be the reason

I saw this on a church sign in Vero Beach the other day...

"Be the reason that someone believes in goodness."

I love that.  Nothing more to say.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

love is indiscriminate

Indiscriminate- love is indiscriminate.  It is not given to some and withheld from others. True love goes out to all.  As the lamp provides light to all, true love is indiscriminate.   As the scent of the rose is available to all,  so love is blind.  The tree provides shade to the good and the evil, love is available to all.

When we are acting in love, the kindness goes out to all.  We love the friend and the foe.  The home team and the rival.  We love those who like us and those who hate us.  True love goes out to all.   Don't be bothered by anyone.   Don't be disturbed by anyone who is mean.  Keep loving.  Keep caring.   Let the shade fall on them,  the scent of the rose find them.  Let the light of your love go out to all.

Love cannot be contained.  It wants to come out of us.   It wants to forgive.   It wants to heal.  Don't be overcome by your hurts, find the love in your heart and give it out again.   Give it back again. And again.  To the new person in the office, to the old curmudgeon, to the friend, to the surly, to the rich to the poor.  When we learn to love like God loves, everyone is the recipient.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Hatred disguised as love

In "high demand" religious groups, hate often masquerades as love.  You will hear phrases like, "love the sinner, hate the sin."  You will hear phrases like, "there is no love without truth."

In both cases, love has been highjacked by truth.  And not just truth, but their version of the truth.

Values are great, sure.  But Jesus never sacrificed people because of some "truth."  In fact, one of the things that causes us to love Jesus is his uncanny way of setting aside the values of the day to welcome a broken human.

When Samaritans were heretics, he welcomed them.  When lepers were outcasts, he healed them.  When the Romans were occupiers, he was there for them.  When the Pharisees were self-righteous, he met with them, if they were willing.

Love doesn't have a but.  I love you but... I hate your sin.  That is not love.  I love you but, here is the truth... that is not love.

Love simply loves.  True love flies freely.  It moves in unbounded ways from the heart of one person to another.  

You have tattoos?  I love you.  You are the wrong religion, I love you.  You voted for the other candidate, I love you.

Simply said, I love you.  No qualifications, just love.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Poor Ocean View

I am feeling bad for the Ocean View UMC.  I am supposed to preach there on July 6.  I have this sermon idea in my head and it won't go away.  

I have worked on it and worked on it.  I have gone to bed for several weeks thinking about and practicing this first sermon. 

Well in a matter of minutes, I put myself to sleep with this sermon.  Can you imagine how many people in the congregation will be out after 5 minutes of listening to me?  If I can't keep myself awake, how will it be any good for anyone else?

What if I start into the sermon on July 6, and I fall asleep 5 minutes in?

If I do, please someone pop up and kick me and get me started again.  It is some good stuff [I think} about the 12 disciples... for some reason, it has been on my mind... until I fall asleep...

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Maybe you actually can do it...

I don't know if my friend Derek reads this blog or not... but if you know him, you might tell him about this dream that I had...

Sunday night I dreamt all night long that Derek wanted me to do this job on a roof leak in their home.  It was a big job and I was afraid of it and I kept telling him no.  I didn't think that I could do it.

Derek's family's company is the construction company that I go out on the road for from time to time.  Well, after telling him no, no, no, I finally started in on it and I worked it over and over and over again in my dream.

I will bet you that I took this roof apart 20 times over and over in my dreams, until I was happily surprised that I was able to repair it.  I was able to get it all fixed up.

 I guess the moral of that story is that maybe if there’s something in your life that you’re afraid of, maybe you shouldn't be.  Maybe you are afraid of trying to give it a shot, but you shouldn't be. 

Step into your fears... You may surprise yourself with more ability than you thought you had.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

look at what you have

I have just finished seasons 1, 2 and 3 of the White Lotus on HBO Max.  Not sure what to say about some of it, but there were some great moments.

Spoiler alert...  quote from season 3...  Something to think about for people like me who had rough childhoods...

One character said to another, "Stop worrying about the love that you didn’t get...
think instead about the love that you have now...
I love you and I’m right here."

Friends, if someone loves you, the above is a pretty profound and powerful statement...

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

procrastination

Why put off til tomorrow what you can do today?  In other words, lets get it off our plate.  Everything that is done today is one less thing on the list for tomorrow.  

