Jack’s Winning Words 4/30/07
“What’s right and good doesn’t come naturally. You have to stand up and fight for it---as if the cause depends on you, because it does.” (Bill Moyers) As I was flipping through the TV channels yesterday afternoon, I saw a conversation between Moyers and Jon Stewart. Today’s quote describes the gist of what they talked about. Passivism is a problem with many of us. BTW, do you like The Daily Show? ;-) Jack

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: Jon Stewart, yes, humorous, insightful, his Daily Show supported by free market—I like it. Bill Moyer, no, agenda driven ideologue, paid from public tax dollars at PBS (mostly). I do agree with the statement about passivism, a pacifist always cedes ground to his neighbor—whether real estate or intellectual ground.

FROM B.S., NEAR ORLANDO: Hi, this reflects my parent's teachings. I wish they were here today so we could talk about the current situations.

MORE FROM ORLANDO: Hi, we think Bill Moyer is tops. This program was the first time we met with Jon Steward. He appleared to be very bright. we were impressed.

FROM B.C. IN CHICAGO: watch the Daily show religiously as you can imagine, as well as the Colbert Report. Even Connor likes them!

FROM MOLINER, G.S.: Like a good marriage, doing the right things takes time and effort.

FROM JAN AND DICK: Thanks, Jack, for the heads up on The Daily Show. We haven't watched it but we certainly will now. We'll catch that show at 8:00p.m. on the Comedy channel.

FROM D.C. IN MICHIGAN: In the last couple years of his life, Dick went to bed at 11 so he didn't have to watch Channel 7 news. Instead he watched Jon Stewart. Another thing he watched, this time that I refused to watch, was Mail Call.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/27/07
“You can fool too many people too much of the time.” (James Thurber) Keep this in mind as you hear all of the stuff coming out of Washington and on the campaign trail…and as you listen to commercials, too. Along the way, did someone take the time to teach you discernment? ;-) Jack

FROM L.K. IN OHIO: ......but, of course, you can't fool ALL the people ALL of the time.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: I am able to discern that enough can be fooled enough of the time, for many to make a robust living. Denis Miller opined that global warming fundamentalists are practicing a perverse style of Munchausen’s by Proxy—they want to make the earth sick (in the media) so they can be seen as heroes for curing a natural cycle of nature. Of course those heroes’s are seeking an $85 billion a year tax for the United Nations. I don’t know if I will write about in a serious way but I poke a bit of fun at the Munchausen’s by Proxy crowd at http://www.taxtheworld.com/

FROM DEBATER JOHN IN MICHIGAN: Prof Holcomb....That is what debate is all about...seeing both sides of the question. There are precious few in the church that have any ability to do this. Our church is always off balance. It is like a seesaw that never goes up and down but always sits with all the weight on one end. Witness the resolution on Palestine. Those people see the atrocities of the Israelis but are incapable of seeing the atrocities that have occurred to Christians in Islamic lands. That's not much discernment in my mind.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/26/07
“To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.” (Plutarch) Plutarch was born in 46 AD, so it appears that people were finding fault in those days, too. He was a Greek historian, and his writings influenced American Transcendentalists, including Emerson and Thoreau. Now, go and look up, transcendentalism, if you have to. ;-) Jack

FROM L.K. IN OHIO: Agreed. I have studied Emerson in college, seminary and throughout life. I have also visited the "scene" of the NE transcendentalists.
I still can't transcend my pettiness.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: Definition: “A literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition.” Comment: A movement that transcends above easily identifiable and scientific evidence (math, economics, history); it sounds like modern politics. Social utopianism repackaged for the mid nineteenth century.

FROM P.O. IN DETROIT: People are people are people!

FROM MOLINER DALE: Jack -- great one to send to your L-wing friends!!!

