Jack’s Winning Words 11/21/17
“When you press the pause button on a machine, it stops, but when you press the pause button on human beings they start…to think, to reflect, to reimagine what is possible.”  (Thomas Friedman)  Best-selling author, Friedman, is an explanatory journalist who translates English into English.  In his new book, he gives advice on how to navigate in this world that seems out of control.  Don’t be swept up in the moment.  Pause….Think!    ;-)  Jack

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  sometimes it is really hard to do this,  especially when the agenda for the day is quite full.  but it is good advice nonetheless...====JACK:  You made the point!  The tile of his book is, "Thank You For Being Late."  Because someone was late for an appointment, it gave him time to pause and think and ponder.  It's a book that a busy person like you should read.
====SP:  a college classmate of mine is an international lawyer whose office was on the 95th floor of the World Trade Center.  she lives in New Haven, Conn. and on the morning of 9/11/01 she was late for work by about 45 minutes.  had she arrived on time that day,  she says she would have certainly be in her office at the time of the attack.  but once the attack began,  all commuter trains into the city stopped.   true story.  her name is Connie Fardden.  one very smart woman... ====JACK:  Robert H. Smith wrote:    “The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour.     The present only is our own, So live, love, toil with a will,
Place no faith in Tomorrow, For the Clock may then be still.”====SP:  what a great quote.  i have a New Year's sermon and this one will go in the file for sure.

FROM HY YO SILVER:   Beautiful.  Greetings from Israel!====JACK:  Are you having time for contemplation while in Israel?  I'm wondering if the members of Congress have a "pause" button so that they can reflect before they react.  What has been your experience?====HY:  My experience has been incredible My tenth time but still unique and special. Have you been there?====JACK:  I’ve had two opportunities to visit Israel and the Holy Lands.
1. The manager of the El-Al office in Detroit offered me a trip, but a rash of bombings took place, and the trip had to be cancelled.
2. I had arranged to lead a tour of the Holy Lands, and people indicated that they wanted to go, but, again, there was unrest in the destination and people backed out, one after another.
Soooo....I’m now content to read about it in the Bible and let you and others make the trip.
====HY:  Jack, please...you must go.  DO IT.  It's safe and wonderful.====JACK:  I think that the El-Al guy has moved on...and so have I.  Life is that way...sometimes you miss the boat (jet).  I'm content.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  If we all paused before we thought so much unnecessary pain, anger and hurt would be avoided.====JACK:  The events of the world are happening so fast...one after another...that there seems to be no time to pause, or to reflect.====JUDY:  That is so true!  It’s hard to get down to what we need to do each day because we are stuck on what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow.  I just want to curl up in a blanket and think about today!

FROM SHALOM SISTA:  Great quote -- maybe it's pressing the pause button.  It started some thoughts about "where two or three are together in my name ..." kind of positive thinking, positive talk, knowing that Christ is never out of touch with us.====JACK:  When you call to get help from a company, and you're put on hold...how do you spend that time?  It might help to consider it "pause" time, as Thomas Friedman suggests.  (Easier said than done!)