Sunday, October 14, 2018

Cuba Cruise Pt 3 - Havana

The Cuba Cruise took out of Port Canaveral, a short drive from Orlando.  It sailed to Key West and then to Havana.  There were many questions about whether or not we would be able to get off the ship and walk  around freely in Havana.  Yes there are some laws on the books that restrict US visitors in Cuba, but they are easily complied with.  Don't let the cruise line force you into paying for an expensive shore excursion.  We walked right off the boat with no problem.

statue of Jesus overlooking Havana Bay
fort at entrance to Havana Bay




there are many small squares where people
find water, a bench and music

typical street in Havana

off the beaten bath it gets pretty bad

some buildings looked bombed out

lots of street vendors


open air market

meat for sale


there are many nice areas of Havana

lunch included singers

beautiful church

more music

old Spanish fort


back to the boat

back to Jesus
We had a great time.  I hope to go back some day.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Cuba Cruise Pt 2 Key West

Key West is the southern most part of the Untied States.  They have a nice little museum of boats and rafts that people have ridden on to get to the US.  They have shopping and restaurants.  They have a rocky beach with no waves.  They have jet skis and other water sports. 

And they have Duval Street.  Duval Street is like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, only not quite as bad.

The boat docks in Key West and a tram takes you to Duval Street where you shop and eventually end up in a restaurant listening to some old guy playing Margaritaville.

We had a blast.

Tram from the boat to Duval Street

USCGC Ingham - Part of the Key West maritime museum


Duval St.

typical Key West joint


lots of attractive architecture


restaurnt where we finally crashed


Irene Price listens to Margaritaville.  Note dog on guitar case.

The dog was a real hit!

Jenny and Chrystal.  Oh how great to be young.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Friday, October 12, 2018

Cuba Cruise

A few months ago I went on a cruise to Key West and Cuba.  My wife Cathy, daughter Jennifer, her friend Chrystal and Fred and Irene Price all went along.  We had a marvelous time.

When Fidel Castro took over Cuba he nationalized all of America's gambling houses in Cuba.  Consequently we shut them out and embargoed them.  They went over to the Russians.

The embargo ended American goods and American cars going into Cuba.  If you go to Cuba today, you see a few new American cars, lots of foreign cars, lots of Russian cars, and plenty of beautiful American cars from pre-embargo days.

I love cars.  I loved seeing the old cars in Cuba.  Every street was a car show.








Note statue of Jesus in the background


It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Why don't my children go to church?

My kids, for the most part, do not go to church.  Although raised in church, they choose as young adults, not to go.

Why.

They would tell you that they are tired of the judgmental and homophobic attitudes.  They would tell you that they are tired of rituals and sermons that are irrelevant.

People talk to me all the time about how worried they are about their children.  My children don't go to church! They tell me.

I think they are worried that their kids will go to hell.  They feel that they have failed their children.  They want me to go convert their kids. 

Let me ask a question.  Is it our job to get out kids into church or to love them?  Is it our job to make them think the way that we do or to love them?  Is it our job to press them into our mold or to love them?

Maybe if we just focused on loving them, our relationship with them would improve.  They don't need our invitations to church.  They need our love.  God is sometimes in the middle of church.  God is always in the middle of love.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

commandment vs commission part 3

I think that the church has focused on the wrong thing.  We tried to convert people instead of loving them.

When was the last time you went door to door anyway?  When was the last time that you struck up a random conversation with another human about faith?  For the most part we don't do it, because it is awkward.  It feels awkward to us and it feels terrifyingly awkward to them.  It does not feel like love.  Because it isn't.

You have to earn the right to talk to someone about vital things.  Recently someone got in my grill about how I raised my children.  I walked away.  They have not known me long enough to try to speak into something so precious.  You must spend the time with someone and earn the right for deep conversations.

It is the same with faith.  Many of the people that are out actively trying to convert others are doing more harm than good.  On the other hand, those that are out actively loving others are filling the world with good.  They are filling the world with God.

To love someone feels natural.  It is what we were created to do.  Do what comes natural.  Love them.  Leave the converting up to  God.  If others see love from us, God has much more to work with.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

commission vs commandment pt 2

When we go out to convert someone, we make them our project.  We have what they need and we are going to make sure they get it, whether they want it or not.

On the other hand, when we love someone, they simply receive the love.  They are not our project and they are not really even the object of our love.  Our love is not directed towards them, our love is directed towards everyone.  They just happen to be in earshot or heart-shot.

I want to suggest that the best way to convert someone is to love them.  If we can't love someone then we will never convert them.  Our words will always sound to them as a resounding, repeating gong that just won't stop.

Light of the world, shine on me, love is the answer.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Monday, October 8, 2018

Sunday Sermon Audio 10-7-18 David and Goliath

click here to listen
Posted by at No comments:

commandment vs commission

I grew up on the great commission, most famously found in Mt 28 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

I did not grow up on the great commandment which is found through out the Bible in the Old and New testaments, "Thou shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself."

The great commission made us militant. Christians went door to door and all over the world to tell people to get saved. The resulting attitudes too often sounded like this-

"we are right and you are wrong"
"we are in and you are out"
"become like us or you are going to hell."

It is no wonder that the average person in our country is sick of church.

What if we had gone out to the world and to our neighbors and just tried to love them? Maybe the church would be thriving today.

Fact is, where ever Christians are engaged in loving others, the church is thriving today.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Not That

Not That.  No.  I am not that.
But sometimes I really feel that.  Like that thing.


 Sometimes I feel lonely.  Sometimes I feel angry.  Sometimes I feel perplexed.
Worse is that sometimes I come to believe that the lonely and the me are one in the same.  I sometimes allow myself to be defined by how I feel. 

So that when I say I am perplexed, it feels as if the core of my identity is perplexed.

But no.  No.  I am not that.  And neither are you.  We can feel lonely or happy or angry or giddy or perplexed but we are not defined by our feelings.  Feelings come and go.

I am, you are, more than your feelings. 

You are God's child.  You are loved by him.  You are ok.  I am ok.  It is well with our souls.  Do not for one minute allow yourself to think that you are defined by the feeling of the day.  It will come and it will go.  Only God's love and grace to you is consistent.

Put on the grace t-shirt and let his grace define you.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, October 6, 2018

What if your child went missing?

My friend Susan wrote in to share this story....

Love and Light

I have been following a story for approximately 51 days, since August 1st , that has occupied my thoughts and prayers constantly. 28-year-old Samantha Sayers went missing on August 1st while on a solo day hike at Vesper Peak, northwest of Seattle WA. She was seen at the peak, and descending some time afterward, but never made it back to her car as planned by 6pm. Her fiancé became worried and drove from Seattle to the mountain, and called 911 around 1am. The Snohomish Sheriff’s dept and other search and rescue groups have been searching ever since with no sign of Sam. I became aware of this story because Sam’s mom, Lisa, is someone I work with long-distance. I have never met her; she lives in Pennsylvania. I have listened to her LIVE updates on her facebook page DAILY. My “mom” heart is devastated for her and her family. I feel like I know her after 51 days. I feel her pain. I pray and pray and pray that God will lead someone to Sam and give them peace. Honestly, I have been so blessed by this family. That may sound funny, but who knows how we would feel, act, or react if we were in this position? To have a child, no matter what age, go missing with no sign. The worry, the anxiety, the anguish, the FEAR. Lisa has FAITH. She is HOPEFUL. Does she cry and fall apart sometimes? Of course! But I have learned SO much from her steadfast belief that God is in control, no matter what. If someone is negative, she just asks everyone to “bless and release” and not say anything bad about them or be angry with them. “Bless and release”!! I love that. There are approximately 33,000 followers on her facebook page praying for Sam. This has become bigger than just Sam missing. This is bringing people together in love, caring, and support. There have been donations, prayers, yellow ribbons across America, spreading the word to try and get assistance for the family once the official search was called off. Here is what Lisa posted:

Love and Light goes for everyone. You can treat others with respect whether they agree with your beliefs or not. That is what love and acceptance is. That is what represents and stands for. #findsamsayers

If someone disagrees with you or is negative, BLESS AND RELEASE. The other message here is that Sam is all about Love and Light. Be who you are. You be You. Let Me be Me. Love and Light. Bless and Release. In the face of such adversity, to be teaching us these lessons is a blessing, and needs to be passed along. Please pray for this family. #findsamsayers


Posted by at No comments:

Friday, October 5, 2018

I hate that store

I have a friend who hates a particular store.  She avoids it like the plague.

Last week she found herself headed there, dreading the encounter.  Afterwards, she wrote the
following to me...

Sometimes we go into a situation or a place not looking forward to it because we have had bad experiences in the past...like Walmart! However when walking out of the store, a man got in the way of my cart and made a funny comment about women drivers. I laughed and smiled and he said thank you for smiling, you made my day!  That positive encounter with another human made the trip worthwhile.  Sometimes it’s good when our preconceived notions of what to expect are wrong.

I comment...I am glad that this person survived the trip to Wallyworld.  I am glad that she saw the good.  For me, the effort to see the good must begin when we are pulling into the parking lot.  Have a plan... Look for a way to make a tense moment better.  Maybe in the future, she can go there and intentionally try to graze people with her cart just to make the trip fun!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Consumer Reports

I am a consumer and I am making a report.  Be very careful when buying things on Amazon or Ebay.  I try to do my homework and I can tell you that there are wide discrepancies in prices for the very same items.

My wife has a Roomba Vacuum.  It charges up and drives itself around the house.  When the cat was younger and felt up to it, he would ride around on it looking for mice.  Well, the spinner brush module went bad.  I took the Roomba apart and did some trouble shooting.  I priced the module.  $66.00 on Amazon.  I read the reviews and found that you can buy the exact same part on the Roomba website for $18.  That is a savings of $48 that I can now use for chocolate, Harbor Freight tools or a contribution to the church.

Today the water valve is out in the refrigerator.  No the cat does not
ride the refrigerator.  On Amazon, the price that shows up first is $57.99.  With a little searching I found the same item on Amazon for $17.00. I think I am going to go to TGIF for dinner tonight.

Don't jump at the first item.  Sometimes you find a better deal for the same item.  Sometimes a little exploration pays off.  Patience is a virtue.

Jeff Brinkman, part time editor
Consumer Reports

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019


Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Sermon Audio from Sunday for those interested- topic: we are all called

click here to listen
Posted by at No comments:

I am not crazy

Before I begin, happy birthday to my Dad, Paul Brinkman who died in 2002.  I miss him.

Now to the post.  
I am not crazy.

A jingle went through my head.  I started singing it.  
"yummy yummy I digga digga bowl full new kind of breakfast cereal oceans of energy...."

My wife and daughters say that I am crazy and they have never heard of it.  I must be making it up.  But I look on line.  I think it is a fruit loops commercial from when I was a kid.  I search and search on line and on youtube.  

Nothing.

I know that I am not crazy. 
I keep working on it.... for weeks....

Finally I get some more words... "oceans of energy, we call it Kellogg's Puffa Puffa Rice.  Aye-A Aye-A"

And armed with the name of the cereal, I find the jingle and the commercial that was from 1967.

Here it is, enjoy it!  Don't let it get stuck in your head!


It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

trivia

I was walking through a store the other day and I heard some guys discussing Ellie May and Jethro.  I thought about how much I love trivia.

What show were Ellie May and Jethro on?
The Beverly Hillbillies.
What was the name of the banker's secretary on that show?
Miss Hathaway.

What is the name of the dog on the Jetson's?
Astro.

Who are these people pictured below?


star of my first cartoon

sidekick of the above

what is her name and what show was she on?

who is this?  what is this?  From what cartoon?

Scroll down for the answers.....




The star of my first cartoon is Quick Draw McGraw

His side kick is Baba Louie

The woman is the Sea Hag from Popeye

The animal is Popeye's dog.... named "Jeep."

That was a lot of fun for me.  I hope you have a great day!

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, October 1, 2018

Len Dawson

I just thought of this story the other day.

I was 11 or so.  Lenny Dawson was the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.  My mom was dropping me and two friends, Bob Berry and Greg Fisher at the Red Bridge bowling alley.

As we got out of the car, Bob said, "look, there is Len Dawson."  I thought that was pretty cool.

We got to the door and I held the door for our group.  I continued to hold it for Len Dawson.  A couple of kids were coming in too.  I held the door and said to them, "look, that is Len Dawson."  One of the boys said, "yes I know, he is my dad."

I felt kind of dumb.  The first of many such times to come in my life.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - -

I am leading some trips this year and next. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land Tour - includes my favorite spots
with optional Jerusalem extension
March 4-13, 2019
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)