Jack’s Winning Words 5/16/14
“A book that is shut is but a block.”  (Thomas Fuller)  Grandson Jason visited the Library of Congress recently and sent me a picture of a page from the Gutenberg Bible. Have you heard the song, “Dust on the Bible?”  A Bible that is never opened, whatever the version, is just a block.   Right now I’m opening the “Possibility Thinkers Bible” to Psalm 121.  Is there a book that you’ve been reading that’s a “good” one?    ;-)  Jack  

FROM PH IN MINNESOTA:  i read that Psalm at nearly every funeral i have ever done. its a dandy.====JACK:  Have you every seen the Possibility Thinker's Bible...where all of the positive portions are highlighted in blue?  Psalm 121 is one of the passages.

FROM IKE AT THE MIC:  On that theme my favorite "Ikeism" is "DUSTY BIBLES LEAD TO DIRTY ROADS."====JACK: Dust on the Bible was sung by one of your favorite country singers, Hank Williams.  Here's the last stanza..."Dust on the Bible, dust on the Holy Word    The word of all the prophets, and the sayings of our Lord    Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds    Get the dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul."

FROM TARMART REV:  "Hope Again" by Chuck Swindoll has caught my attention in recent times . . . just picked it up this week. I like to listen to books read as it seems to catch my attention better. Monday, perhaps!!====JACK:  Are you reading books like that while waiting for "customers" at Target and WalMart?  Or, are you just eating popcorn?====REV:  Found it hard to read anything while in Walmart or Target as my head is bowed and attention is drawn away from those walking in or by me...they feel they are interrupting and keep on walking by.====REV:  What causes someone to stop...and then sit down?====REV:  ...a welcoming smile, sometimes a hug...but most times it is a standing conversation at the outside rail in front of my high top table at Subway in Walmart and a request, "Got a moment?"... If anything needing more attention, I have moved over to another out-of-the-way table away from the oncoming traffic of people.

FROM TS IN INDIANA:  Yes - "Zion on the Mississippi"====JACK:  A religious group established  a city in northeastern Illinois to be based on God's teachings.  They named it, Zion, and it's still there.  However, it has become an ordinary city.====TS:  Interesting,        This book I referenced "Zion on the Mississippi" is about the establishment of the LCMS in St Louis and Perry County MO.   We really had our challenges in getting started here.====JACK:  The name, Zion, can be used to describe different places, but mainly, the place where God is.  I recall that Zion is often used as a name for Missouri Lutheran congregations.
   
FROM BB IN  ILLINOIS:  Yes! Lieberman’s book on the Sabbath.  Explains traditional/orthodox Jewish observances as well as highlighting the need and benefit of observing this commandment.  Inspirational and at times funny.====JACK:  Did you know that some of George Gershwin's music is based on music from Jewish religious services?   

FROM BLAZING OAKS  !HA! Soooo MANY books, so LITTLE time! :P.Yancy,(What's so Amazing About Grace, The Jesus I Never Knew, etc.) La Mott, A.Quindlen, Baldacci, Mccullough's bio's, Kate Middleton novels, Doris K. Goodwin (A Team Of Rivals; the best book I ever read about Lincoln!, and No Ordinary Time, and The Bull Pulpit, etc. etc, terrific!) I could go on all day; Loved Harry Potter, and Erma Bombeck  and mystery thrillers, and love stories!  The book I am reading right now "A Thousand Sisters: The worst place on Earth to be a Woman" by Lisa Shannon is a heart-breaker, about the violent, and endless war in the Congo, with the rape of 100's of 1,000's of women and children, maiming and killing of men., women and children...and yet survivors persevere, and even have hope for better days...We are so far removed from this situation, but we need to know and care, and support those who work with these people!====JACK:  Do you get those books from your local library?  Or, does your church have a library?  Or, do you patronize a religious book store?

 FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  A MIND THAT IS SHUT IS BUT A BLOCKHEAD. ====JACK:  It looks as though Lucy, from Peanuts, is influencing your choice of words.  Pretty soon you'll be shouting, "Good grief."

FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  OK. But we should thinking of them as building blocks. Lots of potential in those “blocks” you can build with.  Since I own a small library of books in the 1,000’s I have to justify stacking up my “building” supplies.====JACK:  I have shelves full of blocks, too.  Some have been opened more than others, but all have been opened more than once.  Some are real favorites.  On the other hand....
 
FROM HUNGRY HOWIE:  A mind that is shut is a problem.====JACK: A discerning mind is the best kind to have.

FROM KF IN MICHIGAN:  Our house is filled with books; almost every room, all 3 floors; ). My conversation-starter at parties is "what's on your nightstand"? I got books from Steph & Rose for Mother's Day (food & travel). I am checking out a volunteer job at the Birmingham library sorting books! I LOVE books!!!====JACK:  I, too, love books.  One that is still a block has the title, "500 of the Weirdest & Wackiest Web Sites."