Jack’s Winning Words 11/27/19 “On the 4th of July we celebrate our independence.  On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.  (Unknown) A THANKSGIVING TABLE PRAYER  (Dear Abby) O Heavenly Father: We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank Thee for health and remember the sick. We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless. We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service. That Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

.Jack’s Winning Words 11/26/19
“Every wall is a door.”  (Ralph Waldo Emerson)  When positive thinkers meet a wall, they look for a door…or make a door.  There has to be a way!  If you happen to be building a job resume, many employers are looking for someone with problem-solving skills…able to recognize the problem, analyse it, decide what to do about it and then be dependable to do it.  What company wouldn’t want Superman or Wonder Woman?  “I will find a way to go through walls!”  ;-)  Jack

Jack’s Winning Words 11/25/19
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”  (Dr. Seuss)  Do you have moments from your past that have turned into valuable memories?  I remember times spent reading Dr Seuss books with my children…The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is one of them.  Soon, a TV rerun is going to refresh my memory. Ted Geisel (Dr S) was raised in a religious family.  The influence of family moments shows in his work.   ;-)  Jack. 

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  .===

LOVE Dr. Seuss! Just used his THE SNEETCHES" as a

children's message at church. Once dressed as the Cat In

the Hat, and led a weekend retreat using the book "The

Gospel According to Dr. Seuss"...used videos of this stories

and led discussions on them. Fun!  He was so clever!

Often read his books to my kids, g.kids and now great g.kids…!===JACK:  I heard these Seuss words used as a graduation speech....Oh, the Places You'll Go!
..
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!  ...and more

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  An art museum used to have a wonderful show of his work! It is interesting that he lived in La Jolla California where I spent the summer of 1946! The museum is in safety harbor-just a few miles from our home in Tampa! Happy thanksgiving to you and your family! 😎😎😎===JACK:  H...since he ow about watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas....this year?

FROM MAMA ERIN:  So my son and I were saying the Lord’s Prayer the other night at bed. He asks about every word. “Momma, what does glory mean?” “What is a Kingdom”

My favorite was the other night when he asked about trespasses. I told him they were when we make mistakes, when we do something we should not have. His response? “Well momma, I have a lot of trespasses.” Kid, so do we all. So do we all....

peace to you this holiday season. ===JACK:  If you haven't done so already, you've got to make a collection of  of his sayings.  They are gems.  I will try to work them into Winning Words..."Out of the mouths of babes..."  

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  this one was worth waiting for!    (as they almost all are:):):) ===JACK:    You'd better watch out; you'd better not pout...or Winning Words might stop coming to you!

FROM WALMART REV:  .our post brought back a memory and experience I had in the fall of 1965 when after graduating from high school earlier in that spring and now wasn't sure what my next step was or what I wanted to do with my life. While sitting at home watching a daily late afternoon movie before heading out to the usual evening of bowling in a league, I found myself watching the movie, I'd Climb the Highest Mountain with Susan Hayward and William Lundigan. It was somewhat like an episode from Little House on the Prairie, where in 1910, a city girl named Mary Elizabeth Eden marries William Asbury Thompson, a Protestant preacher beginning his first ministry in the rural community of Mossy Creek, Georgia. Suddenly when engulfed with tears for whatever the reason, that was the occasion I felt called into the ministry and what I've been about over the past 50 years. 0;-)===JACK:  Do you know thr hymn...God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform?  ''' You've lived it!

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  Go see The new Mr. RODGERS movie ( Tom Hanks) with Joan! ===JACK:    

Jack’s Winning Words 11/22/19
“Some things are just better left unsaid, and I usually realize that right after I say them.”  (Sent by St. Paul)  I read of someone who offered a pregnant woman a seat, saying, “My wife is pregnant, too.”  It turned out that the one offered a seat wasn’t pregnant and that she was a he.  .  Oops!  I suppose each of us could share a story when our mouth worked faster than our brain.  There’s a verse from a  children’s song: “Be careful little mouth what you say.”  ;-)  Jack

FROM BB IN CHGO:  You made me smile this morning.  We’ve all had those foot-in-mouth times.

 .

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FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  .Isn’t that the truth?!? If only we could erase the dumb, cruel, foolish and silly words we sometimes say!  If you’ve ever watched “Two Weeks” with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, one of my favorites...that remark about the pregnant woman is too funny.  It’s a cute movie.

FROM JE FROM WLCCSD:  My mom says: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Happy Thanksgiving friend.

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Jack’s Winning Words 11/21/19
“May every sunrise bring you hope.  May every sunset bring you peace.”  (Native American blessing sent by Kitty)  I also see hope and peace between the sunset and the sunrise; therefore, I can pray at bedtime: ”Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”  So, whether we live, or whether we die, God is with us and we are with God.  The cycle of birth and death - hope and peace!   ;-)  Jack

FROM WALMART REV:Remembering the opening line today on the old Dr. Ben Casey's TV series (on ABC from 1961 to 1966), "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity!" I like yours better, Jack!! 0;-) ===jJACK:  ..Here in St Joe it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!===REV:  lways a beautiful day in Minnesota when you have a special friend to share it with-- even when 10-20 degrees below zero!! 0;-)===JACK:  "I've got my love to keep me warm."

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  HOPE and PEACE,, two very good words for Christians, ...

and every soul on earth. I like this meditation a lot!===JACK:  A pastor used to begin his daily radio program this way..."Up. up and away...this is God's day...are you going God's way?"===OAKS:  Yes, that  was Reuben Youngdahl? I used that as my ."thought for the day" on my S.S. background sheet a couple of weeks ago.===JACK:  WOW!   I'm impressed that you knew.

...

...

FROM  BB IN CHGO:  I still love it prayer, though I do not pray it often anymore.

I thought it was strange (but sort of beautiful) when I heard “thy love stay with me through the night and wake me with the early light”. As a Child, I never thought twice about praying, “if I die before I wake”===JACK:  I wonder when we first become aware of "dying?"  A pet?  A family member?  The first dead person I remember seeing was a neighbor's mother..in a casket''in a funeral home'

FROM QUILTING CAROL:  When our children were little, we used to say a prayer similar to yours at bedtime.  The kids didn’t like the thought of dying during the night so we started praying this:

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  Thy love stay with me through the night until the morning brings it’s light.===JACK:  I wonder when (if ever) we become comfortable with "dying?"

FROM DS IN SOCAL:  My favorite prayer as a "kid".  Of course, at the end I always added  "God bless mommy, daddy, Wayne, Roland and all my friends.  Amen  Fond memories.  

  

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Jack’s Winning Words 11/20/19
“It’s not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.”  (Rene Descartes)  I like Rene as a philosopher and as a theologian…not just for his thinking, but because he was willing to disagree with the thinking of others.  I find that I’m doing more of that as I do more thinking.  That’s how the mind is to be used, to explore new thoughts (not to forget what’s been learned).  Once in a while we need to be reminded that brains were made for thinking.   ;-)  Jack

Jack’s Winning Words 11/19/19
“It’s the friends that you can call up at 4 am that matter.”  (Marlene Dietrich) I read that Mark Zuckerberg “invented” BFF to stand for Best Friends Forever.  A “bestie” certainly can be called upon at all times, even at 4 am.  Besides that, a friend is a good listener and knows how to keep a secret.  “Low-Maintenance’ also describes a good friend.  It might be interesting to ask someone today, “What’s your description of a low-maintenance friend?”  ;-)  Jack

Jack’s Winning Words 11/18/19
“That’s the way he is all the time.  He’s relentlessly positive.”  (Richard Pitino)  Richard was talking about P.J. Fleck, U of Minnesota football coach.  “He’s like a 5^th grader at recess.”  For P.J., it works.  How do you feel, being around an enthusiastic person?  At times, I wonder about Winning Words?  My aim is to help you start the day on a positive note.    A reporter wrote that a P.J. team meeting “is like being at a religious revival.”  Hallelujah and Amen!  ;-)  Jack

ack’s Winning Words 11/15/19
“Be selective of your battles, for sometimes peace is better than being right.”  (Sent by Kathy Marsceau)  I’m sitting here thinking about how choice has affected my life.   Of course, I did not choose the circumstances of my birth, but personal choices have determined where I am today.  There’s a song…My God and I.  I see God as an active partner in my choices—not that he makes them for me, but he’s there to nudge me.  Have you ever felt that way about your life?  ;-)  Jack

FROM RE:  Good morning!  This quote has been the foundation of my current relationship. Divorce has a way of putting life, but especially relationships, in perspective. I feel like a much happier and healthier person from adopting this outlook of choosing your battles. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff.===JACK:  I'm a believer in the idea that good can come out of bad if you look for it in a positive way...and work at it.

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  One fad going around right now (especially for “seniors” is....”if you could now meet yourself at 20 years old... what advice would you give?”===JACK:  Winning Words gives me that platform...and I enjoy it.  Some 20-yr-olds are readers.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i have felt that way most of my life.     i also like the line,    you can win the battle and lose the war OR you can  lose the battle and win the war. (later on)    your choice... 

===JACK:  The Reformation was a significant battle...I had 2 or 3 in my ministry.

