Winning Words 8/2/11
“We’re all misfits, but God loves us anyway.” (Will Campbell) I read recently that Lady Gaga was a misfit in high school. Are you surprised? The article goes on to ask, “Do you think Jesus might be voted, Most Likely to Succeed by his classmates in high school?” That’s an interesting question, isn’t it?. Today, concentrate on the fact that God loves you, regardless if you are Lady Gaga, or just YOU. ;-) Jack

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY: do you remember" the island of misfit toys"? i think it was in the christmas special ,"rudolph the red nose reindeer". i loved those misfits. they made me comfortable. reminded me a bit of myself!
////FROM JACK: I' m glad that you felt comfortable with today's quote. A misfit is the new normal. Some people dress in outlandish costumes; they're just hidden from our eyes.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Lady Gaga is still a misfit. She's a very popular millionaire too. We are all misfits in some ways, but we are also blessed with specialties. Everyone is the same but different too. The important thing is God loves us as we are. Perfect!////FROM JACK: Lady Gaga is a lot like we are. The more we know about someone, the more we understand them. Since God is all knowing, he is also all understanding.

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER: A "misfit" is somebody who doesn't fit your idea of "fit."////FROM JACK: I don't know about you, but there have been times when I've felt like a square peg in a round hole. Or, like the time when I brought a "suburban-type" sermon for preaching in an inner-city congregation. I wound up throwing the notes away and just talking to (and with) the people.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: In some schools in Florida, the most likely to succeed student vote has been done away with because the parents think that it is not fair and too upsetting to everyone involved. Yesterday I just learned that in the Orlando schools there could be a many as 19 salutatorians and valedictorians. So, is everyone concerned about being a misfit these days/ I guess that it is all within yourself. It is interesting that so many people are moving around the world to find a better place for themselves to live and work. It is a quest for what everyone is seeking -peace within oneself-don't you think?////FROM JACK: A quote by Chester Finn, Jr, President of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, seems to fit. “Once everyone’s wearing rhinestones, you might not notice someone wearing diamonds.”

FROM BLAZING OAKS: It's nice to know you don't have to be beautiful, thin, young, smart, rich or physically perfect, to be loved by God, isn't it? He loves us just as we are. It takes some folks a long time to realize that!! Especially with the emphasis in our media culture. One of the best books I ever read is THE FLAMES SHALL NOT CONSUME YOU by Mary Ellen Ton, a very attractive Baptist Pastor's wife, who was horrible burned in a church fire. If your self-esteem is all tied up in how you look, you need to read her book! (Which I suppose is out of print by now..) Good WW today, again!////FROM JACK: Sometimes the harshest judge regarding how we look...is the mirror. What's your opinion of People magazine?