Church Pt 1

Over the next few days I am going to post some church stories...


Church Part 1:

Why I go to church.  I’m out of town a lot, but when I’m in town, I always make my very best effort to get to church.

I go to church because I love the people there.   I find some of my favorite humans at my church.

I go to church because it feels good to go to church.

I go to church because being a part of the church allows me to participate in things that are bigger than what I can accomplish by myself.  Sort of a "the sum is greater than the total of its parts."

Finally I go to church because every now and then this old preacher gets touched and moved and blessed.

I encourage you to go to your church to love on the people.  Put up with the Sundays that feel dry because one day you’ll go in and the stars will lineup and your heart will be touched.

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

Neon Moon

I like both kinds of music: country and western.

I love that joke.  It is a line from the Blues Brothers movie.  In truth, I like lots of kinds of music.  blues, jazz, old time rock and roll etc.

Anyway, one of my favorite groups is Brooks and Dunn.  One of their songs that I like is "Neon Moon."

A friend of mine was at the KC Royals game a week or so ago and sent me these pictures... llok for it on the right...

Amazing.  Beautiful.  Baseball is great.  God's world is amazing.

Those pictures should give you an appreciation for baseball, country music, and God's world... all three for sure!!!

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

opinions

Opinions are like teeth.  We all have them. 

But when we hold our opinions to tightly, no matter how valid our purpose, we are simply adding pain to everyday life.

Anytime anyone brings up anything that flies in the face of one of yours or my opinions, there is suffering.

If we would find peace in this life, we must always remember that people matter more than ideas.  Don't hold your opinions tighter than you hold the value of the humans that you meet on this path.

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

whistling

A month or so ago my wife and I took a trip out of town.  I got sick.  I spent a day on the couch.  The next day I told her that I was feeling better.  She said, "I know, I could hear you whistling."

That reminded me of a story... I was 5 years old.  My dad was working in his woodshop in the basement.  I went down the stairs whistling to my hearts content.  I guess it got on his nerves because he said to me in a curt manner, "cut that out!  What?  Did you just learn to whistle?"

Yes that hurt.  62 years ago and I remember it like yesterday.  

Why am I telling you this story?  Because although I stopped when Dad told me to do so, I have started up again.  I love to whistle and I am going to keep doing it.

My friend Kim sent me a video of a grocery store employee that sings while he is bringing in the carts.  Very nice.

Never stop a singer from singing or a whistler from whistling.

And that reminds me of a joke.  So here is a blog post that goes the full circle... sad, happy and then a joke.

I bought a wooden whistle but it woodn't whistle.  So I bought a steel whistle but is steel woodn't whistle.  So I bought a lead whistle but it steel woodn't lead me whistle.

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

It's not a matter of "if"

One of my kids mentioned that they did not want to lose me.  They did not want me to die.

Well, let's just put the reality out there.  It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.  Every child will see their parents die unless the unthinkable happens, and that is when a parent outlives a child.

I know that children do not want to think about this. But it is coming, and it can come in many ways.

• a terminal illness
• an accident
• a stroke or heart attack
• a languishing in a care center

Neither of my parents wanted to be a burden to us children.  They both got their wish.  Mom died of cancer at 62.  Dad died of a heart attack, suddenly, in the parking lot of his favorite restauratnt.  He was 75.

It is not a matter of if.  It is a matter of when.  And so my advice is this:  spend more time with your parents.  Change your schedule... go see them.  You will be glad that you did.

And conversely, to we who are parents... spend more time with your children.  The most beautiful part about being alive is spending time with those that you love...

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

Seeing and loving what is before us

From Father Richard Rohr's blog, October 2023 [I've been saving it to share for a long time!]

Praise the Lord from the earth,
You sea monsters and all deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds,
Stormy wind, fulfilling God’s word;
Mountains and all hills,
Fruit trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and winged fowl...
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For God’s name alone is exalted;
God’s glory is above earth and heaven.
—Psalm 148: 7–10, 13

God was known and praised in the natural world long before the advent of the written Scriptures. Father Richard writes:

Jewish and Christian traditions of creation spirituality have their origins in Hebrew Scriptures such as Psalms 104 and 148. It is a spirituality that is rooted, first of all, in nature, in experience, and in the world as it is. This rich Hebrew spirituality formed the mind, heart, and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.

Maybe we don’t feel the impact of that until we realize how many people think religion has to do with ideas and concepts and formulas from books. That’s how clergy and theologians were trained for years. We went away, not into a world of nature and silence and primal relationships, but into a world of books. Well, that’s not biblical spirituality, and that’s not where religion begins. It begins in observing “what is.” Paul says, “Ever since the creation of the world, the invisible essence of God and God’s everlasting power have been clearly seen by the mind’s understanding of created things” (Romans 1:20). We know God through the things that God has made. The first foundation of any true religious seeing is, quite simply, learning how to see and love what is. Contemplation is meeting reality in its most simple and direct form unjudged, unexplained, and uncontrolled!

If we don’t know how to love what’s right in front of us, then we don’t know how to see what is. So, we must start with a stone! We move from the stone to the plant world and learn how to appreciate growing things and see God in them. In all of the natural world, we see the vestigia Dei, which means the fingerprints or footprints of God.

Perhaps once we can see God in plants and animals, we might learn to see God in our neighbors. And then we might learn to love the world. And then, when all of that loving has taken place, when all of that seeing has happened, when such people come to me and tell me they love Jesus, I’ll believe it! They’re capable of loving Jesus. The soul is prepared. The soul is freed, and it’s learned how to see and how to receive and how to move in and how to move out from itself. Such individuals might well understand how to love God.

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

An old song

And so I was listening to the radio the other day and this song came on from my youth. Everything is beautiful, in it's own way.

I thought about how, way back then, 55 years ago, somebody got it. Somebody knew what it was all about. My parents did not, and I did not, but someone else, probably lots of other people had discovered the value of kindness and love.

Here are the lyrics to that song...

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world
Red and yellow black and white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Everything is beautiful
In it's own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter's day

And everybody's beautiful
In their own way
Under God's heaven
The world's gonna find a way

There is none so blind
As he who will not see
We must not close our minds
We must let our thoughts be free

For every hour that passes by
You know the world gets a little bit older
It's time to realize that beauty lies
In the eyes of the beholder

And everything is beautiful
In it's own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter's day, ah sing it children

And everybody's beautiful
In their own way
Under God's heaven
The world's gonna find a way

We shouldn't care about the length of his hair
Of the color of his skin
Don't worry about what shows from without
But the love that lives within

We're gonna get old again now
Everything is gonna work out fine
Just take a little time to look on the good side my friend
And straighten in out in your mind

And everything is beautiful
In it's own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter's day, ah sing it children

And everybody's beautiful
In their own way
Under God's heaven
The world's gonna find a way, one more time

Everything is beautiful
In it's own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter's day

And as I think about this topic, Jesus, 2000 years ago got it.  Early church leaders got it.  Medieval monks got it.  In the past 15 years I have come into the knowledge of the importance of kindness, and it feels like a new discovery.  Well for me it was, but the appreciation and the embrace of love and kindness has been going on since well before you and me.

We just have  the opportunity to bring it to our world, our people today.

click here to listen to the song

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

Deconstruction

Unbeknownst to us, while we were growing up, the structure of our faith was being imposed upon us.  We accepted this cloak because it came from all of the significant adults in our lives.  We did not question it for fear of shame, retaliation and shunning.

And then somewhere along the way, the rigid lines of belief began to crack and we began to have questions like this:

• What is all this craziness about the second coming?
• Does God really need to kill something to be happy?
• Would God really torture the children that he loves in an eternity of hell fire?
• Does the church really represent God in a way that I can trust?
• And finally, what about all of the contradictions in the Bible?

I have been deconstructing since 2005.  Brian S. got me started on the journey when he gave me a copy of Rob Bell's book "The Velvet Elvis."  If you have not read it, I highly recommend it.

Anyway, if you are sensing some cracks in the walls of faith as you were taught it, that is ok.  God is not offended by our questions.  [your childhood pastor may be, but God is not.]

Frankly, it is not until we release our souls from the heavy indoctrination of our imposed religious structures, that we can begin to understand God as a God of love.

Deconstruction can be scarry, but it is in reality a very very good thing.  Ask your questions.  The God who loves you unconditionally is waiting on the other side.

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

4x4

In addition to the Mustang that I love, I also have an old pickup, a 2006 Ford F-150.  It has four wheel drive.

When I had pickups in Missouri, four wheel drive helped me get around in the snow.  It helped me get where I needed to go, and it helped me rescue people.  I also pulled a lot of bushes and small trees out of the ground with it.  Four wheel drive is a beast.

In Florida we have no snow, so the 4x4 does not get to come out and play very often.

