Jack’s Winning Words 12/5/14
“Whatever happens in your day…Hope…Crap…Surprise…Crap…Hope.”  (Sent by BG)  This relates to a real person, living with the ups and downs of life.  The day has gone great.  God is good.  Then comes the next day with a lot of crap.  “God, where are you?”  The following day has a surprise.  There’s good news.  The crap wasn’t crap.  God was there all the time.  The next day brings more crap.  Haven’t you learned to hope?  God is always there, crap or not.    ;-)  Jack

FROM TARMART REV:  A reality truth of life!! Learned that early on in my competitive bowling days . . . a winner in Oklahoma City that afternoon and an all-out failure in Wichita late that same night!====JACK:  I believe that God opens and closes doors.  I also believe that he might show up once in a while at a bowling tournament.====REV:  "Bowling for Jesus!" ... That was my motto!! ====JACK:  You probably see the headpin as Satan.

FROM QUILTING CAROL IN WISCONSIN:  This certainly speaks to the ups and downs in life.  It is great to be reminded that God IS ALWAYS at our side.  On those crappy days He’s carrying us until we can remember that He’s still there through thick and thin.  Last night as we drove home from Eau Claire we were reminded of the beauty of this earth as we watched the sun set and the moon rise!  AWESOME beauty!  Make it an amazing day!====JACK:  Along the same line, many people have expressed this truth by quoting the poem, Footsteps in the Sand (Mary Stevenson, 1936)
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
 that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  We grow up in a world of contrasts...sunshine & rain, summer & winter, health & sickness, success & failure, etc etc...so we should get accustomed to silky & thorny.  Regrettably, we aren't in control.  My day of optimism as I go to work becomes a crappy day when someone else in a rush to work crashes into my car.  And angry responses won't help.  We are delivered into this world, we adapt to life, and crap comes with the territory.  Hope is eternal and it costs nothing.  Expect the worst, and if things turn out well, savor the joy.====JACK:  A straight line on the heart monitor is a sign of death.  Life takes on meaning with the ups and downs.  Bodily exercise is good for us, too...up and down, up and down.  I'm not so sure about the phrase...No pain, no gain.  That reminds me of the man who was hitting himself on the head with a hammer.  Why?  Because it feels so good when I stop.

FROM CS VISITING IN CALIFORNIA:  So true!! Just read this to al as we sit at the breakfast table in sunny California.  We have spent week with our grandchildren while Chris and Tracie are in Guatemala.====JACK:  My granddaughter recently returned from Guatemala after doing some work among the poor.  In spite of bad living situations, most of the people were smiling and thankful for the help that they were receiving.