Jack’s Winning Words 7/10/18
“The best of us must sometimes eat our words.”  (J.K. Rowling)  Recently a man made the news by eating 74 hot dogs.  JKR has written 7 Harry Potter books.  Imagine eating those words.  But, what she’s talking about are the many times that people (you and I) have said things that we shouldn’t have said.  There’s a warning in the Bible: “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.”  If only there were a pause button connected to the tongue…but there isn’t, so be careful!    ;-)  Jack

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  And... sometimes.. that stupid thing that came out of my mouth haunts me forever!===JACK:  A person who was caught stealing sheep has ST branded on his forehead, reminding everyone that he was a Sheep Thief.  But that person mended his ways and did many good things for the poor and for the community.  Years later someone new came to town and asked about the man with the ST on his forehead.  The townsmen paused and said, "It's been a long time.  I think that it stands for Saint...A roundabout way to encourage you to forget the past and live positively in the present.

FROM WALMART REV:  Yes sir, be careful!! 0;-)===JACK:  Even the Bible has a "Be Careful" warning..."Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  (1 Peter 5:8)

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything !===JACK:  That sounds like something you learned at home.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  HA! One of my mom's oft reminders:"Keep your words sweet; you may have to eat them!"  Not always successful in teen years, but more so as we matured! I read a quote by Bishop Michael Curry (Chicago Tribune) that seems appropriate, "If Humanity ever captures the
energies of Love, It will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire."  Loving words ignite loving responses! Impressive array of Kudos for you in Yesterday's WW. I'm sure well-deserved, although that was NOT your intention. (Knowing you, we KNOW that!!) Thanks for spreading energies ===JACK:  Who was the "sassier", you or your twin (or neither, since you both were well-behaved)?  While having a multiple birth is cute, it must be doubly difficult for the mother to have 2 newborns, 2 terrible-twos, 2 teens, but it evens out as they mature.  As to yesterday...I was sorry that Goethe's quote seemed to be overlooked.  It was such a good one.===OAKS:  We really weren't "sassy"...kids didn't talk back to parents like they do these days! Or other adults, either, usually!

FROM SHALOM JAN:  Better we should eat God's words (Matt. 4:1-11) and then live on their nurture than to have what I call "foot 'n' mouth disease" to which I am so prone!  God bless you for the reminders!    ===JACK:  At least you're not entering any hot dog eating contests.  At Holy Spirit we once gave out Bibles with sections marked to be read each day.  In one year those who followed the program would have read the entire Bible in a year.  I still have a copy of the One-Year Bible.

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  Maybe Britain exiting Brexit is another example of foot-in-mouth? ===JACK:  I have a hard time with that Brexit thing.  In or out?  When they refused to adopt the Euro, they weren't really in.  It's hard to come to grips without being an Empire any longer.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  I’ve read “Make sure your words are always sweet because you may have to eat them!”  I have no idea who said it but they’re good ones!===JACK:  When I first started  as a pastor, the worship service began with the Confession of Sins..."Forgive us, because we have sinned by thought, WORD and deed."===JUDY:  Words do hurt!  Much worse than smacks.  My friends name is Charlene.  She’s not fat but she not skinny either.  One time her male teacher in grade school called her by name.  He said, “Charlene....well there’s nothing lean about Charlene.”  She has never forgotten that and says that all the time.  She doesn’t like to be called Charlene because of that but prefers Char.===JACK:  "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."  Not true!