Winning Words 6/12/13
“What do we live for, if not to make the world less difficult for each other?”  (George Eliot)  “Alfie” is a film about a self-centered young man who is led to question his reason for being.  Burt Bacharach put it to music:  “What’s it all about, Alfie?”  What is your life’s purpose?  The answer turns out to be, “love,” much like the answer given by the poet, and by Jesus.  The greatest of the commandments is to show love.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM HONEST JOHN:  The greatest commandment is to love God.   That opens the possibility of fulfilling the second great commandment...to love the neighbor====JACK:  Just like a pious Swede... not mentioning the love of self!====JOHN:  If you read the commandment, love of self is taken for granted ====JACK: Some people have trouble seeing good in themselves.

 FROM WALMART REV:  Ready to do the same this morning...odds are in my favor that I won't be called out again for doing so...stayed tuned...====JACK:  How early do you start occupying your Walmart seat? ====REV:  Always a few stops before...been having a leisurely lunch there lately, but bypassing the late afternoon visits for awhile.

 FROM JE AT SCHOOL:  Great one Jack. Praying for a peaceful, event less last half day of school today. Waiting to hear if bus drivers are going to show up! Waiting to see if the storms hold off until students are safely home this afternoon!====JACK:  Into each life some rain must fall.  Perhaps it will hold off until tomorrow.

 FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  Like.====JACK:  I like the Alfie song, too.====LIZ:  me, too. everything bachrach & david!

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  It's so easy to love most people and harder to love some.  We sponsor a little girl in India.  She has become a family member to each of us.  It's interesting to observe my one grandson, Noah.  He brings me coloring book pages, pictures, a little notes for her all the time.  He has taken this sponsorship very seriously.  He has a great capacity to love...everyone he meets is a friend.  He also says the most beautiful prayers, it's amazing! ====JACK:  I'm not worried about the future, when the world has people like Noah.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  "ALFIE"  WAS A MEMORABLE FILM!  AND THE SONG SO POIGNANT AND RELEVANT TO THE MOVIE MESSAGE.  BILL PREACHED A SERMON USING   THAT EXAMPLE, AND PLAYED IT OVER THE CHURCH SOUND SYSTEM DURING THE MESSAGE.  HAD QUITE AN IMPACT AT THE TIME....LOVE GIVES US REASON AND STRENGTH TO TRY TO MAKE OUR CORNER OF THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE ====JACK: Oftentimes, music can energize the will.  The "right" hymn can make a difference.

 FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  St. Francis said:  Proclaim the Gospel every day. If necessary, use words. Jack, these may not be the exact words, but the message is there.====JACK:  I grew up in a time when "saints" were looked upon negatively.  The good old days weren't always good in some ways.  I'm glad to have become acquainted with St. Francis...and some others.

 FROM PH IN MINNESOTA:  wise words, oh Wise One...====JACK:  George Eliot is the wise one.  I'm just the messenger.====PH:  and wasn't that a pen name for a women whose writings would have never been accepted if people knew the author was a female??====JACK:  Yes

 FROM CS IN MICHIGAN:  Many of your "words" hit home for me but this mornings quote  spoke to me as we try to help ease the struggles of our grandson with his recovery from a closed head injury he had back in September. ====JACK:  I can't do much...but I can add him and his family to my daily prayer list.

 FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Those are great winning words.====JACK:  There are many stories of people doing things to make life easier for other people.  We just don't always hear them.