the frailty of life

The scripture says that we humans are like grass.  Here briefly and then vanishing.

Last week when I was sick, I actually wondered if I was dying.  I did not know what was wrong and it was scary.  

Writing at this point, I am glad that I was not dying, but it does remind me that one day I will.  One day we all will.

How important it is to appreciate every day, every moment, because each moment along the way, we get one day closer to our last.

I hope that yours and mine are not for quite some time.

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

July 4 revisited

On July 4th  I posted about how fortunate we are to have been born in America. I mentioned that we have won the lottery...

Food for thought... my friend Terry the Painter wrote in to say, "Amen brother, we have won the lottery. I understand that statistics show that most lottery winners squander their good fortune."

May we work hard and stay committed so that we do not squander our blessings.

Deconstruction

Deconstruction is a term that many in the church world use to describe the process of a person replacing the faith of their youth with something that is more loving.

So many of us were taught who the good ones and the bad ones were.  So many of us grew up in the fear of God.

It is hard to deconstruct the faith of our youth.  But, it can be done.  It takes openness, reading, and practice.  It takes becoming comfortable with questions.  Things that we could not question when we were young, we must learn to question if we would have a love based faith.

I want to put the judgmental God behind me.  I want to live for the God of love.  Deconstruction.  It is a very good thing.

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

Yes I did not post yesterday

Nothing is wrong with your computer.  Wednesday afternoon I got sick.  As sick as I have been in a long time.  I think that it was food poisoning from lunch.

Anyway, I am feeling better now.

Here's to feeling better!!!  Sometimes we don't appreciate health until it is compromised.

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

A new commandment

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he gave a new commandment...

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Besides asking his followers to love, he made it pretty clear that them showing love would be the sign of his followers.

If we don't love, then everyone has a right to question if we are followers. And those who claim to follow, but do not show love, can probably claim allegiance to another teacher.

Love.  It's not just the main thing, it's the only thing.

If you want to watch or listen to Sunday's sermon, click on the link below...

if you want to watch or listen to last weeks sermon, click on this link

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

make people happy

My friend Joyce sent me a note about a person in her church that has a very positive outlook on life.  If you ask this person "what do you do?" "can you tell me about yourself?" "what do you like to do?"

They respond with this:  "I just like to see if I can make people happy."

I love that.  What a fantastic way for a person to spend their time.

Let's see if we can make someone happy today!!!

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

culture vs strategy

I am pretty sure that enculturating is not a word. I am going to use it anyway.
Enculturating is the process of building the culture of your organization, business or church. Or it is the process of changing the culture.   It is done one person at a time.

Many cultures are broken.   Themes of power and control can quickly harm a culture.  Big ideas without legs can harm a culture.  Anything that is not relevant or normal can harm a culture.   A lack of joy, a lack of hard work, and any number of things can create a negative culture.

That is where you and I come in.  You can affect the culture of your organization.   Even if you are not in charge, you can effect positive change.  You can be the one server at the restaurant that everyone wants.  You can be the one cashier at the grocery store that people wait in line for.   You can be the one friendly person at your church.

Here are the steps to build a positive culture.
1. Love one another. Love everyone. See people as valuable. Invest in them.
2. Maintain an outward focus. It is not about me, it is about our mission.
3. Reduce organization and meetings. Keep it simple. Don't torture people by talking things to death.
4. live each day with Joy, authenticity and excellence.
5. And finally, love one another.

You can make a difference in your world.  You are already leaving a trail, either positive or negative.  We are not here forever.  Why not join the positive voices and bring love and joy to your organization or church.  You can make a difference in your cubicle, your pew, your community.

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

owning something

I was watching a TV show about people that live in old historic homes.  One of them said, "We don't actually own a home, we are just taking care of it for the next person that comes along."

I find that statement to be interesting, especially because they do legally own the home.  So I got to thinking.

I am taking care of our home for three reasons...  

1.  Because I like to fix things.  

2.  Because I want our home to be nice.

3.  Because if I die before my wife [and I probably will] I don't want her to have to deal with a 20 year old roof or a hot water heater that is on it's last legs.

But expanding on the idea... this home will outlive the Brinkmans.  We used to live in the Oaks Ridge house in Lees Summit.  Those who live their now are benefiting from the Iris that I planted, the crank out windows that I fixed, and the new roof that we put on.

We have taught for years that we are not owners, we are stewards.  It's not my money, it is God's.  What we have or what we think we own, are all actually gifts from God.  Let's take care of the things that we have and use them for the kingdom as we are able.

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

my first flight

It was bound to happen.  I got on the airplane and went to my seat, 20D.  There was a young man sitting in my seat.

Before I could react negatively, he engaged me and asked if I could sit in 20C which was the other aisle seat.  This will allow him to sit with his wife and young son.  It was the baby's first flight.

Ok.  No worries.

Then he handed me this.  He handed everyone around us this little package.

The note says, "It's my first flight!  I made a deal to be on my best behavior, but I can't make any guarantees.  I might cry if I get scared or if my ears won't pop.  Here are some treats and ear plugs to make your flight more enjoyable.  Thank you for being patient with us!"

I loved this.  What an amazing show of kindness.  Someone thinking about others.

Well, I enjoyed visiting with the couple and their baby was great on the flight.  I am inspired by the creative kindness that this young couple showed.

It's just not that hard to be nice is it?

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

the result of love

My friend Jeff from Ocean View sent this in...

"Public discussion has become angry and cruel,"  says Layton Friesen in the Evangelical Mennonite Conference Messenger. We try to defend it: “My speech may have the delicacy of a chainsaw doing brain surgery, but I can always justify the damage with the claim that this is what ‘tough love’ looks like.” Not so fast, he says: I can’t judge whether I am loving. “Loving is like leadership: I am not a leader if people don’t follow. If I truly love, the other person will feel beloved.”

(page 5 Anabaptist World, June 2025 issue)

My comments.... I love it.  If you are going to love someone, they should feel loved.  If they are not feeling the love, then what I am doing may be more based on controlling someone than loving them.  Even in a hard discussion, we can carry ourselves with grace.

True love leaves the other person feeling loved.

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

For the beauty of the earth

 And so I was driving home from Ocean View UMC in Juno Beach, FL and I saw this.

Sometimes, we just need to take a deep breath and say "wow!!!"

Look for the beauty.  See the good.  It is there is we are paying attention.

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

We have much to be thankful for

On July 4th my friend Mary shared this story from her family history:

Mary's Parents 1946

My mother was born in Poland and in November 1939 she was 16 and taken by the Gestapo from her parents who were beaten because they wouldn't tell them where her older sister was.  She then spent 6 years as a forced laborer in a German factory until the Americans freed the small town of Backnang. She then worked for the American soldiers as a cook and maid before going back to Poland.  My father was in the army and was part of a group of men who organized entertainment for the troops.  Before going back to Poland my mother and her friends decided to go to a party they had in a local bar.  When she and her friends came in, my father saw her and told his friends that he was going to marry her!  There's more to the story, but she came to America because after living as a slave for 6 years she didn't want to go back and live under Stalin as a slave anymore.  After the war she found out her sister was turned in for getting food from the family farm and giving it to some neighbors in the city where they lived.  Her sister spent 3 years in Mauthausen Concentration camp making ammunition.

My mother loved America and although she never saw her parents again, she was proud to be an American because as the saying goes "she was free!"

If I have said it once, I will say it 100, no 1,000 times.  We have so much to be thankful for!!!

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

Bless the World Today

So last week I was staying at a hotel in Galax Virginia.  It’s a real Place.  Look it up.

In the morning, I go down to breakfast and employees have written on the bananas.  They wrote fantastic hopeful messages.

My banana said, Today is a good day to try.

I loved the messages, and I loved the idea.

You have a chance to bless the world today.  

What will you say? How are you leave your mark?

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

laughter

If you want to watch yesterday's sermon, here is the link...

click here to listen to or watch the sermon

And now on to today's post...

Last week I was sitting in a hotel room in Galax, Virginia.  It is a real place.  Look it up.

I wanted to watch a movie before I went to bed.  I found an Adam Sandler movie.  I laughed.  I laughed hard.  I guffawed.  I belly laughed.

It was fantastic.

One of the things that I love about really laughing is that when I really laugh, I sound like my Dad.  I remember hearing him laugh from time to time when I was a kid, and it was the best thing.  It made me feel that he was happy.

Laughter is good stuff.  It is good for the soul.  If you haven't laughed for a while, pull out a good comedy.  You will be glad that you did.

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

A note from Dad

I received this note from my friend Kathy.  Her dad had written it some years back.  

"Dear Family - Call me naive or simple - but it does seem to me that the happiest most contented emotions we have are the ones which help us to see the good in people and to embrace that good with genuine affection.  Love, Dad"

I loved what he wrote, and I love that she saved it.  I hope that my kids are saving the notes that I send to them.

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

Happy Birthday to me!!!

So I’ve been wondering what to write about on my birthday.
Probably should pick something sort of profound and meaningful!!!

I hadn’t really come to anything till I was at church last Sunday.

Sunday was my last Sunday at Ft. Pierce First United Methodist Church for six months. I’ll be the interim pastor at Juno Beach starting tomorrow - unless I get voted off the island.  If that happens, I will head back to Fort Pierce. I told my friends on Sunday "if you see me back before six months is over with my head hanging down and my tail between my legs. Then you know I got voted off the island."

Anyway, in church on Sunday, there were more homeless people than normal because the church had advertised a dinner after service. When it’s time for the greeting, the passing of the peace, I got up and started to wander around.  There was a homeless guy sitting on the back row, and I looked at him and I started towards him. He looked right at me and he shook his head. His head shake said, "No."  He held up his hand like waving me off, and I knew that he didn’t want me to approach him so I didn’t.

I got to wondering later what that meant.  Did it mean that he didn’t feel well?  Was he sick?  Was he embarrassed of how he was dressed or how he smelled?  Maybe he was tired of people that seemed to have it together coming and stooping down to care for him.  If that was the case, I kind of hate to be put into that category.  I honestly just try to be friendly and gracious and caring.  But obviously he had some things on his mind and he didn’t need the handshake of an almost 68-year-old. 

And so now, back to my birthday.  Looking back over the years, I guess I can tell you that I’m really happy that finally I think I’ve learned to see people and care about them.  I think that for the most part, I have learned to look past how they’re dressed or what color they are and to just really see an individual as a valuable human.  To have compassion for them.  That makes me feel very happy and fulfilled.

Happy Birthday, Jeff

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

Where were you born?

I can remember a time or two when during a sermon I would ask people where they were born.  Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida and such were usually the answers.  I would ask them if they knew why they were born in America.  For years people shook their heads... why born in America?  I guess we were lucky, they would say.

Then one smart guy said, "I was born in America because that is where my parents lived."

Well, my original question is a good one to consider on the 4th of July.  Why were you born in America instead of Vietnam, China, Russia, or Guatemala?

Well, we were fortunate, we were lucky, we were blessed.  There are many places around the globe where people live in poverty.  Where freedoms are oppressed.  Where travel is limited.

Say what you want about America, and America gives you the freedom to do so, say what you will, but I can't think of a better place to be born.

We are so very blessed.

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

They did not intend to hurt you

I have said this before, but it keeps coming up and bears repeating...

We need to keep this in mind...

Most of the time... almost all of the time... when you are hurt, the other person did not mean to hurt you. Their original thought was not to harm.  They had something else on their mind, and one of the byproducts of what was on their mind was that you were hurt.

Someone was trying to protect their version of the Christian faith and verbally attacked their pastor. They didn't mean to hurt the Pastor, they just felt that they needed to protect their version of the faith.

A boss releases you from employment.  They don't do this to hurt you, they do this because for some reason, it seems to them to be the best move for the corporation.

A neighbor is upset about something going on in the neighborhood that you were in favor of.  Their words hurt.  Again, they were trying to protect their vision for their life.

Someone comments negatively on your football team or your political candidate.  They shake their head and use the word "stupid."  Again, they are simply guarding "their world view."

If someone has hurt you... ask yourself... was their main intention to hurt you?  If you can see that they may have had other things on their mind, then don't take the hurt so personal.  You being hurt is a byproduct of some other thing that is going on with them.

Offer grace.

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

The Lord's Prayer

After yesterday's post, a couple of readers asked why the Lord's Prayer is taped to the wooden stand.   The answer is simple.

Has your brain ever forgotten something that you knew?  In the heat of the moment it can happen.

True story:  In 1987  Bishop Bob Farr, then just Pastor Bob Farr was the Pastor at Randolph United Methodist Church near 87th and Wornall Rd in Kansas City.  Cathy and I attended there and on a couple of occaisoins he asked me to fill in while he was on vacation.

Well one Sunday, I was leading the worship and got to the Lord's Prayer and my brain had a cramp.  I stuttered and stammered quite embarrassingly through the entire prayer.  After service, a guy came out, shook my hand and said, "the sermon was great, but you sure do need to do some work on your Lord's Prayer."

Since then, it has been taped to my stand.

And now you know the rest of the story.

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

Out of mothballs

After WW2 thousands of ships were "mothballed" or put away 
in storage in case they were needed in the future.

In 1994, Bill and Maryanne Wiley bought me this wooden stand for my sermons.  They were tired of me preaching from a metal music stand.  I used it for 22 years at Woods Chapel, 6 months at Cape Coral and for the full interim period of 14 months at Ft. Pierce.

It is a familiar friend.

The stand at use in 2016 in Cape Coral.
From this picture, it looks like the sermon was boring.

Anyway, the stand, which has been up in the attic for years is coming back down.  It will make it's return to active duty on July 6 at Ocean View UMC in Juno Beach.

In mothballs in the attic.

Down and getting cleaned up
to be returned to service!!!

It feels good to be out of mothballs and back on the field again!!!

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