Winning Words 11/25/11
“Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven.” (Henry Ward Beecher) I don’t know that God looks at our checkbooks on Judgment Day, but I’ve read that he sometimes appears to us in disguise as a needy person. Was God that bell ringer at the grocery store? Or is God behind those money requests in the mail? Maybe! This I do know….God’s people are generous and caring. ;-) Jack

FROM SHARIN' SHARON: thanks! Good words to focus on before going forth today. Especially today when it seems like it's all about shopping.////FROM JACK: I'm staying in.

FROM PRJS IN MICHIGAN: I think it is so fascinating that Lyman Beecher was the last of the Puritans and that his son was a Norman Vincent Peale forerunner.....Lyman was, however, much truer to to his faith than Henry whose Ethics were pretty relative and allowed him to be involved in some shady doings....////FROM JACK: It seems as though Henry and the Puritans strayed from purity. Paul got it right in Romans 3:10. Is the Lyman Beecher Lecture Series still in business?

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER: Charitable acts go way beyond the checkbook.////FROM JACK: I've read that God keeps a Book of Life. Some say that there's a Book of Dead, too.////PFC ASKS: God's a Bookie?////FROM JACK: He's a Good Book-ie.

FROM JO IN MICHIGAN: I always think of that phrase that says "Whatever you do to the least of those you do unto Me"...I try to live by that while driving, shopping, and whenever I am around His people.////FROM JACK: I wonder how many people follow your example on Black Friday?

FROM ILLINOIS LIZ: There is also an infinite number of charitable acts that don't cost a cent...////FROM JACK: The omniscient God is aware of them, too.

FROM DMF IN MINNESOTA: I don’t think Martin Luther would agree.////FROM JACK: Beecher wasn't a Lutheran. He was a Congregationalist. His sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe.

FROM HS IN MICHIGAN: Excellent. I'm forwarding this on to about 100 rabbis. Thanks for this one. ////FROM JACK: Oh, Oh. Each one will probably get back to you with an offering envelope. Be careful! One of them might be G-d in disguise.

FROM CJL IN OHIO: You're right about "God's people being caring & sharing, but be careful about "works -righteousness"...////FROM JACK: God is both a "mind" reader and a "heart" reader. The charitable act is what is important.