Why I attend church

Why I attend church...  Heck.  I am retired.  I don't have to go.  I have heard and or preached almost everything that will come from the pulpit.

Why do I go?  Sometimes my pastor says something that I need to hear.  Sometimes, often, the music is good for my heart.  But most of all, I go because of people that I love there.  My friends, my besties, my connections.  Also I go to church because in doing so, I am a small part of blessing the world with missions ministries.  I could never do the shower ministry by myself.  I could never do the feeding programs by myself.  But by my activity and support of the church, I am a part of something much bigger, something that it takes a community to do.

I hope that you have found some connection in your local church.  In my experience, it is good for our soul.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

I am also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

Click here for info on the Canada/New England Cruise

Bill Murphy

Bill Murphy passed a few days ago.  I want to take a moment to honor his life.   I loved Bill.  He was a handyman client, but he was also someone that I considered a friend.   He was always cheerful, often funny and very generous.  His wife Sharon, another fantastic human, likes to decorate for the holidays. Every time I was at their house to do some work, Bill would encourage me [within earshot of Sharon] to please take a Santa Clause or something home with me.  Whatever season it was, he would always encourage me to take something as to thin out Sharon’s collection.

Bill was a retired FBI agent. He devoted much of his life to making the world a better place.  I join Sharon and the family in grieving his loss.  And I so take this moment to celebrate his life.

May we all live in such a way that when we are gone, someone will celebrate the life that we delivered to this world. Thank you Bill for being you. You will be missed.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

I am also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

Click here for more information

Don't miss the parade...

Please take time to watch the parade today.  Many people have gone to great lengths to prepare for this special event.  Your boss will let you off work for it.

What parade you say?

Today is the day when all of the bands from the local high schools line up downtown and march fourth.

[this was my grandmother's joke, passed on to my mother, then to me and now to you.]

Unfortunately, there are those of you that see this coming every year.  Some consider it one of my "signature" jokes.  A few would be disappointed if it did not show up on schedule.

If you are catching this little joke for the first time, I hope it makes you smile. Or at least grimace. Grimace. Get it???

Ronald McDonald and Grimace

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

I am also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

Click here for more information

It's not the last days

So there is a war in the Middle East.  IT IS NOT THE LAST DAYS!!!

Every time there is a war in the Middle East, fundamentalists write books about the end of time.  Well meaning Christians buy them.  Sunday School classes study them.  I was at Woods Chapel for 22 years.  We had one class that would break out the latest end of time book every time there was a war in the Middle East.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF TIME.  It is just a war.  Just another war.  Like our invasion of Iraq.  Like so many others before.

Do you think the Jews thought it was the end of time when the Romans attacked Jerusalem in 66AD?  Sure they did.  Do you think that many thought it was the end of time when Hitler invaded Europe?  Sure they did.  Was it the end of time?  No.  It was just another war.

Sure, feel nervous if you like, but life will go on.  

Focus on living and stop worrying.  Today is a day that we get to live.  Don't waste it with concern about the future.  Pray for the soldiers.  Pray for the civilians that are in harms way.  Pray for peace.

But it is not the last days.  

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

I am also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

Click here for more information

kids

Do you know why God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac when he was a boy?  Because if he would have been a teenager, it would not have been a sacrifice!!!

We survived teenagers.  We thought we kept a pretty tight ship when they were growing up, but we found out later that they had coordinated plans to sneak out of the house.  They would even push their cars up the street so that we would not hear them starting. 😐😐😐

I was looking for a charger to take on a trip as my last one had died.  I found this one from 20 years ago.  Guess what?  It still works.  And it is still in my possession.  I had to put a note on it declaring that it was mine.  This is because when they were teenagers, if they saw a charger, they just took it.

It is amazing that they have survived.  

Now my oldest, Allison, has 3 children.  I can't wait for the paybacks.  As my Dad used to say, "the mills of the Gods grind exceedingly slow, but they grind exceedingly fine."

Just wait Allison, your day is coming.  Soon your kids will have a popped tire and tell you they don't know how it happened.  Pretty soon these sweet faces will be sneaking out at night.  Soon they will be collaborating against you.

Enjoy the peaceful moments while you can.  And if you want to keep your posessions, you might want to start labeling the things that belong to you...

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

you can learn...

You can learn something from everyone, from anyone.

From some people you can learn character.  From others you can learn selfishness.  And by the way, if they are teaching you selfishness, learn to avoid it.

From some people you can learn kindness.  From others you can learn meanness.  And if they are teaching you meanness, be sure to see the results of their behavior and do the opposite.

You can learn something from everyone.  From some we learn what to do.  From others we learn what not to do.

Learn to follow them or learn to run the other way.

The trick is to keep it all straight in your brain so that you are taking to yourself the good stuff and letting the bad stuff roll off.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

 

Do better for your children...

Do better for your children

You’ve read my stuff over the years and you’ve heard me complain about my parents and my upbringing.  It was rough.

But it wasn't all terrible.  One thing that my father insisted on, was that we all get through college.  And my parents sacrificed to make sure that happened.  The only time my mother ever worked was when we were in college and the one year that my dad was unemployed.

I of course took note of this.  When I was out of college and had a job with a steady paycheck, I went to visit my dad and I said, "Dad I know it cost you 20 grand to send me to college. I’d like to pay you back. Let’s work out a payment schedule."

I didn’t have any kids at the time, but he said "here’s how you’ll pay me back."  He said, "Do better for your kids than we did for you."

There’s a lot of ways that you can look at that statement.  Do better for your kids than we did for you.  But what I’ve always taken away most from that statement is to be healthier.  Be kinder, be normal, apologize, forgive them, be vulnerable.  Actually love them and make sure that they know you love them.  It was like he was saying, do for them what we did not do for you.

I’ve done my best to be the best dad I could to my children.
Perhaps in some way that is paying my father back for the sacrifices that they made to send me to college.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Pain

I was recently on a cruise ship and I ran into this fellow who had a tattoo that said, "pain reminds us that we are not dead."

I asked him the origins/purpose of that thought.  He told me that he had been in the army and that there were many difficulties to face:  loneliness, strenuous exercise, and just being challenged and stretched in general.

Pain reminds us that we are alive.  Some people, many people, hide from their pain.  They drink and drug it away.  They respond to it with anger as if their life should be pain free.

Hiding from pain is not a good long term solution.  To see your pain and accept it, is a healthy thing.  To absorb it, take it in and move on, that is healthy.  Pain is here.  It is around to stay.  But it is not the only story and it does not have to be the loudest story in your life.  There is still much good.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

last words

I was watching a TV show where a guy was on his deathbed at the hospital. His kids were in the room with him, and he said his last words to his children. I wondered, what would be my last words to my children???

Hope it doesn’t happen for another 10 or 15 years, but these would be my last words:

"I love you so much! I am so proud of you! I am sorry for any failures along the way. You guys are fantastic! Hold your head up in life. Reach for the needy. Care about every single person that you meet along the way. You will find meaning and purpose in just showing daily kindness. I love you so much! I am so proud of you. Thank you for the privilege of being your Dad!"

While I think about it, we don't have to wait until our deathbed to say such things.  I think I am going to email these thoughts to my children now.  Your kids would probably enjoy hearing some happy positives from you as well.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Every day, every moment

My friend Bruce sent this in.  I loved it.

My comments... well, then again, as I look at the quote, I have nothing to add.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

what do we do for others?

Mangoes

It was time for the monsoon rains to begin and a very old man was digging holes in his garden.

“What are you doing?” his neighbor asked.

“Planting mango trees,” was the reply.

“You are an old man, Do you expect to eat mangoes from those trees?”

“No, I won’t live long enough for that. But others will. It occurred to me the other day that all my life I have enjoyed mangoes planted by other people. This is my way of showing them my gratitude.”

- - - - - - 

Jeff comments on the story... surely we can all see our own self interest in life!  I hope that we can see it.  We do so much for ourselves and for our family.  We think it honorable and charitable to do for our families, and maybe it is.  But what do we do for the stranger?  What do we do for the next person that comes along.  How can we invest in humanity in general?  When was the last time that I bought a hamburger for a stranger?

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Dear A

Dear "A"

You texted me the other day to comment on the blog.  I was so glad to hear from you.  

I think it’s true of a lot of friends... we think of you more than we reach out and talk, and I apologize for that.  But you are definitely someone that we love very much and we wish you all the happiness in the world.

I will always remember the July 4 evenings around the fire.
The softball games at Young Park.

The smiles, the hugs, the laughter.

You’re a very special person to us. 

- - - - -

Friends, the moral of the story is this... if someone is special to you, let them know. 

Remind them how much you care about them.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

we worry too much

I have O negative blood.  It’s called the universal donor.  That means you can give O negative blood to anybody with any type of blood.  Consequently, it’s in demand and my whole life I’ve been a Blood Donor.  I don’t like donating blood because I don’t like needles.  But I do it because I think it’s important to help people.

So now I’m being tested for rheumatoid arthritis and part of the testing is a very large blood draw.  My doctor warned me about it.  She said you’re not gonna like it.  So I’ve been dreading this.  It’s like 10 vials of blood.  I worried and was filled with anxiety in anticipation of the day.  So the day finally came on Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday.  And they took my blood.  Guess what???  

It wasn’t nearly as bad as I had thought it would be.

For days, I had dreaded this procedure.  But when it actually took place, it wasn’t that bad after all.

It made me think about how we overreact to things, how we cook things up in our minds and make them bigger than they really are. We give them way too much power over us. 

When, if we just had a little more backbone, we’d spend less time worrying and more time enjoying life.  We should all spend less time worrying and more time enjoying life.  Because whatever’s coming my way is coming.  Our worrying can’t change that.  So let’s stop wasting our time with worry and anxiety and put it in the hands of the good Lord and celebrate a beautiful day.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

it's coming for us...

I have been watching Landman on Paramount + and I have been loving it.

There is a scene where Billy Bob Thornton and Ali Larter are commiserating on life. They are in the state of life where the kids are out of the house... She is probably 50 and he is probably 60 years old. It is a time of life of reflection and a time of change.

Billy Bob says to her,

"You know, honey, the time is coming when tragedy is gonna dominate our days.  Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s cancer, maybe my mind goes.  I wake up one morning and I don’t have a clue who you are.  Or God forbid maybe it’s you.  Car wreck or whatever you know.  But not today. Today we win."  

She replies to him, "Baby I win every day.  You do too.  You just don’t see it.  But it’s there.  I mean it’s all around you.  You just got to take the time to notice.  Like now."

Jeff comments... yes... the good is here. All around us.  We can focus on the bad and worry about our ailments.  We can fret about the future, or we can see the good.  Just look around you and see the good that you have.  Even though there have been losses, even though there is pain in this day, there is still good around us.  Let's be sure to take notice.



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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

poems

My friend Shawnna sent these in...

SHEEP & GOATS

There are those
Who struggle
To earn [their salvation]

And those
Who struggle
To share [with others]

I know which I’d rather be
On the day of judgement

Jeff comments.... far too many Christians live in fear, struggling to earn their salvation. They think it is about being good enough, when really salvation is found when we learn to give ourselves away as Jesus did. Seeing every person as valuable and caring for the least of these.


INSATIABLE

The most difficult part
of helping the poor
is not calling
for the hungry
to be fed
but for the wealthy
to be content

-David Gate

Jeff comments... There are more than enough resources to feed the world if the wealthy would finally realize that they have enough and learn to give.



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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

The Fisherman

This is a fantastic story about finding contentment in your life. It is a picture of how we can find peace when we finally realize that we have enough. What we already have right now is enough.


An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.”
The American then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed. “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will this take?”
To which the American replied, “Fifteen to twenty years.”
“But what then?” Asked the fisherman.

The American laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich; you would make millions.”

“Millions?” asked the fisherman. “Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine, and play guitar with your amigos!”

Something to think about!!!

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

a short prayer

I have been watching and enjoying The Landman on Paramount +.

At one point in the show, Billy Bob Thornton offers this prayer over dinner.  "Dear Lord, I pray that you grant us patience.  And thats, thats about it.  Amen."

I loved it.  Sometimes our faith and our prayers get too complicated.  What if we found one thing to focus on and just prayed for that.

For example...

Lord help me to be kind.

Lord help me to be less selfish.

Lord help me to see people and value them.

Lord please help me to focus, not on the difficulty in my life, but on the good.

And thats, thats about it.  Amen.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Love your enemies isn't easy

In response to Saturday's post on loving your enemies, I received a couple of comments.

One friend wrote that I should have ended with Happy Valentines Day!!!  So, I missed that.  Hope you all had a great day...

Another friend wrote in to explain that there are people in our lives that they find, we find, very difficult to love.  There are some that we struggle to love.

If you have such people in your life, lets find a place to at least begin.  Loving them does not mean that you have to go to dinner with them.  But can we begin with these thoughts?

1.  I agree that I don't want to hurt them.  I don't want them to be tortured.

2.  I will endeavor to stop saying bad things about them...

Sometimes all the love that we can give to a person, is put them in the neutral zone.  Maybe I can't find enough grace to celebrate them, maybe all I can do is take them out of the despised category and put them in the neutral zone.

That would be a good first step I think.

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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Marital advice

A friend asked for some advice...

First of all, let me say that we all get married with very tall hopes and dreams.  We usually have expectations that are completely unrealistic.  Then 2, 5, 20 years down the road we have bumped into and bruised each other so many times.  It is very easy for couples to grow apart.

Free advice from Jeff.  It's free so you know what it is worth.

1.  talk things through.  talk.  listen.  talk.  stay with it.  Get your feelings out, both of you.  Keep talking.

2.  Work on common goals regarding children, in-laws and finances.  [see #1 as talking is necessary for step 2.]

3.  Compromise.  Maybe you don't like to go to the movies, but your partner does.  Go to the movies!!!  Lose an argument on purpose.  Give up every now and then.  

4.  Work on your own dysfunction.  None of us are finished products.

5.  Without becoming a doormat, put the other person first as much as you can.

6.  If it is in your power to make them happy,  make them happy.

7.  Say you are sorry.  Forgive the other person.

8.  Repeat steps 1-7.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

you don't have to be like me

You don’t have to be like me.  I think most of us are more comfortable with people that are like us.  People that look like us, that talk like us, and smell like us... we like that.

I will confess to you that when I’m around loud people, I wish they’d tone it down to be like me.
I find myself feeling almost racist when I feel like someone should look, sound and behave like I do.

People from other cultures have different ways than I do.  They talk on the phone differently.  They drive differently.  They sit in their cars differently.  They dress differently.  They have different hair.  Sometimes they are speaking a foreign language.   For me to expect that they sound like me, look like me, act like me or anything else like me is kind of naïve and silly on my part.

Probably good advice to just let people be themselves.  I/we need to learn to be comfortable with them as they are.  They should not have to become like me to be loved and accepted.


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

- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Love your enemies

Jesus said, "love your enemies."  He was serious about that.

That means if you love Trump, you must learn to love the Democrats.

And it means if you love the Democrats, you must learn to love Trump.

The Christian faith is meant to be a sanctuary for all.  ALL.  Even our enemies, especially our enemies.

When we stop loving our enemies, we become just like them.

Turn the other cheek.  Go the second mile.  Love your enemies.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

believing some of it can get you into trouble...

Believing some of what is written in scripture can get you in trouble.

Start insisting that Christians should not eat shrimp.  See where that gets you.

Start insisting that slaves must obey their masters.  See where that gets you.

Start insisting that rebellious sons must be stoned at the city gate.  See where that gets you.

Start insisting that we can come boldly before the throne of grace and that God is mandated to answer our prayers per our requests... See where that gets you.

Some well meaning Christians, in their desire to have a solid handle on the faith have claimed promises from the Bible that were never meant to be "forever it must be" statements.

It is time that we stop trying to make the faith into a formula.  It is time that we stop trying to control God.

We are in no position to make demands of God.  We are silly if we treat the Bible as a magic book.  We are not in charge, God is in charge.  

Relax.  Pray.  Fall into his loving arms.  Rest in Him.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Farmer Girl on Prayer

My friend Kim found this on Facebook. It is written by someone who goes by Farmer Girl. I thought it was excellent and goes with what I have been writing about the last few days...

If God already knows the outcome of everything...why are we told to pray?

This is one of those questions that sneaks up on you when you’re not even trying to be philosophical. You’re just doing normal life things. Mixing milk. Sweeping a floor. Staring at the ceiling at two in the morning because your brain refuses to power down. And suddenly the thought lands: if God already knows how everything will end, if nothing catches Him off guard, if the future is already clear to Him… then what exactly are we doing when we pray?

Because it can feel a little pointless, can’t it? If the outcome is already known, then is prayer just a polite ritual? A spiritual suggestion box? Something we do so we feel involved while God quietly carries on with the real plan? It’s a fair question. It makes sense. And the Bible never tells us we’re wrong for asking it.

But then you read Scripture and realize something strange. Prayer is not treated like a formality. It is treated like breath. Jesus tells us to pray, and not just once in a while when things are falling apart, but constantly. Paul says to pray without ceasing. We are told to ask, to seek, to knock, to come boldly, to bring everything to God. Which is odd, if none of it actually matters.

So maybe prayer was never about changing God’s mind.
Maybe it has always been about changing ours.

God does not need the information. He already knows the whole story, from beginning to end. But we do not. We live inside the middle. We feel the weight of the waiting. We carry the fear, the grief, the hope, the questions, the what ifs. And prayer is where all of that finally gets somewhere to go. It is where we stop pretending we are in control and admit that we are not. It is where we let ourselves be small in the presence of Someone who is not.

And think about it like this. We tell our dad our problems. Sometimes calmly. Sometimes emotionally. And sometimes we absolutely trauma dump without warning. We do not stop first and think, well, he already knows this, so I should probably just keep it to myself. No. We talk because relationship is built through sharing, not through silence.

God is our Father.
So why wouldn’t we trauma dump on Him?

If God is the Author, then prayer is not us trying to edit the ending. It is us stepping into the story. It is choosing relationship instead of distance. Trust instead of silence. Presence instead of pretending we can handle everything on our own.
God may already know the outcome, but He still invites us to walk with Him through the middle. Not because He needs our words, but because we need His nearness.

So we pray.
Not to inform God.
But to remember who He is.


It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

stages of prayer

Anthony DeMello taught 4 stages of prayer.  As I looked at his four stages, they really sounded like three stages to me.

Stage one:  I talk God listens.

Stage two:  God talks, I listen.

Stage three:  No one talks, no one listens.  Together with God in silence.

To me, the real purpose of prayer is stage three.  Just to be with God.  Imagine that you are out to a restaurant with someone that you really like.  You haven't seen each other for a while so you are going to catch up.  They talk, you listen.  You talk, they listen.  Back and forth it goes until every needed subject is covered.  Then you just sit at the table with your friend and enjoy their company.

We need to stop wanting so much from God and just enjoy his company.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

praying

From time to time I have to write about prayer.  

When I was young, I was taught that if you pray, God must give it to you.  That is wrong.

When I was young, I was taught that if you got enough people to pray for you and with you, God is mandated to answer your prayer.  That is wrong.

God is not a cosmic vending machine.

God is not a celestial Santa Clause.

Prayer is not about me getting what I want from God.  Prayer is about me aligning my life with the Father.  Prayer changes things... yes... but the thing that prayer changes is me.

We need to completely change our paradigm.  It is not about me getting what I want, it is about me being in relationship with God.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Our family is +1

Congratulations are in order for my daughter Allison and her husband Bobby Lascon.  One week ago on Feb 1st Alli gave birth by cesarean to an 8 lb 11oz baby boy.  That is one big baby!!!

Welcome Leo Alexander to the world!!!

Big sister Bella [age 5 is glad to have him finally here]

Rejoice with us!!!

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Why I don't care for Paul...

I have mentioned in this blog that I am not a fan of the Apostle Paul. My friend Connie asked me to say more about why I don’t like Paul.

Actually, I have never met him, so it is unfair of me to say that I don't like him.

First of all, I would say that if the apostle Paul knew that many of the things that he wrote we’re going to be turned into Scripture, He would’ve been much more careful about what he said, and what he wrote.

It’s not that I don’t like Paul. It’s that I don’t like what people do with Paul's writings. No one uses the words of Jesus to heap guilt on others, but many of the sayings of Paul are used by various churches to pile on the guilt.

