Jack’s Winning Words 11/28/13
“Do not wait.  The time will never be just right!”  (Napoleon Hill)  I read of a man in Ohio who set up a tent outside of a Best Buy store last Monday at 5 am, in order to be 1st in line on Black Friday.  Not just today, but every day is a time to decide what’s most important in life.  Thanksgiving is really a time to puts things into perspective.  A friend told me that at their Thanksgiving table, each one stated what they were thankful for.  Her little grand-daughter said, “Brown sugar.”  That’s what thanks-giving means..    ;-)  Jack

 FROM PH IN MINNESOTA:  (Received at 6 am)  hey, have you become an insomniac?  go back to bed.
====JACK:  I slept in today  and didn't get up until 5:01 am, so I missed being first in line at Walmart..

 FROM LS IN MICHIGAN:  ...responding to your words this morning - I am thankful for your writings each day to look forward to and to begin my day w a prayer, expressing my grateful appreciation at being granted another day .  Your words present the basis for a moment to reflect and process  what you choose to bring into my life each morning - I enjoy being w you each morning so thank you for doing your work w integrity and passion ====JACK:  Thanksgiving ought to be observed more than once a year.  How about once a day?  Each morning, as I send out Winning Words, I'm thankful for being able to be in computer touch with my friends.

 FROM TARMART REV:  Always thankful for family and friends ====JACK:  ...and the opportunity for you to do ministry in a variety of ways.

 FROM RI IN BOSTON:  The WW make a lot of sense...don't wait, do it!  My wife's attitude is "get to it."   Whether she thinks about baking something, or sewing something, or cleaning out the closets, she doesn't hesitate and it gets done.  I on the other hand have a habit of putting things off...until the weekend, or next week or?  Relating that with the matter of "thanks-giving", I have a story of my personal disappointment.  A few years ago I saw a news item about an accomplished man who had helped me significantly when I was studying at the university.  I realized I should write him, to thank him for the interest he had shown in me, and how it had been so beneficial to my future.  I decided to do it, and someone I knew provided his address at a university in California.  With that I was prepared to write...but I waited.  Just a couple weeks later the man's obituary was published.  Due to my procrastination he never learned how valuable his help had been to me. ====JACK:  In 2 Timothy 4 there's a poignant account of Paul writing to young Timothy.  Paul is in prison (probably in Rome).  He wants Timothy to visit him and bring a cloak (it's cold in the cell) and his scrolls (he wants to read), and, most of all, Timothy himself (Paul is lonesome).  He adds: "Come before winter."  If Timothy delays, he will have to wait until spring when the sailing season resumes.  We don't know if he caught the last ship, or not.  We don't know if he ever made it before Paul died.  But, if he didn't, he probably uttered and reuttered a regret..."If only...." ====RI:  Your comment about Timothy needing to sail before Winter, or be stuck until Spring, takes me back to my travels in Turkey in 1964.  I was in Istanbul the end of September and made plans to go south to visit Ephesus, and to get there required crossing the Sea of Marmara.  I went to the harbor on Monday and booked a ticket on the ferry departing on Tuesday.  Tuesday morning I awoke and looked out of my hotel at rain and heavy winds.  When I got to the ferry landing, waves were blowing up over the docks, and all travel was cancelled.  The sea was wild.  Wednesday the weather calmed down enough that the ferry decided to make the crossing.  I was hesitant but did it.  With the vessels and gear they had in Paul's day, I can imagine the risk of being at sea in foul weather. BTW, Thanks for the text source of Paul writing to Timothy, and your explanation of what was happening then.  While looking into the text myself I found information that Timothy was very dear to Paul, and because Timothy's mother was Jewish while his father was Greek, Paul circumcised Timothy to affirm he was a Jew, and thus preclude Timothy being persecuted by the Jews.

 FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  As I often say, "Hesitation, procrastination, contemplation, more waitin' can not build a nation. Perspective is elective."  One of my favorites is the late Shel Silverstein, "All those should, ought, and musts-- run and hid; from one little did."====JACK:  I've always enjoyed Shel's writings and cartoons, but your reference to him caused me to look further into his life.  "Laughing on the outside and crying on the inside" seems to apply to Shel and his family.  Most of us create a protective around our personal life.====JON:  Oh, BTW, if you read Samuel Smiles (Scottish) you can see a lot of where Napoleon Hill came from.  His books Self Help and Thrift were precursors to many of the more famous American writers.====JACK:  "Smiles" is a good name for someone who's a motivations speaker/writer....

 FROM JM IN MICHIGAN:  It is reportedly Martin Luther who said, "How soon "Not now' becomes never."  Same message as today's quote -- and I need to remember these because I am a huge procrastinator.====JACK:  I have a sign on my wall..."If it weren't for the last minute, a lot of things wouldn't get done."

 FROM ES IN COLORADO:  I like that little granddaughter. I think I’m thankful for brown sugar too! 
How are things in your neck of the wood, Jack?====JACK:  The thing I liked about that little girl...She was honest about what she was thankful.  Sometimes "the older folks" say what seems to be appropriate.  Of course, when they say, "I'm thankful for my health," I guess that's appropriate, too.  I wouldn't expect them to say, "Brown sugar!"

 FROM BS IN ENGLAND:  It is my life.====JACK:  The twists and turns of life make it both interesting and exciting.  Thanks for being a part of mine.

 FROM FM IN WISCONSIN:  I received a telephone call yesterday from a pastor in Minnesota with whom I worked many years.   Ralph said he was in church on Wednesday evening, and the pastor at St. Andrews in his sermon asked the worshippers to think about a person who has been a significant help to them in life and call them on the phone to thank them on Thanksgiving.   So I received a call yesterday – which was a great gift from this thoughtful pastor.   Ralph did not wait and the time was so right.   I have so much for which to be thankful – especially for so many pastors who carried out the mission of the church so effectively – like a pastor who moved Illinois to Orchard Lake, MI.====JACK:  What a great suggestion by that St. Andrews pastor!  Sometimes people actually do listen  to sermons and follow up on them...more often that not.  I thank God for many people who have influenced me.

 FROM JK IN CALIFORNIA:   for  fun... it's  true...  :)  timing  is  never  perfect ... to  execute!   JuSt  Do  it!!====JACK:  I like "Send In the Clowns," especially the part about "timing."  Timing is so important in many areas of life.

 FROM SBP IN FLORIDA:  For me, every day is a "thanks" giving day! WW has helped me delve into myself and I appreciate and value the daily thought-provoking sermonettes. Thank!...you. I'm reading The Christmas Spirit by Joel Osteen. (Picked it up at WalMart) What a good feeling it evokes in me! Thank you John/Jack for the WWs which stimulate my thinking and generates introspection. ( I think I've said this before.) ====JACK:  Many things, days, events, people can cause introspection.  One of the most ancient of proverbs is attributed to Socrates, "Know thyself!"  When you "get a handle" on self, you are on the way toward getting a handle on other things that are happening in your life.====SBP:  And Shakespeare... a father to son..."This above all, to thine own self be true." ====JACK:  In order to be true to yourself, you have to know yourself...and sometimes that "knowing" depends upon what other see and relate back.
====SBP:  This came to mind..."Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man." ====JACK:  I'm impressed.  In what context did you come across The Essay On Man?