FROM NORM'S BLOG:  The use of the word “peace” in the quote is interesting. Obviously, it refers to being at peace with those with whom you might disagree. In the current political environment, one might substitute the word civility. Things would certainly be better in Washington if the politicians could find a way to act with civility towards those with whom they disagree. ===JACK:  In today's political climate I see people willing to give up basic values in order to hold on to perceived political turf.  That appears to have moved to a general willingness to forego basic values.  Sad

FROM DB IN WB:  I remember Johnathan Winters. He had a show back in the 70s? Then he was on Mork and Mindy, and he did occasional guest appearances. He was from Dayton, OH. I lived there for a while. I wonder if he moved back while I was there. I didn’t follow him …. What type of woes did he have? I remember hearing of his passing (2012 or 2013). I knew someone who knew him. (but he’s gone, too)===JACK:  All I know about Jonathan is what I've seen on TV and what Google tells me.  I like his improv....maybe because this life of ours is improv.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/14/19
“The world of the happy is quite different from that of the unhappy.”  (Ludwig Witherspoon)  If you could trade places, whose place would you take?  The President?  How about a sports star? or your next door neighbor?  Honest Abe wrote”  We are about as happy as we make up our mind to be.”  Happiness is in the mind.  I’ve read that the “rich and famous” have their share of heartaches.  Although I liked Jonathan Winters…no trading places with him.   ;-)  Jack  

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:    remember that song sung with the Russian accent?   Don't vorry, be happsky!     love it!===JACK:  Sung by Putin?===SP:  i think he was a soloist in the old KGB concert choir:):):)    Jail House Rock was one of their favorites along with Hank William's big hit     I'm In The Jail House Now.

FROM WALMART REV:  I think I'll hang onto me too, Jack! 0;-)===JACK:  Yep!  I've never met another preacher like you

FROM NORM'S BLOG:  Do you know someone who seems always to be unhappy? How about someone who seems to be happy all the time? Which would you rather be around today?  You might choose to be around the happy person – their world is a happy, pleasant place to be. There are smiles and laughter and good feelings that are contagious; whereas the dark world of the unhappy person is foreboding and full of frowns and tears and sorrow – not a pleasant place to be. The two worlds are different and those who choose to abode in it with them are impacted by that difference.  So, the choice is to be dragged down into an unhappy world or to be lifted up in joy by a happy environment.  Your world, and your day, will be quite different, depending upon which choice you make.===JACK:  I couldn't have said it better.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  I've thought about this, I like being me.===JACK:  Nat King Cole said it well: "Stay as sweet as you are."

FROM LBP:  Chris and I like to share a quote jokingly w each other that fits today’s WW. It’s said by the character Chandler in Friends
Phoebe: "Monica is going to rue the day that she put me in charge of cups and ice."

Chandler: "You know, I rued the day once. Didn't get a whole lot else done."

http://friends.tktv.net/Episodes5/quotes/18.html

When I get to fretting or fussing about something I don’t get much else done. I guess it moves me into that unhappy world. ===JACK:  Sometimes I rue the week.===LBP:  oh dear! now that's getting into an 'unhappy world' mindset for sure.===JACK:  ...but, then I find some stimulating Winning Words, and the "rue" vanishes.

FROM JLF:  This reminds me of mom’s saying-If everyone put their “shoes” in a pile, would you risk taking someone else’s?  Or would you keep your own?... She thought most people would keep their own shoes.  Mom was so wise.===JACK:  We are happy/unhappy when we remember...as we choose to be.  In this case, choose the happy remembrance!

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  I wouldn't trade places with anyone, because if I did I would not have the family and friends that I have, and that is unacceptable.===JACK:  Sometimes I'm envious....but after I learn a little more, the feeling vanishes.  It's pretty  comfortable, being in my own shoes.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  I am very very happy with my life as it is today!===JACK:  I think that that goes for most of us.

FROM GUSTIE MARLYS:  I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.  I have had my share of ups and downs, but so has everyone else.  I have lived a pretty good life I think.===JACK:  I wouldn't even want to be younger....been there, done that!===GM:  Me neither!  I think we were young at the best time ever.  We were naive and could trust people—we were free to walk downtown with no fear!  And our parents taught us right from wrong and disciplined us when we needed it===JACK:  As Archie and Edith sang: "Those were the days."

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  God made me me and that’s who I am and that’s who I’ll be!

  

Jack’s Winning Words 11/13/19
“Wow!  Face it…God’s crazy about you!”  (Bob Langseth)  On Confirmation Sunday Pastor  Langseth had the congregation read the 23^rd Psalm this way, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (saying after each verse…)…Wow!  Face it…God’s crazy about you.” etc.  I wish I could have been there.  I’m always looking for ways to make “church” interesting and relevant.  Now, go out and enjoy your day...because God’s crazy about you…!  Yes, you!   ;-)  Jack 

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:      That’s something we should all remember!  God’s crazy about All of us!  I’ll remember that phrase and say it often!===JACK:  The Lord is YOUR shepherd, because He's crazy about YOU!

