How to Use a President’s Four-Year Term to Accomplish Great Things in Your Life Instead of Whining and Complaining Daniel Whyte III
How to Use a President’s Four-Year Term to Accomplish Great Things in Your Life Instead of Whining and Complaining by Daniel Whyte III Cover Design by Atinad Designs. Š Copyright 2017 TORCH LEGACY PUBLICATIONS First Printing, 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner, except for brief quotations included in a review of the book. All Bible quotations in this volume are from the King James Version of the Bible. Printed in the U.S.A.
To those who accept the things they cannot change and do the things they can for the glory of God
How to Use a President’s Four-Year Term to Accomplish Great Things in Your Life Instead of Whining and Complaining “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3:13-14 "It's so easy to settle for less than God's best for us because we don't always feel like taking responsibility for our behavior or putting forth some effort to do what we need to do so we can accomplish great things for God and help people. But the cost of settling for less is actually harder than being completely obedient to God's will." —Joyce Meyer
The day after the shocking outcome of the 2016 presidential election, many of those whose candidate had lost had what I and many others considered to be an unfortunate response. Instead
of
being
gracious
in
defeat,
they
cried,
complained, marched, chanted angrily, and declared that the new president-elect would not be their president. Video collages popped up on YouTube of people weeping, screaming into the camera, and one woman claiming she would commit suicide. Some college campuses canceled classes in order to give students time to mourn. Some college campuses provided such things as “quiet
rooms,”
counselors,
play-doh,
and
coloring books to help students get through their pain. According to the Pew Research Center, 41% of voters described themselves as “sad” and/or “scared” after the election. “31%” said they were angry. Fully, “39%” of those who voted for Hillary
Clinton
said
they
could
not
see
themselves giving Donald Trump a chance. I think all of this hysteria over an election is sad. Elections happen cyclically in our country. Sometimes your candidate wins. Sometimes he or
she loses. But, there is a system in place as to how we elect our government officials. The system works and it has worked for the past 240-plus years. We should not be stunned by surprising election outcomes. We've been here before. What we don't do is make enemies of those on the “other side,� be they winners or losers. Instead, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, knowing that we all have to inhabit this country we call America. And we all ought to be striving together to make her great. America will only be great if her people are great. That is if we are good, moral, upstanding citizens, and if we are each individually striving to accomplish great things with our lives. If you want to help move America forward in this year, in the next two years, the next four years, and every election cycle beyond, there is something I want to share with you, and that is, how to use presidential terms to accomplish great things with your life for yourself, your family, and
others. One of the things we see in ancient times is how people dated events in their lives by the number of years the king had been in power. Notice these passages from the word of God, and take special note of the phrases in bold. “In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the
place
where
they
offered
sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid.” —Ezra 6:3 “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim
king
of
Judah
came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.” —Daniel 1:1
“In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.” —Daniel 8:1 “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” —Luke 3:1-2
Even though the people of yesteryear had much less of a say in who their rulers were, they
marked a shift in their lives when a new king rose to power, no matter who that king was—even if he was a tyrant. I believe that, instead of whining and complaining about the outcome of elections, we ought to use every president’s term as a time marker to accomplish things that God wants us to accomplish in our own lives. Below are some ways that you can get started doing that. Learn a Good Quality from the Outgoing President and the Incoming President that You Can Apply to Your Life “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” —Philippians 4:13 "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." —Vincent Van Gogh
The president and the president-elect, whoever they may be, did not get to where they are by being dummies. If you look at their lives, you will
certainly find some positive qualities that you can learn from even though we know that they will have their faults as we all do. (Now, as a minister of the gospel, I did not have peace about voting for Obama, Trump, or Clinton, but I didn't whine and complain; I simply refocused my attention to do the most good.) From President Obama, you can learn how to lead a positive family life. Whether you agree with the president's policies or not, you cannot deny that he, the first lady, and their daughters have represented all of America well as a family during their eight years in the White House. With all of the scrutiny and pressure of living in the biggest glass house in the world, they held up well as a family. From President Obama, you can also learn how to believe in the impossible. There were many people, even many black people, who believed that a black man becoming president was still a long way off. But, Obama rose up and made
millions believe with him that what was seemingly impossible could be brought to pass. You can adapt his first campaign slogan as a personal motto: “Yes I Can.” The Bible says that you can do “all things through Christ who gives you strength” (Philippians 4:13). And Jesus said, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Ironically, although Obama and Trump could be described as polar opposites, you can learn some of the same positive traits from Trump that you can learn from Obama. For example, from Donald Trump, you can learn the power of hard work and doing what it takes to be a winner in life. Despite what anyone says about his temperament or his personal life, Trump has been extremely successful as a real estate
mogul,
building,
renovating,
and
managing hotels, casinos, and golf courses around the world. The quality of doing the impossible is also integral to his story. When he launched his presidential campaign, no one
believed that he would get the Republican nomination, much less win the election—not the media, not the political pundits, not many of the American people. But he believed he could win and he did. You can take that winning spirit and apply it to your own life. Another great quality that you can apply to your own life is raising your children to be responsible, capable adults. Perhaps, one of the reasons why Trump won the presidency despite his flaws is because many people were impressed with his children who did not come from the kind of political
pedigree
and
grooming
that
the
offspring of career politicians have. Despite his three marriages and two divorces, Donald Trump did something right with his children. And before you judge Trump’s family, how are your teenagers and young adults doing? So,
instead
of
whining,
complaining,
and
worrying about the state of affairs in the world, try to learn from people who have accomplished
something great in their lives and emulate those positive traits in your own life. For example, learn from them how to raise your children into great young adults who can take care of themselves and be a help to others in society, learn to have a loving marriage and family, learn how to be a winner, how to beat the odds against you, and how to persevere and continue on towards your goal when everybody is against you. What Can You Do In 4 Years? “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” —2 Corinthians 5:7 "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." —Anatole France
Four years is a lot of time to think about at once— it's 1,461 days. It's also a lot of time in which to get things done. Below is a brief exploration of things you can set out to do in the next four years.
