Sermons online part 2

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On Monday, March 21, I wrote about finding my sermons online. Not because most people cared, but because a couple of peopled asked. Others I know, enjoy the best sleep of the week on Sunday mornings.

Someone commented on the post saying: Anonymous said...

Jeff, I've just got to kid you about this. When you get a new church in Florida, you won't be able to include stories about any of us in your sermons. You know how it goes "back in my old church, there was this person...." Well you won't be able to sneak those stories in, because we'll all be watching your sermons. (Smiles)

Well, I have to go on the record and say that I disagree with the fine person who posted this comment. Although I have held many stories back, I have also snuck in a few over the years, you just didn't know it. The names are always changed to protect the innocent. In the future, if I tell a good story, I will say, "you know there was this woman named Jonnie Wells...." If I tell a painful story, I will not mention any names.

All of life is fair game, and I have 22 years of stuff that is just waiting for a chance to hit the airwaves, in appropriate ways, of course, that are not embarrassing.

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

from Steve Elkins

I love Steve Elkins. He is such a great man. Steve came out of our church and went into ministry a couple of years ago. He is assigned to the Faubion UMC in North Kansas City. I picked up his latest newsletter article and got his permission to reprint it.  Love it.  Here you go.

I really enjoy reading…I guess that’s a good thing being a pastor – there’s always so much to learn and not enough time to soak it all in. I recently read an article about someone who always seemed to be rushing around – it seemed like she ran late to everything in her life because of unforeseen circumstances that always seemed to pop up.

Following the difficulty of finding a parking place near to a class, she burst into the room, winded and frazzled. The teacher immediately recognized the situation and offered encouragement. “Calm down, breathe. You’ve accomplished the hardest part of your practice. You made it here. You did it. Now take your time. Just be present.”

Sadly, when the unexpected enter our lives, it tends to absorb the rest of our day. We continue to focus on the episode that made us late or took us down a different path, but forget to see our eventual arrival as an achievement. Our mind is so affixed on the negative that we never truly get to spend quality time in the present – enjoying an accomplishment of being there.

Don’t get me wrong, venting has its benefits; but only focusing on the negative of our lives hinders us from seeing the opportunities God has planned for us in the present. I’m reminded of a statement I once saw on a bumper sticker: “Happiness is an inside job. Don’t assign anyone else that much power over your life.” Circumstances and people will let us down nearly every time, but when our true joy comes from serving others in God’s name – that happiness can never be taken from us.

There are things we can do on the exterior to support that happiness. For Stephanie and I, we are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Yes, we fall off the wagon every once in a while when we don’t push that plate away and eat more than we should waddling away feeling uncomfortable. The trick is to climb back on that wagon. God gives us the same privilege when we sin and stray from Him. We simply must ask for forgiveness and once again come under the miraculous grace of God in our lives. God is always thrilled when His lost sheep make their way home.

Living in the present takes practice. We have to remind ourselves that we made it to this point and that, in itself, is an accomplishment. God has some amazing opportunities in front of each of us. Problem is, if we are always concentrating on the difficulties that brought us to the here-and-now, we will miss the joy of the present.

In His Love,
Pastor Steve

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

Easter report

Well, everyone always asks, so here are the numbers. At all services this year for Easter, there were 3029 people in total attendance. Remember, numbers don't matter, except for the fact that numbers represent human beings.

That is a few hundred lower than in the past years but we all expected that due to the rain and snow.

I want to thank everyone for all of their work on Easter. The day ran very smoothly and it was a great celebration of the resurrected Christ.

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

joke day

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the day after Easter is joke day.  They tell jokes because on Easter, Jesus pulled the wool over Satan's eyes.  He got the best of the devil.  [now you know that I don't believe that the devil is the opposite of God, but I am just going to let them keep their metaphor.]  In fact, I am going to join in.  Today is joke day.  Let's enjoy.

