Jack’s Winning Words 6/29/15
“People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  (John Maxwell)  The words hospital/hospice come from a source meaning, a place of shelter for people needing care.  They began and continue to be a sign of a civilized society.  In the Health Care debate we often lose sight of the fact that we are fortunate to have places where we, or our loved ones, can go when special care is needed.  I like the Parable of the Good Samaritan.    ;-)  Jack


 FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  this has been a favorite motto of mine for years.  I fear we have a few too many pastors who  somehow feel over and above their flock and working way too hard to impress others without really serving them.  I know too that there are many, many fine pastors out there doing their level best every day to serve their congregations.====JACK:  People will put up with so-so sermons when they have a pastor who does not neglect the personal needs of the parishioners.  I don't know where it says in the Bible that the main duty of pastors is to craft and deliver an captivating sermon.  I like Mark Twain's comment.  "I never trust a man who makes a living with his mouth."


FROM TARMART REV:  Appreciation given for the "Winning Words" this morning from a Hospice chaplain.====JACK:  Working in a hospice setting takes a special talent.  God has blessed you with it.====REV:  Thanks, Jack...It has been a rewarding experience when folk are in need of a pastoral friend walking along beside them into death...many have pastors and churches, but many as well do not.


FROM HONEST JOHN:  The parable of the Good Samaritan urges U.S. On but also condemns us....all too often we find ourselves bring the Priest/Levite figure...a pointer to the need of Christ's Graciousness.====JACK:  It's been said that the task of the pastor is "to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable."  It seems that Jesus had that in mind when he spoke the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 


FROM REV JT:  Thanks for directing us to the Gospel account of the Good Samaritan.  We could follow up this Monday morning meditation with an Epistle lesson from I Corinthians 6:9-11. The Good News is expressed by the Apostle Paul in verse 11: "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of God."  Eric Wahlstrom in his book, The New Life in Christ, commented on I Corinthians 6:11: "Whatever these people had been before, they had passed through a radical spiritual transformation which Paul can characterize as "being made alive" and they were new creatures in Christ." ====JACK:  One of the blessings of my life has been the seminary education that I received, and Dr Wahlstrom was one of the best of the educators.  On one occasion I thought I knew what I wanted, but he encouraged me to go in another direction.  I shall be forever grateful.


FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  Jack, I'm pretty sure, that quote is from Caveat Roberts, originally.  He was the founder of the National Speakers Association.  He lived 1906-1997. I remember buying his cassette tapes in 1979?   Great words nevertheless....have a wonderful day...====JACK:  You're probably right about the source of that quote.  John Maxwell, the preacher, was born about 40 years after Cavett Robert.  Clergy sometimes do quote without giving credit to the source.  Here's a Cavett quote that I like.  "When it's foggy in the pulpit, it's cloudy in the  pew."   That's worth saving for a future WWs.


FROM JB AT LSTC:  I didn’t know the source of the quote. There’s a DJ at a Chicago area jazz station who uses that phrase as his sign-off.====JACK:  A friend in Ohio e-mailed to say that the author of the quote appears to be Cavett Robert, founder of the National Speakers Association.  A good thing about WWs is that I learn something, too.  Do remember a character from the Rocky and Bullwinkle show named Mr-Know-It-All?  I'm not that guy.


FROM ANNE McC:  Me too.====JACK:  Parables really make you think...and lead to AHA moments.


FROM BLAZING OAKS:  FOR SURE : YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DECENT RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSON, BEFORE THEY CARE AT ALL WHAT YOU THINK!  I DO A  LOT OF CALLING ON SHUT INS AND NURSING HOMES AND CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, AND USUALLY WITH GOOD HUMOR AND KINDNESS, AS I'VE OBSERVED. BLESS THOSE THAT MINISTER TO THE ELDERLY AND INCAPACITATED...MY OWN GRANDDAUGHTER IS ONE OF THEM!  AND SHE USUALLY WORKS ALL NIGHT! GOOD WW!====JACK:  I remember seeing a picture of a nurse carrying a lantern as she tended the sick at night.  Was that Florence Nightengale?  That picture would make a good gift for your granddaughter.


FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Truer words were never spoken.====JACK:  A sad sentence..."I couldn't care less."


FROM CHESTER, THE GOOD:  And sometimes they tell you more than you care to know. ====JACK:  People who need people are the luckiest people in the world....as your friend Burt put it.