the path

We are going somewhere and there is a path.  Let's talk about the Christian path for a moment.  Not everyone is on it, but many are. 

Many people that I do not agree with are on the same path with me.  They are at a different place on the path, but they are on the path.  Some folks I so dislike what they stand for, but they are on the Christian path. 

Maybe at one time in the past I was where they are on the path.  Probably in the future, we will all be at different places on the path.

I don't agree with them, but we are on the same path.

Rather than being angry or hateful or frustrated about other Christian's behavior, I find it helpful to remind myself that we are on the same path, just in very different places.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Hey Jude

My Friend Linda wrote in and reminded me of the words of the song, "Hey Jude."

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.  Take a sad song and make it better.

When someone is down we can always kick them.  We can gossip.  We can hurt them.  But we can also take their sad song, and make it better.  That is what Christians are invited to do: To see the hurting, have compassion on the hurting, and help them to regain their smile.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Sermon Audio from 2-24-19 Compassion

Click here to listen

Click to hear sermon on compassion

Why we are not happy

Sometimes we are not happy.  Something did not go our way.  The world did not align itself to make me happy. 

How silly it is that we think that things should go my way.  How silly to think that somehow the world will make me happy if I get what I want.

We are unhappy when we don't get what we want, and then often still unhappy when we do.  As long as we want more, we are going to feel disappointed.

Oh, I wish the world would align itself to make me happy.

What if the real problem is not the world, not the world aligning itself.  What if the real problem is me and my crazy expectations for the world.  Who or what ever taught me that I have a right to demand that the world line up in such a fashion?

Reality is what it is. I need to learn to change my expectations so that I can be happy whether I get what I want or not.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. [I have learned to be content because Jesus helps me to stop wanting everything.] Philippians 4:11-13

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Learning to dance

From my friend Pat...

When I was about 14, I went to my first junior high dance. Remember that? Girls on one side, boys on the other. Everyone wanting to dance, or at least talk to someone from “the other side”; mustering courage in the face of rejection.

I didn’t now how to dance: what I didn’t know is that no one else did either. Later in life, when I chaperoned these events, I was reminded of watching worms in hot ashes: lots of motion, not much direction.

Fear of rejection haunts all of us. None of us really know how to do life when we start. Others (your parents, and so on) can tell you, but you have to learn to dance on your own. And if you never take a chance, you will never experience the joy of failure or success at dancing.

Christianity is that way. Its a way of life. Everyone at your church except you seems to “get it”. They do Sunday school, men’s groups, women’s groups, accountability groups, quote the Bible, and so on. You? You’re just there on your side of the gym.

So the question is will you venture across the basket ball court and take a chance: will you give yourself and your treasure away to others?, will you forgive?, will you accept the unfamiliar?, will you love, whether you’re loved back or not? Just remember. No matter what it seems, no one else knows how to do this perfectly either.

Its all scary, but if you want to dance, you have to take a chance.

Think on 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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

best day of my life part 3

Graduation Party 2009

What a day this was!

Left to right, Allison, me, Jennifer, Cathy, Scott.

This is Friday, January 23rd, 2009.  After years of hard work, while working full time, my wife Cathy has graduated from college.  This is not an easy feat when you are working full time.

Now it is time to celebrate.  Here is the story.

Back in '09 I had a friend that owned a lemo.  Cathy and I went to dinner at Buffalo Wild wings in Independence.  I told her that our friends would be picking us up at a particular time to go to some party.  I selected a table where I could see out the window.   I told the server that we would be leaving soon and I paid the bill upfront.  Cathy and I ate our food and drank a beer and told stories.  Then the lemo pulled up.

It is a snowy night in Kansas City.  We get in the Lemo and our friends are not there.  I ask the driver [who is onto all of this] where are our friends.  He says that they will meet us up in a bit.  He drives around the snowy streets for about 20 minutes and we enjoyed the pampered feeling that only comes from riding in a lemo.

Finally the driver pulls up to the Blue Roof house.  This is the former home of Kansas City's Secret Santa, Larry Stewart.  The house is now a clubhouse.  I have texted ahead to our friends inside the clubhouse and when we walk in the door 50 of our dearly loved friends shout out "surprise!!!"

Cathy has no idea what is going on.  She does not know that this is a party for her.  Her friends come and put a sash on her that says "graduate."  She has not seen the children for weeks and now they have all come home from college to surprise her.

We spend the next three hours listening to the DJ spin the tunes, eating, drinking and hugging friends.

I will always look back on this day as one of my favorite days.
Every human should have a day where they are surprised with a celebration of who they are.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

give credit, take responsibility

One of the things that I have always tried to live by is the statement, "give credit, take responsibility." 

When something goes right and you take credit for the good, you make it about you.  When instead, you give others credit you lift them up and fill their souls. 

When something goes wrong, take responsibility.  Never cast blame to others.  Bear upon your own shoulders as much of the loss as you can.  Blaming others hurts them... sometimes beyond repair.  Taking responsibility frees others and gives them a chance to love you.

When things are up, point to others.
Why was the worship service good?  Great music, great hospitality.
When things are down, point to self.
Why was that worship service flat?  Well, it was probably not one of my best sermons.

In this life we have the change to love people and heal them.  We can push them away or we can endear ourselves to them. 

Give credit.  Take responsibility.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

best day of my life part 2

Gosh this could be a great series of blogs.  Reminiscing on the best days of my life.  I could talk about getting married, I could talk about the days that my children were born.  I could talk about being ordained in 1991 by Bishop W. T. Handy.  I could talk about playing softball.  I could talk about so many things.

Today I want to tell you about a very difficult day for me.  Mid January 2017... I had just announced that I was leaving Cape Coral.  After 7 months in the appointment, I was shattered.  I was a broken man.  I had done what my Father taught me never to do... I had quit something.  [long pause] 

Believe me, I gave consideration to every option before doing so.  Anyway, I was low, very low.  I had loaded up my 2006 Honda Civic with about everything that it could hold.  There would be many more such trips back and forth, cleaning out the parsonage and moving back to Vero Beach.  Gosh just listening to the description of this day would make a person wonder how this day becomes a best day.

So I am driving toward LaBelle, FL.  Sulking, crying, wondering, doubting, hurting, totally lost as to where my life was going.  And the phone rings.

Jeff, this is Kent Miller.  "I am not ready for this to be over yet."

WOW!!! What powerful words.  In a moment where I think everything is over, a friend from Cape Coral says that it is not over.  Now I am smiling as I remember that moment.  It took a sad heart and made it glad.  It was as if he reached down, put his hand on me and healed me.

In the last two years Kent and I have stayed in touch.  We shared a hurricane together last year, boarded up in the Vero Beach house.  We had dinner this week.

He is a very good man.
Nothing is ever quite as over as you may think.
Don't cha know.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

best day of my life, Part 1

I remember back to this day as one of the best days of my life.
Well, if I think on that phrase for a moment, it could apply to today, and today is just beginning.
What would happen if we started every day with a belief that today was going to be the best day of my life?

Instead of a gloomy staggering out, looking for a cup of coffee, we might spring out of bed with a smile on our faces.  How might that affect the others that I meet on the journey today?

I remember this day as one of the best days of my 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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Jesus is bigger than the church

As Amos Smith writes: “My core truth about Jesus isn’t rooted in mainstream Christian tradition. It’s rooted in Jesus’ essence. It’s about the deep stillness of silent prayer and a theology big enough to give that blessed stillness words."

All churches try to define and explain Jesus, but Jesus is bigger than the church.  When the greatest theologian of all time gets to heaven he is going to say, Wow!!!  When the greatest Christian author meets Jesus in heaven he is going to say, Amazing!!!  When the most powerful pastors and bishops get to meet Jesus in person they are going to see that Jesus is bigger, much bigger than the dogmas of our churches.

I love the church and I am all for the church, but don't let your God be limited by the doctrine that you have been taught.

Jesus is bigger than the church.  Jesus is bigger than we have let him be in the past.  Free Jesus from what you have been taught about him.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

accepting things as they are

My friend Bev sent this in... I love 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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Rude

I was rude

I ran into someone the other day. They were rude to me. I was rude back.

Later I began to feel badly about returning rudeness for rudeness. I know how their rudeness made me feel. I wondered if my rudeness to them made them feel badly as well. I never want anyone to feel badly because of something that I said or did. I went and found them and apologized. Guess what? They were rude again.

I don’t care. I needed to apologize for my rudeness. Bad behavior by others is no excuse for bad behavior on my part.

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.....

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

healing

My son plays a lot of video games.  Most of them involve some kind of combat.  In many of them there is a feature where you can either heal an injured person, or your character can be a healer.

Oh to be a healer.

If I could heal you I would.  If I could ease your pain I would.  If I could put my hand on your knee, your back or your pancreas and heal it, I would.

If I could heal your heart, I would.  A hug, a kiss, a sit down talk, a prayer, the magical ambiance of just being together, whatever it took, I would heal you.  If I could.

I love you.

May we all heal as many people as we can.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

movement away from self

Some people respond to pain with anger.  This isn't fair.  This isn't right.  They are mad at life and mad at God.

Some people don't understand that life is not about them and what they want.  So when things don't go their way, they are upset.

But pain and difficulty can be used by a person to grow.  Difficulty reminds me that I am not in control.  The illusion of my invincible ego is shattered by pain.  I am not in charge.  There is something bigger than me.

Don't fight God over something that you don't like, fall into God.

Release yourself from wanting it all to go your way.  Don't fight life, enter it.  Savor it.  Life is a fleeting gift, best lived when we take it all in, the good and the bad.  It was never about me and it is always going to be bigger than I am.

Difficulty does not bring the loss of self, but the flowering of it.  
                                                     Martin Laird

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Dad Jokes

From time to time I am accused of delivering "Dad jokes."  Honestly, most of my really bad jokes I get from Dave Harris.

I bought a Delorean last week.  I will probably only drive it from time to time.

I have some jokes about the unemployed.  Unfortunately none of them work.

I googled how to start a wild fire.  I got 48,000 matches.

Did you hear about the guy who invented lifesavers?  He made a mint.

Why couldn't the pony talk?  He was a little horse.

I had a dream that I was a muffler.  I woke up exhausted.

5/4 of people admit that they are bad with fractions.

A little humor is good from time to time.  Especially if you are driving a Delorean. 

Laugh with me!!!!!!!!!

Send me your worst jokes.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

love or wrath?

Is the cross a sign of God's wrath or God's love.  You can use scripture to support both approaches.  I was, as many of us were, raised on the concept that goes like this...

you were bad
God is mad
he wants revenge
he wants justice
he wants to hurt someone to make it even
Jesus took our place
God slaughtered him
Now God's anger is appeased
we are still bad but God is over it.
[gosh when I write it out like that it sounds so wrong...]

This line of thinking, taught by many churches and pastors sure makes God sound like a small, petty human.

Imagine what would happen to us if we chose to take revenge every time that someone wronged us?  We would all eventually end up in jail.  Our momma's taught us better, but for some reason we find it acceptable to think that God is punitive, small and retributive.

What if the cross is really a sign of God's love?  God so loved the world.  What if this act of sending Jesus is not punitive, but is the largest, most amazing gift that anyone could give?  What if God is giving a part of himself to reach us?  What if he loves you so much that he went this far to show it?  What if salvation is simply seeing the love, accepting it and following it?

That is a big beautiful God with a big amazing heart.  I love that 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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Make friends

Years ago I was telling my friend Tim about a new problem that had come into my life. He said, well you better make friends with that.

This is not what I wanted to hear. He was right, but it was not what I wanted to hear. Over the years I have done as he suggested, I have made friends, I have made peace with the difficulty.

None of us want difficulty in our lives, but it comes to each of us. We can fight it, and it controls our life. We can become angry and bitter. But why?

If we really believe in not worrying and in trusting God, then we need to take a chill pill and come to grips with some of the bad things that come our way.

For me, my list includes:

• occasional loneliness
• a sagging face
• muscle atrophy
• abdominal adhesions
• a very bad knee
• kids that don't always do what I think they should
• a chronic lung disease
• missing deceased friends
• missing being a senior pastor

Gosh guys the world just won't align itself to make me happy!!!

These items have become guests in the house of our life. We can fight them, or we can make friends with them. Fight them and you are miserable. Welcome them and we begin to understand life. We free ourselves to live.

It's not a beautiful day because everything is copacetic. It is a beautiful day because in spite of the rain, the clouds, and our list of issues, we choose to see the good.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

No don't, just do

From my friend Pat...

There are plenty of places in the Bible where, after doing something amazing, Christ tells the beneficiary not to say anything to anyone. Of course, that’s like telling a kid not to stick beans up their nose: the minute you say it you guarantee it will happen. Maybe Jesus managed human nature that way. Otherwise his admonitions run counter to the parable that you don’t hid a lamp under a cloak, you put it high up where it can be seen.

I think Jesus had a pretty good understanding of how humans worked. Telling them not to do something almost guarantees it will happen. Look at all the “Thou Shalt Nots” in the 10 commandments. Its almost as if the minute Moses downloaded the commandments from the cloud onto his tablet , people began ignoring them.

Which brings us back to Jesus. His commandments don’t contain “don’t”. Love God. Show it by taking care of one another.

This dark skinned, poor Jewish teacher really did start a new religion based on “do” rather than “don’t”.

Think about 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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Best Friends

Many years ago I said to a friend, "you are my best friend."  He said, no sorry, I have many best friends.

It hurt my feelings, but I got his point.  He was a good guy, but I have completely lost track of him.

Ten years ago I asked someone if I was their best friend.  [I really should have learned]  He said, no, you are about #20 on the list.  He was serious.  I rarely talk with this person today.  Good person, life just moved on.

We have acquaintances, we have friends, and then we have FRIENDS.

I am so thankful today for all of you.  For those of you I barely know, those of you that I know and love.  Those of you who are my friends and those of you who are close friends.

I love you all.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

scars

When I was 3 I got stitches on my forehead = scar.  When I was 9 I split my knee open = scar.  When I was 22 a metal band raked my hand = scar.  Age 44, rotator cuff = scar.  Age 51 gall bladder = scar.

By the time we are in our 50's and 60's we have collected a large number of scars.  I am not referring to bodily injury, but to heart hurts.  Those wounds that break us on the inside. 

Hatefulness delivered to us.  Judgment pronounced upon us.  Rejection by a friend.  Loss of innocence.  Distancing of a loved one.  Simply being ignored by those you depend upon.  Being fired.  Being insulted.  Not being loved.  Wound, wound wound after wound.

By the time we are in our 50's and 60's we have a collection of wounds and the resulting scars.  Sometimes I a see that a wound has been put to rest.  All that is left is the scar.  Thank God for those. 

But sometimes a wound, 10, 20, 30 + years old, one that I thought was healed up, one of those, begins to ooze.  The pain is back, the tears are back, just as if it happened yesterday.

What to do?
1.  Regain cognitive control. Tell yourself that you will not be controlled by your emotions. 
2.  Remind yourself that how you feel about this will pass.
3.  If need be, revisit it.  Re-forgive the person.  See Jesus standing with them. 
4.  See that you yourself are forgiven.  You yourself are being given grace.
5.  Feel the joy of being a person that lives in grace.

We will carry the scars.  Sometimes they will ooze.  But the healing balm of God's love can always help us to get to the other side.  As the artist Pink says, we're not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

Debate Mom

I have a friend who is the debate mom.  She was given this title by the debate team because she is always there for them and always caring.  She drives them places, motivates them, feeds them and supports them.  She listens to them.  She listens to them.  She listens to them.  She has become that significant other that every young person needs.  They honored her commitment with a title.  Debate Mom.

I find this to be a very Holy thing.   Is there anything more holy than young people deciding that they love you?  To gain someone's trust is a beautiful thing.  To care for the vulnerable is a lovely thing.

We can live out our Christianity in so many ways.  Just to see people and to love them is why we are here.

Way to go Debate Mom!!!

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

my last 24 hours

A friend of mine passed away last week.  Good person, good heart, ready to meet Jesus.  She was but a few years older than me.  As always, things like this cause us to think of our own mortality.

What would I like to do with the last 24 hours of my life?  If I knew that my life would end on a Friday at 10pm and I could orchestrate the final 24 hours, what would I do?

I would line you up, single file.  And then, one by one, I would look you in the eyes and tell you that I loved you.  I would hug you and tell you that I love you.  I would thank you.

Tim, Kathy, Bruce, Kim, David, Gina, Paul, Billie, MaryAnn, Sharon, Cathy, Alli, Jenny, Scott, Carlotta, Chris, Tim, John, David, Rick, Pam, Nancy, Alan, Nancy, Brian, Jane, Doug, Karla, Greg, Betsy, Martha, Kathy, Len, Joan, Kim, Matt, Sherri, Donna, Lewis, John, Valerie, Hubert, Betty, Billie, Dick, Mary, Becky, Tim, on and on and on and on and on.  [don't feel bad if I left your name off, I still love you.]

I hug you and I love you and I thank you.  24 hours of saying, I love you.  That is what I would do with the last 24 hours of my life.

That would be a beautiful day.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

what's in a name

I drove by a sign for a church the other day, the church's name was "Real Church."  I have also seen Journey Church, Legacy Church, Grace Church, Bible Church and many others.

What if real church isn't real?  What if journey church doesn't take you on a healthy journey?  What if legacy church leaves a painful legacy?  What if the bible church totally misinterprets the bible?  What if grace church doesn't dispense grace?

A name is only a name.  If the core isn't good, then a name won't help.

On the other hand, if you take a church that is full of authentic people who are gracious and kind and mission driven, if you find a church that is packed with love and hope and grace, then you could name it about anything.

Smith Memorial Methodist Church
First United Methodist
Fourth Church of my town.

People would flock to the place because what is on the inside is real and really good.  Let's spend less time on the cute names and more time on the culture.  Let's spend less time on marketing our story and let the hearts of the good people inside explode with joy into their neighborhoods.  If the people are excited about their church, then no sales campaign will help.

I invite you to provide authentic, joyful, grace filled faith to your congregation, no matter what the name.

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

How you made me feel

People may or may not remember what you said.
People may or may not remember what you did.
People will always remember how you made them feel.

Someone might say, I am the boss.  I don't care how they feel.  I am the Father, I don't care how they feel.  I am the authority, I don't care how they feel.  Stop.  STOP!  In any setting, this is wrong and destructive thinking.

You can discipline a child without crushing their spirit.  You can direct, even terminate an employee without beating them down.  There is always a way to help someone feel loved.

A kind look, looking them in the eye.
A genuine smile.
Patient listening.
Seeking them out.
Words of encouragement.
A small gift.
Giving them attention.
A hug at the right time.

Are you a Pastor? Mother? Father? Employer?
They will remember how you made them feel.

If you are not good at helping people feel loved, then it is time to learn.  It is a huge core part of the Jesus stuff.

How do you make them feel?

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

feeling bad

I was watching a show the other day and a 12 year old boy was being a bully.  It was ugly.  He was angry and ugly and he hurt other kids.  Finally an adult reached into his life and asked him why he was doing this.  Why was he bullying other kids.

The boy said, "I feel bad all the time and I want them to feel bad too."

This attitude may explain a good deal of misbehavior.  It may explain some of the school shootings.  It may explain some of the nasty, bitter, mean attitudes that we witness in life.  Some folks just want you to be as miserable as they are.

There is another way.  THERE IS ANOTHER WAY.  There is a better way.

Jesus, in pain on the cross, said, "Father forgive them."  Jesus looked past his own pain and offered grace to others.  He even offered grace to those who were crucifying him.  Do we choose to hurt back in this life?  Do we choose to pass along the pain to others or do we choose to absorb the paid and offer grace instead.

To hurt others only hurts us.  It resolves nothing.  The cycles of fear, hatred and revenge only continue.  However, when we choose to move past our pain, when we don't allow it center stage, then something good can rise to the surface.  Grace can pour out of us instead of anger.  This my friends, is a beautiful thing in deed. To find yourself in a situation where nasty behavior is possible, but to instead deliver grace, this is a holy thing indeed.

Do you feel bad and hurt others or do you feel bad and choose to bless others?

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

choices Jesus made

From my friend Pat-

There is a story in the Bible about the temptation of Christ. You know the details: 40 days in the wilderness, offers of fame, riches and glory. Long conversations with the devil.

I often wonder how the Bible stories came to be. If that happened, the only person who could report it is Christ(or I suppose Satan, but in my experience a guy with horns, a tail and a slightly red body tint is usually nowhere to be found in day to day life). I think more likely, Christ, with his extraordinary talents was truly tempted by his own abilities, inclinations and options: he could have been a king, or a wealthy man, but chose a different path.

I don’t like the notion that people who rise to governmental leadership posts, or financial success made bad choices and are bad people. I don’t believe Christ preached that idea. I do think he made a choice of how to best use the gift of life. As an impoverished teacher of wisdom, Christ’s legacy has endured where as a famous king, or wealthy success, his influence might well have disappeared. His legacy has made our lives richer where if he’d made a different choice, we might never have remembered him.

Which to me is the real point of the story. Living our lives as Christ taught is the goal and reward itself. It is not incompatible with political leadership, or financial success; in fact a Christ driven life will facilitate “success”. But be careful of what the definition of success is; not the accumulation of riches or power, but the lasting legacy of care for others.

In other words, if all you’ve done with your life was for yourself, you can’t expect anything from anyone else. On the other had, when you’ve spent your life giving yourself away, well, you won’t worry about getting anything from anybody else in the first place.

Think on 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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

what to say to an angry person

A friend of mine wrote in and asked what she should say to an angry person.  I related this story to her.

A few weeks ago I was catching up with someone and they were going on and on about how angry and upset they were with President Trump.

[Now I don't agree with everything the President does, and that goes for Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton, etc.]

But, do we want to spend our life being angry?  Do we want to spend this entire day being angry?  What a waste of time.  Can I fix the President?  Does the White House take my phone calls?  Protracted anger is a waste of time.

When we are angry we are off mission.  Anger keeps us from loving.  It keeps us from seeing people.  It is a barrier that disconnects us from others. 

Let's give up on the anger and lets spend our time loving. 

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

For those caring for an aging parent

My friend Ginger sent this in to me.

Two years ago my 94-year-old mother first started showing signs of memory lapses. Small things at first. Not alarming, but not quite right either. I took her to a memory clinic and after a grueling hour-long interview, the clinician said mom had a mild cognitive impairment.

Well today the story is very different. She can no longer follow a conversation, sees things, doesn’t remember events that happened a day ago, has asked me “Where is Ginger, I haven’t seen her in days,” and I say “Mom, I’m right here.” She believes 2 boys live in her apartment at night, but thankfully they have no intention of hurting her.

I must admit, that even after the early signs became much more challenging, I was still blind-sided by what has become her new reality. It never occurred to me that my strong, independent, smart mother would be diagnosed with a debilitating dementia. An MRI a couple of months ago confirmed that her brain is dying—global atrophy beyond what is considered normal aging.

I say I was blind-sided by all of this because I never thought caregiving would be a part of my life as I had planned it, and I certainly never expected I would be asked to take care of a mother who probably did her best, but frankly wasn’t very good at taking care of me.

I was struggling with this issue until I found an amazing book Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by John Dunlop, a geriatrician, whose own mother suffered from dementia. I paraphrase what he wrote that certainly spoke to me:

if you find yourself in a place where you are the only, likely person available to care for a loved one with dementia, it probably is no accident. Caring is a distinct calling from God, not something we randomly fall into. Caregiving will be a trial, a difficult journey, but carefully orchestrated by a loving God to transform the life of the caregiver.

Some days are really hard and I come home and sit outside at night and cry. Other days are good days and I share with my friends some of the funny stories about things my mom may say or do. I find laughing with safe friends about funny things tucked inside this tragedy to be healing. Still, I have to remind myself several times each week a truth I’ve learned about this devastating disease. Even though there may be good days, and I love those days, it's unfortunately not going to get any better. I’m now 9 months into this journey, not knowing how long it will take or where it will take me. But I do remember the importance of this from God's Word:

Honor your father and mother.

And I already know this journey is a blessing for me as much as it is for my mom.

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.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots

with optional Jerusalem extension

March 4-13, 2019

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs

I was once better

I was watching a TV show and the main character said, "Once upon a time I was a better version of myself."

That struck a chord in me. I used to be able to run.  I used to be able to lift heavy things.  I never took naps.  I used to know how life was supposed to go.   Maybe I just thought I knew what life was about and I was carrying it out. Cross the T‘s and dot the I's. Now I am older and everything is more complicated.  There are no simple answers anymore.

But, maybe today's version of me is good too.  While I can no longer do much of what I used to do, there are some things that I can do.   What does it mean today for me to be the best version of me?  I think it boils down to loving God and loving others.  What good is it to run if we cannot love?  What good is it to be smart if we do not love?

A new commandment I give unto you.  Love one another.
                                                        Jesus

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.....

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

Paris-Normandy River Cruise
October 23-31, 2019
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rc19102319x17768#.W3avNFJK3cs