Get a College Degree Maybe you never graduated from college. Or maybe you need to go back to college in order to learn new skills that will improve your career outlook. Now is the time to do that. Under President Obama's eight-year administration, by the grace of God and with hard work, I graduated four times with four different degrees. In most cases today, getting a college degree does not mean leaving your current location. Many colleges offer
online courses that lead to
accredited degrees. Here is a link to the 100 best online colleges for 2017:
http://thebestschools.org/rankings/best-
online-colleges/. Start Your Own Business “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” —Proverbs 16:3
"I've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish." —Chuck Norris
If you really want to get ahead in life and be financially free, one of the best things you can do is start your own business. My family and I started several businesses beginning in 2007, and they have been our main source of income for ten years. With a pro-business president coming into office, there has never been a better time to start a business. Note: When I talk about starting a business, I am not just talking about a homebased business. No business today will be successful unless it is also an online business. With the internet, you have nearly limitless opportunities to be successful. Below are some key resources that can help you start your own business.
How to Start a Business Online – Entrepreneur https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/175242 The 5 Basics for Building an Online Business https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246596 The U.S. Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/ EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches, by Dave Ramsey https://www.amazon.com/EntreLeadershipPractical-Business-WisdomTrenches/dp/1451617852/ Start Your Own Business: The Only Startup Book You'll Ever Need, by The Staff of Entrepreneur Media https://www.amazon.com/Start-Your-OwnBusiness-Sixth/dp/1599185563/ Starting a Business: How to Start a Business This Weekend, by Tuan Luu https://www.amazon.com/Starting-BusinessWeekend-Complete-Successfulebook/dp/B01KK2DB8A/
Learn Another Language “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” —James 4:10 "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." —Muhammad Ali
Despite the so-called rise of nationalism, the world is, in fact, becoming more global. It is easier than ever to connect with people in other countries, and one day, you may have to for business or educational purposes. Learning another language will put you among the 25% of America's population that have this skill. An article on ExaminedExistence.com lists the following twelve benefits of learning another language: 1. Learning a foreign language boosts brain
power.
2. Learning a foreign language improves a
person's ability to multi-task. 3. Learning a foreign language can slow the
onset of dementia and Alzheimer's. 4. Learning a foreign language improves a
person's memory. 5. Learning a foreign language increases the
alertness of the mind and its ability to spot deception. 6. Learning a foreign language can improve a
person's decision-making ability. 7. Learning a foreign language improves a
person's mastery of their first language. 8. Learning
a
foreign
language
boosts
performance in other academic areas. 9. Learning
a foreign language makes a
person more open to learning about other cultures. 10. Learning a foreign language expands career
possibilities. 11. Learning a foreign language builds self-
confidence.
12. Learning a foreign language aids in self-
discovery and self-actualization. If you are considering learning a foreign language, here are the top nine languages you should consider learning in 2017 according to translation service K International: Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian, French, Japanese, and Hindi. Write a Book and Publish It “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5 "When you invest your time, you make a goal and a decision to do something that you want to accomplish. Whether it's make good grades in school, be a good athlete, be a good person, go down and do some community service and help somebody who's in need, whatever it is you choose to do, you have to invest your time in that." —Nick Saban
By the grace of God, I have written and published over fifty books. Many of them I wrote during Obama’s two terms as president. You can also make writing a family affair. More than likely, if you have the writing gift, your family does too. My wife and children help me with my writing and they write their own books and we collaborate with various family members on other books. By the grace of God, all together, we have written over 120 books. If you are one of those people who say, “I feel like I have a book inside of me,” or “I could write a book about that,” it's time to stop talking about it and be about it. Don’t just think about writing, write! Yes, writing is hard work. But, if you put your mind to it, you can do it. You can start out by simply writing a page a day. If you write a page a day for 365 days, guess how many pages you have? That is more than the length of a typical book.
