you can't take it with you

A rich man died and went to heaven.
How much of his money did he leave behind?
All of it.

Sad but true, we will one day all die.  No one leaves this life vertically.  We are all going to die.  What are you doing with the money that God has allowed you to use in this life?

Remember, we are not owners of homes, cars or bank accounts.  We are stewards of these gifts that God has given to us.  And I believe that he gives us such things not simply for our consumption, but so that we can help others.

Somewhere there is someone that you can bless by being generous.  And we might as well be generous.  Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a u-haul?  You can't take it with you.

What would happen if every one of us, this day, made a commitment to give a gift or do an act of kindness for another person?  Oh, there is so much joy in living the generous life.

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




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

from my friend Gary

When I was in seminary, they told us, never trust a shepherd who isn't someone else's sheep.  Gary's words reminded me of that old saying.

Never trust a man who doesn’t have a “limp”. Many are visible and many more are not. We all have them. Some choose to hide them or are embarrassed to show them and are giving the illusion that all is well. Recently a friend of mine sent me a CD of when I gave my Testimony in Church 11 or 12 Years ago. I listened to the whole thing as I was driving to see one of my customers. It made me well up with tears and cry. Baring the soul is hard to do. But that was my limp and made me who I was at that time. I made many mistakes and some bad choices. But don't we all. Sharing your story with others lets them see that we all are human and have rough times.

Many things have changed since then. As I listened to myself give that Testimony, Jeff's blog post came to mind - Good Luck, Bad Luck, Who Knows?  [August 9th] The events of my life were unfolding, with what seemed as misfortune or bad choices led to good things and better understanding. Some would call that hindsight by looking back into the past, but wouldn’t that also be called gaining Wisdom…….

g2

tsunami warning

Ahh, driving on US 1 in California is so beautiful.  There are so many amazing sights to see!

Pt. Arena Lighthouse

So I am driving on US 1 on my redwood trip and I saw several of these signs.  When the road dipped down closer to sea level, I guess there is a risk of being washed away by a tsunami.

entering tsunami hazard zone!

I am thinking, what is the point of this sign?  Should I speed up?  Gosh there are so many opportunites for trouble on California's US 1.  You could easily drive off the cliff.

  Or the hill could turn into a giant landslide.  So I am supposed to worry about a possible tsunami?

Sometimes I think I want to know what trouble is coming so that I can prepare.  But if I am at the bottom of a hill on US 1 and a tsunami is coming, please let me stay ignorant.  I won't be able to get out of the way, so please just let me enjoy the drive.  Isn't that why we drive on US 1 anyway?

I cut down the tsunami sign and threw it into the ocean.  Ignorance is bliss.

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




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

"free" books

I will be starting a new job next week, the Lord willing and the creek don't rise.  By the way, do you know where that saying came from?  I always thought that it meant that I would do this and such as long as we could get the wagon past the water in the creek.  But it actually refers to a time when the Creek Indians would be on the warpath.... I will do this and such, the Lord willing and the Creek Indians don't rise up.

Anyway I have some free books.  Over the years I have collected multiple copies of books that have made a difference in my life.  Now, in retirement, some of them need to find new homes.  I will mail you any of these you would like if you send me your address and $4 for shipping.

Here is what I have available:
The Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell [one of the most striking books on the nature of spirituality.]
Song of the Bird by Anthony deMello - a great book of stories for sermon illustrations.  A must have for any preacher.
Taking Flight by Anthony deMello - another great book of stories.  A must for those who preach every week.
Walking on water by Anthony deMello.  My favorite book of all time.  A must for those who wish to see the good.
The Shack - if you saw the movie, now you can get the book.
Illusions by Richard Bach.  A great book for anyone who needs to begin to believe in themselves.

I probably have more available but this is a start.
Email me at Jsbrink57@gmail.com if interested.

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




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

heel

I am a heel.  A complete loser.  A buffoon.

I was supposed to preach for a friend last Sunday.  Somehow in my brain I thought it was this coming Sunday.  We set it all up via facebook messages and I am just not on facebook very much.

So anyway, on Sunday, their congregation is waiting for me to show up... and I didn't.  I was a no call, no show.  I feel like a complete jerk.