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i once saw a bumper sticker that read:  "I'm just crazy about mental health!":):):)===JACK:  Crazy is an interesting word, isn't it....an onomatopoeia word.===SP:  did you ever encounter that word in a spelling bee?:):):)   onomotop...===JACK:  An Optimist friend (a judge) taught it to me...one of the things I didn't learn in school.  I still can't spell it without computer assist.

FROM GURU CA:  Good morning. These words made me SMILE. Thank you===JACK:  There's a song...When you're smilin', the whole world smiles with you.

FROM CG:  HI Jack!  I’m still loving reading all your messages each morning===JACK:  I hope that your work and your "cause" are going well.  You're a winner! 

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  My mother thought that it would be a good idea for me to go to all of the Bible schools in Moline! So I did! The full gospel was the most different!===JACK:  ...and I'll bet that you and God met at each of them.

FROM DR J:  I like that God is crazy about me… I’m crazy about God too! A match made in heaven ;-)  I’m praying for Jimmy Carter… what a man and what a life!  Also for RBGinsberg… what a woman and what a life!===JACK:  You're crazy!  Crazy GOOD!

FROM MARMAR:  Is this Bob Langseth who was pastor in Wisconsin Rapids I think when I was a teen in the 60's?===JACK:  You're right!  It's the same pastor.  At  that time, he was the pastor in Unity.  He's now retired and living in Calumet.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/12/19
   “Fame is prison.”  (Lady Gaga)  I once toured Jackson State Prison in Michigan…inmates yelling at us through the bars as we walked past.  Not for me.  Lady Gaga talks of another kind of prison…not being able to live freely without fans going “gaga” over her.  I think, too, of people imprisoned by physical and mental disabilities.  Do you ever feel that you  are walled in?  Poet Robert Frost wrote: “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall…That wants it down.”  ;-)  Jack

FROM EDUCATOR PAUL:  Then people want to know why almost all these celebrities have an attitude.  It said that everyone has a period of 15 minutes of fame in their life.   That’s enough for me! ===JACK:  When did you have your 15 minutes?  Or, are you still waiting?  I like anonymity!

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Enjoyed reflecting upon your WW this morning.  Also received from Franciscan Media this interesting meditation on this saint.  Mental illness, physical limitations, intellectual limitations, financial limitations, social limitations, even not having various educational/theological/family backgrounds all possible limitations...Best wishes to you and all your family for a very blessed day and for being able to keep on working for the Lord and to make Jesus known everywhere in this world.  So many of us lean on Jesus for our very sanity!!!!===JACK:  It's always good to receive your thoughtful responses to Winning Words.  Francis was a saint before the Catholic Church named him a saint. 

FROM NORM'S BLOG:  Most of us will never be famous, so we need not worry about the problems that Lady Gaga and other stars have; however, many create a prison of sorts for themselves based upon just the opposite cause – anonymity. Being anonymous is especially easy if your move to a new town or area. It is also relatively easy to become anonymous if you are a shut in. Over time, people forget about

you and you may start to forget about other people. You have imprisoned yourself, somewhat by choice.  People with whom I talk who volunteer for the Meal on Wheels program that delivers meals to shut-in senior citizens tell me that the recipients often talk their heads off during the delivery, because the Meals on Wheels person may be the only person that they ever see. That is sad, but not unusual and not limited to just those shut-in seniors.  Many people, of any age, imprison themselves by remaining anonymous in their communities. They may get out of the house to go to work and back, but never seem to have time to meet anyone local. In this modern age of air-conditioned houses and lawn services to mow the lawn, it may even be rare to see them outside. That sometimes leads to the stories that we see on the news about a person dying and their bodies not being discovered for days or weeks. They were anonymous and thus not missed.  It is easier than you think to end your anonymity, without flipping over to the problem that Lady Gaga pointed out. You don’t have to become famous, you just have to be engaged in your community. Going to church is a great start. Church people tend to be friendly and you will quickly make new friends. Volunteer in the community. There are also tons of volunteer opportunities in every community – things like driving for Meal on Wheels or perhaps serving as a docent in a local museum. Join local organizations. Many clubs or organizations may have members who are willing to pick you up and drive you to and from meetings, so even “shut-ins” can participate.===JACK:  Yes, circumstances and choice are often involved in building individual prisons.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Most of us don't have to worry about the prison of FAME, but as a teacher and pastor's wife, I was selective about what parts I auditioned for in Muni Opera and local theatre. Not a prison, but a limitation I was happy to observe, as a Christian witness!  I'm afraid the twins did not grow up craving anonymity! We loved the spotlight...We're all created in our unique way, I guess!

