Winning Words 9/22/10
“Tell me what ticks you off, and I’ll tell you what makes you tick.” (Lloyd Ogilvie) Ogilvie? I thought that the name sounded familiar. He was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He became a minister and eventually Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. I’m sure that he met some ticked off people in that role. My experience has been that angry people often have “hidden” issues. ;-) Jack

MORE FROM JACK: In my reading this morning I came across this which seems to fit. It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what. The weird thing about telling someone they're dying is it tends to focus their priorities. You find out what matters to them. What they're willing to die for. What they're willing to lie for. (David Shore, House M.D.)

FROM MOLINER CF: It's the ones who DON'T show their anger who are the most dangerous. FROM JACK: How do you show your anger? Some times we become more angry with ourselves than with others. "Frustrated" is a better word for me.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: Church attendance, why do so many people feel it is not so necessary to their living their lives? This is close to home and it is also farther away. I do need to think whether "there are hidden issues" because maybe somehow my own stuff is a hindrance to people I love and cherish not being in church each week. Thanks for sharing And also sharing the M.D.'s wise thoughts too. FROM JACK: "You can lead a horse to water...." You know how the saying goes.

FROM MF IN MICHIGAN: Often, angry people just need to vent, anger worsens when they are unable to vent.
FROM JACK: I see that the courts often send people to Anger Management classes. I wonder if it works.

FROM CJL IN OHIO: Or, "Troublesome people are often people in trouble." FROM JACK: I read somewhere that the job of a pastor is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.

FROM CL IN MICHIGAN: Your comment "angry people have hidden issues" unpack that a little for me??? FROM JACK: Not always, but enough of the time to cause me to look beyond the complaint. It's almost a truism (at least in my ministry) that when someone suddenly comes in complaining about the church, in a manner that seems out of character for them.....there's something else going on in their life. Maybe it's a family problem, a work-related issue, health difficulties.

FROM SG IN TAMPA: That is also my experience about people who suddenly change, too. FROM JACK: As one the recent WWs put it: "You can learn a lot by paying attention."

FROM PC IN MICHIGAN: Have to share with you, Jack, that my husband and I arise about 4:40 a.m. and we look forward to your "Words of Wisdom" hitting his blackberry - what a wonderful start to our day! Each week I rotate thoughts of "reality and encouragement" on my overhead cabinets- so those waiting in my office have a moment of reflection if they so desire. Often, it is your Words of Wisdom placed there. I certainly enjoy this one - reminds me to reflect on what is important in life and where priorities should be. Earlier this week I connected with Gleaners Food Bank to once again offer our business location as a food collection site. The working poor. That's what ticks me off.....Working in today's political environment has it's challenges - I often glance at my computer where I have noted the words of Psalm 23 - Shepherd me O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears...from death into life. It's good to be reminded of what is actually important - what ticks us off. Okay - off my pulpit :-) FROM JACK: That's a good sermon, if I do say so myself.

FROM BP IN FLORIDA: Lots of truth to this but I also have to question why folks with issues have to be considered angry because of their issues???? FROM JACK: "Angry" is in the eye of the beholder. When some judge was asked to rule on whether something was pornography or not, he said: "I know it when I see it." The point I was trying to make is that when people come to me upset about something (especially when it's out of character for them), I'm concerned that there might be another issue going on in their life. We are complex individuals.

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: Wise words - we're all ticked by something sometime! My husband Bill was chaplain of the IL senate for 10 years. (While also serving as pastor of Elliott Ave. Baptist Church in Sprfld.) You get a pretty good look at what makes a politician tick! FROM JACK: Even though many people have negative feelings about politicians, when you get to really know them, they are human beings for better or worse, like the rest of us.

FROM PRPH IN MINNESOTA: you got that right! and the anger often comes out sideways too... FROM JACK: ...and sometimes the angry person just leaves without revealing the reason, but that's the way it goes.