Winning Words 12/3/12
 "Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about reform.”  (Susan B. Anthony)  One of my favorite books is JFK’s “Profiles in Courage.”  It describes the bravery of 8 U.S. Senators who crossed party lines to stand up for what they thought was right.  They were criticized by some, but honored by history.  Susan was a person like that, too.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM DR PAUL:  Talk about being apropos!!!////FROM JACK:  It was apropos in Susan's day, too.  In fact, all of us could be braver in standing up for that which is right.

 FROM WALMART REV:  How often have we seen and experienced that ourselves, Jack, when a family would either begin attending or would leave our respective churches for another because they wanted to make a new "stand for what they felt was right"? Time was always the compelling factor for the truth of such a stand. 0;-)////FROM JACK:  The prophet Amos certainly was not cautious in expressing God's message to "the fat cows of Bashan."  (Amos 4:1)  Our preaching should be prophetic, as well as grace-full. .////REV:  My heart says "prophetic", but some of those earlier sermons I go back and look through at times come up a little on that pathetic side . . . "Because of His grace, I do carry on stiving for more excellence in proclaiming the Good News.////JACK:  God seems to find ways to give us a nudge.

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  This reminds me of my frustation with "normality". I like Maslow's comment regarding normal: "...normal is the psychopathology of the average, the sickness of the everyday...", and so common it goes unnoticed ordinarily. Heavenly Father, open our eyes to the sickness of normal and normality and guide us to the uncommonly blessed things which are not of this world! Let us make this our expectation and standard. ////FROM JACK:  I like the job description for a pastor..."to comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable."  Perhaps that is normative for all who seek to be God's people.

 FROM HY YO SILVER:  Terrific line!////FROM JACK:  Feel free to pass it on to your Congressman.

 FROM MY ATTORNEY:  There is an old expression I heard that seems to apply:  "If you want to lead the band, you have to turn your back to the crowd."  In some cases, doing that can lead you to reform school!!! ////FROM JACK:  "Old" expressions sometimes have a way of taking on "new" applications.  BTW, Reform School isn't a bad idea, if the person going there is truly re-formed.

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  Too bad there are any lines at all. We're all in this together. Reminds me of when we were kids on the play ground, and the "bully" would draw a line in the sand and dare us to cross it. Some people never grow up.////FROM JACK:  There will always be dividing lines, I'm afraid.  I'm thankful for those brave souls who try to make this world a better place by crossing the lines.

 FROM CL IN MICHIGAN:  I wish there were more people like this in congress and all forms of Gov't including the Church////FROM JACK:  There are some.  It's too bad we don't always give them the support and encouragement that they deserve...in the government and in the Church.

 FROM KF IN MICHIGAN:  I am going to add that book to my reading list!////FROM JACK:  Some courageous actions have been taken to make our country what it is today.

 FROM RS IN TEXAS:  Sort of like the congressmen who crossed party lines to vote for the 13th amendment to the Constitution.  Didn't realize the details of all of that until we saw the movie "Lincoln." ////FROM JACK:  I like the saying..."Throw caution to the wind."  Sometimes our decision making isn't based on caution.  It's a matter of heads or tails.