social issues

I mentioned that I would be writing some thoughts on the issue of homosexuality and the church.  Please remember that I love you all and we don't have to agree on everything.  I am not going to write consecutive blog posts but my thoughts will come out over the next few months.

I would like to start with something that I posted back on Friday, June 13, 2014.

Ahh, the great social issues of the day. Some Christians love to fight over them. I am not one of them. I assume that you, like me, have considered them deeply and have your own opinions and feelings. I respect your thoughts, even if I don't agree with them.

Your opinions on social issues are not a litmus test for whether or not you are welcome in our church. Everyone is welcome in our church. Period.

Our church is not about social issues. It is not about who you vote for or what party you belong to. Our church is about the kingdom issue. There is only one kingdom issue. Do you know what it is? It is love. God is love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.

The great social issues of the day existed in Jesus time. Homosexuality, the death penalty, gambling, etc. In fact Jesus has some experience with the death penalty, and his clothes were sold at his crucifixion by lots. Homosexuality was all around the Greco-Roman world.  The issues existed in his day, but he never addresses them. He does however, have much to say about love.

You will not hear many sermons on social issues from me. I did not go into the ministry to try to get you to think like me. I went into the ministry to help you on your journey with Jesus Christ. I remain committed to this goal.

In today's world, many people are staying away from the churches. I wonder why? Is it possible that outsiders are tired of the fighting? I encourage all Christians everywhere to pursue Christ and on all other issues: think and let think. We should be spending our time and energy on living a life of love.

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

a little more

There is always a little more to a story than what I know about it.  There is always a little more information than what I am thinking of. 

My mother used to love to say to me, "there is more Horatio than is dreamt of in your philosophy."

So lets take the topic of the American Indians.  Over the past few years I have thought pretty seriously about how badly we treated them.  How badly our great grandparents treated them.  We celebrate a nation from sea to shining sea, but that came at a cost to those who got in our way.  But, there is a little more to the story.  It does not justify what we did to them, but I have learned as well that we only did to them what they were doing to each other.  Killing and taking was a normal part of life in pre-Columbus America.  For that matter, killing and taking is what much of life has been about for eons.  That is why castles have moats and cities had walls.

It doesn't justify what we did, but it does put it into a perspective.

Now a week ago I mentioned in a post that unless you were an American Indian, you and your family were at one point immigrants.  True, but there is a little more.  A bit more to think about.  My friend Pat [one of the smartest guys that I know] Pat wrote in to say, "yes, but the Indians came from somewhere else too.  We are all travelers in this life."

There is always a bit more to the story than what I know.  There is always another perspective and finding it makes me a bit calmer, a bit more careful and hopefully a bit more compassionate.

None of us are as smart as we would like to think.

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

to be known

I never really got to know my parents.  It was not important to them to know us as people.  They kept their cards pretty close to their chests.  Late in life, if you asked my Dad, if you pried, he would tell you some things about his life but for the most part we did not know them.

I feel very differently about that.  I want my kids to know me.  I want anyone, someone, to know me.  I want to be known.  Not famous, but known and remembered.  I want to feel like I made a difference in someone's life.  Doesn't everyone?  I don't know, maybe not.

A few weeks ago I was watching the movie Walking Out starring Matt Bomer.  It is s wilderness story about an estranged father and son that go hunting.  At one point in the film, Bomer says to his son, "Someday you’ll have a son. And you'll want him to know who you are so badly that you would cry."

I take consolation in the fact that my kids should be able to read this blog and watch sermons on youtube years after I am gone if they are interested.

I think one of the joys of friendship is that you can let people see who you are.  Your friends can know you and you can know them.  I think we feel more safe when we are known.  We feel at home.  I think that there is something spiritual about being known.  Galatians 4 talks about us knowing and being known by God.  The spirit within us cries out "Abba" Father.  [Daddy]

I hope that someone knows you.  To know you is to love you.

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

a log in the road

I am Chris Henning.

So, I’m driving around Lees Summit a few weeks ago with Jeff Brinkman. Were going down Woods Chapel Road. I see something big in the roadway. I can tell because others ahead of me are steering clear of what ever it may be. It’s not a stick. It’s not a piece of tire. It’s something bigger. We get closer. It becomes clear. It’s a piece of log. A chunk of tree.

