Jack’s Winning Words 11/28/17
“I learned early that sometimes you have to dig through garbage to get anywhere.”  (Michael Hainey)  A man with a truck goes through our neighborhood each night before “trash day” picking up items he sees as valuable.  “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”  Here are some suggestions for helping to turn life’s bad luck into good:  Keep your cool!  I can learn something from this.  There’s a positive here!  There’s opportunity in this adversity.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i am going out right now to check my trash cans hoping to find a treasure:):):)====JACK:  How about going through a pile of your old sermons to see if there's a gem in there.====PAUL:  good idea!   i hope there would be a few gems in there somewhere:):):) ====JACK:  Did you ever sing this song in Sunday School?
When He cometh, when He cometh  To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,  His loved and His own. (Refrain)
(Refrain) Like the stars of the morning,  His brightness adorning,
They (Your sermons) shall shine in their beauty,  Bright gems for His crown.
He will gather, He will gather  The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,  His loved and His own. (Refrain)
====PAUL:  i recall it vaguely.  not sure i ever sang it but i have heard it sung a few times somewhere in my distant past.   i was raised in the old Augustana Synod (Swedish) and belonged to the only Augustana L C in all of St. Louis.  in fact,  the next closest Augustana L C was in Bloomington, Illinois.  we did sing from a book called Youth's Favorite Songs but i am not sure this one was in there.  i have an old copy somewhere around the house.  if i find it, i will look it up.

FROM TARMART REV:  "There's got to be a pony somewhere in that pile of manure!?!?" ====JACK:  As Isaiah says (64:6):  "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."  ...but God is able to find some worth in the mess that we sometimes make.

FROM CPA BOB:  A close friend of ours noticed that, in their trash, grocery stores had thrown out healthy and near healthy orchid plants.  Frequently, a few plants would remain at the end of a sales promotion and the space was needed.  The stores gave her permission to take anything from the trash, which she added to her greenhouse collection.====JACK:  People who go through grocery store trash are called, Dumpster Divers.

FROM JUDYE:  This WW is so perfect for today.  You are a very special person. Thank you for your prayers.====JACK:  So many things to do.....I started making a list today...and I've already crossed off three things.====JUDY:  Good for you!!  My lists keep getting longer, but I’m ticking things off too.  God bless you this Advent and always.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  I was thinking positive all day! Our third great grandchild was born today in Ohio.  Her name is Elizabeth Grace.====JACK:  Elizabeth and Grace---two meaningful names!  What's your middle name?====SHIRL:  It is Mae.  Growing up I remember a little boy Jimmy Mason said Shirley Mae De Taeye was the prettiest name he ever heard!====JACK:  Now, I remember the Mae...and it does have a nice rhyme to it.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Isn’t it wonderful someone takes our castoffs and makes a living from it?  There is a positive to nearly everything!====JACK:  Why the qualifier...nearly?====JUDY:  Well, it’s not good news to hear you have cancer, or someone has stole your car....etc etc!  I guess you could find something good?!?====JACK:  I know it's not cancer, but when I contracted polio at age 16, I didn't think that it was good news.  In retrospect, it changed my life for the better and is probably a large part of the reason that I became a pastor.  So, given the long view (which God happens to have), garbage isn't always garbage.Very true!  But you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear...one of my family’s fun sayings.