Saturday, March 31, 2018

Black Saturday

Black Saturday.
Holy Saturday.

Not sure what to call it.
Its the in between day.

For the disciples, it was a day with nothing.
No Jesus, he had died.
No resurrection, yet.
nothing.
In between.

It's like there is no God today.
No Jesus, he died.
No Savior until a resurrection.
All of creation stopped to wonder what was going on. There had never been a day like this before, or since.

Saturday.
Waiting. Hoping.
It must have been tough for the disciples.

I can't imagine a world without God.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Good Friday

Good Friday. Good because why? Jesus suffers and dies. How is that good? Suffering and death do not sound very good to us. Good Friday worship service is a painful recounting of the difficult sufferings of Jesus. It is designed to bring people to a deep appreciation of what Jesus did for us. While we are repulsed by selfishness, our souls are deeply touched by generous acts of grace. He that has been given much, loves much.

Good Friday. It's good for us. Because in the death of Jesus, a relationship is made right. Our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored, healed.

Pause sometime today and say "thank you." To say thank you to God is the beginning of living the Christian life.

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



- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday.  Thursday of Holy Week. 

Maundy.  There is another church word.  Irrelevant to most people outside of the church, how many people within the church know what it means?

If the church wants to win the world, it would be nice if we started using words that regular people understood.  People outside of the church do not know what discipleship is, or spiritual formation.  And I bet if we asked 50 Christians for definitions, we would get 50 different answers as well.  Heady theology will never win the hearts of the masses.

It is time for us to speak the language of those  whom we are trying to win.  If we can't, then they won't be listening.  That is one reason why so many people are not interested in church... it is just too churchy.

Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, from which we get the word mandate.  So today is mandate Thursday or commandment Thursday.  So named for the new commandment that Jesus gives at the last supper.  "A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another." Jn 13:34

Maybe we should call today, Love Thursday, since that is what Jesus asked us to do.  Everyone love each other today.  Everyone get in the habit of loving each other.  Good idea.  Good stuff.  Thank you Jesus for teaching us to love.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

self-serving

The root of sin is the self.  identify anything in your life that feels like sin and you can be sure that your own, my own selfishness is there on display.  Even sometimes seemingly good things get tainted by self interest.

This is why Jesus said to pray in your closet.  Don't make a big show of your giving.

I once had a man at church that said, "I have given so much money to this church over the years, I should have my own parking place with my name on a sign."  The self, and it is not pretty.

So during the Super Bowl there was a Hyundai commercial.  Buy one of our cars and we will give $50 to childhood cancer research.  Really???  A little self interest there huh?  Spend $25,000 on a car and we will donate $50. 

Oddly, I can no longer find this commercial online, but there are several other very good Hyundai commercials.  I'm not dissing on their cars, it just seemed odd to me that if you spent 25K, then we would make a donation.

Most of our problems in life are self-induced.
Let's keep working on getting ourselves out of the way.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

The ignored birth of Jesus

Here it is Holy Week and I want to offer a thought.
My opinion only...

Most Christians treat the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus as the real core of the message.
The suffering, death and resurrection are the meat and potatoes of the faith to many people, while the birth of Jesus is the parsley on the plate.
We spend 98% of our time talking about the suffering, death and resurrection and 2% talking about the birth.
4 weeks are given to advent.  The other 48 can be about the suffering death and resurrection.

The result of this is that we have a message that can sound pretty heavy as related to the suffering, death and resurrection.... certainly the s, d, and r are important, but if we are not careful our message starts to sound like this.  "You were bad, God is mad, so he mutilated and killed his son so that now he can be glad again."

Is this what the church is selling?  No wonder no one wants to go anymore.

The problem with this as the main approach to faith is that the gospel does not begin with "you are bad" or with "God is mad.  The gospel begins with "God so loved the world."  That is why we call it good news.  God loved the world and he sent his son.

Without the birth, there is no boy Jesus at age 12 at the temple.
Without the birth there is no calling of disciples.
Without the birth there is no baptism by John.
Without the birth there is no sermon on the mount.
Without the birth there is no water to wine.
Without the birth there is no suffering death and resurrection.

Maybe the birth is more important that we have thought.
God sent his son.  This is a powerful message.

