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From my friend Pat...

After walking the earth for 60+ years(how many exactly over 60 is NOT important) I realize that I’ve gathered a very large number of people I really care about. It starts with family, and extended family, and friends from work, and friends from church, and friends from social groups, and friends from political involvement and friends from random interactions with others. And high school, and college, and graduate school, and the army, and the job I had one summer at the pool, and another where I worked on a farm; And so on.

All of them are folks that you love and want to stay up with, no to stay connected to: be engaged with. To know them, their ups and downs, their happiness and their not so happiness. Their old loves, their new ones.

And there is not enough of you. Stephen Stills, playing with a group called Buffalo Springfield, wrote a song a long time ago: “Love the one your with”. It had much different connotations at 20 than at something over 60(nice try, not giving it away) but its true. You can only truly be WITH those that you are WITH. Modern technology gives us options to stay connected with more people but you are still limited. There is just not enough of you.

Follow the guidance of Buffalo Springfield’s 1967 song. Love the one your with. And don’t worry about those you can’t be with right now. You can love them when you next see them, wherever in this world or the next that might be.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

The Gospel

The gospel.  A nice church word.  In the Greek, the word gospel means "good news."  The gospel should be explained as good news.  It was never about sin, it was always about love.

God is love.  You are loved.  You have nothing to prove.  God is not out to get you.  You are simply loved and accepted.  

Oh how happy we feel when we are loved!!!  May we all be so filled with the love of God that we can't help but share it with others.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Fair

Fare is the cost of a bus ticket.  Very easy to understand.  

Fair is the concept that life should treat people equally.  This is never going to happen.  In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, "the sun rises on the just and the unjust."  There is nothing in life that is fair. 

 Selfish people use their power to help themselves.  A hurricane destroys one house but not another.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust.

Fair is not a concept that we can live by.  The fair is in October.  There is no fair in this life.

What we do get in this life is the opportunity to work hard.  Usually, most often, if a person works hard, you get good results.  But not always, because life is not fair.  But we need to keep working as hard as we can for the outcomes that we desire.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

together

Together is a beautiful word.  It implies that I am with you.  Yes you and me, not alone, not far off, but together.

Last weekend at the wedding, we were together.  Some of my favorite humans!!!  Never take the chance to be with those you love for granted.  Relationships are very special.  Smile, hug, enjoy, and savor.  Being together is such a wonderful thing.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Wedding pictures

It was a beautiful wedding on the beach in St. Augustine.  David and Jenny said their vows.  It was a lovely day.  The pastor in green in Rev. Sherri Swanson.  The bridesmaids to the left are my daughter Allison and Niece Taylor.  We had a blast catching up with old friends.  A true celebration.  Life needs more celebrations!!!

The vows

Lighting the unity candle

the kiss [it was a long one]

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. David Phillips!!!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Talk like a pirate day!

Today my daughter Jennifer wakes us as a new bride.  Her first married day is a holiday.   It is one of my favorite holidays, it is national talk like a pirate day. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Here are some terms to help you make it through today as a joyful participant.

Avast ye =Pay attention
Hornswaggle =To cheat
Shiver me timbers=An expression used to show shock or disbelief
Head=Toilet on board the ship
Poop deck=Deck that is the highest and farthest back
Landlubber=A person who is not incredibly skilled at sea
Davy Jones' Locker=Refers to death
Ahoy, matey=Hello, friend
Batten down the hatches=A signal to prepare the ship for an upcoming storm
Blimey!=Something said when one is in a state of surprise
Booty=Treasure
Crow's nest=The place on the ship where the lookout stand is built
Heave ho=Instruction to put some strength into whatever one is doing
Old salt=A sailor that has a great deal of experience on the seas
Scallywag =A name that is used as an insult to someone
Seadog =An old sailor or pirate
Thar she blows!=An expression used when a whale is spotted from the ship
Three sheets to the wind=Someone who is quite drunk
Walk the plank=A punishment which entails someone who walks over the side of the ship off of the plank. Their hands are often tied so that they cannot swim and they drowned.
Yo Ho Ho=There is often used to express some sort of cheer but also can be used to call attention to the speaker.

Be sure to tell a joke or two.
Where do pirates buy their music?
Aye - tunes
Why are pirates cool?
They just rrrrrrrrrrrr.

Rrrrrrr. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be surrrrrre to sea the good.

Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com

Oh Happy Day!

Oh happy day!!! Oh happy day!!!  When Jesus washed my sins away!

Today is a happy day for another reason.  Today my daughter Jennifer is getting married!!!  It's about time.  The lucky man is David Phillips.  They will make their home is Jacksonville with George, the best dog in the world.

I am so excited!!!  It will be great to see family and friends and for everyone to be together.  Being together is such a beautiful thing.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Premonitions

Lately I have been having premonitions about my death.  I am not sure that premonitions is the right word, but at any rate, I have been thinking about it quite a bit.

I am prepared.  The love file is complete.  [there is a blog post]  The love file is complete.  I know that I am accepted and loved by God.  I am not afraid.

Now having said that, I am in no particular hurry to cross over.  I love my family and friends and I love my handyman work.  

Maybe this is how all older people think...  I am 64 now.  Anyway, if you think about your impending death, you are not alone.

The best thing that I can tell you is that we need to enjoy every day.  Reduce the negative and celebrate the positive.  Each day we live we are one day closer to the end.  So let's make the most of it.  Let's give this day our very best!!!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

a random day

It was a couple of days ago.  It was a random day.  I did the things that I do.  One of the things that I do is to get the mail.  There was some random mail and a package.

The package, surprise to me, was from my sister in California.  Was it my birthday?  No.  Was it Christmas?  No.

I am intrigued.  

I open the package and find the card.  In my family, you always have to read the card first.  She tells me that she loves me.  She tells me that she misses me.  She tells me that she is thinking about me.  She wants to get together when ever we can.

And there is this jacket that she sends to me.  Now I am not particularly a Giants fan, but I love the city of San Francisco.  So my sister Amy is fixing me up.  And she misses me.  How cool is that.

Her gift made a random day into a day where I felt very special.  What gift can I give to someone to make their day special?  What can you give to another to make them feel awesome?  Look into your heart and see if God puts someone on your heart and mind.  You can turn their day from random to awesome.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Pay close attention

I was pretty dry.  I was wondering what to post.  Then out of the blue I got this from my friend Pat.  Pat keep sending me what is on your heart.

Here is what he sent:

I’m learning. At 66, 

I am still learning.

In the military in combat, the old vets rarely covey up with the new replacements. They isolate and keep them at arms length. I always understood it, now I know it.

I have 6 close friends whom I’ve transited life with the last 50 years. Graduations, weddings, child births, divorces, big wins, big losses, vacations and great amounts of laughter. They are the family I built, and I theirs. One of us, John, is a very accomplished musician. He’s played guitar longer than driven a car. Music is, after his wife, kids, and us, his greatest love in live, and I’m not convinced of the order there. Today I learned he has gone totally deaf over the last 6 weeks; there is nothing I can do. And I am broken. Yes there is some accommodation that will be made, might be made, he may have some hearing, but its the first evidence that this family circle is disappearing one piece at a time.

Old people sometimes seem remote. I think it might be for the same reasons that combat veterans are: its too painful to grow close to someone and lose them. I always understood that, but now I know it.

Love intensely. Hang on to those you care about. The pain of them going away is closer than you think.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

the scratch on my eye

So I spent a day trimming the palms.  Standing on the ground, reaching over my head, cutting off the fronds [palm branches].  A lot of debris was falling on me.  Evidently something got in my eye and scratched it.  I woke up the next day and thought I had something in my eye.  I washed it out.  I used drops.  Then I decided it was scratched.  It bothered me a lot that day.  The next day it bothered me.  The next day it bothered me some.  After about 4 days it stopped bothering me.

So what?

I am reminded again, I am amazed at the healing power of the human body.  What an amazing things it is that cuts heal, eyes heal, many things heal.

Speaking of healing, Scott is doing better.  He is walking with a cane and looking for work.  Thanks for supporting him and praying for him.

Let's give thanks today for the way that they body heals.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Gratitude

I was listening to a fellow, A.J. Jacobs talking about gratitude on the Ted talk radio hour.

Here is the link if you would like to listen:

click here to listen

One of the things that he said was that happiness is different than gratitude.  He said that happiness does not create gratitude, but that a grateful heart always grows happiness within.  If we can count our blessings, if we can remember what we are thankful for, happiness can show up.

What are you thankful for?

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Apology

So I found the server that I mentioned in yesterday's post and apologized.  She said that I was find and did not need to apologize.  That made me feel better, but I am still glad that I apologized.  Sometimes an apology, an "I am sorry" does as much for you as it does for the other person.  We need to be willing to admit it when we are wrong.  We we don't apologize when we need to, we drive people away.  A contrite heart can restore a relationship.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

I was rude

I did not realize it at the time, but I was rude to a server the other day.  I got to thinking about what I said later and I thought, "that was not nice."  I don't know why I did not catch myself at the time.

Yesterday I went to find the server to apologize.  They were not working that day.  I am going back today.  I am going back every day until I find them.

What I said may not have been a big deal to them, but it might.  Anyway, I don't want to be rude to anyone.  I want servers, children, dogs, cats and everyone to want to see me walk in the door.

Is there someone in this world that you might need to apologize to?

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

See the good

For some reason we humans tend to gravitate to "what is wrong."  And for some folks, the moment that list is fixed, they come up with another list of what is wrong.

Where did we get the idea that everything would go our way?  Are we so spoiled that we think that no heartache will come to us?

When we focus on what is wrong, it keeps us from seeing the good.  And there is so much good:

• I woke up today.
• I can see. [I have a scratch on my eye that is bothering me though]
• I can breathe.
• I have a car that runs. [not always the case when I was young.]
• There is food in the fridge.
• I can read.
• I own a computer.
• I have a lot of friends that love me.

Instead of talking about what is wrong, let's talk about what is right.  We are so fortunate.  We are so blessed.  We have so much.  I wish I would, I wish that we all would work harder to focus on the good.  There is so much.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Happy Birthday

Bruce on the left with Dave Harris
at Nick Swanson's wedding.

Today is my friend Bruce's birthday.  Happy Birthday Bruce!!!

I love that we get to love people in this life.  Bruce is one of my favorite humans.

Now on to today's topic.  Not a happy one:  rejection.

Rejection is one of the most painful things that I have ever experienced in my life. I was friends with rejection before I could even name it. The reason that I was familiar with rejection was because I had parents that really didn’t want children. They didn’t hold their children.   Can you imagine spending the rest of your life wishing that someone would hold you?

My parents were trying to survive having children, and we children didn’t even understand that we should’ve been wanted. I was cut from the baseball team when I was in sixth grade- that was a new experience for me. I was kicked out of Boy Scouts because I got into a fight with the scoutmaster‘s son. I was laughed out of humanities class in college as I well I should’ve been.  That's a story for another day.

I’ve been set aside many times in my life.  It’s never fun and it’s never easy. But whenever we face rejection we have a choice to make.  Do you accept it and fall into the gutter and cry or do you get up and go on?  Can we learn to say that life is bigger than this recent rejection?   There is still so much good.  Let's step out and find a way to be a part of the solution.

Life is good, life is beautiful, life is amazing.  There’s so much to celebrate in this life and we just have to keep giving it our best. Some people don’t want our best but we have to keep giving life our very best.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Everything is OK

Everything is OK.  Everything may not be going the way that I want it to go, but everything is OK.  Good leaders remind others that everything is OK.  

The world needs more people who are a "non-anxious" presence.  They are very powerful words.  Look them in the eye and tell them, "everything is ok."

I have a friend Lynn who ends her emails with this phrase, "in the end, everything will be ok.  If everything is not ok, then it is not the end."

I'm OK, You're OK.  Everything is OK.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka is a 23 year old Japanese tennis player.  Although she had success prior to this, she is probably best know for defeating Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open.

Earlier this year she has not appeared for media events and dropped out of other tennis events.  She has cited ongoing bouts of depression.

Can you imagine the tremendous amount of pressure that are on athletes like her.

I can imagine her thinking, and this is me imagining what she feels like, [I was good, among the best, but now maybe I am not.  The pressure of it all is making me a mess.  I am depressed.]

As we retire and grow older I think that many of us have a feeling like... I used to do that or I used to be that, but now I am not.  It can be depressing for sure.

If you deal with feelings like this, you are not alone.  I saw a counselor a few years ago and she told me that 80% of her clients are people that performed at a high level but are now retired and they don't know what their life is about anymore.

Don't be one of her 80%.  Our life was never about our career.  We were not put here to be a teacher or a custodian or a professional athlete.  We were put here on this earth to love others.  When we forget that, and try to value our lives by what job we held, we will find confusion and depression.

But when we can get up in the morning and love others, we will find the joy again.  You don't have to perform.  You don't have to be the best.  Just get up in the morning and share the love.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

side by side

I’m walking through the airport on the way to my gate in Atlanta. I hear a baby crying and I look and I see this guy pushing a side-by-side stroller with twins and they’re both crying. It reminded me of when I pushed the girls in their side-by-side. I don’t remember them crying but I felt for the poor man. Thank God we have children when we are young!

One of my favorite pictures was taken at Worlds of Fun. Me pushing the girls in the side by side. We drove down from Princeton, just me and the girls. It was a Father-daughter day! Great times!

Look at the smiles on their faces!  Worlds of fun was a big deal to them when they were young.  Well for that matter, we have a family vacation planned in December to Disney.  I will be sure to get another picture of us together.

Savor your times together!!!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Swahili



A book was written in Swahili to the Zula nation in Africa. We pick it up and read it and ask ourselves what does it mean. And we interpret it based on our English language or American heritage and our experience of the American life. With no concept whatsoever of the language of Swahili or the history of the Zulu people. How is that even right? How can this even be the case? What if we started over and said let’s learn the language of Swahili. Let’s learn the culture of the Zulu people. It might enhance our understanding of this book that has come to us.

That is what we do with the Bible. A book written by Jews to Jews, set in the culture of the Hebrew people. We pick it up with no knowledge of their culture and imprint our own ideas onto it.  We even arrogantly argue and insist that our interpretations are right.  How insightful it would be if we could know what they know about the setting and history around the Bible.

And so I hold out to you the BEMA podcast. These guys do an exceptional job of explaining scripture through the Jewish lens. They have given me a whole new outlook on Genesis 1, Revelation, and the book of Romans. I encourage you to give the podcast a try.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

It is at least partly my fault

So there is this guy that does not like me.  It has bothered me for a long time.  I keep trying to let it go.  One thing that helps me is to see what happened from his perspective.  How did he experience our encounter.

Now in this encounter, I did what I thought was right.  And given the same circumstances again, I don't know that I would do it any differently.  But his perception of what happened and how it impacted him is probably a source of pain for him.

Seeing the other person's perspective is always helpful.

It helps me to see how he might hurt.  It helps me to understand his rejection of me.  In most of life's painful situations, I usually had a role.  I usually have a burden to bear in the story.  We love to blame others and we hate to take responsibility. 

It helps me to realize that this painful thing can't be shoved off.  It is not everyone else's fault.  The whole thing is at least partly my fault.

And so I get up and go on and try to make better decisions.  I get up and go on and try to be a source of good.  I try to steer clear of danger.  I want my life to be less about pain and hurt and more about good and healing.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Forgive, forget and move on

[I wrote this two days ago]

Today I am meeting Mike at the Metal Galvanizing company in Jacksonville.  Mike was very good to me last week when I was there and my truck broken down.  He let me sit in the airconditioned office and loaned me a phone charger while I was waiting to be rescued.  Today on the way to his business, I am going to stop at the grocery store and buy him some Russell Stover candies as a thank you.

I want to give Mike the same joy and grace that he gave me.  He deserves that.  In fact, everyone deserves that.  Even complete strangers deserve love and grace from you and me.

But what if for some reason, I allowed the hurts of the past to occupy my mind today?  What if I became consumed with how my mother raised me?  What if I couldn't get my mind off of the rejection that I feel from those people?  What if I was stuck in the negative?

Then I would be no good for Mike, no good for myself, and no good for anyone.  

At some point, we need to forgive, forget and move on so that we can be present with the people that we need to be present for today.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

John Pavlovitz

My friend Linda sends me things to read from time to time.  She recently sent me this wonderful article by John Pavlovitz.  I have edited it down but you can read the full article here:

click here to read the full article

In organized religion, one of the central questions has always been and continues to be Who has it right?

Growing up and later ministering in the Church, the elemental heart of spiritual community was the stated or implicit sense that we alone had cracked the God code; that we’d figured out what every other faith tradition (and many communities within our tradition) had not. Evangelism was less about sharing God’s love with the world around us but about getting the world to be as enlightened as we were by completely agreeing with us.

Believing the right thing was everything. The world was sharply divided between the saved and the damned and the greatest imaginable sin was to reject that idea. And it wasn’t enough to believe in God, you had to believe in the correct God, adopt the correct doctrine, and pray the correct prayers—or else your sincerity or judgment (not to mention, your eternal destination) were questioned.

One of the perennial party lines from my megachurch days was “Being a good person isn’t going to get you into Heaven, only accepting Jesus will”—as if God so preferred some 90-second lip service over a long life of kindness, that He would send a loving Muslim to hell while eternally rewarding a horrible human being who once answered an altar call. That seemed like an odd thing for a God who is all-knowing and all-loving to do. That seemed antithetical to love. And this theology has produced some really unloving people who are certain they have their ticket to heaven punched.

Since beginning this work as a pastor nearly three decades ago. I’ve encountered millions of people of faith who believe religion is a hard pass-fail, and they are terrified of flunking. At this point in the journey, I don’t wrestle with that idea much anymore.

The answer to the question, “Do I have religion right?” is actually quite simple to me now, and when people ask me I tell them why.

The right religious worldview is the one that makes you a more empathetic human being—period. It is the belief system that enables you to be more aware of the suffering in the world and propels you into other people’s lives to alleviate that suffering.

If your religion doesn’t yield an ever deepening compassion in you and move you to widen your embrace of disparate humanity, it’s the wrong religion. I don’t care what your pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, guru, or prophet says. Believing the right thing isn’t the right thing unless your life shows the fruit. Less generosity, less empathy, less diversity means you got it wrong. If you’ve worked a weight-loss system for a year with no results, it doesn’t matter if the system is solid and proven to work for others: you and the plan are not working together and you need a new plan.

Yeah, I know many of you reading this will write this all off as universalistic heresy, and I understand why. When you’ve been raised to believe that righteous and rightness are the same thing, you’ll do all you can to defend the story in your heads that tells you you’re one of the good guys.

But if whatever your religious affiliation or spiritual convictions or confession of faith doesn’t result in a life of greater empathy, then what’s the point?

If you are less loving because of your religion no matter what that religion is, you got it wrong.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Character

I have the nextdoor app. Often what is posted on the app is junk. People whining about something. But this came across the other day and I thought it was great.

Character-
Honorable—We show honor to everyone.

Humble —We don’t draw attention to ourselves. 

Selfless—We think of others more than we think of ourselves. 

Pure—We strive to have untarnished motives. 

Peace-loving—We agree to respectfully disagree. 

Gentle—We consider the feelings of others before acting. 

Merciful—We give second chances because they’ve been given to us. 

Impartial—We show fairness to all we encounter.

Sincere—We are authentic, honest, and full of integrity.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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power

Sometimes in life it all comes back to power and how we use it.

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.  He was tempted to use his power to benefit himself.  He set the example for us by choosing not to do that.

We can use our power to help ourselves and those in our camp, or we can use our power to help others, everyone, everywhere.

Power should be used for the common good.  We should never use power to hurt people or control them.

You have power.  I have power.  Everyone has some amount of power.  Be sure to use your power to bless people.  See them and hug them.

It's a beautiful day in God's world.  And by the use of your power you can make life better for everyone.   Be sure to see the good.

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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I'm not mad

I have a dear friend, a fantastic human.  She sent me an email and for some reason it went to my spam.  Now I am constantly worried with all of this blogging, that my stuff is going to your spam.  But why hers went to spam I do not know.

When I did not reply, she worried that I was upset with her.

I am not upset with her.  I am not upset with you.  I am not upset with anyone.  I am as happy as I have been in my life in a long time, maybe forever.

If I don't respond in a timely way, please just write again or call.  I love you.  I love you all.  Never default to "someone is mad"  There is probably just something else going on in their world.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Thoughts on the passing of Pastor Tim

On Thursday last week, the church sent this email: "Pastor Tim Willcox has gone home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. He passed away last evening, August 25th. Please hold Sheryl, Jeff, Allison and Amanda and all the family in your prayers."

I cannot imagine the angst that this family is experiencing. Sometimes there are no words. No words. At times like this I want to pray, "Dear God... really???"

Tim was a great man and a great Pastor. He will be truly missed. In one short year he did so much for First UMC Ft. Pierce.

Life is fleeting. Hold those close whom you love. Learn to love those whom you don't.

Sometimes there are no words, but there is always love to share.

The Salt Doll

As a follow up to yesterday's post on falling into the mystery, I am reminded of the story of the salt doll.

A salt doll journeyed for thousands of miles over land, until it finally came to sea.
It was fascinated by this strange moving mass, quite unlike anything it had seen before.
“Who are you?” said the salt doll to the sea.
The sea smilingly replied, “come in and see.”

So the doll waded in. The farther it walked into the sea the more it dissolved, until there was very little of it left.
Before the last bit dissolved, the doll exclaimed in wonder, “now I know what I am!”

When we fall into the mystery of God we come to know ourselves better.  We let go of the need to be right.  We let go of the need to be in control.  When we fall into the mystery of God and dissolve into him, we find a comfort, a rest, a peace.

Wade in.  The water is fine.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Mystery

God is a mystery.  He is the unknown.

We Western Christians like to know things.  We are rational.  We make lists and check things off.  We expect our preachers to know.  We put them on pedestals because they know things and they can help us know things.  Let me get the right things in the right order.  Ahh good.  I am in.

The truth is, is that we don't know.  God is beyond our comprehension.  God is bigger.  We cannot fathom his greatness.  We cannot get our minds around his immensity.  

And that is a beautiful thing.  We don't have to know everything.  We can't control him, but we can fall into the mystery.  We can fall into the arms of someone that is bigger than we are.  We can rest in the care of the one who has the whole world in his hands.

It's ok to not know.  It is beautiful to relish the mystery.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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affirming the goodness

My Friend Pastor Tim Wilcox died of covid yesterday.  I have a few days of blogs already posted.  I am not sure how to address his loss from his family and from our family.  When I find the words, I will post something.  Until then, I have already posted for a few days...

From Father Richard Rohr's devotional on Monday 8/23...

Love is the greatest mystery of all. Not love as a warm and fuzzy feeling, but love as the animating force that holds us together. If we can believe that we are loved just as we are and that everything else is equally loved, we unveil a cosmic reality that is life-giving and a Christ-like reality that affirms the goodness of all creation. . . .

Can you believe that you are loved? It is time to let go of the guilt that the church instilled in us in our youth. God is not mad at you. God does not need vengeance. God is not an old man with a long beard who is judging you. God loves you. The sooner that we come to believe that we are loved the better our life will be. When we truly believe that we are loved, a cloud lifts from our heart and we can truly be happy.

Affirm the goodness and the brokenness in you. God does.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Don't say these things

As a follow up to yesterday's blog, here is a list of things not to say.  I have posted this before but we so easily forget.  We so easily fall back into patterns that are not healthy.

Things not to say to people who are hurting or at the time of a death... [and I have heard all of these said at one time or another]

• He looks better
• You look terrible
• He is in a better place
• Remember you have your children that need you
• It was God’s will
• God needed another angel
• Everything happens for a reason
• It must have been his time
• How are you going to carry on?
• I told him smoking would be the death of him
• How are you fixed financially?
• Life goes on
• You know he is going to hell
• Are you taking any medication?
• I know how you feel
• At least he’s no longer in pain
• You are young, you can marry again

Don’t overdo your emotions
Don’t ask, “how did he die?”
Don’t call the person the deceased. They had a name.
Everyone is uncomfortable, don’t act out of your discomfort or nervousness.

On the other hand here are some things that are good to say a the time of death or loss:

• I love you
• I am sorry
• Let me know if I can help you in any way

Keep it short
Keep it quiet
Move on, don’t hover

No pat answers please.  They don't work and they don't help.  Be a part of the healing by loving them and hugging them.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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No words are needed

There is a lovely John Wesley quote, "Preach the gospel.  When necessary, use words."  The point of that statement is this: how we love people will go much further in reaching another person than our words.

Sometimes we feel that we need to speak when we should really just keep quiet.  Love people and stop trying to fix them.  Stop trying to fix things.

In times of grief, humans are notorious for trying to say something to fix it.  It can't be fixed.  People need to hurt.  Let them grieve.  Many of the words that are shared in a funeral visitation line just hurt the people that we are trying to comfort.

No words are needed.  Just hug them.  Just love them.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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grief

Sometimes in life we encounter a hurt that is unfathomable. There are levels of grief that are so deep and so painful.  

If you are experiencing such grief, or if you know someone that is, here are some thoughts.

Grief is normal.  It is not something to push away.  We need to allow ourselves to go thru these valleys.  Remember that in the valley, you are not alone because our Shepherd goes with us.  Remember that the valley is something that you pass through.  You will come out on the other side.

Remember that grief is a sign of love.  The deeper the love, the deeper the grief is felt at the time of loss.  If we don't know someone, we don't grieve losing them.  But Oh, losing the ones that we love hurts so much.  Watching our friends hurt, hurts so much.

Love yourself.  Spent time with those you love.  Be there for them.  Hug them.  If you are grieving today, I love you and I hug you.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Sometime

I watched a movie the other night,  The Railway Man on Netflix.  Very much worth watching.  There is a quote in the movie, "sometimes the hating has to stop."

Sometimes the hating has to stop.  

I have run into a few people lately that are still all balled up with resentment over what someone had done to them.  At some point, the hating has to stop.  Do you really want to be filled with resentment for the rest of your life?

• Make a conscious decision that you want it to end.
• Realize that the person that hurt you is also a beloved child of God.
• Seriously pray for the other person. You cannot pray for someone and hate them at the same time.
• Fill your heart with good thoughts for them. That will fill your heart with good, and push out the resentment.
• Repeat.

Sometimes the hating has to stop.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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If you can't

If you can't give it to yourself, you probably can't give it to others.

I became a much happier person when I started to learn to forgive myself.  I became a much happier person when I finally came to believe that God really did love me.

If you can't forgive and love yourself, how can you forgive and love someone else?  If you cannot forgive yourself and love yourself, I recommend that you start working on that right away.  The sooner you turn that corner the happier your life will be.  And the people around you will be glad that you turned that corner because when you can love yourself, you can really begin to love them.

Happiness springs from within.  It gurgles up from the bottom of our hearts.  Find the joy.  See the good.  Give it to yourself and then you will be better at giving it to others.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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What are you watching?

I got to see my granddaughter last weekend.  Since I was a pretty unknown commodity, she kept an eye on me.  Who is this guy?  Why is he here???

What are you keeping an eye on?  Your guilt?  Your worries?  The person who is doing it wrong?  Hurry and get to where ever?  I have to keep up with my emails??? If these are the things that your eye is on, then your life might be full of worry, tension and regret.

There are other things to keep your eyes on.  Waking to the day with gratitude.  Taking a deep breath and enjoying the moment.  Seeing others and loving them.  Forgiving and gracing yourself.

What you choose to focus on in this life will say everything about your happiness.  Keep an eye on the right things.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Don't care

Jesus did not care that she was a prostitute.  They were not going to talk about that.  It was not the issue.  Loving her was the issue.

Jesus did not care that he was a tax collector and cheated people.  It was not going to be the issue.  The issue was not going to be about how he had to change.  The topic was simply how much God loved him.

Jesus did not care about people's brokenness.  He did not focus on that.  He just welcomed them and loved them.

We humans, especially some religious people, love to make it about who the good ones are and who the bad ones are.  Along the way, love is kicked to the curb.  It is not about your sins.  It is not about what you did or are doing wrong.  You are just loved.

I don't care about your past.  I don't care about your sins.  I care about you.  I love you.  Mercy rejoices over judgement.  James 2:13

Stop thinking about what you did wrong.  Jesus isn't.  Love yourself.  Jesus is.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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What I did in Kansas City

From time to time I make a pilgrimage to Kansas City.  This is where I am from.  I was born at St. Luke's hospital when the only one was on the Plaza.  My childhood home is there.  My parents are buried there.  My mother in law is still there.

My friends are there.  Yes, I have some new friends in Florida, but my life long friends are in Kansas City.  I go there to see them and to work.

When I work I do random handyman work for people.  I also work for my friend who has a small steel company.  Commonly I cut sound proofing material into various sizes to fit into walls of buildings that he is building.  I also cut and drill gaskets that go in-between various steel members.  I love the work... no employees to worry about and no upset members.  Simple mindless work.  Just keep your hands out of the table saw.

Going to Kansas City is healing for me.  It connects me to my roots.  I am actually flying in to KC today.  Royals game tonight.  Lake day on Saturday.  All good!!!

The sound proofing product comes in sheets 50x100

It is cut to various sizes on the table saw.  Be careful!!!

Restacked on pallets

Wrapped and banded for shipping

Manifest added and shrink wrapped.

Gaskets drilled

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

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John Wesley Quote

“Do all the good you can; in all the ways you can; to all the people you can; and just as long as you can.”

This makes me proud to be a Methodist. Doing good is beautiful. Being kind is wonderful. It is why we are here on this earth. Being good to others is like a magic pill. It heals them and it heals us. Being good to others takes our minds off of our worries and recenters us on life. If you are in a rut, go be good to the next person that you see.

Share all the love that you can.
In all the ways that you can.
To all the people that you see.
Don't stop...ever.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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I'm more important

Many of us can forgive others, but have trouble forgiving ourselves.  A reader wrote in about her experience, "I accepted that God had forgiven me but struggled to forgive myself... I finally realized my inability was as though I was "of more importance" than God. That's humbling."

If God says you are forgiven, but you say, you are not, does that make you more important than God?  How about we just forgive ourselves.  How about we just let grace do its job, for others, and for us.  Maybe this is the thought that will finally help us to forgive ourselves.  

God has separated us from our sin, as far as the east is from the west.  Psalm 103:12

He has the final word.  That is the final word.  You are forgiven.  You are graced.

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

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"

In my head

A dear reader wrote in, "Your words this week were a comfort to me.  Thank you.  They helped me to remember to be grateful and thankful and they helped me to get out of my head, because sometimes it is crazy up there."

I love the, "Sometimes it is crazy up there."  Here we have lived all of these years and we still have these mind games.  

I thank God for every friend that I can be real with.  I thank God for every friend that can be themselves.  I thank God for the friends in our life that heal us.

Let's keep being there for each other because sometimes "it is crazy up there."

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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45 lessons

My friend Nancy sent this to me. I have bolded my favorites.

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 43 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship must be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

14. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.

15. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

16. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

17. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

18. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

19. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

20. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

21. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

22. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

23. The most important sex organ is the brain.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

34. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

35. Your children get only one childhood.

36. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

37. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

38. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

39. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need.

40. The best is yet to come...

41. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

42. Yield.

43. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Don't be so hard on yourself

I have a friend, a reader who writes from time to time and always says, "Jeff don't be so hard on yourself."  Well I get that.  Sometimes it may sound like I am being hard on myself, but what I am really trying to do is give the reader a glimpse into the dance that takes place in my brain.

I know the good.  I seek to do it.  But I don't always get the job done.  So I write about the struggle and the failure.  I want the reader to see the brokenness in my life.  Because if I have it, and I can be honest about it, maybe you will find some encouragement when you face difficulty.

As my friend Margaret recently wrote, "Thanks...sometimes we think we are the only ones...but I see you are in the club too."

Keep your chin up. Don't be so hard on yourself.  We are all in the club.

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

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I overreacted.

I am probably six years old. My dad is helping me with my bath. There’s a small sliver of soap.  I threw it in the trashcan. Dad protests "we don’t waste anything," he says. I tell him mom throws those away all the time. He calls to her and she comes to the door of the bathroom.  He tells her that we shouldn’t be throwing these slivers of soap away.  She says, "I don’t ever throw them away."  Dad looks at me, I look at her and she says, "why would you say such a thing Jeff?" 

There might’ve been other earlier incidents but this is the earliest one I can remember, an example of the brokenness in my family.  And so inside this 64-year-old body there still lives a child that has been hurt. And sometimes when things happen that hurt this 64-year-old man, the feelings that I have go all the way back to when I was a child. And unfortunately sometimes my response to what is going on is disproportional to what is actually happening in my life.  Sometimes I automatically buy in to all of that hurt from when I was a child.  So if I have overreacted to something that happened between us I’m so very very sorry.

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

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He giveth more grace

There is a song that I have always loved. It is a song of encouragement for anyone who is down. It is a beautiful song. I am providing the lyrics and a link if you want to listen to it.

Click here to listen

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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A big smile

I had a 7:30 breakfast with Tyler and Bruce.  I was up a little early so I sat down at the computer.  After reading the news, I gravitated to youtube videos.  If you want a big smile on your face, search on youtube for "best golf shots" or something like that.  There are tons of videos out there of amazing golf shots.  

They start with the angst of being in the sand or being behind a tree, and then the shot... then the waiting the anticipation.  Then when the ball gets close or even goes in, the crowd goes wild and the golfer celebrates.

You can't help but get a big smile on your face.  I am not much of a golfer, but the joy from those moments was contagious.  Next time you need a pick up, search Phil Mickelson's 50 greatest shots.

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

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Consumed by a mistake

Sometimes when we make a mistake we’re completely consumed by it. That’s all we can think about.  Sometimes we carry the guilt and shame for weeks, months or years.  That is not good.  When you are consumed by a mistake, you cannot see the good.  Free yourself.  Forgive yourself.  

 If you have recently made a big mistake, tell yourself what you would tell your friend.  "This is not the end of the world.  You will get to the other side.  Learn from this.  We are all broken.  Everything is ok."

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Sometimes

Sometimes love is an action not an emotion. It’s something that you do that is not supported by how you feel. Sometimes you just press on to do right and to do good. We are called to show love even when we don’t want to. If you love those that love you what reward do you have? Jesus asks us to love even our enemies.

Feelings are fickle.  It doesn't matter if you feel it, just show love 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 River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Disingenuous

Lacking in candor.  Insincere.  Pretending. Not straightforward.  Calculating.  Disingenuous.

I remember the first time I ran into this behavior.  I was in seminary.  I was the youth director at a church outside of Tulsa and the pastor asked me to come to his office at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.  I asked if everything was ok.  He said yes.  Turns out there was a meeting with the staff parish [HR] chair.  They were upset with me.  I wasn't doing my job well enough because the son of the staff parish chair would not come to youth group.  Now, the youth in question was a troubled kid who gave his parents fits.  Somehow this became my fault.

The point of that story is that I was lied to.  I was told one thing, when something else was going on.  They knew it and just flat out lied to me.

I hate that.

It has not happened to me very many times since then, but it has happened to me twice this year.  When I was the pastor of a large church and I had difficult conversations with staff or members, they always knew why they were coming in, and I always led with the truth, as graciously as was possible.

To be disingenuous with another only hurts them.  It is using your power in a situation to sneak in and then to wound.

I am going to get over what happened to me, but please be real with people.  Please be honest.  Please be kind and gracious.  When we are kind and gracious, it is much easier for us to sleep at night.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Covering another's sin

Recently someone that I am very close to made a big mistake. They were embarrassed. They asked me for help. Of course I helped them.

They could not stop apologizing. I told them to relax. You are not the first person to face this issue. You will get to the other side.

Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered. Romans 4:7

It is a powerful thing to release someone from their sin, from their worries. It is a powerful thing to tell them that it is ok, that they are ok. Instead of judging others, we should help them. We should offer them the same grace that we would hope for in a similar situation.

But for the grace of God go I.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Grieving what should have been

Sometimes I find myself grieving what should have been, missing what could have/should have been. Missing the mother that I wish she would’ve been. Missing the fact that I didn’t get to spend my entire life with that friend. Missing every moment that I’m away from people that I love. Missing the thought that much of my life has not measured up to the ideals and hopes that I had for it.

And so when those feelings come along, we have to remember that God loves us. Life isn't perfect. This is some pretty raw stuff, but if you can relate to what I am saying, you probably need some good words. Life rarely turns out the way that we wanted it to. And it is ok.

It is ok. Everything is ok. Life is bigger than my expectations.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

A big fat cry

So a few weeks ago on a Saturday morning I was driving home from Jacksonville. I was listening to music and the song Drink a Beer came on by Luke Bryan. It's a sad song about him losing someone that he loved. Whenever that song comes on I always think of Dan Horn. I started to cry. I thought about how much I love Dan and how much I miss him. I thought about how unfair it is, how wrong it is, but he’s gone and there is nothing that I can do.

I thought about a couple of other things in my life that haven’t turned out the way that I wanted them to and I had a really good cry. A big whopping crocodile tears rolling down my face cry.  And I remembered the old saying “sometimes in life you get what you want and sometimes in life you get what you get.”

But I want to tell you today I think that we will always have a heartache or two. I’m glad for the times that we can cry and I am glad for the times that we can rise above it. Sometimes it’s OK to cry. It’s OK to have a big sob. God still loves us and I’m so thankful for friends that hurt when we hurt and cry when we cry.  May your heartaches be few and your times of crying be few and far between.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure