Winning Words 6/29/11
“I believe in the Big Guy.” (Sparky Anderson) This was Sparky’s theology. He lived in our community and quietly expressed his faith with regular church attendance and with unnoticed deeds of faith. How about in a church service, instead of reciting the Apostles’ Creed, the people simply say, “I believe in the Big Guy,” and then go out and live what they say they believe? Introspection time…What do I believe? ;-) Jack

FROM RB IN MICHIGAN: I like the "Big" part because then we don't limit His great work in our daily lives.////
FROM JACK: BIG, as in omnipotent! Someone may take issue with the "guy" part of the quote.

FROM JS IN MICHIGAN: My faith is centered on the Resurrection....and moves out from there to the Big Guy...////FROM JACK: I understand where you're coming from, because we've both had similar theological training, but Sparky said, "I only finished high school, and I had to cheat to do that."

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Sparky was a great follower of "the Big Guy". He lived as he believed. It would be wonderful if more people, especially believers in Christ, would be spot-lighted. I'm all for the thought of less church and more living the life of a true Christian believer.////FROM JACK: In reality, the Church is meant to be the gathering together of those who "believe" and wish to "follow." Since the Church is made up of imperfect humans, it sometimes strays from what it is meant to be. That's why our church services include the "confession of sin."

FROM BLAZING OAKS: That really says it all...if people understand who "the Big Guy" is! But always easier to "say" than to "do", right?////FROM JACK: Not everybody understands who Jesus is, either. It is easier to read The Sermon on the Mount than to follow what it says. Faith is an ever-learning experience, even for pastors and for pastors' wives.

FROM CL IN MICHIGAN: Amen, Amen and Amen////FROM JACK: When I was in Wisconsin, we used to have a Sunday School worship service each Sunday. At one point it the service it called for the children to sing the threefold Amen. The superintendent would announce that part..." Let's all sing the triple ah-men." Thanks for your triple ah-men today.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: I believe the Big Guy will take care of the church, including the church I attend. It may look like people are managing things but I don't think we mortals have very much horse-sense sometimes and the Big Guy will step in and help us to worship. I thank God every day for the glimpses of trust of Him that I can see among my fellow men and women and from-time-to-time even in myself, even battered around that these men and women usually are. Trust of the Big Guy looks paradoxical sometimes.////FROM JACK: Whose Church is it, after all? We pray for the Big Guy's guidance. Let's look for it; follow it; and then, try not to second-guess. Of course, we need to continually examine that guidance, because times and circumstances change.

FROM EMT SINGS IN MICHIGAN: Those many years ago when we walked into Holy Spirit looking for a church to get married in and Rick said that he believed in Jesus Christ and love your neighbor as yourself and you said that is all you need to believe in, you won a friend for life. I have not known him to waver in the over 20 years that we have been married. He says that The Big Guy has blessed him so much that he fears that when he gets "up there" God will kick him in the butt!////FROM JACK: That won't happen, unless someone puts a "KICK ME" sign on his back. It won't be me...because I've changed my ways.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: A great idea, of course, to live by.////FROM JACK: Do you think people would pay more attention if the Sermon on the Mount was called, "Great Ideas From Jesus?"

FROM AM IN MICHIGAN: There is a whole lot in the Apostle's Creed to help us live our belief in The Big Guy. For one, the forgiveness of sins.////FROM JACK: You're right about that. As an aside, before the Apostles' Creed, was the Nicene Creed, and before that creed, was the baptismal affirmation, "Jesus is Lord," which sounds somewhat like, "I believe in the Big Guy.