Here are a smattering of my favorite jokes [I have chosen the pirate category]:
What is a pirate's favorite animal?
Arrrrdvark or Arrrrmadillo
What kind of socks do pirates wear?
Arrrrguile
What is the favorite country of a pirate?
Arrrgentina
Why are pirates cool?
They just arerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Well we could go on and on, but if you catch one little smile today from a joke that you know, give thanks to God because Jesus is the Victor and we can all rest easy today.  He is risen!

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

He is Risen!

When I was in college a singing group called the Second Chapter of Acts sang a song:
Hear the bells ringing, they're singing that we can be born again!
Hear the bells ringing they're singing Christ is risen from the dead!
Joy to the world, He is Risen, Alleluia!!

Here is the link if you want to listen:

Link to the Easter Song

Easter brings many memories for me. When I was three years old, I got a deck of Casper the Friendly Ghost playing cards in my Easter Basket. We went to egg hunts every year in Kirkwood park. We ate big Easter meals and finished them off with a piece of lamb cake. [white cake baked in a lamb shaped pan.] We never missed church, ever, when I was growing up. In fact, I believe that I have been in church every Easter Sunday for 58 years.

Today, we will make new memories. Time spent with families, traditions exercised, relationships renewed. And church. May you find this day, a blessing from your worship. May the prayers prayed, the words spoken and the songs sung, bless you. May you feel the joy of life with God. May the resurrection speak to you of the hope that we have in Christ.

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

Black Saturday

If the name Good Friday seems like two words that don't go together very well, Black Saturday seems like a perfect fit.

We don't know anything from Scripture about Black Saturday, except that Jesus was in the grave.

I wonder what that day was like. In my pondering, this is what I imagine: The sun may be shining, but that is about all. There is not a stitch of wind. The world is eerily quiet. Not a bird utters a peep. They don't even fly, they just sit on their nests and wonder what is happening in the world. No insects buzzing. All of creation has stopped.   There is something in the equilibrium of the world that has been disturbed.

Humans that venture out, notice that there is something very different about this day. They remember that the sky turned black for three hours yesterday afternoon and they wonder if there is a connection. Those that witnessed the crucifixion may be wondering if they didn't participate in a huge mistake. What has happened to the world?

No fish will bite. The ocean currents have stopped. There are no tides, no waves, the sea is perfectly calm. It looks like you could almost just walk right off of the beach and out onto the water. If there are clouds in the sky, since there is no wind, they do not move. The sky is the same all day, as if painted there.

The world is broken. Something is wrong. All creation has been put on pause. Jesus is in the grave.  The creation waits in anticipation for it the revelation of restoration.  Romans 8:19
Black Saturday.

Good Friday

You are invited to our Good Friday services tonight at 7pm in the Worship Center.

Good Friday. Good because why? Jesus suffers and dies. Suffering and death doesn't sound very good. In fact, the service is a recounting of the difficult sufferings of Jesus. It is designed to bring people to a deep appreciation of what Jesus did for us.

Good Friday. It's good for us. Because in the death of Jesus, a relationship is made right. Our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored, healed.

Pause sometime today and say "thank you." To say thank you to God is the beginning of living the Christian life.

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

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday. We will be having worship tonight at 7pm in the sanctuary. It is a night when Christians remember the last supper of Jesus and his disciples. It is a night that Jesus reminded them of the supremacy of love and he washed their feet.

I am struck recently about the way that Jesus gathered a very different group of people and turned them into the 12.  The 12 followers.  They were so different and yet they were all in this together.  Amazing.

Tomorrow is Good Friday. Our worship service will be in the Worship Center at 7pm and will remember the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross.

I encourage you to set aside time for both of these worship opportunities. You will be glad that you did.

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

Normal

I saw this sign in someones home and decided we had to have it. It is posted above the most traveled though door.  Even though it is only me and my son living here in this house, this sign is going to be a fixture of all future living arrangements!

