Bruce Barton the Mna Nobody Knows
The dominant theme in Bruce Barton’s book is business. In my opinion I believe Barton wrote this book as a guide for future business leaders. In his opening paragraph he describes how “a big man takes a firmer hold” (6) when the day is late. Any person can be in tip top shape in the morning, but it takes a true leader to be on top of his game in the late afternoon. Barton again describes this type of leader from a saying that napoleon said “that he had met few men with courage of the “two-o’clock in the morning variety.” Many men can be brave in the warmth of the sun and amid the heartening plaudits of the crowd; but to be awakened suddenly out of sound sleep, and then to exhibit instant mastery-that is the type courage which is rare indeed.” (28). this leader Barton is describing was Jesus, amidst of all the things he had to do, he always kept his cool, he always said the right things at the right time. A great lesson that many leaders can take from Jesus, is when his disciples ask Jesus to “call down fire from heaven and consume” (7) the people of a village that denied to host them for the night. What would a modern (1920s) leader do when he is approached with such a request? Maybe respond with a smart remark against that request, or maybe denounce the fellow that brought forth the remark, or maybe do what Jesus did, just keep silent. This was one of those times when silence is the answer. Barton says that “there are times when nothing a man can say is nearly so powerful as saying nothing... Silence convicts them of their folly; they wish they had not spoken so quickly.” (7) Every person can take that statement to heart, sometimes no matter what you say, any word is the wrong word. A great illustration of this is when Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. In the times of Jesus, there was a hatred that existed between the Jews and the Samaritans. This situation seems to be impossible exclaims Barton, How could Jesus give his message to someone who is “forbidden by everything holy to listen?” Barton says that “there are times when any word is the wrong word; when only silence can prevail” (48) Jesus responded to the woman with a single sentence, and with this sentence he was able captivate her into listening to what he had to say. (48) Barton uses this example to show that being in a position of high status creates a great deal on what you have to say. Whatever comes out of your mouth you...
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