She finally got ahold of me by facebooking my wife, who called me.  I called my pastor friend and apologized profusely.  l was graciously forgiven, and she even asked to go ahead and preach for her this Sunday.

Grace is getting a gift that you don't deserve.  It is receiving welcome when you don't deserve it.  We have all let someone down at one time or another.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Yet we are loved and forgiven by God.  Grace is a beautiful thing indeed.  It is beautiful to receive it, and it is amazing to give it.  Maybe being on the loser end of life and receiving grace, can make us more willing to give it to others.  Who are you offering grace to today?

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

homeless

I run into people all the time that think we should not help the homeless.  What would Jesus do?  Don't make excuses, just answer the question, what would Jesus do?

On the next to the last day of my redwood trip I was walking in San Francisco on Fisherman's wharf.  I saw a homeless guy sitting outside of McDonald's.  As I approached, an 8 year old boy came out with a sandwich and handed it to the man.  I was close and  I saw the look on their faces in the moment of the exchange.  The boy was smiling and filled with joy to help another human.  The homeless man was surprised, but then launched a big smile and said, "thank you."  It was a beautiful moment.

Yes there are people that will take advantage of you.  They will waste your money.  Wait... don't we waste our money too?  I believe it is better to be taken advantage of every now and then, then to turn a blind eye toward another person who is truly in need.

Jesus fed the 5,000.  Were they all worthy?

Jesus healed 10 lepers.  9 took advantage of him.  Only one returned to say thanks, but he helped them all.

A small act on your part just might make someone's day today.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

softball

My friend Bruce came to visit last week.  He brought his glove and we played catch.  I still have my old glove, and even a ball from the day.  For the better part of 15 years, from 1995-2010 Bruce and I played on the same softball team.  The original church team was the Woodchucks.  As the church grew, that team split to add others.  At the peak of the softball experience, the church hosted 11 teams.  It was a great time to be a young person and a great event for families to get together on Sunday night.

I miss those days.  We used to say that we would play forever, but time does take its toll and the bad knees and bad shoulders finally won out.

Today I would like to give a shout out to the guys that played on our team, the Armadillos.  [What is a pirate's favorite animal?  An arrrrrrmadillo.]  Anyway, here's to my softball buddies - I apologize if I miss anyone..... Here's to Kent, Matt, Bruce, Gary, Jon, Joe, Stu, Robin, Darren, Jason, Jay, and Doug.  I know I have missed a couple.... I am sorry.

Oh, those where great times!  Those were fun nights.  We would sit in the parking lot after the game, listen to Queen and drink ice tea.

Savor the days my friends, they go by so fast.  If you are involved with something that is bringing you joy, stop and smell the roses.  They don't bloom forever.

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




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

one God

I believe that there is only one God.  He is divided up into part by various groups, but there is only one God.  The thought that there is only one God has some interesting implications.  For example, I believe that if people are trying to worship God, that counts for something, even if part of what they are doing is wrong.  It may not be your group, it may not be your denomination, it may be folks that have little in common with you but if they are reaching out to the one God, that ought to count for something.

We tend to want to reject anyone who does not see it the way that we do.  We tend to want to throw away those who have a different understanding than we do.  Why?  Are we so sure that we are the ones that have it just right?

1.2 billion Catholic Christians believe that Mary is sinless.  Are we right and them wrong?
400 million Orthodox Christians do not believe in the trinity.
There are 800 million of us protestants and we don't agree on many things.

If there is only one God, who are the Jehovah's Witnesses [for example] worshiping?  Who are the RLDS worshiping?  Who are the Greek orthodox worshiping?  Well, I was taught that they were all wrong.  But if they are trying to worship God [and there is only one God right?] then who am I to say that they are going to hell?  Do Methodists have the corner on correct ideas about God?

My point is this.... all people that worship God get it partly right and partly wrong.  And God, the one God, welcomes all of their worship.  Who am I to say that this group or that group, this person or that person is going to hell?

There is only one God and everyone that wakes in his world sees the same gift of creation.  It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.



Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

I'm sorry

I'm sorry.  I missed it.
Talk like a pirate day is held on September 19th every year, and this year, I missed it.

