Can I pick this up?

So I was walking out of one of the local establishments the other day and this random thought just came into my mind.  "I wonder if I can pick this up?"  The thought really wasn't can I pick it up, more like can I lift up one side and maybe turn the little car over.

Silly?  Maybe.  I will bet you that my son could do it.  I don't think that it would be impossible given the right person.

Sometimes I think that we sell our selves short.  We don't even try to do a thing because we have given up believing in our potential.  People give up on their dreams.  Churches settle into lethargy.  Futures grow dim.  Hopes die.  We end up living a life that is much less than what it could be.

Nothing great was ever accomplished without someone believing that it could be done.  Never give up on your dreams.  You can finish college.  You can overcome your problems.  Your church can grow. 

Settle in with failure and you will have it.  Set your sights on something greater and you have taken the first step to achieving your goal.

Can I lift that little car?  I don't know but the next time I see one I am going to give it a try.

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Why I save things

This is my man cave.  The third car garage.  Very nice, and I am lucky to have it.  However it can get a little hot in there but the other day I came up with an idea.

Maybe if I opened the window, a box fan would sit on the window sill.  Sure enough it does, but I can't turn it enough to really blow on the desk area.  Hmmm.  If I had a piece of a 2x6 I'll bet it would raise the fan above that lip.  The fan could move closer to the screen and I could turn it more towards the chair that I sit in.  But I hate to go and buy an entire 2x6 for this small window.

As I write this it also occurs to me that I could move the desk down the wall a bit.😳😳😳

The 

So the other day I am working in the garage and I happen to see a piece of 2x6 sticking out of my collection of little boards.  Why do I keep these little boards?  Because you never just know when you might need one.

and now the fan sits up higher, it is closer to the screen and the breeze is blowing on me more directly!

Moral of this story.  While I think it is good to keep things cleaned up, sometimes it is good to keep things around.  Just because you don't have a use for it today, save that idea for another day.  Put it on the shelf for it may come in handy tomorrow. 

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Sermon audio from Sunday - if you have trouble forgiving yourself...

If you have trouble forgiving yourself, I hope this will bless you.

click here to listen

to be aware

To wake up in this life, to truly be aware, is one of the highest gifts. 

The point is that Spirituality is not just reading the Bible or believing things.  Many people read the Bible and their minds are filled with doctrine.  Their lives are dogmatic, judgmental and lived on auto-pilot.

Do we see?  Do we really see others?

Waking up is more than seeing someone or seeing a thing.  Waking up is seeing a thing and taking delight in it.  To see a thing and understand it, to have compassion for it, to care about it.

To be aware, to be awake is to see and to take delight.

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

The last pictures from our vacation

We are home now, but I am just getting around to posting these pictures.
I love San Francisco.
I spent Jr and Sr high and my first year of college in San Jose, about 40 miles to the south.  Do you know the way to San Jose?

I loved the climate.  I loved the landscape.  I loved the beach.  I still have a sister there.  And I have always loved the city of San Francisco.

The bay is beautiful.  Alcatraz is one of
the most photographed places on earth.

This bird wanted food.  I did not give him anything.

he retaliated.

The cable cars are so quaint and fun to ride.

The Ghirardelli sign, a SF icon

The wind swept evergreens.  The boats at the
Hyde Street Pier.  And of course, Alcatraz.

The sights and sounds of Fisherman's wharf. 
Ahh the smells of Fisherman's wharf.  Both good and bad.

For years I took an annual trip to the redwoods to read. 
On my last day I would go to San Francisco. 
This is the place on pier 39 where I would sit and read. 
This is where in 2010 I sat and read the book
 the Hole in our Gospel for the first time. 
I cried like a baby. 
This little bench, on the east side of Pier 39 is like holy ground for me.

I also love the electric street cars.  They have been brought
here from all over the country and refurbished. The side of one
might say "San Diego 1928"  The side of another "Cincinnati 1932"

I love the street cars.

The mechanical museum on Fisherman's Wharf
has a wonderful collection of amusements from the
1800's to the present.  When I was a kid I used to
put a nickel in a machine like this at the grocery
store on 89th and Wornall Road over by Boone School.

USS Pompanito WW2 Submarine.  I am always amazed at the
fact that men actually served on such small and seemingly
antiquated subs.

Did I say that I loved the street cars?
We had a wonderful trip.
Good to go.  Good to be home.

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

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

No one knows

My friend Brian added a thought the other day about limiting God: "we also limit God when we try to imagine or explain what Heaven will be like. I think we get tiny glimpses when we see the beauty of this world but God is not limited to our understanding of beauty or what is great. It is beyond imagination, thank God. I really enjoy thinking about my mom and dad (and others) being there and finally having peace."

Let me add a couple of scriptures:

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.                                                                                1 Cor 2:9

36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 

                                                                                Mt 24:36

So, clearly there are things we cannot know in this life.  Yet millions of Christians speculate about heaven and the end of time.  Books are written, purchased and read.  Tim Lahaye made millions on the Left Behind series which is all completely speculative dispensational theology.  [his profits were real]

Maybe we want to know so much about the future because we are not so good at living in the now.  How about instead of thinking about and worrying about our possible futures, we spend our days loving those who are around us and giving our best to every single moment.

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

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

back from the dead?

Wow.  I had one of the most real, vivid dreams that I have ever had a couple of nights ago. 

I was in my house and a man walked in the room.  I recognized him right away.  He had died a few years before.  In his life I knew him well.  There was no question whatsoever that this was him.  His wife followed in behind him.

Let me try to describe the looks on their faces.  I saw the man first but I am going to describe the wife's countenance first because I think that it is easier.  The wife had a look on her face that carried a numbed of emotions:  joy, disbelief, concern, and fear.  She was clearly is a state of uneasy happiness.

The man was definitely alive and he knew who I was, but he appeared to be in a state of confusion.  He did not speak, but his face carried so many messages.  I could hear him ask, "why am I here, what happened to me, and what is going on?"

When I woke from this dream I was a bit unnerved.  It was  almost frightening and it felt very real. 

What might it mean?  Well, I don't believe that the dream means anything about the eternal resting place of the man, for he was a fine man and a fine Christian.  I guess if I have to declare a meaning, I would say that for all of us, there are times when we are uncomfortable, living in an uneasy state.  Uncomfortable about life, death and everything in between.  There are times when our emotions are so full and so raw that we can not sort them out.

Maybe the moral of the story is this.  Live.  L-I-V-E LIVE!!!  What ever you do, do it to the best of your ability.  Seek the joy and don't be drug down by circumstances.

[any alternative interpretations of my dream would be appreciated.]

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

excellence

I heard of a sermon recently that used this illustration from Monty Python.  I was 18 when the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail came out.  There is one scene that I often think about.  Late in the movie the knights come to a bridge and they must answer five, no three questions.   One of the questions is, “what is your quest?”

Just for a laugh, here is the clip:
click for video of bridge of death

In this life, as individuals and as a church we must answer the questions, what is our quest?  Why are we here?  How will we go about doing what we do?

Some describe their mission as “connecting people to Jesus,” some as “loving god and others,” and some as teaching people that “they matter to God and to us.”  However we describe what we are doing, the how of it all is very important.

Will our church be an afterthought in our lives?  Will our church be the parsley on the plate of our lives?  Or will we approach every aspect of our church with an attention to excellence.  I believe that if a church is on the right track, we will always be out of our comfort zone, trying to make it better, every single aspect of it.

Excellence demands that we call things to account.   That you push on toward a better tomorrow.  Excellence stays up with the times.  Excellence challenges the status quo.  Excellence pushes for the mission.  Those things are never easy, but healthy organizations must keep thinking about and focusing on excellence.

It is true of our lives as well.  If we would live excellently, we must keep trying to improve ourselves.

Marked improvement rarely happens overnight.  It is something that comes in time and with persistent effort.  Pat Riley said,  "excellence is the gradual result of constantly striving to do better." 

That is a pretty good explanation of how I think healthy people go about trying to do what they do.  You just get up every day and do your very best.  You keep after a thing.  You try to fix the things that are broken.  And guess what, little by little, the ship is turned and we get headed in the right direction.

Excellence is the gradual result of constantly striving to do better.

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

The Archer

The archer shoots for fun when it is a hobby.  When there is a prize involved, everything is ruined.

When I was a kid I bought a bow and arrow at a garage sale.  It was an old school bow, but the arrows were steel tipped.  It was the hunting bow of it's day.

When I was a kid I shot the bow and arrow for fun.  Then one day someone suggest that I enter a competition.  I became nervous.  There was a prize to win.  Other people had better equipment.  I could never do well.

I never entered the competition.  I lost interest in the bow and finally got rid of it.

Why wasn't it enough for me to just shoot in the back yard?  Why did there have to be a competition?  Why winners and losers?

All of the fun was taken from shooting the bow and arrows.

- - - - - -

Life.  Just live it.  It is not a competition.  Sometimes we get so worried about things that don't matter that we forget to celebrate life.  There are no winners or losers.  Every life matters.  Every life is worthwhile.

Just live.  Pull out your arrows and give life a shot.  It does't matter if you are the best.  Just get out there and get your licks in.  Life is good.  Enjoy it.

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

My Friends are all thinking about love

From my friend Chris......

You are loved.

By God.  

By Me.  Yes, I love you.  

By your family.  Yes, even thought there are times you may not feel it.  Parents have a tough job of teaching us discipline while also loving us unconditionally.   

By your friends.   Yes, We Love you.    

By your church family.  Show up to feel the love.  Show up to give some love.  

By Strangers.  Yes, complete total strangers.  Remember that person that let you nudge in on that line of traffic?  that fellow driver that shows your grace after you made a bonehead move?   Thats love. 

If you aren’t feeling the love today, go out & try giving love.   See what happens.   You’ll have a hard time not feeling any love back.  

Happiness is a choice.   Suffering is a choice.    Choose carefully.   

Love is always available.

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

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.

August 13-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension

October 8-17, 2018

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

from my friend Susan

We all have disappointments, people don't live up to our expectations, things don't go our way.

My friend didn't answer my message. I invited people to my party, and no one can come (or they just didn't bother to respond). No one noticed my new shoes. He or she forgot my birthday or anniversary. I was left out. I was passed over.

All of these things can and do happen to us every single day. When it gets to be too much, it can lead to head trash, or stinkin' thinkin'. "I'm not good enough." "They don't like me." "They don't want to be my friend." "What did I do to deserve this? "

Have you been there? Yeah, you and me both. The truth is, it is NOT about you. If truth be told, it is probably something you aren't even aware of. They were so busy with personal issues, they forgot to RSVP, or say Happy Anniversary or Happy Birthday. They are so caught up with living life, that it was all about them, nothing against you.

So, how do we avoid the disappointments, the woe-is-me cloud that engulfs us? Self affirmations....every day. When you affirm your worth, you believe it! Look in the mirror and do this every stinkin' day! I AM ENOUGH. I AM LIKEABLE/LOVEABLE. I AM A GOOD FRIEND/SPOUSE/MOM/DAUGHTER/SON. I AM LOVED. I AM AN ENCOURAGER. I AM BRAVE. I AM SMART.

Add in your own. I like I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. GOD MADE ME FOR A VERY SPECIAL PURPOSE. Get out of your own way, and see things in a new perspective. You are loved.

Susan

Sunday's sermon audio

click here to listen to the sermon from 5-20-18

California Vacation Day 4

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)

I love vacationing in California.  There are many beautiful places in this world, but Northern California is one of my favorites.  Oh, the hills! Oh, the trees!  Oh, the weather, the cool crisp air!

croquet fields at La Crema winery

Tomorrow we go to San Francisco, then fly home to Vero Beach.

Love to you all, we are having a great time!

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


- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/HL19_G_Explorations.pdf

consequences

So a week ago I posted some things about bad choices.  I talked about the folks who lost their homes that were built so close to the volcano.

A friend wrote in and asked, "so we shouldn’t pray or expect God to protect us if we go ahead n make bad decisions or NOT use common sense? Should we just expect that common consequences will occur?"

So I am a big believer in cause and effect. If I build my house by an active volcano, the outcomes are predictable. If I make bad decisions, the outcomes are predictable. If I make choices based on my brokenness, the results are predictable.

Dear God, I know that I am just a 

cat but if you save me from this 

moment I will never do this again.

I have made bad decisions.  We all have.  When we do, I think that we know what is coming.  There is no point to be mad at the police officer if you were speeding.  The consequences are deserved.  Instead of praying for protection from a ticket, we should be driving the speed limit.

Anyway, here is my suggestion for praying if you have made bad decisions.  "Dear Lord, you know that I messed this up.  I am sorry.  Please forgive me.  I know that there are likely consequences that may be coming my way.  I pray for grace.  Please do not give me what I deserve.  Please let me make it through this without the penalty.  But no matter what, I will trust you.  I know I put myself in this situation, and I will trust you no matter the outcome.  Amen."

I hope that helps.  Nothing wrong with asking for leniency from the IRS, nothing wrong with hoping for a warning from the police officer, but in all things we must put our trust in God and be prepared for the likely outcome.

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


- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/HL19_G_Explorations.pdf

3rd Grade Birthday

For some reason I was thinking the other day and I remembered my 3rd grade birthday party.

Let me set the stage.  The year is 1966.  We lived at 9601 Walnut in Kansas City.  This is a spec house of 1100 sq ft in a subdivision that was 20 years old.  Yet my mother insisted that we belong to a country club.  She wanted us to appear to have money.  Must have been funny to the Corinth Country Club members when we pulled up to the pool in our 1950 Packard.

Anyway, my birthday was in the summer back then and it was a custom that summer birthday parties were pool parties.  Mom asked for a list of who I wanted to invite.  I am sure that the list looked like this:

• Greg Fisher
• Bobby Berry
• Dave Finlay
• Sue Ellen Butler 
• Janine Johnson

Well my mom was very particular and everything had to look just right to the rest of the world.  I would not be allowed to have a "mixed" party.  She told me that I could invite boys or girls but not both.

So guess what I did???
I made a list of girls!!!

So the day of the party came and we were having a grand old time and I decided to jump off of the high dive for the first time.  Maybe I was trying to impress the girls.  Remember, I am 9 years old.

Anyway, I get to the end of the high dive and I am petrified.  I finally jump, exactly how they tell you not to do it.  I jump off the side.  I remember to this day the feeling of belly flopping into that water.  I had bloodied my mouth and destroyed my pride.

This would be the last party that was girls only.  From then on, I hung with the guys.  And that's the way it was, July 5th, 1966.

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


- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/HL19_G_Explorations.pdf

your ideas, my ideas

I don't just look at beautiful things on vacation.  Well I do look at as much of God's creation as I can.  It is amazing!!!

I also read.

Something that I reread on this trip is this: "your ideas about God are not God."  I don't know the source of this as I had written it in the margins of a book that I read a few years ago.

But I think it is true.  No, it is true.  Your ideas about God and my ideas about God are not God.  People need to stop being so insistent that they have God all figured out.  When we have him figured out, we in essence can control him.

Yet God is beyond our control.  He is bigger, wider, stronger than our ideas.  Instead of trying to figure him out and manage him, maybe we should relax, step in and lean on the everlasting arms.

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
                                  Is 55:8-9

Trusting in God means that we give up our notions of what he is like and simply fall into his amazing grace.  It is not about what we think in our head about God.  He is beyond our ideas.  Just relax, accept the love, take it in and give it away in every way that you can.
It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com


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I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/HL19_G_Explorations.pdf

profound

What is profound anyway?  Some great mathematical truth?  Some supposed theological truth?

I am coming to believe that profound is defined by the giant WOW that comes out of a person from time to time.  I see the redwoods - WOW!  I see the ocean - WOW!  I think of how cool love is - WOW!!!

To look at what God has done in this world and feel the giant WOW is truly a holy, profound thing.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

                                 Psalm 8:1-4

WOW!!!

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


- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/HL19_G_Explorations.pdf

California Trip - Jenner

Cathy and I have made the trip to Napa/Sonoma every year since 2008.  In the early years we focused on South Sonoma county and Napa.  In the past few years we have hit Napa and then moved over to Santa Rosa and the Northern part of the county that takes in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys.

Personally I am done with Napa.  The tasting fees have become outrageous and the wine prices are no longer in reach of the common man or woman.

One of my favorite parts of this annual pilgrimage to California is the drive that I take one morning on the trip from Santa Rosa to Jenner.  I get up early and drive the hour over to the Pacific and then get back in time to pick up Cathy and take her out for the 10am tastings.

So I leave the hotel in Santa Rosa and drive Occidental Road to highway 116 into Guerneville.  If you have not been to the town of Guerneville, it is a beautiful quaint little town nestled in the redwood forest.  Just north of town is the Armstrong Woods Redwood Preserve.  Def worth the few minutes it takes to get there.

Take 116 out of Guerneville and follow the Russian River until it pours into the ocean at Jenner.  This is one of the most beautiful drives in America.

It made me so happy to take this drive.  It was so beautiful and so peaceful.  If I lived here I would make the drive at least once per week.

California has some cool old vehicles.

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


- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....4 Night cruise from Port Canaveral to Key West and Havana, Cuba.
August 13-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/cc18081318h17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/HL19_G_Explorations.pdf