Winning Words 4/30/13
“One day at a time.”  (A.A. slogan)  Alcoholics Anonymous traces its roots to The Oxford Group, founded in 1929, by Franklin Buchman, a Lutheran minister.  The idea was that lives can be changed…”one day at a time.”  Over a million people attend AA meetings.  Newt Gingrich said, “AA  saved my life.”  Whether it be the struggle with substance abuse, or another of life’s struggles, take it “One day at a time!”    ;-)  Jack

 FROM TRIHARDER:  One day at a time, Every long journey, Or, the pessimistic corollary, where do I start?====JACK:  Or the optimistic response, "How soon can I start?"

  FROM WALMART REV:  I'm a real advocate of AA...have spoken and continue to speak quarterly at one of our centers on "spirituality"...it was The Big Book that has been noted as the ingredient that began to turn it around from its dismal beginnings to what it is today...diluted somewhat nowadays from the original "King James Version" to include any desirable "higher power" one chooses to put his/her trust in. I try to approach my presentation from a historical point of view of the original discovery and leave the rest to the listeners to sort out. I appreciate the opportunity I have to share my thoughts.====JACK:  I think that some of the AA members can teach us in "the religious profession" something about spirituality.

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  In the larger picture of life, the statement does remind us of how easily distracted we can get from our primary "seeking"...whether it be in our effort to pacify our suffering, control the yesterdays and tomorrows, or lose track of the authority for the breath we breathe. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34 ESV)====JACK:  One of life's problems is knowing when to use the telescope and when to use the microscope.  Ultimately, God is (and is not) at the end of either.

 FROM CJL:  Keep reading, Jack.  Sounds good....and accurate.====JACK:  Thanks for giving me the information about the origin of AA.  It was interesting to read about the Oxford Group and how it got its name.

 FROM PH:  Gingrich should also attend adulterers anonymous meetings.====JACK:  It could be a pretty crowded meeting, don't you think?  Matthew 5:28====PH:  That verse is kind of a game changer.  The good news is that after the bar has been raised to such an extraordinary level, the disciples ask, “then who can be saved?”  and Jesus says, “what is impossible for mankind is possible for God”  and therein is our hope.

 FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  AA could also stand for Always Available because the support people are just that. I commend them.====JACK:  The "Higher Power" is also AA.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  There was a sitcom with the same name.  This is a great slogan.  It's a blessing to know we have one day, right now, to live, love and learn in this world.====JACK:  Bonnie Franklin, from that show, died recently at age 69 from pancreatic cancer.  She knew what it was to take "one day at a time."