I guess I have my excuses.... we were cleaning up from after the hurricane.  I have been working on final arrangements for a new job.  I bought a used pickup truck.  My cousin got married.  I broke my arm.  I fell into quicksand.  I came down with the plague.  It wasn't my fault!

RRR... I apologize for missing talk like a pirate day.  Please please next year will someone remind me a few days prior?  As silly as it sounds, I have always loved talk like a pirate day.  I may just have to do a little pirate talk today to make up.

It's a beautiful day in God's worrrrrrrld, be surrrrre to see the good.



Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

sunrise

I took these pictures while visiting a friend in Kansas City in July.  I thought I had posted them, but I don't think I did.  If you like the pictures, you should have been there to witness the real thing.

Sunrise at Lake Tapawingo

How marvelous is creation.  How marvelous is the work of the Lord.

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



Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

Movie

I went to see the movie Dunkirk. A great movie especially if you like war movies. I was at the 10:30 am showing. There were four old guys there. I was the youngest. The movie closed with Winston Churchill's speech:

"we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender...."

Several of the men were crying after the movie. On the way out one of them said to me, my father died at Dunkirk.

May we never forget the struggle of good against evil, right against wrong, freedom over oppression. Please appreciate those who serve.

That's one of the reasons why we have a beautiful day in God's world



Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

what is your name?

It is a simple, but powerful question to ask. What is your name? People want their names to be remembered. José at Costalano's in San Francisco. I see him once a year and I call him by name. He loves it. I try to learn people's names. Adrian, Keith, Pete, Christy, Mike, Roy, Beth, Jackie, and on we go.

If you want to make your experience at a restaurant or a store come alive, learn the names of the people that work there. Look for them when you go back. If they aren't there, then learn a new name! People love to be known.

If someone remembers your name you become real- you become alive. Learn peoples names. Call them by name. Hello Scott Conners. Hello Brian flower. Hello Terri Monarchio. Hello Brian Young.

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

when you grow up

My dear friend Gary [G2] sent this post in......

There's an age old question that all of us have heard and have asked ourselves. "What do you want to be when you grow up"? When we were little kids our thoughts usually turned to what we were exposed to or what our interests were. Some of us may have wanted to be a doctor, an athlete, or to drive a train. Maybe it was to build houses to be a woodworker, or an astronaut. Or even a ballerina, or to paint pictures, write poems or make beautiful music. What did I want to be when I "grew up"? I wanted to be a heavy machine operator. Really! As a little kid I was fascinated by it. Not for sure why. It could have been the way the earthmovers, with all that power and those big motors, changed the world in which I lived in. One scoop at a time. To this day I still stop and watch as those trucks and machines go about their jobs.

Through the years that question is still being asked. In my late teens I wanted to work in restaurants. During my 20's and 30's I wanted to be a woodworker. As I got older I started working in the Natural Gas Industry. It became more about making money than "What I wanted to be". What has happened to the joy or fascinating that we had experienced early on in life? Have we grown weary and exhausted by the grind of our everyday life.

As I have reached the middle 50's my thoughts of what I want to be when I grow up (which I refuse to do) has shifted to what do I want to do. It is not so much about the job and the money anymore, although it is still a driving factor. It is about how do or how can I make a difference. How do I make an impact in the small sphere of influence that I have; to those I come in contact with on a daily basis. Do I smile at the clerk taking my money and ask them their name? Have I talked to my neighbor across the street lately? Do I hold doors for people all the while not expecting a thank you. Do I stop long enough to make a connection with the soul or the spirit in each person? I have learned through the years that it is the little things, when done every day, that make an impact on our world. One kind word or deed can change a person's day.

In this go - go - go world we are in, we have to ask ourselves this question. Am I in too much of a hurry to be kind, or to notice or help those around me. We all simply want to be noticed and acknowledged that we are more than just a passing shadow. Make someone's day by telling them that they are appreciated, they are special and loved. It goes a long way to making an impact: if not to just that one person but maybe to the those watching us and to world we live in.

What do I want to be when I grow up? Now days I would say " I want to be an acknowledger and an encourager!" I want to be the one that when our paths cross we leave each other a little better than we were before.

Grace and Peace,
g2

I have a bike with pegs

During the hurricane, several of you sent notes and said that you had room for us at your place.  Thank you.

I read one of these kind notes of invitation and it reminded me of something that we did in church probably 10 years ago.  The sermon was about seeing others and really caring for them.  I picked a "volunteer" out of the crowd.  I had them stand up with me at the front as I described a hypothetical situation where they had broken down on the side of the road.  Then I encouraged the crowd to see people and care for them.  I asked them, if they were really willing to help others, to come up during the closing song and give their phone number to the person standing next to me.  That way he or she would have someone to call if they really did break down on the side of the road.

I was astonished at the response.  It was overwhelming.  In every service, I'll bet 75% of the people came up and gave the person their phone number.  There were more pieces of paper than the person could hold.

One of the people standing next to me in one of the services was my dear friend Dan Horn.  I love him and I miss him.  Dan called me later that day to tell me how many phone numbers he had.  It was in the hundreds.  He said one note stood out to him- it was from a 12 year old boy named Brandon who wrote, "I am not old enough to drive, but I have a bike with pegs."

I love it.  I was so proud of the young man and the spirit of Christian charity that lives so strongly in so many.

Who would you give your phone number to in case they needed help?  Do you have a bike with pegs?

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

How am I really?

One of my readers lives in California.  She is a very special person to me.  Although we don't talk often, I think of her often and I am grateful for the impact that she has made on my life.

She wrote in the other day and said, "Each day I read your post and wonder how you really are....For sure what I read is from your heart and it generally gives me the feeling of your vulnerability. You are so "open" and I wonder how helpful that is to you and why you venture out there so far."

I appreciate her comments and thoughts. I wanted to write a bit about this topic.
Henry David Thorough wrote, "The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation."  I think we all know the angst that life can bring: something ended too soon.  Something didn't turn out the way we had hoped.  Some folks go from one job to the next, one person to the next, expecting that happiness is just around the corner.

I want you to know that in this life I have had much joy.  I have been a father, I have been a friend, I have been involved in helping others.  I have been a part of organizations that have made the world a better place.  I have loved and been loved.  All of these things bring me joy.

But for me, part of what I do, and how I choose to live, grows out of some very difficult questions that I keep asking myself.  Why am I here?  How much longer do I have?  Why is this situation the way it is?  How can I make something better?  Who can I care about for you today?

I guess what I am saying is that somehow, angst and meaning go together.  From the depths of a time of struggle, a new sunrise can emerge.  From the hard questions of life, emerge moments of clarity and joy.

I wish I could save myself and all of you from the introspection and the hard questions, but in my experience they are the path to meaning, purpose and joy.

How am I really doing?  Good.
I have my questions, and I have my wishes, but it is all good.  It is all very good.

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

what do you see?

 What do you see?
I see a palm tree.
Look again.
What do you see?
Ahh, it's a spindle palm.
Look harder.
What do you see?

What do you see in a given moment?  What are  you looking at?  What are you looking for?  Sometimes we miss beautiful and amazing things because we were preoccupied with ourselves and fail to notice a miracle right by us.

Maybe there is a great person near you that you cannot see.  Maybe there is a great chance to do kindness that we miss because we weren't asking the right questions of ourselves.  Maybe there is an amazing slice of nature that we do not see because we have lost the wonder of childhood.

Maybe we are not looking in the right place.

What do you see?
Look at the very tip top of the palm.

Ahh.  there is something there.  What is it?

During the hurricane aftermath we were sitting in the driveway drinking coffee in the morning.  I did not notice this dragonfly, Chris did.  But once our attention was placed upon him, he because quite the topic of discussion.  What is his view from up there?  Do the 30 mph winds bother him?  We were quite intrigued by his presence.  He must have been tired, because he sat up there for about 30 minutes.

When you look at life what do you see?
Is there something that you might be missing?

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

mixed messages

Sometimes I get frustrated with the way that Christians act.  We wonder why people aren't interested in church.  It's not just young people that aren't interested either.  People of all ages are sick and tired of the guilt and mixed messages delivered by well meaning Christians.

About 1/2 mile down the road from us is a little church.  I have shared pictures of their sign before.  It is a two sided sign with a message on both sides.  If you head East, this is the message that you get.








Jesus loves you!  How wonderful.  How positive.  How grace filled.  But if you look at the same sign heading west, this is the message.

Real Christians obey Jesus' teaching.  REALLY?  Who gets to decide who the real Christians are?  And who gets to pick which teachings people will ignore and which ones to follow?  Jesus said to tie a millstone around the neck of anyone who harms a child.  Is this what real Christians should do?

I have seen billboards along the highway with this same message.  Real Christians obey Jesus teaching.  Anyone who thinks that this is going to win people to Jesus is sadly mistaken.  All it does is deliver another message that you better be good.  You better straighten up.  You better do it our way.

In this life there are two roads.  The road of Grace and the road of judgment.  We must pick each day which road we will choose.  Choose carefully my friend.  Those who choose the road of grace have no regrets.

Jesus loves you.

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

First World Problems

Where did the phrase first world come from?  During the cold war, America and it's allies were referred to as the first world.  Russia and her allies were the second world.  The third world was all of those countries that were not in the first or second group.  Since most of these were very poor countries, the phrase third world has become synonymous with impoverished countries.

The hurricane is over.  Power is back on at the Brinkman house.  Most of what we worried about were first world problems.

Waaahhh.  Our power was out.  First world problem. [FWP]
We have no ice.  FWP
Gas stations are out of gas.  FWP
Stores that are open have very long lines.  FWP
Bottled Water was scarce.  FWP
The house was sticky when we were trying to sleep.  FWP
The swimming pool got dirty.  FWP

On and on it goes.  We all have so much.  We worry about things that many people in the world will never have.  We are so entitled.

May God bless us.  Not with more stuff, not with better stuff.  But may God bless us with a sense of gratitude for what we have and mostly a generous spirit to share with others.

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

aftermath

It is Tuesday September 12.  We are still without electricity.  From what I am hearing, we may have to get used to sticky sleeping at night.  It is supposed to be 89 degrees here today.

Not much to report.  I toured the neighborhood yesterday and saw what is for the most part "minor damage."

beheaded mailbox

our yard

neighbors queen palm - sad

notice the debris flood line in the yard

tree no more

lots of this in our neighborhood

beach side restaurant

Of course it is much worse on the west coast.
thank you so much for your love and prayers.

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

Monday morning

path of Irma

 Good Morning.

Here is the latest update on Hurricane Irma from the Brinkman Meteorological Team.

As you know, the storm slid to the west yesterday.  This meant that we experienced only 70 mph winds.  Although the sun is not up, and I have not been able to look around, I don't expect any damage.  We did have a small roof leak last night which we will have to investigate and address.

boat blew off of trailer on highway

Power went out about 9pm last night and is still off.  I am posting using my phone as a hotspot and computer backup battery.  We have a backup generator that I will get fired up at 7am when the sun comes up and I can see.

I appreciate so much the concern that all of you showed for our family.  All is well here.  Alli and Bobby got a hotel room in Orlando with their three cats.  Jenny, her dog George, Scott, Cathy and I were joined by Garrett Cudmore [Ft. Lauderdale], Chris Henning [KC] and Kent and Beth Miller from Cape Coral.  Everyone worked together and got along well.

Ducks swimming

Today we will put the doors back on the screened in porch, put the furniture and plants back out, clean up the yard, and assess the property.  As I added the pictures to this post, I was struck by how worried we humans are about our "stuff."  The ducks were not really worried about anything.  We got about 12 inches of rain, and right in the middle of the storm they decided to take a swim in our driveway.  Consider the lilies of the field....  Consider the birds of the air.....

We worry too much.

Please pray for those in Cuba, Marco Island, Naples, Ft. Myers and Cape Coral as they were hit the hardest by Irma.

Love to you all.

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

selfishness

We are so selfish.  It is all about us isn't it?

A hurricane hits Houston and we feel badly.  Maybe we go there on a mission trip, but life for us goes on.  A hurricane comes to our town and everyone freaks out.  Our family is scared.  Our friends cry.

I guess we can't really cry all the time, but I bet that God's heart breaks for everyone in trouble.

This reminds me of a story that I used to tell in church.
"During the war we were scared, so we prayed to God to protect us.... and Praise God!  He did!  All the bombs fell on the other side of the town."

I guess it is human nature to be concerned for one's self.  May we all also have compassion for others as well.

We should be in the middle of the storm right now.  I don't know if we will have internet for me to post tomorrow but I will try to keep you updated.

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

Irma part 2

Hurricane prep is very interesting.  Fear makes people do crazy things.  It is also interesting to watch how people behave when they wait until the very last minute to try to do things that should have been done a week, a month, or a year ago.

Here are some scenes from the last few days.

CVS in Miami was out of water until this guy showed up.

the water sold for $24 a case and was gone in minutes

the line for plywood was an hour long. 

soon the supply was exhausted

this woman has plywood tied to the top of her car with the nylon

string that they give you at home depot to tie things on with.  I gave her some rope and helped her out.

Home Depot screw isle.  every size and shape is sold out.

our gas cans.  I wish we had more.  this will only run the generator for about a day.

installing hurricane shutters

signs like this all over town

Current projections show the storm running right up the middle of the state.  So there is no place to hide.  If we end up on the right hand side of the eye, this is not good because that is where the strongest winds are.  The news is suggesting that it may be down to a Cat 2 by the time it hits Vero Beach.

Keep us in your prayers.

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

Hurricane Irma Pt 1

So we have had so many inquiries about how we are doing.  Will we stay in Vero Beach or will we go somewhere to miss the storm?

So, point #1 there is no place in Florida to miss the storm.

We talked at length about staying or going.  We have had very generous offers from families for us to stay with them.  Kent and Beth Miller in Cape Coral have opened their house to us.  So have Jerry and Shelly Caesar.  In KC we have offers from Paul and Billie McClain and Tyler and Kenna Stephenson.

We are so thankful for the offers and we may jump on one of them.  But it is more complicated then that.  We have 2 cats, 1 dog, and 6 humans at the house.  Who can accommodate that line up???

Cathy and I have argued about what we should do.
Here is the information that turned a corner for me.  My neighbor, 75 year old widower Mike is staying.  My new neighbors Roy and Jackie are staying my neighbor Greg, his wife and two boys are staying.  Chad, Steve, Jeff and Roxy from Bobby's restaurant are all staying.

I can't leave my neighbors.  I won't leave my neighbors.  Donna Eaton if I lived next to you I would never leave you.  Kim Berwald, Aaron Israelite,
Brittney Jacobs, Amy Bartlett, Brian Dunn, and 75 others of you, if you were my neighbor, I would not, not ever leave you.

I can't imagine a scenario where they wake up after weathering the storm and I pull back into town having dodged the storm.

As far as it stands right now, we are staying.
I hope you understand that.
If I was your neighbor would you leave me?
of course not.

We are staying.

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

comfort the afflicted

When I was in seminary [back in the horse and buggy days] they used to drill into our brains this statement: "to be a pastor is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."  Unfortunately much of American Christianity is centered around comforting the comfortable.

I recently ran across a different version of that statement.
"You can't comfort the afflicted without afflicting the comfortable."   Princess Diana

There is so much that we can do in this world to help others, but we must leave our comfort zone to do so.  Go out of your way to help someone else today.  You will be glad that you did.

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




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

Ouch

wind chime on left end

My friend Dave fell off of a ladder some years ago and broke his shoulder.  I fell off a ladder and broke a plant.

So I was going to hang up this wind chime on the bottom of the gutter on the front porch.  I do things like this because I can’t sit still.  I must always be doing something.  When I die, I think the world will stop and rest for a bit…. I just can’t.

So the ground in Florida is sand.  Florida is a giant sand bar.  I set up the ladder and was up on the top hooking up the wind chime when the ladder fell into a sink hole.  Down I went.  I grabbed onto the gutter to break my fall, and then I fell to the ground.  When I hit, I landed on this plant, and broke it in half.  The right half of the plant just sheared off.  I felt terrible.  I apologized to my wife.  

right side was broken off

Then I thought, "Hey this is Florida, anything grows here."  So I dug a hole and stuck the broken

piece in the ground.  Maybe it will come back.  If you are not from Florida, the thought of breaking off a branch, sticking it into the ground and expecting it to grow has to sound pretty ridiculous.

Right side has a new life!

The first few weeks were pretty tenuous.  It died from the bottom up, one leaf at a time.  Then I moved one of the sprinkler drips over by it. 

The plant has made an amazing recovery.  It is going to live.  Sheared off from it’s trunk, it is going to live.

What is the moral of this story? 

You may have something very painful happen to you.  You may think that you cannot survive. 

But you can.  And you will.

Grab onto the gutter and anything else that you can.  Drink deep of the water of life.  You can still live.  In God's economy nothing is broken beyond repair.

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



Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

the questions we ask

One of my favorite stories is Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan.  It must have infuriated the Pharisees that the hero of the story was a Samaritan, someone that they considered inferior.  Jesus had a way of messing with the minds of those religious folks who thought that they had it all together.

Anyway, in the story, the Priest and the Levite see the broken man and pass by.  They must have asked themselves the question, "if I stop to help, what might happen to me?"  The Samaritan surely asked the question, "if I don't stop, what will happen to him?"

If you read the Bible looking for judgment, you can find that.  If you read the Bible looking for grace you can find that too.  If you read looking for an excuse to live an easy life, it is there.  If you read looking to be challenged to live outside of yourself, then you can find that too.

The questions that you ask in life will say everything about the answers that you come up with.

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





Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

enough

What would be the outcome in the life of a person who finally came to understand the word "enough."

I have enough tools.
I have enough shoes.
I have enough cars.
I have enough of whatever I collect.
I don't need a better house, I have enough.
I have enough jackets.
I have enough hats.
I have enough money.

Oh, when we arrive at the day that we know that we have enough, the rat race is over.  I will no longer spend my time collecting more.  I will simply enjoy living and see the good.  I will have more to give to others, because I am not spending it recklessly on myself.

I have enough.  And I just became a beautiful day in God's world.




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

Awake

I recently read a book entitled Awake by Noel Brewer Yeatts.  It is a wonderful book about mission.  Ironically I bought it off the $1 rack at Mardels.

One of the things that stopped me in my tracks was this statement about a personal revelation that she had about her faith.  She said, "I uncovered something unsettling about myself.  I don't really want a relationship with God.  [relationships are two way streets] Here's what I want.  I want to share with God all I feel, all I need, all that grieves me, all that makes me happy, the puzzling things, the hard things, but I would prefer that God keeps his stuff to himself.  I don't want to hear about his pain and grief."

Wow!  Busted.  This reminds me of a Richard Stearn's quote from the book, The Hole in our Gospel.  "May our hearts be broken by the things that break God's heart."

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the need out there.  Be sure to offer yourself to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  If we do that, we will surely see the good.




Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

I need a dream

So I have been a bit listless.  My trip to the redwoods was very helpful.  On the last night, I stayed at the Mercy Center in Burlingame.  It's an old convent that has been turned into a retreat center.

While there, I met with a spiritual director.  A spiritual director is someone who is trained in spiritual direction.  They don't offer advice as much as they try to help you discover the answer that is right on the tip of your tongue.  They try to get you to articulate your journey and help you discover the next step.

I told this person everything about my life.  She asked a few questions.  At one point she asked me, "what are your dreams?"  I said, "Well, I used to have dreams, and we fulfilled them all.  I used to have a dream and in short order they came to pass.  Now?  I guess I don't have a dream."  AHA!  Maybe that is it.  Maybe I need a dream today.

Lately I was thinking that maybe dreams were for the young, and maybe when you are older, you figure something else out.  But as I look at my life, I love working around the house, I love painting and laying tile.  I love hanging by the pool.  But I think I need a dream.

A dream is like the heartbeat of your life.  I will be asking God about this.  Please take a moment and say a prayer for me that I might find a dream.  God is not done with me yet, or with you.

What are your dreams?

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





Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

purpose

I have to admit that since I have been out of the active ministry, I sometimes feel a lack of purpose.  I have to keep reminding myself of this... every day we come into contact with human beings who  need our love.  This is a chance for ministry that I do not want to miss.

"I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate.  It is, after all, to matter:  to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all."     Leo C. Rosten

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





Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours