Jack’s Winning Words 5/3/18
“All the people like us are, WE, and everyone else is, THEY.”  (Rudyard Kipling)  WE watch MSNBC and THEY watch FoxNews, or is it the other way around?  A sad characteristic of today’s society is the growing divide between people and the growth of xenophobia.  Rich or poor (shrinking middle class), racism, classism, conservative or liberal.  I’m not suggesting that homogenization is the answer, but I’d like to see more reaching across the divide.    ;-)  Jack

FROM WALMART REV:  "...with my hand outstretched, I share a hearty 'Amen'!"====JACK:  WE make a great pair!

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  Amen.====JACK:  A second agreement of today's WWs.

FROM HY YO SILVER:  Amen====JACK:  The 3rd response is another Amen...the triple Amen, the trifecta!

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  then quit dividing us into angry groups w/“different” goals. we are people, not gays, blacks, women...don’t perpetuate stereotypes, & they will go away.====JACK:  I agree that it would be good if we could get rid of stereotypes, but even Jesus said, "The poor, you will have with you always."  Communism or socialism (equality) ...a "fair" idea that hasn't seemed to work.  But, all in all, the world needs "idealist" such as you.  We all needs...goals.

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Unfortunately, the extremes have pushed the center out of existence.   We saw this in the church in the 90s and early 00s.   Now we have a far left ELCA and two far right cast offs.   The question is no longer, "Can the center hold?"    It is now "Whatever happened to the center?"    (I, by the way, used to occupy the center.    Now I simply have no place in the church). ====JACK:  The Church has never been perfect.  That's why each age needs its reformers.  Not all of them have been as successful as Luther (He had his problems, too!), but (as in baseball...as in debate), you win some and you lose some.  Do you remember the song..." I am the Church, you are the Church, we are the Church together?"====JOHN:  The church needs to reform but, as usual, is unaware of that reality.   So far, no reformers have appeared.   We have to quit making excuses for the church.   It is running amok.====JACK:  I'm sure that some Catholics feel the same way, with the actions and pronouncements of Pope Francis.  Is God an activist God?====JOHN:  Pope Francis would be a moderate in the ELCA...and, therefore, much despised====JACK:  Are you pointing at anyone in particular?

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  Lately, I’m learning that to make an assumption as to who is “We” and who is “They” can be an incredible personal experience to an awakening into the values of people I know. ====JACK:  As "the electronic voice" reminds us, we are continually "recalculating" our relationships with one another...and our own views regarding life events.  After recalculation, you're still in my friendship circle...and I hope that I am in yours.====PAUL:  Of course!!!! You didn’t take what I wrote personally, right?====JACK:  I read between the lines.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  In Springfield (IL) at least, Church Women United has a great blend of Black, White, Salvation Army and one Muslim Congregation, who all work together for community
understanding and events. I think we all have learned from one another, and there seems to be genuine affection and even love, among the Reps who meet each month.  The consensus is that we've come a long way from pre-civil rights law days, but there is still a long way to go, and the Trump era is certainly not promoting compassion and understanding between all the various factions in our widely diverse nation!====JACK:  Baby steps!!!!  We have gone so far away from the days of bridge building that it's going to take a loooomg time to get back to where we were when we could have differences and still find ways to work together for the common good.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We all have more in common but this “divide” with politics, religion, race whatever...causes us to forget what we have in common.  It’s a shame but this is a fallen world!  One day there will be nothing left but peace and love... what we ALL want!====JACK:  Divisive rhetoric certainly doesn't help.  Xenophobia is hard to overcome.

FROM BB IN CHGO:  I found myself reminding folks the other day that both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were reaches across the aisle.  It allowed them to accomplish much more than those who followed them in politics.====JACK:  The bad news is that we have to live with who we elect (when they don't agree with us). The good news is that another election can remedy the situation.

FROM KANSAN DON:  Amen!!  But not entirely new; only worse.  A question in my growing up days: Is the girl a Swede?  I’m only 7/8 Swedish, but Jan is 100% and she let’s know I’m 1/8 Norwegian.  How are you?  Life still interesting?  (Politics solves that question.)====JACK:At least the Swedes and the Norse are both Lutherans.  BTW, did any Scandinavian leader suggest building a wall between the two countries and have the other country pay for it?

FROM SHALOM JAN:  Amen, brother!  We need longer arms and shorter differences.====JACK:  We need leaders, wise as owls who give a hoot and not a tweet.====JAN:  Love your response!!

FROM JT IN ST JOE:  Oh yes,  I get so discouraged watching the news.  It is difficult accepting our country when those adjectives you named are more significant now.  And as difficult as that is...it is more difficult to recognize so many people think it is OK!  And these people are folks I respect!!  My brother, my neighbor, my friend...How can it be??  but then I remember a quote from Will Rogers. " I don't have to spend time thinking up things to say...I just listen and report what is going on in Washington."  He remains one of my favorite folks.  Thanks for the WWs====JACK:  I feel the same way about the news.  I'm beginning to limit my time with that stuff...and decide to go to bed peacefully (sorta).  I remember a story from WW 2.  A woman was in a London bomb shelter during an air raid.  She prayed, "I know that you are a God who never sleeps and protects His own, so I'm going to sleep, trusting that you will watch over me and bring me safely through the night.  It might not be an air raid, but I trust that God will bring us safely through this ordeal.  Pleasant dreams!