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

A talk with the ocean

Every time I get the chance to be near the ocean, I make sure to take time to go and sit.  Sit and listen.  It is like the sound of the waves and the surf are God talking to me.  Especially when I am distressed over something, it is so healing to go and sit there.

A few weeks ago I was there and it was like I could hear it talking.  It said, "Listen and hear me well Jeff. I have been rolling in and out with the time since well before you were born. And I will be coming in and out and making myself known, well after you were gone. Your children will come here and talk to me your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren as well.   I was created by God and I am reminding everyone of his greatness. Let the greatness of God remind you of the small size of your human concerns."

I knew the ocean was right.  My worries are small, especially when compared to his vast amazing greatness.

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

sermons on line

Someone asked about listening to Jeff's sermons in the future.  They are currently accessible through our Woods Chapel livestream account:

http://livestream.com/woodschapel

At some time in the future they may drop off our web site, so many of the sermons have been uploaded to youtube.

www.youtube.com
search "pastor jeff brinkman"  I don't often use the pastor title, but there is a musician named Jeff Brinkman and if you don't put the word pastor in the search you will have trouble finding the sermons and teaching videos.

For those of you who are not interested in watching them again, I don't blame you.

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

unexpressed

We don't share our appreciation enough.
We don't tell people that we care for them.

Unexpressed gratitude is not gratitude.
Unexpressed love is unknown to the recipient.
Unexpressed appreciation is not appreciation.

A bell's not a bell til you ring it
a song's not a song til you sing it
love in your heart wasn't put there to stay
love isn't love til you give it away.

Tell someone that you are thankful for them.

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

surprised

A couple of people mentioned that they were surprised by this appointment.

Now I know that you are used to an old pastor with no hair and to get a younger person appointed to Woods Chapel, and with hair, that is indeed a switch!

My friends from Woods Chapel, Brian and Jenny Y. sent me a note.  Evidently Brian's boss knows her very well and says that she is awesome!  Also Mike and Cindy S. from our church know her because Mike's brother Alan goes to her church.  They have lots of good things to say.

Several have listened to her sermons online and were very impressed.  Here is the address to do that - you may have to cut and paste it into your browser.

http://coswired.org/livestream/

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

New Pastor Announced for Woods Chapel

Dear Friends, this announcement went out yesterday to our entire church data base. I am so excited for our church. I know that you will come to love Robyn as you came to love me.

Woods Chapel Church Special Announcement:

Good Morning,
I am delighted to inform you that Bishop Robert Schnase, the Episcopal leader of the Missouri Annual Conference has announced the appointment of a new senior pastor for Woods Chapel. Reverend Robyn Miller will be assuming this position on Sunday, June 26, 2016. Jeff and the entire staff are excited to have Robyn join our team.

Here are some thoughts from Jeff about Robyn, “She is missional, a great preacher, and looking forward to joining us. As we welcome Robyn, I affirm the generous caring spirit of our Woods Chapel family. Thank you for embracing your new pastor.” Here is a short bio about Robyn:

Robyn, a native of North Carolina, has lived in the St. Louis area for 19 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Management from Clemson University and a Masters of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary. In 2007, Robyn was appointed as Associate Pastor at Church of the Shepherd in St. Charles, one of the Missouri Annual Conference's largest churches. In 2008, Robyn was appointed to the same church as Senior Pastor where she has served since. Robyn has been married to Jake Wimmer for eight years. Together they have three children. Hannah McKenzie is a freshman at Mizzou. Holly McKenzie is a junior at Liberty High School. Bella Wimmer is a sophomore at Francis Howell High School. Robyn loves Clemson football and Tar Heel basketball. Joining Robyn, Jake and the family will be their three cats, Lester, Pouncer, and Lily.

This Sunday, March 20, at 5:00 p.m., Jeff will be leading a Transition Night in the Worship Center. We will have the opportunity to learn more about Robyn and her background. Our next Transition Night will be Sunday, April 17, and we are hoping that Robyn will be able to join us during that meeting. Please join me in sharing our love and hospitality to our new Senior Pastor, Robyn Miller. Attached to this email is a family photo.

Serving Together,

Carol Quiring
Chair of Staff Parish Relations Committee

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

My Ministry

I keep hearing this, so I am going to keep addressing it........

My Ministry.

My ministry. I heard a pastor say it the other day. We have done such and such in "my ministry." Or, "my ministry" focuses on such and such. My ministry has been successful. My. My. My. Me. Mine.

Ugh. It makes me cringe. I just want to pull my hair out when people say this. Let me rant for a minute.

Pastor, it is not your ministry! It is the ministry of Christ! It is not about you, it can never be about you and it cannot sound like it is about you. To the degree that we make it sound like it is about us, the work of Christ is hurt.

True ministry points past the person doing the ministry, to the object of the ministry- Jesus. It is a great privilege that any pastor has to be in the ministry of Christ. It is a privilege and an honor, not a right. It is not my ministry. It is the ministry of Christ. I just get to help for a while, and so do all of you.  It is the great privilege that we have to be in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

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

Baptismal Service

If you have not been baptized or if you have children or youth that have not been baptized, I wanted to invite you to consider our baptismal service on Easter Sunday.  At 11:15 in the Worship Center, we will be holding a worship service and baptizing anyone who is interested, but has not been baptized before.

For more information or to get on the schedule,  call the church office at 816 795-8848.

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

not listening

We are not very good at listening.  In the large part, I think this is because we think that we already know what to do.  This is an unfortunate arrogance, and in a relationship, it is quite insulting.  Sometimes we don't listen to those who are trying to help us because we are defensive.  Sometimes we are too busy to listen.  But most often, we believe that we are right and the other person is wrong.

If we do not listen, we never learn.  If we do not listen we are stuck in the way our life currently is.  Some people never change because they are not open to growing.

Did you know that you can learn more from a person who thinks differently than you, if you just listen to them?  A professor was once asked about a person.... so John was one of your students?  The professor answered, "John attended some of my classes, but he was never one of my students."

If you expect to learn anything in this life, if I expect to learn anything in this life, we have to get better at listening.  One of my dear memories of Woods Chapel, was the day a member said to me, "Jeff, you are talking, when you ought to be listening."  It was painful at the time, but oh that person was so right.

The gateway to knowing more and living a more full life begins with listening.

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

Healthy Church

Someone asked the other day what makes a healthy church. I was unprepared for the question, so I rambled about some stuff, but finally landed on this: healthy churches are outward focused, unhealthy churches are turned inward.

It doesn’t matter if a church is small or large, the moment it gets off mission and turns in, the death march begins. Unhealthy churches circle the wagons and put on the oxygen masks. They are in survival mode. Their main thought is self preservation.

Odd. Self preservation is the opposite of what Jesus taught. He taught us to live outside of ourselves and to give ourselves away. When we do that, we are living the kingdom life.

Healthy churches ask what they can do for others. They are thriving in outreach and mission. They have a purpose in this world that transcends themselves. They spend very little time thinking about if they are being fed, and think almost exclusively about if they are feeding others.

I think that these principles are true of the individual life as well as a church. Those who are constantly worried that they don’t have enough are miserable. Those who live generous lives, giving themselves away for Jesus, these are those who find the life that truly is life.

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

Your YES to God

I have been listening to the sermons of E. Stanley Jones.  He was talking about conversion and said that conversion is your YES to God.  Just say yes.  It is that simple.

We humans make it so complicated.  We dress Christianity up with lots of doctrines and rules, but becoming a Christ follower is quite easy.  Just say yes to God.  That is the beginning of the journey away from one's self and into the heart of God.

It's not complicated.  Just say yes.  You can do it right now.

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

Jesus on the Mount

Jesus at the sermon on the mount.

When I feel funny about the Christian life, when I feel that others are judging me, when I feel that some people are thinking that I am not a good leader, I try to think of Jesus. I think of him and how I imagine him being at the sermon on the mount.

