Winning Words 1/21/13
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs.  Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that.”  (Howard Thurman)  It is not widely known that MLK, Jr was influenced in his thinking by his father’s friend, Howard Thurman.  Thurman, in turn, was influenced by a personal meeting with Gandhi who spoke of the power of non-violence.  Who has been your influence?  Who makes you come alive?    ;-)  Jack

 FROM WALMART REV:  Very thankful, Jack, for my parents first introducing me to my spiritual walk of faith in Christ . . . from there the list is too long to properly post.   Thanks, Jack, for taking an interest in my life's ambition to be a pastor.////FROM JACK:  It's very satisfying (and humbling) to be able to look back and see how our life has been influenced.  Who would ever guess that a pastor could find ministry in a Walmart coffee shop?

 FROM DR PAUL IN MICHIGAN:  The quote you have selected means a great deal to me.  I think it's really important.  If parents really believe that their children's happiness is important, they need to encourage their children to follow their passions.  I've seen too many cases where parents and even the children themselves, think of livelihood, and money as the determining factor in making decisions for college or work.  I know these can be very difficult discussions, but unless the passion is illegal or immoral, having no regrets as we get older is nothing to take lightly.  The more I look around me, the more I realize that happiness and satisfaction are at the top of the priority list.  What do you think?////FROM JACK:  I think back to my late teens when I was stumbling into the future.  Then, one day, someone opened my mind to new possibilities.  I shall ever be grateful for that influence.  In turn, we can influence others to "come alive."

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I'd have to admit that several people have had a significant influence on my maturation. Though, I would say that their influence was because of some uncommonly noticeable manner of acceptance, or generosity, or compassion, or patience, or commitment, or any other quality such as these. I am reminded of the passage in I Corinthians, Chapter 12, that describes the whole Body of Christ made up of its parts, and how each part has its differences, and how all parts serve the whole. Also, I am reminded of the "fruits of the Spirit", and those specific fruits --- the similarities for that which has influenced me are striking. I conclude that the significant influences I mentioned above were the fruits of the Spirit shared with me. These very fruits shared with me also touched a resonating chord within myself, maybe laying dormant, but there just the same. Hence, the true influence of the awakened spirit is indeed by the Holy Spirit. Our souls are awakened by the Spirit and the message of the Spirit can be communicated amongst the " whole Body" through our sharing of the blessings and grace provided each one of us --- in very natural, uncomplicated ways --- just like those who influenced me. May we always be mindful of our service to God, who has blessed us all so graciously, by loving (serving) others with the same full portion with which we were loved by Christ! (see John 13:34) ////FROM JACK:  There's a Bible verse that reads, "We love, because he first loved us."  Applying that to today's thought...We influence, because God first influenced us.  Recently, I experienced that happen.

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON: You make me come alive. I don't know exactly how you do it but so very, very often your WW strike a chord within me of something that's happening now like today attending the Martin Luther King, Jr., walk in Southfield with my Pastor and it's just so very, very nice to know that we take this day and make it special remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.s life. I expect to come more alive as we sing together, pray together and hear speeches together. And be more ready to go forward into a more peaceful and thanking for and being more accepting-of-the-beauty-of-diversity future. Can't turn me back. ////FROM JACK:  In his Nobel Lecture, MLK Jr commented how we've come a long way in technological advances, but we still have a long, long way to go before "freedom" becomes a reality.  Early in my ministry, the freedom marches were just beginning.  Now, the marches still go on.  I think of the song, "We Are Marching in the Light of God," where the chorus repeats, "We are marching, marching, we are marching in the light of God."

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Today my children and grandchildren make me come alive.  But when I was first taking baby steps on my walk with Jesus, it was my parents, grandparents and one special Sunday School teacher.  My daughter and her  husband are in a wonderful church with never fails to amaze and delight my walk these days.  My son and his wife's pastor also inflame and excite my faith.  What a wonderful walk!////FROM JACK:  Faith in God, indeed, gives life to our life.  As an American, the presidential inauguration ceremony (which I just witnessed) gives life to my citizenship.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  ...AND GANDHI FORMED HIS NON-VIOLENT PHILOSOPHY FROM READING THE WRITINGS OF  HENRY DAVID THOREAU (OF WALDON POND)! ////FROM JACK:  Who do you suppose inspired Thoreau?////OAKS:  ONCE AGAIN MY MAIL WAS SENT BEFORE I FINISHED...AS I WAS SAYING, ACCORDING TO MY SOURCES, GANDHI WAS INSPIRED FROM THE WRITINGS OF HENRY DAVID THOREAU,  THEN MLK RECEIVED INSPIRATION FROM GANDHI!  I FIRST HEARD "WE ARE MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD" IN THE CONGO SUNG IN KIKONGO...WE MARCHED AROUND THE CHURCH  (CONSISTING OF POLES, BENCHES, AND A THATCHED ROOF) SINGING IT, AS WE THREW OFFERINGS ON THE BLANKET AT THE FRONT OF THE "CHURCH".  I LOVE THE RYTHMN OF THAT SONG!  WONDERFUL MEMORY!! 1970!    TEACHING TURNED ME ON...I TRULY ENJOYED MY WORK WITH JR. AND SR. HIGH KIDS, AND YOU USE EVERY BIT OF TALENT YOU'VE EVER BEEN BLESSED WITH. :-)