Ahh, yes.  There it is.  He sent his son.  The birth of Jesus = good news!!!  It is in effect the first miracle.  God loved you so much that he sent his son.  You were worth it, you are worth it!  You are loved!

That is a gospel that I can get behind.  That is a gospel that will build healthy relationships between people, God and each other.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018


Monday, March 26, 2018

2019 Trips

I am looking to schedule trips for 2019.  Several of you have mentioned wanting to go to the Holy Land.  Some of you said that you prefer cruises so that you don't have to move from hotel to hotel.  Here is what I am looking at for next year.


  1. Classic Holy Land tour in early March.  This would be a land tour not a cruise.
  2. Alaskan cruise in the summer.
  3. Fall trip- fly to Paris and take a river cruise to Normandy. [Normandy is on my bucket list.]


Let me know if any of these trips interest you.

Also remember we have the Cuba cruise in August and the Ireland trip in October still in 2018. 

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

sermon audio from Sunday for those who might be interested

here is the link

click here

Sunday, March 25, 2018

surreal

similar situation to what I experienced.
Frightening for sure...
It was a surreal experience.  I don't remember ever seeing this before.

I was driving home from Tampa on Highway 60 where it is 2 lane.  One lane each way.  If you are going to pass, you have to cross over into oncoming traffic, hurry by the slow person, and then get back over.

People would pass and get back over.  Sometimes they get back over late and it makes me nervous, I know that I have done that too.  Pass and hurry to get back over, knowing that the other driver coming towards you is nervous.

So I am driving eastbound on Highway 60 and I see a copper colored SUV passing several cars and a semi.  I know that he will not make it around the truck.  I think, Surely he will break off his passing and slide in behind the semi.

NO!!! he does not.  He keeps coming in my lane!  Thankfully the lanes are wide and we pass three abreast.  The semi and the copper SUV heading west and my car going east.  I'll bet there was not more than a foot between my car and the SUV when he passed.

Wow.  I don't know what some people are thinking....
I know that he knew I was there, I know that he knew what might happen.  I don't think he cared. 

Glad to be here writing 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 in 2018. 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

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

Saturday, March 24, 2018

don't let it steal your joy


My friend Kathy sent this in, I thought it was worth sharing...

Years ago I was going to a counselor. He told me that many of life’s problems steal the joy from today and the best thing to do is “be HERE now”… wherever I am – whatever I am doing – focus on THAT and let the rest go. Also, enjoy the journey – don’t just work towards the goal. Enjoy the steps along the way. This works well to:

  1. Get more done in the moment by focusing on the task at hand and not worrying about other things. Problems are resolved much sooner.
  2. Allows for joy in the moment even if there are other things that want to steal our joy.
  3. As a young mother I would feel the pull to clean the house or cook dinner when my kids just wanted me to play and “be here” with them. I’m glad I made the better choice – I have great memories – and so do they.

My comment... yes there are many things in life that will steal our joy if we allow it. Remember, you have power over your attitude. Something may come along and try to steal your joy. It may bump you hard. Let it bounce off and move on as quickly as you can. Do not become stuck in negativity. Life is too good.


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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Friday, March 23, 2018

Yikes

So I don't play golf much, but my friend Dave was in town.  Dave.  A good man.  A genius.  A good heart.  A great soul.

So we played 9 holes of golf.  Well, he golfed and I booted the ball along as I could.  On one of the holes we met a visitor.  Now remember this is like 1 mile from our house!!!!!


Who knows where this ball is going to go!!!


Oh, look behind us, there is a 10' gator



So we are both posing with the gator.
Let's see who can get closer to the gator?

I am a chicken.  Dave got closer.

Now here is the funny part.  When we were done taking pictures we were walking back to the cart.  I was nervous of course.  The gator was ugly and scary.  Dave suddenly shouted, "look out, he's coming!"  I about lost it.  Not funny... Don't laugh at 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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Good Morning

A few weeks ago I was watching the movie Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams.  When he signed on he would say "GOOD MORNING VIETNAM."

It was a happy joyful beginning to a day that was often filled with worry and fear for the soldiers.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ROBIN WILLIAMS SAY IT

We should all walk into people lives and instill joy.... GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!!
GOOD MORNING JEAN FISHER.
GOOD MORNING MARK LEVI
GOOD MORNING BRIAN FLOWER
GOOD MORNING NANCY YOST
GOOD MORNING DAVE HARRIS
GOOD MORNING MY FRIEND!!!!!