It's time for the sermon to start, the people are gathered, the moment is right.......

Here comes Jesus: No pulpit, no robe, no preacher voice. He is just himself. He speaks from the heart, he looks people in the eye. He was relevant, normal and authentic. People loved him for it.

Why do we think that we need to be anything different than what Jesus was?  He did nothing to create distance and everything to draw people in.

When you consider your religious life, do you ever put on a show? Do you ever worry what others are thinking? Or are you content to just be you? You know, God accepts you exactly how you are. You don’t make him happier by dressing yourself up. He know all and sees all, and he still loves us.

Relax. Jesus did.

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

selling Jesus

Christians sell Jesus.  Or to put it another way, we are all passing Jesus on, in one way or another.  If we aren't passing him along to others, then we are missing part of our job as Christ followers.

I was talking to a friend the other day and I realized that the way that he sells Jesus is a bit annoying to me.  I thought later, he isn't selling Jesus, he is selling his version of Jesus.  And then it occurred to me, that so am I and so are you.  We all take Jesus in, interpret him a little bit and then pass him on.  He is always a bit distorted by my thinking and my approach to life.

I guess that is ok.  It better be.  There is no other way to pass a thing on then through the lens of our understanding.  Even when we are quoting scripture, we are choosing which ones to quote, putting them randomly with others and placing our tone on them.

We all sell Jesus in our own way.

The moral of this story is that we all need to be a little bit more humble about how we go about selling Jesus.  It is after all, our way, and not the only way.  We need to think about how our method of conveying Jesus is falling upon the ears of others.  If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am nothing but a pain in the neck.

Personally I believe that one act of kindness goes much further than a bunch of words.  John Wesley is famous for saying,  "Preach the gospel. When necessary, use words."

How are you passing along Jesus to others?

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

Surprise find at the airport

I am still smiling about this!   So exciting!!

Look who I found in the airport.  I was flying back to KC via the Orlando airport and there was Shelley Cesar.  She was waiting for Jerry who was stuck in a long security line.  [Not that he is a suspicious character, sometimes security lines at airports are long.] We hugged and caught up.  The Cesars moved to Orlando about five years ago.  They are wonderful people.  It is exciting to run into friends in places that you weren’t thinki
ng that you might.  

Take time to appreciate your friends.  Sometimes you don't get to see them very often.

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

the back of winter

In 1978 we had a very cold Winter.  It was miserable.  I was in college and no one's car would start.  We suffered through January and February.  I will never forget when the temperature on the bank sign finally got to 40 degrees.  It was a miracle that we had waited so long for.

Since then, I have always believed that March 1st marks an important turning point in Winter.  On March 1st, the back of Winter is broken.  There may be some really cold days, but they won't last long.  Soon it will warm up again and Spring is on its way!

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

The Woman at the Well

Lately I have been thinking about the woman at the well in John chapter 4. I am not sure why. The woman at the well is married and divorced 5 times, but Jesus does not throw this in her face. She is also living with a man out of wedlock. Jesus does not throw this in her face either. We should stop throwing such things in people’s faces. It is none of our business.

What Jesus did do, was to talk to the woman about living water. It’s a water that wells up in the soul and so fills a person that it spills out to everyone around them.  Jesus looked right past the things that humans want to judge and just loved the woman. I love that!

If Jesus can do that for her, I'll bet that he can do it for me and you.

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

How about a catch?

Hey dad how about a catch?

We have ball gloves in KC and in Florida. That is just in case someone wants to play catch. I persuaded Jenny to catch with me the other day. She apologized, she said, “I am not as good at this as I used to be.” I thought.... “neither am I!!”

 Thankfully, playing catch isn’t about being good. It is about doing it.  It's about spending the time.  It is an activity that puts two people in proximity and face to face. It is a time to talk. It is a time to remember when we did this when we were young.

Buy some used gloves. Invite someone to have a catch. You will be glad that you did. It is somehow quite therapeutic.

