After working over 17 years on Capitol Hill, I was blessed to see not only firsthand Democracy work but watch elected officials “work the room.” It really is something to behold (especially as a people person). By my 32nd birthday, I watched and heard “live” FIVE United States Presidents speak. At age 10, I remember as if it were yesterday listening to President Ronald Reagan at the DC Covention Center in 1982.
From there I was fortunate to hear Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, George W Bush, respectively at various venues. I left Washington in July 2007, “by faith” to travel the Globe bringing the Word to the world. When I was a speechwriter to my hometown Member of Congress (now Majority Leader) people often asked me how I could write the speech? I would always laugh and say the only way I could do it was to pretend that I would be the one giving the remarks. Ironically, after awhile if he couldn’t be present to give the speech; he or the Chief of Staff would send me saying: “Frank, you wrote it – GO GIVE IT.” If you can SEE it you can ACHIEVE it!
Looking back, all of the former Presidents were unique and gifted in their own ways. Reagan was the master at rhetoric and Clinton captivated crowds with his charisma. Both Bushes’ were not the most eloquent but elegant in the fact that they said what they meant and meant what they said. That is high marks in my book.
However, I don’t know of anyone that worked a room or crowd like President Bill Clinton. I wish I was a tad older because President Ronald Reagan to me was certainly a statesman and it was like watching the American Flag wave in the wind. He was “patriotism” all the way and I am sure he was wonderful working the crowd as well.
Having volunteered and worked in both the Clinton and Bush WHITE HOUSE, respectively this blog will never serve as a partisan forum. I always wanted more than one particular political party at my funeral and the Apostle Paul was “all things to all men that some might be saved.” However, watching Bill Clinton shake hands and rondezvous with a rope line was almost like reading a romance novel. Some may suggest “poetry in motion.” He resembled Barry Sanders with a football, Michael Jordan with a basketball, DaVinci with a paint brush and Elvis with a microphone. Like Bruce Springsteen’s classic – Bill Clinton was “BORN TO RUN.”
As a former driver and speechwriter to the House Majority Leader of Congress, aide to the Governor of Maryland, floor staff of the United States Senate and worked a year with the United States Capitol Police; I had a front seat (literally) in watching politicans interact with people. The ropeline always fascinated me politically but from a policing or security stand point scared me. When an elected official would complete his or her remarks it was almost always expected for them to work the room, shake hands and touch folks (if not emotionally) than certainly physically. Political insiders and operatives gave this term that most know now as “PRESS THE FLESH.”
Hollywood actor, John Travolta studied hours of President Clinton in preparation for shooting the movie: “Primary Colors.” Once Travolta had his hair dyed grey and practiced what the President did on a daily basis working a crowd; Travolta really resembled the then Commander-in-Chief. Clinton was notorious for gazing deep into ones eyes, smile as bright as Broadway, hit them with that trademark southern drawl and then pretend no one else was in the room. From there he would take his left hand and touch the person’s right elbow and shake firmly with his right hand as his head tilted slightly to the left and the person in his presence (regardless of poltical party) oftened resembled a “deer in the headlights.” From there he would waltz on to the next voter (or victim).
In politics, it is imperative to learn the art of “working the room” and pressing the flesh. It works in politics but in ministry we need to learn the discipline of SUPRESSING the FLESH. The Apostle Paul also said: “I DIE Daily.” It is mandatory that we learn to die to the flesh to run and finish the race the Lord set before us. As Ambassadors of the Almighty, Liaisons of the Lord, Representatives of our Redeemer and Servants of our Savior we must die daily in order to live for Jesus.
I have always said that public service should be self-less and not selfish. Politicians do well when they Speak to Crowds, Serve the Constituents and Stay the Course. Getting out the vote is one thing but our values are everything. We find VICTORY in His virtue.
What we need more of in our daily lives is not contacts, credentials and charisma but compassion, character and Christ-like behavior both in private and public. Regardless of our vocation, it is important that we remember to take an inventory daily of WHERE we are at, whom we may be with during the day and remember WHY we do what we do. Perhaps most importantly we must remember WHO we represent. We must put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD and resist the temptations of the devil.
