Jack’s Winning Words 11/8/13
“Lord, prop us up on our leanin’ side.”  (An old man’s prayer)  A friend of mine used to enjoy taking pictures of old barns.  Some were “leaning” like in the old man’s prayer.  With the passing of time, we, like the old barn, often need some propping up.  In fact, it’s not always a matter of age.  Where do you go when you’re leanin’?  I guess it’s different for each of us.  What are your props?  Prayer is a help for me.  So are friends.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  For me, it's trusting that people (in general) will respond with integrity (which would include a whole page to explicate). I require a lot of "leaning" on Hope in those circumstances. I trust my Faith in God's guiding hand, hoping man will not reject it.  Over the years, I have become more convinced that innocence (not ignorance) is bliss. And, once one's innocence is lost, one cannot go back into the Garden of Eden where bliss reigned supreme. Ignorance is more like pretending that one is innocent of the mess that is all around him/her. (The Christian Pollyanna comes to mind.) This doesn't mean I don't like people; because people are one of my favorite blessings in life. But, I have developed a trust in our weaknesses and our vanity instead of the innocence that hopes for continuous righteousness and perfection. It's not a negative viewpoint; just an honest one that accepts our limitations. Hence, I must lean! I think it is in Psalm 84, last verse, "blessed are those who trust in the Lord". ====JACK:  That Psalm verse could be translated, "Blessed are those who lean on the Lord."  Besides that, a prop for me are the responses (like yours) that I get from those who read Winning Words.

 FROM PH IN MINNESOTA:  i wouldn't say that i was leanin' at the time but  you were certainly a kind of prop for me when i first began my ministry, as was L.T., and a number of others.  its good to think back over our lives as remember those who helped us along the way.====JACK:  We may not be aware of it...but we're always leanin' and in danger of falling on our face, except for our friends and the grace of God..

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Prayer is definitely a help for me. Plus also strongly believing that God answers prayer. When my own congregation seemed not to be transparent (in my eyes), and I felt lonely about the inclusion of openly GLBT people in the Church, God opened the way for me to become a participant of All God's Children in the nearby, within walking distance, Presbyterian Church group where all the people are very comfortable with inclusion and openness. When my own congregation was in the throes of calling a new Pastor and again things were fairly crazy and not open, God opened the way for me to have the sacramental oil of the healing mass in the Catholic Church, again within walking distance. when a person is wisest to keep quiet, to keep the peace and wait on God to work among us, it is my belief that God gives us a place (guess it's the barn behind the house) and people to lean on and, while keeping on hoping and caring and loving, it's awesome to start being a part of what God does do then in the house. Amen ====JACK:  I've learned not to give up on God.  His time and his ways are not always in sync with ours.

 FROM MOLINER MAR:  My "prop" is a walk in the woods behind my house.  A bench out there is a great place to sit and "meditate", or just to sit and let the beauty of the day prop me up.  Old barns are a treasure and take us back to the gentler times of our lives.  (I spent my early years on a farm, so seeing barns props me up.)====JACK:  When I was a kid in Moline, we used to have a "fort" built in the side of a hill in Morgan Park where we'd go to plan our next adventure.  All age groups need their props.

 FROM RI IN BOSTON:  My three year old granddaughter is my mainstay.  She's able to encourage new vitality from this old body of mine.  It seems Isaiah 11:6 got it right..."a little child shall lead them." ====JACK:  Wouldn't it be a boring life if the generations didn't come and go?  It's sad to say, "Good-bye," but it's refreshing to say, "Hello!"====RI:  Everything around us seems to emulate Nature...constantly renewing itself...whether we like it or not.  I agree it's refreshing to say "Hello" and allow new things a chance.====JACK:  The good-byes are not always so easy.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:   I do my leanin' on the Lord.  He's always there for us.  He's the Rock we use.   (Sorry I have not written back in awhile.  )  I am fighting the good fight of several immune disorders.  And lastly, my 20 year old cousin was in a car accident and was air-lifted to U of M Hospital where he is on life support.====JACK:  The Lord also uses us to help prop others.  The prop-ee can become the prop-er.

 FROM IKE AT THE MIC:  On this theme,I thought you might want to know that that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was purchased by the Hilton Hotel Chain & their plans are to call it the "TILTEN HILTON" ====JACK:  It sounds as though you've been tiltin' a few too many.

 FROM TARMART REV:  In constant conversation and thought with my Creator, friends, inspiring sermons and Bible studies dealing with my area of concern . . . history has proven, my weakest link is sitting all the while reading a lengthy book (shorter articles catch my attention much better).====JACK:  Have your sermons grown progressively shorter in order to capture the listener who have an attention span like yours?

 FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  Don't use a prop as a crutch. The "list" can become permanent. ====JACK:  I've never seen a barn on crutches.====PFC: next time you take me so literally, I am going to assign you to my SPAM box

FROM DFL IN OREGON:  "Winning Words" is a large prop also! Thanks, Jack.====JACK:  I hear that, occasionally, and it makes the 5 am time at the computer worthwhile for me.