Monday, December 31, 2018

clean yourself

My friend Kim sent this in...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hangs her wash to dry, the young woman makes the same comments. A month later, the woman is surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and says to her husband: "Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? " The husband replies, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." 

And so it is with life... What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

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

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

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Sunday, December 30, 2018

Sermon audio from this morning 12-30-18 lose yourself to find yourself

click here to listen
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blaming things on God

When I was young I briefly attended a church were God evidently talked to everyone.  The members were always saying, "God told me this" or "God is telling me that."

I noticed that much of what God was telling them, had a lot to do with what they themselves wanted.  It seemed that they might have a feeling and then blame it on God.

The end result of this was that I felt like I was hanging around people who thought that they were spiritual, but it didn't feel very spiritual to me.

I have come to believe that if you are speaking or writing God's words, you don't have to tell people.  You don't have to announce it.  You don't have to try to attract attention to yourself.  If you are truly doing or speaking God's will, others will notice.

Less "spiritual" talk and more love is what this world needs.  And God told me to say 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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019

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Saturday, December 29, 2018

Kicked out

I got kicked out

Way back, Dave and Paul and I got kicked out of Ernie Biggs. It was not Dave’s or Paul’s or my fault. That is a story for another day.

Here is what this blog is about. So I was on a cruise not too long ago. My assigned dinner time in the dining room was 6pm. Deck 4 table 439.

I am not a formal person so I skipped the fancy dinner and just ate nightly at the buffet. On the last day, I was sick of people. I was tired of fighting the crowd in the buffet so I decided to go to the dining room to my assigned table at dinner time. When I got to my table, it was full. I asked the closest server what to do. He was going to put me somewhere else. I said, no problem, I will just go back to the buffet.

A manager showed up. He says, Jeff I am going to take you for a free dinner to whatever venue you wish. The steak house, the Italian place or the Hibatchi. I of course chose the Hibatchi.

He walked me down the length of the ship, personally. He got me seated at the grill with a real nice bunch from Virginia. I ate steak, shrimp, rice, vegetables and who knows what else. It was delightful!

What I love the most about this story was that about 3pm I called Hibatchi to see about reservations. $45 per person. Too much. I said no. So I was destined for the dining room. But no. God intervened. [Ha ha more about that tomorrow.] I got to eat Hibatchi for free.

Wonderful. Beautiful. Tasty.

If you come to Florida, lets go to the Hibatchi grill. I love 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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Friday, December 28, 2018

Persecution

Around the world, in many places, Christians are persecuted.  We don't think of it much because it often goes unreported, or there is no great out cry.

My friend Pat wrote to me about an article that he read on NPR about churches being closed in China:

I read today that the Chinese are closing up Christian churches in China, in great part to minimize foreign influence on their society. I don’t raise this to rail against the Chinese: plenty of other folks can do that. I wondered what our reaction here in America would be if the government decided to close down churches and make participation punishable by death, or incarceration. I get that “freedom of religion” is enshrined in our constitution, but in these Alice in Wonderland days, most anything is conceivable, and if you can think it, it can happen., but that’s not what I wanted to pitch either.

I wonder what our reaction would be to not having a church anymore. Would we meet at someone’s house? ? Would we be willing to risk incarceration, physical injury, or death, just to meet and worship? Or would it just become a breakfast club where folks talk about the weather, sports and grumble about the mayor. After all, we could keep to ourselves and pray without taking risks. Why put everything on the line we’ve worked for, our families, our well being, our success, just to meet about God. God knows I’m thinking of him. Isn’t that all that counts? Isn’t that enough? Isn’t it? I mean what price should I have to pay just for my religion? How much is too much?

If you recognize that religion is more that just your thoughts and dedication, you know the answer. You know the price Christ paid for you. Our religion is really our deeds, including coming together with others to act out the instructions we received. But ask yourself: if the government banned churches, what would you do? What would it be worth to you to be able to continue to worship. Sit under that for a while and ask yourself how you’re doing with your religion. Pat

If you wish to read the article Click here to read about the churches closing

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Thursday, December 27, 2018

signature

Email has given us the opportunity to add an automatic signature at the end.  It can be just your name or it can be something that makes people think...  next time you see one, read it, pause and think...