We must stay close and stay clean. Regardless, if you are a preacher, principal, plumber or part-time at WAL*MART we are in the ministry as kids of the King. One deterant for folks wanting to be used by God is to learn the discipline of FASTING. This is one thing that many believers fail to utilize and its commanded by Christ. I am going to be writing a post in near future on the FEASTING OF FASTING. Until we learn to die to the flesh we will never be able to “live by faith.” Our greatest enemy outside of Satan is self.
Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with shaking hands, loving on people and showing Christ-like compassion. But may we “press the flesh” less and SUPPRESS the flesh more. Die to self – live for the Savior because the greatest “high” in life is being used by the Lord.
Frank, I love how on almost every single subject you bring people back to Jesus. Honestly, you have a gift to take the secular and parlay with the sacred as well as anyone I know.
God has given you these amazing experiences in life and to be a witness of history to tell His story. You certainly do a great job of telling HIS story! Thanks for another great post and look forward to reading more from you in the future.
“…..watching Bill Clinton shakes hands and rondezvous with a rope line was almost like reading a romance novel.” – Wow, you have a way with words!!
Frank, you are the king of alliteration!!
Couldn’tve said it better myself, yay Frank! Very interesting, and wish I could write like u
Mr. Shelton, we are looking forward to you coming to speak in Philadelphia, PA next year at our YOUTH SUMMIT.
It is going to be off the hook and can’t wait to meet you as you bring the keynote to our Christian rally. Blessings
Frank, I am blessed by every time I receive your emails. You truly have a way with words that are profoundly accurate! I met Bill Clinton and I saw him working the crowd you are so right. He sure is a very charismatic speaker I think the best of the five you named.
Thank for the encouragement of living for Christ, the flesh is mess! I pray that you continue to keep thing real as do and yet maintain a spiritual perspective. You have conviction in your writing and I appreciate your gifts to edify the saints and win souls for Christ!
Just the other day, I was thanking God for soldiers such as yourself. When I was young in the Lord, Pastor David Wilkerson’s newsletters were instrumental in my growth. He wrote candidly and with conviction.
As the years went by, I moved and did not receive them in the mail any more, Frank your blog reminds me of that and I forward your emails and even faxed a few to some churches.
God is so good and it is truly an honor to be used by the Lord and what a mighty God we serve!
May God continue to bless you!
Hi Frank! It was a blessing to hear you last month at Grace International Church in Balitmore, Maryland.
I really enjoyed your sense humor and how down to earth you are. Also hearing that you don’t have health insurance and the challenges with raising financial support in your ministry actually inspired us! We are faith based and trying to launch out and do what God called us to do.
Love to work with you sometime in 2010. God bless you and yours. Keep rocking for Jesus!!
Your message yesterday at La Plata Baptist Church was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!
Frankie J – Beautiful!!
Love,
Aunt Janie
Frank, your message yesterday at church was OFF THE HOOK. Man, regardless if you are speaking to 50, 500 or 5,000 people you have a gift to make each person in the audience feel as if you are speaking directly to them!
Thanks for lunch as well. Your wife and children are beautiful. I look up to you and thanks for being a friend to me. Love you man and you know I am proud of you. God bless and Merry Christmas
Thank you for sharing these great words of wisdom, as you always do on “Frankly Speaking.” I read what you write and it blesses my life. May God grant you and your family a blessed Christmas!
Pastor Jimmy Painter
Cresthill Baptist
Frank, I think I heard you speak at an UPWARD sports program in Waldorf last
winter. Was that you? I think it was and just wanted you to know how much it
moved me.
I came across you on FB when looking at my friend John Peterson’s
page. I play drums with John from time to time at Grace Lutheran Church in La
Plata. I would like to know more about your ministry and if you preach locally. Perhaps we can have you come to my church. We would be honored to have you.
Thanks, Earl