River Cruise Day 2

 And so I am taking stock for what I will miss if the luggage does not show up.  One thing for sure, besides clean clothes is the charger for my computer.  If this does not show up, soon my Acer will die and I will not be able to post blogs.  We shall see!

We arrived at the boat and it is beautiful!  We are on it's first voyage and everything is brand new.  From the ship, Amsterdam looks very commercial with a lot of square buildings.  When I got off the ship and went for a walk, I saw some beautiful sites.

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

River Cruise Day 1

So on Saturday I drove to Orlando to start the process of flying to Amsterdam for the River Cruise.

The airport was packed!!! So packed that I almost missed my flight from Orlando to Atlanta.  I finally got to the gate and the flight was delayed.  All of that worry, all of that consuming concern about missing a flight was for nothing.

How many times does that happen in our lives?  I worried about something that it turns out there was no reason for me to worry about at all.

The flight was delayed an hour.  Then we sat on the tarmac for an hour because of bad weather.  When we finally took off, I knew that I would have to hurry to get on board the flight to Amsterdam.  Again, more worry.  I got to the plane 5 minutes before the boarding door was closed.

Off we went.  I had the pleasure of sitting next to two really good guys:  Marco, who forever now will be called Marco Polo and Adam Sandler.  Sandler is in high school, studying to be an auto mechanic/design engineer.  Marco does something with financial institutions that I do not understand.

We talked and listened and shared stories.  I told a few jokes.  Yes, if you can believe that, I told a few jokes.  I slept a little bit and then we arrived.

At the airport we found Shane who was driving a little people moving cart.  We hopped on and he drove us right up to customs and got us right through.  It was awesome.

Unfortunately, although I made the flight to Amsterdam, my luggage did not.  So I will be smelly if it does not show up in a couple of days.  I may have to start carrying around some limburger cheese.

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

tell them

I got an email from an old friend about the St. Patrick's day post:  Patty O'Furniture.

She said nice things to me.

I wrote her back.  I told her that she is a good soul.

There are two things that I like to tell people and I should say these things more often:

1.  You are a good soul.

2.  You are one of my favorite humans.

Share the love, spread the love.  Tell people things that are kind and that make them feel good.

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

A note to the lady

This is a note to the lady from yesterday's blog...  

Dear Lady,

Do you know how you made me feel?  First let's take the fact that you decided to intrude into our space with your comments.  We did not go to that restaurant to listen to your stuff.

But worst of all, is how your judgment made me feel.  The shame and finger pointing hurt.  It hurt for about an hour, until I got over your smallness.  If this is how your church teaches you to make friends and influence people, you need to take another look at your methods.

Think of 1 Corinthians 13... If I love my interpretation of the Bible, but have not love, I am a clanking cymbal.  If I care enough about people to try to fix them, but have not love, well, you have not love.

Honestly I am completely over your words.  You accomplished nothing but to remind me that love comes first.  Always and only, love comes first.  

End of note...

Now to my blog readers... may this episode be a reminder to all of us how much it stings when we are critical of another.  May it remind us that Jesus was against judgment for a reason.  If you feel yourself beginning to judge another, stop yourself.  Judging others hurts us as much as it hurts the person we deliver the judgment to.

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

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Really???

So I met a friend from the Fort Pierce Church for lunch. We were having a discussion about the impending separation of the United Methodist church. When we were getting ready to leave, the lady behind me felt the need to sort of jump in and explain who was right and who was wrong. She was explaining that her concert of theology was much superior to mine.  Her view of the Bible the correct one.

I was surprised, "right here in the restaurant lady?"  "You’re a complete stranger to me and yet you feel the need to instruct me on applicable biblical views. You know I would love to take the time to sit down and talk through some of this with you but I don’t think it would help."

 It was clear that she wasn’t going to stop, so I just said to my friend "let’s go," and we did. As Christians our job is to love people not to straighten them out. The reason so many people are not interested in the church anymore is because of the judgment and the intrusion that so many well-meaning Christians deliver to people. 

Thank God that our God is a God of love. 

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

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

What do others need from you

What do others need from you, that you can give?    And there may be things that they want from you that are not appropriate.  But are you withholding something that you can easily give?

Is someone waiting for your approval?  Is someone waiting for your kindness?  Is it possible that we are withholding something very valuable from another person?  Is there a kindness, something that we could give to others with little or no hurt to ourselves?  Free them from prison.  Deliver to them some joy.  Help them to live a life of love and peace.  Don’t let the cobwebs of your childhood be transferred to the next generation.

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

The Apology

I just finished the book, The Apology by Eve Ensler. It is a painful read, a guttural account of abuse that she endured as a child. There is a lot in the book to think about. It definitely held my interest.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book

"There is no hurt that we inflict on another that does not come back to haunt us ten fold."

"Anger is a poison that you mix for your friend but drink yourself."

When given the choice to inflict pain, may we instead choose the way of grace.

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Water Slide

I have been on a number of cruises.  I have never done the water slides.  Last weekend, I climbed to the top of the 13th deck on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas.  I took the plunge.  Round and round I went, sliding down at break neck speed, I was squealing like a baby.

The end came quickly, a bit surprisingly soon as I splashed down into the pool at the end.  I went completely under and got a nose full of water!

It was absolutely delightful.  Don't hold yourself back from things that you might enjoy. 

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

St. Patrick's Day

One of my favorite jokes...

On St. Patty's Day I am reminded of the famous Irishman who invented outdoor tables and chairs.  Do you remember his name???

Wait for it................................

Patty O-Furniture.

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

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Crazy religious thinking

My friend Mike sent me an article about how some pastors are saying that the war in Ukraine is a sign of the end of time.

click here to read the article

I do want to comment on such speculative theology.  Just because bad things are happening, does not mean it is the end of time.  When the Vandals sacked Rome was it the end of time?  Did the Civil War, WW1 or WW2 usher in the end of time?  No.

Some humans are prone to think that the sky is falling anytime something happens that makes them uncomfortable.  As if it is an American  right to feel comfortable.

In this world there will be tribulation.  I hope the war ends soon.  Please don't spend your time worrying about the second coming.  Instead, spend your energy and your money looking for people to bless.  We are here to be good to others, not worry about everything.

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

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

And the gloves come off...

Part of an article about the impending split of the UMC as reported by United Methodist Insite:

Any semblance of Christian forbearance over the anticipated split in The United Methodist Church tore away this week in response to the continued delay of General Conference and the announcement that a breakaway traditionalist denomination, the Global Methodist Church, will launch May 1.

WCA proponents openly acknowledged their anger at the third delay of General Conference that has effectively derailed the agreement that would have provided a financial foundation for a new traditionalist denomination. By the end of the week reports came of closed-door recruitment meetings around the United States – many held at United Methodist congregations that are WCA members.

The most public confrontation occurred in the Florida Annual Conference. There at Waukeenah UMC in Monticello, Fla., the Rev. Wayne Wiatt, superintendent of the Northwest District, and his wife Ramona were escorted out of a Global Methodist Church meeting organized by Jay Therrell, a former UMC clergyman and president of the WCA Florida Chapter. Mrs. Wiatt made a video of herself (at left) outside the church to describe the incident and posted it on Facebook. Mr. Therrell responded to Mrs. Wiatt’s minute-and-a-half video with a six-minute video of his own (at right), contending that the Wiatts had “intimidated” those at the meeting, and that the WCA had a right to close its meeting to those not interested in joining the Global Methodist Church. Cynthia B. Astle collected both videos along with expanded responses from Mr. Therrell and Florida Bishop Ken Carter.

- - -

You can read the entire article by clicking this link.

click here to read the entire article

So in short, General Conference has been postponed again and the conservative group is no longer willing to wait.  They are launching their new denomination in six weeks on May 1.  Many churches will be taking a vote on whether they will stay United Methodist or leave with the new denomination.  

It seems all so sad to me.

Once they new Global Methodist Church is launched on May 1, they will be the denomination that believes that Homosexuality is a sin and that they should not be married in the church.  The United Methodist Church is expected to change the language of the Discipline to indicate that Pastors can perform Gay weddings and that relationships with the LGBTQ community will become normalized.  Personally, I am staying with the United Methodist Church.

The church should have never been in the business of shaming people.

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

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

It is Good

In Genesis 1, God made everything and when he was finished, he said it was "good."

Good. Good. Good.

Did not sleep well? Lots on your mind? Life is still good.
Rainy day? Rained on you during your walk from the car to the store? Still Good.
Worried about things in your life? It's still good.
Sad about some things? Someone is sick? Life is still good.

It is good, not because every circumstance is to our liking, but because God is good, and he is with us. Life changes. He never does. He saw it all, from beginning to end and he said, It is Good.

My knees are shot, my hair is gone, and I have other problems that I probably cannot explain here, but life is still good.  We have so much to be thankful for.

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

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Reaching for people

So I spent 9 days in Seneca Falls, New York. I was working 8 miles away in Geneva New York. I happened by chance the first night I was in Seneca Falls to find a local joint called Dewey‘s.  I was taken in.  I was there every night for for the entire trip. I got to know the servers. Nice people and we had nice talks.  The food was good and the food was very very affordable.