Valerie's is- "Hope is the message. We are messengers."

Lynn's is- "It will all be ok in the end.  If everything isn't ok, then it isn't the end."

I just noticed this one from my friend Bruce and it really made me think- "It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful."   David Steindl-Rast

And here is one final one- 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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

shoulder and neck update

Thanks to steroids, my neck and shoulder are feeling better.  Not completely done, but better.

I want to thank the many of you for the nice comments and how you made me think.

When I wrote in the post on Friday "not that anyone will or should care" I did not mean to be rude.  I know you care and many of you wrote in to say so.  Moral of that is that there are always people out there that care for you, even when you are consumed with your own stuff.  Recently I had a friend describe a suicide attempt.  I told them that I would have been heart broken- sad and sobbing every time I thought of them.  Yes people care.

One person wrote in to suggest a masseuse.  Here again is a lesson.  There are ideas out there that we had not thought of.  In the past when I was working on a challenge with staff, we would go over the options.  We would list them A, B, C, and always add a last one D, which was an option that we had not thought of yet.

My friend Mark reminded me of Jesus' pain that he bore on the cross.

My friend Pat wrote in to remind me that I would appreciate that arm much more when it was better.  How true that is.  Illness causes us to appreciate health.  Excess cold causes us to appreciate warmth.  Oh that we humans would learn to appreciate what we have without the painful reminders.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas

Christmas is the season of love.  The gift of Jesus to our world was God's ultimate message of love.  God so loved the world that he sent.

Today, my prayer for you is that you will feel loved.  Loved by family, loved by friends, and loved by our Heavenly Father.

I love you all.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

It is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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Monday, December 24, 2018

for the first time in 30 years

For the first time in 30 years I have had a December without having to make Advent or Christmas service plans.  Most people have no idea, but planning for Advent and Christmas can be very stressful on a pastor and staff.

Christmas eve in my opinion, was always the most important day of the year for reaching new folks.  If Easter is when the members show up, Christmas Eve is when the visitors come.  Be sure to look for those visiting your church today and tonight.  Welcome them.  Make sure that they get the feeling that this is a good place to return to.

I want to thank everyone who helped me during Advent and Christmas over the years.  I have had some great teammates!  I have certainly enjoyed a leisure December this year, but all of you still working with seasonal planning are on my heart and mind.  Try to find a time tonight when you can release yourself from the worry of making everything just right.  Find a time to relax and savor the season.

Be sure to hug your Pastors and staff tonight.

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


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Sunday, December 23, 2018

Beautiful

It’s beautiful

I was looking at something not too long ago. I was suddenly struck with the thought, “it’s beautiful.” I thought on that. I savored that. I think we are around beautiful things all the time, but we don’t always notice.  We are still unaware.  Still asleep.  Still on auto pilot.  Think of the beauty that we miss.

I have a friend. It’s beautiful.

The waves on the beach. It’s beautiful.

An act of kindness. It’s beautiful.

A particularly touching song. It’s beautiful.

A hug. It’s beautiful.

Sharing lunch with a friend. It’s beautiful.

Forgiving yourself. It’s beautiful.

The mountains. Beautiful.

How many beautiful things can you see today? To stand in awe of a beautiful thing is a holy moment.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019

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Saturday, December 22, 2018

Elders

To become an Elder...

Tribes had Elders. Some churches have Elders and Deacons. Elder is a word that we use to describe someone who is older, but also someone that is somehow wiser. You can be the oldest person in your extended family but not be an Elder if your heart is filled with selfishness and bitterness.

An Elder is someone who is learning to release his or her fears and worries. They are no longer trying to control and fix things. They bring a joy and a grace to the day. They are revered by those who know them, not because of their age but because of their kindness and grace.

As we grow older, we can become bitter or we can become better. May we all seriously engage the process of releasing ourselves to live. To unlearn what holds us back and to spend each moment as if it were a sacred gift from God, given not for our consumption, but for us to pour love into every one that we can.

The world needs more Elders.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019



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Friday, December 21, 2018

Pain

Not that anyone does or should care, but I have done something to my neck and shoulder.  There is a pull from my neck down into my shoulder and through to the bicep.  The pain radiates down into my arm and hand.

This is the worst pain that I can remember experiencing, ever.  It comes at a time when some of my friends are hurting as well.

I have tried the chiropractor.  I have tried drugs.  Today I go to the doctor.

I keep looking for the lesson.  I think about people who have sciatica and how many times I have heard that story and felt badly for them.  Now I know that pain.  I struggle to find relief.

It is a little better each day, but it is still a big pain.  I am looking for ways to embrace it.  To make friends with the pain.

There must be something good to come out of this.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Thursday, December 20, 2018

Mentor or Guide

Mentor-Guide

There are parts of life that we just cruise through on autopilot. No problems. Then there are those times where we wake up and realize that we are in uncharted territory. Uncharted Territory.

During such times we are often concerned and fearful. During these times it would be nice to have a mentor, a guide. Someone who has been this way before. Someone who can help us through the dark passage.

Bob Tuttle was a guide for me when I was leaving the fundamentalist world and finding a faith that was normal and relevant. David VanGiesen was a mentor to me when I was trying to find my land legs in ministry. Anthony deMello was a mentor and guide via his books as I searched to grow in soulfulness.

Now I am mostly retired. I am also 61 and 1/2. I am experiencing uncomfortable things. My life is different than it used to be. Sometimes I wish I had a friend that was 15 years older than I am to talk with about this passage.

Recently I ran across a book, The Grace in Aging, by Kathleen Singh. Although I have just started to read the book, I have found it to be quite comforting. If you are in a similar place in your life, you may want to pick up a copy. I bought it used on Dealoz.com

What I have read has helped me in 20 short pages to feel much more at home in my own skin. That is always a good thing.

Whatever you are feeling today, my friend, there are people and resources to help.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

rich or generous

You can be rich and not generous.  In fact, compared to the rest of the world, if you have the internet and the ability to read this [are literate] compared to the rest of the world, you are very very rich.  You can be rich and not be generous.

You can also be generous and not rich.

Some years ago I was out to lunch with a friend.  He picked up the bill and left a big fat tip.  The server stopped him on the way out and said, "thank you, you must be rich!"  He said, no, I am not rich, just  generous.

Imagine being so generous that people would consider you rich.  Not a bad thing.


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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Everything is OK

Imagine that before your life began, you had the chance to sit down with God and review everything that would happen your entire life.  Good things.  Smiles, love, joy and more.  Hard things.  Death of friends, illness, sadness and more.

Would we say to God, "no, we don't want to live it?"  No of course not.  What we would say would be, "ok, good and bad, I want a shot at life."

And so today, here we are, we are living our life.  Good things = good.  Bad things = normal as well.  Remember, he told you in the beginning.  Good or bad, everything is normal.  Everything is ok.  It is all a part of it.

And if in the middle of the hard times, we could go back to the beginning and say, no we don't want this life, would we?

No.  We want this life. 
Next time times are tough, remember, its just a part of the journey.  Everything is ok.  With all of it's ups and downs, we want this life.

Everything is ok.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


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Monday, December 17, 2018

to give or not to give

To give or not to give, that is the question. 

We Americans are the richest people that have ever lived on the face of the planet. Yet we are worried about giving to help the poor or the homeless because they may be taking advantage of us. Or they may use the money to buy a bottle of wine. [I’ll bet if you and I were under a bridge we would love to have a bottle of wine.]

I’m sure that I have been and we have been taken advantage of by giving to the wrong people. But living a life of begging is no life.  Yes, I'm sure we’ve been taking advantage of from time to time but what is one or five or $10 in the scope of things? I believe it’s better to give and to be taken advantage of from time to time then to not give and let legitimate needs go unmet.

One too many gifts must be better than one too few.   I was hungry and you fed 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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Sunday, December 16, 2018

The self

We are so self absorbed.

A young man was engaged to be married.  His friend asked him what the his fiance liked about him.  The answer?  She thinks I am smart, handsome and a good dancer.

