Jack’s Winning Words 2/10/17
“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.”  (Rudyard Kipling)  The writer of Ecclesiastes says that there is a time for everything.,,to laugh, to cry, to live, to die.  …and, isn’t it possible that there’s a time to conform and a time not to conform?  America came into being because of a rebellion.  But rebellion without conformity to law is chaos.  The little boy was a non-conformist.  “The Emperor has no clothes!”    ;-)  Jack

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  This morning I just finished reading the most gripping historical fiction of all time, The Auschwitz Escape, by Joel Rosenberg. This is written by a Christian Jew. I didn't realize it was true until the end. I recommend you get it at the library.====JACK:  A Christian Jew?  That's a non-conformist.  I once had a church member who married a Jewish man.  She decided to raise their son in the Jewish tradition, because she saw Judaism as a valuable religious/social asset whose numbers were dwindling.  That's a non-conformist, too.

FROM TARMART REV:  There is a present "struggle" for sure . . . Reading lately, Romans 13:1-8, and finding it interesting when noting Paul was imprisoned for sharing his faith while Nero was in charge . . . Nero's behavior as a demented Emperor (at least this is what I found) was still looked upon by Paul as to be subjected and submitted to as God selected authority. ". . . whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves" (Amplified Bible). Happy to be of another Kingdom that "passeth not away"!!====JACK:  The dilemma....how to be in the world, but not of the world.  But, that's life.  Martin Luther fought daily against "Satan," once even throwing an inkwell at him. ====REV:  I remember reading about that . . . He worked so hard for righteousness sake until he fell back on God's undeniable grace!! I'm certainly counting on it as well!!

FROM BB IN ILLINOIS:  You raise a great point. I spent an entire year in constitutional law, 25 years ago discussing SCT interpretation and Scalia's notion of interpreting the document in light of our 18th century founding fathers. I'm sure these arguments are recognizable to you as a biblical scholar.  Can we really get into the minds, hearts, and lifestyle of the Israelites 6000 years ago for the early Christians 2000 years ago. Our lack of understanding of the language in which the document is written presents only a fraction of the problem. As a child I was taught that the Bible was static, thanks to Missouri Synod. As an adult I believe the force of the Holy Spirit as well as the scholarly body of literature helps us to interpret and apply scripture in a meaningful way. To me, the constitution is no different.====JACK:  A difference:  We have a Supreme Court to be the final interpreter of the Constitution...but even those "final" decisions may have future modification.  But, with the Bible, there is no such final authority, and there is no original document.  A well-trained pastor is probably the best authority.  Authority is the wrong word...source is better.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Maybe we will get some wisdom, but everyone is convinced that they are correct.  In a strong country we need to have all views presented in the schools (which I always tried to do) and in the media.  But it is a very interesting time in which we lived.  Just think of all of the changes we have seen.  I used to marvel at the years that my parents lived through- the invention of the airplane, the radio, the car, tv etc. Plus they had two world wars and the great depression.  We have had such prosperity for a long time, but it all took a lot of work and it certainly wasn't easy. ====JACK:  "Respect" seems to be a word that needs re-interpretation these days.  I note that even the words of the Pope are being "disrespected" by some Catholics these days.  What ever happened to...the Vicar of Christ?

FROM JE AT THE WLSD:  GREAT insights today. Thank you for your winning words. They often win my heart, like today’s. We are looking for perspective as we witness “The little boy was a non-conformist.  AND The Emperor has no clothes!” May we all have a peaceful weekend.  Thank you, take care and I wish you lots of DARK chocolate next Tuesday!!!====JACK:  Conformity is often the magic word among school kids.  I remember wearing a bow tie once to be different.  Not only that, but it lighted up when I pushed a button in my pocket.

FROM ST PAUL IN MESA:  are you talking about Trump here????====JACK:  You have "magic eyes!"