Winning Words 2/8/13
“Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.”  (J.K. Rowling)  Peter Larson (age 17) sleeps in a cardboard box in Minnesota, in Nov and Dec, to raise awareness for the homeless and to collect money for shelters.  So far, he’s over $400,000.  Louis Braille lost his sight at age 8, and by age 20 had developed a system for helping the blind to read.  I know some youth that I’m proud of, and you probably do, too.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM JE IN MICHIGAN:  I know a lot of youth that are amazing; several that want to cure cancer!  Two children that have already battled cancer. They do text too much, they are too excited at today's snow day, but they are motivated and at the same time know how to have fun.  We can learn a lot from our youth. It seems they put family and friends ahead of work sometimes, but is that all bad.... maybe not.////JACK:  I like this poem which causes me to remember the good ole days.
    How do I know my youth is all spent?
    My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
    But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
    And think of the places my getup has been!

FROM WALMART REV:  "When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, 'Hosanna to David’s Son!' they were up in arms and took him to task. 'Do you hear what these children are saying?'"  "Jesus said, 'Yes, I hear them. And haven’t you read in God’s Word, "From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise"?'” ////JACK:  Every age has its youth.  Sometimes people have a hard time visualizing that Jesus was a teenager doing teenage things.///REV:  Maybe a strange thought...I wonder what He would have looked like being our age...He didn't come across as desiring to stick around earth for these later years of our lives!?////JACK:  Look in the mirror!

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Adults in our church are struggling with how to "talk to the teenagers" and "engage with them" in conversation with the Bible. I told one adult how my daughter always really enjoyed the young camp counsellors at camp and would it be that the 20+ would be in our congregation now. Just wondering if our program for the youth was too much "led" by adults and not really "responding" to their concerns and questions enough. In one way, or another, feel that our youth are honest and authentic with us, many of them don't like to "pretend" interest, when I reflect I remember being like that and that helps not to underestimate the youth of today and to hold hope.////JACK:  The old days are in our memory bank.  The young people of today are creating their own memories.  Edgar Guest once wrote:  "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day."  We are the sermons that today's young people "see."

 /FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Yesterday, I was sitting in the chair waiting to have my hair "styled" (you get it styled now-a-days, not cut), when one of the young hair stylists said to the other "I wish I was older so I would be wiser."  She wasn't kidding.  She needed help with something in her life which she wasn't willing to share.  But she really needed that wisdom she felt she didn't have yet. That really got me to thinking.  Am I a lot smarter now than I was when I was her age?  I have a lot more life-experiences and have learned from them. But lifes decisions still need a lot of thinking through and a lot more prayer now.////JACK:  "If wishes were horses then beggars would ride,  If turnips were swords I'd have one by my side.  If 'ifs' and hands were pots and pans  There would be no need for tinkers hands!"  Regardless of our wishes, we live in the real world with pluses and minuses.  Part of the wisdom of old age comes from the experience that we had in our younger days.  Even the faith that is ours today is because the experiences and the people who have been a part of our growing up years.  And, so it goes!

 FROM A DAD:  Liked your quote from JK Rowling today.////JACK:  I think that it's significant that many young people relate to JKR and Harry Potter.  Some older people are able to feel the pulse of the today's youth.

 FROM DR J ON THE CAMPUS OF BGSU:  I love this quote! Far too many faculty on our campus are quick to point out the shortcomings of our students. However, I am constantly reminded of student passion to make a the world a better place. Youth want their world to be just, filled with opportunity for all, clean, peaceful, and forgiving. I think their wild optimism and newer strategies reflect HOPE and not despair. ////JACK:  The best teachers are also learners.  That goes for pastors, too.

 FROM KF IN MICHIGAN:  We've learned a lot from our daughters! We seriously believe in their higher education as they will most likely be making medical decisions regarding our health us down the road :) ////JACK:  Even more important than their higher education....They're nice, caring and trustworthy.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD ONES...WISH THEY GOT THE COVERAGE THAT THE DECADENT HOLLYWOOD YOUTH GET!////JACK:  Yes.....perhaps, Not!  As it used to be said:  "Fool's names and fool's faces are often seen in public places."

 FROM ILLINOIS LIZ:  i know lots of good kids! ////JACK:   Starting with your own, I'm sure.  I'm proud of mine and my g-children, as well.  One is a real Harry Potter fan.