 So the friend asked, and what do you like about her?  The answer, "I like that she thinks that I am smart, handsome, and a good dancer."

Some day, maybe we will learn to stop making everything about us.  Until then, I think of the hymn, "Open my eyes that I might see..."

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Saturday, December 15, 2018

We are not in control

When my daughter Jenny was about 8 years old she was standing in the kitchen throwing a fit. I asked her if she was the boss of the world. She said "no, but I'd like to be."

I wish I was in control. You probably do too. Sometimes we are in charge for a while, at least seemingly so. But the illusion of control is fleeting.  Our families can be devastated by loss and pain. Our jobs can end. Our permanence is impermanent.

At some point we need to come to grips with the fact that we are not in control. I am not saying that God micromanages the world. I don’t believe that. What I am saying is that things happen to us in this life that are beyond our control.

The more we fight this idea, the greater our suffering. The more we come to accept that we are not in control, the more peace we can find.

I am not in control, and it is ok. Everything is ok.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Friday, December 14, 2018

the measure of a life

Life should not be measured by how much money one makes.  Life should not be measured by how attractive a person is or isn't.

Life should be measured by kindness.

Who will meet you when you get to heaven?  Sure, Jesus and St. Peter, but who else?  I hope that you are met by every dog, every cat and every person that you showed kindness to in this life.  Imagine the scene... a lifetime of cats [12] a lifetime of dogs [4] and a lifetime of people that you were kind to, all lined up for a hug!

It is not too late to increase your welcome party.  I am not suggesting that you go get more pets, but that we all show love to every person that we can.  I am hopeful, I am confident that a big crowd will be waiting for you when you cross over the river.

What a beautiful scene.  What a beautiful life.  And you created it, one person, one encounter, one love at a time.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Thursday, December 13, 2018

Sibling Rivalry

When I was a child I was engaged in sibling rivalry with my sister Amy. Some of my children fought that battle as well. When I was a child I did not understand it. Now I look back and I see that our small, broken, emerging egos were struggling to establish themselves. It wasn’t that our intention was to crush the other person, we would in fact have crushed anything that threatened to squash our egos.

Somewhere along the line, most egos grow up. Hopefully we are no longer threatened by that brother or sister and so we can begin to be kind to them. We think that they grew up and became tolerable, but it was really we who grew up and stopped being threatened by them.

Yet even as adults, our egos, our sense of self worth can be threatened, if we allow it to be.

That person took my table. My football team lost. That person misbehaved. That cop gave me a ticket. That person dented my car. The world is not lining up to suit me, so I am angry.

What if our egos, what if our selves, were just allowed to be ok, whether we got our way or not? Waking up to a life of love is about forgetting what I may want and just seeing that all is well. The world may not have aligned to make me happy, but it is still a wonderful world.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019




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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Christian Maturity

What an exciting blog topic:  Christian Maturity.

When I was a kid I was taught that mature Christians go to church every Sunday.  They also attend Sunday School and read their bibles.  Sad as it may seem, I still run into adult Methodists who think that this is Christian maturity.  I am forever frustrated by the folks who think discipleship and spiritual formation are about learning more.

Attending church and Sunday School is great.  Reading your bible is great.  But often what we ended up with were Christians that knew more, but were not grown up in any sense of the word.  They had graduated from 8 years of bible study, they could pronounce Mesopotamia, but they were in no way mature.

Maturity, in and out of Christianity begins with a moving away from self.  Maturity is grasping a world view that is not about me.  Particularly in Christianity, maturity shows up on the scene when we begin to love others, when the focus of our lives begins to realize that we are here to care.  If worship and study lead to that, then fine.  But if they don't lead us to self-lessness, what are we being taught?

In my experience, the most mature Christians may never have been to bible study.  They may not serve on trustees or attend Sunday School.  Mature Christians love God and love others.  They are mission minded.  Not because they should be, but because it naturally flows from their hearts.  There is a conversion inside of them, not simply to Jesus, but a conversion to humanity, a conversion to every single human.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

I'm a hero

So I had an appointment at the doctor's office to have blood drawn.  Routine annual check up.  By the way, I hate needles.  Anyway, I take the earliest appointment so I don't have to wait.  I walk in the lobby and there are 4 people standing by the elevator waiting to go up to his office.

