Winning Words 10/30/12
“Too often man handles life as he does the bad weather.  He whiles away the time as he waits for it to stop.”  (Alfred Polgar)  Hurricane Sandy has made life miserable for millions of people.  It seems like severe storms are becoming more frequent.  Life has its storms, too, affecting young and old alike.  I keep a Prayer List, remembering before God those who are facing raging wind and water and other things as well.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM FARMER BOB IN U.P.:  Recently returned from N.D. helping Karl with the harvest.    His area has not had rain since May.   The farmers were expecting a miniature crop.   God worked a miracle and they received a medium crop.   An agronomist aimed to find our why.   He took a back hoe, dug down 6 ft. before the root of the corn stalk ended.  Amidst the drought the corn continued to seek moisture for its growth and maturity.   I used that illustration on Sunday.   Jesus stated,  CONTINUE IN MY WORD and you will know the truth which makes you free.     We, like the corn, experience tough times.  But if we continue to seek/ study God’s word, and  know Jesus who is the truth,  we will have stamina to endure and overcome the difficulties.////FROM JACK:  Robert Schuller wrote a book...Tough Times Never Last.  Tough People Do.  The farm has taught many lessons.

 FROM PC IN MICHIGAN:  Ironically, about half of my staff is in the area of Hurricane Sandy. So, our BAE York, PA site is closed today.  We can't work with those team members today and hope they remain safe.////FROM JACK:  Every day a hurricane enters the life of some person.  Whether storms affect millions or just one, it's still a catastrophe.  Even though our focus is mainly on Sandy, the thought behind today's quote is a good one.  

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  Living by the water brings with it the risk of flooding, the sunshine brings with it the risk of drought, the forest brings with it the risk of damage from their fall, a house at the top of the hill brings with it risk of mudslides, ...etc. We rebuild and rebuild and never seem to account for the the other edge of the sword that maintains the balance of all things. Even Good is balanced with Evil, and one gift that accompanies the birth into the World, is the body's eventual death (...and to dust thou shall return). There will always be a rain storm of some kind, just as "the poor will always be with (you)" us. So, let us keep our focus on the Light; for it is also with us. As willful slaves of Christ, may we expose the Light within through our service to those who find themselves in storms. "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:"  (1 Peter 2:15 KJV)////FROM JACK:  Thanks for putting things in perspective.  When we are in the midst of the storm, our mind says, "Into each life some rain must fall," but our heart laments, "but too much is falling in mine."  (Song by Ella Fitsgerald and The Ink Spots)

 INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL

Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine
Into each heart some tears must fall
But some day the sun will shine
Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts
But when I think of you another shower starts
Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine

Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine
Into each heart some tears must fall
But some day the sun will shine
Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts
But when I think of you another shower starts
Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine

Into each and every life some rain has got to fall
But too much of that stuff
is fallin' into mine
And into each heart some tears gotta fall
And I know that someday that sun is bound to shine

Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts
But when I think of you another shower starts
Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  It certainly seems we are facing more horrific weather situations, since any time that I remember. Either that, or the media coverage is more comprehensive.  Many in our area suffered severe financial losses due to the Summer/Fall drought. Now the terrible storms out East, and also a record number of tornados for this time of year throughout the Midwest.  AND the Raging Storm of ELECTION YEAR!! OH MY! My prayer shawl is getting a lot of use!////FROM JACK:  This is a rhetorical question ...What kinds of prayers of prayers shall we offer?  I know my answer, but I don't claim that it is the right one.////BO:  LIKE I KNOW!?!  I OFFER UP SITUATIONS, PEOPLE IN NEED, ELECTION CONCERNS, AND ASK TO SEE THE LESSON IN IT, THE CHRISTIAN SOLUTION,   AN ACCEPTING HEART, HEALING, WISDOM, ETC. NO MATTER WHO WINS IN ELECTION POSITIONS, HALF THE POPULATION WILL BE UNHAPPY...I DO PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT EVEN WHEN I DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT HE DOES (I THINK WHOEVER  WINS THE PRESIDENCY WILL HAVE A ROUGH AND VERY LONG HAUL TRYING TO RECOVER THE ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY IF EUROPE CONTINUES IN SUCH A DEPRESSION, AND OF COURSE TRYING TO MOVE THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO DO ANYTHING IS SURE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR EITHER CANDIDATE.)   BUT I FEEL IT IS BENEFICIAL TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS. MY SENATOR IN IL THANKED ME HEARTILY FOR MY PRAYERS  WHEN I TOLD HIM I SUPPORTED HIM IN PRAYER OFTEN. SO DID THE TWO REPS, I KNOW. (ONE USED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF MY SCHOOL BOARD WHEN I TAUGHT...A MAN OF INTEGRITY)  WHAT  KIND OF PRAYERS DO YOU THINK IS MOST POWERFUL?? ////JACK:   I tend to think that God looks at situations using the wide angle lens while most of us want to use the microscope.  But, that's OK.  He's God, and we are human.

 FROM AW IN MICHIGAN:  I like this one, Jack.  I never thought about it this clearly but a powerful concept.  Thanks.////FROM JACK:  For some, there are storms worse than Sandy.