Prayer for an pandemic

My friend Linda sent me this prayer... originally published by the Presbyterian World Mission...

Prayer for a Pandemic

May we who are nearly inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those who are most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or paying their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country
Let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbor.

AMEN

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

The Prodigal Son

One of my favorite Bible stories is the prodigal son which is found in Luke 15.  You know the story.  The kid blows it.  He takes his inheritance, which is a huge insult to his father.  Then he goes out and parties.  He has a smashing time with drugs, food, prostitutes and such.  Finally he is broke and has to go to work.  He finds a job feeding pigs.  He comes to his senses.  He is disgusted with himself.  He says that his father's servants live better than this.  He decides to go home.

He turns the corner onto his street and sees his house down the way.
His father has been waiting for him to come back.
His father has been praying for him to come back.
The son is not required to apologize.
The son is not required to fall to his knees in grief.
The son is not punished for his sins.
The son is not shamed.
The son is not guilt-ed.

The father sees him while he is afar off and runs to meet him.
I can see the father sobbing with joy.
The father embraces the son.
The father throws a party for the son who has come home.

The is our God.
This is our Father.
You and I are loved more than we will ever know.
He is running toward you now to hug you.
You are loved and forgiven.  He isn't even thinking about what you might have done.  You are just loved.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

afraid to die

A friend was telling me about his uncle who is 85 and dying of cancer.  The man is terrified of dying, and it is coming soon.

We talked about why he might be afraid.  I have a theory.

Here it goes... what kind of a God do you believe in?  What were you taught about God?  Think with me for a moment about your earthly father.  Did he come home from work and beat you with a belt?  If so, then you probably were terrified of your father coming home.  But if your father came home from work with a smile and hugged you, you probably waited at the door to meet him.

And so if you think that God is mad and wants to punish you for sins, you might be afraid to die.  But if you believe that God loves you and waits for you with open arms, then you might be more peaceful about facing death.

May we all be a bit more peaceful about an impending death.  The God that is waiting for us is filled with love and compassion.  When we get there, there will be a party for sure.


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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Corona

My friend Robyn Miller is the lead pastor at the Woods Chapel United Methodist Church in Lees Summit, Missouri.  She sent out an email about closing the church due to the corona virus.  I loved the positive reminder that she offered...

Every time I look at my phone, it seems like everything is being cancelled, but like I said this morning, some things will NOT: 

Conversations will not be cancelled
Relationships will not be cancelled
Love will not be cancelled
Songs will not be cancelled
Self-care will not be cancelled
HOPE will not be cancelled
COMPASSION will not be cancelled.

And the love of Jesus Christ will not be cancelled!

Really good stuff to remember!!!

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

lights out

The other night I was trying to watch TV.  I noticed that someone had left the bathroom light on and fan running.  I don't hear as well as I used to, so I got up and turned off the light and fan so I could hear the TV.

In about ten seconds, they both came back on.  OH MY GOSH!!!  Obviously someone was in there.  Yes, it was my son.  I apologized profusely for plunging him into darkness.

Sometimes we think we know what is going on, but we don't.  Sometimes we are so lost in what we are doing that we don't pay attention to what others are doing.

May we all be a bit less self consumed and a bit more aware of others.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

the seeds that we plant

When my good friend's daughter was in need of a divorce lawyer, I sent her to good people who took care of her. It is awful, the worst type of case. The children have become the battleground for every bad thing that ever happened in the marriage, especially mom deciding to leave dad. What's painful is that with the years, I know that these experiences these children are a having are seeds that will bear terrible fruit later on.

That's true for all of our actions. Everything we do plants some sort of a seed in the people around us, good or bad. That seed will bloom someday: perhaps when they hear your name they'll crunch their eyebrows, or perhaps they'll smile inside and feel inspired by some good deed you did. Or they'll feel compelled to write something terrible about you online(and plant their own seed), or defend you in your absence. You may never know the good or the bad,

Except you'll know what sort of seed you planted. Christ calls us to plant good seeds in our relationships. It leads to great bounty. You've lived what I'm writing, its not news. But next time you are inclined to poor mouth someone, or criticize, or be negative, ask yourself what type of seed you are planting for the future

And remember, sometime the seeds get planted in those who are watching your actions, even if they're not the object of them.

Printed with permission from my friend Pat.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

music calms the savage beast

The other day I was upset about something.
Could you tell?
I sat down on the couch and started watching the documentary on Netflix about ZZ-Top.

It was awesome!!! It was wonderful!!  It changed my mood.
Music calmed the beast.

I remember this feeling when I watched the HBO special on the Eagles.
I remember this feeling from other music shows that I have watched.

If you are in a funk, sit down and watch a documentary about music.
We humans love music.
Music reaches us.
Sit down.  Watch and listen.  It will fill you with joy!!!

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

poetry, singing and the small things

I went to a luncheon the other day. The invocation was given by a Scottish woman, who closed it with a poem by Robert Byrne.   Pretty high brow, huh?

Poetry.

I remember doing poetry as a kid in high school, but not since, I mean, Chaucer? or Frost (something about a wall.) but... I don't remember.

Every time I sing a song, in my head, or whistle it as I walk, or do karaoke (OK that doesn't happen much except with my kids, on a night out), what I'm doing is poetry. Most song lyrics are just that... poetry. Songs are just poetry put to music. See, if you sing, you do poetry too.

Sometime I don't think I am very religious, but then I realize that the dinner I cooked, the doors I held open, the cookies I bought for church, and the other little things count. You do that too: handing out a dollar on the street, taking a minute for a friend who needs to talk, showing up at the Girl Scout meeting, or picking up your neighbors paper, and a thousand other things. You are doing it.

Being a Christian means living with your neighbor in mind and taking care of him (or her) in a way you'd appreciate if the roles were reversed. It can be big things, but more often it's not, its the small things.

Cheer up, you're doing better than you thought, every day. And you are even reciting poetry when you sing Bruce Springsteen when he comes on in the car.

Printed with permission of my friend Pat...

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

sadness

I am ten years old.  I am at the swimming pool waiting for my mom to pick me up.

I have a
swimming mask with a metal ring around the glass that holds the lens in.  I am swinging it around like a ten year old kid would do.  Randomly it strikes my right knee and takes out a deep slice of skin and such.

When my mom gets there, blood is running down my leg.  I apologize because the towel is getting bloody.  She looks at it and almost passes out.  We go home.

When Dad gets home she tells him that she is taking me for stitches.  He says no.  It will heal up fine.  I remember looking at it and thinking that it was really deep.

Well it did heal over time.  Like many things in our life that we think won't heal, many of them finally do.

And so, like all of us, I carry the stories of pain, the stories of sadness, and the hope for a better day.

I think that most of us carry a few scars from the journey.
But we keep going.  We keep marching.  We keep loving.  We keep moving toward grace.

It is our only choice.  Keep after it.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

I'm swimming

I'm swimming in a pool.  Sometimes I think I am drowning in a pool.  But then I grab a hold of myself and I am swimming, not drowning...

As a retired person I watch the stock market and I have funny feelings.  Not that funny really.
My daughters have moved three hours away... I hate that.
A close family member is very sick.  Very sick.
I'm having doubts about the kind of father that I was.
I can't do handyman work as well as I used to [ladders are difficult and I am losing my skills.]
I routinely walk into a room and stop, and then ask myself, why did I come in here?
I sense that I am a figment of my former self.
I can't remember the punch lines to my own jokes.
My friend wants to end their life.  I can't find the words to help them.

I'm swimming.  Not drowning, but swimming.

When I was young I had it together.  I had the answers.  Now I, I, I, well, sometimes I look for a good place to land.

If you are swimming in life, dog paddling, just know that you are not alone.  From time to time I think that all of us can say, "can you let this cup pass from me?"
Is there another way?

And the good news is, at the end of our struggle, God is there, God is with us, and has always been.
And so finally, we can go to sleep at night and know that all is well.  God is with us.  It is well with our souls.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

being a Christian is...

Being a Christian is giving all that you know of yourself, to all that you know of God. That is a Bob Tuttle-ism.  [seminary professor of mine who lives here in Vero Beach.]

We should be growing in our understanding of ourselves, and of God. If that is true, then the Christian life is never static, but always changing and growing.

There are no formulas or easy answers, just a call for us to keep on the path of commitment and dedication. We never arrive, we are always in pursuit of God's fullness.

That is life as it is meant to be lived. With purpose, with adventure. Seeking God, humbling one's self. The steward is always submitted to the master, looking for ways to please him and celebrate life. It is 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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Feelings

"I was different people then!"

Feelings.... wo wo wo feeeeelings...... wo wo wo feeeelllings....

Feelings are fickle.  As I write this I am unhappy about something.  It is odd though, I know that I should not be bothered by this thing, but for whatever reason, I am.

I know that I will feel better shortly, that this is not that big of a thing.  I just need to ride out my feelings.  In a little bit of time I won't feel this way.

Please remember when you are upset about something, feelings are fickle.  They come and go.  They get over blown.

Don't punch anyone or say anything bad.  You will feel better soon.

This too shall pass.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Move over Jeff

So let's get into the wayback machine Sherman.  Let's go way back.  It is 1973 and I live in San Jose California and I am a new driver.  One of the places that my friends and I like to go is to the beach.  Highway 17 up over the foothills and down into Santa Cruz.

The highway is two lanes each way, but it is narrow and winding.  Entrance ramps on are short.

And so we are driving home from the beach, the road is crowded and a guy is trying to merge in from an entrance ramp.  I am going a consistent speed and I am not budging for this guy.  My brain says, "speed up or slow down buddy, find a hole."  I did nothing to help him get in.  Finally the guy has to hit the brakes and fall in behind me.

In the passenger seat is my friend Mark who is not a Christian.  He says, "why didn't you let him in?"  I said, "he can find his own way in.  I am going the speed that I am going."  Mark said, "my gosh, this is why I am not a Christian."

I have never forgotten that story.
Not one of my shining moments.

Sometimes we need to move over.
Sometimes we need to get out of the way.
Sometimes we need to make room for others.
Sometimes we need to change our trajectory.
They'll know we are Christians by our love.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Why I don't tell people

Why I don’t tell people my profession

I was out with my brother in law a few weeks ago and we got into a conversation with someone.  They wanted to know what I did for a living before I retired.  I told them that I was an engineer for Black and Veatch.  What kind of an engineer?  Mechanical.  That satisfied their curiosity and we went on.

My brother in law asked the obvious… “Why didn’t you tell them what you did for a living?”  Why didn’t I tell them that I was a pastor?  Here is why…

I want people to know me for me.  I want them to be able to be real with me.  I want them to be able to relax and just be themselves.

If they find out that you are or were a pastor, they often clam up.  They think things like:

Are you going to judge me?

Are you going to try and save me?

Are you one of the ones that used the church to line your pockets?

Are you going to act like you are holier than thou?

As you can see, there are good reasons for not telling people that you are a preacher.  After I get to know them, it always comes out anyway, but by that time, they have got to know me and we like each other and they are not so freaked out about me being a preacher.

I look forward to getting to know you.  I look forward to having a real relationship with you.  You can be yourself around me.

And say hi to my friends at Black and Veatch.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

The Spirit in me greets the Spirit in you

When I was younger I attended a church where we sang a song during the passing of the peace.  During the handshaking time we sang “The Spirit in me greets the Spirit in you.”

I was thinking about this the other day, about how sometimes we talk to people and we are just going thru the motions.  Sometimes we just don’t see them.  Sometimes it is like we do not even care.  Hi how are you fine.  How are you fine.  Fine.

But there is a spirit in me and there is a spirit in you.  What if we became more cognizant of the fact that that person is a spirit.  Let’s look past the age or the gender.  Let’s look past what we see that is good or bad.  Let’s look at the person and see them as a spirit.

The spirit in me greets the spirit in 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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

don't quit

Something did not go my way.
I was disappointed.
I was sad.
I was mad.

Things ought to go my way.
but they don't always.

It is easy to get sad and mad, but don't be bad.
Don't add bad to the sad and mad.

Don't take your toys and go home.
Don't quit the team.
Don't become a recluse.

Give yourself a few days to pout.
Then rise from the ashes and remember.

Life is not about things going my way.
Life is good even when things don't go my way.
This one thing is only one thing, there are many many good things.
Many people love you and need what you bring to the table.
Rise from the ashes of yesterday.
Pick up your glove and get back in the game.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

our daily task

Our daily task.  Our most important daily task.  The task that effects and shapes all else that we do...

Joyfully submitted and joyfully received from my friend Pat.
If you don't get the cartoon, let me know and I will explain it.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

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.]

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Resume

When I moved to Florida in 2016 I was assigned to a very nice church, but the appointment did not work out. I was crushed and broken. I limped home with my tail between my legs. I took a leave of absence and then later took retirement. I could not see a time when I would ever want to serve a church again or try to speak for God.  Never.

I did fill in at Ft. Pierce when Pastor Tim was deployed with the Navy. That was a very good experience and went a long way to help me heal. I work there part time now as the care and visitation guy.

A few months ago I decided to update my resume. I was starting to have the feeling that I wanted to serve a church again. Part of the change was the healing of time. Part of it was encouragement from

friends. Pat Starke said something that really helped me a lot. My heart is coming back to life. Just like when E.T. comes back to life in the movie, my sense of calling has returned. Now I have to tell you, that for me, that is big news. Something has come back into my heart that has been gone for a while.

I turned my resume in to two District Superintendents and the Bishop’s assistant. I have heard from two of them. I don’t know if there will be an assignment for me, and I am ok with whatever happens. I love my part time job at Ft. Pierce. But I wanted to tell you how exciting it is to feel my heart strangely warmed again.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

positives outweigh the negatives

This year I have been trying to focus on certain words and their meaning and impact spiritually. Recently I gave a presentation on the word “love” and some thoughts on what it means to us. As part of my preparation, I reread the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, the aptly named “love chapter”. When Paul lists what love is, a part of it really hit me hard. “love keeps no record of wrongs”. That’s not one I can claim to be very good at.

While I can and do forgive, it seems that I remember and preserve every hurtful thing that has ever happened to me. I’m sorry to say I spent some of the lead up time to my 50th HS reunion reliving old slights, all of which are 50 years old and none of which actually mattered at the reunion.

People change. That’s what I have resolved to do. Now when I start to get mired down in some negative episode from my past, I try to move on to some other advice from Paul in Philippians. I think about those things that are good and excellent. Funny how many such things there have been in my life. Living with and loving others can include pain but, now that I think about it, it is far outweighed by the positives. I’m going to try to dwell on those moving forward.

reprinted with permission from my friend Brian.

Update:  On another note, thank you for praying for my friend Jeff.  It is not me, it is a friend named Jeff.  I was very concerned about his condition.  Good news is he has a virus.  Nothing terminal.  I can't see him for two weeks because he is contagious, but he will get well.  Thanks for 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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
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$1,000,000

Some people can make you feel like a million dollars.  There is a server at Bobby's restaurant who makes me and lots of other people feel like a million dollars.  She is just so friendly to everyone.  She is universally loved.  She makes your day.

And so if she can do it, so can the rest of us!  Wouldn't it be nice if we became known as the kind of people who make other people feel like a million bucks?  Let's all learn to light up when we see people coming.

See them.   Smile at them!  Hug them.  Tell them you are so glad to see them!

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Fake News

I don't like the term fake news but I have to say something about the recent reporting of further "Russian interference" in our elections.

Russian interference is all over the news again.  It is not news.  It means nothing.  What are they doing?  Buying ads on facebook?  OH my!  how dangerous.

Every country has desires about who they want in office.  Israel wants someone who is friendly to Israel.  China wants someone who is friendly with China.  Every country has a self interest. 

America has a self interest and we have gone to great lengths over the years to interfere in other country's elections and internal affairs.

We started a war with Mexico and took Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and part of California from them.  We invaded Panama and arrested their president.  We kept the Shaw of Iran propped up so that we could get cheap oil.  We have stuck our noses into scores of countries to keep them behaving in favorable ways.

read more about this topic here

If you know someone who is in charge of reporting the news, please do us all a favor and ask them to stop reporting on this.  It is not news, and the Russians are not going to stop doing stuff like this.  Neither are we.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

confession is good for the soul

Today I got a new look at a Catholic tradition. I talked with a man who was raised Catholic, and asked him to speak about his experience with the practice of confession.

He recounted the story of the curtain in the temple being torn during the crucifixion. He understood we no longer needed a priest or an intercessory to connect with God.

Then he reminisced that as a youth he would walk away from confession feeling renewed,  and free from what had been weighing on him. Cleansed to move forward wherever life lead him. He said somehow hearing the words spoken that his sins were forgiven, was comforting.  [Isn't that the truth!]

As ambassadors for Christ, each of us has the power to offer comfort. The power to forgive each other – to release one another - and move forward into life with renewed freedom.

There are occasions I would appreciate hearing the words spoken. “Whatever grievances I am holding against you I wish to release, and move forward."  Or better yet - maybe I could speak those words to someone else.

Confession is good for the soul.
Repentance is also good for the soul.

from my friend Terry.  Printed with permission.

PS:  The Bible is not a hammer.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours 

Steven Wright

Steven Wright is a comedian with a bad, dry, odd sense of humor.
I love it!
He was my buddy Dan Horn's favorite comedian.

three of the best guys that I know
Gary Glenn, Tyler Stephenson, Dan Horn

I think of him so often [Dan] I just thought that I would post some of this...

Here is some Steven Wright stuff...

"So, do you live around here often?" -- Steven Wright

I got up one morning, couldn't find my socks, so I called Information. She
said, "Hello, Information." I said, "I can't find my socks." She said,
"They're behind the couch." And they were! -- Steven Wright

When I was a little kid we had a sand box. It was a quicksand box.
I was an only child....eventually. -- Steven Wright

[Referring to a glass of water:]
I mixed this myself. Two parts H, one part O. I don't trust anybody!
-- Steven Wright

A friend of mine once sent me a post card with a picture of the entire planet
Earth taken from space. On the back it said, "Wish you were here."
-- Steven Wright

I'm moving to Mars next week, so if you have any boxes... -- Steven Wright

Cross country skiing is great if you live in a small country. -- Steven Wright

I went to the bank and asked to borrow a cup of money. They said, "What for?"
I said, "I'm going to buy some sugar." -- Steven Wright

I saw a bank that said "24 Hour Banking", but I don't have that much time.
-- Steven Wright

I went to the museum where they had all the heads and arms from the statues
that are in all the other museums. -- Steven Wright

I like to go to art museums and name the untitled paintings...
Boy With Pail... Kitten On Fire. -- Steven Wright

I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time". So I ordered
French Toast during the Renaissance. -- Steven Wright

I went to a general store. They wouldn't let me buy anything specifically.
-- Steven Wright

I worked in a health food store once. A guy came in and asked me, "If I melt
dry ice, can I take a bath without getting wet?" -- Steven Wright

I went to a 7-11 and asked for a 2x4 and a box of 3x5's. The clerk said,
"ten-four." -- Steven Wright

I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was
locking the front door. I said, "Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours." He
said, "Yes, but not in a row." -- Steven Wright

I love to go shopping. I love to freak out salespeople. They ask me if they
can help me, and I say, "Have you got anything I'd like?" Then they ask me
what size I need, and I say, "Extra medium." -- Steven Wright

I saw a small bottle of cologne and asked if it was for sale. She said, "It's
free with purchase." I asked her if anyone bought anything today.
-- Steven Wright

I met this wonderful girl at Macy's. She was buying clothes and I was putting
Slinkies on the escalator. -- Steven Wright

There was a power outage at a department store yesterday. Twenty people were
trapped on the escalators. -- Steven Wright

I bought my brother some gift-wrap for Christmas. I took it to the Gift Wrap
department and told them to wrap it, but in a different print so he would know
when to stop unwrapping. -- Steven Wright

For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier...I put them in the same
room and let them fight it out. -- Steven Wright

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

My father's story

Let me preface this post with a word about advertisements.  I made the choice years ago to not use this blog to advertise products.  You know the drill, if I monetize the blog with ads, you will have all sorts of things pop up trying to sell you something, and probably something that has been stored in your cookies.

The only things that I want to advertise are love, joy, peace, awareness, love, kindness, friendship, outward focus and love.

Having said that I want to tell you a story.  I have often wished that I could have got my dad to record his life story, or to write a history of his life.  I know so little about what he did in the war, what he did during the depression, how he felt when he was unemployed for a year, on and on it goes.

It makes me happy that I blog because I know that when I am gone, if my kids are interested, there are years of daily writings that they can read.  I think that some part of us deep inside wants to know where we came from.  We want to know our parents, our roots.

Having said that, I want to tell you that for Christmas my oldest daughter, Allison and her husband Bobby gave me a present called "storyworth."  It took me a while to figure out what it is, but when I did, I thought it was the coolest thing.  Every Monday I get an email with a question to answer.  I write my response and send it in.  At the end of the year, Storyworth prints a hard copy book with 52 stories from my life.  I love the idea and I have enjoyed writing.

Having said that, if you are interested in trying to capture stories of your loved ones, here is the link to the storyworth product.

click here to read more about storyworth

Tomorrow, back to love, joy and kindness.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

to smile

I got a note from someone the other day.  Just the thought of them made me smile.  I did not see them, I did not hear them, I did not talk to them.  I just thought of them, and the thought of them made me smile!!!

I hope that when someone gets a call, and sees that it is from you, that they immediately smile.
I hope that there are people that when they see your name they smile.

You have left a mark on this world.  Keep up the good work!

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

please pray for my friend

Please pray for my friend.
Ironically his name is Jeff.
He was bleeding a week ago.  They thought that they knew what it was about.
He was ok for a week.
Now he is bleeding again.
Getting ready to have a bunch of tests.
Please just pause right now and say a prayer for my friend Jeff.

beautiful things part 2

I was eating lunch with a friend at Waldo's in Vero Beach.  I noticed this seagull.  He was hoping for a french fry.  I was impressed with his flying.  The wind was blowing from the south and he just hung there, suspended in the air.

Can you hear the birds sing?  Do you watch the birds fly?
Look for the common things around you.  See them.  They are there and they are beautiful and amazing!!!

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

beautiful things

I had the opportunity to be in Ft. Wayne Indiana last week.  In between jobs I drove around the town.  As in many towns, I was impressed and moved by some of the churches.

It is amazing to see the amount of time, desire and heart that has gone into the planning and construction of some church buildings.  When I see them, I am wowed.  I am sure this is just what the planters wanted.

Wow!!! God is great.  God is amazing.

The beautiful designs and the towering spires are incredible and beautiful.  And remember, this is not in Paris or London or New York.  This is Ft. Wayne Indiana.

Next time you drive by a beautiful church, take time to be wowed.

Just beautiful.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Good days, bad moments

A couple of nuggets for you. 

“Try to have good days and bad moments. Life is too short to have a bad day.” 

From the authors of Above the Line: Living and Leading with the Heart. 

“Wake Up. Be Amazing. Be Kind. Be Brave. Be You. Rinse and Repeat."

From an elementary school sign.

Both came from my friend Brian

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
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Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
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Bob Fillmore

Bob Fillmore was on our staff at Woods Chapel for a few years.  Although his denominational roots were different than mine, we found a mutual respect and admiration.  That is a gift isn't it?  When you can find someone to talk to where you know you have different perspectives, but you both still love and appreciate each other?

I could always sense the depth of his wisdom and the reach of his kindness.  I learned a lot from him.

It hurt when Bob and his family moved away.  I have missed him.

Two days ago, I got an email from Bob.  My computer actually warned me about the email since I had never heard from Bob on that email address.

I ignored my computers warnings and Bob and I exchanged emails.  I had forgotten how connected I was to him.  I mean I forgot how connected I am to him. 

Isn't it interesting how you can grow close and spiritually connected to another person.  You may not hear from them for a while, but then boom!  there they are!  I hope that you have lots of Bob Fillmores in your life.  If you don't, keep looking for them.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

defense

I want to suggest to you today that God does not need to be defended.
The Bible does not need to be defended.

Some people spend most of their time trying to straighten out those who don't see God or the Bible as they do.  What a waste of time.  Why does someone think that their view of God is better than yours?

If you don't agree with me, I am ok with that.  We all have our views about God, and all of them come short.  Way short.

God needs us to defend him???  Silly.
The Bible needs to be defended???  Silly.

I personally believe that God rejects systems and churches where you cannot ask questions.
Lot's of people asked Jesus questions.  He answered them and loved the people.

Spend your time with people that will talk with you about faith.  Run from those who defend God from you.

God does not need to be defended.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

resolutions to pay more attention

I have a friend that has made some new resolutions.  Not new years resolutions, but resolutions none the same.  She told me that she is going to focus on reading Jesus.  The words in red.

She has also decided to thank all kinds of people that she runs into in her life.  She says that, "grocery stores can be a lot of fun (Price Chopper on Woods Chapel), but then I get a conversation going with customers on the spice aisle and forget an ingredient for what I'm planning to cook! Costco is not a place to try to start conversations. Big carts, big packages, big hurry, big vehicles to rush away.  I'm going to be more approachable when I'm walking in the neighborhood to actually stop and talk instead of focusing on my heartbeat and my app on how fast I walk. These could be future friends I am chugging by. We could at least say hi, you're looking good, it's good to see you."

And I say, it is a beautiful day if we just stop long enough to see it and be present to life and to those around us.

Who are you seeing?  Who are you walking by?

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

10 best jokes

A friend asked me to post my ten best jokes.

Well, that is impossible because all of my jokes are great.  Let's just stop for a moment and remember that laughter is good medicine.

Every now and then we just need to laugh.  Jokes are great.

Here are today's top ten jokes, but tomorrow there are ten more...

1.  What do you call a dog with no legs???  Does not matter what you call him, he cannot come.

2.  What do you call a girl with a wooden leg?  Peg.  Where does she work?  IHOP  [that was a twofer.]

3.  Did I tell you that I bought a Delorean, you know the car from back to the future?   I am only going to drive it from time to time.

4.  A friend of mine was in a side swipe car accident.  He lost his left arm and left leg.
He's all right now.

5.  Did you hear about the man from Warsaw who thought his wife was trying to kill him?  He was working under the bathroom sink and found a bottle of Polish remover.

6.  Thanksgiving always reminds me of that famous French general Napoleon.  He hated thanksgiving.  It was his worst holiday... Why???
Every time that Napoleon sat down to a dinner of thanksgiving turkey, all he ever got were the Boney parts.

7.  At her autopsy, they scrubbed the makeup off of Tammy Faye Baker.  What did they find?
Jimmy Hoffa.

8.  How can you find Will Smith after a snow storm?  Look for the fresh prints.

9.  This is a practical joke.  One of my favorites.  When you are a passenger in a car and the driver is backing up, smack the door hard.  Make them think that they hit something.

10.  Where do teenage cantaloupes spend the summer?
John Cougar's Melon Camp.

11.  I can't count.
A raisin, a peanut and an oat sit down and order a drink.  The bartender says, what do you think this is, a granola bar???

Thatch all folks.  hut. hut. hut.
Really, some days we need a break from worry about the Apostle Paul.  Laugh and enjoy the day.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

I'm going to be a GRANDPA!!!!!!!

How exciting!!!  We were told to sit on this news until she got thru her first trimester.  But now I am allowed to tell you that my oldest daughter, Allison and her husband Bobby are expecting their first child.  Which of course is our first grandchild.

I used to tell the kids.  College, marriage, babies... in that order.  We finally got our baby.  Alli is due August 14.

I know that you know this but this is going to be the best looking baby in the world.  The smartest baby ever born.  This kid is going to graduate high school at the age of 12 and own Ford Motor Company by the age of 26.

Just kidding of course but we are very excited about this new addition!
Rejoice with me my friends!!!

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

No good deed goes unpunished

First of all let me say that if you have emailed me recently, I am not ignoring you, I am just behind on my emails.

Now on to the blog for today.

So yesterday was Valentines Day.  Being a good guy I got my wife a Valentine card put a gift card in it and tied it to three balloons. 

When she woke up and wandered down the hall, there it was for her to see.

She decided to take the card and balloons to her home office to open.  She sat at her desk and started to open the card.  The balloons meanwhile, were doing what balloons do, floating up towards the ceiling... towards the ceiling fan.

Pretty soon, the balloon ribbons are completely wound around the ceiling fan and the fan grinds to a halt.

Now she calls for her favorite handyman.  I looked at the mess and just shook my head.  I had to take the fan apart to get the ribbons off of the fan shaft.  It took 30 minutes.

Sometimes you will do something nice for someone and it won't turn out so good.  Keep doing nice things.

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 Ireland in July... If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

how you sound

When I was a teenager and I would have negative moments with my mother, she would say, "I wish you could hear how you sound."  I said it back to her one time and got slapped.

Recently I said something to one of my children, adult children, that did not go over well.  In processing this with my wife, she said, "I wish you could hear how you sound."  In other words, it is not always what we say, but how we say it.

Since I don't want to deliver pain to anyone, I am going to work harder on choosing my words carefully and making sure that they come across in a more kind way.

How are you sounding to those around you?

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
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Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Donna's life

We only had one phone in the house when I was growing up, and my brother and I were only allowed to use it for a total of 15 minutes each evening when talking to our friends🤨. Our dog was not allowed in the house, and he never saw a groomer nor had his teeth cleaned (no wonder he just up and left one day without a word). For years we ate dinner together at the kitchen table until Mom bought TV trays so we could all eat in the living room and Dad could watch the news (on our only TV). My brother and I were very quiet so Dad didn’t miss anything he might want to hear 🤫. We were never deprived of anything we needed, and I never expected to get everything I wanted, but there were lots of times I wished that I could have heard more praise. I knew I was loved, I just never felt valued. We were kids, and in our house kids had no worthwhile input into family decisions, nor were our opinions sought. Dad could snap his fingers in a completely crowded room and I heard it! Mom had a ”look” that could freeze us in mid air and we knew it was in our best interest to freeze! I have never set out to be a trouble maker and often felt that their heavy handed ways were unnecessary (I think “Harmony” would have been an appropriate name for me given my personality).

Anyway, we survived and were given the opportunity to do things with our kids that we were certain were better than the parenting we “suffered” through. Hopefully that is true, in spite of the fact that we made our own mistakes and are now watching the results our children’s parenting through our grandchildren.

You say this all the time, and it is so true. Love one another......just Love. Nothing creates an atmosphere for harmony and unity and cooperation and good will better than Love. Love covers a multitude of sins.......and Love can heal. The decisions I make today are frequently based on not wanting to repeat hurts from the past. I want to be a person whose hair trigger response to others is Love, or at least be pointing in that direction because I know I haven’t accomplished that goal yet and will be forever striving after it. Unconditional Love that affirms and builds up....the kind my heart longed for growing up and still longs for now....that’s what is needed. Maybe that kind of Love can only be realized through a close relationship with our wonderful Lord. If so, will anything from the past that hurt and scarred continue to hold me in its power? Will I continue to expect others to fulfill for me what only God has the power to give? I wonder......

From my friend Donna, printed with permission.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
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Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

how many?

How many sermons on the good Samaritan must we listen to before we figure out who our neighbors are?

The apostle Paul wrote that the gospel of Christ Jesus is grace.

Who would want to join an organization that preaches grace and love while fighting over who is worthy of their grace and love?

It appears that each denomination who call themselves followers of Christ has adopted a self drawn line in the sand as to who is worthy to receive.

I would like someone to show me the criteria that Jesus used to discern who was worthy of his love, and grace.

The good news will be a hard sell to the rest of the world while Christians struggle to share the gospel with each other.

From my friend Terry McCarty.  Printed with permission.

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 Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Jesus and Paul

I have decided that the words of Jesus are more important than the words of Paul.  The ideas of Jesus are more important than Paul.  Not all scripture can be given the same weight.

Jesus was for people.  Paul had lists of people who were bad.  Jesus focused on loving everyone.  Paul was trying to straighten out the church.

Let's stop taking Paul out of context and making him the center of Christianity.  Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.  If it were based on the teaching of Paul, it would be Paulianity.

Jesus comes first.  Therefore, love comes first.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
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Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

No is OK

A friend asked me about doing something.  They ended the invite with the phrase, "no is an acceptable answer."

I loved it.

Growing up in the church as I did, I struggle with a sense of being duty bound.  Life for me can be full of musts and shoulds and oughts.  When people ask me to do something, my first inclination is to say yes.

Too many yeses can get a person in trouble.  How many times have you and I said yes to something only to have to back out later, or wish that we had?

No is an acceptable answer. 

When we make a request of someone, we are requesting something... we are asking them to do something for us.  There is a burden in the requesting that we are putting on them.  When we end by saying, No is an acceptable answer, it releases them to really consider if they want to do a thing or not.

No is an acceptable answer.  And if you say no, we will still be friends and I will still love you.

Hey do you want to wash my car?

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 Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

thank you for helping me

I have gotten into the habit of thanking people for helping me.  I don't mean the person who fixes my flat tire on the side of the road, or the person who goes out of their way to help.  Of course we thank them for helping us.

I am talking about the server, the bank teller, the checkout person.
Thank you for helping me.

They often look oddly at me [I have this problem] they often look oddly at me and say, "well it's my job."

I just repeat myself... Thank you for helping me.
And so, a little joy is carried along, a little appreciation is shared.
And they are treated as special.

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 Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

following Jesus

I keep thinking about this.

Those who follow Jesus go where he went.  If you follow someone, you go where they went.  If you follow someone's teaching, you do what they did.

These seem like simple things, but they are holy things.
- help someone feel special
- take time to listen to someone
- buy someone's lunch
- look them in the eye and smile
- say thank you
- do a favor or a chore for them
- be kind
- be friendly

Following Jesus demands that we treat people as he treated people.
If we are not kind and gracious to people, we may be believers, but we are not followers.

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 Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Happy Birthday early

My daughter Jenny had a birthday on the 4th.  I called her on the 3rd and sang happy birthday to her.  She tried to interrupt and explain that tomorrow was her birthday, but I would not be deterred.  When I finished, I told here that I knew that it was not her birthday but that I wanted to be the first to wish her happy birthday and that I love her and think that she is an awesome daughter. 

She laughed and laughed.
This might start a new trend.  Instead of calling people on their birthday, call them the day before, sing to them and tell them you wanted to be the first to wish them happy birthday.

Hopefully they will laugh and feel special.
Making people feel special is a holy 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 Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

Thinking about what we say...

Hello.  How are you.
Do we really want to know when we ask that question?
What if everyone told us how they were...
I am not sure that we have time to find out how people are, really.

So in the thought train of thinking about what I say...

 It was a Saturday about 5 o’clock pm.  I was texting a pastor about getting together later next week. I told him to have a good Sunday. Then I remembered the amount of angst and worry that often came to me on Saturday night.  On Saturday nights I never went anywhere.  I stayed at home and fought with the things that go on in the mind of a pastor on Saturday night.

Have a good Sunday?  My stomach was in knots on Saturday night.
Have a good Sunday.? How about every fiber of my being is crying out on Saturday night to God to see if this sermon is acceptable. Every fiber of my being is hoping that this message will reach people on Sunday.

 Have a good Sunday? Sometimes our words and platitudes are not helpful.
So what do we do on Saturday night instead?
How about give them a hug and thank them.
Text them words of appreciation...
That will make for a good Sunday.  They may still be nervous about giving the message, but they will know that you love them.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

It doesn't work

Sometimes it doesn't work.  The best laid plans can unravel.  Repeated kindness can be rejected.  We may treat someone like an eagle, but they choose to remain a chicken.  Sometimes it doesn't work.  Sometimes the relationship fails.  Sometimes we move on from a friendship.

Sometimes it doesn't work.

But that does not mean that we quit trying.  Keep trying to see the good.  Keep trying to forgive.  Continue to show kindness.  It may not solve every problem every time, but think of where we would be with no efforts at seeing the good or showing kindness.

Keep at it.  Show the love.  Give the care.  It doesn't always work but it is the best 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 a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

how we treat people

I had a great talk with my buddy Tyler when I was in Kansas City a few weeks ago.  One of the things that he told me was this...

"You should treat people not as they are, but as the person they could be if they had just a little more encouragement a little more love."

You see, we have the power to help someone be released from their prison and fly into a beautiful life if we just treat them like an eagle instead of a chicken.

The lover creates the 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 a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

I woke up

I woke up.  It was 5:30 am.  Ugh.  Too early.  Nothing to do this day, so let's sleep some more.  Nope, not going to happen, might as well get up.

I make my way to the couch and turn on ESPN's Sportscenter.  I love to watch the top 10 plays every morning.  Ugh.  I feel like ugh... morning.  My brain wants to go back to sleep.  I need to pick up the house in a bit so I hope that I feel better soon.

Since I don't drink coffee anymore I grab a bottle of tea.  Ugh.  Still moving slow.  I watch the top ten plays.  I switch to the news.  I find the bathroom.  Now I am going room to room picking things up.

I am hanging up clothes and then I sense it.  The morning Ugh is gone!!!  I feel good, like a normal person.  I am healed.  It took til 7am, but I feel good.

I woke up.

And I was again touched by the simple gift of life.  Of waking up in the morning.  Once we get over the ugh, may our first thought be "thank you God for waking me up.  Thank you for the gift of life.  Thank you for the gift of this day."

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com
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I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

detached love

Some of  the thoughts here are adapted from my favorite author Anthony DeMello.

More on loving others.

I do not pretend to have arrived, but I strive for a love that is not dominated by my insistence that you behave a certain way.  I strive for a love enjoys you so very much, but frees you to live your life.

“Perfect love casts out fear."

If I have fears I am not being made perfect in love.

 Where there is complete love there are no demands, no expectations, and no dependency. 

I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. I am the only one that can discover my happiness.  I am the only one that can teach myself to see the good.

I strive for a love to where I no longer make demands.  I really want you to love me back, I want you to stay, but if you don't, I want to be happy for you.  You know if you love something, let it go, if it comes back it is yours, if it does not return, it never was yours.  Healthy love enjoys a person but does not cling.

If your love is less than what I hoped for, I hope to not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.”  I do not own you.  You are not my property.  I strive to learn to love you, just as you are, without attachment, without fears, without conditions, without egoism, trying not to absorb you. I love you freely because I love your freedom, and mine as well.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours

don't change, part two

A couple of my friends have pushed back and asked questions about my post on December 16th. It was about not asking people to change. It was about loving them just the way that they are.

My friends asked, can you really love someone just the way they are? And tell them don’t change?

Ok, I know that some things are generalizations. Generalizations are ideas that are true some of the time, but not all of the time. Some people are mean and they need to change. Some people are selfish and they need to change.

And yes there are people that I cannot love.  

But for anyone that I can, imagine the gift it is to them of just being loved.  Imagine the gift to yourself if someone said, "Don't change.  I love you just the way that you are."

May we get better at loving more people without conditions.

May we never give up on being made perfect in love.

I have posted this story before, but I hope it helps us understand the power of loving people, and being loved, just the way that you are...

"I was a neurotic for years. I was anxious and depressed and selfish. Everyone kept telling me to change. I resented them, and I agreed with them, and I wanted to change, but simply couldn't, no matter how hard I tried. What hurt the most was that, like the others, my best friend kept insisting that I change. I felt so powerless and trapped. Then one day, he said to me, 'Don't change. I love you just as you are.'
These words were music to my ears... don't change, don't change, don't change... I love you as you are. I relaxed, I came alive, and suddenly I changed!
Now I realize that I couldn't really change until I found someone who would love me whether I changed or not.
Is this how you love me God?"
Anthony Demello in The Song of the Bird

Is this how you love me God? Listen my friends... Listen.... If God loves us conditionally, we are in trouble. If God loves us only if we are good enough, then we are in serious trouble. The only way of understanding God's love, the only way of understanding love itself, is unconditionally. If there are conditions attached, it is not love.

God loves us. Get over trying to be good enough. Welcome the embrace. Then change if you feel so led. But know that you are loved. Period.

And give the gift of unconditional love to everyone that you possibly can.

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

I am leading a trip to Ireland next year. If you are interested in reading about it, or joining in, the link is below.....

Treasures of Ireland
July 13-22, 2020
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir20071320a17768#eotours