somewhat.

While it is too late now, we have what we have on the November ballot, you should start making a difference now. You can influence politics in several positive ways. E-mail and write your current city, school, county, state and federal employees. Yes, I consider them my employees, not my rulers. Letters, emails and calls should be polite, rehearsed and to the point.

Next it is your turn to start attending a local council meeting. Shut up and listen for the first few meetings, learn how they do things. Then spend time researching the rules for that meeting. Yes, you will have to give up searching for Pokémon or Fantasy Football or what ever your vice is. Leadership takes sacrifice, in this case a lot of it is time.

I don’t care if you go to your city council meetings, county council, school district or the such. The important thing is you will be seen and not heard, you will be learning and gaining knowledge.

Now, when the next election for someone on that board comes up, in your voting area, you will know what they did or did not do. You can either take them aside and give them your thoughts and build a relationship or, if they act contrary to your beliefs (which I am presume are US and State Constitution supporting) you can run against them.

The reason I don’t want you to just run against them before attending meetings, is twice in the last couple of elections the people elected (City council and our School board) told the paper “now that I am elected, I will attend the meetings and see how this works” or something close to that. They ran for an office they did not know what did, and did not know of the things they would be leading, and they won! Don’t go into the lions den blind.

Before you run, have a platform as to why you are running. Be nice, not a person running on anger against their competition.

Once elected make the changes you promised (Integrity), or do all you can to make those changes, and blog about both successes and failures. If you are being blocked by other members, say so, once again politely.

You will learn the politics of politics both while attending meetings before running for office and more so once you run and again more so once you win office. Keep your head straight, don’t become a Billy Long, going from “fed up” to one of the good old boys.

From here, you must decide, do you need to be on the school board for 25 years? Should you serve two terms and then step back? Should you serve a couple of terms then step to a higher position? City council to School board, to State Representative to State Senator… you get the idea.

Until we meet again, keep your booger hooker off the bang switch until on target and ready to fire.