hat lottery

I won the hat lottery on Friday. Now I don't know why, but I like to wear hats. They keep the sun off of your face and they collect the sweat when you are working in the yard. They cover up my baldness and make me look younger. Ok, maybe I do know why I like hats.

Good hats are hard to find. The bill has to be curled just so, and the whole hat just has to look right. I don't go for flat bills or hats with elastic in them.

The girls had found me a nice Univ of Central MO hat at the bookstore in Warrensburg a few years ago. I got it salty and yucky at the beach a few weeks ago. So I needed a new hat. Anytime I am in the Burg, the girls want me to go to the campus bookstore with them so I can buy them a shirt or something with their college logo.

Well, on Friday, I hit the hat lottery. the very same hat that I loved so much, that I ruined on the beach was on sale.......closeout. $2.44 each. I bought all they had - 10 of them.

So if you need a nice Central MO Jenny's hat, ring me up, because I can fix you up right. I have red ones and white ones.

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

paying attention

Friday when I was in Warrensburg, I was driving up Broad Street to the place where I thought I would meet Jenny. I looked left, and saw her parked down the street in front of her dorm. I stopped in the middle of the street. No one was around, so I decided to back up and turn down the street to go to her.

I am not sure why or how, but after travelling just a few feet on the road in reverse, I hit the brakes. I thought I heard something shift in our load, but it may also have been the horn of the car that somehow was now right behind me.

When I looked again, that college boy had pulled that Mustang right up behind me, and I was backing up! I bet I missed hitting him by 6 inches. He peeled out and gave me a look, "stupid old man."

The accident was avoided, but my dangerous behavior, which seemed ok at the time, almost led to a very difficult day.

I have always tried to be a careful driver. I wasn't very careful on Friday.

The moral of the story is this. Think twice when you are considering dangerous behavior. Life has general rules. Follow them. Cars are supposed to go forward, not backward down the main streets. Carelessness in our decision making can result in difficulty.

If you see me in the parking lot at church, you may just want to give me a few extra feet.

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

college bound

Took a little trip yesterday to the Burg. Warrensburg. Dropped Jenny off at the dorm. And Jenny's stuff. My goodness, Jenny has a lot of stuff.

When I went to college everything I took fit into a 73 Chevy Vega hatchback. Jenny's car was full, the pickup truck was full, and we almost had to rent a u-haul as well. She brought clothes and shoes and pictures. Pictures! What the heck is that? We never had any pictures in frames on our dorm room walls. And shoes! I carried in three loads of shoes. She brought three times as many shoes as I own! Lamps. Why do you need a lamp in a dorm room? Don't know. Jenny brought three. Bed Stuff. Sheets and a blanket is all I ever had. She brought sheets, blankets, stuffed panda bears, a mattress pad and four pillows.

Her pastor is going to have to give her the "laying up treasure on earth" talk.

I am going to miss her. I already do.

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

what we don't know

We are always so impressed with ourselves about what we know. We have lived a long time and we have seen a lot of things. But there is so much more that we do not know. What we know, pales in comparison to what we do not know.

The older we get, the more humble we should become. The knowledge of God, knowledge of the universe, of life itself, is so immense.

We should always be a bit humbled by what we see in life.

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

what do you do for a living?

The first week of July I went to a family reunion. Our family has not stayed in touch very well, so there was a good deal of catching up to do. In almost any setting, "what do you do for a living" is the most asked question in the world. It was the most asked question at the family reunion. Yet, no one asked me. Why?

They knew I was a preacher and they were afraid that I was going to guilt them or that they were going to end up in a conversation that they were going to regret.

Why did they feel this way? Because some preachers and Christians have made a living at judging others and making people feel guilty. I think Americans are sick of it. I have an article on my desk, waiting to be read entitled, "salvation begins with love, not sin."

Christians are never going to win the world by crushing them. I know you don't do this, and that I am preaching to the choir, but we have to help other Christians understand that treating people in this way just drives them away.

Life is good and God is great. People will be drawn to his love. Let's tell them about his love and grace. What do you do for a living?

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

drama

Drama: unnecessary disturbance, incessant whining, compulsive complaining.

Think of someone that you used to know that was a source of drama in your life. Now it is ancient history. What happened? Did they get better? Did they decide that you were not going to listen anymore and just move on?

At any rate, most drama is useless. It is over and gone in a few short months. It is like someone who doesn't understand that they have a life, was trying to conjure one up by complaining.

So if all drama moves on in time, why don't we just let it go and stop being bothered by it. Smile. Laugh it off. Cut those providing the drama some slack.

I hope that you and I are never the deliverers of drama.

Today is a good day and everything is ok. All is well. Lets not worry about others who are stuck in drama. That is not what life is about anyway. See the good and focus on it.

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

thank you

This evening, we will hold a memorial service for one of our members, Jim Truschke. Jim died suddenly, or so it seemed to me. He also died too soon. I am not sure that we were done with what we could have been or done together here on earth, but we don't ever get the choice of when we go.

Here is one thing that I want you to know about Jim. There was a time many years ago, that our church was in trouble. The future of our congregation was in doubt. About 100 people, and that includes children, made the commitment to work it out and dream for a better future. They did not all always agree with each other, but they agreed to work for our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ.

Because of the work of these early Woods Chapilians, the stage was set, the doors were opened for all of the blessings that we experience today. Those who worked so hard back then, hold a very special place in my heart. I say thank you to all of them, and thank you to our friend, Jim Truschke.

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

the unspoken language

There is in this world, an unspoken language. Not everyone knows it, but many people do. With this unspoken language you can communicate with people that don't speak English. You can communicate with animals.

Here are some examples:

By the unseen language, your dog can tell if you are having a bad day. Two people in love can share a message just by looking at each other. Fear, joy and many other things can be expressed. You can listen to someone speaking in a tongue that is foreign to you and somehow understand what they want.

This language, this ability, has something to do with a part of God's world that we do not understand. It is a reminder to me that God is amazing and that we do well when we honor him and when we take the time to care for one another.

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

Jeff 8 - Fish 0

On Friday I attended DJ's annual canoe trip on the Elk River. Beautiful scenery, great people, no worries. And then there is the fishing.

The real score is some thing like this: Jeff 8, Dave 2, Fish 0. or you could look at it this way: Jeff's fishing pole 10, Fish 0.

Why is it so much fun to catch a fish? By the way, I had to let them all go. They did not swim in a school, more like preschool. Their mothers were expecting them home for dinner.

I also lost or misplaced my new camouflage hat. I liked it a lot, it was good camo, but I set it down somewhere, and after that, I could never find it. If you see it, let me know. Thanks.

I will be in church today and I hope to see you there.

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

moving day

Today is moving day. A few of us are going to go help a friend of ours move some of his stuff from one place to another. Not typically a day that many of us look forward to. There are many other things any of us would rather be doing with our time……fishing, playing golf, biking, going to the pool or lake, or getting some of our own stuff taken care of etc. etc. etc……BUT, I know at the end of this day I will have a new memory or two. I will have spent time with friends. We will no doubt be giving each other a hard time. There will be some jokes. There will be something that happens (at the expense of one of us) that will make us all laugh. I may meet a person or two that I have never met before. I know for certain I will be meeting one of my friend's father for the first time and that is always a good experience. We will pitch in our help and support for the day and we will come away with many aches and pains that may linger for a few days even with the help of modern medicine. More than anything, though, we will feel good inside because we were able to help…….able to share time, give time and for a little while at least…….we are going to put something else…someone else… ahead of us on the priority list. It is going to be a good day.


Peace,
Lion’s Den Man

temptation

"The Lord knows how to deliver the Godly person from trials and temptations." 2 peter 2:9

Are you in trouble? Are you being tempted? When I say tempted, I don't mean that the Devil is attacking you. Remember the Devil is in Afghanistan with Osamma. He is not omnipresent. Only God is omnipresent.

When I say temptation, I mean, "are you being drawn off of the path by your own lusts?" The scripture says, "13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." James 1:13-14

Lusts. Do you desire the boat of another person? Their clothes? Their friends? Their income? Their spouse? Their success?

Anytime we covet something that is not ours, anytime that we dwell on such things, we are drawn more increasingly into temptation. Soon if we are not careful, that thing has a hold on us and we are thinking about it way too much. When this happens, our minds are filled with things that we should not be thinking about instead of the things that we should be thinking about. Our walk with God becomes a distant memory as we are consumed with how to drag the latest idol into our lives. Those things cannot fill the emptiness inside. Only God can do this.

Flee from temptation. Draw new boundaries. The Lord knows how to deliver the Godly person, but you have to want to be delivered. Help him help you. Step back from your wants and learn again to want only Him.

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

Taste

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him. Psalm 34:8

I was gone on vacation, and I missed all of you. It is funny that I think that rushing around the country on airplanes with my family is going to be a vacation. I need a vacation from the vacation.

I am glad to be home. I went to gospel choir tonight. First practice of the fall. twice as many people attended as were expected. Great spirit! Great joy! Come. Taste and see that it is good.

I hugged a friend today. The brothers in Christ need one another.

Are you dry? thirsty? Tired of chasing your family all around? How about something that is really good for you? I can't wait to be back in church on Sunday.

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

connections

Connections. Strange unexplainable connections that I seem to find with some people. I had two such experiences yesterday. It is like I have no idea why, but I have a feeling in my heart about you. What does that mean? Are we connected by the Spirit? Were we neighbors before we were born on this earth?

Anytime I feel a connection to someone, I try to cultivate the relationship. It is almost like God has given us to each other for this time. What is there for us to learn from each other? What is there for us to experience together or do together?

If you sense such connections to others, follow the leading. Connect the dots. Somehow, our souls know a lot more than our brains do, about what is really going on in this world.

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

a place to be

Everyone needs a place to be. Where no one cares what you do for a living. Where no one cares who you know. You are just one of the guys, one of the gals. Where you are you and that is enough.

No one wants anything from you. They don't care if you were the high school quarterback, in fact, they give you grief if you bring it up. These moments with such true friends are not about who you used to be or some pretend idea of what you may have become.

When you hang out with people that love you because you are you. That is a blessing. No pretends, no masks, no lies. These are my favorite people and it is a gift to be such a person to someone else. I hope that you have some of these folks in your life.

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

In celebration of life

I had heard about this on the news. Brian Swanson sent it to me and I finally watched it. This is the wedding march to remember. This is one bunch of young people celebrating life. I smiled, I chuckled, I teared up. I cried. I hope that all of my children's weddings are this much of a joyful spontaneous celebration.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2009/07/best_wedding_entrance_ever_chris_brown_forever_2009_video.php

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good. And, do a little dancing today, just to say that you did.

praying for grace

When you pray, for what do you pray? Are you asking for earthly things or heavenly? Do we seek treasure here or treasure above?

Whenever you pray, be sure to pray for converting grace.

Me? pray for converting grace? why? I am already converted?

Well, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grace continues its job of converting and sanctifying us. Have you arrived? If you have, then pray not for grace. But if you know that your heart is less than fully committed to God through Jesus Christ, then pray for grace.

God, give me your grace. Let me see my need for you. let me see others as you see them. Let me see all the world as you do. let me leave my moments of self-righteousness and look with a loving heart unto you. Change me O God! Give me grace to change! Fill me O God, let nothing be in my heart except your love. Let your grace have it's perfect work within me.

If this is your prayer and it is answered today, then pray it again tomorrow. We need to pray for the grace to change us.

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

vacation

I have been on one this week. A vacation in Florida with my wife and kids. Thank you to Lions Den Man and the Young Shepherd for posting while I was gone.

Amazing things that I have seen this week include: my daughter's excitement over finding a starfish while snorkeling, being caught in a rented boat in the middle of a squall which included lightning and 4 waterspouts. Catching ten fish on a reef bottom fishing trip. Riding a boat on the ocean. Floating at the beach. Watching the little baby clams dig themselves back into the sand.

I watched the Captain of the fishing boat teaching his grandson how to drive the boat in and out of the channel markers. Raising children and mentoring those in your care is a constant opportunity that all of us have.

If vacations are supposed to make you want to go back home and return to work, I am ready. I miss all of you. Remember, you are the captain to someone in your life. Take every opportunity to reach out to them and help them know the way.

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

May you be a yes

I read this blessing the other day and I still can’t get it out of my head. I am sure there is a reason for that…………….

“May you be a “yes” to the question, “Has Jesus risen from the dead?” And may you come to see… may you understand…. that you are the good news. You are the gospel.” Rob Bell

I had to sit back and digest that message for a moment. I can’t tell you how many times I have re-read it since I first came across it.

It is flawless. It speaks pure truth. It makes me ask a lot of questions about what I am doing and where I am going.

I probably…. No….without question, I should start each day with that blessing in mind. Right?

Not out of guilt….. not by pressure…..but, by knowing it is the truth.

It plays well into what “young shepherd” has been writing about. It describes perfectly what the person mentioned in my post on Wednesday has come to understand.

I really can’t add to it, but I had to share it……..we need to share it.


Peace,
Lion’s Den Man

The Road, Part 2

Why would Jesus say to take up my cross and follow Him unless He meant for me to follow Him down the same road he walked? The only image that I can conjure up is that of Jesus on the Via Dolorosa. This is the road that He willingly walked in order to give up His human life so that true life may abound.

This is what I believe He calls me to do – to lay down what I think is my life so that Jesus may give me a new life.

In my life, I have occasionally thought of the road of faith as a journey of quiet comfort. Yet, the road that Jesus took was not a road of comfort. So if He truly means for me to follow Him, perhaps He is challenging my sense of comfort. Maybe my “cross” is my comfortable life I hold so dear, and maybe I am called to follow Him into the unknown.

I picture Jesus on the Via Dolorosa. We often imagine Jesus fainting and stumbling as He slowly made His way. Beaten and chastised constantly, He continued moving forward even though He could’ve stopped this all at any point. This was the most grueling road that anyone has taken in history of the world, yet Jesus did not relent. He finished what He was born to do.

Why, then, would Jesus – who loves us so much – ask us to follow Him down this kind of road?

I think it is because of the victory that is at the end of the road. Truly, it is the only road which ends in victory. Yes, it ends in death, but so does every other road in human history. Only Jesus’ road ends in life. Perhaps He wants us to see that even when we choose comfort, it is short-lived. Death is imminent for each of us. Whether we give our lives completely over to Jesus or not, our lives will be taken from us just the same. The difference is whether we ever experienced true life, true joy, true freedom.

I am afraid I am not doing justice to what I want to say about following Jesus. In an extended metaphor, I had hoped to convey an image that would help us see that being a Christian is more than a title we give ourselves. It implies action – the action of following Christ. In picturing our faith as a road, maybe we will realize that a commitment to Jesus is just the beginning of a daily journey with Him. It is a journey that challenges us every step of the way, but with every step, Jesus holds our hand if we allow Him to do so.

I also admit that I have aimed to challenge each of us to shun complacency in our walk with Christ. There is nothing in the life of Jesus which leads me to believe comfort in this lifetime should be a priority. Perhaps Jesus is challenging you the way I feel challenged. And perhaps not.

But if so, I promise you that Jesus will be with you every step of the way to lead you down the road He already walked for us. And not only Jesus, but the community of Christians who are also making our way down this road. It is outside our comfort zones that trusting relationships develop – those with Jesus and those with other Christians. It is when we are stretched that we are in need, and when we are in need that we learn to trust Jesus and our brothers and sisters to help us.

I have lived all of my life in a place of self-reliance. It is as if I trust only myself to provide for me. But Jesus is showing me that this road is about trusting Him to provide for me. After all, God clothes the lilies and He'll take care of me.

With Love,
a young shepherd.

The Unexpected

Have you ever had a person come into your life and instantly a connection is made? Conversation is effortless. It is as if you had known each other for a lifetime. You always seem to leave filled……. sometimes bursting. I met a person last year who fits that description. Just being around him makes me want to do more with my life.

Yesterday morning I had a chance to sit down and spend some time listening and sharing with him. I lost track of time……..my schedule fell by the wayside ….. it didn’t matter. I left with more than I came with…..something significant…..…meaningful. I felt inspired......challenged. Some questions I had been asking were answered. Some direction provided. When you see and feel someone’s passion for doing God’s work you can’t help but feel passionate yourself.

We all can be that for someone………

It still amazes me how the unexpected happens when you least expect it. When timing is not yours. When goals and plans take a back seat to the journey…….

Thank you my friend, my brother. You continue to be a blessing.

Peace,
Lion’s Den Man

The Road, Part 1

The Christian faith is a road. Many of us are already on this road. Some have not yet chosen it. To those who have not chosen, Christ Jesus is always ready for you to begin your journey. For those who have chosen, He gently encourages us to keep walking.

I call it a road because Jesus did not ask us just to call ourselves Christians, or even to just have a conversion experience. He said to “Take up your cross and follow me”. To follow someone, we must be going somewhere. To go somewhere, we get on the road.

Recently, I realized that I have been standing still on the road. It does not matter for how long. What matters is that I hear Jesus asking me to take another step with Him now. And what I have come to realize is that the road Jesus is asking me to walk down is the same road that He once took – the Way of the Cross.

