The High And The Mighty

INTRO.- ILL.- During the 1964 Presidential campaign an elderly woman was said to have told a reporter that she intended to vote against Senator Barry Goldwater because “he’s the guy who’s going to get rid of TV.”

“But, madam,” said the reporter, “I think you’re making a mistake. Senator Goldwater is talking about getting rid of Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA.” “Well,” persisted the woman, “I’m not taking any chances!”

Many people don’t care for politicians. And if that woman didn’t like Goldwater back in the 60’s I’m sure she’d find plenty to dislike about politicians today!

ILL.- Will Rogers had plenty to say about the high and mighty politicians of his day.

Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing, nobody listens and then everybody disagrees.

Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, they don’t hurt anybody. When they do something is when they become dangerous.

It looks to me like any man that wants to be President in times like these lacks something.

They’ve already started arguing over who will be the speaker at next year’s conventions. What they better worry about is who is going to listen.

Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.

Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.

There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.

I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation.

There should be a moratorium called on candidates’ speeches. From now on, they are just talking themselves out of votes.

The promising season ends on Election Day. That same night, the alibi season begins and lasts for the next four years.

Our government is the only people that just love to spend money without being compelled to, at all. But the government is the only people that don’t have to worry where it is coming from.

Last year we said: "Things can’t go on like this!" And they didn’t -- they got worse.

Lord, the money we do spend on government, and it’s not a bit better than the government that we got for one-third the money 20 years ago.

When it comes to a showdown, Washington must never forget who rules -- the people.

Brothers and sisters, there are definitely many people in politics who consider themselves to be high and mighty. They are also found in other places as well, such as Hollywood. And I’m not sure, however, that many people in Hollywood are any smarter or better than the politicians in Washington.

PROP.- Our text is about old King Herod, who, no doubt, considered himself to be high and mighty. Consider these thoughts about the high and mighty of all ages: 1- They throw their weight around 2- They portray themselves as great 3- They seek the praise of men 4- BUT...They are no match for God

I. THEY THROW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND

ILL.- A farmer got pulled over by state trooper Jon for speeding, and the trooper started to lecture the farmer about his speed, and in general began to throw his weight around to try to make the farmer uncomfortable. Finally, trooper Jon got around to writing out the ticket, and as he was doing that he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head. The farmer said, “Having some problems with circle flies there, are ya?”

Trooper Jon stopped writing the ticket and said, “Well yeah, if that’s what they are—I never heard of circle flies.”

So the farmer said, “Well, circle flies are common on farms. See, they’re called circle flies because they’re almost always found, circling around the back end of a horse.”

The trooper said, “Oh,” and went back to writing the ticket. Then after a minute he stopped and said, “Hey, wait a minute, are you trying to call me a horse’s rear?”

“Oh no, officer. I have too much respect for law enforcement and police officers to even think about calling you a horse’s rear.”

Trooper Jon said, “Well, that’s a good thing,” and went back to writing the ticket. After a long pause, the farmer said, “But it’s hard to fool them flies though.”

Brothers and sisters, some people do like to throw their weight around with others. They might be a lawyer or an officer of the law. It might be a politician, Hollywood actor, a rich person, etc.

ILL.- The Prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, is worth 12 billion dollars and is quoted as saying, "There is no one on the world stage who can compete with me."

He sounds like the kind of guy who would definitely throw his weight around. Often people of wealth think they know everything and have all the answers, so all people had better listen to them.