To get started on your writing journey—fiction or nonfiction, here are some of the books you should read starting out. I have read all of these books, and they have helped me improve my writing greatly: ● The Elements of Style, by William Strunk
and E.B. White ● On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to
Writing Nonfiction, by William Zinsser ● This Year You Write Your Novel, by Walter
Mosley If you want to jump right in and not go through the long, strange process of waiting on a publisher to accept your book and then waiting for a year or two to publish your book, the books below will get you started on publishing your book and reaching the audience you’re trying to reach: ● For Love or Money: Crafting An Indie
Author Career, by S.K. Quinn
● Indie Author Survival Guide, by S.K. Quinn ● Self-Publishing Attack: The 3 Absolutely
Unbreakable Laws for Creating Steady Income Publishing Your own Books, by James Scott Bell Go On A Mission Trip to Another Country Or In Your Own Community “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11 "People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine." —Brian Tracy
The greatest things you do in life will be those that you do for others. And the best thing you can do in life is tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ while at the same time meeting their physical needs as best you can. There are many
ways you can do this. Please note the following. Go on a short-term mission trip. Below are five sites that can help you find a place to serve.
ShortTermMissions.com
ExperienceMission.org
Adventures.org
WorldServants.org
MissionFinder.org
Volunteer abroad or in your community. A simple search online for volunteer opportunities in your area will turn up an abundance of places that could use your help: homeless shelters, food banks, community clean-up groups, hospices, etc. One great site to go to is VolunteerMatch.org. If all else fails (or if you don't have the time or resources to go on a mission trip), focus on being a good neighbor, a good co-worker, and a good friend.
Learn to Understand the Stock Market “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” —Matthew 16:26 "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." —Earl Nightingale
Most people ignore the tiny numbers and letters that run across the bottom of the screen on network news channels. But, it's those little numbers and letters that run the world—at least the financial parts of it. With the world becoming increasingly
interconnected,
you
need
to
understand the stock market and how it affects your finances more than ever. Below are some great resources to help you understand the stock market.
● Investopedia University
http://www.investopedia.com/university/st ocks/ ● BetterExplained: “What You Should Know
About The Stock Market” https://betterexplained.com/articles/whatyou-should-know-about-the-stock-market/ ● Nasdaq: “How to Understand the Stock
Market” http://www.nasdaq.com/video/how-tounderstand-the-stock-market-517948389 ● The Ultimate Guide To Understanding The
Stock Market http://www.cityfalcon.com/blog/investment s/the-ultimate-guide-to-understanding-thestock-market/ Beyond understanding the stock market, begin to invest in it. You can do that online, and numerous companies offer services that enable you to do so.
Develop An Exercise or Health Regimen and Stick to It “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” —Luke 16:10-11 "Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!" —Anne Frank
I know, most people do not stick to the exercise regimen they commit to for a year but imagine how your health could improve if you stick to one for four years. Obviously, what works for one person will not work for all people. Every individual's unique health challenges require each of us to adapt to whatever health and exercise regimen we subscribe to for our needs. But, whatever system you choose, the key is to stick to it every day, or whatever plan you set out
to abide by at the outset. Below are some resources that will help you work out an exercise regimen and healthy food lifestyle that works for you. ● The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life,
by Rick Warren, Daniel Amen M.D, and Mark Hyman M.D. ● The Blood Sugar Solution, by Mark Hyman
M.D. ● Let Food Be Your Medicine: Dietary Changes
Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, by Don Colbert ● The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith, and the
Joy of Eating Well, by Ayesha Curry ● Food, Health, and Happiness: 115 On-Point
Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life, by Oprah Winfrey Obviously, there are many other things that you can set out to accomplish in your life. I hope that the few mentioned in this book will inspire you to
search out what God would have you to do and then to set out to do it. As our nation heads into a new era of presidential leadership, I hope that you see this time as an opportunity
for
positive
change
and
accomplishment in your life. In four years, no matter what the president does or does not do, I want you to be able to look back on your life and recognize success and accomplishment for the glory of God.
How You Can Help America Many people have the view that the only way America’s problems can be solved is through the government. These people place their hope and trust in the government for solutions to the difficulties that our country faces and that they themselves personally face. However, there is Someone else who we should look to for the solutions to all of our problems. His name is Jesus Christ. He is God’s Son who came to this earth two thousand years ago. He came to die on the cross for our sins, so that we would not have to suffer eternal punishment in Hell. Billy Graham once said, “I do not believe that any man can solve the problems of life without Jesus Christ.” No matter what problems you are facing, you can only find the solution for your problems in Jesus Christ. If you do not know Jesus Christ as
your Lord and Savior, please read the following to find out how you can accept Him as your Savior today: 1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7: 20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” 2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…” 3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” 4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” 5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jesus Christ, John 3:16). With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the
book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you are willing to trust Christ as your Saviour, please pray the following prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life. Amen. If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. For more information to help you grow in your new found faith in Christ, go to GospelLightSociety.com and read "What To Do After You Enter Through the Door".
Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can. —John Wesley