The monsters at night

From my friend Pat...

It is 3:45 am. I am awake. It is dark. I am alone. My world is overwhelmed by what might go wrong. The market will crash, and I’ll have nothing, again. The pain in my back will require surgery. I’ll never walk again. I missed a filing date: I’ll get sued, I won’t be able to work. Or all my kids will move home, again.

And so on.

Those monsters are so big at night. All the good things in your world are still asleep, but every terrible thing that can lurk, is banging around your brain at 3:45 am. Its like the disciples in the boat with Jesus: the storm is raging, He’s asleep. They’re terrified.

But morning comes and whatever awful things ran through your mind 3 hours earlier are back in their cages, whimpering. God was never asleep.(what a silly human notion) He was there the whole time. Remembering that thought at 3:45 will keep the beasts at bay, and let you go back to sleep.

And if your kids do move home, tell them there is only room for the grandchildren.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
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I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

"Christian" pressures

My friend Joy got me to watch the Netflix series called "The Family."  It is about a very Christian group, that is also very manipulative.

I thought of the manipulations and pressures that I have seen over the years... [and this list is just the tip of the iceberg...]

Trying to get people to think like we do.
Trying to get them to go to church.
Trying to get them to join the church.
Trying to get them to give money.
Trying to get them to change in some way so that they would fit better into our scheme of what a good Christian looks like.
[several of the above are good for the organized church, but they are not the main thing.]

What if we just loved people?
What if we stopped worrying about our kids and grand kids and just loved them.
What if we just loved people.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Using the Bible- Part 2

Following up on yesterday's post...

So what should we use the Bible for?  Well we should not use it to shun, hurt, or shame others.  We should use it to help us draw closer to our Father.  We should use it to shape our character so that we become more kind and loving.

Proper use of Scripture draws us closer to God and makes us more humble and kind.  The closer we are to God, the less time we will have to judge others and the more we can just live a life of reliance and trust in him.

The Bible is not to be used as a hammer.  [Terry McCarty]

Jesus rejected hateful, manipulate passages and gravitated toward the open, accepting, and loving ones.  We should do the same.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Using the Bible to prove a point

So this keeps coming up about how someone wants to support their views by saying, "but the Bible says."  Most of us know just enough of what the Bible says to make us dangerous.

If a person wants to make the argument based on "the Bible says,"  then I think it is fair to insist that they take on all of what the Bible says, and not pick and choose.

The Bible says…

That homosexuality is wrong - Lev 18:22-24

That we should not eat shrimp - Lev 11:10

That we should not commit fornication 1 Cor 6:9

That we should not eat pork - Lev 11:7

That we should not have round haircuts - Lev 19:27

If you curse your father or mother you should be put to death - Leviticus 20:9

That slaves should honor and respect their masters - 1 Peter 2:18

That women should not teach or speak in church - 1 Tim 2:11

That if your city is under siege, it is ok to eat your children - Deut 28:53

Someone born out of wedlock cannot attend church - Deuteronomy 23:2

We should not have savings accounts - Mt 6:19-21

If a woman interrupts a fight between her husband and another man, her hand should be cut off - Deuteronomy 25:11-12

If your brother dies, you should have sex with his wife - Mark 12:19

That non virgins are to be stoned - Deut 22:20-21

That an unruly son should be stoned Deut 21:18-21

That we should not get tattoos - Lev 19:28

That handicap people cannot approach God - Leviticus 21:18-21

If you are going to insist on one thing because the Bible says, then please out of fairness, insist on them all.

And as my favorite theologian, Terry McCarty says, "the Bible is not a hammer."

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

strength made perfect in weakness

Paul the Apostle had something bothering him. He prayed for it to go away, but it did not. Instead, he was told, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."  2 Cor 12:9

We can focus on what is bothering us, or we can focus on God. We can focus on sin or we can celebrate God.

To the extent that we are negative, we lose power.  To the extent that we focus on God will be the measure of joy and hope in our lives.

This is the key to seeing the good in life. The choice we make to get our eyes off of what is bothering us, what is wrong, what we did, what is broken and simply celebrate the goodness and wonder of God in this world.

His grace is sufficient. Now that is something to celebrate.

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

on forgiving your self

You do not have the right to not forgive yourself.  You  are not the judge.  Neither am I.
If your sins are separated from you as far as the east is from the west, you do not have the right to not forgive yourself.  You are not the judge.

Jesus is the mediator between God and humans.  His act of self giving love on the cross shows just how much God loves you.  If God loves us that much, we don't have the right to not forgive ourselves.

When our eyes are on ourselves, we cannot forgive ourselves.  When our eyes are on Jesus we see that we are already forgiven.

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

What religion was Jesus?

From my friend Pat...

I imagine running into Christ at Starbucks and asking him “What religion are you?”

He wouldn’t say Christian: that was actually a negative term in Judea during the time shortly after the Crucifixion. And I doubt he would say Jewish: by the time of his death he was way beyond where he started, and remember, he railed against Jewish religious leadership. He certainly wouldn’t reply Catholic, or Methodist or Southern Baptist.(I’m not welcome in parts of the South now)

I think he would say that he practiced the religion of “kindness”, a word that defines actions, not beliefs.

You can’t believe yourself into eternal life, but you can act yourself there. Act kindly towards others, no matter what you believe.

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

why people do bad things

Why do people rob banks?  Why do people shoplift?  Why is there road rage?  Why all the mass shootings?

One word =  selfishness.

When I was a kid we had the selfishness beat out of us.  The community mores demanded that people treat each other with respect.  Open the door for a lady.  Yes Sir, Yes Ma'am.  I would have never called an adult by their first name.  Only juvenile delinquents would consider doing the wrong thing.

Well, in the last 50 years, the community mores, the essential customs and conventions of society have changed a bunch.  We have become a me first  bunch.  We have dumbed down the education system and lost the value of hard work.

When those things go, we easily make it about ourselves and selfishness becomes rampant.

I will drive however I want.  I will take whatever I want.  I will hate whomever I want.... and on it goes.

I don't know how to change the mores of society, but I know that it is important for us to model love instead of selfishness.  Work hard.  Work first, play second.  Respect everyone.  Hold the doors for the ladies and the men.

We can't fix everyone, but we can make sure that we are not a part of the problem.

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

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I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

The Christian Life

The Christian life is not turned in, it is turned out.  We do not become followers of Jesus to sit in the church and learn stuff.  We become followers of Jesus to go where he went and do what he did.  If we are not going where he went and doing what he did, then we are not following him.

We are to get out amongst them, we are to go to the least of these.  We are to live the missional life.  A Christian life without a missional component is hardly Christian.

Yes, go to church, go to Sunday School.  Enjoy your book club, your softball team, your bible study and small group.  But remember, these are launching pads that should be sending you and me out into the world to love others.

The Christian life is lived out there.  We are sent.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

why did I shave my head

So in case you have not seen me lately, I have given myself a crew cut.  Its a big change and I don't know that my head is particularly good looking.  What little hair I had gave me a sense of balance, and I am used to looking at myself with hair.

Why did I cut it off?

Well, over the years, my hairs have been running away in record numbers.  The few that remain are thin and gray.  It got so sparse that I could see all the way through from the front to the back.  I can no longer convince my self that I have hair.

Over the years I have watched guys part it way over on the side and flop it over the top.  I have also seen guys grow it long and swirl it around.  I am not going to play that game.

So, I cut it off.  I guess if it bothers me, I can let it grow back.  But for now, I am ok with it.  I hope that I don't look scary to you.

Enjoy these pictures of Bill Murray and Woody Harrelson from the movie Kingpin.  You will understand why I cut mine off.

I am not going to be that guy.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

hatred is the root

Hatred is the root of so many bad things.

While I am in favor of more gun control [see yesterday's blog] taking all the guns away won't stop people from killing people.

Hatred, anger and rage lead to assaults, road rage, murder and more. 

The root issue underneath these evil things is the hatred.

Let's stop hating people.  We can do it.  We can make the world a better place one person at a time.

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

on forgiveness

From time to time I think of people that hurt me.  No it is not you.  These folks don't read my blog.  I try to forgive.  I have worked on forgiveness.  I want to forgive.  But what they did to me was so cruel.  The sadness, the hatred, the rejection, the betrayal, it is hard to forget.  But I keep working on it.

I am writing this today because I know that there are others who harbor hatred, anger and unforgiveness.  Friends we know that it is wrong and unhealthy to hold onto hurts from the past.  Yet it is often so hard to let them go.

I know that when we heal, we stop needing to tell the story.  I don't tell people any more about what happened to me.  I also believe that those that hurt me are good people.

If you still hold an unforgiveness, you are not alone, I think almost every human struggles with it.  Keep working on it.  Keep trying.  Keep working on overcoming evil with good.  Love is stronger.  Keep filling your life with love.  I am in a better place now and I know it can get better for you as well.  Keep at it.

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

On gun control

On Sunday I told someone hello, and I said, it's a beautiful day.  They said, no it's not a beautiful day because of the shootings the day before.  I got their point.

My heart hurts for the people in El Paso and Dayton.  For that matter, my heart hurts every time that I hear of one of these terrible shootings.

I can tell you that the problem is not guns, the problem is hatred, but I am personally in favor of more gun control.  I have a shotgun and a handgun.  But, if a burglar came in, by the time I found the bullets and got them loaded, the police would probably be there.

While I think owning a gun is fine, I think that there should be waiting periods, I think there should be age limits, and I think that some people should not be allowed to own guns.

One thing that I certainly think is that there is no reason for anyone to own one of these assault rifles.  I have a friend that has one, and he is a great guy, but I just don't understand why people want them.

New Zealand is a small country, but after the mass shooting there, they had a buy back event and 224 assault rifles were turned in.  It cost the country $290,000.  It would cost millions in the US but if it helps to stop such killings, I am for it.

I pray for the families.  I grieve for the loss to so many.

Happiness and Joy

I read this somewhere recently...

Happiness is a pleasant feeling that is tied to circumstances.  Things are good, I am happy, things are bad, I am not happy.  Happiness is tied to circumstances.

Joy is not tied to circumstances.  Joy is a spiritual state of heart mind that comes to a person when they engage the world with gratitude.

In other words, when we look and see the good in life, when we choose to be aware and appreciate of all of life, we find gratitude and joy.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

This is my Father's world part 3

We American Christians, many of us, not me and hopefully not you, but many of us have fallen into a bad habit of talking about the devil and blaming lots of things on him.

If you are doing this, please stop.  This is our Father's world. 
Only God is all knowing, all powerful and all present.
The devil is a created, finite being that can not be everywhere at the same time.

Some Pastors and Churches continue the myth that the devil is everywhere or that he knows your thoughts.  He does not.  He is not the opposite of God.  There is no opposite of God.

Let's not spend one more minute glorifying a fallen angel.

Let's spend our days seeing the good and finding the joy in this wonderful life that God has given us.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

This is my father's world part two

I love the words to the hymn....

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

of rocks and trees of skies and seas, his hands the wonders wrought.

Here the hymn writer is recognizing the amazing power of awareness.... and to my listening ears... he speaks to me everywhere.  Usually God is speaking, but we are not listening.  Oh how beautiful life becomes when we simply open our eyes and ears and see what God has done.  That is when simple things like rocks and trees and skies and seas become amazing.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

This is my Father's world part 1

Thank you all for the ideas on what to post about.  My friend Ginger reminded me that one of my favorite hymns is "This is my Father's world"  certainly a topic worth a blog post, or two or three.

So my how our lives have changed.  When I was in 3rd grade at South City View Elementary in Kansas City, our class sang "This is my Fathers world" at the PTA meeting.  At the public school, we sang a Christian song.!!!

The Principal also smacked me several times with a paddle board with holes in it.  The teachers would grab my crew cut and shake my head to get my attention.

My best memory of grade school was that I got my first kiss from Sue Ellen Butler.  3rd grade, South City View, out on the playground during recess.  Whoop whoop!!!

It was a different time. 

Today I don't think that Principals get to spank kids.  I know that teachers don't get to shake a kids head by his hair.  I doubt that Christian hymns are sung for PTA meetings.  But I hope that third grade girls are still kissing third grade boys.

We all struggle with this life.  So many things to face, so much difficulty.  And with all of the changes, and all of the stress that we all feel from time to time, this is still my Father's, our Father's world.

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

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I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Good Morning

Well I have to tell you that I am short on ideas to write about.  Nothing is wrong, I just can't think of what to write.

Do you have any ideas?  What would you like to hear about?

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

I'm crying

I assume that you are like me and that there are some days that you just cry.
Maybe you sob.

My friend's grandma passed and I grieve with her.
My long time 9:05 friend is going to hospice and I am sobbing.
One of my softball friends is going to hospice...... I am so so sad.

Sometimes the good of life is overwhelmed by the sorrow of life.
And I have to ask you to cry with me.  And cry with my friends.

This is why relationships are so important.
This is why hugs and smiles are so important.
It does not last for ever.

So may we love, love , love.
Every person.  Every day.

Every person.  Every day.
Every moment matters.

On letting people in

If you want to be close to someone, you have to let them in.  You have to make yourself vulnerable and let them see who you are.  Deep relationships are formed only when we allow others to get close.  Only then can we have talks that are real.

Of course when you let people in, you run the risk of being hurt.  Maybe they won't like what they find, maybe they will reject you.  There are 1,000 reasons why we don't let people in and some of the reasons are good.

A person has to ask themselves... do I want to run the risk and let someone in, or do I want to live a life of pretend in my own self-made prison?  Can I find friends that will respect and care for me?

Personally, although I have been hurt a few times over the years, I have found it much better to let people in.  If you are lonely or just tired of being a one person show, make your self vulnerable and find yourself a real friend.

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

- - - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours