Jack’s Winning Words 10/28/15
“I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”  (Steve Jobs)  I’ve read some reviews of the new Steve Jobs movie.  “A genius jerk, smart and sleek…No one saw the world as he did.”  Some are enamored with his inventions, but what interests me is his desire to spend some time with Socrates.  That caused me to wonder.  Who would I choose?  Maybe it would be my dad…or, maybe Socrates..  Who would be your pick and why?    ;-)  Jack

FROM HAPPY TRAILS IN NOVA SCOTIA:  an afternoon with you would be a candidate. ====JACK:  The pleasure would be mine.  While we have had good conversations in the past....I think of what Marco Polo told amazed listeners as he recounted what he had experienced during his travels: "And, you haven't heard the half of it."  We haven't heard the half of it from each other, have we?

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Anselm....I would visit him at Canterbury and listen to his "take" on Henry I and the Papacy.....====JACK:  I'm sure that he'd be interested to hear from you, "your take" on the Papacy today and during the intervening years since his death.

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  Steve Allen had a show once called " Meeting of the Minds."  I absolutely loved it!!! He would be the facilitator of a group of people sitting around the table discussing various issues of the day. Imagine, Socrates, Jesus, Mohammad, Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr.,  Ghandi discussing the Middle East!!!====JACK:  I remember that show.  Steve Allen was such a brilliant person.  The best comedians are those who know more than how to tell jokes.  They understand how life can be "funny"...like leading us to imagine your round table group discussing the Middle East.====PAUL:  Yup!! Why can't we do that show again!!!  Can you imagine a high school or a college class having this as a project!  Just think about what everyone could learn!====JACK:  Something similar is being done by one of our high school teachers.  I plan to have a Winning Words about it next week.

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  Other than Jesus, probably MLK or Ghandi.  Would love to know how they stayed so devoted to what was right in the face of the persecution they faced.====JACK:  I can't imagine having a one on one with Jesus.  I would be dumbfounded, unable to speak...until he might miraculously put me at ease.====RS:  Yes, I believe He would have that ability to let us know what unconditional love and comfort is all about.====JACK:  The disciples didn't seem to have a problem speaking with him, even to the point of expressing displeasure (in the boat, in a storm).  "Why are you sleeping?  Don't you care if we die?"====RS:  Maybe it was because even though they believed he was the Messiah, the fact that He acted so human made even them forget who they were speaking with in their time of despair.  Human weakness is indeed amazing - but that's why we need the Grace of God.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  FDR would be one.  Lincoln would be another ...Churchill ...Columbus ...Jesus...====JACK:  Eleanor might be better than FDR and Galileo better than Columbus...but who am I to make a list for you?

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Sorry to sound so authoritative but if Steve Jobs really said that, I think he was disingenuous.  For someone as tech minded as he was, delivering some fresh, new product every few months, driven to the extreme, and demanding of those beneath him, I don't picture Jobs rapt in conversation with Socrates, unless he was there to upstage him.====JACK: It seems that you might want to work in an afternoon with Steve.====RI:  Yeah, I could use some tech help, and plenty of other help too.

FROM THE MAYOR: Jesus!====JACK:  On Easter, Mary had such an opportunity...as is described in the song.  "I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses.  He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,  And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing.  I’d stay in the garden with Him Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling.  And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known."

FROM CPA BOB:  This is a difficult question to answer, as you would expect.  (Not necessarily in preference order.) Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Moses, Abraham Lincoln, Confucius and so  many others.====JACK:  Probably "the most down to earth" among them would be Lincoln.  I think  I'd feel the most comfortable with him.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  My first thought was Jesus.  But I thought a little more and I think I would love to spend time with Abraham Lincoln or else one if my 1400's ancestors.====JACK:  If you were to talk with Jesus, it might go like this old song says..."My God and I go in the field together;  We walk and talk as good friends should and do;  We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter;  My God and I walk through the meadow's hue.  We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter;  My God and I walk through the meadow's hue."====JUDY:  That's the song I sang to Kimberly and Andy as I rocked them to sleep.====JACK:  It makes more sense than "Rock-a-bye-baby."

FROM CHESTER THE GOOD:  Probably Leonardo de Vinci. He was the Steve Jobs of his day. imagine... thinking of the helicopter back then!====JACK:  He also invented the anemometer.

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Actually, I would love a conversation with Jesus and ask Him to explain if there is really any totally dividing difference between Real Presence and Transubstantiation and also what was the reason and benefit to be had from cursing the fig tree. So far I haven't heard a contemporary person or read any contemporary commentary on these two questions that makes me believe people know the answers but probably Jesus Himself does and His answers will prevail; I keep on living with these questions.====JACK:  I'm not Jesus, but I'd be surprised if he cared much about our theological interpretations of Communion.  I see the fig tree incident as an object lesson, much like the parables.

FROM TARMART REV:  All humor and religiosity set aside, I would like to be like Christ (I'll set aside the miracles for this). I admired his ability to teach truths that stuck, how to answer his critiques and how well he used his silence and eye contact to get his points across. Masterful teacher, He was while on earth.====JACK:  An omnipotent God could daily provide all kinds of extra-ordinary miracles to "prove" his power, but a stronger kind of faith is based on the life and teachings of Christ.  Many of his miracles were of the "helping" kind.

FROM ME IN NEWPORT BEACH:  Both parents.  To thank them for all the things they did for me and for all the sacrifices they made for me.====JACK:  One of the joys of my ministry was to have known them and to have worked with them.