Nothing is as bad as it seems...

Pink the singer, in the song, "just give me a reason." "Nothing is as bad as it seems."

The inconvenience of this day. My latest ache and pain. The surgery that I might have to have. Even in death there are good things. In death I will be reunited with my family and reunited with my friends. We will all fold into one Spirit and be one with God.

Nothing is as bad as it seems. Lord just help me to see the good.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

In honor preferring one another

Sometimes love means that I prefer what you want or need more than what I want or need.  Love means that I am willing to decrease my will so that you can increase yours.  Love makes you more important than me.

We by nature are so selfish.  But it does not have to be that way.  We can step back.  We can release others to find their happiness.

Romans 12:10 "In honor preferring one another."  When we try to control others we only hurt them and ourselves.  When we release others, we find freedom and joy.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

control issue

I have driven up to see my buddy Roger a couple of times.  I have to tell you that the lady at the Microtel Inn has to be in control. 

I am a Diamond Member of Wyndham.  I'm not bragging, it is no big deal, you get their highest status when you open their credit card.  So, I got there at noon.  Check-in isn’t till 2pm.  There’s no way she’s checking me in.  She has an attitude about it.  I am a little surprised by the attitude.  I know their are rooms available- there always are. But she doesn’t even bother to look.  She says no one checks in until 2pm. That was last month Juneteenth. 

This last trip when I went back to check in, there she was again.  This time, I played my hand differently.  I knew that she would not let me check in.  I didn't even ask.  I asked if I could leave my car here while Roger drove me around.  I was very compliant.  I was very supportive of her need to be in control.  And guess what?  She was very pleasant.  Sometimes unpleasant people can get pleasant if we just acquiesce to their need to be in charge.

It's ok for me to let others be in charge.  I can do it their way.  And often their way turns out just fine.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Sometimes love hurts

Love is an interesting thing. Sometimes love hurts. There’s a song that says that.

I was thinking the other day about all the people in my life that I love and that I miss. I don't want to start naming names but there are many of you. All of my Kansas City friends. People from Cape Coral, people from Fort Pierce. My sister in California my dad.

It’s like I’m so happy when I get to see them I miss them so much. I love them so much. And there’s an aching when I’m away from the people that I love. And I believe that when we die we’re all reunited all back together again. I think that when we cross over the river, all the brokenness is gone, all the yearning is gone, all the hurt is gone and God will wipe away every tear. Until then enjoy the time that you get to be with the people that you love and tell them how much you love them.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Thinning out my collection of junk

One of the benefits of a long road trip is the opportunity to think about things. Time to process things. I’ve been thinking about getting rid of stuff- thinning things out- minimalizing. Getting rid of things that I’ve held on to for years but I probably don’t need.

Before Scott got hurt I was gonna have him go up and bring everything down out of the attic. I was going to go through it, organize it, sell some of it, and throw some of it away. Then I was going to put the rest of it back with sort of a plan. I was going to make a chart so that I actually knew where things were in the attic.

And so I am driving along, thinking about thinning things out and this song comes on. "Bridge over troubled water" by Simon and Garfunkel. And I remembered back to when that album first came out when I was in seventh grade. I was invited to a party at Debbie Geraghty‘s house and she slow danced with me to that song. She was very popular and I was not. I can remember it being one of the first times in my life that I felt valued. Random things that we think about.

If you don’t feel valued today I want you to know that I value you. You matter to me. I used to love to stand in the pulpit and tell people how important they were to God and to me. Well I don’t have a pulpit today but I want you to know that you do matter to me and you matter to God.

Thin out your stuff if you need to, but let your awareness of your value grow and grow and take up more room in your heart!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

suicide

From time to time I have to write about suicide.

From time to time some people get into what I would call a bad space. Not in a good space not in a good place in their head. They feel sadness and despair. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. I’ve been there a number of times in my life. I have a few friends that have actually saved my life.

I want to say a couple of things about suicide today. If you think suicide will ease the pain or stop the pain I want you to understand that suicide only transfers the pain from you to others and it actually multiplies the pain as it branches out to those that love you. Whatever you may be feeling just gets expanded to 100 other people that you’re not thinking of that actually love you and are going to be shocked and hurt.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Feelings are fickle. They come and go. The dark place, the low place, the feeling that life is closing in on you, that does not last forever. A brighter day is just around the corner.

The Psalmist wrote "weeping lasts for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Keep your chin up! See the good! Smile! There’s a hug, there is love, and there is friendship just around the corner.

Don't ever forget, it's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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It doesn't last forever

Life.  It does not last for ever.  We think that it will go on.  We think that tragedy will not strike us.  We are after all, seemingly so in good spirits and good health.

But think what we may, it does not last for ever.

This is why it is very very important to live in the moment.  To pay attention to life.  To cherish the times.  To give thanks for each moment that we are alive.  We cannot live on autopilot.  We cannot go blithely on as if this will last forever.

As Bill Gaither sang so many years ago, "yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today."

Pay attention.  If you are asleep, wake up.  See those around you.  Thank them for being there.  Tell them you love them.  Savor every moment.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Heartbroken

I received word yesterday from several of my Ft. Pierce friends that my friend/our dear friend Kathy Krueger passed away suddenly yesterday.  Actually I got eight calls from friends wanting to make sure that I knew.  The calls were short... they gaged the tone of my voice to see if I had heard.  They couldn't talk.  The shock and the grief are incredibly painful.

I loved her.  We all loved her.  In many ways, she was the backbone of the Ft. Pierce First United Methodist Church.  She led the singing.  She managed the Cuba Mission.  She dealt with communications and programs.  She led the bell choir.  She was heavily involved with the Ft. Pierce Neuro-blastoma group.  She did a lot more that most people don't know about.  She was a huge part of many people's lives.

Kathy, Arlene, Dick and I were the 4 support staff for several years.  We had a bond.  We loved each other.

Kathy was happy, funny, ornery, and loving.  She had a big smile and a big laugh!  She was so very capable and kind.

I am heart broken.  I am going to miss her.

Let's just take a moment to thank God for the deep bonds of friendship.  Let us take a moment to thank God for the precious gift of life.  Friends, cherish every day.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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It's on me from now on

Wilson Phillips sings, "you got no one to blame for your unhappiness, you got yourself your own self into this mess."

Reminds me of something that I remember thinking learning when I was 28 years old. Prior to 28 I blamed my parents for my problems, my feelings, and my struggles with with guilt and self-worth. When I was 28 I had this realization, this awakening and my brain said you’re an adult now Jeff. Up to this point you could blame them.  But from now on it’s on you.  What they did before is over, the rest of your life is what you make of it.  It is no longer about what they did to you. Now it is about what you do about what’s left.  It is time to pick yourself up and take responsibility for the rest of your life.

I have spend the last 36 years trying to do that.  

Friend, you are an adult.  What happens with your future is no longer blameable to them.  What we do with what we have left is on us.  Its on me.

It's a beautiful day in God's world.  Make the choice.  Choose for a better life.  Give it to yourself.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

P.C.L.R.

I was listening to the radio the other day.  They were talking about the PCLR test.   Evidently it is a test that they use to decide who is and who isn't a psychopath.  It is commonly used by parole boards to deny parole to those who score high on the test.

I decided to take the test.  I followed some link and ended up here:

https://psychopathyis.org/screening/tripm/

I don't know if it is the authentic PCLR but it is a psychopathic test.  I took the test.  Results?  I got 7%.  Now on most tests, 7% is an F- but on this test, I was happy for the results.  I am evidently not a psychopath and am evidently fairly mentally healthy!!!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

why are they mad???

I spent three lovely years as the pastor of the Princeton and Mercer churches.  1991-1994.  Wonderful people happy times. There was one woman in the church in Princeton that was always unhappy and it seemed to be directed at me. Whatever meeting we were at she was always there and always grouchy and it always seem to be aimed at me. 

One day I decided I was done with it. I called her up and said I’d like to stop by. I drove out to her trailer.   I went in and sat down. And I said "ma’am I’m trying to be a good pastor, I’m trying to be a good man. I feel like you’re always unhappy with me.  Have I done something to hurt you?  If I have  done something wrong please forgive me."

She started crying like a baby.  I started to cry. Turns out she has all sorts of pain in her life and it just was coming out in all sorts of ways that were destructive to relationships around her. I said a prayer, we hugged and I left.  After that she was a different person.  

It was the first step of a long journey for me to learn that often when people at the church were seemingly angry at me there was something going on in their life.  It was about them, not me.  The  church and their pastor was just an easy target. 

So if someone is being ugly to you and you can’t figure out what you did to them, just remember it may have more to do with them than it does with you.  Just keep loving them because everybody needs to be loved, especially those who are grieving and hurting.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Devotional practices

I talk to a lot of people about their devotional practices.  The things that they do to try and stay connected to God.

• One reads the Bible for 30 minutes every day.
• One reads the Upper Room every day.
• One prays and reads for 45 minutes every day.
• One goes for a walk every morning. In this they see God in creation and talk with Him.
• One simply wakes up and says, "thank you." [I love that]
• One does nothing when they wake up but spends the rest of their day trying to love others. Their life is a practice of devotion.
• One reads Jesus Calling.

Find something that is good for you and don't worry if you aren't doing what others think that you should be doing.  Do what is good for you.  Do what energizes you.  Do what helps you find the peace of God.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

jumpy

Do you ever get jumpy?

There is a recycle center about a mile from us.  I am there three times a week.  They have a plastic rat on the steps to their office.  I know it is there.  I have seen it 100 times.  But every time I see it, I jump.  I recoil.  And then I catch myself and think, what is wrong with me???

Two years ago I was trimming a tree.  A big branch came down and in the sticks and such there was a snake.  He had crawled up the tree and died or died in the branch fall.  I picked him up with a stick and put him on the driveway.  I told myself... "you know he is there, don't be startled."  But every time I drug a branch to the truck, I saw the snake and I jumped.

Some years ago I did a wedding at the Loretto on 39th street.  The wedding coordinator pinned a big flower on my suit lapel.  When I was leaving the wedding, there were big grasshoppers jumping around.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw the flower and I jumped like an Olympian.  I swatted that grass hopper off of my suit, only to realize that it was not a grasshopper, it was the boutonniere.

So now I have this cut on my hand, this scab on my hand from moving the couch.  I cannot tell you how many times in the last few days I have caught that scab out of the corner of my eye and thought it was a bug.  I even hit myself once.

We shouldn't be so jumpy.  Everything is ok.  Don't laugh at me.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Sometimes you have to laugh at yourself

Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves!

So my buddy Roger is a director on a project at a submarine base.  On June 18th I drove up to see him and the submarines.  Turns out that that day was the celebration of a newly declared holiday "Juneteenth."  So the federal office that would check me in was closed.  No submarines for me.

Fast forward to last Friday.  I had driven up to Jacksonville the night before to deliver a treadmill to my daughter.  Thank the Lord that thing is out of my garage.  I knew I was going to see Roger on Friday, but I did not think we would go to the base since the subs are all out to sea.

When we talked Thursday night, he told me that he wanted to show me the project.  I realized that I was unprepared.  No hard hat, no long pants or shoes.  Strictly Florida clothes, shorts and flip flops.  So Friday morning after I got up, I went shopping for a pair of shoes and a pair of jeans.  At the Goodwill store of course!!!

They had lots of ladies shoes and clothes, but the men's section was small and picked over.  I found one pair of shoes that fit and one pair of jeans that fit, sort of.

Sometimes you have to laugh at yourself.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

On seeing the good

I think it is odd that some days I wake up happy, for no reason.  Although I have many reasons to feel happy, some days I wake up extraordinarily happy for no particular reason.  Other days, for no reason, I wake up on the wrong side of the bed.  Grouchy boy.  Grouchy old man.

The other day I had a reason to be grouchy.  An acquaintance asked me to move a couch for them.  When you own a truck, this stuff happens.  I agree to help him.  On the day of the move, I find out that the couch is an hour away.  Uggg!!!  Then we get to the house and the couch is a power recliner, a very heavy couch.  My friend is 80, so I have to figure out how to get this out of the house, into the truck, out of the truck and into his house, by myself.  Thank God I have a dolly.

Since I was expecting a light move, I did not wear my typical work clothes [work shorts and a tank top], I wore my nicer Florida gear which includes a fishing shirt and nicer shorts.  Well, I sweat like a pig.  I don't know if the sweat and the stink will ever come out of those clothes.

Now the kicker, I cut my hand during the loading and it would not stop bleeding.  [look at that old man crepe skin]

Here is the good news... I wanted to complain to him.  I wanted to scold him.  I wanted to pitch a fit.  Then I told myself.  Jeff, you will get this done.  See the good.  You are helping a friend.

For once, I held my tongue.

We got the couch [I got the couch] unloaded and delivered.  If you are facing a day with many challenges, hold your tongue.  You will be glad that you did.  And always keep band-aids in your vehicle.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Missional

The church is missional.  If we are not being missional, we are not the church.

Singing is fine.  Sunday School is fine.  Church softball is fine.  Fellowship dinners are fine.  But everything needs to be missional.  Everything needs to somehow invite new folks in.

Those who are not here matter as much if not more than those who are here.

We so quickly forget and make it about us.  Please remember, we are on a mission for God, not to save people or fix them, but to love them.  If we love them, God will do the fixing.

Be missional.  Christianity without mission is dead religion.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Sermon

I heard a great sermon Sunday.  Here are some of the lines that I took away from it...

Everyone matters, every member of the church is on the team.
We have work to do, to reach people with God's love.
Let's get started.