I am thinking... gosh, all 5 of us have the same appointment.  This is going to take for ever.

Waiting waiting waiting for the elevator.  Hmmm... I notice that no one has actually pushed the button.  I step out and push it.  The button lights up!  The elevator immediately springs to life.

I am a hero!  They would have stood there all day.  I alone noticed that we must push the button.  Surely they will all smile, say thank you, and write me into their wills.

The elevator door opens.  Being polite, I wait.  They were in line first after all.
No one moves.
So finally I go get on the elevator, the door shuts and I ride up by myself.

Those four humans were not waiting for the elevator after all.
I'm not a hero.

Moral of the story-  how many times do we walk into a situation, size it up, and think we know what is going on?  Maybe we only think we know what is going on.  Maybe we have elevated our perspective far higher than it should be.  Maybe we should take more time to assess a situation before we rush to judgment.

I am not a hero.  I am not as smart as I thought I was.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Monday, December 10, 2018

Trivia

The other day I played in a group trivia event. It was so much fun! I only got 13 of the 20 questions right. Let’s see what you can do with the questions.

1. What is the name of the king of beers?
2. What is the largest animal on earth?  Be specific.
3. How many Katherines did Henry the 8th marry?
4. Diamonds are made up of what element?
5. A well dressed youthful woman in the 1920s was called a what?
6. Who painted the 1500’s picture of the last supper?
7. Red vines is a form of what candy?
8. In the movie the Lion King, what was Simba’s father’s name?
9. What color did Ford make the Model-T in originally?
10. Smokey Robinson’s most famous band was named what?
11. If you received all of the gifts in the song The Twelve days of Christmas, how many gifts would you receive?
12. What did the 7 dwarfs do for a job?
13. Where did Harry Potter go to school?

Scroll down for the answers

Scroll down for the answers

Scroll down for the answers

Scroll down for the answers



Answers:

1. Budweiser
2. The blue whale. No points for the answer whale. It is the blue whale. be pacific. 
3. 3
4. Carbon
5. A flapper
6. Davinci
7. Licorice
8. Mufassa
9. Black
10. The Miracles
11. 364. On the first day you get a partridge in a pear tree. On the second day you get three gifts, two turtle doves and that partridge. On the third day you get six gifts- three French hens, two turtle doves and the partridge. Continue the math from there and the answer is 364.
12. They were miners
13. Hogwarts University


Wasn’t that fun? I hope that it made you smile.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Sunday, December 9, 2018

Sadness

I walked by someone the other day. It was clear that they were very sad. I did not know the person, and it was in a public place so I did not say anything to them.

But I wanted to.

I wanted to ask them if they were ok. I wanted to hug them. I wanted to look them in the eye and tell them that everything will be alright.

We have all been sad at one time or another. If you know someone that is sad, hug them. And friend, if you are sad, I hug you from afar. I look you in the eyes and I tell you that this won’t last. Better days are just around the corner.

Be encouraged.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019

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Saturday, December 8, 2018

I love waking up in the morning

I know that it sounds kind of dumb. It sounds kind of obvious, but I love waking up in the morning.

I love waking up and realizing that I’ve woken up. [not everyone woke up today]

I love laying there for a few, wiping the sleep from my eyes and then getting up. I love getting dressed and making a cup of coffee. I love turning on the TV and watching Scott Van Pelt on Sports Center. I love the daily Sports Center top 10. I love catching up on the news and weather and thinking about what’s ahead for the day.

Indeed my friends waking up is a beautiful thing.  I hope that you think so.  Truly it is something to be appreciated.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Friday, December 7, 2018

I don't care anymore

In the song by the same name, Phil Collins sang, "I don't care anymore."

Sometimes this is good advice.  There are times to stop caring. 
But in my experience, people tend to give up way too soon. 

We can be down.  We can be out.  We can struggle.  We can hurt.  We can want to quit.  But ask yourself this question... does this thing matter?  If it does, then don't quit.  Don't stop believing.  Don't stop caring.