Every day we have the chance to instill joy..... let's not miss a chance.

I love you.
GOOD MORNING!!!

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

too many problems

Some years ago I was in trouble. I had more problems than anyone should have.  I had about 7 of life's really big messes going on all at the same time.  When  this happens to a person we can get overwhelmed with emotion.  The worry just comes in waves and we can feel paralyzed.  Too much input and none of it is good.

During this time I ran into my old friend, Bob Walls.  He gave me some great advice.  He said, pick one of the 7 to work on, to focus on.  Just admit that the other six will be there when you are done, but let them go and work on the one.  After you make progress on the one thing, then go back to the six and pick the next one to work on.  Leave the other 5 alone until you are done with #2.

For me this worked.  I stopped worrying about the other six and was able to focus on the one.  The other thing that happened as soon as I made a little progress on the one, I began to feel some hope.  Hey this is not overwhelming, hey we can get to the other side.

I hope you have no problems.  I wish you only blue skies.  But if you suddenly find that you are surrounded by too many problems all at the same time, you may want to try this approach.  It helped me a ton.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

thank you God

Dear God,

I am sitting here and I am 60 years old.  I survived that upbringing that today would have had me removed from the home.  I survived the loneliness of grade school, Jr Hi and Hi School.  Somehow, I finished college, and I am married with three wonderful adult children.

Wow, and it all went by so fast.  I am in awe of the amazingness of life!!!

I have lived long enough that my problems are boring.  I thank you for every help along the way.  Every direction.  Every idea.  Every time when you turned me in the right direction.  I still miss my friends in Kansas City and Cape Coral but I am so fortunate.

I have nothing to say to you in this prayer but thank 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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Monday, March 19, 2018

get busy


A friend sent this in....

I have been struggling with the loss of my friend this past week. He knew me better than my own twin brother. I miss his voice, his laughter and his gentle hug. I will notice  things that he gave me and it kind of sends me down a rabbit hole for a little while. I have to remind myself to see and think differently. The beauty of today, the joy of friends that I have (like you), family and the presence of the now - this moment in time. For that is what I have. I don’t have yesterday with our family, friends,  or pets that have gone on before us. I don’t have tomorrow as we are never promised tomorrow. But what I do have is this moment in time, with wonderful memories of times shared together. There is a phrase I think of often from the movie The Shawshank Redemption. “Either get busy living, or get busy dying”. I still think back to the times that “ were”. I remember and cherish them. My friend made me a better man, friend and husband. I miss him! But I think I choose to get busy living, making new memories and new fiends.  I still look back but today I am Living life, enjoying today and looking forward to the possibilities.

g2



- - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018



Sunday, March 18, 2018

sermon audio 3-18-18 why do bad things happen

click this link to listen

click here for sermon audio

Holy Land Recap

This is my final post about the Holy Land trip.

The trip was fantastic.  I loved seeing the Holy places.  Petra, Cesarea by the Sea and Jerusalem were among my favorites.

I loved hanging with the people on the trip.  Wonderful folks.  I enjoyed catching up so very much.


Pat Stark leaving the Garden Tomb

Greg and Holly Henson on the Sea of Galilee




Riding the cart at Petra

Ann Trask braving the camel ride in Petra




Ginger Murphy, Gloria Heston and Mary Van Tol on Mt. Nebo


Bill Pogson kissed the camel.  The camel was reluctant at first.


Julie Andrews isn't taking that kiss

Bill Pogson, group historian,  admires the olive wood nativity.

Debbie Stark trying to avoid the local vendor


Joyful JoAnne Priester has made a purchase.

Charles and Linda Wells prepare to board the bus.

Pam Pogson makes the day of the local vendor, buying all of his flutes.


Pat Stark as Sisyphus


Ready to go home!

We flew on a 747 going and the largest
passenger jet, and Airbus 380 on the way home.
It's a double decker!


We had an absolute blast!
I am planning on leading another Holy Land trip in March of 2019.  Let me know if you are interested.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018




Saturday, March 17, 2018

sermon audio from march 4, 2018

Here is the audio from Sunday March 4.  Sorry it was late- I was in the holy land.
Have a great day!!!

click here to listen to the sermon

Back to the Holy Land


So my blog was late on Thursday.  That is because I was recovering from 30 hours of travel from the Holy Land.  And I am obviously confused about when St. Patrick's Day is.  Here is my excuse: for those with real Irish blood, and I have a bit, for the true Irish, every day is St. Patrick's Day.

This was our last day of touring in the Holy Land.  I loved it!  I am planning to return next spring.


An abandoned Mosque in Tiberius

On a boat on the Sea of Galilee.  Tiberius is in the background.

Church on the Mt of Beatitudes

Sea of Galilee from the Mt of Beatitudes

5th Century mosaic floor from the Church of loaves and fishes.

4th Century Synagogue in Capernum.

Interior of Church in Cana which celebrates Jesus first miracle
turning water into wine.


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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018





Friday, March 16, 2018

friends

Last week in a post I mentioned that I had not made friends in Florida.  I heard from several of you.  That statement made you sad.

I did not mean that I have not made friends.  I have built relationships with many people that would qualify as friends.....  Judy and Joe, Terri and Jim, Adam, Joanne, Ginger, Greg, Nancy, Bernie, Peggy, Kathy, Arlene and many others.

Here is the problem.... when you are a pastor and people know you as a pastor, it limits what a friendship can become until people get past the idea that you are a pastor.  Being a pastor just makes things weird sometimes.

So let's move past the pastor thing.  Let's sit down sometime on the porch and drink a few beers and tell our worst stories about life and our best jokes.  A pastor, most pastors, well at least this pastor, just wants to be known and accepted as a regular human.

I thank you Florida friends for all of our relationships and I know that they will only get better.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018

St. Patrick's Day


Well what do you know. It is St. Patrick's day. Today is the day that I always think of that famous Irishman who invented outdoor tables and chairs. Do you remember his name??

Dave Harris left, Paul McClain on right.  Two of my best buddies.


The famous Irishman who invented outdoor tables and chairs, his name was.....

wait for it................

Paddy O'Furniture

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the green.
reply to this post at jsbrink57@gmail.com



- - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Holy Land Day 7

Today we saw the ruins of Caesarea by the Sea, a Roman aqueduct,  a first century tomb, and the church of the annunciation where Mary and Joseph lived.


Ruins of Caesarea by the Sea.  Mediterranean Sea is at the left.

The Hippodrome at Caesarea by the Sea where people would
watch chariot races and experience other entertainment.


Old man sitting by Roman aqueduct.


Picture taken through the aqueduct of the Mediterranean Sea and the beach.

1st Century tomb with rolling stone. 
Just randomly along a major highway.


Church of the Annunciation [announcement] celebrating the angel
Gabriel telling Mary that she is going to have a son by the Holy Spirit.

Home of Joseph and Mary in Nazareth.  
A Byzantine church was built on this site in 600AD.


Oh my we are having a wonderful time.  And I am so glad to spend time with old friends.  Catching up has been so delightful.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Holy Land Day 6

Today we saw the Mount of Olives, the Western or Wailing wall, The southern stairs of Herod's Temple and the Dead Sea Scroll Caves.  Awesome.

And I have really enjoyed the people from our group and people that I have met from other groups.

Holly Henson rides the camel on the Mount of Olives.

Old city of Jerusalem viewed from the Mt of Olives.

Church of all Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane.

3,000 year old olive tree in Garden of Gethsemane.
They are called "witness trees" because they witnessed
the life and ministry of Jesus.

Church of all Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jewish girls performing ceremonial washing of hands
at the Western or Wailing wall.

Western or Wailing wall where people go to pray.
It is the foundation wall of the old temple.

Prayers stuffed into the cracks in the Wailing Wall.

Next to the temple mount, recently excavated road from 1st century.
Jesus would have walked here.  Note the pile of rubble in the back.
The rubble is from the Roman destruction of the temple in 62AD.


The southern steps of the old temple where Jesus would have taught.

City wall from Crusader times.  Nook for an archer to keep watch.

Mountains of Qumran.  Location of Dead Sea Scrolls discovery.

Dead Sea.  Across the sea is Jordan and the hotel where we started our trip.

Cave where dead sea scrolls were found.

We are having a marvelous time and I have decided that I am going to schedule another trip back to the Holy Land in early 2019.  Let me know if you are interested in going.

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 in 2018. 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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018