Jack’s Winning Words 1/27/17
“What’s important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity.  In the end there are no certain answers.”  (Martina Horner)  Neuroscientists say that the brain does not like ambiguity.  “Give me a straight answer!”  I’ve found that out in leading Bible studies.  People, in general, want “yes or no” answers.  No equivocation.  But life’s not like that.  Some things are best answered, “yes and no.”   Learning is going beyond the obvious.    ;-)  Jack  

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Appreciate very much today's WW. Can't exactly put my finger on why I believe they are true, except that experience has taught me that on every side of an opinion, there is another opinion which also carries some validity and my own being opinionated has been humbled again and again. Googled Martina Horner and enjoyed reading her bio on Wikipedia. Thanks for passing these WW on--I'm sure the wisdom in them helps us all to pause in the midst of the craziness going on in this world and be strengthened in our hope and prayers for learning how to live more faithfully wherever we have been placed and to get along with others better.

FROM TARMART REV:  "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife for better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health for as long as you both shall live!" 2017-- "I hope so?!"====JACK:  What if they were able to look into the future before answering....?====REV:  I suppose it would be those who think they could change the other person that would carry through with their vows that nothing could separate them.====JACK:  I meant....If we could look into the future, some of our present decisions might be more formidable.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Yes, a LOT of things are best answered "yes and no"!  We like black and white, but most things have a lot of gray. and who among us hasn't changed their minds about issues, once held?  Life is constantly seeking, learning, and adjusting to new concepts or a new "take" on old ones!  There seem to be immortal things we cannot know for certain in this mortal life, but we hold on to our faith in an unchanging God!====JACK:  To my mind...Many of the "growing" churches these days are ones where people are given black and white answers.  "Gray" does not necessarily mean untrue, but sometimes that's hard to explain...or to get across.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We've been doing Bible studies everyday.  Paul Mayer and a lot of others have worked on proving Jesus not only lived, died and rose from the dead but it has been recorded down in many places in history, over 100 records of "Christo".  The archaeologists have found the grave of the high priest Caiaphas.  The different records are written down by several historians, Pliny, Josephus are two.  We love learning and the more we learn the more we search.  Of course, we believed in our Lord and Savior before the proof but it helps when I go to lunch with my gnostic friend.====JACK:  Does relying on proof make one a gnostic?  "I know!"  Does relying on proof take away the need for faith?  ....ambiguous questions!

FROM BB IN ILLINOIS:  Could not agree with you more…and, the grey/gray area is actually interesting if you give it a chance.  To me, one of the best things about growing older is the ability to hold different ideas at the same time and appreciate the merits of each.====JACK:  Blessed is that person who can appreciate their own beliefs, which letting others hold on to their's.  I don't like to play the game..."Mine is better than yours."

FROM AW IN ILLINOIS:  Right. I am reading a new biography of  Eddie Rickenbacker....and that was his attitude toward so many difficulties in his life.====JACK:  We are influenced by our own experiences.  If we had gone through what Eddie experienced...  I wonder.