if everyone did what you were doing

I received a very nice note the other day to which I replied...

"if everyone in the world was as nice to each other as you are to me, wow the world would be a wonderful place.
thank you."

So let me expand the question. If everyone talked to others as you do, would the world be a kinder gentler place or would we be at war?

If everyone drove as you drive would the roads be safer or deadly?

If everyone supported the church as I do or you do would there be plenty, or would the church have to close its doors?

If everyone did what you were doing... if everyone did what I was doing.... would the world be a better place?

Never forget that you and I have great power in our own sphere of influence to make an impact in the lives of those around us. In fact we are making an impact, either positively or otherwise.

The world is a beautiful place. Lets use our words, our smiles, our eyes and our hugs to improve it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -


I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Immigration - an unavoidable truth

I believe that every human is valuable.

I believe that the laws of our land should be enforced and followed.

We have an immigration mess in our country.  We need to fix it, because the problem is not going to go away.

Here is an unavoidable truth.  It is impossible to make all undocumented people leave.  Any suggestion that they should leave is not based in the realm of possibility.

 Some years ago I did some math.  If there are 12 million undocumented people in our country and you could put them all on Greyhound buses, that is 50 people on each bus which is 50' long, it would make a long line of buses.  The line in fact, bumper to bumper, would stretch from Tijuana, Mexico to Battle Creek Michigan.  For that matter, Greyhound only has 1,100 buses in the US.  If you could commandeer all of their buses it would take every bus making 218 trips. My point is this... the problem is too large to make the people leave.  It is not going to happen so instead of shouting and arguing that they should leave, we should find a way to resolve the issues that we have.

As in any discussion, we need to find ways to talk to each other with kindness and grace.  This can be an emotionally charged issue.  May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to God.  Psalm 19:14

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Immigration part 2

Some years ago I was meeting four other preachers for lunch.  We were in the lobby of an Applebees waiting to be seated.

The hot topic on the news the last week prior had been immigration and undocumented or illegal immigrants.  One of my preacher friends started a rant on how illegals should not be allowed in.  Another friend chimed in and agreed.

A third pastor, a woman, said "stop."  "Before any of you get to chiming in on illegal immigrants, I want you to know that I am 1/4 Cherokee.  As far as I am concerned, all of you are illegal immigrants."

Needless to say, the topic of the lunch did not return to immigration.

She made a good point.  Unless you are Native American, your ancestors came from somewhere else.  Mine came from Germany and England.  I am related to Cotton and Richard Mather.

Some of our ancestors came in legally through Ellis Island but many of our ancestors just came over.

These thoughts do not justify people entering America illegally, but I hope it reminds us that we all were in their shoes at one time in the past.

more tomorrow.  Stay Tuned.

It's a beautiful day in God's world - especially in America - be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Immigration

A friend wrote in and asked me to weigh in on immigration. 

Here are some random thoughts.  I love you all and I want you to know that we can agree or disagree and still love one another.  I have many thoughts on the subject....
Hold on, here goes.

1.  Separating families at the border is a bad idea.  Very painful.  In my opinion it should not be happening.

2.  Immigration should happen in a legal, planned, fair manner.  Clearly our system is and has been broken for years.

3.  Someone [Jeff Sessions?] quoted Romans 13 regarding immigration.  Romans 13 reminds us to obey the laws of the land.  Interesting that Paul wrote those words when the brutal Romans were the law of the land.  I agree that we should obey the laws of the land.  This scripture cannot be used to justify the separating of families at the border.

4.  Most of us know nothing about what happens at the border.  Who comes across secretly or who comes to the check point and asks for asylum.   We don't know anything about the process or the facilities to receive folks at the border.  I am sure that they are swamped and overcrowded.  We don't like what may be happening, but we generally know nothing about what happens at the border.

5.  I totally understand why so many people want to come here.  Have you been to Mexico?  To the back roads of Central America?  I promise you this, if you and I were living there, we would want to come to America.  We would want to come to the land of the free.  We would want to come to a place where we could be safe.  I love you.  I would swim any river or climb any fence to give my family such an opportunity. 

6.  Why were you born here instead of Mexico?  Instead of Russia?  Instead of Ethiopia?  American Christians need to be very careful about how we talk about others.  We were born here because we were lucky or blessed.  That does not make us better than others.

7.  Our economy would falter without immigrants.  Immigrants harvest crops, roof houses and work on lawn crews.  While some folks complain about "illegal immigrants" no one wants to pay more for the services that they provide.

8.  We need to watch our language.  There is no such thing as an illegal person. 

9.  Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus traveled to Egypt after he was born to get away from King Herod.  Jesus was an undocumented migrant child.

I do believe that immigration should be regulated and that people should come into any country legally.  However, our system needs some work and I pray that our congress and senate can resolve these issues.

Always remember that we are talking about human beings.
I love you all.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.  It's really beautiful if you live in America.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Don't be sad

When I hear the phrase, "don't be sad," I think of the Meat Loaf song from his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, the name of the song that I am thinking of is "Two out of Three ain't bad."

Don't be sad, cause two out of three ain't bad.

The second thing that I think of is something that I have just thought about in the last few years.  Don't be sad that it is over, be glad that it happened.

Again.  Don't be sad that a thing is over, be glad that it happened.

I can be sad that my father's life is over, or I can be glad that it happened.
I can be sad that that job ended, or I can be glad that it happened.
I can be sad that the circumstances of yesterday have changed, or I can be glad that the joyful things took place.

When I really take a moment and reflect on life, oh my what blessings we have all received.

Don't be sad.  Be glad that it happened.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Sermon Audio from this morning

Click here to listen to the sermon on the Good Samaritan

Click here to listen

My Rules for Church

Gong's are loud annoying and distracting.

First of all, thank you for the many responses to yesterday's post.  You have given me some great ideas to write about.  And don't wait until I am dry to offer me ideas.  I am always glad to hear from you guys.

Several of you asked about the Methodist Church's stand on homosexuality.  Some of you asked me to write about this.  I am going to work on that request over the next month or so, but let me begin today with this.

Jeff's rules for church
1.  Everyone is welcome. 
2.  No one is singled out as being a bigger sinner.
3.  No one is shunned.
4.  No guilt is applied ever.
5.  People are seen as people and treated with dignity and respect.
6.  The #1 rule to be applied to every moment, person and situation is the rule of love.

If I speak in tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am a clanging gong.  See picture above.  Gongs are loud, annoying and they distract us from what we are really supposed to be doing.

As far as I am concerned, any church that shames anyone really needs to get a refresher course from Jesus.

God is a God of love.  Period.

No one is excluded shamed or shunned

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

nothing to say

For the first time in a long time, the blog is late today. 

When I first started posting, I posted every morning.  That was rough.  Sometimes I would wake up with nothing to say.  Some days I would wake up late.  Some days I just did not feel well.  So real time posting has it's issues.

How happy I was when I realized that I could schedule a post to come out on a certain day at a certain time.  So maybe I would feel inspired and write a couple blogs in one day and schedule them to come out over the next few days at 4:30am.

There are still folks that think that I get up and write every day at 4:30.  Not usually so.  Most likely they were written a day or two before and set to come out at 4:30.

Anyway, today the blog is late because the last few days I have not had much to say.  I am not sure why.  I will tell you what is really bad is when it is Sunday morning and you are supposed to preach and you feel like you don't have much to say.

Anyway, here is today's thought... from time to time we don't have much to say.  Our brains take a rest.  We don't always like to think hard.  That is ok.

Now the question is, what am I going to write about tomorrow?  Do you have any ideas?  Any suggestions?  I do know this, I am going to look really hard today and pay attention to life.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Far Better

It is far better.  Much far better to welcome someone than to judge them.

Judging is easy, for a while.  Welcoming is difficult to learn but once you do, you see that this is what we are created for.

Be patient with those who still must judge.  We were all there at one time.
Model welcome to and for them and they will eventually learn the ways of love.

Hatred judges.  Love welcomes.  It is as simple as that.
It is far better to welcome someone than to judge them.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Richard Rohr's daily devotionals

Some of you know that I am a reader of Richard Rohr's daily devotionals. Like all daily writing, some are better than others.  I thought that this one was fantastic.

 
After reading this, if you are interested in signing up for his daily writings, here is the link

Click here to sign up for his daily devotionals


Creative Leaders
Wednesday, June 6, 2018

I'm sad to report that in the past few years, ever since uncertainty became our insistent 21st century companion, leadership has taken a great leap backwards to the familiar territory of command and control. —Margaret Wheatley (b. 1944), researcher of organizational behavior [1]

There is no greater training for true leadership than living in the naked now. There, we can set aside our own mental constructs, receive input and ideas from all directions, and lead even more creatively and imaginatively—with the clearer vision of one who lives beyond himself or herself. This is surely why some of Christianity’s great mystics, such as Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), and Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), were also first-rate leaders, motivators of others, and creative reformers of institutions.

Here are some insights into what every good, servant-hearted, nondual leader knows and practices, whether in community, in the workplace, or in the classroom. Creative leaders:

• are seers of alternatives.
• move forward by influencing events and inspiring people more than by ordering or demanding.
• know that every one-sided solution is doomed to failure. It is never a lasting solution but only a postponement of the problem.
• learn to study, discern, and search together with others for solutions.
• know that total dilemmas are very few. We create many dilemmas because we are internally stuck, attached, fearful, over-identified with our position, needy of winning the case, or unable to entertain even the partial truth that the other opinion might be offering.
• know that wisdom is “the art of the possible.” The key question is no longer “How can I problem solve now and get this off my plate?” It is “How can this situation achieve good for the largest number and for future generations?”
• continue finding and sharing new data and possibilities until they can work toward consensus from all sides.
• want to increase both freedom and ownership among the group—not subservience, which will ultimately sabotage the work anyway.
• emphasize the why of a decision and show how it is consistent with the group’s values.

In short, good leaders must have a certain capacity for thinking beyond polarities and tapping into full, embodied knowing (prayer). They have a tolerance for ambiguity (faith), an ability to hold creative tensions (hope), and an ability to care (love) beyond their own personal advantage.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

from my friend Susan; Gone too soon

I listened to the news today. And yesterday.

 My heart hurts for the people who have taken their own lives.

 What were they going through? Were they sad? Lonely? Hopeless? Had they lost their health? My heart hurts for their loved ones who are left behind to try and make sense of their actions.

 For those of us who are not in such a bad place, it’s hard to understand how someone could end their own life. I have some friends who have lost loved ones to suicide. One friend lost a daughter, as a result of bullying. Another lost a daughter, who had a series of unfortunate disappointments. It has been said that suicide is “a permanent solution to temporary problems."

Friends, life is made to be lived with love and joy, gratitude and blessings. Will we have disappointments and heartache along the way? YES. Will people disappoint us? YES. Count on it.

 But, we have a God who loves us MORE than we could ever imagine. A God who is FOR us, who created us for a purpose. God calls each one of us to love one another. Could we have prevented someone from committing suicide? Maybe….maybe not. But, we are called to love, to reach out to others. A kind word, a smile, an invitation to lunch, a conversation, a compliment. You never know how your kindness will impact someone, and maybe, just maybe, save a life. Be kind to others always, you never know what they are going through.

It is still a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com
- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Annual Conference

So I attended Annual Conference last week.  Isn't it interesting how every year there are fewer and fewer people  that I know.  It is interesting to watch yourself and your peers go from being the new young guys, to the stable experienced guys, to the guys who are on the way out. 

And then you are out. 

One night a bunch of us went out to an establishment that had karaoke.  We heard that a lot of the young pastors went there to sing.  Oh my yes!  There was a very large group of young pastors.  They were so handsome and energetic and I did not know any of them.  And they sang the strangest of songs. 

There was no way that I was going to get up to sing.  Someone would have said, hey look it's a grandpa!

Age gives way to youth, every time.  Every time.  Time waits for no man.

And so I reflect on this Annual Conference.  A time to catch up with friends.  A time to realize that it is just time for me to drift on to the next part of life.  Thankfully I have my friends at Ft. Pierce First and plenty of others things in this part of life.

Yes I am older, yes I have lost my hair.  Yes I didn't know the songs that they were singing.  But I still have a song, and so do you.  Things will certainly change in this life, but never stop singing your song.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Happy Birthday Sissy!!!

Julie and Jeff circa 1960

Today is my sister Julie's birthday.  I am not sure who is older but she sure looks better than I do. 

I have known her most of my life.  Well sort of.  Somehow we were raised in a home where you did not get to know the other people who lived there.  Don't ask me how that can be.  We don't understand it either.

Julie circa 1974

I think there were times when my sister did not get me and I did not get her.  But I am so happy that in the last 15 years or so, all of that has turned around.  I have had the great privilege to get to know and deeply love my sister.  And she is married to Mark, a fantastic man.

I always told my kids... be nice to the other children in this house, they will always be your blood.  I am so happy to have both of my sisters, Julie and Amy.  But today is Happy Birthday to Sissy.  I LOVE YOU!

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Why were we created?

Why are we here.  Why are you here?  There is something that we are created for.

Birds were created to fly.  If you clip a birds wings you take away his reason for being here.  You make him vulnerable and a victim.  There was once a species of flightless birds.  We called them Dodo birds.  They are extinct.  Without flight, birds are in trouble.

We were created for something just as specific.  You were created to be loved. Living unloved is like clipping a birds wings. Pain has a way of doing that to us.

Since we know intrinsically that we were created to be loved, we hate stories of child abuse and of animal abuse.  We hate school shootings. We want to put an end to spousal abuse. 

We know inside of ourselves that we matter and that we were made to love and be loved. 

Therefore....

spend your time loving others.... as many as you can.

spend your time hugging and passing on positive comments.

open yourself to receive love.  Accept a comment.  Accept a hug.  Find people that will love you and let them in.

Don't clip other's wings and don't clip your own.  For sure don't let anyone else clip your wings.  You are here to love and be loved.  So rise up and fly!

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Detachment

When we first learn about love we attach ourselves to things that make us happy.  We say things like, “I can’t live without him or her.”  Our love in this stage of life, if we are honest with ourselves is about others filling the various gaps in our lives.  Sort of a “I need you to make me whole.”

The problem with this kind of love is that it tends to make demands and attempt to manipulate others when the object of our love is not making us happy.

What if we learned to be happy, learned to be complete, learned to be whole, in and of ourselves.  Just me and God.  Just you and God.  We could care about others, we could love others without demanding that they satisfy our longings.

Wholeness begins, real love begins when we stop wanting the other person to solve our problems.  Set them free from your demands.  Set yourself free to become complete in God.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Flat Tire

When I was 16 my first car was a 63 Ford Galaxie 500.  I could not afford real tires, so I bought retreads [remember those?] I bought them from the gas station for $10 each, installed.  [note, my parents did not buy my tires…] 

  I was constantly getting flats so I had to learn how to plug a tire.  It is a skill that would save me a lot of money over the years and come in handy on many occasions.

So my wife’s car has the display that tells you the tire pressure and it has a message center that tells you that something is wrong.  She came into the house from the store and told me that her rear tire was 24 pounds.  So I went to work.  She must have picked up a nail I thought.

No, to my total surprise, she somehow managed to run over an allen wrench.  Somehow, that square hexagonal shaped end went right into her tire.  A nail, sure, a screw, sure, but I would have never thought that a person could get a flat from an allen wrench.

this is the culprit

I keep white out around to mark the location
of the hole after the violating nail or screw is removed.

plug kit

Jack up the car, remove the wheel.
Blue foam is to protect my old knees.

All done!!!

All things are possible.

I plugged it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

A Birthday Gift that I forgot I had

I bought some flowers to plant the other day.  I so enjoyed shopping for them.  Since planting is much easier in Florida soil as opposed to Missouri soil, I went to look for my little shovel.  This is the little version of the common shovel.

Years ago I was working with the landscape team at church and saw that Jonnie Wells had a very cute little shovel.  I comment on how cool I thought it was.  Well, that year for my birthday, she presented me with my own personal little shovel.

Here I was planting flowers in Florida and I saw that inscription on the shovel “Jeff 2009.”  I smiled.  That made me happy.  Good friends, good times, good memories.

Blue Salvia, Pentas, Vinca

Penta and ?

It made me feel good to plant the flowers.  Now I just need to find some mulch.

All creation speaks to us of the beauty and glory of God.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

The devil has a plan

I was talking to a friend the other day and they told me that God had a plan for everyone and so did the devil.

Let's think about that for a moment.
God can have a plan for us because God is infinite, all knowing and all present.

The devil has a plan for us?
That implies that the devil who is a finite created being somehow knows every single person on the earth.  And boom, we have made him the opposite of God.

It sounds interesting to say that the devil has a plan, but there is no way that a limited creation of God can know and have a plan for everyone in the world.
We have made the devil way too big.
Whatever he is, he is not the opposite of God.

God has a plan.  Bank on that.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

The most marvelous day

Last week Thursday was the most marvelous day!

I was not working so I woke up and asked myself, what will I do today?  It is the great question of retired people.  What will I do today?

Back up.

The day was marvelous.  It started well.  I woke up.  Thank you Jesus for another day!  May we always be thankful for the gift of another day.

So I decide that I am going to do the brakes on my 2006 Ford pickup.  It has 208,000 miles on it and I don't think that the brakes have ever been done.  At least the rotors have never been turned.  They are warped and scored and need to be replaced.

Old worn out rotor

old cracked brake pad

Now a disc brake job is not that bad, providing that you can get the bolts loose.  Oh, and as long as the rotor is not rusted on to the wheel.

So I got to work.  I thank and praise my friend Bruce Letner who taught me how to do brakes back in 2006 or so.  What a good man he is.  I miss him.

I worked for two hours on the passenger side.  No problems.  The driver's side too me 30 minutes.  Yes there is a bit of a learning curve.

looking good.  Thank you Bruce!

Now it is 1pm and I am hungry.  I make the most marvelous tuna sandwich.  Bread, tuna, dab of mayo, pickles, onions and tomatoes.  My friend Jean Fisher fed me my first tuna sandwich with onions when I was in grade school.  MMMMMM.  I have loved tuna salad with onions ever since.

I am eating this sandwich.  I am very proud of getting the truck brakes done.  I am enjoying this sandwich.  I think to myself, what a wonderful day!

Since then I want to tell myself that I should feel that way every day.  What a wonderful marvelous day!  Every day is a gift to savor. 

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Sermon Audio from 6-3-18 The Wedding Banquet [as a bonus includes the Wedding Banquet Song]

Here is the link to the sermon from Sunday...

Click Here to Listen

Annual Conference

Although I live and serve a Methodist Church in Florida, I am still a member of the Missouri Conference.

This weekend I am flying to Kansas City and then driving to Springfield for Annual Conference.  I have attended Annual Conferences since 1981 the only one I ever missed was last year.

Annual Conference is the yearly meeting of Methodist preachers and lay representatives.  They gather to worship, to vote on petitions and to catch up with friends.

Last year I did not attend because I was not in a good spot.  This year I am looking forward to going.  I was never much on sitting through the long business meetings, but I loved making friends and catching up with old ones.

This year there will be a good deal of discussion about the Council of Bishops group that has been working on "The Way Forward."  The way forward is a proposal to help a divided church figure out how to deal with it's doctrine regarding homosexuality.  One of these days I will write about that.

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing many old friends.  I am looking forward to smiles, hugs and catching up.

Be happy for me and with me.  And if you are at Annual Conference and you read this blog, I want a hug.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Hanging our hats

We Christians hang our hats on some scriptures while totally ignoring others.

The church that I grew up on, hung it's hat on Ephesians 2:8-9. It is the passage that I had to memorize for my public interview to be confirmed. Here it is.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This verse taken as it is, points us to salvation thru faith, no works involved. It allowed us to just believe and not take action in the world. But now look how this passage changes when we add verse 10.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

When I add verse 10, I am no longer free to ignore a hurting world. We are not saved by works but we are called to act out in love in this life. Where we hang our hat says everything about what we believe.

Here is another example. The church I grew up in hung it's hat on John 3:16.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

That same church that loved John 3:16 completely ignored 1 John 3:17 which says:

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Where does your church hang it's hat? What passages do we ignore to our peril?  Or I should say what do we ignore for our pleasure? What do we ignore so that we can continue living our turned in, selfish American lives?

There are other places to hang our hats than what we were taught growing up.

The Christian faith is more that a way of believing.  It is believing in a way of life.  A life that sees others, that loves God and neighbor.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

They don't want soup

Jason Statham is an actor mostly known for his tough guy image.  His movies remind me of the kind that Charles Bronson used to star in.  Not a bad guy, just don't mess with him.

I like the guy.  I like action films and I like his British accent.

The other day I was watching one of his movies, Redemption.  This one is a little different than his other shows as there is quite a bit of interface with a nun who is running a soup kitchen.  At one point in the movie she is telling him that she has to get the soup ready.  He responds with a line that I thought was very insightful.  Regarding those who would come to eat, he said, "they don't want soup, they want their lives back."

Wow.  I wonder how many people who are on the down side of life feel that way.  I wish I had my job back.  I wish I had my family back.  I wish I had my childhood back.  I wish I had my loved one back.  I wish I had my innocence back.  I wish.

May our hearts always be filled with compassion for those who are less fortunate.  But for the grace of God go I.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

On turning your back

Someone turned their back on me the other day.  Or I could say that someone turned their back towards me.

I don't think that this person was trying to send a message to me or hurt me, it was just that the person that they turned towards was evidently more interesting to them.  It still felt funny.

When we are engaged with someone in conversation we want to see their face.  We want to see their eyes.  If you are talking with someone, take off your sunglasses and look them in the eye.  Let them see into your soul.

To look away when you are talking with someone is a sure signal that you are not interested.  To turn your back towards someone makes the message perfectly clear.

Keep in mind that every person is looking for affirmation and acceptance in this world, just as you and I are.  Be mindful of what you present to them.  They are a person with a heart and soul, just the same as you and me.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Can I pick this up?

So I was walking out of one of the local establishments the other day and this random thought just came into my mind.  "I wonder if I can pick this up?"  The thought really wasn't can I pick it up, more like can I lift up one side and maybe turn the little car over.

Silly?  Maybe.  I will bet you that my son could do it.  I don't think that it would be impossible given the right person.

Sometimes I think that we sell our selves short.  We don't even try to do a thing because we have given up believing in our potential.  People give up on their dreams.  Churches settle into lethargy.  Futures grow dim.  Hopes die.  We end up living a life that is much less than what it could be.

Nothing great was ever accomplished without someone believing that it could be done.  Never give up on your dreams.  You can finish college.  You can overcome your problems.  Your church can grow. 

Settle in with failure and you will have it.  Set your sights on something greater and you have taken the first step to achieving your goal.

Can I lift that little car?  I don't know but the next time I see one I am going to give it a try.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Why I save things

This is my man cave.  The third car garage.  Very nice, and I am lucky to have it.  However it can get a little hot in there but the other day I came up with an idea.

Maybe if I opened the window, a box fan would sit on the window sill.  Sure enough it does, but I can't turn it enough to really blow on the desk area.  Hmmm.  If I had a piece of a 2x6 I'll bet it would raise the fan above that lip.  The fan could move closer to the screen and I could turn it more towards the chair that I sit in.  But I hate to go and buy an entire 2x6 for this small window.

As I write this it also occurs to me that I could move the desk down the wall a bit.😳😳😳

The 

So the other day I am working in the garage and I happen to see a piece of 2x6 sticking out of my collection of little boards.  Why do I keep these little boards?  Because you never just know when you might need one.

and now the fan sits up higher, it is closer to the screen and the breeze is blowing on me more directly!

Moral of this story.  While I think it is good to keep things cleaned up, sometimes it is good to keep things around.  Just because you don't have a use for it today, save that idea for another day.  Put it on the shelf for it may come in handy tomorrow. 

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Sermon audio from Sunday - if you have trouble forgiving yourself...

If you have trouble forgiving yourself, I hope this will bless you.

click here to listen

to be aware

To wake up in this life, to truly be aware, is one of the highest gifts. 

The point is that Spirituality is not just reading the Bible or believing things.  Many people read the Bible and their minds are filled with doctrine.  Their lives are dogmatic, judgmental and lived on auto-pilot.

Do we see?  Do we really see others?

Waking up is more than seeing someone or seeing a thing.  Waking up is seeing a thing and taking delight in it.  To see a thing and understand it, to have compassion for it, to care about it.

To be aware, to be awake is to see and to take delight.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

The last pictures from our vacation

We are home now, but I am just getting around to posting these pictures.
I love San Francisco.
I spent Jr and Sr high and my first year of college in San Jose, about 40 miles to the south.  Do you know the way to San Jose?

I loved the climate.  I loved the landscape.  I loved the beach.  I still have a sister there.  And I have always loved the city of San Francisco.

The bay is beautiful.  Alcatraz is one of
the most photographed places on earth.

This bird wanted food.  I did not give him anything.

he retaliated.

The cable cars are so quaint and fun to ride.

The Ghirardelli sign, a SF icon

The wind swept evergreens.  The boats at the
Hyde Street Pier.  And of course, Alcatraz.

The sights and sounds of Fisherman's wharf. 
Ahh the smells of Fisherman's wharf.  Both good and bad.

For years I took an annual trip to the redwoods to read. 
On my last day I would go to San Francisco. 
This is the place on pier 39 where I would sit and read. 
This is where in 2010 I sat and read the book
 the Hole in our Gospel for the first time. 
I cried like a baby. 
This little bench, on the east side of Pier 39 is like holy ground for me.

I also love the electric street cars.  They have been brought
here from all over the country and refurbished. The side of one
might say "San Diego 1928"  The side of another "Cincinnati 1932"

I love the street cars.

The mechanical museum on Fisherman's Wharf
has a wonderful collection of amusements from the
1800's to the present.  When I was a kid I used to
put a nickel in a machine like this at the grocery
store on 89th and Wornall Road over by Boone School.

USS Pompanito WW2 Submarine.  I am always amazed at the
fact that men actually served on such small and seemingly
antiquated subs.

Did I say that I loved the street cars?
We had a wonderful trip.
Good to go.  Good to be home.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs