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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 1

The day was cold and overcast.  The Stone Chapel was closed.  The doors had been locked for a long time.  Cracks in the sidewalk sported weeds.  Next to the Chapel, the labyrinth had not been walked in years.  The one remaining bench was rotten and it leaned precariously to the left.  The old chapel was so neglected that it created it's own weather.  

Something is missing.  Do you know what it is?

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

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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

what do you want from me?

In the old days, I used to meet people for breakfast or lunch.  Sometimes happy hour.  My purpose was innocent.  I just wanted to get to know them.  I wanted them to know that they were valued.

I remember a couple of times when people were suspicious.  It was like they were waiting for me to ask them to serve on a committee or give money for something.

Friends, we need to learn to value people for simply who they are.  I don't need anything.  I don't want anything.  

Maybe I just want to love you.

Let's have breakfast or lunch.  What do you say???

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

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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

cow jokes

So I got into a texting banter the other night with a friend.  It was a back and forth about cow jokes...

Someone once told me to lighten up the blog from time to time [like my Delorean] so here we go.

What do you call a cow with no legs... ground beef.

What do you call a cow with two legs shorter than the others... lean beef.

What did the momma cow say to her calf... it's pasture bed time.

Why did the cow win an award?  She was out standing in her field.

What happened when the cow jumped over the barbed wire fence?   Utter disaster.

What did the momma buffalo say to her boy as he left for school in the morning?  Bye-son!!!

[if you want more serious writing, please send me some questions that I can chase]

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

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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

crazy versions

I was visiting with a friend the other day about the many versions of Christianity.  I don't know about you, but I usually just go about thinking that Christians are kind of, mostly the same.

This could not be further from the truth.

There are many crazy versions of Christianity.  Some Christians speak in tongues.  Some of these groups insist that without this practice, you cannot go to heaven.  Some Christian groups will pray over you and cast out evil spirits.  Some Christians handle snakes.  No thanks!  Mormon's believe that there is Mother God as well as a God the father.  They have lots of children to provide bodies for the "spirit babies" that the Gods are producing.  On and on the list could go.  

Why do I bring this up?  Just be normal please.  Just love people and don't get lost in speculative crazy doctrines.

If God is love, that is what we need to focus on and how we should spend our time and efforts.

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

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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

Roger

I met Roger in 1991?  I was assigned to the Princeton UMC.  Does anyone from Princeton still read this blog?  I am not sure.

Anyway, for me, Roger was a great friend at first sight.  Roger has a great sense of humor, a great work ethic, and a recognizable voice.  We hung out all the time in Princeton.  After I moved away, we saw each other from time to time [like my Delorean]  but after a bit, we lost touch. 

Then when Scott was injured 3 years ago, Roger and his wife Kathy, saw the post on my blog or Facebook.  

I will never forget, I was sitting on the back porch watching TV about 8pm and I got a call from a number that I did not recognize.  I answered the call.  There was that recognizable voice.  My heart was immediately happy.

Do you have people in your life that make you immediately happy to hear from???  I hope so!!!

Anyway, Roger, it turns out was working just north of Jacksonville, Fl.  A few weeks later, I drove up to see him.  We had a wonderful visit.

After not seeing each other for years,  one of the things that he said to me on that visit was this... "my life is better with Jeff Brinkman in it."  Wow did that make me feel great.  I would say the same about him.

Roger is coming to visit in a few weeks.  I cannot wait.  

I thank God for the people who make our lives better.

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

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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

out of prison

On Monday last week, I was in Miami.  I was waiting at a job site for a city inspector to come by and give a final inspection approval so the store could open.

The door was unlocked for the inspector's visit, but the store was not open officially.

Every 15 minutes someone would walk in the door and I had to explain to them that the store was not open.  I got some interesting responses... "well then why is the door unlocked?"  When will you open?  Sure looks like you are open...

Anyway, two young men came in looking for work.  I had to explain to them that I did not work for the store.  I also had to explain to them that I had no power to hire for the construction company that I was here representing.

One young man was begging for a job.  He said, "I just got out of prison.  I am trying to stay on the straight and narrow."

I felt for him.  I felt his desperation.  I congratulated him on not being in prison.  We shook hands.  He left.

Wow... the next time I think that I have problems, at least I am not and have not been in prison.  But for the grace of God go we.  May we be mindful of the least of these.

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

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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

think first, think harder

When I was a teenager, there was a poster that said, "be sure to engage brain before putting mouth into gear."

These days, I think that it is important to do just that.  

Don't be in a hurry.  Don't go off in a huff.  Don't react or overreact to whatever has come your way.  Think carefully before you do that.  Read both sides of the news.

Our best decisions are not made on impulse, but after careful, prayerful thought. I am the most proud of my life when I step back, take a deep breath, remember who I am, and then make a decision or take an action.

I hate going to bed when I know that I missed it.  I love going to bed at night when my decisions reflect who I really want to be.

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

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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

In response to my post a few days ago about seeing the good, my friend Mary sent in this picture.  I wonder how many people walked past this tree and paid no attention to this cardinal?  

Life feels better when we stop and see the good.  There are so many things out there to enjoy and appreciate if we but pay attention.  

Today, maybe take a moment.  Slow down, or better yet, stop in your tracks and look to see what you might have been missing.

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

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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

don't change

Love.  True love.  It loves you, just the way that you are.

In far too many relationships, love comes with conditions.

I love you, but.  I will love you when you start this or I will love you when you stop doing that.

Love does not demand conditions of people.  Love does not try to control.  Love just loves.

I love you the way that you are... don't change.  Don't change unless you want to do so.  

No conditions.  I just love you.

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

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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

Helping others

I believe in helping others.  I believe that it is better to help one time too many than one time not enough.  In other words, I would rather help so many, that from time to time I was taken advantage of, instead of withholding help and letting legitimate needs go unmet.

Recently I have become aware of a need at our church.  A young woman was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  She is from a family that works hard.  Fortunately, the tumor was benign and she is expected to be ok.  But there will be bills.

I have chosen to help the family by making a payment on their medical bills.  I asked a good friend if I should ask for others to help through the blog.  They weren't sure if it was a good idea or not.  

So, I don't want to put anyone on the spot.  I will just put it out there this way... if you are interested in learning more about the situation, send me an email at jsbrink57@gmail.com

If you choose to help or not help, that is totally fine.  I love you just the way that you are.  And honestly, there are tons of other needs out there.  This one just spoke to me for some reason.

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

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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

April 1st

Happy April Fools Day.  I have no jokes to share today.  I overdid it a few years ago and I hurt some of my friends.

I don't want to hurt people.

Over the years I have learned that not everyone "gets" or appreciates my sense of humor.  I totally understand that.  Some times I don't know where it all comes from.

Anyway, if you need some humor today, I hope that you find it.  Text me and I will tell you a joke.  But I won't be hurting anyone through a blog post today.

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

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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