Farmer Girl on Prayer

My friend Kim found this on Facebook. It is written by someone who goes by Farmer Girl. I thought it was excellent and goes with what I have been writing about the last few days...

If God already knows the outcome of everything...why are we told to pray?

This is one of those questions that sneaks up on you when you’re not even trying to be philosophical. You’re just doing normal life things. Mixing milk. Sweeping a floor. Staring at the ceiling at two in the morning because your brain refuses to power down. And suddenly the thought lands: if God already knows how everything will end, if nothing catches Him off guard, if the future is already clear to Him… then what exactly are we doing when we pray?

Because it can feel a little pointless, can’t it? If the outcome is already known, then is prayer just a polite ritual? A spiritual suggestion box? Something we do so we feel involved while God quietly carries on with the real plan? It’s a fair question. It makes sense. And the Bible never tells us we’re wrong for asking it.

But then you read Scripture and realize something strange. Prayer is not treated like a formality. It is treated like breath. Jesus tells us to pray, and not just once in a while when things are falling apart, but constantly. Paul says to pray without ceasing. We are told to ask, to seek, to knock, to come boldly, to bring everything to God. Which is odd, if none of it actually matters.

So maybe prayer was never about changing God’s mind.
Maybe it has always been about changing ours.

God does not need the information. He already knows the whole story, from beginning to end. But we do not. We live inside the middle. We feel the weight of the waiting. We carry the fear, the grief, the hope, the questions, the what ifs. And prayer is where all of that finally gets somewhere to go. It is where we stop pretending we are in control and admit that we are not. It is where we let ourselves be small in the presence of Someone who is not.

And think about it like this. We tell our dad our problems. Sometimes calmly. Sometimes emotionally. And sometimes we absolutely trauma dump without warning. We do not stop first and think, well, he already knows this, so I should probably just keep it to myself. No. We talk because relationship is built through sharing, not through silence.

God is our Father.
So why wouldn’t we trauma dump on Him?

If God is the Author, then prayer is not us trying to edit the ending. It is us stepping into the story. It is choosing relationship instead of distance. Trust instead of silence. Presence instead of pretending we can handle everything on our own.
God may already know the outcome, but He still invites us to walk with Him through the middle. Not because He needs our words, but because we need His nearness.

So we pray.
Not to inform God.
But to remember who He is.


It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
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stages of prayer

Anthony DeMello taught 4 stages of prayer.  As I looked at his four stages, they really sounded like three stages to me.

Stage one:  I talk God listens.

Stage two:  God talks, I listen.

Stage three:  No one talks, no one listens.  Together with God in silence.

To me, the real purpose of prayer is stage three.  Just to be with God.  Imagine that you are out to a restaurant with someone that you really like.  You haven't seen each other for a while so you are going to catch up.  They talk, you listen.  You talk, they listen.  Back and forth it goes until every needed subject is covered.  Then you just sit at the table with your friend and enjoy their company.

We need to stop wanting so much from God and just enjoy his company.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

praying

From time to time I have to write about prayer.  

When I was young, I was taught that if you pray, God must give it to you.  That is wrong.

When I was young, I was taught that if you got enough people to pray for you and with you, God is mandated to answer your prayer.  That is wrong.

God is not a cosmic vending machine.

God is not a celestial Santa Clause.

Prayer is not about me getting what I want from God.  Prayer is about me aligning my life with the Father.  Prayer changes things... yes... but the thing that prayer changes is me.

We need to completely change our paradigm.  It is not about me getting what I want, it is about me being in relationship with God.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Our family is +1

Congratulations are in order for my daughter Allison and her husband Bobby Lascon.  One week ago on Feb 1st Alli gave birth by cesarean to an 8 lb 11oz baby boy.  That is one big baby!!!

Welcome Leo Alexander to the world!!!

Big sister Bella [age 5 is glad to have him finally here]

Rejoice with us!!!

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Why I don't care for Paul...

I have mentioned in this blog that I am not a fan of the Apostle Paul. My friend Connie asked me to say more about why I don’t like Paul.

Actually, I have never met him, so it is unfair of me to say that I don't like him.

First of all, I would say that if the apostle Paul knew that many of the things that he wrote we’re going to be turned into Scripture, He would’ve been much more careful about what he said, and what he wrote.

It’s not that I don’t like Paul. It’s that I don’t like what people do with Paul's writings. No one uses the words of Jesus to heap guilt on others, but many of the sayings of Paul are used by various churches to pile on the guilt.

I am not a fan of guilt. Jesus never guilted or shamed people.  But the writings of Paul are used, unfortunately,  for this purpose.

While Jesus is loving people and throwing out principles of the kingdom, the Apostle Paul is trying to correct and straighten out members of the church. It’s like he has the angry parent role.

He’s also very inconsistent. You can get one version of this and another version of that.  He speaks of love, but he also speaks in judgmental ways.   His approach to the second coming is inconsistent.  His treatment of, and comments about the role of women in the church are also inconsistent.

There are a number of contradictions in the books attributed to Paul.  In 1 Corinthians the church is organized by spiritual gifts.  In 1 and 2 Timothy there are elders and deacons.  Hmm.  Which is it???

Mostly, I would say it’s not that I don’t like him. It’s just that I so much prefer the stories of Jesus to the ramblings of Paul.

The church would be far better off if it spent less energy on Paul and more time with the classic stories of Jesus like the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.

In other words, we all, in my opinion, should stop focusing on doctrine that well meaning preachers extract from the writings of Paul and instead focus on the loving caring teachings of Jesus.

Paul complicates things.  The stories that Jesus told stand alone, need no interpretation and lead us into a life of love.  

I hope that helps.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

crazy about you

 

Brian Swanson preaching in the Worship Center at the 
Woods Chapel UMC on January 25th, 2026

"In order to develop normally, a child requires progressively more complex joint activity with one or more adults who have an irrational emotional relationship with the child.  Somebody's got to be crazy about that kid.  That's number one.  First, last and always."   Urie Bronfenbrenner

How true is this quote... every child needs someone who is crazy about them.  For me, I never had that growing up and it causes one to search for acceptance for the rest of his or her days.

If you are raising children or have grandchildren, be crazy about them.  People need to know that they are loved.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

your level of generosity

Consider your level of generosity.  On a scale of one to 10, 1 being not generous 10 being very generous. What would you give yourself? 

Would you say you were a three or four or five or six or seven?  And whatever level of generosity you live at, what is keeping us from being more generous?  What is keeping us from moving up to the next level?

I mentioned that a friend left $100 tip the other day. I was right there at the table.  I saw the whole thing as it happened.  It was beautiful and I thought that I could do that. 

Why don’t I? What keeps us from being more generous?

Actually if you have an answer to the question, what keeps us from being more generous, please send your thoughts to me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

moving away from what you were taught

Just because some person taught you something, does not mean that it is right. It is ok to question your beliefs. It is healthy to question them.

I was having breakfast with a friend and she told me, "I was taught that homeless people were dirty and scary and had diseases." Then she went on, "I don’t believe that anymore."

I loved that. I told her thank you for changing your beliefs. Thank you for moving away from what you were taught. Thank you for believing that reality may not lie in the things that you and I were taught.

What were you taught that might need some reconsideration?

Were you taught that God is mad? Rethink that. Were you taught that God is going to catch you on a technicality? Rethink that.

Must of what we were taught needs to be erased from the library in our heads. Sometimes we need to find new stories and new paradigms.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

rough time

A friend and blog reader, J.K. asked how to sign up a friend of his for the blog who was/is "going through a hard time."

This note is to the friend and anyone else that may be going through a hard time:

You are not alone.  We all have hard times.  Having said that, when I am going through something, it feels much more personal and much worse than when others went through the same thing.  So lets begin by extending empathy for your pain.  Everyone reading this please just stop now and say a short prayer for this unnamed friend.

Amen.

Now some more thoughts... most problems in life are temporary.  Or there are the problems that do hang around that we have to get used to.  I hope that your situation improves, but if it does not, then please remember that sometimes we have to learn to play the cards that we are dealt.  Sometimes our health issues do not go away.  Sometimes we have to make peace with them.

Robert Schuler wrote a book, "tough times don't last but tough people do."  I find that thought helpful, except for when the tough times do seem to last.  

My hair loss is a permanent annoyance.  My arthritic issues appear to be permanent.  My weakness in old age is here to stay.  Sometimes in life, when we can't wish or pray something away, we have to work to make peace with it.  It is difficult, but it can be done.

So friend, for you, and for anyone else who is struggling right now... "may your struggles soon end, but if they do not, may you find the grace and the personal fortitude to not be consumed by the pain, but to overcome it."

Do not let your life stories of pain dominate your life.  There is still much good to be seen and experienced in this life.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Thoughts on improving one's self

The drive to improve yourself. 

So I’m sitting here talking with a friend and we’re talking about life and it occurs to me that one of the things that I admire in people is their desire to improve themselves.

Not everyone tries to improve themselves, but those that do are lovely humans for sure. They’re not stuck on what they are, or what they have been, but they have this feeling that things can get better and they intentionally work on improving themselves. 

I believe that all of us can work on becoming a more gracious and kind person. When you think about it, it’s not that much to ask.  It's not that hard to be nice.  I truly believe that all of us can learn to be better tomorrow than we were today.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Answers

Sometimes in life, there are no good answers. I am constantly annoyed by Pastors and well meaning Christians who think that they have all of the answers.

Sometimes in life there are no good answers. We just have to trust in God.

If you do, when you do, run into people that think they have all the answers, run the other way as fast as you can. Danger danger Will Robinson!!!


It is healthy to admit that we do not know everything. It is fake, arrogant, and unrealistic to act like we do. Sometimes in life we have to get comfortable with not knowing.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Tip

I was out to breakfast with a friend. They’ve been awfully good to me so I picked up the check.  The person I was out to breakfast with asked if they could leave the tip.  I said sure.  When people say that they want to leave the tip, I always leave a tip myself anyway.  So the breakfast for the two of us came out to $25.   I left a five dollar tip.  When the server came to the table, my friend handed her $100.

It brought the server to tears. It brought me to tears.

I’ve talked in the past on this blog about getting a group of people together and going out and leaving a big tip for some fortunate server.  And I just haven’t been able to make it happen.

But I would love to hear your stories.  If you’re out sometime and you’re leaving an extra extraordinarily large tip, just how the person did and what was the response to your generosity.

Generosity is a beautiful thing, indeed!!!

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

selfishness

Selfishness is alive and well on planet earth.  It is a mainstay in our hearts.  Selfishness is hard to eradicate and for some humans, it is hard for them to see it in themselves.  About the time I think that I have selfishness conquered, it sneaks back in.  There are 1,000 paths back into selfishness.

I was recently in a men's group meeting and Adam D said, "gratitude is the off ramp from selfishness."  I loved that.  Get a little gratitude going and our entire life perspective is changed.  Gratitude puts everything in perspective and by it's nature drives out selfcenteredness.

Gratitude is the offramp from a life of selfishness.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

given a miracle

When you have been given a miracle you never look at life quite the same.  Once you have been given one of life's miracles, you never have a bad day.

Some years ago, after a cancer scare, Susie I. told me that "we who have survived the threat of a cancer death never look at life the same."

If you have been given the gift of survival, then you know that each day is precious.  It could have ended all those years ago, but it did not.  Every day after that is just a gift.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Friday January 23rd

BRRR!!!

I travelled to Kansas City to preach a couple of Sundays for my friend Chris A.  I really appreciate the invitation and the opportunity.

Last Friday I went to meet a friend for breakfast.  I noticed a cold front had blown in overnight.

8:15am - 8 degrees.

We had a lovely breakfast.  Afterwards I went back to the truck and it was even colder.

9:18am - 7 degrees!!!

There is an old saying, "look before you leap."  Next time before I agree to go to KC, I think that I may look at the weather forecast.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

kindness quote

My friend Shawnna sent this in...

"Kindness is evidence of impenetrable strength. It is the willingness to stay soft in a world that tries to harden you at every corner. It is the ability to absorb your own emotions and diffuse them, to decide what you want to act on and what you want to put back out into the world, regardless of what the world has put you through. Kind people are not just good, they are heroes in their own ways. Their ability to not reciprocate unkindness to a world that often deserves it makes them catalyst for the deepest healing to occur."
- Brianna Wiest in The Pivot Year

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

too much money

I watch the ads on TV and I wonder.  How much would my car insurance go down if State Farm, Geico and Allstate all stopped TV ads.  We all know that there are many choices.  You can find them on the internet.

And Oh, what a profit margin there must be in the Farmer's Dog dog food.  I get so tired of the commercials.

It all seems like a waste to me...  There are probably many ways that we all waste money.  Some people have money because they make a ton of it.  Other people have money because they don't spend it.

How would our bank accounts change if we stopped wasting money?

I think that we waste the most money on going out to eat.  The budget is always better when we eat at home.

Have you ever asked yourself how your home may be wasting money?  Saving money by not wasting it, allows us the opportunity to be more generous.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

love without leverage

On Sunday morning, my pastor, Tim Barton, {Tim number three} used the phrase "love without leverage."

A lever is a simple machine. It’s something you use to pry against an immovable object. It’s something you use to try to change the placement of the item in question.  It makes moving things easier.

When we use leverage against people, basically we’re trying to get them to change to accommodate our way of thinking or our desires.

Common leverage points that we humans use are:  guilt, shame, peer pressure, blackmail and even brute force.

In this life, if we think we are in a loving relationship but find ourselves trying to change the other person, something is wrong.  If I’m using some sort of leverage, some sort of guilt to try to change how you think of what you do or where you live or any number of things, if I’m using leverage, it’s not love.

Love doesn’t try to change people.  Love simply accepts people where they’re at.
When you love someone you love them as they are and you cherish what they are. You don’t try to change them into your image or likeness.

Love without leverage.  Try it.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Buy and sell

I thought of this the other day... years ago an arrogant person pronounced that they could "buy and sell me."

I didn't say anything at the time.  I walked away.  I didn't know what to say.  The words that were said and the attitude were so stinky and repulsive.

Later though, as I thought of those words, I found a reply.  You say that you can buy and sell me?  Well the problem is, I am not for sale.  You don't get to control me.

May we all strive in this life to flee from arrogance and embrace humility and kindness.  I'll buy that.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Korean Methodist Church

In the back of the United Methodist hymnal, there are a bunch of creeds.  I always prefer just saying the 
Apostles Creed #881. But there are others...

• there is an affirmation from the United Church of Canada
• from the Korean Methodist Church
• a modern affirmation
• the world Methodist Social Affirmation
• an affirmation from Romans
• from 1 Corinthians
• from 1 Timothy

I have never liked using anything in church except for the Apostles Creed.  Did I already say that?

But last Sunday we said the affirmation from the Korean Methodist Church.  And guess what??? Something struck me that I have never heard before in these creeds.

The affirmation begins, "We believe in the one God, creator and sustainer of all things, Father of all nations, the source of all goodness and beauty, all truth and love..."

And a novel thought hit me... God is the creator of all things and the Father of all nations.  He created Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, and fundamentalist Christians as well as United Methodists.  He is the Father of all nations:  China, Russia, Qutar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran as well as the United States.

He loves all of those people just as he loves us, and when they pray to God, they are praying to Him.  To the same God that United Methodist pray to.

Maybe we are not as far apart as we sometimes think.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Reincarnation

A friend asked me to write something about the concept of reincarnation.

Well, let me begin by saying that as a child I was never taught anything about this.  Anything except that it is not true.  

Today as an adult, my mind is much more open.

Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is appointed for a person, once to die, and then the judgment."  This is what I was taught growing up.

As an adult, my mind is more open.  Also, I am not a fan of the apostle Paul.  [although most scholars do not believe that Paul wrote Hebrews]

I certainly believe that life goes on after death.  In what form?  We do not know.  Golden streets?  Reunited with loved ones?  Or do we morph into something else.

Here are my adult questions about reincarnation... The population in Jesus' day is estimated to be around 200 million.  Today the population is 8.3 billion.  Just looking at that, the math doesn't add up to me for reincarnation, unless people become cows and flies and flies can become people.  It doesn't seem to me that there are less cows than there were in Jesus day.  And the fly population seems to be going pretty strong.

Anyway, my real take on reincarnation is this... What really matters to me is how we live day by day.  How I treat you.  How I treat everyone.  I don't believe that we should waste our time arguing about the end of time and all of that.

Still, all of this does not explain away the recurring dreams that I have of being on a sailing ship out on the ocean in the early 1800s.  Reincarnation?  Genetic memories passed down?

In the end, we do not know.

But, what we do know, is that we were created to love others.  It feels good to love others.  Let's keep focusing on that.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

choose love

After some of the difficult things that have happened in our country, the NFL has opted for players to post messages on the back bumper pad of their helmets.

"End Racism," "Stop Hate," "Choose Love" or "Inspire Change." "It Takes All of Us"

Last week on January 17, the Bills and the Broncos played. I was encouraged because both teams had the message on the back of their helmets: "Choose Love."

Now, I am not against any of the other messages that the NFL suggested, but let me tell you, if in this world, if in this life, we all choose love... then the world will be on a better path, a healthier path.

The Broncos beat the Bills in a very good football game. In a world where we are way too tribal, in a world where some people's self esteem rises and falls on how their team of choice is doing, it is nice to have a positive message.

And yes, choosing love is more important that who wins a football game.

Each day, you and me. Let's choose love.

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

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

miracle drug

Since I returned from Italy in mid-November I have been suffering with a physical malady.  My shoulders, then my arms, then my hands and wrists have been hurting something fierce.

I went to the orthopedic doctor... He said I was ok.  My primary thinks it may be rheumatoid arthritis.  I cant get in to see the Rheumatologist until mid February.

I haven't been able to sleep.  I have not been able to lift my arms over my head.

Enter the miracle drug.  

I have never taken Tylenol.  I don't get headaches and I have never felt that I needed it.  My primary told me to take it and let me tell you, it has become my new best friend.

Just a couple of pills 2x a day and I am operational to about 90%.

It's a miracle!!! 

May we all give thanks for the wisdom that God has given doctors and drug manufacturers.  They can make our pains so much more bearable!!!

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

do unto others

There are things that we allow and there are things that we should not allow to be forced upon us.

Unfortunately, if you allow something like hatefulness for a long enough time, you get used to it and we tend to accept it as normal.

Let's take unkindness for example. We have all run into unkind people. Sometimes we have no power to speak into their behavior.

But, when unkindness becomes accepted, it can begin to be considered normal.  When it becomes "normal," people will make excuses for it and exercise it with no guilt whatsoever.
When this happens, the golden rule is out the window. If you don't know what the golden rule is, take a moment right now and google it. Look it up.

We don’t want a world filled with unkindness. It cannot be allowed to be considered normal or acceptable, no matter who is doing it.

We can create and sustain a world of kindness by modeling it ourselves and graciously insisting that others do as well.  It is not that hard to be kind.

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

from my friend Bruce

"May you embrace this day, not just as any old day, but as this day. Your day. Held in trust by you in a singular place called "now."
quote from Carrie Newcomer

It reminds me of the scripture passage, "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Ps 118:24

What ever I do today, I will not get a rerun. I will not get a redo. How I choose to live, how I choose to treat others is a decision that is within my power.

Let's make good, positive, kind and loving choices.

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

 

Preparing for a moment of kindness

I was thinking the other day about why we humans are not kind more often.  Even those humans who believe in kindness are not kind as often as they can be.

Maybe it is because our minds are filled with our own stuff.  We are going thru the day thinking about what we are thinking about instead of preparing ourselves for the next act of kindness.

What if, instead of thinking about what comes naturally, we intentionally think about who I will be meeting in the next 20 minutes.  What kind thing can I do or say to that person?

• As I pull up to a restaurant, I can think of the server that will come to our table and being pleasant to them.
• As I walk into yoga class I can tell the instructor what a fantastic human they are and how much I appreciate them.
• As I walk into that upcoming meeting, I can think of who will be there and what compliment I can give to them.
• When a member of my family walks into the room, I can have a statement prepared about how special they are to me.

I believe that our intentional efforts to prime the pump of kindness can make a difference in our every day living for others, and for us.

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

lunch time

I have been having some physical challenges of late.  My doctor sent in a couple of prescriptions for me.  I got a text from CVS that they were ready.

I got in the car and headed to CVS.  I parked.  I walked in the door and got in line for RX pickup.

One of the employees said to me, "I am sorry sir, but we take lunch from 1:30-2:00.  We are not going to be able to get to you until after lunch."

Hmmm.  what to do???

Looking back on the moment, I could have said- well you just texted me!  I could have begged... come on, I am the only one here, its just a pick up, it will just take a minute.

We humans so easily and so quickly make it about us.

I did none of the above.

You are going to take lunch?  I said, "Oh yes, I am sorry, I knew that." See I have worked at many CVS stores over the years. I knew that they took lunch.  I just forgot.

They apologized.  I said, no, you deserve to have a lunch.  I will come back.

They thanked me for being nice.  I told them that it is not that hard to be nice.  It just doesn't take that much effort to be kind.  

Being kind is good for them and it is good for you and me. Every one appreciates a kind word, and we also feel better when we show compassion.

I went back later and got my drugs.  All is well.  I am none worse for the wear.

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

rare people

One of my recent projects is to go through my phone and clean up and clean out.  My goodness there are a lot of pictures on my phone.

I found this card from 2019.  

May we all strive to be genuine friends and compassionate humans.

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

I missed you

I was on a cruise last weekend.  It was fantastic.  Only one thing could have made it better... and that is if you were on it with me.

I miss my friends.  I have met so many wonderful people over the years.  I was on a boat with 2,500 people and I didn't know a single one.

It would have been better if you were there.

Speaking of cruises... In January/February of 2027 Rev. Sherri Swanson and I are leading a New Zealand cruise trip.  I could go by myself, but it would be so much more fun if you were there.  

Please watch for more details to be posted on the blog.

And spend as much time with your friends as you can.  Life is better with friends.

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

Live your life in a way...

There is an old saying... "live your life in such a way that when it is time for your funeral, you have made the job easy for the preacher."

This is a true story.  Once upon a time I met with a family about the death of the patriarch.  There were 6 brothers and sisters, all in their 50's and 60's.  The dad had lived a long life and recently passed.

I went to the house where the family was gathered.  I asked them the questions that you ask about the deceased.  It helps you to prepare the message to ask the family questions.

Tell me about your Dad.
[no response]
Tell me about his friends.
no response
Tell me about his spirituality.
silence
Tell me about what he loved.

silence....

Tell me about his values

nothing...

Finally one of his children asked me in an annoyed tone, "preacher can you do a funeral?"  I said, Yes sir, I can.  He said, "then fine, then just do us a funeral."

I led the group in a prayer and then we ate sandwiches.  I thanked them for their time and started down the sidewalk.  One of the brothers came out after me and stopped me.

He said, "Jeff I want you to know why no one had anything to say about our Dad.  It is because we all hated him.  He was a son of a b----h."

I thanked him for that info.  I prepared a funeral message.  It wasn't easy.

Moral of the story... live your life in such a way that you make it easy for the preacher when the time comes.

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