And so the other day I went to the dump.  The truck was packed full of palm branches and the dump area was so very muddy.  Time for 4x4!!!

And so, I put it on down into four wheel drive and it went anywhere in that soupy dump that I asked it to go.

I was happy to be running four wheel drive.  The truck was happy too!!!

Sometimes it is the small things that make us happy!

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

When you love a car too much

When I was in seminary, I bought a 1973 Renault.  I loved that car.  I loved it too much.  I totaled it.  I was very sad.

I think that we need to be careful about loving things too much.

And so you know I bought this 2010 Mustang from my sister.  I love it!!!  I love its looks and it is so much fun to drive.

And so on Sunday August 4, I drove the Mustang to church.  I have an agreement with myself, if I am in town, I am going to make it to church.

Anyway, when I came out, I had a surprise...  There are some really big birds in Florida, and when they decide to let loose, it can be devastating.

They pooped on my car!!!

I got it washed off on the way home.  But I thought it a bit sad, that I was in church talking to Jesus, and the birds had no respect for that.

Just another reminder not to love stuff too much.

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

Stay close to those whom you love...

My friend Hubert Neth posted this on facebook.  He is a wonderful and a profound man.  I honor him.  He writes in a unique style.  I loved this...

tom and
ed were
best friends
growing up
in schools
later both
worked
downtown
drank coffee
together
almost daily
at a corner
cafe
talked about
personal matters
local stories
and rumors
current sports
national events
worldwide reports
then one fall
a subject
surfaced
about which
they held
completely
opposite
opinions
conversation
became intense
emotional
almost angry
until both left
announcing
i wont be back
time elapsed
one day
tom heard
eds only chiild
had arrived
put him
in a facility
and left town
later tom decided
to visit his old friend
drove there
walked a hallway
to his room
but another man
was in the bed
tom asked a nurse
where ed was
she replied oh
he died last week
asked for you often
but we didnt know
how you could be
reached
tom left
silently
stopped at
the cafe
sat in a rear booth
alone and
wept
h.

A lovely reminder of how important it is to put love first.  Don't let disagreements end relationships.  Life is short.  Keep on loving.  Work to make amends.  Get over yourself and reengage with loved ones as much as possible.

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

One Life

So on the airplane to KC I started watching the movie "One life." It is a true story of a man who spent part of WW2 rescuing Jewish children from Prague. It is kind of like Shindler's list.

I love movies about WW2. It was such a frightening time, but also a time when people rose to the occaision and good triumphed over evil.

There is a quote from the movie... the lead character is talking about getting involved to help rescue the children. He said,
"I have seen it
And I cannot unsee it
Because I might be able to do something about it -
I must - at least try"

Sometimes in life we have to try. Just because we cannot fix everything does not mean that we should not do what we can.

What can you do to make the world a better place? What can I do?

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

Cults

There are a number of programs out now on cults and Christianity gone bad.  I recently listened to one called "Heaven Bent."  Season 4 is about IHOP in Kansas City.  My mom was a charter member.  Seriously.

So I was telling a very good pastor friend about the Heaven Bent blog.  He said something that I found to be profound.  He said, "thanks, but I am not going to listen to that right now because I have already absorbed enough bad news about Christianity."

I get that.  I respect that.  Sometimes, things deconstruct so quickly that our brains and hearts cannot keep up with it.  We can only absorb so much information at one time.  And when your job is to keep finding ways to share the good news, it does not help to keep filling it with the latest bad news.

But, I am listening to them and they are helping me.

Some of the others you might wish to watch are "Let us Prey" "Heaven's Gate" "The Vow" and "The Program."

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

A Sign

So I was in KC for Dan and Deb Martin's annual lake day.  I got a ride there with David and Gina Harris.  As we were driving into Lake Tapawingo, a neighbor had this sign in their yard.

I may have to get one!!!

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

If all we had...

You friends that read "my stuff" are 10x smarter than I am.  I continue to get thoughts and ideas from you that push my brain.  I just feel fortunate to share them with everyone on this blog.

Recently from my friend Joyce... "If all we have today, is what we gave thanks to God for yesterday, how much would we have."

Not much.  Less than we have.  Oh my gosh, we have so many blessings.

MMM... reminds me of how I feel when I go up to the communion table on days that I preach and I get to say the prayer over the offering...  I always feel like saying this...  "Dear Father, we pause to thank you for our blessings, but if we actually did it, church would not get out at noon... ever..."

We can all give thanks a bit more.  And that is good for you and good for me and good for everyone.  Gratitude just makes us sweeter people all around.

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

looking in the mirror pt 2.

I got this from my friend Donna.  Who is a super human being!!!

We really do a number on ourselves as we age, and it’s usually all negative. I know because I have joined and am “First Vice President” of this humongous “club”!  I look in the mirror and groan and ask, “Where did you go?”…..

But the other day you sent a post with a quote by Mother Teresa. I have admired her for years and went on line in search of pictures of her.  What I found….what I saw with fresh eyes… was example after example of a beautiful woman. Her beauty had nothing to do with cosmetics or her focus on clothes and looking just so. She never looked embarrassed or self-conscious… because  her focus was never on herself! Her beauty radiated from her inner core where she deeply loved others and did her phenomenal best to do good where ever she saw need.


What a difference this moment has made in how I feel about my “not so gorgeous” aging. I will still try to look my best when out in public (that’s just me), but I’m going to use Mother Teresa’s example as my new role model and stop lamenting over what I can no longer control. I want a similar inner beauty to radiate out of me where a smile is glorious, and compassion is offered in abundance. If I can’t do that, it won’t matter one bit how I look!

Thank you Donna, that is some good stuff for sure!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good, even when you look into the mirror.

quote

My friend Bruce sent this in...

"I feel that we're all lighthouses, and my job is to shine my light as brightly as I can, into the darkness."
Jim Carrey


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

I saw this and I loved it.

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

leaving things better

Last week I posted about leaving things better than you found them.  A friend wrote in and said, "Shouldn't the same principle be applied to people???"

Of course!  I love it!  Brilliant.  Not just things, but leave people better than you found them.  Let some kindness, care and love dribble off of you onto every person that you pass by in this life, leaving them better off than when you found them.

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

I feel insecure about preaching

From time to time, even in my old age, I get to talk to pastors and listen to how they feel about being pastors.  Most are very insecure.

I tell them that this is great!!!  It is much better to feel a bit insecure, then to be one of those who feels as if they are God's gift to the world.

I am thinking of a fellow pastor who demands, "total loyalty."  I guess that you cannot question him and I guess that if you do, you are cast aside and shunned.  He and I are, and always have been, oil and water.  And I am fine with that.

It is ok to feel insecure when you stand behind the holy desk [pulpit] after all, it is a privilege to do so.  I believe that it is better to have your pockets full of Rolaids on Sunday morning and to let your broken humanity rely on the good Lord as best as you can.

Don't worry about feeling insecure... God uses the broken.  God uses the weak.  God fills the empty.  It is better to stand on the stage and feel needy then to stand on the stage and be full of one's self.

The hymns are over.  It is time for you to step out.  Take a deep breath and go get your licks in for Jesus.

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

Isolationism

Prior to WW1, America was in an isolationist stage.  Isolationism is the notion that we should only take care of us and ours.  The rest of the world is their own problem.  Isolationism led to our late entry into WW1.

Prior to WW2, America was in an isolationist stage.  We were still in the midst of the great depression.  Hitler and his actions seemed to be far away.  Had not the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, we might never have joined the war.  And Hitler's Germany might have been victorious.

We must learn the lessons of history.  Like it or not, we are a part of a global community.  What happens in the Middle East does affect us.  Putin's actions will ultimately affect us.

God has blessed America and we need to do all the good that we can, in all the ways that we can.  Life is not just about us, it is about every human being.

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

Pain

We all have pain. Some of our pain is self inflicted and some of it comes to us from others. Sometimes, life itself just brings pain.

 
I can blame myself for a number of things. I can blame other drivers for a number of things. Some things just happen to us that bring pain. Old age brings pain. Change brings pain.

Yes. Sometimes you have to tell someone that you want their behavior to change. Sometimes it is healthy to be honest with someone.

But sometimes we express our pain when we should be absorbing it.   There is no reason to yell at the teacher about your child's grades.  There is no reason to boo the sports team that is having an off day.   There is no reason to complain or gossip about your pastor.

I think it is true that when we pass on the pain, it is always delivered in a higher dosage than is necessary.

On the cross Jesus absorbed the pain.  He said Father forgive them.  We need to pass less of our pain along and learn to absorb more of it.

Just don't say anything. Sure, you are mad. In an hour or a day, this will pass and you won't remember it. Go kick a tree. We all need to learn to absorb pain.  Give someone a break.  Give someone the grace. Absorb the pain.

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

Thank you

"Saying thank you is more than good manners, it is good spirituality."  Alfred Painter

I have believed in God my entire life.  I have believed in Jesus as long as I can remember.  There was a time that I thought I was something because I believed.  Then I became grateful.

Gratitude adds an element to one's spirituality that makes it all about God again.  Gratitude tends to clean out the self and make room for the Spirit.  Gratitude makes circumstances shrink.  Gratitude puts everything into perspective.

Of all of God's gifts, gratitude may be the one thing that sets our lives into proper balance.

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

I should quit

Not too long ago I received a note from a reader expressing their opinion that I should end the blog.  They indicated that I had been doing it for so long and I am evidently burned out.

I did not reply to their email.  I had nothing constructive to say in response.  But, I am not ready to quit.  I still love to write.  It keeps my brain going.  And I love it when I get good things to post from my friends.  

Reading their stuff stretches my brain.  I love to think about things that I otherwise might not have been thinking about, and I get this input from others.  Please keep sending me your stuff!!!

And I am reminded of the purpose of this blog, which is posted on the right hand side of the web page for anyone who wants to visit it at www.canyouhearthebirdssing.blogspot.com

If you go to the web page, you will see this on the right hand side.  And, anytime that you don't get the daily email, you can view the blog post for the day at it's internet domain www.canyouhearthebirdssing.blogspot.com

WHAT IS THIS BLOG?

This blog is the occasional ramblings of Jeff Brinkman, a semi-retired United Methodist Pastor. When Jeff cannot post, some of his buds take over. This blog may or may not inspire, may or may not be humorous, but will always be honest. This blog is Jeff's attempt to remind himself and others that God is greater than anything, and if we just look hard enough, we can see the good in life, and if we slow down and listen, we can hear the birds sing. Contact Jeff directly at Jsbrink57@gmail.com

So, I apologize, but I will continue writing, and I will continuing using great stuff that my friends send me.  In a way, they are writing the blog as well.  Our collective wisdom is greater when we share ideas.

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

fantastic moment in church

Last Sunday, August 3rd, I witnessed one of the most amazing moments I have ever seen in church ever in my life. 



They came in late and sat in the back pew, an African-American mother and seven year-old son. 

I didn’t know they were there until it was time to get up and go for communion and I turned around and saw them. 

She seems comfortable to be in Church. He seemed a little nervous and didn’t really know what was happening.  Pretty typical for a 7 year old, he was out of his element.  His mom got him corralled and into the line for communion.

Lisa K was in front of them, Bernie McBee was behind them.  I was last in line behind Bernie.

The line was moving along at the normal pace and then about halfway up to the front, there were some commotion.  The mother and son were leaning to the right, smiling with big smiles, and waving at someone.

I looked off to the right and I couldn’t tell who they were waving at.  We all look like a bunch of white grandparents.  I wondered which Grandma this young boy knew. 

Then he did it.  He bolted from the line.  He squeezed into the pew... past one grandmother and then another.  He got to the far end of the pew and fell into the open arms of a woman.  I looked at his mother.  She said, "that is his teacher from school."

I thought it was fantastic that in one moment, a young boy can go from being in a place where he is lost and disconnected, to being in the arms of a loving supporting figure in his life.

The picture in my brain of him climbing past the Grandmas to be embraced by, and to embrace his teacher will be etched in my memory forever. 

That is what the church ought to be doing.  Welcoming in the lost and uncomfortable, and helping them to joyfully find a home.

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

15 tiny ways

I have started subscribing to the web site livingsimply.com.  I have enjoyed many of the articles that they send to me by email.

Recently I read this one and  I decided it was worth sharing:

15 tiny ways to be 95% happier

1. Focus on positive thoughts
2. Don’t take responsibility for someone else’s unhappiness
3. Be grateful
4. Avoid negative people
5. Do what makes you happy
6. Don’t put off dealing with your problems
7. Practice kindness
8. Spend time in nature
9. Smile more often
10. Exercise regularly
11. Create a regular sleep routine
12. Eat healthy foods
13. Acknowledge your negative emotions
14. Socialize with friends
15. Declutter your space

I hope that you find something in that list to be helpful.

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

Leave it better

I loved my Dad.  I miss my Dad.  He passed on Feb 2, 2002.  I can tell you that I appreciate him more and more as the years go by.

One of the things that he ingrained in me was this... "always leave a thing better than you found it."  If someone loans you their car, return it cleaned and full of gas.  If they loan you a shovel, return it cleaned and oiled.  [a shovel oiled?  that is a discussion for another day.]  What ever people do for you, try to return it better than you found it.

Do not be a consumer of other people's things.  Bless them back for the gift of whatever they loaned you.

And so I was out of town on a work trip.  I was in Lexington, KY.  The rental truck was awesome.  But I noticed that the passenger side floor mat was encrusted with what looked to me like salt.  I didn't do it.  I didn't cause it.  I have no idea how it got there.

But my Dad's words... there was no way that I was going to leave it like that...

So I took the floor mat out. I took it up to the room and gave it a bath.  It shall be returned to Enterprise rental as my father requested... better than I found it.

I always feel good when I make an intentional decision to act in this way.  May we all leave the world better than we found it.

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

It's not a sign

UGH!!!  I get so frustrated with people who are always looking for signs.  They are always looking for some reason to prove that Jesus is coming back or that Henry Kissinger, or Barack Obama or Trump is the anti-Christ.

Friends... let's get real.  There are coincidences that happen in this life... they are not a sign.  We need to stop looking for all of these crazy proofs of what ever our doctrine is.

Things happen.  Random things happen.  Don't put too much stock in what happens.  There are many random happenings in this world.

- - - - - - 

And so I was working in Richmond KY earlier this week.  Do you see the sign yet?  And by chance, in the parking lot of the retail store that we are remodeling, there is a McDonalds.  I decided to go there for lunch.  I wanted to get the new $5 lunch because I am frugal [cheap].  Do you see the sign yet?  No??? Just wait for it.

So I order at the kiosk and pick up my table tent.  My table tent is #6.  I don't think much of it until my receipt comes out.

My table tent was randomly #6

And this was my receipt #666

OMG!!! I guess that this proves that I am the anti-Christ.  Tomorrow I will see Jesus' face in a tortilla.  

The point of this blog is to point us away from conspiracy theories.  I want to point us away from speculative theology and speculative religion.

Just love the people around you.  Stop looking for special signs.  And love the people at McDonalds.  They all got a big laugh when I showed them my receipt and told them that I was ... well, you know who!!!

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

I love this story

So my friend Courtney went on a vaca with her family.  By the way, do you know the difference between a vacation and a trip?  If you take the kids, its a trip.

Anyway, the four of them travelled to Costa Rica, leaving the morning of the world wide computer failure. You read what I wrote about my experience of being stuck... here is hers...

Hope you made your flight to Kentucky!! We just arrived home last night from our family vacation to Costa Rica. We flew out on the Friday morning that the computer systems shutdown and our 6 day vacation turned to a 9 day one!  It was such an ordeal with every emotion humanly possible—but so much unexpected beauty.  Stranded in Texas, two days searching for luggage with thousands of others that became our friends. People were crying and separated from family and friends. Stressed out but so encouraging and kind to each other.  We saw no anger, just humans trying to support each other by sharing experiences and information to help make the other’s journey easier. Waiting for 6 hours for luggage in shifts with our family we would fist bump and cheer and clap for other passengers when they finally found theirs. In a time when everyone seems so divided it was an awesome thing for me to experience, for my kids to experience. It was HOPE and KINDNESS and we are all better for it. We did not take a moment of our trip for granted and we are so crazy tired and content. Just wanted to share…the world is full of wonderful people. We will all be okay when we are looking for the good.

I love it. She is so much of a better person than I am.

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

Love

I heard a sermon by the Bishop of Florida, Tom Berlin on Sunday.  The title of the sermon was, "Begin with Love."

I will bet that he has preached that sermon 100 times.  He needs to keep at it.  Over and over, the same message again and again.  Begin with love.

When you begin with love, everything changes.  What ever you are facing, whatever is going on, step back, take a deep breath and begin with love.

It will change you and it will change how others respond to you.  When we begin with love, the way we feel about everything changes.

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

a mirror

 

"It is amazing how much self contempt a mirror can produce."  Bishop Tom Berlin

Let me add... it is amazing how much self contempt we allow a mirror to produce.

Maybe when we were young, we valued ourselves based on how we looked.  Now the day has come when we need to stop that.  Our value does not come from our looks.  Not from how much hair we have.  Not from how good we think we look.

The day has come to understand that we are valuable simply because we are loved by God.  Get rid of the mirror.  See your reflection in our Father.  Feel the love and share the love and you will be aware of your value.

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