Jack’s Winning Words 10/22/21

“You don’t have to park your brain with your car when you come to church.”  (Rev O V Anderson)  A nuclear physicist used to wait in his car while his children went to Sunday School.  One Sunday the pastor went out and introduced himself, saying to the scientist that he was welcome to come to church and to bring his brain with him.  It’s often been discussed as to whether “church” is an emotional experience or a thought-provoking one?  For me, it’s a bit of both.  I like to have the sermon stretch my mind.  I also want to feel that my spirit and the Spirit of God have had a meeting.  What do you think?  ;-)  Jack.

FROM THE SCIENTIST:  A couple of years ago I did a couple of presentation on the church’s belief about genetics. Of course I introduced myself with my profession as a scientist so it made sense why I’d be leading these adult Sunday school discussions. After, when we’d talked about both God, science, and our responsibilities, two separate people noted that they didn’t realize scientists could be Christian. ===JACK:  It seems as though we're still living in the Dark Ages when groups of people dismiss science as "fake news."  I'm glad to have had a relatively small part in helping to form your thinking. ===S:  Say, I’ve been “reading” a book “pale rider” about the 1918 flu epidemic.  Seems we are just repeating history … including the science skepticism. If you haven’t read it I recommend it.===JACK: The philosophical concept of "Eternal Recurrence" is an idea that the universe and all existence and energy has been recurring, and will continue to recur, in a similar form an infinite number of times across infinite time or space.  That must mean that there are other Lailas.. ==S:  Chris and Verity are watching the marvel series “what if” which explores the parallel universe theory in the way only super hero comics can===JACK:  The Buck Rogers comic strip used to be considered, fantasy...so did Dick Tracy talking into his wrist watch.  A parallel universe?  Maybe it's not a fantasy.  

               

FROM WILMAR REV:  Well said, my friend!! 0;-)===JACK:  How are the AG people (clergy as well as lay) accepting science?  Do some churches still have parking spaces for brains?===REV:  I’ll use your answer, hopefully being correct…”room for both”. This pandemic is a good example for it, “science”, being fluid on occasion with its findings as “truth” is left in the hands of mankind’s definition. Interesting of late with more articles and finding that “natural immunities” are equivalent if not better than the vaccines in fighting reoccurrences.  0;-)  ===JACK:  What bothers me is that people have come to trust "social media" more that they respect 'authentic scientists."===REV:  Been that way for years though, but limited to coffee shops, bars and the VFW’s in those earlier years…I’ve heard it for years, “can’t prove there is a God scientifically, only by faith?!?!” Fortunately for us, we were born in America where God’s laws were tolerated or at least once they were. “Ready for heaven over here, Jack!” 0;-)===JACK:  These days are testing our ultimate faith in God.===REV:  I had a ‘weird’ thought the other day getting tired of reading, and rightly so with what is being said: “They died due to complications of COVID.”  ===JACK:  We're all going to die of something....so, are we ready to meet our maker?

 FROM AP IN WB:  YES! And why I love the education I'm receiving in the classes at the church we are now in. And why your Winning Words are valuable to us as well.  So glad you haven't given up on us all!! ===JACK:  I'm simply the sower.  I happy for "the ground" that receives the seed and helps it to grow.  Where a person attends church is immaterial, so long as it's one where "brains" are allowed to be there.

FROM MAGGIE:  I totally agree! Brain and “heart”. Stay well.===JACK:  God created the total person, and that includes the mind, as well as feelings.

FROM DB IN WB:  Pastor I always looked forward each Sunday to hear your sermon. It always stretched my brain. My favorite is “inch by inch it’s a cinch” ===JACK:  My AIM was always to give people something to think about...and to make it helpful, at the same time.  I appreciate your comment..

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  in my preaching i almost always tried to offer at least one example or one story with some info that would be new to the ears of my listeners.    and people would often comments on that going out the doors.   "i did not know that".   it was always kind of gratifying to hear such words.===JACK:  First of all, the sermon has to be acceptable to "the preacher."  Just to get into the pulpit and spout words was never satisfying to me. ===SP:  the Episcopal Church of Mpls. used to have a huge advertising poster hanging in one of the concourses at our Airport with this exact quote.  i am sure a lot of folks saw it over the years.   also,  did you know that Kent Knutson (once Prez of our old ALC) was a molecular  physicist before he came to the seminary?   i am 98% sure of this statement.  i know he was a physicist or some kind.===JACK:  The person I was referring to eventually became a pastor...and then, a bishop.  God works in mysterious ways. ===SP:  and if i was not excited by the text or the theme for the day,  i would sometimes find another one.   as one of my Profs used to say, "if you are not excited about your material/sermon,  you can be sure your audience  won't be excited either.     truthfully, i prefer topical preaching to textual preaching.  ===JACK:  I was taught to take the text and connect it up with life.  It worked for me.  I was not adverse to choosing a text to "fit" the situation I wanted to preach about.  ===SP:  totally agree!   too many sermons today are an analysis of the text but the application to daily life is sometime hard to find.   also,  don't shed light on the Bible.  rather, let the light of the Bible shed light on your life!    3 things must happen in a good sermon:   tell me,  then show me,  then move me.   a lot of preaching never gets past the "tell me" stage.  

FROM SHALOM JAN:    Totally agree!

FROM DS IN SOCAL:  I try to speak with the Sprit of God daily.===JACK:  ...and you're never put on hold and have to listen to harp music. ===DS:   HA!!!    Says WHO?  I hear the harp music....maybe you're dialing the wrong number.===JACK:  Maybe it's feedback from your hearing aids. 

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