Jack’s Winning Words 1/6/15
“I get it!”  (Jennifer Place)  Today is Epiphany…from the Greek words, epi and phanos, to reveal.  It celebrates the time when the Wise Men came to visit the Christ Child and began to understand him as a revelation of God.  When understanding takes place, there’s a feeling of “Now, I get it!”  There are those who continue to be mystified by the Jesus & God connection.  Epiphany encourages those who “get it” to share what they know.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM TARMART REV:  Talked with a gentleman who was to do his 5th Step for me last week at an addiction center in Granite Falls, MN . . . I believe it was his mother who was Jewish, basically in nationality only, as she turned to Catholicism when married . . . the gentleman had not completed his 4th step, so we visited for a time . . . he said to me, "I have no problem understanding God and His presence for forgiveness and grace, but this Jesus concept is foreign to me" . . . His virgin birth, miracles, death and resurrection had him in a quandary . . . we visited further about it and I tried to draw our reference to Christ as one who has made such an impact throughout history. The very reason that the vast majority of the world would date our calendar of world events around him these many years should challenge us to consider why this would be, especially a whole nation like America . . . were our founders hoodwinked or did they grasp something worthy of our attention? Most likely I will not see this person again, but hopefully left something for him to think about.
Headed out again for Railroad Chaplains of America . . .  matter-of-fact, a whole team of us (some driving as far a 8 hours) are converging on a little town west of Grand Forks, ND called Larimore (a little less than 5 hours for me). A bus/train collision yesterday has found 2 dead and 12 or so injured to various degrees. The past two days with a full moon to boot has found my life involved with a trip of 60 miles to St. Cloud, MN to pray with one of our senior saints and while there having another call from our local hospital in Willmar to assist a family in the death of a good friend. I was up early on Monday for my chaplain calls as far out as 30 miles to Benson and Kerkhoven, MN and back home for the town calls, only to be called again to a fire and to assist a needy family in acquiring $1200.00 for a new furnace needed immediately in our frigid cold weather. I finally got home last evening and began preparing to teach a Bible Study Wednesday evening, only to receive this call now to head out early Thursday am for a stop at Fargo to minister to a couple of families whose children were flown there and then up to the Grand Forks area until Saturday reaching out those families there in behalf of the railroads. As I have mentioned before it all goes well for me until a few of these various chaplaincy outreaches of mine have crises all at the same time. Stayed tuned!!====JACK:  With regard to understanding and doing ministry..."By Jove, I think you've got it!"...(As Professor Higgins said to Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady)====REV:  Overwhelming occasionally . . . but most generally, very rewarding . . . by the end of today, $1000.00 was raised towards the new furnace installed and heating up the house at this moment, between our church, Salvation Army and First Baptist . . . this leaves just $200.00 for the family to pay as they can with the company willing to work with them until completion.

 FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  i also love all the possibilities and mysteries of the new year!====JACK:  God knew what he/she was doing when he limited our fore-sight.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  The Epiphany  celebrated  by the Greeks is the Baptism of Jesus.  We used to go almost every year to Tarpon Springs for the celebration.  It is beautiful and fun.  Now they say that it is the largest celebration in the United States.=====JACK:  Is that the celebration when youngsters dive for a cross thrown into the water by the Bishop?...or something like that?====SHIRL:  Yes, it is and it takes place at the Bayou in Tarpon Springs.  In the old it wasn't quite so crowded.  This year there were 20,000 spectators.  You just take a chair or a blanket and set up all around  the bayou.  Afterwards there is singing, dancing,and eating-all Greek,ofcourse. It is a very beautiful celebration.The boy who retrieve the cross this year is18 and it was his last year to  compete.

FROM BB IN ILLINOIS:  I had an epiphany this morning and didn’t even realize it was the special day.  At least now I can get the kings off of the mantle and closer to the manger where they “belong.” ====JACK:  Did you sing We Three Kings as you've them from the mantle?  BTW, I've heard that the tempo of that song replicates the plodding of camels.

FROM GUSTIE MARLYS:  We always had an Epiphany Service at BSLC.  Never have had one here.  I miss it.====JACK:  One of the ways to keep Christ in Christmas might be to follow the Eastern Orthodox tradition and celebrate Christmas on January 6.

FROM PAUL WINTERING IN MMESA:  and the Magi were also Gentiles.  the first indication that Jesus was a universal Lord and King and not just for the House of Israel.====JACK:  Israel?  Gentiles?  How about for all mankind?  We'll understand it all, by and by, as the song goes.