I, too have visited in prisons which is a sobering experience to say the least, but most inmates are so thankful for a visit, or even cards and letters to let them know they are not forgotten.  It is also very difficult to find them jobs, when they are released!===JACK:  "Stone walls do not a prison make," is the famous quote.  A nickel if you know the origin of it without looking it up!

FROM WALMART REV:  Reminds me of the old cowboy song I grew up with-- Don't Fence Me In"

 Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above  Don't fence me in

Let me ride in the wide open country I love  Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze  And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever, but I ask you please  Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose  Let me straddle my old saddle  Underneath the western sky
Let me wander over yonder  'Til I see the mountains rise  Don't fence me in

===JACK:  I used to roller skate at "The Rink" to that song.  Those were the days!

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We all have some kind of wall, mine being Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.  Most of the times I can find a door though it, but sometimes it remains closed.  It’s there though for me to find tomorrow.===JACK:  You are an inspiration to me and to others.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/11/19
“This old soldier is ready to move on.”  (PTSD Vietnam veteran)  It’s been over 40 years since “Vietnam”  The old soldier was released from his cage through an Honor Flight arranged for “Nam” veterans to visit ‘the Wall” in Washington, DC. The protests and the anger seem to be a distant memory…but not for those who lived it.  Some know what it’s like to be “haunted” by the mind. What a relief to experience the words: “Free at last; thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”  ;-)  Jack

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  good words, Jack.  one Sunday I had all the Vets stand and be recognized.  we applauded,  had a prayer,, etc.  afterward a man came out of the nave with tears running down his cheeks.  he told me that was the first public recognition he had ever received for his service.   i also know a man in our church who goes to the VA once or twice a month to see a shrink.   Chuck told me they shelled a village one day in Nam thinking it was full of VC.  they later found out it was full of women and children.  the results were horrible and Chuck still has not gotten past that ill-fated day. ===JACK:  Civil War General W.T.Sherman is famous for a speech he gave, "War Is Hell!"  He once gave that speech at the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, near to where I live (and you used to live).

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  We have lived through too many wars!  Thanks to all of our veterans. ===JACK:  I can't believe that the Afghanistan War is the longest one...and we're still there.

FROM FLYER TG:  Jack - it’s nice to be honored now. It sure wasn’t when I came home!!  Hope you are well and all the best.===JACK:  Time is a great healer, but the scars remain.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:    It’s just so hard to believe that all happened 40 years ago.  It was such a strange time.  Love ins, protests, dishonesty, war, so much hate, so many deaths.  I can remember the daily death count on the news!  Horrendous!  And three of those were my friends!     But, we’ve faced worse!  We are a strong people and we have dedicated men and women who continue to care about and protect this great imperfect nation.===JACK:  WW 2 was worse, but worse doesn't make it better. The Civil War was the worst of all...and if we're not careful we'll relive it.===JUDY:  Gary and I have visited numerous Civil War sites and they leave an heartbreaking scene in one’s heart.  I pray for this country and All her leaders.  We must get back to working together!  Not as enemies!

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  David Halberstam's (sp?) book on Vietnam, "THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST" is the best I ever read about the Vietnam War, and he was there from start to finish.  I think we all agree with Sherman that WAR IS HELL!, but often do not learn enough from them to avoid one at all costs! I'm the widow of a Navy vet.  from WW!!. and very thankful his life was spared, but think of all the potential, talent, and possibilities  that died with so many wonderful young men and women around the world whose lives were  cut short; Such a huge loss to their country's  futures!! :-(  Thankful for their service AND sacrifice!===JACK:  Not only the loss of life...but a lifetime of mental distress for so many.  Is there ever a good war?  Even the Crusades were a fiasco.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/8/19
“Sometimes it takes courage not to be discouraged.”  (Ben Ferenze)  Recently 60 Minutes did a story on 99-yr-old Ben Ferenze, an investigator of Nazi WW2 war crimes.  He has lived his life seeking justice for victims of atrocity.  “It must never happen again!”  Yet, we see signs of the same things that allowed Nazi power to develop.  It’s not easy to stay focused on a difficult task.  “It takes courage not to be discouraged,” but if you believe in something, you can do it!   ;-)  Jack

FROM ROSIE:  Great words - and oh how timely.===JACK:  I was really impressed with Ben's story and his tenaciousness.

FROM PASTY PAT:  Amen from Bethlehem!===JACK:  From Bethlehem.  WOW!  I remember your first visit to the Holy Lands and your apprehension.  By now, you must be a veteran.  How many trips?===PP:  I’m almost embarrassed to say it’s my 13th. Each is a totally different experience. The relationships I’ve developed are such a gift and a privilege. Just returned from a day with a Bedouin (Muslim) family who live deep in the desert south of Bethlehem. I’m staying in a (Christian) guest house which is a school and residence for 22 blind and disabled folks of all ages. Helped pick olives with them this morning and helped hang the laundry out on the roof before going into the desert. They operate on a less than skimpy shoestring here but provide such an amazing ministry. I like that my money for the room goes to their support. And in Tiberias attended the traditional Shabbat dinner at that guest house. I am blessed beyond measure!===JACK:  The novice has become an expert on the Holy Lands situation.===PP:  Except that it changes on a daily basis. I need a much more nimble mind😀!===JACK:  You seem to be getting more nimble as the years go by.  What's your secret?

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Amen===JACK: Or, maybe a triple Amen (as it used to be sung in the Augustana liturgy.

FROM WALMART REV:  Personally remembering  the words of Paul from the Holy Text this morning-- ^"For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live" (Philippians 1:20-24 NLT). Good Morning, Jack! Hope your day is well spent and blessed!! 0;-)===JACK:  My day?  2 doctor visits in prep for my next MN trip in a week.  Poor St Paul!  ....trying to make up his mind.  Have you ever faced that dilemma?===REV:  Actually being teased somewhat when realizing now my body is functioning in a much older mode...at this point I think often about the possibility of not being here by the time I’m eighty, especially when I’m standing next to the body of a deceased man around my current age and his grieving wife mourning his death. Seeing more of them nowadays. 0;-/===JACK:  The less sand in the hourglass...the faster it seems to vanish.

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FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  ,  i often forward your WWs to one to four people almost every day.  thot you'd like to know.   one friend asked me "who is this wise old man?"===JACK:  Thanks for sharing.  One of my friends own a school bus company with 200 drivers.  He posts Winning Words on their work schedule each morning.  Maybe I'm a modern Johnny Appleseed. ===SP:  i was thinking more along the lines of peaches or pears!    how does Johnny Plumb Seed sound to you? ===JACK:  I see myself as couching "the Word" in a form that is not immediately evident...but is there.===SP:  I agree!   sometimes its good to sugar coat the medicine...   Jesus did it masterfully.  he told some great stories with the Truth hidden inside that the listener sort of discovered on his/her own.===JACK:  It's been said of me..."Freed has a way of sticking the knife in you without you knowing it...until he begins to twist it."

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:   curious as to what you find that is similar to hitler’s rise in today’s world... esp interesting, as you lived during both times.===JACK:  I was a child during Hitler's rise, but pre-Word War 2 there was a vocal division in the country (somewhat as today), and one of those groups chanted, "America First!", wanting America to not get involved with (nor side with) "the oppressed."===LIZ:  now it’s china that is imprisoning/torturing muslims in labor camps, and oppressing their own people. i do not hear anyone from either side saying “let’s go in and rescue them.” quite the contrary... we are slave owners by proxy when we buy their products.===JACK:  Until the internet, I used to believe what I read without too much questioning.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Just curious... what signs do we see of it happening again?===JACK:  The rise of hate groups, especially white supremacists.  Suspicion of those who are "different.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  When Les and I went to Argentina in 1991 we felt that the nazis were all around the city! It was all an eerie feeling===JACK:  I had almost forgotten how many war criminals fled to South America.  Many were hunted down.

FROM DB IN WB:  Awesome words … thank you! I NEEDED this one!  p.s.  where do you find all of these amazing quotes?  I know that you are a plethora of information, but you must have some “insider” information of where to find great quotes. 😊===JACK:  Thanks for you interest and response.  Different people collect different things.  I collect words and sentences that interest me.  I throw away more than I save.

FROM GUSTIE MARL;YS:  That is what happens when we no longer teach History in schools—and what we do teach is changed to the way they was to believe it happened===JACK:  History has always been taught from the perspective of the one who wrote the textbook.  As much as we'd like teaching to be objective, it's usually subjective, depending on the teacher...whether in the home or in the schoolroom.===GM:  I heard a talk show host ask a lady who did the Americans fight in the Civil War?  She had no idea!!!  Now I think that is very sad!===JACK:  Sad...but not surprising.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/7/19
“Don’t try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night.”  (Philip Dick)  This is one of those quotes that”s easier said than done.  During WW 2 and the London Blitz, an elderly lady was able to sleep soundly in the subway with sound of exploding bombs interrupting the sleep of others near her.  “I close my eyes, say my prayers, and the rest is up to God.”  Maybe that’s the advice we should follow when the “What-if ghosts” persist in keeping us awake.   ;-)  Jack

FROM TRIHARDER:  Or first thing in the morning after you wake up.  Wait until later in the day. I try to project myself to some time in the future when I know I'll be calm.===JACK:  Sometimes easier said than done.  But, some people are forceful than others in speaking to their ghosts.

FROM CA IN MN:  It seems my new middle of the night was my last week's time to get up.  As we are all adjusting to our new daylight normal time this made me laugh.  Thank you
===JACK:  There should be some yoga pose that makes it easier to get up in the middle of the night.

FROM WALMART REV:  Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray to God my soul to take.
If I should live for other days,  I pray the Lord to guide my ways. 0😉

===JACK:  That's a good prayer for those awake times in the night. 

FROM INDY GENIE:  Love this! So timely for me. I’m remodeling my bathroom and decisions about bathtubs, tile, toilets, etc were waking me up at night! Is it wrong to pray about a toilet? Haha:) ===JACK:  God made us in such a way that toilets have become necessary for homes.  Although it's not mentioned in the Bible, I'm sure that Jesus had to "go to the bathroom," too.

FROM SY:  I look forward to your WWs each morning.  Today's message was especially powerful.  I'm a worrier-always planning for the worst.  I'm gonna try to leave it in God's hands!===JACK:  There's a song with these words..."Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there."  Some of have trouble with that last part.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i will say, however, that there are times when i get a huge burst of inspiration in the middle of the night.  so, yes, it can work both ways.   for you or against you. ===JACK:  I have a friend who keeps a recorder by his bedside so that he can record those bursts of energy.  I used to write them in a little book.  You probably whisper them in M's ear. ===SP:  if i did that i might get a slap in the face.  she likes to sleep undisturbed:):):):) 

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:    Worry doesn’t keep me from sleeping - pain does.  But I use the time for praying so it’s okay===JACK:  When I read your words I thought of this song.  Perhaps you have sung it, or heard it.

I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
And then a little light from heaven fill my soul
He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above
And just a little talk with Jesus makes me whole

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin'
And you will know a little fire is burnin'
Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right

I may have doubts and fears, my eye be filled with tears
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night
I go to him in prayer, He knows my every care
And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin'
And you will know a little fire is burnin'
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right

FROM NORM'S BLOG:  Good advice, but hard to implement. I had a recent night of fitful sleep as I tried to search for the solution to an upcoming matter. During that process, I also recalled this advice and started thinking about what it is that keeps me, and perhaps others, up at night in search of solutions. While I occasionally spend a restless night trying to solve problems involving things (perhaps a repair issue with the house or a problem with a car), more often than not the matters that really keep me up at night involve people. That is especially true in situations where I imagine that a confrontation of some sort

will occur.===JACK:  I've found more good than bad in my sleepless nights.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/6/19
“Thanks for the privilege of your time.”  (Jose Diaz-Balart)  Jose is the evening news anchor for NBC on Saturdays.  His “sign off words” capture my attention…thanking me for listening.  He appreciates the value of my time.  Maybe the preacher should say that as we leave church.  Or the telemarketer.  There’s a saying: “Time is money.”  Time is more precious than that.  It’s our life.  Winning Words…my writing and your reading is a life-sharing experience.   ;-)  Jack 

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  indeed it is!   time is life and life is time.   so enjoy this new day, old friend...===JACK:  Reuben Youngdahl of Mt. Olivet Church used begin his radio program by saying enthusiastically, "Up, up and away!  This is God's day.  Are you going God's way?"===SP:  from what i can tell,  Reuben was a real character. he had his own Limo and driver,  had a phone in the Limo which was almost unheard of in those days.   and even had a personal secretary to helped him write some if not all of his sermons.   i think he also had a bit of a drinking problem later in his life.  not sure this all 100% accurate but he did for sure  build a rather impressive ministry in south Mpls.  ===JACK:  Somewhat true...but the sin of jealousy does affect some pastors (especially in the Twin Cities area). SP:  it would be fun to talk more about this sometime.  pastors do have egos after all and they must be kept in check or jealousy can become an issue.===JACK:  Sloth is another!

FROM COPPER COUNTRY PASTOR:  Thanks for the privilege of your blogs.===JACK:  Kiitos!

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  ...and Winning Words are a life enhancement experience.  Thanks, Jack. ===JACK:  Sometimes I wonder if they've run their course..===RS:  Not in my opinion....we look forward to them every day.  Most cause us to reflect on things...and usually direct us to doing something we believe will make us better.===JACK:  Complaining does not fit into "Winning Words"!

FROM THE PEW IN FRONT:  .Thank you for sharing.===JACK:  Yours is a reminder that I'm late in thanking you for all that you have done for HSLC.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  Time is the angel of life without her we cannot fathom perspective nor memories. I am writing a song for my grandchildren the transitional line (lift) is, “Old men know that love is only memories, that’s why I want you here with me.” I like Jose’s words that’s an excellent sign-off. ===JACK:  I'm glad that you're still into song-writing.  I'm beginning to "give away" part of my library to my grandchildren...and some memory items, too.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  I appreciate your time through all of these years!===JACK:  If you went to Central, it goes back 80 years.

FROM EMT SINGS IN TC:  You cannot know how important your writing and me reading is to my life! ===JACK:  Over 500 people (including you) each day!  It's hard to imagine.  I'll try to keep going for a while. 

FROM MY LAWYER:  Jack, thank you for Your time.===JACK:  "Thank you for your time!"  Friends say that to each other.  Throught5 the years....we've spent a lot of good time together. 

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Time is so fleeting isn’t it?  But such a gift!  It’s well worth the time to read and respond to your words!===JACK:  I met many people at Cross of Glory who became my friends.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  I've never had the privilege of spending time personally with you, although we went to the same schools and had mutual friends. Jan and Hal most probably did, as fellow- Lutheran clergy! But as a Baptist pastor's wife, I enjoy your quotes and thoughts, and often share them with family, S,S. and circle meetings! I'm sure Bill would have appreciated  them, too, had he lived when our paths crossed! ( He was a pretty deep thinker, himself!) THANK YOU for your time, and writing! :-)===JACK:  As time has passed I've found that religious labels mean less and less to me.  It's the person!  Living in such a diverse community as I do, means that more and more of my friends are "different."  Being retired means that more and more of my friends are not clergy like me. 

FROM DB IN WB:  I enjoy it very much! 😊===JACK;  Although I only hear from a small percentage of those who receive Winning Words, I enjoy connecting with those who answer.

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Jack’s Winning Words 11/5/19
“You see, but you do not observe.”  (Arthur Conan Doyle)  Shelock Holmes was a great detective, because he was able to see obvious clues.  Most of us are like Dr. Watson, oblivious to the world around us.  Perhaps it’s my occupation, but I see God in unexpected places in this world, while others might simply pass by the same places.  Today I observe God in the changing seasons, in choices I’ve made, in people I’ve interacted with.  Take time to observe!   ;-)  Jack

FROM PEE WEE:  Thank you, Jack. I notice things in my grandchildren that I know I surpassed when my own kids were little. The more we know, the more we see.===JACK:  It's a beautiful world out there where you take time to "observe." 

FROM BB  IN CHGO:   Yes!  One of my favorite “religious” often said, “there are no coincidences” just folks failing to recognize the handiwork of God!===JACK:  We have a jar on our kitchen counter...coincidences or miracles.  When a strange event happens in our life we write it down and drop it in the jar.  I should review them sometime.===BB:  I like those words as well; they are gracious in a time when thoughtfulness seems left by the waysisde.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  good words for today,  Jack.   thanks

FROM WALMART REV:  "...even in the midst of ones' unwelcomed judgment, God can be seen with His new offered direction being laced with grace and forgiveness." 0;-)===JACK:  God is great, God is good, and so we thank Him......

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We call it “God sightings”.  We see them quite often in our daily lives....if we just look!===JACK:  When did you last "see" God?===JUDY:  We were playing Bible Trivia in the car with Andy and his kids.  The question was “Who did God make men lower than?”

Melanie said “Women”.  We laughed hard and I remember thinking, God has to be smiling!

Jack’s Winning Words 11/4/19
“My goal is not to be better than anyone else, but to be better than I used to be.”  (Wayne Dyer)  The other day I was listening to a football coach describe preparation for the next game.  “We will be setting goals!”  In goal-setting you clarify what you want to accomplish; you create measureable steps to get there; you commit yourself to achieve the goal.  Your goal might be to create a healthier you, or simply to create a you who’s better than the ordinary you    ;-)  Jack  

FROM NORM'S BLOG:  In a world seemingly oriented to goal setting and daily To-Do lists that seem to dictate our use of time, Dyer’s advice seems to be most appropriate. In fact, if you threw away your current To-Do list and just wrote down “Be a better person today than I used to be”, you will have recorded the most important thing that you could spend your time on today. It is a goal, which will help you accomplish all of the important things that you need to do today.===JACK:  I still have to make a "to do" list today, if I'm going to get done the things that need to be done.  Tomorrow...the same.

Jack’s Winning Words 11/1/19
“How beautiful the leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days.”  (John Burroughs)  Maybe it’s because September is my birth month, or because I’m on the shadyside of 50, or because I like the words, the tune and the way Jimmy Durante sings it…September Song is a favorite of mine.  I like the season of autumn, too…the crisp air, the colors, football, the last days…precious days.  Do you have a favorite month and song related to it?   ;-)  Jack
Jimmy Durante sings September Song 1972 - YouTube