Jack’s Winning Words 6/17/08
“The substance of my being has been informed by the books I have learned to care for.” (Allan Bloom in Closing of the American Mind) My father-in-law once bought a collection of the most famous books ever written, and he read them, too. I should have asked him which one he admired the most. So, I’ll ask you. “Which books have influenced you the most?” Aside from the Bible and the Dictionary, I would choose The Will of God by Leslie Weatherhead. ;-) Jack. .

FROM PR J.S. IN MI: The Brothers Karamasov

FROM R&N G. IN MI: I love that book. Have read it at least twicel. Once you preached a sermon on it.

FROM R.I. IN BOSTON: "Your God Is Too Small" by J. B. Phillips gave me a much deeper perception of the relationship of God and man.
MORE FROM R.I.: I read Bloom's "Closing Of The American Mind" quite a few years ago...it was a shaker-upper. Now that you made note of it I'll look into Weatherhead's "Will Of God".

FROM MOLINER G.S.: The Story of the Irish Race comes to mind. One reason why we're going back to Ireland this Fall. Management - Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices by Peter Drucker. Anything by Peter Drucker, the only guru I've ever had.

FROM T.S. IN MI: I would have to say that the textbook for "Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts" from the seminar by Bill Gothard has been an extremely strong influence in my life. Have you heard of that one? Bill Gothard would travel the country and put on seminars for different cities. Here in Detroit it was held at Cobo, and the auditorium was usually filled. Lasted for a full week. The seminar was encouraged by our Pastor. We probably had 30 to 50 families attending. Started at 6:00 pm each evening and lasted to 9 or 10 pm. Then it was all day Friday and all day Saturday. I think there was a Baptist background, but he really took us through the Bible and God's expectations. P.S. I'm finally into reading the book you left for me - "We live only to die" or something to that affect. I'm enjoying his experiences.

FROM JACK: Charles “Tremendous” Jones has a famous quote that reads, “You are the same today as you'll be in five years except for two things, the people you meet and the books you read.”

FROM SDG IN TAMPA: Besides the classics, in the last fifty years I remember Men to Match My Mountains and Once Upon a Town. In the ninth grade I still remember Ramona. In high school Ernie Pyle was one of my favorites and in college Seven Story Mountain.

FROM MOLINER C.F.: If it hasn't been converted to a comic book, I haven't read it.

FROM J.L. IN MI: Phoenix Island....a book on survival....maybe it didn't influence me, but it has stayed with me for over 45 years. Also, Diary of Anne Frank, Diary of Twin's on the Oregon Trail. I do lot of reading and am now on The Pillars of the Earth. I'll inform you of my opinion when I finish it....although right now we are in the midst of VBS!

FROM M.N. IN MN: That is a very tough question. I read so many books—some are eye opening like The Kite Runner—Three Cups of Tea—A Thousand Splendid Suns, and some are just fun books by authors that live around here, and Nora Roberts mysteries, etc. I just finished Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth and it was very interesting—about life in very early England and the building of a cathedral.

FROM J.T. IN MI: I'll have to think about this one. I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge.

FROM MOLINER J.T.: I am a big John Grissom fan. Other than him I like---Let's Roll, Lisa Beamer and Your Best Life Now, Joel Osteen. These are current authors.

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: when we had our business I read 5 or 6 Journals every month, in addition to working a 12 hr day, I didn't read a book, except Time mag. but I'll hazzard a guess: Macbeth. or the History of Pharmacy by Dr. George Urdang,, does my accounting book count?