Now I loved the message, but isn't it sad that we have to be reminded of these things?  We Christians should all know that all of us are on the team.  All of us need to be sharing the love.  And we should never stop.  Christians don't get to retire.  They don't get to take a year off because they are mad at the church.  

Being a Christian is not believing something or saying some sinners prayer.  Being a Christian is following Jesus.  Going where he went, to the least of these, and loving everyone.  Sharing love is our thing.  We should do it every day.

If you have stopped for some reason, let's get started.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Look what I found!

So one Saturday per month I have been going down to Pepper Park and praying with and giving a "sermon" to some friends.  Last Saturday I took this book to talk about.

Yesterday I was putting the book away and I noticed the papers stuffed in the book.  I wondered what they were.  I pulled them out.  To my great joy and surprise they were the actual sermon notes that I used for my last Sunday at Woods Chapel, June 16, 2016. [I had mentioned the book in that sermon]

you can watch or listen to that sermon by clicking this link

As I scanned the notes I was pleased with some of the topics of that day.  The early church had become tribal.  We can never become tribal.  It cannot be about Jeff vs Gene Barnes vs Steve McQueen vs Robin vs Aaron.  We are all on mission together.  It can never be about Lees Summit vs Blue Springs vs Raytown.  We can not be tribal, we are all in this together.

I also said thank you.  And I want to thank every parishioner from every church I have ever been at:  St. Johns, Lebanon, Princeton, Mercer, Woods Chapel, Cape Coral and Ft. Pierce.  Thank you for raising my children.  Thank you for loving me.  Thank you that love never ends.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

This is such a guy thing

So my wife likes to go to the grocery store.  She can spend an hour there.  I never go with her.  If I go, I am there for five minutes.  

My wife likes to go to the clothes store.  Not me.  Not doing it.  It takes forever.

I on the other hand like to go to the tool store.  Lowes.  Home Depot.  Harbor Freight.  In fact, my friend Roger Grout has a rule that when ever you start a new job, you get to buy a new tool.  I love that rule!!!  I have lived by that rule for many years.

So after a recent job, I determined that my bolt cutters were too small.  Then, after I got paid for the job, I went to buy a new tool.

the little guy

14 inches

little guy along side new big guy

new guy is 36 inch!!!

It sounds dumb but it made me so happy to by this new, bigger bolt cutter!!!  It was on sale for $16.99  Oh the simple things of life!!!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

power

Power.  

The President of Haiti did not step down when his term was over.  Some random people killed him.

I am thankful that our presidents have always stepped aside when in was time for a change.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We always think of power as the big people have it.
Power is for those bigger than us.
The powerful.
But, friends, we all have power. You and I have power.

Who do you affirm?  Who do you love?  Who are you kind to?  How can you help someone feel good about their life?

We can hurt people, or we can love them.  We all have power.  Are we using our power to harm or to help?

Just in any simple encounter, how you treat another human is an expression of your power.  A warm fuzzy or a cold prickly.  Your heart determines what you deliver - it can go either way.  You choose.

We have the power to do good.  Why not do that???

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

anxiety

Thoughts on anxiety.

A friend of mine has anxiety issues.  She is a control freak.  Anytime anything does not go her way, she gets bouts of anxiety, even panic.  Anytime something looks like it might not go her way, anxiety sets in.  Sometimes when things are great she is anxious that something bad might happen.

She asked me for some advice.  Here I go.

Stop tying to control things.  You cannot control everything.  Stop thinking that things should go your way.  Just allow life to happen.  Some of the things that you thought were bad will turn out for good.  We need to learn to live with the bad.  A bum knee, abdominal adhesions, family problems, the aging process, and eventually our own death.

Life is going to happen.  Let's stop thinking that we are in control.  Let's learn to enjoy the ups and the downs.  It is all good and it all goes by so fast.  Don't waste another moment worrying when you could be savoring life.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

perspective

When I go to Kansas City I have a friend who lets me borrow his pickup.  On a recent trip, another friend backed into the truck.

It's a tough call when you have to call someone who has loaned you something and let them know that it has been damaged.  Here is how the call went...

Me:  Hi friend, I am sorry to report that your truck was hit and there is some damage.  I am going to get it to the body shop and get it fixed.  I am sorry.  I know how much you love that truck.

He:  Are you ok?  I like the truck.  I love Jeff Brinkman.

I love that line.  I like things.  I love people.  Someone raised him right.  The truck got fixed and I was reminded again of how important people are.