Many a person, many a relationship, many an organization have come back from the brink to find joyful times.  If the thing is important, keep caring.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Thursday, December 6, 2018

Am I too picky?

Some weeks ago I visited a local church.  The sermon was, Jesus loves you, but.  I  wrote about that on Nov 16th.  If there are conditions, it is not love.

Last Sunday I visited a church and the sermon was Jesus is coming back and he is really going to be mad.  He is really going to bust up the people that aren't right with him.

And I ask, who can be so righteous that they will pass the test?  I thought that we were accepted by grace.

Again, we can find a scripture to prove anything that we choose.  I am sick of the judgment that I keep hearing.   I choose to believe in a God of grace and love.  I hope that you do as well.  

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


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Wednesday, December 5, 2018

you are not your vocation

You are not your vocation

We say, I am a lawyer. I am a teacher. I am a pastor. I am a street sweeper. But we are not our vocation.

What will happen when the vocation ends? Will we become nothing? Some feel a tremendous loss when their vocation ends because they have misidentified themselves with their particular work.

You are not your vocation.

What you are, what I am is a soul, here on this earth to love. Some spend their lives loving themselves, loving their status or trying to protect their beauty. When we engage in such behavior we have misused our love.

What matters in this life is that we love. Everyone. Everyone that we possibly can. You may lose your title as Pastor or teacher or bus driver. You never lose the ability to love, and this is where the true joy is found in life. Beyond our vocation, before our vocation, alongside our vocation, underneath our vocation has always been the opportunity to love.

Find people to love and you have found your life’s work.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Tuesday, December 4, 2018

The journey of release

What if something happened to you that hurt so deeply that it won't go away?  Time is not healing the wound.  It appears that either we humans will deal with a thing, or we will carry it under the surface for the rest of our lives.

Someone was not there for you.
Someone threw you away.
Someone lied about you.
Someone publicly embarrassed you.
Someone deceived you.
Someone threatened you.
Someone forgot you.

It is very easy to feel like a boat with lots of leaks on the sea of life.

We must make a commitment to take the journey of release.  I don't know how to help people get over or get through what they are carrying, but I know that we can't just stuff it all down.

If something is bothering you and it keeps coming back up, at lease make the commitment to stay on the journey of release.  As long as we keep moving toward healing there is hope.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


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Monday, December 3, 2018

Learn their name

What’s in a name?

When I was young I wanted to be named Dave. Dave was the coolest kid in my 4th grade class. Over the years I have learned that my parents gave me the name Jeff because they valued it. We named our children because we loved those names. A good deal of thought and love probably went into your name.

I have also figured out that a name is what you make it. A name can be despised or loved simply based on how a person lived their life. Adolph Hitler, Charles Manson = bad names. Winston Churchill, Princess Diana Spencer = good names.

When you know someone’s name and say it, they become real to you. When we talk to people and don’t know or say their name, they are a number in the crowd. People want to be known. People want to feel valued. Simply learning and saying someone’s name can make their day.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Sunday, December 2, 2018

It's the self again...

It’s the self again. No, it’s the self still. Kathleen Singh says that “our ceaseless self-reference is our most deeply ingrained habit pattern.”

How is my day going? Did I have to wait in line longer than I wanted to? Why is that person annoying me? Why did I lose money? Why is my hair falling out? Does that person approve of me? Did that driver cut me off?

On and on it goes. I. Me. Mine.

What if for a moment we step out of our selves. Out of our bodies. Forget about us for a moment and just look and see what else is out there in the world. Go ahead, do it. Imagine that you have stepped out of your skin and you are looking at everything from a new perspective. It has nothing to do with me, or you, it just is. I am a completely detached observer.

From this new vantage point I can see people in a new light. Not as people that affect me, but as people. And I can see situations, not as how they affect me, but situations as nonthreatening. And since I can focus on something besides myself, I can see the beauty of the world in a new and wonderful way.

Practice leaving the self. Getting one’s self out of the way is a central teaching of Jesus. Lose yourself to find it.