I am not a fan of guilt. Jesus never guilted or shamed people.  But the writings of Paul are used, unfortunately,  for this purpose.

While Jesus is loving people and throwing out principles of the kingdom, the Apostle Paul is trying to correct and straighten out members of the church. It’s like he has the angry parent role.

He’s also very inconsistent. You can get one version of this and another version of that.  He speaks of love, but he also speaks in judgmental ways.   His approach to the second coming is inconsistent.  His treatment of, and comments about the role of women in the church are also inconsistent.

There are a number of contradictions in the books attributed to Paul.  In 1 Corinthians the church is organized by spiritual gifts.  In 1 and 2 Timothy there are elders and deacons.  Hmm.  Which is it???

Mostly, I would say it’s not that I don’t like him. It’s just that I so much prefer the stories of Jesus to the ramblings of Paul.

The church would be far better off if it spent less energy on Paul and more time with the classic stories of Jesus like the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.

In other words, we all, in my opinion, should stop focusing on doctrine that well meaning preachers extract from the writings of Paul and instead focus on the loving caring teachings of Jesus.

Paul complicates things.  The stories that Jesus told stand alone, need no interpretation and lead us into a life of love.  

I hope that helps.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

crazy about you

 

Brian Swanson preaching in the Worship Center at the 
Woods Chapel UMC on January 25th, 2026

"In order to develop normally, a child requires progressively more complex joint activity with one or more adults who have an irrational emotional relationship with the child.  Somebody's got to be crazy about that kid.  That's number one.  First, last and always."   Urie Bronfenbrenner

How true is this quote... every child needs someone who is crazy about them.  For me, I never had that growing up and it causes one to search for acceptance for the rest of his or her days.

If you are raising children or have grandchildren, be crazy about them.  People need to know that they are loved.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

your level of generosity

Consider your level of generosity.  On a scale of one to 10, 1 being not generous 10 being very generous. What would you give yourself? 

Would you say you were a three or four or five or six or seven?  And whatever level of generosity you live at, what is keeping us from being more generous?  What is keeping us from moving up to the next level?

I mentioned that a friend left $100 tip the other day. I was right there at the table.  I saw the whole thing as it happened.  It was beautiful and I thought that I could do that. 

Why don’t I? What keeps us from being more generous?

Actually if you have an answer to the question, what keeps us from being more generous, please send your thoughts to me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

moving away from what you were taught

Just because some person taught you something, does not mean that it is right. It is ok to question your beliefs. It is healthy to question them.

I was having breakfast with a friend and she told me, "I was taught that homeless people were dirty and scary and had diseases." Then she went on, "I don’t believe that anymore."

I loved that. I told her thank you for changing your beliefs. Thank you for moving away from what you were taught. Thank you for believing that reality may not lie in the things that you and I were taught.

What were you taught that might need some reconsideration?

Were you taught that God is mad? Rethink that. Were you taught that God is going to catch you on a technicality? Rethink that.

Must of what we were taught needs to be erased from the library in our heads. Sometimes we need to find new stories and new paradigms.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

rough time

A friend and blog reader, J.K. asked how to sign up a friend of his for the blog who was/is "going through a hard time."

This note is to the friend and anyone else that may be going through a hard time:

You are not alone.  We all have hard times.  Having said that, when I am going through something, it feels much more personal and much worse than when others went through the same thing.  So lets begin by extending empathy for your pain.  Everyone reading this please just stop now and say a short prayer for this unnamed friend.

Amen.

Now some more thoughts... most problems in life are temporary.  Or there are the problems that do hang around that we have to get used to.  I hope that your situation improves, but if it does not, then please remember that sometimes we have to learn to play the cards that we are dealt.  Sometimes our health issues do not go away.  Sometimes we have to make peace with them.

Robert Schuler wrote a book, "tough times don't last but tough people do."  I find that thought helpful, except for when the tough times do seem to last.  

My hair loss is a permanent annoyance.  My arthritic issues appear to be permanent.  My weakness in old age is here to stay.  Sometimes in life, when we can't wish or pray something away, we have to work to make peace with it.  It is difficult, but it can be done.

So friend, for you, and for anyone else who is struggling right now... "may your struggles soon end, but if they do not, may you find the grace and the personal fortitude to not be consumed by the pain, but to overcome it."

Do not let your life stories of pain dominate your life.  There is still much good to be seen and experienced in this life.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Thoughts on improving one's self

The drive to improve yourself. 

So I’m sitting here talking with a friend and we’re talking about life and it occurs to me that one of the things that I admire in people is their desire to improve themselves.

Not everyone tries to improve themselves, but those that do are lovely humans for sure. They’re not stuck on what they are, or what they have been, but they have this feeling that things can get better and they intentionally work on improving themselves. 

I believe that all of us can work on becoming a more gracious and kind person. When you think about it, it’s not that much to ask.  It's not that hard to be nice.  I truly believe that all of us can learn to be better tomorrow than we were today.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Answers

Sometimes in life, there are no good answers. I am constantly annoyed by Pastors and well meaning Christians who think that they have all of the answers.

Sometimes in life there are no good answers. We just have to trust in God.

If you do, when you do, run into people that think they have all the answers, run the other way as fast as you can. Danger danger Will Robinson!!!


It is healthy to admit that we do not know everything. It is fake, arrogant, and unrealistic to act like we do. Sometimes in life we have to get comfortable with not knowing.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Tip

I was out to breakfast with a friend. They’ve been awfully good to me so I picked up the check.  The person I was out to breakfast with asked if they could leave the tip.  I said sure.  When people say that they want to leave the tip, I always leave a tip myself anyway.  So the breakfast for the two of us came out to $25.   I left a five dollar tip.  When the server came to the table, my friend handed her $100.

It brought the server to tears. It brought me to tears.

I’ve talked in the past on this blog about getting a group of people together and going out and leaving a big tip for some fortunate server.  And I just haven’t been able to make it happen.

But I would love to hear your stories.  If you’re out sometime and you’re leaving an extra extraordinarily large tip, just how the person did and what was the response to your generosity.

Generosity is a beautiful thing, indeed!!!

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

selfishness

Selfishness is alive and well on planet earth.  It is a mainstay in our hearts.  Selfishness is hard to eradicate and for some humans, it is hard for them to see it in themselves.  About the time I think that I have selfishness conquered, it sneaks back in.  There are 1,000 paths back into selfishness.

I was recently in a men's group meeting and Adam D said, "gratitude is the off ramp from selfishness."  I loved that.  Get a little gratitude going and our entire life perspective is changed.  Gratitude puts everything in perspective and by it's nature drives out selfcenteredness.

Gratitude is the offramp from a life of selfishness.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

given a miracle

When you have been given a miracle you never look at life quite the same.  Once you have been given one of life's miracles, you never have a bad day.

Some years ago, after a cancer scare, Susie I. told me that "we who have survived the threat of a cancer death never look at life the same."

If you have been given the gift of survival, then you know that each day is precious.  It could have ended all those years ago, but it did not.  Every day after that is just a gift.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Friday January 23rd

BRRR!!!

I travelled to Kansas City to preach a couple of Sundays for my friend Chris A.  I really appreciate the invitation and the opportunity.

Last Friday I went to meet a friend for breakfast.  I noticed a cold front had blown in overnight.

8:15am - 8 degrees.

We had a lovely breakfast.  Afterwards I went back to the truck and it was even colder.

9:18am - 7 degrees!!!

There is an old saying, "look before you leap."  Next time before I agree to go to KC, I think that I may look at the weather forecast.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

kindness quote

My friend Shawnna sent this in...

"Kindness is evidence of impenetrable strength. It is the willingness to stay soft in a world that tries to harden you at every corner. It is the ability to absorb your own emotions and diffuse them, to decide what you want to act on and what you want to put back out into the world, regardless of what the world has put you through. Kind people are not just good, they are heroes in their own ways. Their ability to not reciprocate unkindness to a world that often deserves it makes them catalyst for the deepest healing to occur."
- Brianna Wiest in The Pivot Year

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
- - - - - - - -
Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

too much money

I watch the ads on TV and I wonder.  How much would my car insurance go down if State Farm, Geico and Allstate all stopped TV ads.  We all know that there are many choices.  You can find them on the internet.

And Oh, what a profit margin there must be in the Farmer's Dog dog food.  I get so tired of the commercials.

It all seems like a waste to me...  There are probably many ways that we all waste money.  Some people have money because they make a ton of it.  Other people have money because they don't spend it.

How would our bank accounts change if we stopped wasting money?

I think that we waste the most money on going out to eat.  The budget is always better when we eat at home.

Have you ever asked yourself how your home may be wasting money?  Saving money by not wasting it, allows us the opportunity to be more generous.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

love without leverage

On Sunday morning, my pastor, Tim Barton, {Tim number three} used the phrase "love without leverage."

A lever is a simple machine. It’s something you use to pry against an immovable object. It’s something you use to try to change the placement of the item in question.  It makes moving things easier.

When we use leverage against people, basically we’re trying to get them to change to accommodate our way of thinking or our desires.

Common leverage points that we humans use are:  guilt, shame, peer pressure, blackmail and even brute force.

In this life, if we think we are in a loving relationship but find ourselves trying to change the other person, something is wrong.  If I’m using some sort of leverage, some sort of guilt to try to change how you think of what you do or where you live or any number of things, if I’m using leverage, it’s not love.

Love doesn’t try to change people.  Love simply accepts people where they’re at.
When you love someone you love them as they are and you cherish what they are. You don’t try to change them into your image or likeness.

Love without leverage.  Try it.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Buy and sell

I thought of this the other day... years ago an arrogant person pronounced that they could "buy and sell me."

I didn't say anything at the time.  I walked away.  I didn't know what to say.  The words that were said and the attitude were so stinky and repulsive.

Later though, as I thought of those words, I found a reply.  You say that you can buy and sell me?  Well the problem is, I am not for sale.  You don't get to control me.

May we all strive in this life to flee from arrogance and embrace humility and kindness.  I'll buy that.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Korean Methodist Church

In the back of the United Methodist hymnal, there are a bunch of creeds.  I always prefer just saying the 
Apostles Creed #881. But there are others...

• there is an affirmation from the United Church of Canada
• from the Korean Methodist Church
• a modern affirmation
• the world Methodist Social Affirmation
• an affirmation from Romans
• from 1 Corinthians
• from 1 Timothy

I have never liked using anything in church except for the Apostles Creed.  Did I already say that?

But last Sunday we said the affirmation from the Korean Methodist Church.  And guess what??? Something struck me that I have never heard before in these creeds.

The affirmation begins, "We believe in the one God, creator and sustainer of all things, Father of all nations, the source of all goodness and beauty, all truth and love..."

And a novel thought hit me... God is the creator of all things and the Father of all nations.  He created Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, and fundamentalist Christians as well as United Methodists.  He is the Father of all nations:  China, Russia, Qutar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran as well as the United States.

He loves all of those people just as he loves us, and when they pray to God, they are praying to Him.  To the same God that United Methodist pray to.

Maybe we are not as far apart as we sometimes think.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

Reincarnation

A friend asked me to write something about the concept of reincarnation.

Well, let me begin by saying that as a child I was never taught anything about this.  Anything except that it is not true.  

Today as an adult, my mind is much more open.

Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is appointed for a person, once to die, and then the judgment."  This is what I was taught growing up.

As an adult, my mind is more open.  Also, I am not a fan of the apostle Paul.  [although most scholars do not believe that Paul wrote Hebrews]

I certainly believe that life goes on after death.  In what form?  We do not know.  Golden streets?  Reunited with loved ones?  Or do we morph into something else.

Here are my adult questions about reincarnation... The population in Jesus' day is estimated to be around 200 million.  Today the population is 8.3 billion.  Just looking at that, the math doesn't add up to me for reincarnation, unless people become cows and flies and flies can become people.  It doesn't seem to me that there are less cows than there were in Jesus day.  And the fly population seems to be going pretty strong.

Anyway, my real take on reincarnation is this... What really matters to me is how we live day by day.  How I treat you.  How I treat everyone.  I don't believe that we should waste our time arguing about the end of time and all of that.

Still, all of this does not explain away the recurring dreams that I have of being on a sailing ship out on the ocean in the early 1800s.  Reincarnation?  Genetic memories passed down?

In the end, we do not know.

But, what we do know, is that we were created to love others.  It feels good to love others.  Let's keep focusing on that.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

choose love

After some of the difficult things that have happened in our country, the NFL has opted for players to post messages on the back bumper pad of their helmets.

"End Racism," "Stop Hate," "Choose Love" or "Inspire Change." "It Takes All of Us"

Last week on January 17, the Bills and the Broncos played. I was encouraged because both teams had the message on the back of their helmets: "Choose Love."

Now, I am not against any of the other messages that the NFL suggested, but let me tell you, if in this world, if in this life, we all choose love... then the world will be on a better path, a healthier path.

The Broncos beat the Bills in a very good football game. In a world where we are way too tribal, in a world where some people's self esteem rises and falls on how their team of choice is doing, it is nice to have a positive message.

And yes, choosing love is more important that who wins a football game.

Each day, you and me. Let's choose love.

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

- - - - - - - - 

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027

If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707

Here is a link for more information

Click here for New Zealand Info

miracle drug

Since I returned from Italy in mid-November I have been suffering with a physical malady.  My shoulders, then my arms, then my hands and wrists have been hurting something fierce.

I went to the orthopedic doctor... He said I was ok.  My primary thinks it may be rheumatoid arthritis.  I cant get in to see the Rheumatologist until mid February.

I haven't been able to sleep.  I have not been able to lift my arms over my head.

Enter the miracle drug.  

I have never taken Tylenol.  I don't get headaches and I have never felt that I needed it.  My primary told me to take it and let me tell you, it has become my new best friend.

Just a couple of pills 2x a day and I am operational to about 90%.

It's a miracle!!! 

May we all give thanks for the wisdom that God has given doctors and drug manufacturers.  They can make our pains so much more bearable!!!

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

do unto others

There are things that we allow and there are things that we should not allow to be forced upon us.

Unfortunately, if you allow something like hatefulness for a long enough time, you get used to it and we tend to accept it as normal.

Let's take unkindness for example. We have all run into unkind people. Sometimes we have no power to speak into their behavior.

But, when unkindness becomes accepted, it can begin to be considered normal.  When it becomes "normal," people will make excuses for it and exercise it with no guilt whatsoever.
When this happens, the golden rule is out the window. If you don't know what the golden rule is, take a moment right now and google it. Look it up.

We don’t want a world filled with unkindness. It cannot be allowed to be considered normal or acceptable, no matter who is doing it.

We can create and sustain a world of kindness by modeling it ourselves and graciously insisting that others do as well.  It is not that hard to be kind.

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

from my friend Bruce

"May you embrace this day, not just as any old day, but as this day. Your day. Held in trust by you in a singular place called "now."
quote from Carrie Newcomer

It reminds me of the scripture passage, "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Ps 118:24

What ever I do today, I will not get a rerun. I will not get a redo. How I choose to live, how I choose to treat others is a decision that is within my power.

Let's make good, positive, kind and loving choices.

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

 

Preparing for a moment of kindness

I was thinking the other day about why we humans are not kind more often.  Even those humans who believe in kindness are not kind as often as they can be.

Maybe it is because our minds are filled with our own stuff.  We are going thru the day thinking about what we are thinking about instead of preparing ourselves for the next act of kindness.

What if, instead of thinking about what comes naturally, we intentionally think about who I will be meeting in the next 20 minutes.  What kind thing can I do or say to that person?

• As I pull up to a restaurant, I can think of the server that will come to our table and being pleasant to them.
• As I walk into yoga class I can tell the instructor what a fantastic human they are and how much I appreciate them.
• As I walk into that upcoming meeting, I can think of who will be there and what compliment I can give to them.
• When a member of my family walks into the room, I can have a statement prepared about how special they are to me.

I believe that our intentional efforts to prime the pump of kindness can make a difference in our every day living for others, and for us.

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

lunch time

I have been having some physical challenges of late.  My doctor sent in a couple of prescriptions for me.  I got a text from CVS that they were ready.

I got in the car and headed to CVS.  I parked.  I walked in the door and got in line for RX pickup.

One of the employees said to me, "I am sorry sir, but we take lunch from 1:30-2:00.  We are not going to be able to get to you until after lunch."

Hmmm.  what to do???

Looking back on the moment, I could have said- well you just texted me!  I could have begged... come on, I am the only one here, its just a pick up, it will just take a minute.

We humans so easily and so quickly make it about us.

I did none of the above.

You are going to take lunch?  I said, "Oh yes, I am sorry, I knew that." See I have worked at many CVS stores over the years. I knew that they took lunch.  I just forgot.

They apologized.  I said, no, you deserve to have a lunch.  I will come back.

They thanked me for being nice.  I told them that it is not that hard to be nice.  It just doesn't take that much effort to be kind.  

Being kind is good for them and it is good for you and me. Every one appreciates a kind word, and we also feel better when we show compassion.

I went back later and got my drugs.  All is well.  I am none worse for the wear.

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

rare people

One of my recent projects is to go through my phone and clean up and clean out.  My goodness there are a lot of pictures on my phone.

I found this card from 2019.  

May we all strive to be genuine friends and compassionate humans.

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

I missed you

I was on a cruise last weekend.  It was fantastic.  Only one thing could have made it better... and that is if you were on it with me.

I miss my friends.  I have met so many wonderful people over the years.  I was on a boat with 2,500 people and I didn't know a single one.

It would have been better if you were there.

Speaking of cruises... In January/February of 2027 Rev. Sherri Swanson and I are leading a New Zealand cruise trip.  I could go by myself, but it would be so much more fun if you were there.  

Please watch for more details to be posted on the blog.

And spend as much time with your friends as you can.  Life is better with friends.

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

Live your life in a way...

There is an old saying... "live your life in such a way that when it is time for your funeral, you have made the job easy for the preacher."

This is a true story.  Once upon a time I met with a family about the death of the patriarch.  There were 6 brothers and sisters, all in their 50's and 60's.  The dad had lived a long life and recently passed.

I went to the house where the family was gathered.  I asked them the questions that you ask about the deceased.  It helps you to prepare the message to ask the family questions.

Tell me about your Dad.
[no response]
Tell me about his friends.
no response
Tell me about his spirituality.
silence
Tell me about what he loved.

silence....

Tell me about his values

nothing...

Finally one of his children asked me in an annoyed tone, "preacher can you do a funeral?"  I said, Yes sir, I can.  He said, "then fine, then just do us a funeral."

I led the group in a prayer and then we ate sandwiches.  I thanked them for their time and started down the sidewalk.  One of the brothers came out after me and stopped me.

He said, "Jeff I want you to know why no one had anything to say about our Dad.  It is because we all hated him.  He was a son of a b----h."

I thanked him for that info.  I prepared a funeral message.  It wasn't easy.

Moral of the story... live your life in such a way that you make it easy for the preacher when the time comes.

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

How are you doing?

People ask me all the time, "How are you doing?"  It is something that we ask each other.

How are you?  How is your day going?

My stock answer is this... "I am 68 years old and I woke up today.  That is a victory.  That is a great start!!!"

Usually when people ask how you are doing, they really don't want you to open up about your current sufferings and griefs.  So occasionally I will talk with close friends about what is really going on, but usually I am content to just celebrate that I am 68 and in relatively good health.

The real ticket in "how we are doing" is to learn to be ok, to be good, to find joy, even when there are sufferings.  Sure we all have our stuff.  Do we let it eat our lunch, or do we put it where it belongs and continue to see thee good.

When I let my struggles rise to the top I am good for no one.  May I, may we all, look past our moments of pain and share the love.

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

which Jesus?

Richard Rohr recently posted this quote....

We do not all follow the same Jesus. We also do not all read the same Bible.
                                                      —Whitney Wilkinson Arreche

Some believe in a Jesus that is looking to catch you on a technicality.

Some believe in a Jesus that is exclusive.

Some believe in a Jesus that insists that you believe it just right.

Some believe in a Jesus who has an ego need to be worshipped.

Some believe in a Jesus who is judgmental.

Which Jesus do you believe in?

I believe in a Jesus that loves us.

I believe in a Jesus that is much more interested in being followed than worshipped.

I believe in a Jesus of grace.

What you believe about Jesus/God will play into your life in thousands of ways.  For your mental health, please choose the Jesus of love and grace.  And then follow him into that life of love.

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