I like that thing.  I love you.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

quotes

I got a nice card from my friend Bruce.  It included a couple of noteworthy quotes.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
                                                        Hellen Keller

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."
                                                           George Eliot

I like them both but I love the second one.  It is never too late to be what you might have been.  Where ever you are on your life journey, you can always posture for more potential.  You can always become more that you are.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Bella came to visit

 Last weekend our 11 month old granddaughter Isabella came for a visit.  Oh yes, her parents were here too.  Watching her eat brought back memories.  

Note that the bowl is suction cupped to the tray.
She can't throw the bowl like our kids did.
Oh, these modern inventions.

Here is another invention.  A bib with
a pocket for food to fall into.  She 
reaches in, nothing goes to waste.

Although she just had a bath, the
food is now in her hair.  I suggested
that in the future, eat first, bath 2nd.

washing it down.

I might throw this at you!

Ha ha!  Got ya!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

We humans are frail

We humans are very frail creatures.  We forget that.  Sometimes we think that we are invincible, that we will live forever.  We know that death comes for all, but somehow, we are hoping for a personal exemption.  

On we go with our merry way of life, thinking it will go on forever.  Then bad news.  Kidney failure, bone cancer, Alzheimer's, etc.  We should trust in God all the time, but when bad things come, it is really time to lean into our Father.

I thank God for friends who stand with us in times of trouble.  Our Father is a friend who sticks close.  If you are going thru a rough patch, reach out to your friends, and lean on the everlasting arms.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Thoughts on generosity

I have a friend who often tips 90%.  I wish I could do that.

She tells me that it makes her happy to be generous.  She tells me that she has compassion for the servers and bartenders.  She tells me that there were times in her life when she was stingy and she is trying to make up for that.  

Finding happiness by giving.  That is not a new thought.

What are ways that we can become more generous?  First of all, think about living a generous life.  Think about being kind.  Release yourself/myself from the need to have more.  See the people around you and value them. Choose to live a more minimalist life.  Come to believe that you have enough.

Being generous makes us happy.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Happy Birthday!

Today is my 64th birthday!

I have now lived one year and two days longer than my mother did.

Cathy asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday.  I said nothing particular.  Heck as a mostly retired person I can do just about what ever I want every day.  What do I want for my birthday?  Nothing.  I can't think of anything that I want.

Now think about that.  How fortunate am I.  How fortunate are most of us.  We have more stuff than we need and we have time for all kinds of enjoyable things.

That alone should make me/make us very grateful.  We are so blessed.  We are so fortunate.

To see what we have and appreciate what we have should make us thankful and humble.

I thank God for 64 years and for the gift of life.  I thank God for friends and for every person that loves me.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

on being there for someone

Sometimes good things happen to us.  Sometimes bad things happen.  Sometimes the bad thing is self inflicted.  Sometimes there is no explanation for why this thing has come our way.

It is important to be there for each other.  Sometimes in the midst of bad news, we just want someone near.  Like a child wants to be held, sometimes bad news causes us to need a hug.

If someone is hurting in your world, reach out to them.  Be there for them.  Take the time, make the time.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Fire ants!

I used to say that I was not allergic to poison ivy.  Then I got it.  A very bad case.  I avoid it like the plague.

I have lived in Florida for 5 years.  I have heard of fire ants.  I have seen them.  But they will never get me.  Or so I thought.  There is a first time for everything.

A couple weeks ago I was doing some handyman work for my friend Marie.  I was out in her yard reattaching fence boards.  And that is when it happened.  I did not notice the ant hill, but the ants noticed my right foot sitting right on top of their home.

And then it began.  Biting stinging pain.  I'll bet there were 500 of them on my right shoe.  I brushed them off as quickly as I could but the damage was done.  I was fortunate as I only got about 10 bites but they were nasty.

The moral of this story:  Never say never.  One step at a time.  Look before you leap.  Pay more attention.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

praying for opportunities

I was having lunch with a friend a few months ago.  She is a delightful person, but I had to give here some crap.

We were talking about everything.  We were talking about sharing kindness.  She said that she had been praying for opportunities to show love and kindness.  I stopped her.

Praying for opportunities?  How about our server?  How about the person you will see in the parking lot on the way to your car.  How about every person that you see, anywhere and everywhere.

Friends we don't need to pray for opportunities to be kind.  We just need to open our eyes and see the people all around us.  They are our opportunities and they are everywhere all around us.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

the measure of a life

Recently heard, "the value of one's life is not measured by the amount of money that one makes, but in the amount of love that one shares."

I love that!!!

One of the interesting things about this thought is this.... not everyone has a lot of money.  Not everyone is comfortable financially, but everyone of us can share love.

It is a simple daily choice for us.  Will we see the people and share the love?  Will we value them?  We certainly can.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure