Jack’s Winning Words 12/4/13
“There are no miracles for those who don’t believe in them.”  (French Proverb)  I guess you can argue “miracles” until you really need one.  Philosophy then goes out the window.  In his early years, the writer, C.S. Lewis was turned off by things religious.  But, after living life a little longer, he changed his mind and went on to write a book, “Miracles.”  Belief in miracles depends on belief in an omnipotent God.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM TRIHARDER:  Just coincidences.====JACK:  We have a jar in our home which is labeled: "Miracle or Coincidence."  Each time we witness "something out-of -the-ordinary" which has happened, we write it on a slip of paper and put it in the jar.  We believe that some (but not all) are coincidences.  It's OK to believe that everything has a rational explanation, but some people believe that life is not always rational. ====TH:  or sometimes miracles are manufactured by a lot of hard work.  Every charitable organization, one person's idea, that blossomed from that idea into an organization that gathered its first dime may be a miracle.====JACK:  Sometimes we have trouble with semantics.====TH:  Did I give you impression that I don't believe in miracles?  I hope not. I just said, "some people call them miracles, other call them coincidences; but also that miracles are often created by vision, commitment and hard work. (e.g., Mother Teresa) But, you certainly can't expect them -- which is what makes them miracles.(Would they be miracles if they were commonplace?)   And, sometimes there are little "personal" miracles -- coming upon some good fortune unexpectedly ... I've had a very good life. Many things could have taken disastrous turns. They didn't ('puh puh"*). G-d's intervention? Luck? Just the way things are?   At the Chanukah candle lighting last night, the Lebovitcher Rabbi talked about light overcoming  darkness. Sometimes the darkness lasted a long time, but eventually good overcame evil.  I thought about the corollary (not as a pessimist, because I'm not), but just to be contrary:  "Eventually evil will overcome good", eventually someone will find a way to upset goodness -- Going back in time, all of the massacres, the diseases, the pogroms. ...    Some say (I think you and I have discussed this) that the miracle of Israel could never have happened if there wasn't a holocaust -- that it was necessary to sacrifice a generation of Jews in order for Israel to be reborn.  Certainly a dark time; certainly the end of a dark time, at least for now. A miracle?    I do enjoy these "conversations", Jack. They make me think.

 FROM HONEST JOHN:  For me, the greatest miracle is that God loves us.    Because of that, it is possible to deal with life...which is kind of a miracle when you think of it.====JACK:  To love the unlovely is truly a miracle.  Most of us find that hard to do, so we occupy ourselves by doing other things.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We Christians just love miracles don't we?  Watching our grandchildren grow up minds us so much of our own grown children.  They are miracles in our lives!  To drive across country several times leaves us reeling over this beautiful diverse country....that's a miracle God provided for us also.  As people search everyday for some huge miracle, they overlook the small ones in our lives....a child's or a passer-by's smile.  The fact we have folks on this planet willing to help discover cures, build our buildings, study our magnificent oceans,  help to heal us in body and soul and have tremendous talents that make our lives easier.  I am glad C.S. Lewis chose to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance.  God was definitely with him, around him and in him.  Thanks be to God!====JACK:  For those who believe in miracles, there can be a "miracle" in everything, for "This is my Father's world."

 FROM DOCTOR PAUL:  If the Pope keeps up his rhetoric..I might want to join his club!  :-)  I’m not sure I could pay the dues!====JACK:  They're probably less than you pay at the Temple.

 FROM TARMART REV:  An omnipotent Heavenly Father with a very gracious heart toward His creation!! ====JACK:  Are there miracles for all, or just some?====REV:  With no doubt...everyone...you and I are prime examples...we who were once mere dust, God formed, shaped and breathed upon us life...haven't found anyone top that one, yet!!

 FROM HR IN MICHIGAN:  So, no miracles of nature? Does everything that has no explanation have to be ascribed to God? Can’t the event just have occurred. Are there no random rather than pre-planned events occurring everywhere? Just asking .  Besides I saw the Tigers come back from a three game deficit in 1968, now that’s a miracle.  ====JACK:  Does something have to be seen to be believed?  I think that there are some things too complex for the mind to comprehend, since the mind is finite.  I've always been fascinated by infinity.  There aren't enough zeroes.

 FROM BW IN MICHIGAN:  That's really great that you'd mention miracles in this morning's WW, since that's exactly what we were talking about this morning at our 6:30 men's Bible study at Panera!====JACK:  I'm currently reading Mitch Albom's latest book which has to do with miracle phone calls from heaven.  Some are believers in miracles and some are not..  I wouldn't put anything past an omnipotent God.

 FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  Life, itself, is a miracle.====JACK: Human life is but one part of all living things.  It boggles the mind.

HELEN KELLER:  "When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."