Winning Words 2/11/09
“When you put faith, hope and love together, you can raise positive kids in a negative world.” (Zig Ziglar) A reader of WWs is writing a book for teachers and parents on the subject: “No Child Left Behind…Unmotivated.” Motivation is important to education. And so is positive thinking, and so is faith, and so is hope, and so is love…. these five; and the greatest of these is….? ;-) Jack

FROM J.H. IN OH: LOVE! See, I do know my bible passages (or a few anyway).

FROM A.P. IN MI: AMEN!! and I shouldn't say that in school!! JACK'S REPLY: If you were an English teacher, you could teach it this way....
Definition of Amen
A`men´ interj., a 1. An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief. When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily.
And let all the people say, Amen. - Ps. cvi. 48. To say amen to to approve warmly; to concur in heartily or emphatically; to ratify; as, I say Amen to all. v. t. 1. To say Amen to; to sanction fully.
As a music teacher, you could use it during Black History Month as an illustration of a "spiritual."
Amen a spiritual "CHORUS: Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen!
1. (See the baby Jesus) Amen,
(Wrapped in a manger) Amen,
(On Christmas morning!) Amen, amen, amen!
2. (See Him in the temple) Amen,
(Talking to the elders) Amen,
(Who marvelled at His wisdom) Amen, amen, amen!
3. (See Him in the garden) Amen,
(Praying to His Father) Amen,
(In deepest sorrow) Amen, amen, amen!
4. (Glory, hallelujah!) Amen,
(Jesus died to save us) Amen,
(Rose and lives forever!) Amen, amen, amen!
5. (John on Isle of Patmos) Amen,
(Looked into the Gloryland) Amen,
(And saw the angels singing!) Amen, amen, amen!"
FROM A.P.: WOW - you are much too alert at 8 o'clock in the morning for me!! I just said to a friend of mine here at school that it seems the world keeps sending me notions of being positive thru many different means and channels. It's particularly difficult these days as my home, my school is being closed from under us. Thank you for the smile today -
FROM JACK: Your response reminds me of the story of a lady who was entering the hospital again after many procedures. She said, "I wonder what God has for me to do this time."
While the times are unsettling, Anita, you will make the best of it. I wonder what God has for Anita to do in the future? He's done a pretty good job for you in the past. It reminds me of another song, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one." If a church choir were to sing that on a Sunday, I'm sure that the congregation would respond enthusiastically.

FROM CJL IN OHIO: I hope she doesn't ignore the fact that "the parent is the child's foremost teacher no matter how much education he/she gets"

FROM GUSTIE MARLYS: LOVE! FROM JACK: You know your Bible....and something about education, too.

FROM MOLINER C.F.: One word was left out -Charity. And that doesn't just mean a hand-out. REPLY FROM JACK: Charity is from the Greek language and means, to show love. In reality, that's what our charity is meant to do. Our charitable contributions are meant to be expressions of love and not tax write-offs.

FROM D.C. IN KANSAS: Did you ever read anything by the late Catholic Archbishop Dom Helder Camara of Recife, Brazil? He was critic of his country's military disctatorship in the '60s to '80s and was reported to be on a death list. Many were composed at 2 a.m. during his nightly vigils.This brief one is a word for me from his A THOUSAND REASONS FOR LIVING:I wish I werea humble puddlethat would reflect the sky!Here's another:Do people weigh you down?Don't carry them on our shoulders. Take them into your heart.Thanks for the daily bread. JACK'S REPLY: Don, thanks for sharing this. A Thousand Reasons For Living is a book that I want to read, and it fits with this week's theme for WWs. I like both examples which you included.

FROM SNOWBIRD F.M.: St. Paul . . . 2009 edition of I Cor. 13!

FROM M.L. IN ILLINOIS: we had our celebrations of love at school today. we came upon the conclusion that with love all things are possible. children get the pure love thing. they have hope in every single step they take

FROM SJF IN MN: I’m curious about the information in the book about motivation and education. I know many cognitively advanced students who are unmotivated because of the focus of public education and NCLB.

FROM J.O. IN MI: Love!

FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: "and the greatest of these is LOVE", nifty