Jack’s Winning Words 3/5/15
“By my definition, prayer is hanging out with God.”  (Malcolm Boyd)  Fr Boyd last Friday.  I first met him through his book, “Are You Running With Me, Jesus?”  His prayers sounded as though he were chatting with a good friend…“Here I am in church again, Jesus.  Save us from the sin of loving religion instead of you”…“I know it sounds corny, Jesus, but I’m lonely.  I’m lonely as hell.”  Will they use fancy language in heaven?  What do you think?    ;-)  Jack

  FROM HONEST JOHN:  They will speak Swedish there.====JACK:  One of my seminary professors, A.D. Mattson, told of a time when his little daughter came to him in tears.  Evidently, they'd been having a discussion about God in Sunday School.  "Papa, God's a Swede, isn't he?"

 FROM TARMART REV:  That's surely fits my understanding of, "never stop praying." (I Thessalonians 5:17 NLT).====JACK:  Those who take the reading of the Bible literally must have a problem with, "Pray without ceasing."====REV:  Not a problem in my life . . . In constant dialogue all day . . . I imagine I'm found guilty of doing most of the talking!!====JACK:  Read, Psalm 46:10!  "Be still and know that I am God."

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I think we'll use honest language.====JACK:  No need for obfuscation!

FROM PC IN MICHIGAN:  I think I'm looking for the book!====JACK:  If the library doesn't have it, you can buy it online (Half.com).

FROM MV IN MICHIGAN:  I think far too many, including myself, love religion instead of Jesus. But not just Christianity but look what’s being done in the name of religion in The Middle East. ====JACK:  Many of the world's religions espouse good moral and spiritual principles.  It's the misinterpretation of them that causes the problem...Islam, Judaism, Christianity, you name it.

FROM GP IN MICHIGAN:  I believe I may have told you that Malcolm Boyd was an acquaintance and a client of mine many years ago when we both lived in Ann Arbor.  I arranged to have him as a speaker at one of our men's retreats sponsored by our church.  He was a very interesting man. ====JACK:  Usually, when we meet up with "famous" people, we find out that they are just people.  The cover of his book (Published in 1965) shows him with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth.

FROM ST. PAUL IN MESA:  I well recall reading this small but very popular book back in my college days.  fond memories...====JACK:  Boyd was part of the mid-60s marching/protesting movement.  He was also a campus pastor at Colorado State Univ.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  I think God already has it planned for me...for all of us believers.  We will communicate with him just like the disciples talked with Jesus.   Something to look forward to. ====JACK:  Since you have no preconceptions, you won't be disappointed.

FROM CH ON CAPE COD:  I think there will be simple and fancy language!  There can be great beauty, joy and playfulness in unusual words.====JACK:  I would not be surprised if there were no words at all, but an entirely new way of "understanding" between God and his souls.