Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

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Billy Graham Learns Work Ethic

Billy Graham tells this of his upbringing: ?I was taught that laziness was one of the worst evils, and that there was dignity and honor in labor. I could abandon myself enthusiastically to milking the cows, cleaning out the latrines, and shoveling manure, not because they were pleasant jobs, certainly, but because sweaty labor held its own satisfaction.? (Just As I Am, p. 19)

Zealous in Retirement

Former missionary ?Pop? Supplee, during his retirement, prayed for over 500 missionaries regularly and corresponded with over 1000 people regularly.

Benjamin Franklin Retires Early

Benjamin Franklin felt it was not only necessary to be diligent about his work, but also to acquire a reputation for diligence. Because of this, people believed in him and gave his printing business their work. From his autobiography: ?I dressed plainly; I was seen at no Places of idle Diversion; I never went out a-fishing or Shooting;?? A competitor in the printing business ?was very proud, dress?d like a Gentleman, liv?d expensively, took much Diversion and Pleasure abroad, ran in debt, and neglected his Business, upon which all Business left him?.? Because of his diligence and frugality, Franklin was able to retire early, devoting his time to civic and international affairs, and his inventions. (Autobiography, pp. 67, 73, 88) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Work and Contentedness

Benjamin Franklin, while working to build forts, observed, ??When Men are employ?d they are best contented. For on the Days they work?d they were good-natur?d and cheerful; and with the consciousness of having done a good Day?s work they spent the Evenings jollily; but on the idle Days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with their Pork, the Bread, etc., and in continual ill-humor?.? (Autobiography, p. 165) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Tiger's Work Ethic

Young golf phenomenon Tiger Woods is known for some of his often dramatic shots, but he claims that there?s no magic to his success. According to Woods, ?I don?t force things like that to happen. I just allow them to happen. When things like that happen, they?re the result of hours and hours of practice. You bust your butt hitting balls, practicing chipping and putting, working on your game. And lo and behold you hit that magical shot.? (USA Today, ?Woods Closes a Masterful Year,? by Jerry Potter, page 7C) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Bill Gates' Rules

Here's some advice Bill Gates recently dished out at a high school speech about 11 things they did not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teaching has created a full generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world. RULE 1 Life is not fair - get used to it. RULE 2 The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. RULE 3 You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both. RULE 4 If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure. RULE 5 Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping - they called it opportunity. RULE 6 If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. RULE 7 Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. RULE 8 Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. RULE 9 Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time. RULE 10 Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. RULE 11 Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Jefferson: Never be Idle

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. -- Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, May 5, 1787

Don't Do Nothing

Don?t do nothing just because you can?t do everything. -- Bob Pierce

Don't Wait for Your Ship

Don't wait for your ship to come in. Row out to meet it. --Stevenson

Lincoln on Hustling

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Abraham Lincoln

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