About Rod D. Martin
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Politics & Economics
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Faith & Cultureby Rod D. Martin
May 7, 2006
Dear Friends,
As you may have already heard, Sherri was diagnosed with breast cancer last week.
We do not yet know the fullness of the prognosis. We do know that the situation is sufficiently severe that she must begin chemotherapy immediately, preparatory to surgery, and begin radiation treatments thereafter as well. She’s going to be a very sick girl for a while. And she needs a lot of prayer.
I want you to know that her morale is very good, and she is, as she has always been, perfectly certain in the Lord’s faithfulness, perfectly content in His grace. It would be very easy for anyone to be shaken by this; in fact, it would be rather extraordinary for anyone not to be. But it is not merely husbandly affection which causes me to say that she is the most extraordinary woman I have ever known. No matter what life has thrown at her — and both the blessings and the adversities have frequently been like unto Job’s — she has pressed deeper into Christ, trusting without hesitation or fail that He would perfectly work His perfect plan in her trials and in her, all with a quiet assurance, the sweetest of spirits, and a beatific smile. And for His part, He has blessed her in all things, even the worst, without exception, just as she has trusted, whether this was obvious at the time or not. This will surely be no different.
Sherri would say with Paul that to her “to live is Christ, and to die is gain;” but from her and our limited perspectives, there is much yet to be done in this life, and we certainly could not contemplate a life without her. We will of course do everything in our power to make sure she has the best medical care available. Yet our fate is not in the hands of mere men, but of the Father alone; and while we would not presume to impose our will on His plan, we nevertheless ask that He would cure her — as quickly and painlessly as possible — and we ask you to mobilize all the resources at your disposal to pray for that as well.
It is not only for Sherri — her cure, her comfort, her morale, and all her other needs — that I ask you to pray. Those of us closest to her, particularly the children and I, need to be strong for her, and for each other. We need the sort of near-perfect faith she demonstrates to us every day, and we need to fill the many, many gaps which she would normally fill. We can do none of these things as well as she — and I least of all — yet we cannot afford the luxury of failure.
We are very grateful for the friendship of so very many of you; and our hope is in Him Who heals both the body and the spirit.
The covenant holds,
Rod, for Sherri, Dolly, Archer and Haley
Rod is one of our nation’s leading minds. He’s smart, original, and very committed—a combination that one rarely finds.
Rod Martin is a Reaganite-Thatcherite conservative…[and] a man who has spent much of his life ministering to and working for the benefit of others. I know Rod as an advocate for freedom, a leader who understands the real changes we need in Washington, and who has the drive and ability to make those changes happen.
Rod Martin is the kind of dynamic leader who has the knowledge, ability and experience to lead us successfully into the 21st Century. His vision for America is compelling.
Rod Martin literally wrote the book on excellence. Humble yet brilliant, a man of love and compassion, with penetrating clarity he illuminates the world around us, and we are both stirred and enlightened.
Rod Martin is a born leader and an outstanding political mind. Anyone who takes him on is going to have a serious fight on their hands.
Rod Martin is a man of uncommon vision and character. Ever since I first worked alongside Rod in the early days of PayPal, I’ve been struck by his powerful vision for the future. Rod understands the intersection of technology, politics and culture in a way that few others do.
Rod Martin wears with uncommon grace an uncanny ability to link his vigorous faith to the practical challenges of both the business world and the political arena. Yet the respect he shows for others carries a warmth and modesty that are both too rare among those who are strong advocates of feisty positions.
America badly needs more leaders who really get the future. We need more Rod Martins.
Rod Martin is a modern day philosopher-statesman. He is a capitalist intellectual, a conservative iconoclast, a gentle adversary and a kind prophet. He inspires us towards a fresh national vision built upon the original founding principles.
Rod Martin is not only effective and efficient, but he is also perceptive, wise and gracious. He gets things done. He is a great friend and a great ally.
Rod is one of the sharpest, most gracious men I know, and one of the most gifted political thinkers today. His ability to analyze issues and communicate thoughtful insights on them have earned him the respect of people across the political spectrum.
I am proud to have been Rod Martin’s friend for a quarter century, and I can tell you that he is one of the finest men and most outstanding leaders in our church and in our country today. He has a knack for turning everything he touches to success.
Rod Martin is a cornucopian entrepreneur and eutropic thinker whose influence radiates through an array of companies, institutions, movements and churches. A renaissance American, he is also a prolific friend of freedom and faith around the globe.
If Rod Martin represents the next generation of leaders, America has nothing to worry about.
A leader and a servant, in public life and in private, Rod Martin strides at the top of his profession, and has nowhere to go but up. He is in the truest sense of the word ‘outstanding’.
Rod Martin is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished thought leaders today. He is a wonderful mentor, a humble role model, and a deep inspiration for the next generation of scientific innovators and entrepreneurs.
Rod’s achievements pale beside his character and his brilliance. He sees what others can’t. He leads when others won’t.
Rod Martin is one of America’s finest young minds.
The future of technology is the future of America. Rod Martin sees that future clearly, and also sees how to shape it for the betterment of all. He is firmly rooted in the traditions of faith and patriotism that have made America great. That’s why he has made, and will make, so many outstanding contributions in so many areas.