Jesus willingly walked this road to his death, and he bids me to do the same.

Jesus could’ve chosen to leave that road. He could’ve chosen any other road in the universe – even the ones paved with gold in His true home. But He kept walking, step after painful step, all the way to the end of the road where His life was given up for me.

I have chosen different roads many times. In fact, it’s not much credit to me that I have chosen to walk with Jesus now, because I only made this choice after realizing that all the other roads either led someplace bad or nowhere at all. Through Jesus, I learned that His road is the only one that leads to true fulfillment. Perhaps this recognition sums up the conversion experience -- when we realize the only road worth travelling in life is the one with Jesus.

What does it mean to follow Jesus, and why do I feel I have been standing still lately?

Maybe it means that we are having a real relationship with Him. One where our prayer life, if we take the time to pray, is more than just petitions and complaints. My relationship with my fiancé would not flourish if I only came to her, asking for stuff or complaining about stuff. Of course, she wants to hear the things I want and the things that are on my heart, but she also wants to be adored. She wants to be praised and told that I need her in my life. I need to say these things to her, also, so I am reminded of them.

Maybe my relationship with Jesus is not so different, yet I have only been complaining and begging – not the stuff of a healthy relationship. And I have felt very empty at times. I have had very little in my cup to pour out to other people. I think that a true walk with Jesus is a walk of overflowing abundance in my soul.

I would like to emphasize in my soul. Because sometimes people think of following Jesus as a road to other kinds of abundance. Financial abundance. “Everyone loves me” abundance. “My job is great” abundance. I don’t know about you, but I do not always receive this kind of abundance when I am following Jesus. But my soul is abundant. I have peace, love, grace, joy, and rest.

(continued on Thursday)

With Love,
a young shepherd.

Three Friends

I've been thinking about friends and friendships a lot lately. I have some friends from years ago that I still keep in touch with, but many more that I don't. I try not to over think the reason why I don't, but when I do it becomes obvious that the friendship I had with those particular people were not as deep or committed as the ones that have stood the test of time. I feel fortunate to have a few friends these days that probably know more about me than any other friend ever has.....

My father had three friends that he cared for his entire life. I mean entire life...he literally shared the crib with these three friends as a child and was close to each of them his entire life. They were always there for each other. They survived WWII, divorces, family crisis's and distance created by life's circumstances. They spent endless hours talking to each other about (stuff). They had memories that would come up in conversation, but they lived in the moment too. Never selfish, or envious or manipulative. I believe there was an equality and loyalty they shared, but their bond was not built on expectation. (See post 3-28-09) They just truly cared for each other.

My father and his friends are all gone now, but their friendship is something all of our families still talk about. When you see something as pure and committed as what they had you want it for yourself......

Proverbs 18: 24 Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

the road less travelled

Sometimes I choose the road less travelled. The back roads. Phelps Rd, Lee's Summit Road, even Todd George Rd over 291/470. It takes longer to get there on those roads, but there is less concrete and more grass. Trees, wilderness and peace. I enjoy the trip more, I savor the scenery. I may arrive a few minutes later than I otherwise would have, but I arrive in peace.

Get off the main road the next time you drive and enjoy the sights along the way.

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

If I could speak for Erin

Ok, I feel bad for the ESPN reporter who was filmed secretly in her hotel room. If I could speak for her, this is what I would say............

Some people tried to hurt me. They tried to steal part of who I am. But this is impossible, because who I am is far more than what I look like. My parents gave me a great name. I have worked hard to be a person of character. No one can steal me, unless I forfeit myself, and I am not for sale.

Let's feel sorry for the small people in this world. Let's feel sorry for the users of this world. Let's celebrate the good things of this life. Family, love, life, and baseball. We know what makes America great, and we are going to keep celebrating it.

If you have been hurt by others, take heart from this story about me, for this is not what I am about. I will show you what I am about. Life is still good and we will celebrate it together. Let's play ball.

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

who am I? [revised]

I am thinking about Erin, the ESPN reporter and what has happened to her.

You can say bad things about someone. You can say bad things about me. You can find old stories about someone that hurt, that show them at their worst.

But who I am is not defined by you. Others cannot define you. No one else gets to control who I am or how I feel about me and no one else gets to define you. Inside of me there is something that tells me that God loves me. My name is not scarred by other's words, my name is written in the Lamb's book of life.

Who are you? Look inside. You know who you are. Don't let anyone else tell you differently.

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

who?

Lord, who can I touch for you today? You know Lord, I am having some problems right now. Who can I touch for you today? I have too many bills, my kids are in trouble, and I am sick. Who can I touch for you today? My boss is mad at me. My car is acting up. I can't stop thinking negative thoughts. Who can I touch for you today?

Problems. We all have them. The list above I am not owning, they are just representative of real life. In the midst of our challenges, there is still a question to be asked, a prayer to be prayed, Lord, who can I touch for you today. While we continue to struggle with our human issues, there are still people who need our witness.

Lord, I take my eyes off of my problems long enough to pray, who can I reach for you today. Amazing too, when I pray about reaching others, I start to forget about my problems. The spirit is healing me.

Let every day begin with this prayer, Lord, who can I touch for you today?

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

on the pastor's door

Yesterday I went to lunch with a few of your church staff. We ate at the Panda Cafe by Price Chopper on Woods Chapel Road. The folks at Panda Cafe are Chinese Christians and they are very nice. It is a quiet place to go for lunch that offers ample time to visit. The food is great and the price is right. #9 General's Chicken. Fried rice. Crab rangoon. No soup. Please bring a knife. They don't even ask me what I want anymore.

And then there are the fortunes. Really good fortunes make it onto the pastor's door. I would say "my office door" but it is the pastor's door and I won't always be the pastor. Here are some of my favorite fortunes, collected over the years, that are on the door.

"people in your surroundings will be more cooperative than usual."

"it is a nice day."

"a friend is someone who knows the song of your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

and then there is this lovely rhyme from Rogers and Hammerstein:

"a bell is no bell til you ring it,
a song is no song til you sing it
and love in your heart wasn't put there to stay
love isn't love til you give it away."

What are your favorite rhymes or sayings?

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

small church

What is the smallest church that you ever attended? The first church that I preached at had 6 people there. As I finished the sermon, 4 more showed up late. The pastor that had invited me to preach that night, now invited me to start over from the beginning, which I did. So I guess there were 10 people there.

Last night I visited with a church of 20 people. The church burned down in August last year and they are trying to decide what to do.

I have to tell you that they did such a good job articulating their mission and explaining what the church is about. They agreed to work together to come up with a plan that everyone could buy into. Because of the insurance, and pledges, they plan to pay cash.

Their spirit was inviting and among this group I felt the presence of Jesus.

The church is not the building. The church is the people. 6, 10, 20, 100 or 1000. Love them. Enjoy them. God has given us to each other for a short season in this journey of life.

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

advice for relationships

I have been putting together some thought on relationships. Things that I hope people will find if they get into a serious relationship. I need your help. Please add your thoughts as I may have to share this with some young people at my house pretty soon.

My hopes for my children and the children of others who are thinking about being in a serious relationship:

Determine that you will not enter into an unhealthy or dysfunctional relationship. Flee all physical and emotional abuse. No one needs another person that badly.

Don’t seriously date anyone that you don’t want to marry. You will only get emotionally bonded to someone that you may not want to spend your future life with.

Find someone of a common faith or find a common place where you can share spiritual values. This may not seem important when you are dating, but when the honeymoon wears off and you start raising kids, it becomes one of the most important things.

Discuss relationship with parents and in-laws. Come to an agreement as to which holidays will be spent where and how you can treat both families as family.

Come to common agreement on the principles of raising children. Values, discipline and activities are all things that you should agree on.

Finances. Attend Dave Ramsey’s FPU together. Set a budget. Determine that you will not use credit cards. Agree to live within your means. This is so important – money is the number one reason couples break up today.

Work hard to achieve your common goals. Not everyone gets to like his or her job. If you do, great, but be willing to paint houses or drive a taxi cab if need be. If need be, work 2 or 3 jobs to provide for your family.

Understand that how you treat one another is your gift back to God. If you are a Christian, your primary ministry is to your spouse. Treat them according to the golden rule: do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

Sacrifice for the relationship. Healthy relationships are not 50-50, they are 110% - 110%

Stay the course. Marriage is hard work. You can’t leave your wingman because things aren’t going the way you would like. Work it out.

Don’t keep secrets. Eventually they will come to light and it will be worse than if you told the truth. Don’t keep a record of wrongs. Forgive the other person and move on.

Understand that every day that you are alive is a gift from God. Share that gift you’re your spouse.

If you want it to be well and end well, begin it well.

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

lacking self confidence?

Do you ever lack self confidence? Most of us do. If you hang around me long enough, you will hear me talk about how scary it is to be a pastor. We all do things that we do not feel fully prepared for. At least I hope you do, because if you are only living in your comfort zone, you may not be doing much for God. I have come to believe that when God calls us, he calls us out of our comfort zone.

And so as we step into his will, we are uncomfortable and lacking self confidence. This is not a bad thing. Would you rather be supremely, arrogantly confident? Of course not. A little self deprecation is a good thing from time to time and less than adequate self esteem reminds us to depend on God.

When we are weak, then he is strong. Is there something that you are supposed to do this week? Are you nervous about it? Good. Let those nervous feelings drive you in the direction of Almighty God who will surely give you the strength to do his bidding.

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

change your mind

Have you ever changed your mind? Have you every been really sure about something, really adamant about something, even annoying about something, and then changed your mind?

We all have.

If we have been annoyingly insistent about things and then later changed our minds, what does that say about the things that we think we know now?

It means that we need to hold them out there with a little more grace. We may just change our minds in a few weeks.

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

freewill and predestination

The age old battle of Calvinism [everything is predestined, God is in control] vs. Arminianism [we have free will, God has given us the gift of choice] rages on in our society. Just in case you wondered, John Wesley was an arminian. Methodist theology is based in God's grace and our right and responsibility to choose.

I hear people talk about how God made all these things happen in their lives. I know they want to give God glory, and that is good, but did God really give you that new car or did you just choose to buy it? Is it possible that sometimes we make choices and ascribe them to God so that they feel a bit more justified?

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." Stephen William Hawking

I think we like to talk about God being in control, but we tend to live more like our choices matter, and they do. I am not sure that God is glorified when we ascribe our choices to him. I think that he is more glorified when we thank him for the opportunity for choice and take responsibility for them. That is real life. That is a real relationship.

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

When to pray

When do you pray? Before a meal? What if it is at Burger King? Should you then pray before a snack? What if you don't have a formal snack time, but you like to swing by the m-n-m jar? Do you pray to open and close a meeting? How about a prayer half-way through a long meeting?

Here is my point....if I wake up and give this day to God, do we really need to have other ceremonial prayers during the day? How about just an ongoing conversation? Sometimes I think we have to pray before certain things because we have not been living prayerfully.

When you are aware of God's presence and work in the world around you, it seems funny to stop for a formal prayer.

Now, I think we should do it.....some. Prayers before meals are great, but lets remember the relationship is about constant communication, not scheduled prayers that exist because we are forgetting him the rest of the day.

Should I open and close this blog with a prayer each day? Or is it enough to know that when ever I am writing this, I am thinking about God and seeking to enter into his presence.

How about a few less scheduled prayers and a few more practiced prayers. A few less "ok, its your turn to lead the prayer" prayers and a few more prayers that are just a continuation of a life long discussion with the Master.

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

what should I call you?

Recently someone asked a question that I get from time to time. "What should I call you?"

Pastor, Father, Reverend, Priest, Minister, or ?

Please don't call me what my wife calls me when she is upset with me. [joke]

Well, lets see. Priests are usually Catholic or Episcopal or Mormon, so no, don't call me a priest.

Father is also usually for a Catholic Priest. Don't call me father, except for my kids, they can call me father if they like, but I prefer Dad.

Reverend. Yes I am ordained and with that experience, comes the title. However, I do not like the word and prefer that you not use it. In fact, I would prefer than no pastors go by it. It makes a person sound special and holy in my opinion. I have met too many in my time that use the title and demand the respect. Well, you can't demand respect, it has to be earned.

Yes I am a minister. It is a great privilege. Pastor. Yes I am a pastor. You can call me pastor Jeff if you need to, but what I would prefer is just plain old Jeff. Now that I am on a roll, let me say something about being a pastor. The Bishop can assign you to a church, but that does not make you someone's pastor. The church can print your name with the title in the bulletin or you can have your name Pastor so and so put on the sign out front. None of this makes you someone's pastor. You become someone's pastor when they tell you that you are their pastor. When they decide that your love and care for them is deserving of the title. It cannot be taken to one's self, it is a gift from the people of your church.

I don't think Jesus went by any special titles. Teacher Jesus. Father Jesus. Pastor Jesus. I don't think God would refer to me as anything other than Jeff. My son Jeff. Just call me Jeff. It worked for my Mom.

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

feelings

[there was this song] Feeeeeliiiinnngs, O, O, O feeliiings, O, O, feelines. Felines are cats.

I have been thinking more about feelings today. I have been reading an author that hits on feelings and I have also read some of what you guys wrote on the subject.

I am firmly of the belief that we can manage our feelings. Sometimes.......

We need to avoid situations and decisions that will get us into messes, which will bring the accompanying feelings. I also believe that when I let my feelings overtake me, I am done. What I need to do when I sense those angry or painful feelings is own them. Talk to them. See them for what they are. This is important. See them as different than me. Somehow that puts them in the place of feelings. They are not me, and I am not bound by them. It's just how I feel right now. It will pass.

When my feelings do not own me, reality has a chance. I can be aware of what God is doing in the world. I can hear the birds sing. I need to do more of that. It is a constant battle, but we are winning. I feel it in me, and I feel it in you.

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

softball

I am 52 years old. I really should quit. I did quit last year. In October I hurt my knee again and I decided to hang up the cleats.

We started a new team this year and I was the coach. 9 games, I did not play. Last night though, we were short for the last game of the season and I played 2nd base.

Softball is good for church guys. New folks get to make friends, and everyone likes to pretend that they can still play. Some of them are very good, and then there are the 52 year olds.

Well I have to tell you about the game. We won 13-3. I caught a ball, booted a ball, threw a guy out at home, dove for a ball, was involved in several put outs at second, got two little dinky hits, ran the bases, and scored twice. That is a good game for an old man.

Today, I have scabs on both knees, a big bruise on my chest from diving, my right knee is screaming "replacement," and every muscle in my body is sore.

But O, was it fun. This is why people skydive. This is why they bungi-jump. I felt more alive playing ball then I have in a while. It was great, but I really should retire.

This week, do something that you don't think that you can do. Take a risk. Live life, don't let life live you.

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

Institutionalized

From The Shawshank Redemption

Red: These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized.
Heywood: I could never get like that.
Prisoner: Oh yeah? Say that when you been here as long as Brooks has.
Red: They send you here for life, and that's exactly what they take. The part that counts, anyway.


Have you become "institutionalized". Are you surrounded by walls, perhaps walls that you have grown so comfortable with that you don't even realize they are there? Have you become complacent? Do you challenge yourself? Do you challenge what you hear or read? Do you test everthing? I ask this only because I have been "institutionalized" before and looking back it is scary how easy it is to slip into that mode.

We need to ask questions. A favorite author of mine wrote, "Questions bring freedom. Freedom that I don't have to be God and I don't have to pretend that I have it all figured out. I can let God be God. Questions are rooted in humility. We need to ask questions and humble ourselves in order to pursue God."

God is a mystery. He has given us an invitation to seek Him. He has removed the obstacles through His Grace. He has given us His Spirit as a built in sounding board to test our questions.

"Questions are not scary. What is scary is when people don't have any."

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

nothing much

I have nothing much to say today. I dreamed all night about different things to write in the blog this morning, and now I cannot remember any of them.

The older I get, the less I know. Rob Bell is smarter than I am. So are most of the other people I know. But I still get annoyed by people who act like they are smarter. I am sure they don't mean to be demeaning, but they usually are.

If I realized that I am not as wise as I think, does that make me wiser?

1 Cor 13 if I am the smartest pastor in the world, but have not love, I am a clanging cymbal. If I am the most handsome person in the world, with a full head of hair, but have not love, I should be on the gong show.

Those who say don't know. Those who know, don't have to say.

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

convenience

Ryan came through surgery yesterday. The tumor was removed and the family is now waiting for the pathology report. Please keep praying for them.

Convenience. I am thinking that convenience, that thing that we so seek after, may in fact be an enemy. To the extent that convenience is doing the easy thing, or doing the thing that everyone else is doing, it is an enemy.

Fulfillment rarely comes from following the crowd. Nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy. A moment of convenience? Sure. Enjoy it. A life that is designed around convenience, forget it. Shun it. Run from it.

Seek the life that swims upstream. When life gets too easy, too convenient, we don't grow. Difficulty simply disguises opportunities for us to engage the grace that Jesus is trying to develop within us.

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

8:30 am

Today at 8:30am Ryan Cunningham, age 7 will be having surgery to remove a brain tumor at Children's Mercy Hospital. Please pray for Ryan and his parents Dana and Michelle.

I was introduced to a flower child writer named Hugh Prather. In 1970 he published the book "Notes to Myself" subtitled, "my struggle to become a person." Thanks to Grace W for the introduction.

I was kind of taken by the message in the preamble:

If I had only forgotten future greatness
and looked at the green things and the buildings
and reached out to those around me and smelled the air
and ignored the forms and the self-styled obligations
and heard the rain on the roof
and put my arms around my wife

.......and it's not too late

The part I like the best about the quote is this: "and it's not too late." What a joyful reminder that I can truly live today if I just do it. I can change. I can be aware, awake, alive to those wonderful things around me. If you are too busy and life is living you....it's not to late. It's not to late to listen to the birds sing. If God gave you breath today, it is not too late. We can wake from our slumber and be alive to the gifts in God's world.

It is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good. And pray for Ryan.

Can Jesus be the only way?

A dear friend asked me to comment on the question. It is a question that many people ask. Is Jesus the only way? Here is what I have on the topic............

Jn 14:6 says.............
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. NIV

As a Christian minister, I believe that the scriptures teach that Jesus is the way. That is my view and my obligation in visiting with people about faith. I will always point them to faith in God through Christ.

I am concerned when some Christians take the next step though, and begin to determine that because of this passage, we get to decide who is going to heaven and hell. No where in Scripture are we given the right to judge others or to decide who the good ones and the bad ones are. Our job is to plant the seeds and water them and let God do His work.

As a Wesleyan Methodist minister, this is the historic view of our denomination. Many Methodists, when confronted with the question regarding Jesus’ unique claim about himself, take some degree of comfort in reading John Wesley’s sermon 106 on Faith: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/106/

We cannot say that Jews are going to hell because they have not accepted Jesus. Abraham and many others are mentioned as being in heaven, but they never accepted Jesus. Romans 10-11 makes it clear that the Jews are the original tree that Christians have been grafted into. God is not done with them and although it does not fit into many people’s theological box, in my opinion we cannot scripturally say that they are going to hell.

Romans 1:20 opens the door to another issue, and that is that God has done so much work in creation, that even people who have never heard the name of Jesus are held accountable. They are without excuse. I don’t know what that means exactly, except that God is calling all people to himself and they are accountable, just because of his revelation in creation. If they are being held accountable, then it would stand to reason to me, that some of them will respond well to his revelation. But again, it is not up to me to decide who gets in and who doesn’t, that is God’s decision. I take comfort in knowing that he is working outside the walls of the established church.
Finally, I think we need to understand that salvation is the work of God, not man. Salvation is about God working in the lives of people. God always plays the principle role in the drama of rescue. If we believe that God is all present, and if we believe that he wants to seek and save the lost, [Luke 19:10] then we have to conclude that he is working everywhere with everyone, trying to win them. We may not believe the same as Jewish or Muslim people, but God is working in their places of worship to win them to himself. If God can find Paul on the road to Damascus, Moses hiding in the desert, the woman at the well, the thief on the cross, Cornelius in Acts 10, then I just have to believe that he has people in the world that he has reached that may not fit our theological constructs. Ruth was not an Israelite, neither was Rahab. There are many people who God welcomes into his family in the scriptures that I think some churches sadly would not welcome into their membership.

Most people that I know that consider themselves Christians are ok with Jesus being the way, they just don’t want to have that mean that everyone else is damned to hell. They cannot perceive of a God who sends everyone else, including those who have not heard, to hell. When we understand that God is working in every town, in every “religion” trying to win people to himself, then we can trust in God’s goodness to reach people and we don’t have to try and decide who is saved and who isn’t because that is not up to us anyway.

If I meet a Jew, I will speak to him of Jesus. If I meet a Muslin, I will look for my chances to share about the Savior of the world. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. But, I will always take comfort in the fact that God is bigger than our doctrines, that he is working everywhere to win people, and that mercy rejoices over judgment.

I hope that helps clarify my personal belief. I believe that my views are comprehensively scriptural and completely Wesleyan.

I love you all, and the great questions that you have.

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

hearing the birds

This is difficult but I think I need to tell the story. I have been honored. Someone has singled me out and said some very nice things. I hate to bring it up, but it is wrong for me to not tell you about this man, because one day, he may be your pastor. And if he is, you will be the better for it.

I met Shawn Franssens when he was the pastor at St. Mark's in Independence. I liked him from the beginning. Sometimes pastors can be proud and haughty. Not a sniff of this in Shawn. Good hearted, kind, normal. Now there is something that you don't always find in a pastor: normal. We became friends. At annual conference this year, he was ordained an elder. When you are ordained you can ask one of your friends to lay hands on you as the Bishop lays his hand on you. Shawn asked me to do this. It is one of the most significant honors of my life. The Bishop says, "take thou the authority to preach the word." And you are there, praying for your friend. Thinking about every sermon that he will preach, every life that he will touch, and asking God for a double portion of His spirit. That was a very special moment.

Now Shawn has gone a bit further. He has started a daily blog titled, "hearing the birds." You can find it at hearingthebirds.blogspot.com The following is what he has written in the margin of his blog:

We all need mentors. People that have wisdom to share with us. Who for a moment, a season or a lifetime we go to when we need an ear, a piece of advice, a supporter, a confidant, a friend.Rev. Jeff Brinkman is my mentor. He asks in his musings about life... "Can you hear the birds sing?"This blog is my attempt to share the many ways I hear the birds singing in my life.

Well, I hate to tell you about this, but it would be a dishonor to him to not tell you. Please check out his blog and be praying for my friend Shawn.

I hope that you have people that love you. It is such a blessing.

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

birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I received lots of cards and posts on facebook. Thank you all for your kind words. We had a nice service at church, then I got to do some of my favorite things: lunch after church, and a nap. I even got to pull some weeds in the afternoon.

Two years ago when I turned 50, Scott made fun of me saying, "hey Dad, you are old!" I told him, "Son, I have known many people who did not get the chance to be 50. I hope some day you get the opportunity." That changed his tune.

It is good. It is all good.

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

attachment

My momma used to say, "no one makes you mad, you choose to be mad." How long do we have to live to get that one right?

I was upset about something the other day and I remembered what one of my favorite authors, Anthony Demello said, "if you are angry, there is usually something wrong with you." He also talks about attachment and detachment. When we identify too closely with one thing or another, we are attached to that person or thing. When they mess up, we feel messed up because we get ourselves confused with them.

When I can remember that I am not them, and I am not what they did, then I can get back to living this day that the Lord has given. Detached from the silliness of some event or decision, I am free to get back to who I really am. No one makes you mad, you choose to be mad. Thanks Mom, and thanks for having me 52 years ago today.

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

July 4th

I shot these photos last year on the 4th. Movies that will surely be on this weekend..... Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day, the Patriot.

As a kid.........black cats. Black cats that cannot be shot off until 8am. House rule. Later in the day, watermelon, Ward Parkway Swimming Pool, Laying in the grass watching big fireworks.

On July 4th the whole country stops to give thanks, as we should. Have fun today, but pause to give thanks for the gifts of America and the sacrifice that made it all possible.

We are having church tomorrow, so don't stay out too late.

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

Baseball, hotdogs....

Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. I guess I would put those 4 things in that order. We are in St. Louis for a family reunion. It has been years since I have seen my cousins. Yes, I will be back for church on Sunday. Last night, we went to the Cardinals game. We were treated very well thanks to Pastor Greg Weeks form Concord-Trinity UMC.

At 4pm a member of his church took us down onto the field to watch batting practice. There was a little rope to keep you off the grass. Our guide took us to the other side. I touched the grass of Busch Stadium. We took pictures of the players and the stadium. We got to meet the Giants manager.

Not done yet. Ate our fill in the Champions Club. Very cool. Great seats. Jenny got a baseball. 80 degrees. Awesome.

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

the gift of time

You can buy someone a present. You can buy them lunch. You can do all sorts of things for people.

One of the finest gifts that can be given to another is the gift of your time. Time to listen. Time to care. Time to look into their eyes and see their soul. Time to encourage them.

Just being with someone is not what I am talking about. You can have lunch with someone and not be "present." You can go on a trip with your kids and ignore them. You can be married and not be "together." You get my point.

Spending time with another. An hour at lunch. 5 mins in the office. A moment in line at the grocery store. Me and you together in this world. It's a gift. It's a great gift. Slow down. Be present. Spend real time with folks. Let them see into your soul.

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

today

6:30am. Sitting on the deck. Outside on July 1st! 65 degrees! Wrought iron table. Tiki umbrella. Shade trees. A cup of coffee. The dog isn't even barking! What could go wrong with a beautiful start to a day like this.

Opps I lied. The dog is barking now. Have you ever asked yourself what dogs are saying when they bark? It all sounds the same to me. Let me out. Let me in. No, I meant out. Who is that stranger. Out. In. Bark, bark bark.

Today your church staff is going on a mission trip to Harvesters. If you don't know what Harvesters is, they provide bulk foods to needy people through many local ministries. Because of your generosity, they help to feed the folks at our sister church Camino Verdad Y Vida.

It is important for all of us to be connected to something in missions. If we aren't connected in missions in some way, it is just too easy to start thinking that the world is really revolving around me. To be in mission is to see the needs of others. It helps us keep our lives in perspective. It allows us to become the hands and feet of Christ. If you have a free morning or evening sometime, pick one of our missions and go see what they are doing. You will be glad that you did.

Opps I've got to go. The dog wants something.

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

all you need is love

The Beatles said it. All you need is love. I got an email from someone yesterday that was dogging John Lennon. I did not feel good about it. What is the point. Another attempt at illustrating who are the good ones and who are the bad ones. Like we get to decide.

All you need is love. What if all of our questions, worries, and philosophies could all be resolved if we just were better at loving. What if acting out in love brought the joy and circumstances that we sought? Obviously if we act out in hatefulness, it will bring the expected result.

So what if, we just started focusing on love. Acting out in love. Maybe, possibly, we would know everything that we needed to know and have the results that we sought.

God is love. All you need is love. Try to spend all of today just loving people. What can go wrong? It will probably be a pretty good day.

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

God is

I have been thinking about this stuff lately............If God is a circle and you think he is a triangle, he does not become a triangle to accommodate your way of thinking.

God is love. God is not "like" love. God does not "embrace" love. God is love. He is not an old white man who sits in heaven on a throne holding a scepter. God is not a person, nor is he a respecter of persons. God is bigger than our ideas of Him. he cannot be contained in the human mind. All of our ideas come short. Yet he makes Himself known. Awesome. Amazing.

How can it be. Oh, amazing mystery of mysteries. This is why people bend the knee to worship.

How big is your God? Do you have a god so small that you have him all figured out? Or do you think of God and just get lost in the mystery............

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

does that book belong in the Bible?

Well, now I have your attention. Last week in the sermon [which was from the book of Lamentations] I said something like, "wow, who would pick that one to be in the Bible." I did not mean that Lamentations should not be in the Bible, what I meant was that it is a very depressing book. Lamentations is like many of the psalms. People in pain pouring their hearts out to God. Painful, but needful. I am ok with Lamentations. I am ok with all of the books in the Bible. As if God needed my approval.

Anyway, worry not, I am a big supporter of God's word. Now, today is Sunday and I get to preach again. Hopefully it will all be good, with no unintended bumbles.

On a positive note, yesterday I saw a birds nest up high on someone's porch. Four little babies looking out over the top of the nest. Chirpin, chatterin, "hey, old guy, look at us, we are up here, and you are down there. We are cute and you are.............old, and we can fly pretty soon. How do you like us now?" They didn't really say all of that, but it was really cute.

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

Michael Jackson

Billie Jean. Bad. Ben. ABC. Thriller. Whatever you thought of Michael Jackson, well, he is, gone. Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

It doesn't seem right to me. 50 years old. How can that be? I have already had 1 1/2 years that Michael never had.

Lord, thank you for those years. for every day that you give me to be alive in your world.

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

The Alfred Toll house

Yesterday I got to go to a lunch at the Alfred Toll house. The house is at 3502 Warwick. It is right next door to the Jacob Loose mansion. Loose of Loose park. The Toll house is a 4 story 15,000 sq ft mansion that was built in 1904. Alfred Toll was a lumber baron, owner of Badger Lumber. The Tolls moved out in the 1920's because the neighborhood was changing. The house was leased to the Art Institute for years and then was vacant and abandoned. It was renovated in the 50's and turned into an office building. It was purchased in 1963 by the Catholic Reporter, a newspaper that currently occupies the house.

Alfred Toll was my great great grandfather. They were very important people. They had lots of money. Lots. His son Phillip, lost it all. My Dad never had very nice things to say about his grandfather. I have often wondered what it must have been like for my grandmother to have grown up early in such privilege, and then to see it all go away in her twenties.

Well the moral of the story is this. Everybody probably has a famous relative if you search hard enough. It doesn't matter who they were. You are you. You will create your own reputation and leave your own legacy, good or bad. Today is our day to live. Let's choose wisely.

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

doing the right thing

It isn't always easy to do the right thing. My Dad used to say, "the right thing to do is the right thing to do, even if you are the only one doing it. And, the wrong thing to do, is the wrong thing to do, even if everyone is doing it."

It takes some guts to do the right thing when life's pressures would lead you to do something else. We always regret mistakes...... make the right choices. you'll be glad that you did.

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

hmmm

Last night I had dinner with my sister. She gave me some things that she had of Mom and Dad's that she did not want to keep anymore.

A picture of Grandma Heising [yup we are German]
A picture of Bop. That is: Great Great Grandfather Alfred Toll.
4 boxes of desert rose dishes of Mom's.
An afghan that Mom had crocheted. White with red eagles. It was done when I was in Jr. High School. It still looks to be in great shape.

Pictures of my parents in college. Mom is the Sig Ep sweet heart. Young. Beautiful. Sitting in a chair from the 50's. On the table next to her is a radio that I could have bought for 10cents at a garage sale when I was 14. Dad. Look at Dad. So young. So handsome. Wow does he look like Scott. This is wonderful and painful all at the same time.

They all had their shot at life. They did their best. They left behind a road to follow. Someday, my kids or grandkids will open up a box and see some things from 2009. I hope that their memories are good ones. This is our chance. Let's do the best we can.

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

today's post

If you think that the post that follows is a little better than normal, it is. And it is because today's post was made by one of my buds. Although he did not sign his post today, you will come to know him as "the young shepherd." Enjoy!

Connecting Others to Christ

When I was growing up, the offering cards at church had a little point system. 10 points if you brought your offering. 10 points if you read your Bible that week. 20 points if you told someone about Jesus. Thankfully, I have learned that Jesus already fulfilled the point system.

I have also learned that no one wants to be the tally mark on our offering cards, real or imagined.

I heard a lot of descriptions about Jesus when I was growing up. For some reason, the descriptions didn't work for me. It didn't necessarily matter how people could articulate the Gospel. In fact, some people got so desperate to use their words to lead me to Jesus that they resorted to guilt. Choosing to share the Gospel through words can lead to manipulation. They felt like it was their job to seal the deal.

I am a stubborn man. You can't change my mind very easily. But when I met Jesus for the first time, my heart literally melted in his nail-scarred hands.

So what was it that enabled me to be in a place where my heart was open even when my mind was hardened? First, a relationship. Someone took the time to get to know me. He asked questions and listened. I wasn’t a tally mark, and he wasn’t in a hurry to get on to the next person. He was different from me, and I saw that from being around him. This caused me to inquire deeper. I read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life, and decided that I wanted to follow Jesus.

And of course, after being zapped by the love of Jesus, I began living a perfect life and only did good deeds from that point forward… Yeah right.

I stumbled a lot. There were many days early on when I just wanted to turn around. I didn’t want to call myself a Christian anymore, because I didn’t feel like a Christian and it would just have been easier. So what kept me going? What keeps me going to this very day? Relationships.

I think there’s a reason why Jesus had dinner with the sinners while the religious elite scoffed at him. He was building relationships. We Christians can be so prideful, we think we can just walk up to someone and tell them our version of Jesus and that will be enough. Well it’s not enough. In the real world, we don’t trust strangers to introduce us to other prospective friends. We trust our friends to make the introductions.

I do believe every person needs to meet the real Jesus. But we need a safe place to find Jesus. We need an authentic place to find Jesus. We need help destroying the barriers that others have helped erect between ourselves and Jesus. We need to hear that Jesus does not belong to someone else, but we all belong to him. This is the stuff of relationships – safe, authentic and life-changing.

This is not a ten-step process. It is love. It is prayer. It is patience. It is personal. And it is a celebration when one heart is changed by Jesus Christ. That is real conversion, and that is how we connect others to Christ.

a story from the sermon yesterday

There is a story that the pastor told in the sermon yesterday that really struck me. Here it is:

A story is told of a rabbi in a European village, who one day summoned the townspeople to the village square. He said he had an important announcement. The people gathered, but not without much grumbling at the inconvenience. The merchant resented having to leave his business. The wife complained because she had so many errands to run. But, out of respect, they went unwillingly to the town square. Each had to interrupt some part of their lives in order to make themselves present for the Rabbi. When the appointed time came and all were present, the rabbi said, "I wish to announce there is a God in the world." That was all he said. But the people understood. They knew they had been acting as if God did not exist.

The more I think about that story, the more profound I think that it is. Many many people that believe in God, live as if God does not exist. They go about their lives, making plans, entertaining themselves and their children, with no recollection or awareness that the God that they profess to believe in, even exists.

Hey friends, there is a God in this world! Let's live like we know this.

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

Father's Day

It's Father's Day and I am thinking about the soul. What if 80% of what we spend our lives on doesn't matter.

We are all worked up about how our sports teams do. How much money do I make? Do I drive a car that makes me feel good? Am I getting my fair share? Can I control my daily living? Is life fair? Am I getting appreciated? Does my religion fit nicely into my little theological box? Do I look good?

What if God doesn't care about most of that. What if His message to us was simple. "Every day you see other living souls. See them as souls. Love them. Help them. Care for them. That's all folks."

Happy Father's Day God. We will keep working on this.

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

Orbiting the Giant Hairball

I have started a new book titled, Orbiting the Giant Hairball. It comes recommended by the Bishop. It is supposed to be about finding and staying in touch with your creativity in the midst of a world that has some very defined and unyielding paradigms.

There is a quote in the front of the book that I really liked. Here it is.

Wean yourself.
Little by little, wean yourself.
This is the gist of what I have to say.

From an embryo, whose nourishment comes in the blood,
move to an infant drinking milk,
to a child on solid food,
to a searcher after wisdom,
to a hunter of more invisible game.

The author goes on........

Think how it is to have a conversation with an embryo. You might say, "the world outside is vast and intricate. There are wheat fields and mountain passes, and orchards in bloom. At night there are millions of galaxies, and in sunlight the beauty of friends dancing at a wedding."

You ask the embryo why he or she, stays cooped up in the dark with eyes closed. Listen to the answer [from the embryo]

There is no "other world." I only know what I've experienced. You must be hallucinating.
[the end]

Well, isn't that interesting. Kind of reminds me of what my mother used to say to me, "there is more Horatio than is dreamt of in your philosophy."

It's a beautiful day in God's world, don't stay cooped up in the dark with your eyes closed. Be sure to see the good.

weeds again

You know I have been working on the weeds in the back 40. Last night I worked on them some more. There is a section of sedum about 4 feet long that is just infested with grass. So, grass won't grow where I want it to grow, but it is unstoppable where I don't want it to grow.

Last night I did major surgery. I dug up the whole area and pulled the grass and the sedum apart. By the way, is it sedum or sedem? Ground cover.

I was impressed at how hard the grass had worked to infiltrate the flower bed. Sending its tentacles up underneath and then through the barrier. As expensive as that barrier is, you would think that it would do a better job at being a barrier.

The grass and the sedem were very difficult to separate. I finally got it done, but I wonder if some of the grass roots are still intertwined with the sedem. If they are, then the grass will be back eventually.

Jesus talked about separating the wheat and the tares [weeds]. Easy for him, harder for us. The constant struggle to remove the things from the flower bed of our lives that don't belong there. Sometimes the bad things come out easily, sometimes it takes major surgery.

Don't give up. Keep working on growing the good stuff and removing the bad stuff.

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

baby robin

Last night I saved a baby robin. Actually I guess it was an adolescent robin. Out of the nest, too big to stay in the nest, it is yet unable to fly. It is running around in our back yard. Our dog who is not a bird dog, does not even see the bird.

Anytime I get close to this bird, the momma and daddy robins come flying out of nowhere to try and run me off. I coax the little robin to the back gate and he hops out into the field. No longer confined by our fence, I hope that he/she finds wings real soon.

I find it so interesting that even when the bird is out of the nest, the parents are still very concerned about it's well being. A harbinger of things to come for the Brinkmans. At least this bird will get another chance to sing.

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

dating

Are you dating? Are your children? Your grandchildren? Nieces, nephews, neighbors? All of us know someone who is dating. Silly me, I have some advice for anyone who may be willing to listen:

You can't change them. Forget it. It won't work.

If you want to marry a Christian, date a Christian.
If you want to marry someone with a sense of humor, then date people with a sense of humor.
If you want to marry someone that knows how to manage money, then date people who know how to manage money.

If you want to marry someone that knows how to work for a living, then date people who know how to work for a living. If you want to marry someone that will treat you with respect, then date people who treat you with respect.

If you want to marry someone who shares the values that you were raised with, then date people who share the values that you were raised with. If you want to marry someone that your parents will enjoy, then date people that your parents enjoy. [yes, they are out there.]

If you want to marry someone who attends church, then date someone who attends church. If you want to marry someone who will talk with you about common goals and working together in a relationship, then date people who will do so.

Don't marry someone who helps to fix the broken things within you. One day you will be whole, then you will see them for what they are and be done with them. Play to your strengths. See who you are now, and date people with common values.

I have said it before, the divorce rate is not the problem. The problem is that people are getting married for all the wrong reasons. May these simple words of advice be of help to someone who is on the journey of relationships and life.

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

to apologize

Yesterday, someone apologized to me for something that they had said. Evidently they had been worried about that. They made a point to find me and say they were sorry.

Well, that was very nice, but I told them that the thing that they were worried about did not really even register on my radar screen. No problem at all. All is forgiven, but no offense was taken.

Something else that I heard in the interchange yesterday was that this is a good man. A good man or woman, for that matter, a good person will apologize when needed. Even once too often. It is far better to say that you are sorry one time too many than one time too few. To not apologize when it is needed is arrogant. To apologize when no offense was taken shows that you have a caring heart.

As always, I am surrounded by some pretty wonderful people.

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

God gives you people

I believe that God gives you people. People that just show up in your life. You can't exactly explain how or why they are there, but they show up. You are introduced by a mutual friend, you meet at a restaurant, you just see them and there is some connection.

How many of you can I say this about? Hundreds. Brad, we spent some time together at the golf tournament celebration. What a blessing to have had the opportunity to get to know you.

Friends, I hope that each of you are giving thanks for the people that just sort of "show up" in your lives. People that God gives you. They are a blessing. Maybe there is something that you are supposed to do together.

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

Olathe friend

Dear Olathe Friend,

I looked back on the days that you mentioned and if I am looking at the right day, there is no comment posted from you. I am sorry that I missed your comment. I would love to have the chance to dialogue with you. Be sure to follow the sign in instructions when you want to post a comment.

Again, I am sorry for that we missed each other.

a pretty good thing

I have some friends who tease me and they tell me that preachers have a pretty good gig. They only have to work one day a week, and they get all that vacation!

Although there are some painful things that happen, this is a great job. I used to say, about my job, that M-W-F you want to quit. T-Th-F, its the best job in the world, and Sunday, well on Sunday you just have to get up and preach. It doesn't matter how you feel. On Sunday, good or bad, you just have to preach. 4 weeks vacation and 2 weeks for continuing education, well, that is so pastors don't burn out or go crazy.

As the years go by, I have fewer days when I want to quit. I usually feel like the most fortunate preacher that you know. And I tell you this if you ask. But Sunday always comes, and you have to be ready to preach. That is one of the hard things about being a pastor of any size church. Every week there are people that expect you to say something meaningful, joyful, spiritual. Every week! For preachers, sometimes Sunday feels like it comes three times a week.

Here is the good news. God is with the preacher. Even if he or she feels inadequate, God is with them. When we are weak, then he is strong. So, even though the vessels are cracked and broken, the words of the Lord usually have a way of getting out.

Today is Sunday. The sermon is on faith. Let's go see how it all goes.

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

Weeds

How many times have I written about pulling weeds in the last two years? Friday is my "day off" so yesterday I helped a friend with a project, mowed the yard, did a wedding rehearsal and pulled weeds. Not in that order.

What do I like about pulling weeds after it has rained a bunch?

• they come out more easily
• they are no longer stealing the water that the good plants need
• you can see the real plants, they are no longer covered up
• the real plants can grow

I love pulling weeds because of the metaphor that I see so clearly about life and sin. When we are listening to God, when the Holy Spirit is working in us, it is much easier for the bad things to be removed from our lives. When they go, they are no longer taking the rightful place of the good and Godly things. When the bad things are gone, there is room for the good to grow. For character to shine forth.

If you have alot of weeds in your flower beds, let the water of God's grace shine on you. Loosen up the soil, then pull those things out. It feels so good when the good things are growing.

I have some more weeds out there, if you aren't doing anything later today, come on by......

