Jack’s Winning Word 10/14/21

“Whenever something happens that causes you distress, remember to rely on this principle – This is not bad luck, but bearing it valiantly is good luck.”  (Marcus Aurelius)  Like Marcus Aurelius, I’m sometimes referred to as a “stoic,” one who sees lessons in difficult situations.  The optimist looks for the bright side in everything.  I like George Carlin’s humor (some of it).  He was expelled from high school and never graduated.  After George became famous, he was invited back to the school to host a fundraiser for the priest who kicked him out of school.  Now, I see that as stoic humor.  Have you been able to “see” some good in bad luck?  ;-)  Jack

FROM WILLMAR REV:  When one looks hard enough, there's most generally "a pony" found in a pile of "horse manure!?!?" 0;-) ===JACK:  I know of a pastor who found a huge pile of manure on his kitchen table.  What do you suppose the church council was trying to tell him?===REV: Not sure, but I’ll bet he did find a sermon or two in that pile for an inspired rebuttal. 0;-))===JACK:  It was a way for the farm folk to give a pastoral evaluation...and subsequently, it proved to be true (IMO)  ===REV:  I will never forget calling a pastoral friend of mine over in Ohio asking for a Sunday evening service for raising support for our ministry there in West Bloomfield. His response was he would love to, but his church board was running him out of town, and he was running as fast as he good making it look like he was leading the parade!!===JACK:  I hope the people in the parade weren't carrying pitchfork, tar and feathers.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  george did ok for a dropout!===JACK:  Was he a success as a comedian because he was clever, or because of his "edgy" material?  Perhaps it was both.  Dropping out is not always bad...but sometimes it is the wrong thing to do..===LIZ:  his edgy material was clever.===JACK:  Enough people thought so to make him a "star."

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Often in retrospect! Bill's broken knee cap in the Bear's first game he played  in, eventually freed him to be called into seminary and the ministry, through Willis Reed's urging, his pastor in Canton, when he returned home. When we finally entered seminary, we were married with two little boys, but everything opened up beautifully, and I think he ended up in a profession he excelled in! :-)===JACK:  ...but it would have been fun to say that "I played a season for the Bears, but gave it up to play for God for a lifetime.

FROM SR IN SJ:  YOU are incredible, Jack!  Yes, I have been able to find good in the not-so-good happening.  Sometimes, it takes an hour or so to write out the situation in my journal!🙃🙂===JACK:  I question the "incredible" part, but there is good to be found in the bad when we look hard enough.  "God is good!" is more than a slogan.