Jack’s Winning Words 7/17/15
“Always appear to be more than you appear and never appear to be more than you are.”  (Angela Merkel)   "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Angela!"  Forbes Magazine calls her “the most powerful woman in the world.”  She’s not only the Chancellor of Germany, but is the de-facto leader of the European Union, too.  Male, or female, leadership is difficult, and her WWs today describe what it involves.  What qualities are you looking for in “your” leader?    ;-)  Jack

FROM TARMART REV:  ...politically speaking, "trustworthiness" of late?! 0:-/====JACK:  The quote can apply to any of us...but, specifically, it apply to a senior pastor, a spouse, a confidant, a teacher, a doctor.  You get the idea!

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  not sure I understand this one, Jack.  it sounds like a contradictory statement.  perhaps its intended to be just that...====JACK:  Parse the quote and apply it to yourself.  1. There is more to you or anyone) than what people see and hear.  2. Don't pretend to be more than you really are.  When that kind of falseness is discovered, people will suspect that other things about you are not true, even though they might be.  3. This is what we want in our leaders.

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Angela Merkel could easily pass for a frumpy housewife, but appears to have played her cards well politically in communist East Germany, honing her political skills while a member of the GDR parliament.  When that regime fell, and reunification of Germany took hold, Frau Merkel clearly appeared to be a strong candidate when it came time to elect a new Chancellor.  She has gone beyond that to achieve a strong position of leadership in Europe, and a formidable negotiator for the European Union.  From all appearances, she is on a democratic course, but some in power are hesitant about her, due to her early life as a supporter of socialism.  It appears Chancellor Merkel may have kept one characteristic of her political life in the former communist state:  Use caution in expressing what you are up to...you never know how it will later be used against you. ====JACK:  I like the quote because it seems to express who she is...now.  While the past is still a part of us, we need to accept the fact that the past is past.  I believe in the possibility of redemption, or else, "my preaching is in vain."====RI:  Redemption...yes.  Moreover, change is constant, and one should be able to change one's mind.

FROM ANONYMOUS:  The leaders I look for and admire and trust seem to be people who are genuinely responsive to the needs of the most marginal in society. These leaders listen to the voices of others that many more-privileged people judge as contemptible and not worth anything to anyone yet leaders I follow find the marginal truly "the first" in the Kingdom of God and so these leaders become truly "servants" and a result is that more peace and justice blossoms from these leaders' work in society and I feel more hope and love and peace and happier too.

FROM HS IN ILINOIS:   And she is the daughter of a Lutheran Pastor from the East Zone. ====JACK:  Do you know if the GDR allowed Church practices during her growing up years?  If not, her father must have had some other job.  I'll have to research that further.  A quick scan shows that the Christians (particularly Protestants) were kept under pretty tight control.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:   I WISH WE  HAD SOME LEADERS WHO COULD NEGOTIATE, COMPROMISE, AND LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OF AN ISSUE, THEN GET SOMETHING DONE! WE'VE NEVER BEEN SO ON OPPOSITE POLES BEFORE IN HISTORY....WITH VEHEMENT CRITICISM OF ANYTHING THE PRES. OR ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER PROMOTES!!! :-(====JACK:  I hate to say that there's "never" been  such polarization.  I celebrate the fact that women were given the right to vote, poll taxes have been eliminated, an African-American is our President.  As the old commercial once put it...."We've come a long way, baby!"

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  I'm not even sure how to be more than I appear or less than I am.  I guess that's why she is the Chancellor and not me.====JACK:  We each have our niche.  Did you ever learn this song in Sunday School?
Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,  Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, we must shine,  You in your small corner, and I in mine.

FROM CHESTER THE GOOD:  Some of the people are more than they appear all of the time, and all of the people are more than they appear some of the time, but sometimes some of the people need to just disappear.====JACK:  Do you ever watch the show, The Carbonaro Effect?  Michael can make things disappear.

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  i like a leader with courage and confidence as long as it is accompanied by a big helping of humble pie and a kind spirit.====JACK:  There is actually a recipe for Humble Pie, but it's so gross that I'm not going to post it, let alone eat the stuff.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  honesty. fearlessness. one who believes in america, & isn't ashamed of her... sounds like donald trump!====JACK:  I thought you were committed to Rand Paul.