I remember when I had employees and I had to have a difficult conversation.  The introvert in me wanted to put those conversations off, but I learned over the years to get them done so that I could stop worrying about whatever it was.  Usually the discussions went better than I thought they would.

But then there is procrastination.  There are some things in life that we find distasteful and so we put them off and put them off.  

Recently I had such an experience with Cologuard, a test prescribed by my doctor.  I am not going to describe what you do for this test, but it is not fun and it is not pretty.  I have been dreading it.  If you have done this test, you know what I mean.  If you have not done this test, you can read about it here... reader beware...  

click here to read about it

Anyway, as I write this blog, the test is done.  It is off in the mail.  I am glad it is over with.  I am also glad that taking this test has made it so that I don't need to have a colonoscopy... another wonderful part of life that we all would like to avoid.

If you are facing something unpleasant, get it over with.  Get it over with so the dread will go away and you can move on.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Memorial Day

Memorial Day... a day to remember those who fought in our wars. Whether we agreed with the wars or not, to fight in the military is a sacrifice that I believe deserves respect.

Memorial Day is also a day to remember our loved ones who have gone on before us. My Dad, Paul Brinkman. My mother, Mary Brinkman. My friends, Dan Horn, Joel Horsch, Robin Fisher, Kent Chappelow and Kathy Krueger.

It is sad to lose those that we love.

The older I get, the more time I spend thinking about life. What a gift it is! What a joy it is to be alive. I also believe that whatever is on the other side must be pretty good too.

But for now, let us live, let us love, let us live lives of gratitude. We only get one shot at this, so let's make the most of every day and every moment that we have left.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Gravitational pull

Sometimes in a relationship there is a gravitational pull - where one person who is weaker, will be pulled into the orbit of the stronger person.

Sometimes over the years, this comes and goes... I am in your orbit, then you are in mine.  

I am not sure that there is much to do about this except to encourage healthy respect and caring in relationships.  Treating others with respect is so important.

Too often we grow older but we do not grow up.  Shaming, shunning and gaslighting of another have no place in healthy relationships.  Power is not something to be exerted over another.

Is someone in your orbit... let them go... are you in someone else's orbit?  Become your true self again.  You will be glad that you did.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Churchill Quote

"Success is not final, Failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts."

Sometimes, we just have to roll out of bed in the morning and keep after it.  We have to set aside our feelings of failure and just give it another go.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

it's not that bad

So maybe your are worried about something that you did, or something that you are doing.  Whatever it is, someone else has done much worse.  Someone else has done so much that they are making you look like a saint.

Yet you suffer with worry.  If Jesus can forgive Barabbas, if Jesus can forgive the thief on the cross, if Jesus can love and welcome the Romans, then you are probably ok.

Stop feeling bad.  God loves you.  No one is perfect.  If God can forgive David, who had Uriah killed, then God can forgive you.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

how we see the world

Three men who were visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time – an artist, a pastor, and a cowboy. As they stood together at the edge of the massive abyss, the Artist exclaimed, “Ah …. What a beautiful scene to paint.” The Pastor waved his arms in sweeping gestures and declared, “What a wonderful example of the magnificent handiwork of Father God.” Then the Old Cowboy grumbled, “What a terrible place to lose a cow.”

How we look at something makes all the difference in the world.  We tend to look at things through the lens of self-protection and self-validation.  What would happen if we saw the world through the eyes of another?

We might get off of our high horse for a moment and save someone's cow [from utter disaster].  Don't let that joke take you away from the point.  We can't save someone's bacon until we learn to look at the world through their eyes.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

to make a change

This is a quote from one of my favorite books... Managing Transitions, by William Bridges.

To become something else, you have to stop being what you are now; to start doing things a new way, you have to end the way you are doing them now; and to develop a new attitude or outlook, you have to let go of the old one you have now. Even though it sounds backwards, endings always come first. The first task is to let go. (p. 80 Transitions, Bridges)

Let's discuss this in terms of learning to be a kinder person. If we seek to be more kind, we must work to end the practice of selfishness. If we would move into a life of kindness, we must stop reacting negatively to the things that happen in our lives.

Out with the old, in with the new.  We will never grow in kindness until we learn to stop the negative behaviors in our lives.

Ready, set, go!!!

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Ocean View UMC

Yesterday I visited with the Pastor and leaders of Ocean View UMC.  I thought that we had a great visit. I was pleased to see this sign outside of the entrance.

All cultures, all sizes, all ages... why would it be any other way???

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Florida Gators

Did you know that Florida Gators can grow up to 12 feet?  But most of them only have 4.

Now on to today's post...

For the first 58 years of my life, I was ambivalent about the Florida Gators.  No feeling one way or another.  Then something happened that made me hate dislike the Gators.  As I was being introduced to a new church, the Pastor in charge prayed over Cathy and I and then put Florida Gator hats on our heads.  In the middle of the worship service.

Needless to say, that left a bad taste in my mouth.  I have disliked the Gators since then.

Until last night.

Last night I finished watching a Netflix series called "Untold:  Swamp Kings."  It was about the Gator football teams of 2005-2009.  Tim Tebow was the quarterback.  Oh, my... the heart, the work ethic, and the determination of those athletes was incredible.

Today, and going forward, I will have a different feel about the Gators.

Don't ever let your personal pain cloud your view of others.  The Missouri Tigers, the Kansas Jayhawks, the Florida State Seminoles and on we go...  they are all just young men and women doing their best.

When we get tribal, we can get hateful.

I would also call that, "off-mission."

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

I'm not as smart as I think

I think I know more than I do. That is why, from time to time, I am wrong. I don't mind admitting that I was wrong. It happens.

I’m routinely reminded [graciously] by people smarter than me that I’m not as smart as I thought.
And it’s not that they’re saying things, it’s not that they’re just coming out and telling me that I’m not very smart, it just happens by interacting with them. I realize that I don’t know as much as I think.

I think it is good for us to be aware of our shortcomings. I think a little humble pie is good for everyone. When we realize that we don't know everything, good things can happen.

-our minds can be open to the thoughts of others.
-we journey thru life as seekers instead of knowers.

-we can gain from the experience and knowledge of others.

I hope that you can admit when you are wrong.  I hope that you are a seeker of knowledge.  Life is better from this posture.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Passed on by my friend Bruce...

Chris A... personal message from me to you... send me your stuff.  I need your thoughts for this blog!  You have so much to give!!!

Now on to today's post... from my friend Bruce...

Happiness is when what your think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Mahatma Gandhi

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

Friends for life

I was helping a friend with a funeral the other day. The family had requested the scripture from Romans 8.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I got to thinking about this.  God will never leave us.  God will always stand by us.

Some years ago, I was tossed aside by a friend. It was not his choice, but it was still real, and it hurt.

Since then, I have a prerequisite for friendship... it is simply this... we will be friends until the end. I am not throwing you away, no matter what, and you will stand with me, no matter what.

In life, things happen. Some of it is not pretty. But I want you to know that if we are friends, I am, we are in it for the long haul.

Having people in your life that you know will stand with you is very valuable. I AM ONE.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

do you read this?

A friend of mine, TC, told me that he has a contact in Idaho that reads this blog.  Hmmm.  I'm not sure... if you live in Idaho and you read Anthony DeMello and you read this blog, please send me a note to jsbrink57@gmail.com

Now on to today's post...

My daughter Jennifer sent me a list of Marcus Aurelius' top quotes. One of them was this: "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breath, think, to enjoy, to love."

I find it interesting, heart warming, and inspiring that 2,000 years ago, someone, or some people were thinking about the very same things that I am thinking about.

What a privilege it is to be alive... to breath, to think, to enjoy, and most of all, to love!!!

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

no control

I was reading the story of a former NFL quarterback who got into drugs and his career was derailed.  He is on the right path now and doing well.

One of the things that he said in the article was this [paraphrase]... "my past is my past.  I can't do anything now about what happened, and I can't do anything about what people think of me."

He is not letting the past hold him back.  There is nothing he can do about it now.  There is nothing that he can do about what people think.

I liked that line of thinking.

The past is the past.  What has been, cannot be undone.  What people think of me?  Well, that is their choice.  There is no point in me worrying about what they think. 

I have no control over that.  Let me focus my life efforts onto things that I can do something about.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Cruise Ship Fights

Well if you missed it, there was another cruise ship fight.  This one, a few weeks ago in the Galveston port terminal got 24 people banned for life from Carnival.

I sometimes wonder, "what were they thinking?"

So I was reading an article about the fight and it was talking about the ways that you can get on the permanent no sail list.  Here they are:

1. Drinking too much. Duh.
2. Bringing controlled substances onto the boat.
3. Complaining too much.
4. Ignoring the safety protocols.
5. And of course, fighting.

The one that I found interesting was "complaining too much."  Lord, it is about time.  We humans need to learn that the world is not about me.  The world has no obligation to align itself to make me happy.  Every moment that we spend complaining, is a moment lost forever to doing and being the good.  In other words, every 5 minutes that we spend complaining is 5 minutes that we could have spent loving others.  That 5 minutes is lost forever.

Complaining is not helpful.  Let us just live, love and as REO Speedwagon said, "roll with the changes."

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Who is doing that singing???

Heavenly days.  It is 6:15 in the morning.  I am walking out of the hotel to get in the car and drive to the jobsite.  I was still in Omaha at the time.  I am walking to the car and I hear this bird singing.  Loud!  And honestly, it wasn't the best bird song that I have ever heard.  That reminds me of an old saying which is lovely and true.

"If only the birds with good voices sang, the forest would be a very quiet place."

I stopped and looked around.  I found the culprit.  It was a big fat robin sitting on a sidewalk light.  Oh, he was proud of himself.  Oh, he was having a good day!

Moral of this story is easy... you may not be the best looking bird, you may not have the best voice, but if you have a song in your heart, sing it!!!

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

A day without power

 A few weeks ago the power went out suddenly and inexplicably in Spain and Portugal.  There is a Netflix series in which that happens. It is called "Zero Day" and it is very good.

Anyway, Zero Day is a show.  The loss of power happened for real in Spain and Portugal.  Imagine... no traffic lights, you cannot charge your phone, there are no lights in stores, only cash is accepted as point of sale machines are down, and atm's are not operational.  No air conditioning, no c-pap, no elevators, no TV, no radio, oh my, what will we do?

It was quite a culture shock to the folks who experienced it.  We have all so grown accustomed to the creature comforts of our modern life.  How would we respond to that?  Talk about the world not aligning itself to make us happy.

I guess the moral of this story is to take nothing for granted.  Modern life has given us so many creature comforts.  We should appreciate them.  So many others in remote parts of the world do not have what we see as commonplace.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Concrete

Whenever I pour concrete, I think of my dad

Some of the tools that I have for concrete work belonged to him. Some of them in fact belonged to his father, my grandfather.

For some reason, it was important to my dad that I knew how, that I learned how to work with concrete. A lot of things he didn’t teach me how to do, but he wanted to make sure I knew how to mix concrete.

So on Saturday a few weeks ago, I widened this porch stoop by about 8 inches - not a big deal, but for some reason, it was poured short and the stones kept falling off and sinking and washing away.

Then I extended the stoop.  We just could not get grass to grow there, so we made a short walk way.

Now I think the porch will be stable and no one will track mud onto the patio.  If you ever come to visit, [and you are invited anytime] If you ever come to visit, stop on the new stoop and think of my Dad.

I think of him a lot.  But I always think of him when I pour concrete.

Thank you, dad

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

History

I love history, so I love museums.  A week ago Sunday, I was in Omaha on a job.  On Sunday after church, I went to the Durham Museum in downtown Omaha.  I did not know what to expect.  

Well the museum is housed in the old Union Station.  The building by itself was worth seeing.  But wow!!!  The trains and old cars, the dinosaurs, it was all very fantastic.

the main building was still set up like a train station.

Real stagecoach from the 1800's

Real, non threatening buffalo.
by the way, what did the mother buffalo
say when her son left for school???
Bison

Again, not real, but pretty terrifying!

Meatasaurus.

More my size.

Lovely model trainset!!!

train cars that we could walk through

Old Omaha street car

caboose!

I love old trains.  My Dad loved old trains.

The building itself was amazing!!!

As I looked at all of the cool stuff, I thought what I always think... my gosh, these people did all of this amazing stuff, and now they are gone.  All the more reason to live each day to the fullest.  Make every day count.  We only go around once and we will not be here for ever.  Give it your best!

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Prayer of St. Francis

The following prayer, often attributed to St. Francis, has not been traced further back than 1912, but it is a wonderful prayer. My comments at the end.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I was watching a show on Netflix called Unbroken about 7 Jewish brothers and sisters who survived the holocaust. Their mother would help other people hide from the Ghestapo.

As they were discussing this, they remembered that their mom had said, "When we help others, we help ourselves." That made me think of the Prayer of St. Francis.

I don't think that we should help others so that we get something back. But I do think that when we work to live a self-less, other centered life, good naturally comes back to us. Probably not in monetary things, but certainly in a sense of purpose and peace in our hearts.

When we help others, we help ourselves.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Thin veneer theory

The thin veneer theory goes like this... humans at their core are animals.  There is only a thin veneer of goodness that covers their inner animal urges.  Given the opportunity, humans will break out of the veneer and steal, ransack and pillage.  And everything that comes with it.

Some would hold out as an example of this, what happened in New Orleans after Katrina with the looting and other misbehavior that was going on.

The theory goes on that government and civilized laws are all that keep people from disintegrating into chaotic behavior.

I for one, do not believe it.  Although I know that we can be pretty bad to each other, it is my strong belief that we have choices.  When people choose to hurt others, it is a choice.  When people choose to act out in kindness, it is a choice.

Do you feel bad ideas lurking just under your skin?  Choose to ignore them.  Choose to rise above them.  Let the thin veneer turn into a thick membrane upon which you can stand to act out in kindness.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

thankful

I was writing a grocery list.  Here it is... random things that I need when living in a hotel room.

I was suddenly struck with a feeling of thankfulness.  I can read!  I can write!  And I am totally serious.  I know people who can't read and write.  I work with people from time to time and I have to help them fill out their paperwork.  I am thankful that I can read and write.

For all of the times that I have complained about my childhood in this blog, at least my parents made sure that I got a good education.

While we are at it... I am thankful for friends.  I am thankful that I have a computer.  I am thankful for a vehicle that runs.  I am thankful that I have and am learning to love in this life.

We have a lot to be thankful for.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

When is Cinco de Mayo?

Today is Cinco de Mayo. Cinco = five. Mayo = May. The fifth of May.

I love to ask people, "when is Cinco de Mayo this year?" Many people recognize it as a holiday but do not understand that it is date specific. Much like someone from another culture might hear that we celebrate a holiday called July 4th. If the words July and fourth don't translate well into their language, they might not know it was a specific day.

I have heard that Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated very much in Mexico.  [Others tell me that it is.]  Cinco de Mayo may actually be a fabricated holiday for Americans to drink margaritas and have a party.

It is also not the Mexican day of Independence. That is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo celebrates a Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, May 5th 1862.

Anyway, today is Cinco de Mayo. When is it next year?

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson.  There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

May the Forth

Yes it is here again... Star Wars Day!

I remember when the original Star Wars movie came out. I was 19 years old at the time and was visiting my friends in San Jose, California. I was there for two weeks. I saw the movie seven times during that visit.  I still love it.

Why is today Star Wars Day?

May the Forth be with you!!!

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Thoughts on the Bible

Some people see the Bible as "inerrant."  No errors.  Perfect.  Don't question it.  It is the magic book that will solve all of life's ills.  Just read it, open it's secrets and you are in.  But don't question it.  It is close to God.  Maybe even to be revered and worshipped.

Others see the Bible as "containing everything that is needed for faith and practice."  These folks still love the Bible, but they understand that it was written over thousands of years by many different people.  They are not concerned or threatened by it's inconsistencies.  They accept that the book is not perfect, it is not God, but they read it because it has many things that will lead us to God.

Having said that, I received a question from a blog reader... "If the Israelites left Egypt with flocks and herds, why are they only eating manna and quail in the wilderness?"

Great question from a great person.  There are many more similar questions.  For example... if God commanded Israel to wipe out various Canaanite tribes, why do they appear again later in scripture?  Were they not wiped out?  Which genealogy of Jesus is right?  Does God spare the faithful from difficulty or not?  

For those who see the Bible as inerrant and not to be questioned, these are hard questions.  Usually they find some excuse to explain them or say that the Bible is only perfect in it's original documents {which do not exist.}

For me personally, I am not troubled by such contradictions.  Imagine that the story of the United States was written down by 30 people over a period of a few thousand years.  Would it surprise you that there would be inconsistencies?  Would it surprise you that some of the perspectives of the authors would be different?  Probably not.

The Bible is a big book.  Written over a long time.  Yes you will find some things in it that do not seem to add up.  But that does not bother me.  It still contains everything that I think we need to have faith and practice it.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

working together

Do you see yourself as different from others?  Are you tribal?  Or do you see yourself in this life as part of one big family?

I read this story on the internet news and found it to be fantastic!!!

Book lovers united in the small town of Chelsea, Michigan, to help a beloved bookstore relocate down one block.  To expedite the process, more than 300 locals made two lines along a sidewalk between the bookstore’s old location and new storefront. In less than two hours, patrons of the store passed more than 9,000 books one by one down the line until they made it into the new space. The inventory was even alphabetized on its way down the lines! Bookworms might get a nerdy rap (which we wear with pride), but we get the job done!

What an amazing story. Imagine what Christians and church goers could get done if they would simply join hands and work together. We are, after all, one humanity, one people. We are all in this life together.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Costs

When I was first driving, you could go to a gas station and get air in your tires... it was free.  Now they charge like $1.50 for air.  Do you know why?  Inflation.

Here is another inflation story... You know I like to take chocolate on the airplanes and give it to the flight attendants.  I was buying it for years at the dollar tree for $1.00.  $1 for a 5 pack, snack pack of Hershey bars.  Great deal.

Then in 2019 they raised the price 25% to $1.25 for the very same 5 pack.  Now today I am going to the dollar tree and the 5 pack has shrunk by one.  Now the $1.25 is a four-pack.  A 20% increase in the price.

So from 2018 to 2025, in 7 short years, the cost of the airplane chocolate delivery has gone up 45%.

That is inflation for sure.

I feel for everyone who is tightening their belts.  I feel for businesses that have to weigh the need to raise prices vs driving customers away.

It is just difficult times right now.  My Dad would say, earn more, spend less, trust in God.  Not bad advice.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

I love cars and trucks

You may know that I love cars and trucks.  I love to own them, drive them, fix them, clean them, and watch them.  I love car shows.

I am happier with my vehicles now that I can ever remember being in my life.  I have a lovely 2016 ford pickup and a 2010 Mustang.  Both have over 200,000 miles, but I love them both.

Right now I am on a job in Omaha.  My wife sent this picture of some local car thieves about to commit grand theft auto.

Turns out that I am not the only Mustang lover in the neighborhood!!!

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Great Sign

I posted this a few years ago.  I think of this sign from time to time, so I must share it again...

I was driving thru Taunton, Mass a few weeks ago and I saw this banner hanging on a lovely church. I wanted to stop and take a picture, but the traffic was busy, I did not know the area, and I had a meeting to get to in Kingston.

I determined to get a picture of the banner on the way home.
Unfortunately, my GPS took me a different direction.

I decided to do some investigating. With the help of Google maps I was able to locate the church that I thought was the correct one. First Parish Church, Taunton, Mass.

I sent an email to the church office. I received a delightful word back from Lindi in the church office confirming that this was their banner.

Now I overstepped my bounds. I wrote back and asked Lindi if she would send me a picture of the banner. SHE DID!!! I was so excited to get the picture!  Thank you Lindi, and thank you First Parish Church for the awesome message on your banner. I love it!!!

I wish that more churches would put out this sign...

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Interim Pastoral Appointment

Today it was announced at Oceanview United Methodist Church in Juno Beach, that they would be getting a new pastor on July 1.  His name is Jeff Brinkman.  It is a part time appointment and it is only for six months, but I am really looking forward to the opportunity.  I watched their worship service online yesterday and I loved it.  I look forward to getting to know the people and trying to be of some service for the Kingdom.

Please keep me and the Oceanview UMC in your prayers.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Why worry

The news has some people very worried.

Jesus had a lot to say about worry.  Worry just is not helpful.  Worry shows a lack of trust.  If God is with us, then why worry?

There are things that I like and things that I don't like.  Things are not always going to go my way.  There are also things that I can do something about, and there are things that I can do nothing about.

Why worry about the things that I can do nothing about?  I will say it again, why worry about the list of things that I can do nothing about?

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

were you loved by all?

"The thin red line" is a very violent movie about the WW2 battle for Guadalcanal.

I had not seen it for years. But it was available so I watched it again.

It’s very violent.

I was a bit intrigued by Jim Caviezel’s character as a stretcher bearer - and then just five years later, he is cast as Jesus in the Mel Gibson film, "the passion of the Christ."

An interesting question pops out in the movie as he’s having a discussion with a dead Japanese soldier. He asks the dead soldier, "Were you loved by all?"

Not, do you love people, not, do you actively love others, but do others love you???

I found this to be profound.  

I don’t know about you, but there’s a certain level of commitment that I feel to be loving towards others. But when I think about, do others, love me?  I stop in my tracks.   I just wanna double down.  I want to work harder at loving others.  I just want to invest in them so that at the end of the day they will say,  "I loved that guy!"

Are you loving others?  That is question one.  Question two is this... are we loving others so much and so effectively that they are loving me?  Loving us?

Were you loved by all???

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

your issues and mine

I was in a city office a few weeks ago and I saw this sign... I have a lot of sympathy for people that are required to deal with the public in their job.  Some customer service person took the initiative when they held out this message.

Your issues are your issues and my issues are mine.  I cannot blame mine on you anymore that you can blame yours on me.

We need to learn to get over ourselves.  We cannot take our pain out on others. The world will not align itself to make me happy very often.  Usually, I have to adapt.  I have to learn to find my place in the story.  I have to learn to see the good.  

And I continue to try to do so.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

general Jeff update

So I had a wonderful visit last weekend with my buddy Roger.  Oh my, it was fantastic.  While he was here I got a call from the construction company to go to Omaha for a few weeks.  So I spent part of Easter Sunday travelling.

For my friends at the Ft Pierce First United Methodist Church, I probably will not be back til May 20.  Omaha, then Kansas City... then back to Florida.

In the Atlanta airport I had to change terminals so I rode the train.  When the train stopped, the door opened and a few of us were trying to get off.  A group of four young people were trying to get in.  There was literally no where for anyone to go because they were blocking the square feet right in front of the door.  Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but I said, "can you wait until we get off of the train."  The young woman said, "go around."

Now I am typing this 4 hours later and I still feel the hurt of that encounter.  Tell me if I am wrong, but when my parents raised me, you let other people get off, and get out of the way, then you entered.  I was put off by the attitude, and by the disrespect for an old person.  [me.]

OMG I just made it about me!  I am so good at that.

So I was sitting at the bar in Atlanta waiting for my flight to storm ridden Kansas City.  The people on either side had paid their bill and left.  The bills were sitting there on the counter for anyone to see.  One left a $2 tip on a $30 bill the other left $1.10 on a $16.90 bill.  I was annoyed.  I gave the server $10 when she came to pick up the bills.

Anyway, the moral of the story goes back to what it always goes back to.  How we treat each other matters.  Grace and kindness leaves a sweet spot.  Rude behavior leaves a mark as well.

We only go around once in this life.  We have only one chance to live this day.  Leave a positive mark.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

someone remembers you

This came in from Carlotta Belcher, my mother in law.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

awesome quote from Bruce

 aha!!!!!  I love it!!!

"I don't know anything about consciousness.  I just try to teach my students how to hear the birds sing."

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

joke day

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

Here is a smattering of my favorite jokes
Two cheese trucks were in a collision. One turned on it's side and split open. Debris was everywhere. [De Bris, the bree]

My friend was in a side swipe accident. He lost his left arm and left leg.
He's all right now.

When does a joke become a Dad joke?
When it becomes apparent.

Did you know that a Florida Alligator can grow up to 12 feet???
But most of them only have four.

A toothless termite walks into a bar and asks "is the bartender here?"

A pair of jumper cables walk into the bar.  The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

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

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Happy Easter

Easter brings many memories for me.  When I was three years old, I got a deck of Casper the Friendly Ghost playing cards in my Easter Basket.   We went to egg hunts every year in Kirkwood park.  We ate big Easter meals and finished them off with a piece of lamb cake. [white cake baked in a lamb shaped pan.] We never missed church, ever, when I was growing up. In fact, I believe that I have been in church every Easter Sunday for 67 years.

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

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

seeing the good

Three years ago, a friend of mine from church was diagnosed with bladder cancer.  After surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, the cancer had metastasized to the bones and there was not much left to do.  There was one possible final treatment, but the doctors warned that it could make you really sick. My friend decided to forgo the last treatment and just enjoy the time he has left.

I see him from time to time at church and he is in a very good place.   Although he has months to live, he has a great attitude.   He stopped me on the way into church last week to explain why he cries at church. "He said, it is not that I am sad, no far from it. I am happy.  I am alive like never before!  When I open my eyes I see things like I never have in the past.  The colors are so beautiful and vibrant.  I have such an appreciation for newfound thoughtful, loving, caring friends.  I am so grateful for life and for the gift of each day."

I find this to be an amazing witness to the power of God's work in the world and the power of the choices that we have to see the good regardless of circumstances.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

Good Friday

Good Friday is proof that God loves us.

To willingly make a sacrifice for the benefit of others is a sign of love.  Good parents do it for their children.  Friends make sacrifices for each other.

Jesus gives himself up.  It shows the immense depth and width of God's love for us.

That is why they call it Good.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

ages and changes

When I was young, I knew everything.

In my 40s, I started having questions.

In my 50s, I accepted the questions and started to explore them.

In my 60s, I looked at other answers. I even questioned the value of my questions.

Now I recognize that part of the value of my life is recognizing that I don’t know everything. I no longer need certainty. I am totally comfortable enjoying the mystery of life.

I can accept people and love them just as they are, whether they meet my expectations or not.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

speaking peace

I had the opportunity the other day to speak a little bit of peace into the life of another human.  This is someone that I have worked for doing handyman work.  I have helped her off and on for years.

Some of my customers I am very close with, others it is more like I am an employee.  This particular person always seemed a bit distant to me.  I am fine with that.  I want people to be comfortable and to welcome me into their lives as they see fit.

Well last week when I got to her house for a job, she was having a meltdown.  She saw me and started to cry.  She apologized and then rambled off a pretty good list of problems.

I gave her a hug.  I told her that it would be all right.  Afterall, it will be alright.  It was a beautiful opportunity to speak peace into the life of another human.

A good word at the right time is good stuff.  Good for them and good for you.  To speak hope into another human's life is a wonderful thing.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

I prayed today...

I got a note from a dear friend the other day.  It said, among other things, "I have been praying for ways to show God's love to someone in a tangible way."

Oh, I loved that.  To make a conscious decision in the morning to look for someone to care about.  To devote a part of one's brain to be on the look out for the needs of other humans.

Well done.

That is why we are here.  

May we all work harder to spend the time to look for and find, to look for and see the needs in the world around us.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

act or react

Some of the memes that I see, I am not sure of the source, but I love this one...

I don't know who said it, but I totally agree.  It may even be 5% of what happens to you vs 95% of your response.

On the stage of life we are all actors or reactors.  Reactors [as the name implies] react to things without thinking.

Actors on the stage of life, on the other hand, they step back, they take a deep breath, they remember who they are, they remember who they want to be and then they act.  They act out of the best of who they are.

Which kind of person do you want to be???

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

dreams

I dream.  I dream in color.  I dream almost every night.  The story of the Stone Chapel was a dream that I had on Tuesday night last week.

I dream about church, I dream about people, I dream about all kinds of things.  The human mind is an amazing thing.

I have gone to bed with a problem and found the solution, in a dream!

I had a class in college in which they told us to write down our dreams.  Put a pen and paper by the bed and write your dream the moment that you wake up.  

It is amazing how much happens in a dream and how easily it is to forget them.

Whatever your dreams are for this life, keep after them.  It is never too late.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure

The Stone Chapel, Pt. 2

The skies were blue and the sun was out.  It was a bright spring day.  The pear trees that lined the road to the Stone Chapel were in full bloom.  In the north garden, Pam and Jim were pulling weeds.  

The doors to the Chapel stood open and the sounds of the children's choir poured out into the church yard.

At the labyrinth, Trevor walked the lines, thinking about his life.  Joan and Mike sat on the bench, waiting their turn.

Daffodils and tulips were shouting to the glory of God.  The green grass was freshly mowed.  

The atmosphere around the Stone Chapel was electric.  On Sunday morning, the pews were filled and the foyer was aglow with handshakes and hugs.

The atmosphere was self perpetuating.  

THE END...

Now, what is the difference between this story and yesterday's?  You.  People.  People that care.  People that take pride in their church.  People that love and value their church.  Never doubt that a few committed people can make a difference in their church.  In fact, it is the only thing that can.

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

- - - - - - -

I am leading a trip to Italy in November of this year with Pastor Sherri Swanson. There is plenty of room and we would love to have you join!!!

click here for the Italy brochure