Winning Words 7/19/12
“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”  (Theodore Roosevelt)  TR was the USA’s youngest president and was known for his progressive ideas.  He cared about nature and pushed for conservation.  He cared about people’s health and pushed for gov’t regulation of food and drugs.  His views weren’t always popular, but he cared about doing things the right way.    ;-)  Jack

FROM DOCTOR P:  TR was such an interesting person.  Although John Muir is designated as "The Father of the National Park System", TR was responsible for expanding that system and passing laws like  "The Antiquity Act"  to preserve precious historical sites.  TR National Park in North Dakota is just beautiful and has its own Bad lands (comparison to South Dakota).  When Roosevelt Elementary School (Named after TR) was going through a renaissance, I suggested our logo become "The Rough Riders."  That didn't go over very well!  LOL////FROM JACK:  Why can't "people" see the value of our good ideas?  I guess that's why we continue to pursue teaching, gratis.

FROM SAINT PAUL:  Jack,  this quote should be the summary statement for ALL parish ministry.  it was mine.  when pastors live by this motto,  they will generally do quite well.   they have to bond with their people.  by the way,  TR went to Africa on safari after leaving the White House and shot over 500 big game animals. yet, he was a conservationist.  go figure.////FROM JACK:  We all have incongruities in our life.  That's God created such a thing as grace.


FROM BLAZING OAKS:  These really are winning words...so true. What a colorful President (and family) the Theodore Roosevelts were!  He didn't seem to compromise about being himself!   I read recently an anonymous quote:"Each person has a choice in life: He may approach it as a creator or critic, a lover or hater, a giver or taker." I think T.R.was at times, all of these! So, maybe, are we ?////FROM JACK:  We are who we are, for better or worse.  I remember the story of someone who wore a button which read: PBPGINFWMY.  People who asked about it were told:  Please Be Patient God Is Not Finished With Me Yet.How true that is.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  But sometimes you can do too much, and people don't take any responsibility for their actions if everything is done for them.////FROM JACK:  Like the Bible says, "God helps them who helps themselves."  Oops!  That's Ben Franklin and not the Bible.  The Bible story that fits is the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

FROM RS NEAR ORLANDO:  I wish he were here today.  We bought some grub at a place and got food poisoning.  We tied to alert the community by calling the Health Dept.  FORGET it; they didn't answer any of the many numbers they offered.  So we called the Police Dept, another wasted call; said it isn't in the city; so we called the sheriff's dept. and this gent tried to get through to the Health Dept.  no luck.  He said he & his wife never eat out any more; they encountered the same problem.  Maybe Teddy could have shaken the cobwebs out of the H. Dept. We don't quit easily, but we did this time.////FROM JACK:  Maybe you should pay a visit to the Health Dept and be sure to carry a big stick.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  He was a great President.  My husband's niece and nephew are both youth pastors.  They use this saying about children.////FROM JACK:   35,000 ELCA youth are gathering in New Orleans this week.  It would be a good message for them.

FROM PRAW IN ILLINOIS:  I just discussed this topic with my favorite College prof yesterday. It is his method of teaching and he is known widely for  his caring about students.////FROM JACK:  I like the term, pastor.  The one called to lead a congregation should be pastoral, like a good shepherd.