Sir Winston Churchill stands as one of the greatest leaders known to the 20thcentury. His character, his resolve, and his prose mark standards few achieve. Like Sr Winston I fully agree that a preposition is the incorrect word to end a sentence with. His resolute character during the air raids on London served to bolster the waning courage of the British during the nightly bombardment of their city. Walking through the waste of bombed buildings, cigar in hand and properly dressed, he stood as an image of determination and courage. Perhaps one of his greatest orations was the deserved dressing down of Prime Minster Chamberlain who sold out Czechoslovakia at the Berlin Treaty. He called Chamberlian’s appeasement for what it was, an act of cowardice for which England would pay a far greater price. It may interest some to note that Churchill lost more elections than he won. Knocked down and ridiculed throughout his political career, few would consider him a loser, but when the tally was made in terms of elections, he lost more than he won. There were moments in his life when he wanted to pitch politics and paint at his estate. We are thankful that his determination prevailed. In today’s reading, the Acts of the Apostles recounts how Paul was nearly stoned to death for preaching. No doubt, as he sat bleeding on the ground, he thought twice about continuing his work preaching the gospel of Christ. Returning to tent making in Tarsus no doubt flashed across his mind as a more viable option. Determination won out, and he continued to preach. Determination alone does not stand as a virtue, many of the villains of history may be recognized as determined individuals. But when determination joins with a good cause, the chances of success are usually stronger.