Winning Words 8/29/12
“God has no religion.”  (Gandhi)  I remember the sad day in 1948 when the non-violent Gandhi was violently assassinated.  M. L. King, Jr. copied his way of civil-disobedience.  Gandhi, raised as a Hindu, was once asked about his religion and said, “I am a Hindu, but also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew.”  In other words, labels didn’t matter to him.  His religion was finding better ways to help the poor.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM TRIHARDER IN MICHIGAN:  Perfect!////FROM JACK:  I suppose Gandhi had his flaws, like all of us, but I think that the world is a netter place because of him.

 FROM HAPPY TRAILS IN NOVA SCOTIA: I've heard he was asked about Christianity and replied something to the effect that it was a great idea and somebody should try it sometime.////FROM JACK:  So, he had a sense of humor, too? That was before Mother Teresa.

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I think Jesus points to the issue when it becomes obvious that He needs to tell us what love is and how to do so: "Love one another; as I have loved you, love one another." I am reminded of the parable that points to all of the messengers from the owner of the vineyard who were killed....they even killed the Son Himself, and they continue to kill the messengers. ////FROM JACK:  And sometimes they just ignore people, just choosing other interests.  "Killing" can be done in more ways than one.

 FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  Amen.////FROM JACK:  I take it that you agree.////MARY:  i would probably add wicken to the list as it honors the respect of our earth's power.  i believe if we concentrate on the "light" side of all faith, goodness prevails.////FROM JACK:  It's Gandhi's call.  Anyone who has an interest in helping the poor is religious.////MARY:  teach by example.  a jesus-like life, (as well as the other prophet-teachers-acknowledged and not).

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Watched quite a bit of the Republican Convention last night. It occurs to me that dialogue in our country particularly has to do with the best ways to help the poor. I've struggled with this all my life and find it difficult to give to a poor person without putting a condition on the gift--be thankful, be honest with me, be wise in using the gift, value education, get a job, start a business, please don't be poor any more. The motivation of giving can be so controlling and not at all giving like God gives us--figuring the most important thing is we have free will and He treasures our learning about our relationship to Him that is higher and deeper than our relationships to each other because we are all saints and sinners. That's the idea that seems the most promising to me anyway. Maybe that's why we will always have the poor with us because we will always have our selfish and self-centered ways with us too. That's where my religion really helps--Christianity really helps me to know I am ////FROM JACK:

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Watched quite a bit of the Republican Convention last night. It occurs to me that dialogue in our country particularly has to do with the best ways to help the poor. I've struggled with this all my life and find it difficult to give to a poor person without putting a condition on the gift--be thankful, be honest with me, be wise in using the gift, value education, get a job, start a business, please don't be poor any more. The motivation of giving can be so controlling and not at all giving like God gives us--figuring the most important thing is we have free will and He treasures our learning about our relationship to Him that is higher and deeper than our relationships to each other because we are all saints and sinners. That's the idea that seems the most promising to me anyway. Maybe that's why we will always have the poor with us because we will always have our selfish and self-centered ways with us too.  Maybe, in my perspective on helping poor people, I am also a Hindu, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew. Haven't studied enough those religions to know their deepest perspectives.  Hope our country is going in a good direction and the politicians are honest in their beliefs and intentions.////FROM JACK:  Gandhi had empathy.  Too many people express sympathy, but wind up blowing a lot of smoke, but showing no fire.  There's a difference between empathy and sympathy.

  FROM DR J IN OHIO:  really like this!////FROM JACK:  Gandhi's right up your alley!

 FROM SAINT JAMES:  I read your WWs every day, even though I don't always respond.  I look forward to them and really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to your community.   I don't like sending these mushy emails, but I want you to know that you are appreciated.////FROM JACK:  Everybody likes to get a word of appreciation...even me.  WWs is something that's good for me, too.  They're like a mirror.

 FROM ATTY KH:  THANK YOU.////FROM JACK:  I thought that you'd like it.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  I doubt if Jesus was his Savior.  He was to be admired.////FROM JACK: I'm comfortable with letting Jesus decide.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  I read a very detailed bio of Ghandi, and it said he read the new testament every morning, and greatly admired Christ and his teaching, but when he visited America as a young lawyer, already prominent in his own country,  he was refused entry into a Sunday worship service in a large Christian church in the South, where the ushers pointed out to him that the church for people "of color" was across town.  He said that incident prevented him from becoming a Christian, but he lived by the New Testament and teaching of Jesus.(I'm sure not JUST Jesus, as he was known as a Hindu...)  He certainly had a powerful influence in his own country! His life made a fascinating "read"!  He got his idea for passive resistance from Henry David Thoreau, and ML King got it from Ghandi...Interesting.  Back and forth across the Ocean!////FROM JACK:  That kind of thing happened, not only in the south, but also in Moline, in my home congregation.  The usher didn't turn them away, but he did tell them of the location of the "colored" church.  I was a kid at the time, but I never forgot that.  The good old days weren't always so good..

 FROM DP IN MINNESOTA:  WOW!////FROM JACK:  I wonder if Gandhi ever said, "WOW!"?  I looked up the word in Hindi, and it's, "KAMAL!"  Did you know that Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times and never received it?  KAMAL!

 FROM RJP IN NAPLES:  This is a great quote this election year as the Democrats attack Romney for being a Mormon.  So like the attacks on Jack Kennedy 52 years ago. I will pass this on......////FROM JACK:  ...or falsely accusing Obama of being a Muslim.  Attack ads on both political sides turn me off.