Winning Words 3/4/13
“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush alive with God.”  (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)  One of my favorite Bible stories is the one that tells about God speaking to Moses out of a burning bush.  In my opinion, God speaks out of all kinds of nature…the daffodils which poke from the ground each spring…the birth of a child…more stars than the human eye can number.  God says, “Here I am!”    ;-)  Jack

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  Amen...His majesty and power in the mountains, and His gentleness and power in the breath of the littlest of creatures...all quite overwhelming when one truly considers it all. Rejoice and be glad; for this is the day that the Lord has made for us. May the presence of God be made known in our own souls' hearts each and every day!////JACK:  Without getting into a brou-ha-ha about National Anthems, I really prefer "America the Beautiful" as a song that typifies the beautiful land that we occupy.

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  There is an interesting book in our public library written by a person who had difficulty in relating to other people. This person found that she had a green thumb, she was able to nurture plants, because the plants seemed less complicated, and they grew and blossomed for her, and when this happy situation occurred, the gardener also grew to be able to have more peaceful and warm and giving/receiving relationships with people. Is God alive in the burning bush and flowers?--I believe so too. I also believe God is alive in the dogs and the cats.////JACK:  As long as you're naming creatures in whom God resides, don't forget human beings..."As creatures of our God and King" (words by Francis of Assisi).

 FROM ILLINOIS LIZ:  Like.////JACK:  God is in the "weed," too.  BTW, what is a weed?////LIZ:  a weed is a plant that needs no cultivation to thrive & that no one likes. queen anne's lace being an exception.
i was gathering a bouquet of it years ago when a lady yelled out of her car, "those are weeds, ma'am." ////JACK:  Even though weeds (tares) are mentioned in the Bible, I have a hard time understanding why God would create something that has no use.  Some people call other people, "Weeds."////LIZ:  weeds are food for deer and rabbits. they help replenish oxygen & soil. & prevent erosion. everything has a purpose!

 FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  also...our spirit guides and earth angels.////JACK:  Your song for the day is "Earth Angel" by the Penguins.  Do you do "doo wop?"////MARY:  oh yeah!   thanks to the "big kids" in the family i am well versed in many a genre.  thanks for todays song.////JACK:  If you get tired of that one, Try "All Things Bright and Beautiful."

 FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein)////JACK:  I'm preparing a sermon on the subject of "Miracles," and the Einstein quote is now among the notes.  Thanks.

 FROM CS IN WISCONSIN:  Yes, he does speak to us through many things and in many ways…but the big question is “Are we listening?”  How observing are we?////JACK:  Well, your response today is one indicator that some "listening" is being done.  Where have you "seen" God in Rice Lake?////CS:  In the beauty of the birds that frequent our backyard; the 7 to 8 deer that walk through nibbling on whatever they can find to eat, the graceful movements of their bodies and their beautiful faces (I know I’ll complain about them this summer when they are eating up our garden produce too.)  See God in the faces of our neighbors; those who meet at Bible study each Monday morning and the retired pastor who leads us on our exploration of God’s word; the changes of seasons; the ice on the lakes; the ducks and wildlife that winter over on our river; those providing lunch for the less fortunate each Tuesday at our church.  Will miss the beautiful smile and twinkling eyes of our local funeral home director who will be laid to rest this week.  He was another of God’s servants on this earth! I’m off to Bible study…Have an awesome day!////JACK:  Thanks for your local observation of the awesomeness of God.

 FROM PASTY PAT IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM:  Greetings from Bethlehem.  God is speaking indeed in the incredible stories of hope and faith we are hearing from the 'living stones' who are in an untenable situation.////JACK:  In church, a couple of Sundays ago, we sang. "Listen, listen, God is calling."  The voice of God speaks in many ways, in many places, though many people.  "Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding"...to you in Bethlehem.////PAT:  Thank you!  Salaam/Shalom/Peace

 FROM JT IN MINNESOTA:  How true!!  I will treasure that thought because it surely fits with my thinking.////JACK:  "Lay not up for yourself treasures on earth...but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven."

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  LOVED THIS QUOTE...SENT TO ALL MY KIDS TODAY! "FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH, FOR THE GLORY OF THE SKIES, FOR THE LOVE WHICH FROM OUR BIRTH, OVER AND AROUND US LIES; LORD OF ALL TO THEE WE RAISE, THIS OUR HYMN OF GRATEFUL PRAISE!!!!!!!"   AND TO QUOTE A SAYING I HAVE ON MY WALL, "THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE BY WATER ARE LUCKY ENOUGH!"////JACK:  "By the grace of God" is a good phrase to define "lucky."  We are lucky in so many ways!

FROM WALMART REV:  This is a keeper . . . I've used it often with a little adaption: "Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes - The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries and drink beer!” 0;-/////JACK:  Root beer?

 FROM LP IN PLYMOUTH:  :)////JACK:  "The hills are a live with the sound of...God!"

 FROM GUSTIE MARLYS:  Did you watch THE BIBLE last night?  I did, but did not really care for it.  They left out too much and it was very hard to follow I thought.////JACK:  Oops!  I watched "The Amazing Race" instead.

 FROM CL IN CALIFORNIA:  How true how very true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!////JACK:  As it says in the Bible, "Verily, verily."

 FROM A BLAZING OAKS ACORN:  I’ve used that quote a few times when preaching on Romans 1:20. (“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”)  Over the past month I’ve been watching a DVD series from The Great Courses.  It’s called “Experiencing Hubble: Understanding the Greatest Images of the Universe.”  The knowledge of the cosmos we’re gaining from Hubble is astounding!  God is great.////JACK:  Hubble allows us to have a closer look at God, too.