So I talked with the locals and I visited with the servers, we talked about life, we talked about family. The last night I was there I was saying goodbye because I was flying home the next morning. One of them gave me a hug. It didn’t mean anything strange. It just meant that on a journey of life one nice person met another nice person and they were kind to each other.  

Kindness isn’t always practiced as much as it should be. If you ever go to Seneca Falls, go to Dewey's on third Street. There are good people there. In fact they’re good people a lot of places if we’re looking for them. 

We should be doing everything that we can, every day, every moment to bring people out of their shells.  We need to help them see that they are valuable.

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

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Science only goes so far

We all know people that have had Alzheimer's. Dementia is a terrible thing and it appears to be irreversible.

I was watching the movie, "The Notebook" a few weeks back and there is this quote...  "Science only goes so far, and then there is God."  In spite of what we see in this world, there is always God.  There is always the moment when something happens that does not fit the mold.

I hope to never have dementia, but if I do, I hope that God lets me sneak thru every now and then so that I can tell my family and friends that I am still here and that I love them.

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

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

I had a feeling...

So I drive a 2017 Kia Sportage.  I have changed the oil every 5,000 miles.  It has been a great car.  I got a notification on the dash the other night that the right headlight was out.  So on the way home last week, I bought a new headlight bulb.  The next morning I planned to install it before I drove 92 miles to Orlando.

So in the morning, I had the hood up.  I replaced the bulb.  Then I had a very funny feeling.  It was like a voice was saying, "check the oil."

Well, I have never checked the oil on this car because it goes in for regular oil changes.  But I decided to listen to the voice.  I checked the oil.  To my astonishment, it was 4 quarts low.  That means that there was only one quart still in the motor.  If I kept driving it, at some point, the motor was going to blow.

I went and bought some oil.  I started to do some investigating as to why this may have happened.  Yesterday I replaced the PCV valve.  I am checking the oil level regularly.  Next week that car is going to the Kia dealer for a check up.

I am so thankful for that still small voice.

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

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Announcing a Holy Land Trip 2023

Exciting news!  I will be co-leading a trip to the Holy Land with Rev. Sherri Swanson and Rev. Aaron Brown.

The dates are January 23-February 1, 2023.

This trip includes all of the traditional sites:  Bethlehem, Jerusalem, The Church of the Nativity, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher,  the Mount of Olives, and The Garden Tomb.  We will go for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  One of my favorite places is Caesarea by the Sea with the Roman aqueduct.  There is so much to see:  the Temple Mount, the Holocaust Museum, Masada and more.

click here for the brochure

If you choose to sign up, please send me a note and let me know.  The registration form will ask for my tour host number which is 17768.

Or you can sign up using Sherri's 57707

or Aaron's 60922

Roman Aqueduct

Ruins of Jeroboam's Temple

Sea of Galilee

Caesarea Philipi

The Dead Sea

Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives

A trip to the Holy Land is a lifetime memory.  I am excited just thinking about it.

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

jokes

Sometimes in life we just need a little humor.
Sometimes when life gets heavy, we need a little laugh.

So a snake walks into the bar.
The bartender, looking bewildered says, "how did you do that???"

Does it bother you when people answer their own questions?  It sure bothers me.

Why does the number 6 want a rematch with 5 and 7?

To get even with the odds.

Why did the horse cross the road?
I don't know, it left before I could ask the equestrian!!!

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

Knock knock

Knock Knock
Who is there?
Amish.
Amish who?
Amish you.

I was thinking the other day about how many people that I miss.  Friends from Cape Coral, Friends from Ft. Pierce, Friends from Vermont.  Friends from Kansas City.  Roger at Kings Bay.  Jeff from Sebastian.  All of my Bobby's friends.  Softball team mates.  Former co-workers.  What a joy it has been to be connected to you all over the years.

You know, when you love someone, it hurts to be away from them.

Amish you all and I hope that we can get together soon.  You mean so much to me.

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

Hungry for?

Subway's ham egg and
cheese flatbread... Mmm

We all get hungry from time to time.  I know some people who get hangry if they don't eat in time.

I think it is interesting what we get the cravings for.  I love breakfast food.  24 hours a day I can eat breakfast food.

I love a good steak.  A hamburger.  A chicken sandwich.  I love my wife's lasagna and pasta dishes but they are not good for my weight.

The other morning I was hungry and landed at Subway.  They have a wonderful breakfast sandwich, actually it is a wrap.  Ham, egg and cheese on flatbread.  Add some onions and black pepper and it is to die for.  Lo cal too.

Next time you are eating something that you like, take a moment to appreciate it.  We are so blessed to have so many opportunities to eat in America.

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

the dog

So I was watching the news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Oh, how I feel for those people.  It is just gut wrenching to think about it.  One moment, your life is your life and the next moment the Russians invade.

I have to take breaks from watching it as it makes me heartsick.

And so let me switch topics... My daughter Jenny has a poodle named George.  He is the best dog in the world.  Our entire family loves him and George loves all of us.  He is so excited to see us.  He loves to give big hugs.  We would never want anything to happen to George.

And so I was watching the news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and there is this picture of an area that had been bombed and a guy is carrying his dog.  I thought about the dog.  [you can see him by the yellow vehicle.]

Yesterday, I had the life of a pet.  Coddled, back scratched, and loved.  I had owners that loved me and protected me.  Now there are all of these terrible loud noises.  If my owners are killed, or if they cannot care for me, I may be on the street.  A tame, loveable pet, turned loose in a world full of wild animals and wild people.

The whole thing is so sad.

Be good to your pets.  Be good to people. No invasions please.  No hatefulness please,  only kindness.

oblivious

I am oblivious and I am spoiled and I fear that I am not the only one.

Last week I was sitting in an Italian restaurant in Vero Beach. I was enjoying my family. I was eating bread dipped in oil. We had drinks. I ate spaghetti and meatballs. It was quite an enjoyable time.

And all the while, as I am just enjoying a beautiful evening, the capital of Ukraine is being attacked by Russian forces.

And so in the middle of this nice dinner, my brain stops. How can I be so heartless... there is so much suffering in this world. My life is so blessed, and others are suffering.  I didn't say anything at the table because I didn't want to ruin the moment, but my brain did stop and consider how easy it is to live on auto-pilot.

Ukrainian woman weeping

The only good that I can find in this story is that I must grow in compassion. I must grow in awareness. I must grow in appreciation. I must grow in generosity. I must grow in empathy. I must grow in thoughtfulness.

And I am shocked, dismayed and confused by how my life is this way and their life is that way. What do you think about that? How do you find the good in that? Do I deserve such a good life? Did I earn this?

Why was I born in America instead of Nicaragua or the Ukraine?

May we all work hard to make it a beautiful day in God's world, for all of His children, so all of His children, all over the world can see the good.

It's here again

I am going to be in Kansas City this year on March the 4th.  I was trying to make plans with a friend and he told me that he was not available on Friday because he was going to the parade.

My brain thought - what parade???  He got me with my own joke.

So here we go again...

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.

Relax please

So my niece and her daughter are visiting. Five year old Aria. 

Cathy and my niece are out to lunch and Aria wants to swim. The water is 78°.  Little too cold for this guy to swim.  So I’m watching her get in the pool and watching her swim around.  I am watching her using cups throwing water out of the pool. When I was a young father I would’ve told my children to stop throwing the water out of the pool.  She is drawing with chalk on the pool deck!!! I was worried about so much back when I was young, things that didn't really matter.   But I realize now that I can put more water in the pool and the chalk will wash off and this is just not a big deal.  Being a grandparent, a grand uncle is so nice. It’s so great because I let her do just about whatever she wants and I don’t worry about it because nothing‘s gonna be permanently damaged.   I just enjoy watching her young brain do and learn and enjoy.

We went for breakfast one morning at Bob Evans and she had chocolate chip pancakes, and a big glass of chocolate milk. I wish I’ve been better when I was a young father and not so worried about what my children were doing. But at least we’ve learned along the way - don’t cry over spilled milk - don’t make a big deal out of it.  It’s fun watching her play.

It feels good to be more relaxed at this stage of my life.

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

who we become

My friend Bruce sent me this meme:

I love this quote, but I fear that it is not true for everyone.  I run into so many older folks who are unhappy about this, about that, about anything.

Personally, I have found less to worry about as I have grown older.  I am less worried about my kids.  I am less worried about money.  It will all work out.  I feel that I am becoming a better person than I was when I was younger.  But I know of many, who seem to be getting worse- more worried, more disappointed, more fearful.

It is said that as you grow older, you can get bitter, or you can get better.  May more of us strive to become the person that we should have been long ago.

It is never too late to choose to be a kind and loving person.

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

No more united

A screen shot from their web site.

I ran into some members of First United Methodist Church in Vero.  They were ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas time.  We got to chatting and they told me that they were no longer a part of the United Methodist Church.

They have voted to disaffiliate from our denomination.  Their sign no longer reads "First United Methodist Church."  The United is gone and now they are going by the First Methodist Church.  I am wondering what the future holds for them?  Will they be a stand alone church?  Will they connect to other churches that leave our denomination?

I hear from the grapevine that some of our churches in Missouri are leaving the denomination as well.  I find it all so sad.  I worked for so many years in a denomination that I loved.  I am sorry to see so many friends go.

I am trusting that we who remain can remain united.

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

laughter

Jackie Gleason

It is said that laughter is good for the soul.

A few weeks ago I was watching a show and I started to laugh.  A big "grin til your face hurts" belly laugh.  Then it occurred to me... I was hearing my Dad...  My laugh sounded like my Dad's.

For all of the difficulty of my childhood, one of the things that I remember fondly was the occasional moment when my Dad would be watching a show, and break out in laughter.  He loved the Muppet Show and the Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason.

I might be upstairs in my room, as far away as you could be, and hear him laughing all the way from the TV.  Even as I write this, it brings a smile to my face to remember my Dad laughing.  Good times.  Happy times.  

May we all laugh, my we grin til our face hurts, may we have more big fat belly laughs.  Laughter is good for the soul.

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

I was scared

So a couple of weeks ago my job ended in Geneva NY.  What a beautiful part of the country.  What a beautiful town.   I had a 40 mile drive to the Rochester NY airport.  It was snowing.

I have not driven in snow for 6 years.  The snow was blowing.  Visibility was bad.  The lanes were snow covered.  40 miles.  Locals would have made fun of me, and years ago, I did this every winter.  But it has been a while.  And I am no longer a spring chicken.

I was scared.  The picture in this post is a stock picture from the internet, I did not take it as I had both hands on the wheel.  The picture is a very real representation of what I was dealing with.  At one point, I was in tears.  I was scared.  Three cars were off the road.  The navigation kept telling me that there was an accident ahead!!!

I called a bunch of people.  Please talk to me and take my mind off of what is happening.  I drove 5 miles an hour below the speed limit.  Locals passed me.  I don't care.  Be safe Jeff!!!

Fortunately I made it to the airport.  I got inside and took off my heavy jacket and stuffed it in my suitcase.  

I am done with snow for a while.

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 brochure

Most people only think about themselves

So I am watching this movie that Pastor Tim told me about 18 months ago.  It is called The Kindness of Strangers.

And there is a line in this counseling session, "most people only think about themselves."

I would say that some people only think about themselves.  I hope that we are creating a movement of people that think about others.  

One of the interesting things about trying to think about others is that selfishness is so sneaky.  We have to be on guard all the time to make sure that we are really looking at what is going on.

Most people only think about themselves?  Today lets make a pledge that there will be at least one less in that group.  Me.

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 brochure

Girl Scout Cookies

So the girl scouts are out selling cookies.  

Here is what I do.  I walk up to the table and ask how many girls are selling cookies. I ask them which is their favorite kind.  2 girls selling I buy two boxes, 4 girls selling, I buy four boxes, one each of their favorite kinds.

I ask them how much.  They tell me $5 a box.  I act surprised.  I tell that that when I was their age, the cookies were $2.50 a box.  I tell them that when my dad was their age, the cookies were free!  [all laugh]

They give me the cookies.  Then I give them back to them, each girl gets a box of their favorite kind.  I tell them have a nice day, and I walk away.

Always brings some joy to the girls and the moms.

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 brochure

the power of thank you

Gratitude, being thankful, is one of the most powerful things in the world. When I find gratitude, I don't worry about anything. I don't worry about money, I don't worry about my kids, I don't worry about anything.

When I find gratitude, I find happiness. The pains and concerns in my life just slip through my fingers and they are gone.  I lift up my head and I see the sky.

There is an old hymn... "Count your blessings name them one by one." If we started counting our blessings, we would get nothing done today.

What are your blessings?
I have a great wife that loves me.
I have great friends.
I have 3 great kids.
I was born in a great country.
I have a clear mind.
I can see.
I can hear.
I can walk.
I have a car that runs.
If the car doesn't run, I can get it fixed.
I can move about the country or the world if I so choose.
I have seen the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone.

I have discovered the joy of living a generous life.

On and on I could go. What about you?

Eckhart von Hochheim (1260 – 1328), commonly known as Meister Eckhart was a German Catholic Priest of the Dominican order. He is a revered and studied, theologian, philosopher and mystic.

About all I really remember about the guy is this quote:

If the only prayer you learned in your whole life was, "thank you," that would be enough.
~Meister Eckhart

Dear God, 

THANK YOU!!!

Amen

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 am enjoying

I had a very interesting thought the other day.  "I am enjoying life more now, than I ever have!"

And I ask myself why?  My knees are shot.  On bad days I limp and cannot climb a ladder.  My muscle tone has gone to the dogs.  I have lost the rest of my hair.  I look in the mirror and my face is blotchy, bumpy and sagging.

Yet, I have this thought... I am enjoying life now, more than ever.  

Why?  Hmmm, let me think on that.

Well, I have finally started reaching for people.  I am treating people better than I ever have and that is karma.  It comes back to you.  Meeting strangers in new towns, and after a week, they want to stay in touch with you.

I don't have to win anymore.  I don't have to be in charge.  I can go with the flow.  I can let others set the pace.  I can follow.  I can support them.

I am not worried about God.  I am not worried about belief.  I know he loves me, and I just try to love others the best that I can.

I am growing in gratitude.  Being thankful is such a beautiful thing.

So, four reasons that I can come up with on the fly:
- reach for people
-give up needing to be in charge
-make peace with the God of love
- practice gratitude

Here at 64, I am living my best life.

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 letter to Mr. Putin

I normally write about kindness and love.  These are such important topics.  But there comes a time on the world stage when something else needs to be said.  Sometimes doing the right thing is very difficult and painful and costly...  So here I go... 

 Forgive me if this feels political, and it might, but I cannot watch any longer without speaking out.

Dear Mr. Putin...

Mr. Putin we have not seen such naked aggression and such arrogance since Adolf Hitler in 1939. You took the  Crimea in 2014 and the West did nothing.  You moved into the Crimea with troops that were not identified with your national colors, which is against international law, and the West did nothing.   

Now you have annexed the provinces in east Ukraine. And the West has done nothing. 

If I were president of the United States, this is what I would say to you...  "if you step one foot into the Ukraine, We are at war. Man to man, soldier to soldier, tank to tank, airplane to airplane, submarine to submarine, President to President we will be at war."

Good people cannot allow tyrants to take what they want.  Mr. Putin, please reconsider your actions.

It is a very tense, worrisome day in God's world......

Spread the love

So I want to encourage every one to be kind and loving. That is first base. You, reader, and me, let's be kind and loving. It's not that hard. That is step one.

But now let's take it up to the next level. What can you do to teach others to spread the love? What can you do to teach others that life is about us being the Good Samaritan?

If you have been reading my stuff for a while, you know that I am a big believer in kindness. But I think that we can go farther... There are people that taught me things in this life. There are people that taught me about kindness and generosity. They expanded their reach.

Who can you teach about kindness? Who can you teach about being generous? Please start thinking about this.

Take your belief in kindness to the next level. Find ways to talk to people about kindness. Look for ways to reach into the souls of others. Set an example. Be so kind and generous that they want to understand what makes you tick. Help them see that love and kindness is why we are here. That and nothing more.

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 brochure

What is this white stuff?

So I was in Kansas City and it snowed. I sent a picture of it to my family and asked them what this white stuff was.

I was in New York. Yes it snowed a ton.

Loading up snow in Geneva, NY

I saw Bigfoot in Seneca Falls, NY

I was home in Florida and woke up early to drive to the airport. What is this stuff on my windshield? Ice!!! Did I have a scraper? No not in Florida. I used a credit card to scrape my windows. Should probably keep the credit cards on ice anyway.

Ice on my windshield in sunny Florida!!!

Our plane was supposed to leave at 6am. We were delayed. Seems that there was ice on the wings. And guess what? In Florida there is no equipment for de-icing. So the plane pulled out to the end of the runway and positioned itself to catch the sun. Finally about 7:10 the sun came up and started to melt the ice.

Deicing in Florida. Just go out into the sun!!!

I miss my friends, but I don't miss ice and snow.

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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Do you take tips?

I was at the Atlanta airport sitting at the gate.  A fellow a few years older than me came rolling up in a wheelchair.  There are employees at airports that their job is to pick you up in a wheelchair and take you to the next gate and get you on the plane.

Guess what?  They take tips.  And they should.

So this guy is sitting in the wheelchair just complaining about everything.  I look at the guy that has to push him around.  He looks at me.  We share this look of "what is wrong with this guy?"  I want to say something, but I don't.

But I can't get it out of my head.  The plane finally takes off and lands in Melbourne.  On the way out thru the terminal I catch up to the new guy who is pushing this dude.  I asked the pusher if he took tips.  He said, "sure, most people tip us."  I gave him $5.

I hope the grouchy man, being pushed in the wheelchair will think in the future about those who are serving him.  

We should all be thinking about 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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My Jesus

When I was in college and seminary, 1976-1984 I listened exclusively to "Christian" music.  All other music, so we were told, was the devil's music.  [Does Michael the archangel have music assigned to him?  Then how can the devil, since he was an archangel too.]

Anyway, because I didn't listen to other music, I missed the great bands of that era:  ELO, REO Speed wagon, Journey, etc.  Since then I have been catching up with those bands.

I am not a big listener of "Christian"  music.  Some of it has terrible theology in it.  I love some of the old hymns.  I love Christmas music.  Occasionally I find a contemporary song that I love.  I was thinking about this one the other day, the title is My Jesus by Todd Agnew.  Bad word alert- here are the lyrics...

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Why do you look so much like the world?

'Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land?
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand?

'Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

And who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side
Or fall down and worship at His holy feet? Holy, yeah

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part?
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

'Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

'Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
And I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I wanna be like my Jesus
I wanna be like my Jesus
I wanna be like my Jesus, yeah
I wanna be like my Jesus, oh, oh, oh

Not a poster child for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I wanna be like my Jesus, but I'm not sure what that means
To be like You Jesus

'Cause You said to live like You, to love like You
But then You died for me
Can I be like You, Jesus?
I wanna be like You, Jesus
I wanna be like my Jesus

click here to listen to the song

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 brochure

Dealing with guilt

This is from one of my oldest friends.  We became friends when we were 22.  He is such a good man and he has had some very difficult things happen in his life.  I don't see him very often these days, but I do love him very much.  Last year his son died of an overdose, he was 30 years old.  Here is what my friend wrote:

Guilt is , umm, interesting. It can be very, very heavy, at least in my experience. I am in an almost constant internal debate about my son’s death and my part in it. It makes no logical sense but it remains just the same. People say, ” Hey, he was 30 years old. 30 year old people make their own choices.” So I nod as my internal antagonist says, “OK, I can buy that, but what about before he was 30. There must have been something I could have done. Maybe when he was 20 or 15 or 10 or …….” When I voice that thought people say, “I don’t believe that but what is it that you think you should have done?”  I reply, “Well, umm, something more than I did.”  Most of my answers require the ability to see into the future and since I cannot do that it makes no sense to feel guilty, and yet…..

When I get to moments that I don’t feel guilty than the question arises [in my head] that if it is not my fault [the loss of my son] than whose fault is it? The early and most used, probably, villain is God. I think there is a part of me that would rather feel guilty than to truly believe God did this. Assigning the responsibility to the dearly departed [my son] is a very difficult and hurtful thing. There is a part of me that would rather feel guilty than to truly believe that my son is. If addiction is a disease, and I believe it is, then how do you blame someone for having a disease? The alcohol lead to poor thought processes that lead to lethal choices on that particular night. Then there is the, “Well, it is nobody’s fault. These things just happen sometimes.” Well, it is certainly true that things happen but most things, if not all, are cause and effect at some level somewhere.

God doesn’t need to be into guilt. Us humans can do that to ourselves quite effectively.

I like this quote

“Was it you or I who stumbled first? It does not matter. The one of us who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other.” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

I would comment on my friends words.  First of all, there are tragic experiences that come to some humans in this life.  We others, can watch from the sidelines, but we have no idea of their grief.  We have not walked in their shoes.  I pray that my friend can heal.  I pray that everyone that hurts can heal.

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 brochure

find a way

The names have been changed to protect the identity... A friend sent me an email.  Some of this is them, some of this is me describing the email... dance with the tenses with me and just settle on the point... If a person really wants to, they can find a way to be gracious, to reach for others, to be helpful... masks, plexiglass and all.

So, I work in a setting where I have to wear masks all day.   Air purifying machines are  running and we are surrounded by plexiglass. People are told to stand 6 feet away. Despite my 2 vaccinations and booster, COVID spread through our family at Christmas. Bummer!

In spite of all of this, this friend, this blog reader is making a conscious effort to establish friendly eye contact, wave, and speak with a warm, relaxed voice. When I have to ask a shopper to repeat themselves because of muffled mask mutters, I ask respectfully: “Excuse me. Would you please repeat that? Thank you.” I make sure that my voice is so warm, butter would melt!

I am probably totally forgettable to the people that pass through, but I am working hard to momentarily rescue them from an inaudible and work to secure friendly and effective communication. I, as all of us look forward to masklessness.

Friends, please follow this example and work hard at reaching for people.  Look them in the eye.  Ask their name... we are here on this planet to love people.

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 brochure

ungenerous

I was talking to a friend not too long ago.  They expressed that they did not feel that they were very generous.

Now this is a lovely human that I am very fond of.

We talked about many ways to be generous... to share your time, to give a smile, to hold open a door, to give money, on and on it goes.

I want to say this... Years ago, I never really thought about being generous.  Now I think about it a lot.  Who can I help?  Who can I be there for?  I learned these thoughts by watching two friends.  I loved seeing their generosity and I wanted to emulate that.

If you feel that you are not very generous, then here is the good news... you can change that.  If there is an area where you can give more of yourself, your time, your talents or your treasure, I encourage you to do so.

How much more time do we have on this earth?  Do you want to spend the rest of your days feeling like you are not generous?  Or do you want to learn to give yourself and your stuff away?

I know that it is counterintuitive, but it is true "generous people are happy people."

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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closer to the end

Today if you woke up, you are closer to the end than to the beginning. How old do we have to get before we realize that? No one is getting younger. No one leaves this life in a vertical position.

And so lately, I am looking at my hands on this keyboard and I wonder what happened to my hands. What happened to my skin. Just yesterday that hand played softball. Just yesterday that hand slung a hammer. Just yesterday that hand baptized a baby. Now suddenly, I am so much closer to the end than the beginning.

I learned something else about growing older... it was raining last week when I was in Charleston.  When it rains you get really wet.  You get much wetter than you did when you were young.  You can't run as fast as young people, so instead of 30 seconds of rain walking into the store, you get a minute and a half.  The other thing too about being older, you can't remember where the umbrella is.  Or if you even still have one.

We are all getting closer to the end.  Make every day count.  Love every person.  Ask their name.  Tell them thank you.  Make every moment count...........

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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Grateful

I was listening to something the other day and the author was talking about learning to feel unconditionally grateful for your life. 

They said that in order to do that we have to forgive... we have to release our self from the painful parts of our past.  You see when we won't forgive others, when we hold a grudge, it is not them that we punish, it is we ourselves.  We are the ones that need to be released from the prison.

Do you want your life to be dominated by the things that hurt?  Do you want your life to be dominated by resentments held toward someone? 

Or, do you want to feel unconditionally grateful for your life???  If we do want to feel that way, then we have to actively work on letting those things and those people go.

Negative out.  Positive in.  Weight holding balloon down is released, balloon naturally rises.

Our lives are a beautiful gift.  We should all feel grateful for them.   And when we release our past hurts and resentments, we can feel unconditionally grateful for our lives.

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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Who would you take a bullet for?

Who would you take a bullet for?  And I mean, it is a terminal bullet.

I would like to think that I would take a bullet for a stranger.  I don't know about taking one for people that are mean or bad.  But if you read this blog, if I have any sense that you are a good normal person, doing your best at life, I am in.

And then there are those of you, all of my KC friends, and my Florida friends, and others, I would take a bullet with no hesitation.  Some of you, I would not even have to think about it.  You matter to me more than life.  

If I took a bullet for you, I would like to think that my last thoughts would be happy thoughts.  I was there for you.

-------------------------------------------------

Who would you take a bullet for?

Who are you there 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.

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Our stories

Recently heard on a TED talk:

We are our story. 

Sometimes we carry our story so tightly to our chest that we suffocate ourselves.  We turn ourselves into the boy that was abused and we keep that as our life narrative forever. 

Yes, it’s good to acknowledge the difficult things that happen to us. But it’s also acceptable to realize that our stories can change. And we’re not that thing that we used to be.

Think about forgiving them.  Think about releasing them.  Think about charting the course of your own ship without all of that baggage rolling around in your head.

Rise above the brokenness of the past.  Make a new chapter in the story.

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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The woman with the pink hair

Yesterday I posted about working again.  One of the wonderful things about working is that it allows me to be more generous.

So I was out of town last week.  I stayed, as I often do at a below average motel.  One night I was in the front office after work because my key would not work.  A woman with pink hair was in line in front of me, she was paying for another night.  It seems that she, her husband and two kids are living in the car or living in such motels.

The next night I was in to talk about the check out procedure.  She was there too.  After I finished my business with the clerk, she stepped up to the counter to pay for another night... $60.  I pulled $40 out of my pocket and put it on the counter.  I said, "let me help."  She was ecstatic.

However good she felt about that, I tell you, it made me feel wonderful.  

I don't tell you this to brag.  I tell you this because I want every one who reads this stuff to find ways to help others.  That is why we are here on this planet.  To live a generous life is a wonderful thing.  And, and... it is never too late to start.

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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New Job

 I've started a new job.  It is almost full time.  They told me that they will work me as much as I want.  That is good for me because I have not retired well.  Piddling around the garage is only interesting for so long.

Since I retired from the church, I have from time to time gone out "to work for CVS" I would say.  Really I was working for a friend's construction company and back then they had a lot of CVS work.  Recently they have put me to work as a fill in Superintendent.  A construction company must have a representative on the ground, so when one of the regulars is sick or needs a vaca, they are calling me in.  So far this year I have been to Boca Raton, Springfield, Jefferson City, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, Knoxville TN, Charleston SC and Geneva New York.

I love the travel, I love meeting new people, and I love the construction.

Being raised by Lutherans, I am probably going to work, until I cant.  

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 brochure