what we express...

My friend Orpha sent me a note about how she is choosing to live her life.  She said, "In my current stage of life, I find it important to express my love and appreciation."

I absolutely love that.  What stage of life are you in?  Do you find it important to show love and appreciation?  Can't we do that at any stage of life?

It is not that hard to show love and appreciation.  May we all put a little more effort into doing that, regardless of our age.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

those who say...

There is an old saying in the ministry world... you are never someone's pastor until they tell you that you are.  The Bishop cannot make you someone's pastor... only the love in your heart, only your ability to connect with the people will cause them to call you "pastor."

My Dad had a saying.  It is now my saying.  It is found in many of the world's religions... "those who say, don't know.  those who know, don't have to say."

Be yourself.  Keep your identity in check.  Do your job.  Love the people.  Then, in time, they will call you pastor.  And you will be, indeed.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

july 19 - my moms birthday

Paul and Mary Brinkman
Julie and baby Jeff

Today is my mom's birthday.  July 19, 1932.

Had she lived, she would be 94 today.  She died in 1995 at the age of 62.  Mom was married to my Dad when she was 19.  Three years later my sister Julie was born.  Add two years later and I came along.

Mom had her issues for sure.

One of my favorite books, "The four things that matter most" by Ira Byock, suggests that we can learn to remember our loved ones, not as they were, but as we wished them to be.

In other words, instead of grieving what your mother was not, think of her and remember her as the mother that you wished that she had been.

It's an interesting thought.

To celebrate someone for what you thought that they might have... could have been.  I guess it releases them from our resentment and helps us to see the good.

And I am all for that... seeing the good.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

everyone needs to cry

Everyone needs to cry from time to time.  I attended the funeral of David Conchola on Wednesday July 8th.  I cried the entire time.

When the prelude music started, I cried.  When the pastors walked in, I cried.  I cried through the entire thing.

The man sitting next to me probably thought I was a loon.  He might be right.

I loved David Conchola.  But it also seemed to be the case, that I needed a good cry.  I hadn't cried for a long long time.

Sometimes we all need to cry.

Don't be embarrassed to let yourself cry.  It's ok.  It is a part of being a human.  Let your self cry.  You will feel better.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

It was a day

It was a day.  It was a day that wasn't going the way that I wanted it to go.  I had several complaints.  Nothing changed.  I was frustrated.  I was tired.  I wanted things to go my way.

Then I had a thought.  I had a novel thought.  Maybe the problem isn't with the day, maybe the problem is with me.

Maybe I need to change my expectations.  Maybe I need to change my attitude.

I did.

Ok, all good now!!!

Sometimes when we find the problem, we recognize it, and it is me.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

The mills of the Gods

 

My Father would quote this to me.  His version was, "the mills of the Gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine."

Recently, my 39 year old daughter asked me for the exact words of the quote. 

Evidently, when you have children, you face real life.  Ultimately, when you grow into adulthood, you are forced to face real life.

And as you move along the journey of life, the work of the gods moves slowly, but eventually it comes to you and teaches you things that your parents were trying to.

I used to tell my kids, "listen to me.  learn from me.  let me teach you.  Or, life will.  And kids, life can be a cruel teacher."

The mills of the Gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

our perspectives

Too often, we think that we are right.  Too often, we think that we have the world figured out.  In my experience, the older we get, the less we know.  Or, the older we get, the more we know that we don't know.  

And that takes me to my granddaughter Bella who is trying to understand the world.  She lives in Chicago but visits Florida from time to time.  In Florida she visit Disney and Cici and Pooh [grandma and grandpa.]

Here she is floating in the pool.  Telling her mom, "look at me, I am relaxing."  

After she got out of the pool, she inquired of children who live in Florida.  She said, how does it work, I guess that there are no schools in Florida, and the kids just go to Disney???"

And I wonder if our thoughts about the world are any closer to reality than hers?  We think we know, but really, how right are we?

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Thoughts on paying attention

Have you misplaced your keys?  No worries.  I know right where they are.  They are right where you put them.

If we paid more attention when we set our phone down, we would remember where it was.

I was thinking the other day about how life races by and we don't pay enough attention to even remember.  For some reason I recalled something that I hadn't thought of in years.  In 9th grade, I was the school badminton champion.  I wonder how I would fare on a pickle ball court today???

How many things in this life have come and gone and we do not remember?  Moments and memories that are just lost to the sands of time?

Friends... life is racing by.  Pay attention to the moment you are in.  Enjoy it.  Savor it.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Can this blog continue?

Not that I am thinking of dying soon, but you never know, do you?

Anyway, when I die, I would like for this blog to continue.  I want it to continue so that readers will have something to read that reminds us all to see the good.  I want readers to have some honest thoughts to interact with.

I have asked several people over the years to take my user name and password so that they could write when I was on vacation.  Dan Horn used to do this for me.  God bless him, I miss him so much.

Any way, you who are reading this, would you be willing to keep this going?  Bruce?  Pat?  Courtney?  Mary?  Woody? Sherri?  Mary?  Arthur? You?

There needs to be a consistent, ongoing voice reminding people that it is not about me.  Reminding people that life is bigger than my perspective.  Words that challenge people to see the good.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

hope

Hope is the feeling we have 

that the feeling we have 

is not permanent.



Mignon McLaughlin


Thanks to my friend Bruce for this quote...

I have said for years that feelings can be fickle.  Thank God, sometimes the feelings that we feel go away.  If you just wait it out, that worry, that hurt, that thing, will usually pass.

My late friend,  Jerry Alyea, when people would ask him about a big purchase, he would say, "lay down until the feeling goes away."

Sometimes, often, usually, feelings change.  Thank God.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

More on trash

Gosh I'm on a roll on trash.  Last week I was on a job in Massachusetts.  

Right outside of our store, someone rolled down the window of their car and threw a bag of McDonalds trash and 3 cups out onto the parking lot.

I had several thoughts... Who does this???  Why do you think that this is acceptable behavior???

I stewed.  I was ... upset.

I went out and picked up their trash and went back to work.

In life, is your behavior, is my behavior making it easier or harder for others?

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Trash

Trash.  Taking out the trash.

Sometimes I travel for a construction company.  I am a substitute superintendent.  That means, at the job site, I am in charge to see to it that the subcontractors and workers fulfill the expectations of my boss.

I am a middle manager.  A substitute middle manager.

From time to time I work with new people.  Recently I worked with someone who was training to be a superintendent.

One of the things that I watch for is this-  Is taking out the trash below you?  Or do you gladly break down boxes, jump down the dumpster and sweep the floor.  Those three.

People that apply themselves, people who want to work, people who find success in life have got to learn to embrace the "little jobs."

How people handle trash on the job and in life in general says a lot about the prospects of their success.  Roll up your sleeves and get into the middle of the mess.  Let's make it better together.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

preparing for disappointment

I was in a suburb of Boston last week on a job. It was Sunday morning and I was going to go shopping. The internet said that the Dollar Tree opened at 8 AM. I love the Dollar Tree. I was wondering on the way there if the store could possibly open at 8am on a Sunday.  Seems a bit unusual...

So I kind of got my brain into a place where my expectations were low. When I got to the store, there’s some kind of a problem. They’re not even open today. Since I prepared myself for the disappointed, I wasn’t disturbed.

My favorite store!

Odd signs on the front door.

I wonder what they say???

So I left the dollar tree and went to my next stop: Walmart. I was about a half a mile from the Walmart and a Dollar tree appeared on the side of the road! I pulled into the parking lot and that one was open!!!

Sometimes you’re expectations don’t work out and sometimes in life you’re pleasantly surprised. Sometimes in life we get what we want and sometimes in life we get what we get.

Preparing myself for disappointment, helps me to relax. In life, it won't all go my way. This attitude tends to make the day go better for me.


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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Stella Lefty

I heard a song the other day.  I liked it.  I looked it up.  Seems the title of the song is "Boston" by Stella Lefty.  I didn't do a lot of research on the song, but part of the refrain is this: I like it when you're nice, I like it when you're nice to me.

I think about that some times.  Am I nice to you because I am a nice person or am I nice to you because you are nice to me?

 Bruce is nice to me.  I like him.  Mary is nice to me.  I like her.  On and on we go.

Do we only like people that are nice to us and tolerate the rest?  Is it possible that someone is a totally awesome human but just isn't very nice to me?  Maybe if I was nicer to more people, they would return the nice?

Is it selfish of me to like you because you are nice to me?

We all want to be treated with kindness.  We like it.  And so we should all probably be nice to others.  Do unto others.

I like it when you're nice. I'm gonna try to be nice.  Nicer.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

thoughts on being an exceptional person

I have been thinking lately about what it takes to be an exceptional person.  And I mean an exceptionally good person.

1.  I think a self awareness that I can improve is important.  Without that, we all stay stuck.

2.  I think an awareness of the importance of kindness is vital.

3.  I think moving toward a more generous lifestyle is a must.  Moving away from worrying that I will have enough and coming toward wanting to share with others.

4.  believing that you will likely get from others what you give to them.  Input joy, get joy.  Exceptional people create a positive culture.

5.  Finally there is this... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I have heard that somewhere before.

I think that this list is a good start.  May we all work on pursuing being exceptional humans.  If you have any thoughts to add to the exceptional concept, I would love to hear them.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

When friends die too soon

Recently a friend of mine passed suddenly.  A beloved father, husband and friend.  Several of us thought about how painful it is to lose a loved one too soon.

My friend Paul sent in this thought... "while we grieve that we did not get to spend the rest of our lives with them, we must remember that they got to spend the rest of their lives with us."

I find this to be a helpful thought.  It invites us to think of the world with a lens that is about more than how things impact me.  I can serve others, I can help others, I can be there for others.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

July 5th

Today I am 69 years old.

On January 24th, 1982 on the occasion of his 50th birthday, Henri Nouwen, wrote, "Within a few years [5, 10, 20 or 30] I will no longer be on this earth.  The thought of this does not frighten me but fills me with a quiet peace. I am a small part of life, a human being in the midst of thousands of other human beings.  It is good to be young, and to grow old and die. It is good to live with others and to die with others.   God became flesh to share with us in this simple living and dying and thus [his presence] made it good.  I can feel today that it is good to be, and especially to be one of many.  What counts are not the special and unique accomplishments in life that make me different from others, but the basic experiences of sadness and joy, pain and healing, which make me part of humanity.  The time is indeed growing short for me, but that knowledge sets me free to prevent mourning from depressing me and joy from exciting me. Mourning and joy can now both deepen my quiet desire for the day when I realize that the many kisses and embraces that I received today were simple incarnations of the eternal embrace of the Lord himself."

Henri Nouwen died on September 21, 1996 at the age of 64.

Today I am 69 years old. I would like to write something profound.... ha ha ha....

I look back on every day that I have lived and they are all a treasure. I remember running track in high school. In my mind, in my soul, and in my dreams, I still run with the track team, but the body has moved on. So I am the same as I used to be, but also very different.

I think of every person that I have loved, and oh I am so blessed. I cherish every hug that I received from you and I hope to receive many more. I think of the friends that we have made, the broken relationships that have been healed, and the amazing power of love.  I don't know how many days that I have left but I am going to take the advice of Ruth Gordon from the movie Harold and Maude.  She told Harold, live, LIVE, L.I.V.E. LIVE!!!

What a joy. What a miracle life is. Thank you all for being a part of mine.


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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

July 4

This year our nation celebrates 250 years!

Congratulations to America and to all who made her great.

While I celebrate and appreciate living in the greatest country in the world, while I celebrate living in the richest country in the history of the world, I do have some concerns.

I grieve what our great grandfathers did to the Indians.  I grieve that our great grandfathers enslaved African people.  I grieve that in both cases, we considered these "other people" as less than... not really quite human.

Now that I have that off of my chest, May we enjoy some burgers and baked beans today.

And remember... we are citizens first of God's kingdom.  And although our ancestors did not always show fairness or kindness, we can.

We can.  We can choose to show love.  We can choose to treat others well.  And the better we get at doing that, the brighter our future will be.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

make life easier for me?

Alexander Fraser Tytler 1747-1813 was a Scottish Judge and writer.  The following quote is attributed to him, though this is doubtful.  But I think the quote makes a good point. Here it is:

"Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government.  It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse out of the public treasure.  From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefit from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a dictatorship, and then a monarchy."

I want to focus on the evident theme that when voters elect those who promise more benefits, we are all in trouble.

One example in my opinion was the $2500 checks that were distributed to every American during the pandemic.  I was glad to get the check, but was this needed?  And where did the money come from to pay for this?  In Florida there is discussion of doing away with property/real estate taxes.  How will that income be made up for the state?

Sure we all want something for nothing.  We all want life to be better and easier for me.

But:  success in life is rarely found by sitting around complaining that we want a free cell phone or a bigger tax break or what ever we may think we want.  Success in life, in my experience, comes by work.  Hard work.

It is not the governments job to give us everything we want.  May we all work a little harder and want a little less.  Feeling good, feeling satisfied at the end of the day is not measured by freebies, feeling good, feeling satisfied only comes after a hard days work.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

the things that I cannot change

Sometimes the world will not align itself to make me happy.  In those moments, I need to exercise the skill of accepting the things that I cannot change.

My daughter lives in Chicago, way too far away from us.  Nothing I can or should do about that.

An abnormal freeze killed many of our palm trees.  Lots of sadness, but nothing I can do about it except to cut them down and get over it.

I was watching the US world cup soccer game and the internet service went down on the plane.  You could hear the collective groan of passenger disappointment, but it could not be fixed.  People either got mad or they got over it.

This is our choice when the world does not make us happy.  We can be mad or we can get on with life.  In my experience, we will find life much more enjoyable when we choose to accept the things that we cannot change and move on.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

serenity prayer

Most of us are familiar with the serenity prayer, at least the short version. Here is the long version written by the theologian Reinhold Neibuhr...

From time to time I find this prayer to be a necessity in our lives...




living one day at a time... enjoying one moment at a time.

accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.

trusting that God will make all things right.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info