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

The Saints

The Saints.  Not the New Orleans Saints, but those uniquely holy Christians.  Those recognized officially by the Catholic church in history and those others who we would put in that category whether the church did or not.  Maybe a parent, a grandparent, a Sunday School teacher, in your heart is a saint.

What makes a saint?  Many people believe in Jesus.  Saints do more.  I had a thought the other day.  It went like this.... Saints are those who live lives of love and who teach us to love.

Pretty simple.  I'll bet if you find someone who loves and teaches others to love, you might consider them to be a saint.  May we all aspire to be more than just those people who believe in Jesus.  May we aspire to love and teach others so to do.

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

vindictive

Never be vindictive.  Never hurt back.  You will feel slighted at times in this life, but it never pays to burn a bridge or hurt back.  When we hurt back, we only hurt ourselves.

Over the years we have had a number of people leave the church for many reasons.  Some go quietly, some disappear, others take their pound of flesh with them when they go.  It is very painful to realize that you have lost a family, even when they leave for reasons that have nothing to do with you.  It is just too easy to take it all personally.  I want so much for us to reach everyone, when we don't, it hurts.

But we never pile on.  We are never ugly and we never deliver guilt to those who leave the church.  We avoid this not simply because its wrong, we don't hurt back because we have learned that some day, they may want to return, and if we have wounded them, it makes it all the more difficult.

I am happy to say that over the years we have had a number of families that left for greener pastures come back home to Woods Chapel.  It always makes me happy to see them walk through the doors again.

Never be vindictive.  Always welcome home with open arms anyone that walks through the doors of your church.  And if you've been away for a while, come home.  There is no time like the present.

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

The Parade

Please take time to watch the parade today. Many people have gone to great lengths to prepare for this special event.  Your boss will let you off work for it.

What parade you say?

Today is the day when all of the bands from the local high schools line up downtown and march fourth.

[this was my grandmother's joke, passed on to my mother, and now to me and now to you.]

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

I see a wall

I have this odd recurring dream.  It may be a day dream.

I am in Florida at a new church and there is a blank wall or a bulletin board in my office that is filled up with things that I need to remember.

Some of the basic reminders of what  I believe life is about are on this board.  I am sure that I am missing some things, maybe you can remind me of some things that I should be thinking about.  But here is my list so far:

I see a wall [with important sayings all over it]

• Spiritually developed people are those who have learned to set aside their preference and comfort for the sake of the mission.
• Everything had to be done at once.
• Joy- Authenticity- Excellence
• The starfish and the spider
• We show our love for god by how we treat each other
• DNA
• The greatest commandment
• Place, position and power = self
• Grace alone
• What is your image of God?
• He has set eternity in our hearts.
• What is your mission?
• He makes all things beautiful
• See the good
• How can you help me be a better pastor?
• The paralyzed friend.
• Listen-Learn-Love-Lead
• Acted upon or Acting upon?

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

men

One of my great blessings of being here at Woods Chapel has been the wonderful group of men that I have got to know.

I am trying to put my finger on why the Woods Chapel guys were and are so special.  They were authentic, honest, raw and a bit broken.  They were not afraid to let you see who they were.  They worked hard.  They had fun.  We all

played pool, threw darts and went bowling.  They laughed with and at each other.  They all seemed to like my Queen CD.

Oh what great memories we have.  Hug your friends.  Tell them that you love them.

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

melancholy

Melancholy has set in about my move.  Reminiscing, cleaning out, thinking about packing up the office.  My eyes are finding tears on a regular basis.

After yesterday's post, I want to say a word of appreciation for those of you that I did get to grow up with and did get to raise my children with.  It is a special bond that exists between a group of people that walk the same journey together.

We played softball, we built a church, we built lives.  We went on canoe trips.  We watched our kids grow up.  We laughed together and we cried together.  We told some great jokes.  Oh my, what fun we have had.

I am so very very blessed to have had this season of life with all of you.

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