As we approach I’m looking in my rear view mirror, probablty for the 3rd time, checking to see if there is anyone behind me. There is not. The coast is clear. I start to slow down. My passenger starts to question my motive. What are you doing? What are WE doing? I tell him were going to try to attempt to remove the log. I will approach it perfectly if you can open the door, reach out & pull it into the car. He is not interested in this move but nighttime was approaching & Someone might not see it at night. Someone might run over it. Perhaps an older couple might hit it. A teenager might miss it at dusk & blow out a tire. So many what if’s.

I ask my passenger if he can pick it up. He gives me that look, as if saying, ‘are you for real?’ then, after a few seconds, his mind shifts. He realizes what were doing. He’s on board. He likes the idea of picking it up. He loves doing these kind of things as well.

I slow down, he guides me in perfectly, we slowed & he plucked the log out of the roadway.



I’d like to think that perhaps we saved someone a flat tire. Or perhaps even saved one or more from an accident trying to avoid it. Regardless, all that matters is that we did the right thing. Perhaps we went just a little above & beyond. And, Jeff got the ants on him, not me!

What would this world look like if we all made a conscious effort to do the right things & go above & beyond when given safe circumstances?




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

wrong again

Writing every day allows my thoughts to be evaluated by a number of readers.  It is not uncommon for many of you to know more about a thing than I do.  I am always glad when a correction comes in.  When people point out that we are wrong, there is no reason to be defensive.  We learn when we are corrected.

So one of my friends is a biologist. On June 10 I wrote a post about why we were created. I said that we were created to love. I said that birds were created to fly. I mentioned the Dodo bird as the only flightless bird. My friend wrote in to remind me that there are other flightless birds that are doing just fine....including the ostrich, emu, cassowary, penguins and kiwi.

So there you have it. Wrong again.

We usually don't ask ourselves if we are wrong because we think we are right. If we thought we were wrong we would change. Wouldn't we?

What am I doing today that is wrong? What am I doing that is wrong that I can't see? Don't be a dodo. A little self introspection is a good thing.

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

This is the story of the unmerciful servant.  It is a sermon about forgiveness, and our general outlook on life.  Do we keep score or do we offer grace and release people.

click here to listen

cell phone manners

Today I am going to rant a little.  Sorry.

When I grew up a telephone hung on the wall.  It had a cord that limited where you could go with it.  There was only one line in our house and we were limited to the amount of time that we could talk with our friends.

Now phones are everywhere.  Everyone has them. Heck if you can’t afford one, there are government subsidies for that, as if having a cell phone was an unalienable right.

Some people have lost all sense of boundaries when it comes to phones.  The world has in essence become their phone booth.  Even though it is not illegal, I find it totally annoying when someone has to make a call on an airplane.  Can’t you wait til we get to the baggage area?  Can’t you just send a text?  And why do you have to talk so loud? 

It should be against the law to talk on the phone when you are in line at Taco Bell  or the grocery store.  I find it completely rude to the clerk and to those in line.

I came out of the grocery store the other day and there were kids selling girl scout cookies.  I always buy their cookies.  Usually I ask the kid what their favorite kind is, I buy that box and give it back to the girl.  If there are 4 girls, I buy 4 boxes.  

But not this time.  You see the leader was on her phone, talking loudly.  I could not hear the girls talk, the woman was so loud. 

Do the world a favor.  Keep your converstations to times and places that are more private.  The world is not our phone booth.

Sorry for the rant.

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

Leadership

I had some thoughts on leadership the other day.  Not new thoughts, but good to remember.

1.  Everyone is a leader.  We are all leading people somewhere.  Forward, backward or just plain into lethargy.  Everyone is a leader and we should take responsibility for our potential to effect others.

2.  Being in charge of something is different than being a leader.  You are only a leader if people follow you.  I remember a Far Side comic from some years ago where the cowboys were out on the range alone.... one said to the other.... "Hey we are missing something.  Yes, the cows!!! Where are the cows!!! We forgot the cows!!!"

3.  The most important part of leadership is building relationships.  People will tolerate weak sermons and all kinds of mistakes if they know that you love them.

4.  Having established relationships, a leader must cast a clear vision.

5.  Every good decision, well communicated that you make fills up your reservoir of good will.

6.  Leaders must learn what they do not know.  We all have strengths and weaknesses.  Good people grow into good leaders because they surround themselves with good allies and they actively work to learn what they do not know.  They set aside their pride and seek to grow in areas where they need to.

7.  Leaders make no excuses.  They take responsibility for where the group is at.  They regroup when they need to and then continue on with the journey.

Random thoughts on leadership.  Who are you trying to lead?  Are they following?  Are you working on relationships?  What can you learn to help yourself improve?

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

Do not be weary in well doing

Don't you dare laugh at me...

So a neighborhood kid asks me to help him with his bicycle.  I say sure.  I drive over to his house [in my wife's car for some reason] I pick up the bike and drive it home.

As I am driving, I think about the condition of the bike.  Really really rusted.  Probably has sat out in the weather for months.

I get home, pull in the garage and unload the car.  When I pick up the bike 1,000 ants come running out of some hole in the bike.  WHAT???!!!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Now I have hundreds of ants running around in my wife's car.  I run and get the spray.  I start spraying them, smashing them, stepping on them.  I am on full fledged ant murder mode.

I think I have killed them all and the stragglers keep showing up.  Boom.  No mercy for you.

Now the front has fallen silent.  No more of the enemy in sight.  The only problem is that my wife's car smells like raid.

No, there is another problem.  I have to go inside and tell her.  UGH!!!

All of this started because I tried to help a young person with a bicycle.  I think I am just going to buy him a new one.  I am certainly not going to take the bike into my garage for repairs.

Do not be weary in well doing.

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

if everyone did what you were doing

I received a very nice note the other day to which I replied...

"if everyone in the world was as nice to each other as you are to me, wow the world would be a wonderful place.
thank you."

So let me expand the question. If everyone talked to others as you do, would the world be a kinder gentler place or would we be at war?

If everyone drove as you drive would the roads be safer or deadly?

If everyone supported the church as I do or you do would there be plenty, or would the church have to close its doors?

If everyone did what you were doing... if everyone did what I was doing.... would the world be a better place?

Never forget that you and I have great power in our own sphere of influence to make an impact in the lives of those around us. In fact we are making an impact, either positively or otherwise.

The world is a beautiful place. Lets use our words, our smiles, our eyes and our hugs to improve 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

Immigration - an unavoidable truth

I believe that every human is valuable.

I believe that the laws of our land should be enforced and followed.

We have an immigration mess in our country.  We need to fix it, because the problem is not going to go away.

Here is an unavoidable truth.  It is impossible to make all undocumented people leave.  Any suggestion that they should leave is not based in the realm of possibility.

 Some years ago I did some math.  If there are 12 million undocumented people in our country and you could put them all on Greyhound buses, that is 50 people on each bus which is 50' long, it would make a long line of buses.  The line in fact, bumper to bumper, would stretch from Tijuana, Mexico to Battle Creek Michigan.  For that matter, Greyhound only has 1,100 buses in the US.  If you could commandeer all of their buses it would take every bus making 218 trips. My point is this... the problem is too large to make the people leave.  It is not going to happen so instead of shouting and arguing that they should leave, we should find a way to resolve the issues that we have.

As in any discussion, we need to find ways to talk to each other with kindness and grace.  This can be an emotionally charged issue.  May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to God.  Psalm 19:14

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

Immigration part 2

Some years ago I was meeting four other preachers for lunch.  We were in the lobby of an Applebees waiting to be seated.

The hot topic on the news the last week prior had been immigration and undocumented or illegal immigrants.  One of my preacher friends started a rant on how illegals should not be allowed in.  Another friend chimed in and agreed.

A third pastor, a woman, said "stop."  "Before any of you get to chiming in on illegal immigrants, I want you to know that I am 1/4 Cherokee.  As far as I am concerned, all of you are illegal immigrants."

Needless to say, the topic of the lunch did not return to immigration.