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

friends

"Faith rejects false piety. To enter the desert is to leave behind the false trappings of religion insofar as they keep us from facing reality. And that separation can be very painful, for the trappings will be associated with people whose friendship and support we have come to [enjoy] but who, often without knowing it, are helping to preserve us in immaturity."
-- Kenneth Leech

Do your friends approve and support your every thought? Or do your friends challenge you to be better than you were? Every now and then do they open the box under your arm, take out your god, and show you his smallness?

Real friends will do such things, and we should never be threatened by the examination, but invigorated and inspired to believe in the God who is bigger than our notions of Him.

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

Home sweet home

Sometimes we get cabin fever and we want to get out of Dodge. Sometimes we are bored with home. We shouldn't be. Last week I left for Annual Conference on Thursday. Had to go a day early for a meeting. Got back from Springfield on Monday. Four nights in a hotel. That is a long time. I don't know how my wife does it every week. Maybe it helps her stay married to me.

John Denver said, "hey it's good to be back home again." Well, I am glad to be home. I have so totally enjoyed the mundane normal things like taking out the trash, feeding the dog, and cleaning up after the partial-adults who live here with me. I even got to pull some weeds the other night.

We should never get bored with our normal things. They are pretty wonderful really. We get tired of things far too easily and take them for granted. We shouldn't. I am glad to be home.

Oh, and by the way, all four of your pastors, Gina, Sherri, Clay and Jeff were reappointed to Woods Chapel for another year. It is good to be home.

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

fortune cookie

Yesterday I took my daughter to lunch at the Panda Cafe. Nice quiet place to eat. Good food if you like Chinese food. General's chicken. Fried rice. Crab rangoon. No soup. They know my order by heart.

The day is dark and stormy. Dark for anytime of the day. Really dark considering that it was lunchtime. Rain coming down in sheets. Buckets. Cats and Dogs. Thunder. Lightning. It was a dark and stormy day. You get the picture.

We finish eating and I open my fortune cookie, which says: "It's a nice day."

I love it. Perfect. Totally how we ought to think. Dark and stormy, but it is still nice. Everything is ok. God is with us.

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

break down

Last year I was driving to Smithville to visit Court Fisher and had 2 flat tires on my car. Cars break down. People break down. We see it all the time. Sometimes we don't run as we should.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit gets ahold of us and breaks us down. Down to where we must depend on Him or perish. That is a painful place to be, but not a bad place to be. We humans can get so "right in our own eyes" that God just needs to bring us down a notch. I think we listen better then.

Sometimes out of bad times, good things can happen. New tires. New hearts. Hearts more fully committed to Jesus.

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

David Van Giesen

A comment on yesterday's post mentioned David Van Giesen. David was my District Superintendent for three years when we were appointed to Princeton. David's wife Priscilla worked at Woods Chapel for several years as a pastoral assistant when we were in the old building.

Everyone needs a mentor. David was mine for three years and then for many after that. He is a truly kind man with a heart for Jesus. I was full of energy and ideas when I met David and he was so patient with me. He knew just when to nod, just when to redirect, and just when to let me give it a try. His laugh was authentic and welcoming.

I am indebted for so much to this fine man. If you know David, tell him how much he is loved and appreciated. I told him at annual conference. You tell him too. Drop him a note if you get a chance. His address is

4504 English Ivy Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804

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

ordination service

Last night I attended the ordination service at annual conference. There was hymn singing, call to the ministry testimonies by the bishops, and prayer. I was so happy for my friend Shawn Francensesengenses. He is such a good man and he has such a strong future.

Selfishly, it also made me think of my ordination, in 1991. David VanGiesen and Jim Bryan laid their hands on me and Bishop W.T. Handy put his hands on me and said, "take thou the authority to preach the word."

Very special moments. What a great gift to be a pastor. Thank you all for the opportunity. I love having the chance to care about you. If you are a pastor, be sure to give thanks for the chance to love others.

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

"knowing" things

Do you ever just know something. I can't explain it. You can't explain it. But you just know. You know that you know that you know.

You know that God is asking you to set new priorities. You know that He is calling you into the ministry. You know something.

This is the work of the spirit. Follow it. The law kills, the spirit gives life. Listen. Follow. You just know.

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

my sins

What are my sins. I certainly have them. Nothing real exciting, most of my sins are boring. Sometimes I can be negative. Sometimes I am selfish. Sometimes I don't see the weakness and sin that lies within me. Think about that. That is a bad one in my brain, to not even see the sin that I am doing or being.

Sin. It will always be a part of who I am. The apostle Paul said, "wretched man that I am....." Hopefully I am becoming sweeter as the years go by, but we all have a long way to go.

I think that it is important for all of us to think about how we fall short from time to time. I don't want you to be consumed with negative thoughts, but if we don't think about how we fall short, pretty soon, we are thinking about how we are better than others. So, let's give thanks for some degree of self-deprecation. That is far better than thinking that you are God's gift to the world, and it opens the door for us to give the glory to Jesus.

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

submission

Ways that we practice our faith:

Thinking.
Thinking. I am thinking about God. About the trinity and how it works. About spiritual gifts and what they mean and how they work. My mind is full of thoughts about what God is like, how faith works, and I am trying to make systematic sense of it all. The mental trash truck is rolling up and down the streets of my mind, filling my soul with the jarring noise of my own mental nonsense.

Judging others.
You are good. No, you are bad. You shouldn't do that. Why do they do that. What are they thinking. Don't they know that they are not pleasing God? They are not good Christians. How can they go to church and believe that? Look at that tattoo. Boy he needs a haircut, and Dude, buy some jeans without holes will you? Your music is terrible. You drink too much. You need a bath. I am better than you are. Get a job. Lose some weight. [Isn't this terrible?]

Neurotic worry.
I am bad. I did it wrong. I sinned again. God hates me. I am a bad Christian. I will never amount to anything. My mom was right. I am never going to be a successful adult human. Everything I touch falls apart. I am bad. I am a bad person. I have to work harder so that I don't go to hell.

Good works.
Lets get busy. I must save the world. Go, go, go. Do, do, do. I must make God happy. Do all the right things. Participate in all the missions programs. Do, do, do.

submission.
Nothing else that I have done has brought me the sense of completion in God that my soul craves. I give up. I give up trying to think or do or be. I am just falling hopelessly, helplessly into the loving arms of Our Father. And in so doing, I find what I have been seeking. I am at rest. I am complete. I am in touch with my soul and it is happy. I may not always feel His presence, but I know He is there and I am just resting in Him. From this place of rest in Him, submission, I find the inertia to live the Christian life. Loving, doing, caring, for all the right reasons. Thinking when necessary, love overshadows all. My life has become a celebration. At night I sleep the sleep of the saved. I just had to give up and rest in Him.

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

ivy

A friend gave me some ivy the other day. I planted it. I have been growing ivy for years, four to be exact, in a little section of the back yard where nothing grows. Well, ivy grows there. It grows anywhere. A little bit at a time, the ivy is doing its thing. Clinging to the rocky soil.

I think of the story of the mustard seed and the leaven. A little bit will do the trick. The kingdom is like that. Get it started and keep watching. The kingdom will do it's work in your life. Pretty soon, the roots are down, and we are a thriving part of God's garden.

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

God in a box

Last night we had a nice meeting on the book, "the Shack." I was reminded of the fact that so many of us grew up in churches that put God in a box. Well meaning folks that wanted to make God understandable, packaged Him in certain ways, using scriptures of their choice, and created a very human, manageable, understandable God. The problem with the God of the box is that we squelched his love and tried to control His doctrine. We inadvertently replaced his love with our human teachings.

When we take the love out of God, there is nothing supernatural left.

Let God out of the box. Just accept that you and I don't have all the answers. The God that we worship does not fit into anyone's doctrinal box. We need to bow in reverence and awe of Him and stop trying to make Him fit our ideas about what we think He is like.

When we give up being in charge, then we can begin to come to know the God that is truly great and truly other. When we stop trying to direct him and manipulate others to follow Him, we can simply accept that he loves us and celebrate this life that we have been given.

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

passages

I have to honest. I am in one. A passage. A major life passage. Inbetween where I was, and where I guess I will be. Inbetween the known and the unknown.

I have been at Woods Chapel for 15 years. My softball career is over. My youngest just graduated from highschool. This fall we will have three in college. I have a great joy and happiness for my kids, and a bit of a grief for myself as I try to figure out what is next in my life. I used to be the pastor with the cute young family. Not anymore. I am yesterday's news.

After August 15th when the kids go to college, the house will be very quiet. Cathy travels every week. So it will be me, two cats and a snaggle tooth dog. Sounds like a passage to me.

I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me. This is a natural part of life. It is just how it is. I am going to have to get used to it and figure it out. Life is good, even in the passages. We have to keep working hard to see the good. It is there.

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