More to come.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Saturday, December 1, 2018

Letting go of the past

The past is over. 

 I am no longer a softball player. My friends would tell you I was never a good one, but the fact of the matter is, I am no longer a softball player. I am no longer a father of young children. I am no longer serving a church. Some things come to an end. It’s over. And it’s ok.

It is far too easy to cling to the past and to grieve the past.  But when we come to finally release the past, we are free to accept the present.

There are many things that are over. Many things that I am no longer. But there are some things that I am now, that I was not in the past.

What you say? I am becoming a more caring person.  [most of the time] I am seeing people that I overlooked in the past. I am resting in today. I am becoming more peaceful. I have time to listen to you. I have time to care. And maybe most importantly, I have come to understand that caring is the most important part of a life.

Some things are over. We seized the day didn’t we? Some things are over, but we have today, and there is a day to seize today. May we release that which will never be again, and see the good in today and embrace it with joy.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Friday, November 30, 2018

the long line of unknowns

My friend Pat wrote...

A few weeks ago we here in KC were been pretty wrapped up in football. “Greatest game ever”, “preview of the Super Bowl”, and so on. It was hard to go to sleep Monday night, given the intensity of the game, KC Chiefs vs LA Rams.

But it won’t matter. Two Thousand years ago, the world renown gladiator Tetraites defeated his greatest rival Prudes in the Colosseum. The exploits of both are depicted on glass vessels found in present day France, England and Hungary. But it doesn’t matter either. Or does it?


Its all a matter of perspective. 2000 years from now, no one will remember Patrick Mahomes and the LA Rams game, just like no one really remembers Tetraites and Prudes. Not everything that seems significant lasts. Sometimes what appears insignificant punches above its weight.

We still remember the teachings of Christ 2000 years later, even though they really weren’t popular culture at the time.  This is because of the efforts of a long line of mostly unknown people since then.

2000 years from now, no one is likely to remember you, or me. Will they still remember the way of life taught by Christ? That depends on whether you and I join that long line of unknowns. Will 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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Thursday, November 29, 2018

It's Almost Saturday Night

I was driving down the road the other day and a song came on the radio, It's Almost Saturday Night by John Fogerty.

It took me back to a place in time.  A happy time.  My first album was a CCR [John Fogerty] album.  I have always loved his stuff.  This particular song is a happy song, it is a driving in the car song.  I remember putting that CD in my 1998 Ford Mustang GT.  My friends Bruce Letner, Mike Montgomery and I all had Green Mustangs of that body style.  Back then we played softball and talked cars, children and life.

As I remember those days, I feel happy now.  Memories can be a beautiful  thing.  The cars are gone, but I still love those guys.

If you want to listen to the song, here is the link. 

click here to listen to the song

And if you have a Mustang for sale, give me a call.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Jesus made room for all

From my friend John Johnson...

My wife and I watched a movie this weekend titled The Greatest Showman. In the movie, one of the actresses made a statement to P.T. Barnum about him creating a home for the people who did not have a place in society. [dwarfs, bearded women, super tall, etc...]  I have thought about this a lot since watching the movie and that is what Jesus was doing. Helping broken people find a home. A real home where they are accepted for their soul and not their appearance.

My pastor made a comment yesterday that has intrigued me.

  Every one of us in the world displays a characteristic of God. If we put everyone in a room together, we might get a better picture of who God is.

I thought about this and came to the conclusion that if we follow this line of thinking, the people who intentionally hurt others do display a side of God. This is the side of God that gets angry. We do not like that side of God but it exists just like it does in all of us.

As you have said in your blog, there are issues that the church needs to wrestle with. People are desperate to have real conversations about these real issues. There has to be more meaning to life than what makes it onto our smartphone news app. I appreciate the opportunity to dialogue about these issues.

It is a beautiful snowy day in Missouri. The snow transforms the world from the dying fall look to the white beauty of winter.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

youth, the church, and the counter culture

I have a friend that is a young man.  He is a writer for counter culture TV shows.  We had a discussion the other day about how young people feel about religion.  He tells me that in his field, many young people are expressing counter culture by engaging in art that shares their message in a way that nips at the traditional perspective of the older generation.

The picture here is an example of one young person's counter culture dark art.  The young person has inserted something from their culture on top of something from the older generation.  So here is the famous picture from the Sistine Chapel of God reaching to touch man.  A dialogue box is superimposed on it that one might get on their computer.  The dialogue box says "Fatal Error - Disconnected."

Young vs Old.  New vs Old.  Young folks telling us that we don't get it.  A rejection of traditional religion.  We have made a fatal error and they are disconnecting.

We can try to make them think as we do, but it won't work.  We must find a way to understand why they feel as they do about organized religion.  But more than that, we must change.  They feel disconnected.  How can we help them feel loved and connected?  It must be done on their terms, not ours.  We must be willing to depart from our ideas and leave our world and enter into theirs.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Monday, November 26, 2018

preemptive

I don't know how many pastors read this blog.  This is a bit of advice from an old guy for how to handle the upcoming General Conference issue in February.

pre·emp·tive
/prēˈemptiv/
adjective

1.serving or intended to preempt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling the enemy:
"a preemptive strike"

When the General Conference happens in February it is going to be all over the news.  It is very likely that pastors and churches will need to declare their opinion on homosexuality.  Will we welcome and accept everyone, or will still consider it a sin?  There are many good people on both sides of the issue.

In my opinion, a church and a pastor has one of two choices.  Either wait to see what happens in February or take a preemptive strike on the issue now.

Those that choose to wait run the risk of allowing the media to shape the issue.  They will also be forced to act upon the issue when people's emotions are in a heightened state.

Recently, two of my friends took preemptive action.  They wanted to control how the message was delivered.  They wanted their people to know where they stood.  They wanted to get the bleeding over with so that when February came it would have no effect on the church.

One pastor talked with his staff.  Determining that they were all on the same page, he told the congregation in a sermon that they would be welcoming everyone.  Many were happy.  A few left.  That was painful.  But he controlled the message and the bleeding is over.

Another pastor brought in all of the former pastors of the church.  Together, they stood in front of the congregation and told them about the church's historic identity of welcoming everyone.  They took a preemptive strike.  They controlled the narrative.  A few were unhappy, a few left, but the issue was managed according to the plans and leadership of the pastor.

Those who wait until after February 26 to talk with their congregation are going to be doing so in the midst of a media firestorm.  I recommend that Pastors take the initiative and talk with their congregations now instead of waiting for the media to paint the issue.  Step out, take the lead and work through the difficult situation.

In general it is always better to take a problem head on.  Face it, name it, deal with it and move on.

But I am retired.  What do I know?

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

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

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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Sunday, November 25, 2018

sermon audio from 11-25-18 I was filling in for Pastor Tim at First UMC Ft. Pierce

click here to listen to the audio of the sermon
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With

From my friend Pat...

Here’s a thought.  “Love”, in the Bible is really overrated.

Plenty of Christians talk about how Jesus loves you. Bumper stickers and sermons abound based on that saying. But I don’t recall Jesus saying “I love you” much . In fact, not until late in the story does he give a new commandment to “love one another as I have loved you”. What he does say repeatedly though, is “I am with you”; his ministry was a lifelong example of how to be with others.

“With” is the most important four letter word in the Bible.

Much of what Christ taught was a new paradigm about taking care of one another. “When did we feed or house you Lord? When you fed the poor, when you housed the homeless.” For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” Matthew 20:28.

Christians often hide behind the notion that “Jesus loves you” because of how it makes us feel. OK, Jesus loved everybody, I will too, end of duty. What Jesus really does is give you a road map of how to act.(he doesn’t talk much about your feelings) Saying you love your neighbor is nothing without the active, overt efforts to fill the needs of your neighbor.

Love may be the consequence of your effort, but being with the disadvantaged is the real goal. Christ didn’t walk around saying I love you. He walked around being with others by taking care of them: feeding the multitudes, healing the sick, etc.

In the bacon and eggs of Christianity, words are the eggs, actions are the bacon(the chicken is involved, the pig is committed.) Lets not let our words substitute for our actions.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
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