She made a good point.  Unless you are Native American, your ancestors came from somewhere else.  Mine came from Germany and England.  I am related to Cotton and Richard Mather.

Some of our ancestors came in legally through Ellis Island but many of our ancestors just came over.

These thoughts do not justify people entering America illegally, but I hope it reminds us that we all were in their shoes at one time in the past.

more tomorrow.  Stay Tuned.

It's a beautiful day in God's world - especially in America - 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

Immigration

A friend wrote in and asked me to weigh in on immigration. 

Here are some random thoughts.  I love you all and I want you to know that we can agree or disagree and still love one another.  I have many thoughts on the subject....
Hold on, here goes.

1.  Separating families at the border is a bad idea.  Very painful.  In my opinion it should not be happening.

2.  Immigration should happen in a legal, planned, fair manner.  Clearly our system is and has been broken for years.

3.  Someone [Jeff Sessions?] quoted Romans 13 regarding immigration.  Romans 13 reminds us to obey the laws of the land.  Interesting that Paul wrote those words when the brutal Romans were the law of the land.  I agree that we should obey the laws of the land.  This scripture cannot be used to justify the separating of families at the border.

4.  Most of us know nothing about what happens at the border.  Who comes across secretly or who comes to the check point and asks for asylum.   We don't know anything about the process or the facilities to receive folks at the border.  I am sure that they are swamped and overcrowded.  We don't like what may be happening, but we generally know nothing about what happens at the border.

5.  I totally understand why so many people want to come here.  Have you been to Mexico?  To the back roads of Central America?  I promise you this, if you and I were living there, we would want to come to America.  We would want to come to the land of the free.  We would want to come to a place where we could be safe.  I love you.  I would swim any river or climb any fence to give my family such an opportunity. 

6.  Why were you born here instead of Mexico?  Instead of Russia?  Instead of Ethiopia?  American Christians need to be very careful about how we talk about others.  We were born here because we were lucky or blessed.  That does not make us better than others.

7.  Our economy would falter without immigrants.  Immigrants harvest crops, roof houses and work on lawn crews.  While some folks complain about "illegal immigrants" no one wants to pay more for the services that they provide.

8.  We need to watch our language.  There is no such thing as an illegal person. 

9.  Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus traveled to Egypt after he was born to get away from King Herod.  Jesus was an undocumented migrant child.

I do believe that immigration should be regulated and that people should come into any country legally.  However, our system needs some work and I pray that our congress and senate can resolve these issues.

Always remember that we are talking about human beings.
I love you all.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.  It's really beautiful if you live in America.
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

Don't be sad

When I hear the phrase, "don't be sad," I think of the Meat Loaf song from his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, the name of the song that I am thinking of is "Two out of Three ain't bad."

Don't be sad, cause two out of three ain't bad.

The second thing that I think of is something that I have just thought about in the last few years.  Don't be sad that it is over, be glad that it happened.

Again.  Don't be sad that a thing is over, be glad that it happened.

I can be sad that my father's life is over, or I can be glad that it happened.
I can be sad that that job ended, or I can be glad that it happened.
I can be sad that the circumstances of yesterday have changed, or I can be glad that the joyful things took place.

When I really take a moment and reflect on life, oh my what blessings we have all received.

Don't be sad.  Be glad that it happened.

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 this morning

Click here to listen to the sermon on the Good Samaritan

Click here to listen

My Rules for Church

Gong's are loud annoying and distracting.

First of all, thank you for the many responses to yesterday's post.  You have given me some great ideas to write about.  And don't wait until I am dry to offer me ideas.  I am always glad to hear from you guys.

Several of you asked about the Methodist Church's stand on homosexuality.  Some of you asked me to write about this.  I am going to work on that request over the next month or so, but let me begin today with this.

Jeff's rules for church
1.  Everyone is welcome. 
2.  No one is singled out as being a bigger sinner.
3.  No one is shunned.
4.  No guilt is applied ever.
5.  People are seen as people and treated with dignity and respect.
6.  The #1 rule to be applied to every moment, person and situation is the rule of love.

If I speak in tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am a clanging gong.  See picture above.  Gongs are loud, annoying and they distract us from what we are really supposed to be doing.

As far as I am concerned, any church that shames anyone really needs to get a refresher course from Jesus.

God is a God of love.  Period.

No one is excluded shamed or shunned

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

nothing to say

For the first time in a long time, the blog is late today. 

When I first started posting, I posted every morning.  That was rough.  Sometimes I would wake up with nothing to say.  Some days I would wake up late.  Some days I just did not feel well.  So real time posting has it's issues.

How happy I was when I realized that I could schedule a post to come out on a certain day at a certain time.  So maybe I would feel inspired and write a couple blogs in one day and schedule them to come out over the next few days at 4:30am.

There are still folks that think that I get up and write every day at 4:30.  Not usually so.  Most likely they were written a day or two before and set to come out at 4:30.

Anyway, today the blog is late because the last few days I have not had much to say.  I am not sure why.  I will tell you what is really bad is when it is Sunday morning and you are supposed to preach and you feel like you don't have much to say.

Anyway, here is today's thought... from time to time we don't have much to say.  Our brains take a rest.  We don't always like to think hard.  That is ok.

Now the question is, what am I going to write about tomorrow?  Do you have any ideas?  Any suggestions?  I do know this, I am going to look really hard today and pay attention to life.

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

Far Better

It is far better.  Much far better to welcome someone than to judge them.

Judging is easy, for a while.  Welcoming is difficult to learn but once you do, you see that this is what we are created for.

Be patient with those who still must judge.  We were all there at one time.
Model welcome to and for them and they will eventually learn the ways of love.

Hatred judges.  Love welcomes.  It is as simple as that.
It is far better to welcome someone than to judge them.

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

Richard Rohr's daily devotionals

Some of you know that I am a reader of Richard Rohr's daily devotionals. Like all daily writing, some are better than others.  I thought that this one was fantastic.

 
After reading this, if you are interested in signing up for his daily writings, here is the link

Click here to sign up for his daily devotionals


Creative Leaders
Wednesday, June 6, 2018

I'm sad to report that in the past few years, ever since uncertainty became our insistent 21st century companion, leadership has taken a great leap backwards to the familiar territory of command and control. —Margaret Wheatley (b. 1944), researcher of organizational behavior [1]

There is no greater training for true leadership than living in the naked now. There, we can set aside our own mental constructs, receive input and ideas from all directions, and lead even more creatively and imaginatively—with the clearer vision of one who lives beyond himself or herself. This is surely why some of Christianity’s great mystics, such as Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), and Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), were also first-rate leaders, motivators of others, and creative reformers of institutions.

Here are some insights into what every good, servant-hearted, nondual leader knows and practices, whether in community, in the workplace, or in the classroom. Creative leaders:

• are seers of alternatives.
• move forward by influencing events and inspiring people more than by ordering or demanding.
• know that every one-sided solution is doomed to failure. It is never a lasting solution but only a postponement of the problem.
• learn to study, discern, and search together with others for solutions.
• know that total dilemmas are very few. We create many dilemmas because we are internally stuck, attached, fearful, over-identified with our position, needy of winning the case, or unable to entertain even the partial truth that the other opinion might be offering.
• know that wisdom is “the art of the possible.” The key question is no longer “How can I problem solve now and get this off my plate?” It is “How can this situation achieve good for the largest number and for future generations?”
• continue finding and sharing new data and possibilities until they can work toward consensus from all sides.
• want to increase both freedom and ownership among the group—not subservience, which will ultimately sabotage the work anyway.
• emphasize the why of a decision and show how it is consistent with the group’s values.

In short, good leaders must have a certain capacity for thinking beyond polarities and tapping into full, embodied knowing (prayer). They have a tolerance for ambiguity (faith), an ability to hold creative tensions (hope), and an ability to care (love) beyond their own personal advantage.

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; Gone too soon

I listened to the news today. And yesterday.

 My heart hurts for the people who have taken their own lives.

 What were they going through? Were they sad? Lonely? Hopeless? Had they lost their health? My heart hurts for their loved ones who are left behind to try and make sense of their actions.

 For those of us who are not in such a bad place, it’s hard to understand how someone could end their own life. I have some friends who have lost loved ones to suicide. One friend lost a daughter, as a result of bullying. Another lost a daughter, who had a series of unfortunate disappointments. It has been said that suicide is “a permanent solution to temporary problems."

Friends, life is made to be lived with love and joy, gratitude and blessings. Will we have disappointments and heartache along the way? YES. Will people disappoint us? YES. Count on it.

 But, we have a God who loves us MORE than we could ever imagine. A God who is FOR us, who created us for a purpose. God calls each one of us to love one another. Could we have prevented someone from committing suicide? Maybe….maybe not. But, we are called to love, to reach out to others. A kind word, a smile, an invitation to lunch, a conversation, a compliment. You never know how your kindness will impact someone, and maybe, just maybe, save a life. Be kind to others always, you never know what they are going through.

It is still 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

Annual Conference

So I attended Annual Conference last week.  Isn't it interesting how every year there are fewer and fewer people  that I know.  It is interesting to watch yourself and your peers go from being the new young guys, to the stable experienced guys, to the guys who are on the way out. 

And then you are out. 

One night a bunch of us went out to an establishment that had karaoke.  We heard that a lot of the young pastors went there to sing.  Oh my yes!  There was a very large group of young pastors.  They were so handsome and energetic and I did not know any of them.  And they sang the strangest of songs. 

There was no way that I was going to get up to sing.  Someone would have said, hey look it's a grandpa!

Age gives way to youth, every time.  Every time.  Time waits for no man.

And so I reflect on this Annual Conference.  A time to catch up with friends.  A time to realize that it is just time for me to drift on to the next part of life.  Thankfully I have my friends at Ft. Pierce First and plenty of others things in this part of life.

Yes I am older, yes I have lost my hair.  Yes I didn't know the songs that they were singing.  But I still have a song, and so do you.  Things will certainly change in this life, but never stop singing your song.

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

Happy Birthday Sissy!!!

Julie and Jeff circa 1960

Today is my sister Julie's birthday.  I am not sure who is older but she sure looks better than I do. 

I have known her most of my life.  Well sort of.  Somehow we were raised in a home where you did not get to know the other people who lived there.  Don't ask me how that can be.  We don't understand it either.

Julie circa 1974

I think there were times when my sister did not get me and I did not get her.  But I am so happy that in the last 15 years or so, all of that has turned around.  I have had the great privilege to get to know and deeply love my sister.  And she is married to Mark, a fantastic man.

I always told my kids... be nice to the other children in this house, they will always be your blood.  I am so happy to have both of my sisters, Julie and Amy.  But today is Happy Birthday to Sissy.  I LOVE YOU!

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 were we created?

Why are we here.  Why are you here?  There is something that we are created for.

Birds were created to fly.  If you clip a birds wings you take away his reason for being here.  You make him vulnerable and a victim.  There was once a species of flightless birds.  We called them Dodo birds.  They are extinct.  Without flight, birds are in trouble.

We were created for something just as specific.  You were created to be loved. Living unloved is like clipping a birds wings. Pain has a way of doing that to us.

Since we know intrinsically that we were created to be loved, we hate stories of child abuse and of animal abuse.  We hate school shootings. We want to put an end to spousal abuse. 

We know inside of ourselves that we matter and that we were made to love and be loved. 

Therefore....

spend your time loving others.... as many as you can.

spend your time hugging and passing on positive comments.

open yourself to receive love.  Accept a comment.  Accept a hug.  Find people that will love you and let them in.

Don't clip other's wings and don't clip your own.  For sure don't let anyone else clip your wings.  You are here to love and be loved.  So rise up and fly!

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

Detachment

When we first learn about love we attach ourselves to things that make us happy.  We say things like, “I can’t live without him or her.”  Our love in this stage of life, if we are honest with ourselves is about others filling the various gaps in our lives.  Sort of a “I need you to make me whole.”

The problem with this kind of love is that it tends to make demands and attempt to manipulate others when the object of our love is not making us happy.

What if we learned to be happy, learned to be complete, learned to be whole, in and of ourselves.  Just me and God.  Just you and God.  We could care about others, we could love others without demanding that they satisfy our longings.

Wholeness begins, real love begins when we stop wanting the other person to solve our problems.  Set them free from your demands.  Set yourself free to become complete in God.

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

Flat Tire

When I was 16 my first car was a 63 Ford Galaxie 500.  I could not afford real tires, so I bought retreads [remember those?] I bought them from the gas station for $10 each, installed.  [note, my parents did not buy my tires…] 

  I was constantly getting flats so I had to learn how to plug a tire.  It is a skill that would save me a lot of money over the years and come in handy on many occasions.

So my wife’s car has the display that tells you the tire pressure and it has a message center that tells you that something is wrong.  She came into the house from the store and told me that her rear tire was 24 pounds.  So I went to work.  She must have picked up a nail I thought.

No, to my total surprise, she somehow managed to run over an allen wrench.  Somehow, that square hexagonal shaped end went right into her tire.  A nail, sure, a screw, sure, but I would have never thought that a person could get a flat from an allen wrench.

this is the culprit

I keep white out around to mark the location
of the hole after the violating nail or screw is removed.

plug kit

Jack up the car, remove the wheel.
Blue foam is to protect my old knees.

All done!!!

All things are possible.

I plugged 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

A Birthday Gift that I forgot I had

I bought some flowers to plant the other day.  I so enjoyed shopping for them.  Since planting is much easier in Florida soil as opposed to Missouri soil, I went to look for my little shovel.  This is the little version of the common shovel.

Years ago I was working with the landscape team at church and saw that Jonnie Wells had a very cute little shovel.  I comment on how cool I thought it was.  Well, that year for my birthday, she presented me with my own personal little shovel.

Here I was planting flowers in Florida and I saw that inscription on the shovel “Jeff 2009.”  I smiled.  That made me happy.  Good friends, good times, good memories.

Blue Salvia, Pentas, Vinca

Penta and ?

It made me feel good to plant the flowers.  Now I just need to find some mulch.

All creation speaks to us of the beauty and glory of God.

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 devil has a plan

I was talking to a friend the other day and they told me that God had a plan for everyone and so did the devil.

Let's think about that for a moment.
God can have a plan for us because God is infinite, all knowing and all present.

The devil has a plan for us?
That implies that the devil who is a finite created being somehow knows every single person on the earth.  And boom, we have made him the opposite of God.

It sounds interesting to say that the devil has a plan, but there is no way that a limited creation of God can know and have a plan for everyone in the world.
We have made the devil way too big.
Whatever he is, he is not the opposite of God.

God has a plan.  Bank on that.

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 most marvelous day

Last week Thursday was the most marvelous day!

I was not working so I woke up and asked myself, what will I do today?  It is the great question of retired people.  What will I do today?

Back up.

The day was marvelous.  It started well.  I woke up.  Thank you Jesus for another day!  May we always be thankful for the gift of another day.

So I decide that I am going to do the brakes on my 2006 Ford pickup.  It has 208,000 miles on it and I don't think that the brakes have ever been done.  At least the rotors have never been turned.  They are warped and scored and need to be replaced.

Old worn out rotor

old cracked brake pad

Now a disc brake job is not that bad, providing that you can get the bolts loose.  Oh, and as long as the rotor is not rusted on to the wheel.

So I got to work.  I thank and praise my friend Bruce Letner who taught me how to do brakes back in 2006 or so.  What a good man he is.  I miss him.

I worked for two hours on the passenger side.  No problems.  The driver's side too me 30 minutes.  Yes there is a bit of a learning curve.

looking good.  Thank you Bruce!

Now it is 1pm and I am hungry.  I make the most marvelous tuna sandwich.  Bread, tuna, dab of mayo, pickles, onions and tomatoes.  My friend Jean Fisher fed me my first tuna sandwich with onions when I was in grade school.  MMMMMM.  I have loved tuna salad with onions ever since.

I am eating this sandwich.  I am very proud of getting the truck brakes done.  I am enjoying this sandwich.  I think to myself, what a wonderful day!

Since then I want to tell myself that I should feel that way every day.  What a wonderful marvelous day!  Every day is a gift to savor. 

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