FROM L.K. IN OHIO: How to "transcend" the natural/revealed discussion? Transcendance/immanence........where and how to be available so God may find us in practical terms? I've never thought I would find God; rather, out of baptism, he found me long ago.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/25/07
“Sometimes the mind, for reasons we don’t necessarily understand, just decides to go to the store for a quart of milk.” (Northern Exposure) I miss that TV show. Can you name the important members of the cast (there were nine), or has your mind gone to the store for some milk? Or maybe you’re too young to have seen the show. Isn’t it interesting, how the mind works? ;-) Jack

NORTHERN EXPOSURE CAST: Rob Morrow - Dr. Joel Fleischman - Janine Turner - Maggie O'Connell
John Corbett - Chris Stevens Cynthia Geary - Shelly Marie Tambo - John Cullum - Holling Gustav Vincoeur
Barry Corbin - Maurice Minnifield Darren E. Burrows - Ed Chigliak Peg Phillips - Ruth-Anne Miller Elaine Miles - Marilyn Whirlwind - Teri Polo - Michelle Capra

FROM REV. J.S. IN MICHIGAN: I'm too young to have seen the show!

FROM L.K. IN OHIO: While respecting his ability and performance, I've never really "caught on" with him.

FROM B.D. IN MICHIGAN: To young to remember that show. but I.........
Had a Great B-Day, my family took me to Kart-to-Kart last night (go Karts that go 35mph) I was the fastest, won all the races, most everyone was half my age. I feel better about be 60 !!!!!!!!!!

FROM P.O. IN DETROIT: I can see every one of the faces, but can't remember more than a couple of names. I think my mind went to the store for a quart of milk some time ago and never found its way back.

FROM M.N. IN THE TWIN CITIES: I used to have a sweater just like “Ruth Ann”. We loved that show too, but it really got weird towards the end.

FROM A MICHIGAN JUDGE: There was alot more to that show than just a "quirky"comedy. Beneath the humuor there was a lot of pathos.The only names I can remember are ----none.

FROM J.M. IN COLORADO: Northern Exposure is my favorite show of all time -- I even have 5 complete seasons (Kevin gets them for me for Christmas!)

FROM A SPARTAN IN MICHIGAN: I'm too young to remember. haha

FROM ERIN IN COLORADO: I loved Chris in the Morning. He was very cool -- and then, of course, John Corbett was equally cool (though more grown-up) on "Sex and the City." I think he played the same character with a different job on that show! When my sister, kathy, moved to alaska we stayed the night in the town where they filmed "Northern Exposure." It was called Roslyn, Wash., instead of Cicely, but they had the radio station and the restaurant and we had a drink at the Brick. Too bad John Corbett didn't wander by and join us, but it was fun anyway!

FROM EUNICE IN MICHIGAN: You don't know how many times that your thinking is like what I have been thinking. To me there is nothing that is not interesting. In fact one of my grandchildren said to me one day '"Grandma, don't say 'isn't that interesting' one more time!" Always fun to "read" you!

Jack’s Winning Words 4/24/07
“The bad news is, time flies. The good news is, you’re the pilot.” (Michael Altshuler)
We may not always have control of the events happen around us and to us, but we do have control of how we use our time and how we react. Settle into the cockpit and try to remember what some instructor (Who was it?) told you or showed you. ;-) Jack

FROM J.L. IN MICHIGAN: Good morning to you, and I love these words! They are so true and very uplifting. I am reminded all the time...you can either smile through it or let it go defeat you. I choose to smile. My family, especially my mom and dad, would always look on the bright side of life. I grew up with that attitude! Blessings on a beautiful day.

HERE'S A GOOD ONE: It's better to waste money than it is to waste time. You can always get more money." --Hal Sparks

FROM F.M. IN WISCONSIN: I'd change it a bit . . . "The bad news is, time flies . . . the Good News is that God gives us a new day . . . today!"

FROM L.K. IN OHIO: ......and God is the co-pilot,right? Maybe He is the pilot?

Jack’s Winning Words 4/23/07
“If the rich could hire the poor to die for them, the poor would make a very nice living.” (Jewish Proverb) Irony is the descriptive word here. There are so many ways that life is unfair for the poor. Is there something that you and I can do to help them make a very nice living? What are your ideas? ;-) Jack

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: From the 1863 Conscription Act, the rich could pay for the poor to die for them, and the government negotiated the price: “An act for enrolling and calling out the national Forces, and for other Purposes,” Congressional Record. 37th Cong. 3d Sess. Ch. 74, 75. 1863. March 3, 1863. SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That any person drafted and notified to appear as aforesaid, may, on or before the day fixed for his appearance, furnish an acceptable substitute to take his place in the draft; or he may pay to such person as the Secretary of War may authorize to receive it, such sum, not exceeding three hundred dollars, as the Secretary may determine, for the procuration of such substitute; which sum shall be fixed at a uniform rate by a general order made at the time of ordering a draft for any state or territory; and thereupon such person so furnishing the substitute, or paying the money, shall be discharged from further liability under that draft.

DAZ FROM MICHIGAN RESPONDS TO GOOD DEBT JON: I think you would find the history of the Civil War very interesting, but you can't take little bits and pieces. To discuss that business of buying substitutes out of context is not to useful

FROM J.S. IN MICHIGAN: They are doing that right now...the rich are hiring the poor to serve in our volunteer army and, consequently, the poor are dying for them. It is another tragedy of this very tragic decade under GWB.

ADVICE FROM PLUTARCH: Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself.

ADVICE FROM ZIG ZIGLAR: You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.

FROM F.M. IN WISCONSIN: I just received a nice letter from Rocky Boy Indian Mission yesterday - the pastor, Arden Barden, thanked us for our gifts and our prayers for the mission to the people, the poor people who live on the reservation.

FROM J.C. IN HONG KONG: Who are the poor? What a blessing ... to be in material poverty while a spiritual millionaire. No need to "help" that situation.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/20/07
“The color of truth is gray.” (Andre Gide) Some people in the religious world and in the political world like to make everything black and white. Personally, I like the gray in both of those worlds. ;-) Jack

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: “Not only gray, but like the old computer monitors—256 shades of gray.” It has been said if you ask a good accountant how much is 2+2, the correct answer is how much do we need it to be?

FROM REV. J.S. IN MICHIGAN: The color of truth is black and white. The color of our ability to perceive the truth falls into the gray area...

GEORGE LUCAS SAYS: Archaeology is the search for fact... not truth. If it's truth you're looking for, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall.

FROM J. L. IN MICHIGAN: RIGHT ON !!!!!!!!!

FROM REV. J.E. IN DETROIT: I like that, "the color of truth is gray." That reminds me of the early hours preceding dawn, the resurrection, and the kingdom of God drawing near.

FROM REV. C.H. ON CAPE COD: How about, "The color of truth is the rainbow."

FROM F.M. IN WISCONSIN: (My wife) says her favorite color is yellow, and that mine in gray! I like gray - to wear and to deal with issues.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/19/07
“The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.” (Ivy Baker Priest) At one time you may have seen her name written on U.S. currency. Today’s quote from I.B.P. is a good one for the times when we’re depressed and think that there’s no hope. Look for new beginnings and new opportunities to improve your corner of the world. ;-) Jack

FROM M.L. IN ILLINOIS: words from the singer/songwriter donovan..."happiness runs in a circular motion. thought is like a little boat upon the sea. everybody is a part of everything anyway. you can have everything if you let yourself be. you can have everything if you let yourself see." we must open our mind, our heart, and our eyes in order to see clearly into the future. it is what we make of it. peace and love,

FROM G.G.: Once again your Winning Words are "right on" in ways that you aren't necessarily aware of. My friend Sharon decided to put an end to her despair a week ago. Her funeral is tomorrow. I've been thinking that the best song we could sing for her is "This little light of mine". She couldn't see her light anymore so we should sing about it for her in her "send off". It is up to us to see that life and light goes on.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: Change your thinking, change your life.

FROM C.H. ON CAPE COD: I like it. It makes me think of how it's similar to living on Saturday - between Friday and Sunday... between death and resurrection...end becomes the beginning... peace,

FROM F.M. IN WISCONSIN: Went out an purchased a new bird bath today - filled it with water and in a half an hour the birds were enjoying the fresh clean water. We live on a pond, but the pond water isn't what the birds want for a bath - not what I use either!

Jack’s Winning Words 4/18/07
“It is during the darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” (Taylor Benson) In an interview, a Virginia Tech campus pastor was asked what he said to grieving students. “ I referred them to Romans 12:21 (Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.)” Sometimes that seems to be a good way to deal with the tragedies that are happening around us. Don’t cave into despair. God is not dead, nor is he asleep. ;-) Jack

FROM M.L. IN ILLINOIS: ...for wrong shall fail and right prevail with peace on earth good will to women and men.

FROM R.H. IN MICHIGAN: Thanks for your comment and appropriate Scripture reference regarding the tragedy at Virginia Tech. (We) watched and listened when the community shared the convocation yesterday. Many helpful comments. You are right, God is not dead nor does he sleep.

BOB DYLAN'S SONG: Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/17/07
“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it’s all over." (Gloria Naylor) I like what is written in the Bible: “There’s a right time for everything.” (Ecclesiastes 3) In the game of baseball: Timing is everything. But being a friend is the most important of all. Be thankful for the friends that are yours. ;-) Jack

FROM IAN IN MICHIGAN: Very interesting for me as the pastor at church just started a series on seasons of life and was talking in depth about Ecclesiastes 3 this Sunday. I watch the movie "The Pursuit of Happiness" yesterday and he breaks his life into parts and how he coped with each, and I am reading a book by Sidney Poitier and he is reviewing the segments of his life and how he made the best of each. A whole lot of it all at the same time - very interesting.

FROM MOLINER, A.E.: Thanks for this REALLY NEAT one especially picking up the pieces so one does not hurt his acking back or cut his fumbling fingers. Is that why so many just let friends go?

Jack’s Winning Words 4/16/07
“What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.” (W. H. Davies) I know that you’re probably busy with one thing or another, but take some time today to look at something interesting. Perhaps it’s your face in the mirror. Or it could be a person around you. Maybe it’s an animal or a tree or a piece of art. What is it that you see? ;-) Jack

FROM J.L.F. IN MICHIGAN: I saw four deer run across Farmington Road in front of me this morning.

FROM M.S. IN MICHIGAN: This morning it was the woodpeckers, who are very busy around my condo!

FROM MOLINER, D.S.: Boy, Jack, you come up with some great ones. This is a big one for me because I have gotten so wrapped up in taking care of people's computers that I have left precious little time for myself and family. Ruth, rightly so, keeps telling me that and I know it. I must work on saying NO at times.

FROM MARY L. IN ILLINOIS: i see the world through a child's eyes each day. it is a daily reality check of the important. all i need do is step back and observe their marvel. i see the world-pure and simple.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/13/07
“Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes along.” (Samuel Butler) I’ve never played a musical instrument, except the piano with one finger. Sometimes it seems as though life’s music is played that way, too. Is there an instrument that you can play? My granddaughter got a new tambourine. Now she can make a joyful noise to the Lord ;-) Jack

FROM J.S. IN MICHIGAN: For me, that is why we desperately need support systems....God, family, church, etc. Sometimes we even need the government when the other support systems aren't enough for us. That element seems to be lacking right now in the USA...it is why I am going to work for Barack Obama for President (Acutally, I think he is part Swedish...he seems to be part everything!)

TAKE TIME TO READ THE ARTICLE MENTIONED HERE: Can one of the nation's greatest musicians cut through the fog of a D.C. rush hour? In this week's issue of the Washington Post Magazine Gene Weingarten sets out to discover if violinist Josh Bell -- and his Stradivarius -- could stop busy commuters in their tracks.

A.M. HAS THIS WAY OF LOOKING AT THE QUOTE: Sounds like on the job training, which equates to experience which yields a well rounded and capable human being, for most of the general population. How about that

Gene Weingarten is a staff writer and columnist for The Magazine.

FROM R.P. IN MICHIGAN: Yes I have played the violin and the viola!

FROM F.M. IN WISCONSIN: I am not much of an instrument player either - when I was about nine years old my folks bought me a piano accordion - and I took lessons on it for a couple of months. At that time I was very thin - and the doctor my folks had for me concluded that I might have TB - he decided that holding the heavy accordion might be impairing my lungs and suggested that they stop having me play it. So, I learned enough to play the piano 'one hand', my right hand - with my left hand I was taught to play the base. That was the end of my instrument instruction. My sister was started on the piano, and became a good pianists - I wish I had been given the option to play the piano! So the only way I can make a joyful noise to the Lord is with my voice - which I still try to do . . . but with less success - given the demise of my singing voice.

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: That was great. I sent it on to my grandaughters here in Geneva woods, they both play an instrument or two. Grandma and I are so proud of them. They are going to take over for us when we pass on. we know they will do a good job.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/12/07
“I am a combination of my entire family.” (Dionne Warwick) Isn’t it amazing how we resemble our relatives in many ways? I think that the opening of the genome puzzle has been one of the great discoveries in my lifetime. Which discovery is the one that amazes you the most? ;-) Jack

FROM GOOD NEWS JON IN OHIO: In my mind, I have just finished contemplatively surveying the participants at my last family reunion…perhaps I was adopted and never told?

FROM MOLINER, G.S.: I think my Moline classmates had a lot to do with whatever successes I've had.

FROM P.H. IN MINNESOTA: that my wife continues to love me so unconditionally and that God does the same....

FROM J.S. IN MICHIGAN: I participated in the National Geographic/MIT Genocentric Project and discovered that on my Dad's side I am an R1B. We came out of Africa 77000 years ago and journeyed through the Middle East, Kazakhstan, then west over the Caucasus Mountains and on into Central Europe. 90% of males in England trace themselves back through the same strain. When I read ORIGINS OF THE BRITISH by Oppenheimer, I discovered that the English are genetically close to the Germans and the Swedes and that the Norwegians are closer to the Scotch, Irish, Welsh, etc. You have no idea how comforting it was to discover that I am not genetically close to the Norwegians.

FROM J.M IN COLORADO: Possible signs of life on Mars (water).

Jack’s Winning Words 4/11/07
“Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” (Anna Lappe) Lappe is an advocate for social change. Today I bought a Happy Meal at McDonald’s. Yesterday I paid our Income Tax, bought some groceries and a tank of gasoline ($2.75.9). There are charity requests on the desk, too. I guess that we all could do a better job at casting our votes. ;-) Jack

FROM ENGINEER DAZ: Why is that principle so hard for some people to grasp?

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: I increased the value of my car by $50 yesterday—I filled the gas tank. Apparently I vote almost daily for more Starbucks in the world, at least $1.85 a day in voting.

FROM REV. J.S. IN MICHIGAN: No one should ever feel remorse over buying a Happy Meal at McDonald's!!!!

FROM REV. C.H. ON CAPE COD: You caught me on a good day - I treated an elderly woman in the congregation to a noontime concert and lunch today... and decided to pay an emergency fill-in babysitter more than we usually pay. So, at least today, by supporting musicians and people who watch children, I am indeed casting a vote for the kind of world I want. Thanks for the affirmation!

FROM PR F.M. IN WISCONSIN: I cast a vote today for Our Savior's, Rocky Boy, MT. It is a mission of our church to an Indian Reservation, which I have supported since I was in Sunday School. We used to have a birthday 'bank' in which we dropped pennies, a number equal to our age, and those pennies were sent to Rocky Boy! Now it is not pennies, but a check two or three times a year. Oh, for your info., gas here is $2.869 - I have driven much the last week, so I haven't had to buy any - the last gas I bought was $2.599!

JOHN LENNON: If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/10/07
“Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” (Freud) What do you suppose Sigmund meant by this quote? Is a cigar an identifying feature, as with Groucho? Who are you, and what is it that identifies you? Freed and Freud have a similar sound. Hmm! There has to be some deeper meaning. Here’s another: “A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.” What does Rudyard Kipling mean by that? Hmm! ;-) Jack

FROM J.S. IN MICHIGAN: Sounds like a sexist remark.

FROM M.L. IN ILLINOIS: clearly mr. kipling kept the company of very well-behaved women...or perhaps he played for the other team. p.s. do you listen to n.p.r.? i heard the freud quote in an interview recently.

FROM P.O. IN DETROIT: Good grief --- it's just weird --- they're all just laughing at us cuz we're trying to find a deeper meaning!

FROM GENIE L.: Poor Rudyard, with that comment he was telling us more than he probably wanted to about his feelings for women or their feelings for him. Hope he enjoyed his smoke. (I wonder if his friends called him Rudy?) As for Sigmund, I think it is a reference to the idea that meanings are not always hidden .... sometimes it just "is what it is" .

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: Hi, I wonder if he had a grudge against women. He certainly never worked with the women who were part of the team in our store, even the one's who stole from us.My brother used to repeat that quote and I can't remember why. Why degrade anyone, even if they are not on grade level with you, especially if they are not on grade level with you. Another reason we wish people were still with us, so we can ask some more questions.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/9/07
“We must get beyond the textbooks, go out into the bypaths…and tell the world the glories of our journey.” (John Hope Franklin) Franklin was a Professor of History at Duke. I wonder if we can substitute the word “Bible” for “textbooks” and get a new insight as to what happened after Easter. In Sunday School, we used to sing: “We’ve a story to tell…” ;-) Jack

FROM CYBER NATION: Don't be just another member of society, be a living example of your dreams and goals. (Unknown)

FROM P.O. IN DETROIT: Our marching orders!

FROM REV. J.S. IN MICHIGAN: Why go "beyond the Bible?" It sends us out. If we listen to it, we won't be sitting on our duffs.

ANOTHER PASTOR'S COMMENT FROM WISCONSIN: What a great thought for the Easter Season - I'm sharing it with a friend (retired ELCA pastor) who was lamenting on the phone this morning the lack of Evangel in the church of which he is a member.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/6/07
“There’s nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” (R. Buckminster Fuller) Nothing on Good Friday tells you there’s going to be an Easter. It’s a miracle of God. The butterfly seems to be a perfect symbol for the day. It was once called a flutterby. Many of my friends are celebrating Passover. For all people of faith, have a blessed holiday! ;-) Jack

FROM GENIE L.: " Butterfly,butterfly, what lovely wings. Flutterby, flutterby, and my heart sings!"

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: Hi, one of my house mates when I lived at the Y on campus was a Hindu. One day I asked him what he was wishing to be reencarnated as, and he said "A butterfly", so I asked, "why", because he said, "one could now land anywhere on a lady, and not be shoed off". My question, "How come PhD's are smarter people?.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/5/07
“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” (Bob Dylan) Born in 1941, Dylan was named by TIME as one of 100 most influential people in the 20th century. His songs often carried a social commentary. Blowin’ in the Wind was one. Do you have feelings for what’s going on in the world today? ;-) Jack

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: The rain is a blessing. If your a farmer, just enough rain is more than a blessing, it's an answer from the GoodLord, the crops will come, life will be renewed and all life will benefit, not just the horses.

FROM C.B., AN EDUCATOR: It seems to me along the lines of choosing your attitude.

FROM MOLINER, D.S.: I have not heard that before. I'm going to TRY to remember to quote it.

HERE'S AN IDEA: Make Feeling Sandwiches. Take a piece of bread and place a slice or so of lunch meat on it. Spread some Cheese Whiz or cheese in a can over the meat. Have the children decorate their sandwich how they would like with raisins, olives, pickles, shredded carrots, or whatever else.

FROM REV. J.D. IN MINNEAPOLIS: SADNESS AND ANGER.

FROM J.L., VACATIONING IN FLORIDA: Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' was voted the most important and relevant musical lyrics written in the last century.

LIKE A ROLLING STONE BY BOB DYLAN:
Once upon a time you dressed so fine You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall" You thought they were all kiddin' you You used to laugh about Everybody that was hangin' out Now you don't talk so loud Now you don't seem so proud About having to be scrounging for your next meal. How does it feel How does it feel To be without a home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely But you know you only used to get juiced in it And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it You said you'd never compromise With the mystery tramp, but now you realize He's not selling any alibis As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes And ask him do you want to make a deal? How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns When they all come down and did tricks for you You never understood that it ain't no good You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat Ain't it hard when you discover that He really wasn't where it's at After he took from you everything he could steal. How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe You used to be so amused At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal. How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone?

FROM PR. B.G. IN MICHIGAN: Dylan was an unlikely prophet. What I have appreciated about his music/message is that his social commentaries have been far more influential than even he thought they would become.

FROM M.L. IN ILLINOIS: i think we all need to revisit the words of pete seeger, woody and arlo guthrie, joan baez, bob dylan, donovan, peter, paul, and mary, and oh yeah-the kingston trio, neil young,(have you heard his latest protest album-genius!). the beat goes on-we just have to listen.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/4/07
“We did not inherit this land from our fathers. We are borrowing it from our children.” (Amish Proverb) The Amish, who work so close to the soil and who are so devout in the practice of their religion, know something about the environment that seems to escape many of us. The song goes: “This world is not my own; I’m just a passing through, etc.” ;-) Jack

FROM GENIE: Reminds me of this......."For the beauty of the earth. For the beauty of the skies. For the love which from our birth , Over and around us lies. Christ, our God to thee we raise ... This our sacrifice of praise!" (it also randomly reminds me of the time Ruth, Mary and John almost didn't make it through their 'special music' trio of "There is a Green Hill Far Away". They got the giggles....pretty funny.)

FROM REV. J.S. IN MICHIGAN: I visited the Amish Museum in Shipshewanna last week. It is really
an excellent museum. I have a lot of sympathy with their understandings. I do not accept re-baptism. I don't think I need it. I also think that we were sent "into" the world to change it and not to avoid it. However, to villify these people and persecute them is a crime against the Lord. We need to do some repentance on that subject.

FROM THE JUDGE IN MICHIGAN: Not only are "we borrowing it from our children" we are saddeling them with the lasting results of our actions which could carry over to our children's children and their childen ad infinitum. We have made a mess of the fuure to come.

FROM L.H. IN FLORIDA: I really disagree with that one. Look at all the inventions and progress we inherited from our fathers. Also, we inherited the freedom we have due to their efforts; we could be speaking German or Japanese if it wasn't for them.

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: Hi, this is a good philosophy. I think they should use this theme as a course to teach all children, large and small, also in Sunday School. We can all learn from different ethnic groups, if our eyes see and our ears truely hear. Here is another thought,"listen to our granddchildren.

FROM C.H. ON CAPE COD: Yes the amish know something that escapes many of us – So does Wendell Berry, or for that matter, the Old Testament! (with its emphasis on the Israelites as sojourners!)

Jack’s Winning Words 4/3/07
“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” (Thoreau) I had a brother-in-law- who would have liked to live Thoreau’s life-style. Instead, he chose to live Thoreau’s philosophy. He saw the rewards for goodness as spiritual, rather than material. I always admired him for that. Are there such people that you admire? ;-) Jack

FROM B.S. IN FLORIDA: Yes, I am amazed by these people. They care truely gifts of the Good Lord. They are living GOOD. I wonder what it would be like to be like them, I mean really like them. I rememb er how I was crfapped on when in the military. People, so called buddies, took severe advantage of me. Some became very close, but some took advantage of me. I guess that is called growing up. I never explained to my parents what it was liked to have been taken advantage of like that. Some times it was like I never learned, especially when people would come in and ask to charge again, and again even when they never payed much. Hey, it's 3:30 am, and the birds are going to start singing soon, and I haven'tdanced one step. Damnnnnn, good morning sir. it's time to hit the sack.

Jack’s Winning Words 4/2/07
“But far more numerous was the herd of such Who think too little and talk too much.” (John Dryden) I’m seeing more and more of this, especially on the cable news and op-ed shows. But we need to be careful with our words, too. I’m reminded of what an Indian chief said about a brave who was sending smoke signals. “Heap big smoke;. little fire.” . ;-) Jack

FROM DAZ IN MICH: His (or her) mouth was running , but the brain was not in gear

FROM GOOD DEBT JON IN OHIO: In contemporary Texas this is equal to: “All hat—no cattle.” My favorite though is Josiah Gilbert Holland, from the poem God Give Us Men, (circa 1865): For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds, Their large professions and their little deeds…Holland is my favorite 19th century poet. There was a guy from Maine, named Longfellow that was pretty good too.

FROM J.D. IN MN: I AM SO SICK OF SEEING AND HEARING THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS EXPERTS GIVING US THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING. IT ISN'T NEWS OR JOURNALISM, BUT AN ATTEMPT TO MANIPULATE THE TRUTH. ABOUT ALL ONE CAN DO IS READ VARIOUS SOURCES AND THEN MAKE AN INFORMED OPINION. THE QUESTION IS : " WHO DECIDES THAT THE PERSON IS AN EXPERT", AND DOESN'T COME WITH A POLITICAL BIAS.

FROM J.O. IN MICHIGAN: That was a good one...our society is so full of those who talk too much and say nothing. I prefer to talk little and still say nothing...

FROM J.F. IN NOVA SCOTIA: In ham radio, we have some people who transmit a loud signal
but don't hear much. They are called alligators (big mouths, little ears).