New Car

Momma's got a new car!

So my son is buying my Kia Sportage.  That left us with 2 cars.  Cathy's Kia Sportage and my Ford Pickup that has 209,000 miles  on it.  The truck is great but it is not so dependable.  It is not a vehicle that you would want to drive more than 50 miles, just in case something happened.  Plus the A/C doesn't work very well so if I ever take Cathy's car, she has to drive the truck.  She does not like that so much.

Anyway we decided it was time for a new car.  If you ever are in need of a car, take me with you as I am a very good bargainer with car salesmen.  We bought a new Nissan Altima SR Special Edition for $20,600.  There will be sales tax of course and a loan payment for a few years.

Here is the fun part.  At our dealer, they have a Wheel of Fortune type spin award.  You can win an
MP3 player, a cruise for two, an oil change and maybe if you are lucky you can win $1500.  Momma was lucky!

This post has no spiritual value.  Sometimes it is ok to laugh and smile and enjoy the moment.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

picking and choosing

I was listening to one of Adam Hamilton's sermons the other day and he talked about how he was accused of picking and choosing which scriptures we believe and hold to and which ones we don't.

We all pick and choose.

The Bible supports slavery.  Do you?  Then you have made a choice to ignore part of the scriptures.
The Bible supports the subordination of women.  Do you?  Then you have made a choice to ignore part of the scriptures.
Jesus taught that we should not save up treasure on earth.  Do you have a savings account?  A 401K?  Then we have become unscriptural.

Stone a rebellious son at the city gate?  Never eat shrimp?  We pick which scriptures we follow and which ones we don't.

May we always remember that the over-riding, over-all main theme, macro message of the bible is to love God and love others.  The other ideas presented in scripture must be subordinate to that.  All ideas in scripture must humble themselves under the command to love.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

sharing your faith

is this really helpful?

When I was a kid we went out into the world to win people for Jesus.  We went house to house on Wednesday night.  We put the pressure on the poor at the shelters.  We walked up to strangers in Golden Gate park and asked them if they were going to heaven or hell.

I have learned over the years, that those old ideas about evangelism actually did more harm than good.  We drove away the very people that we were trying to win.  Young people today are sick and tired of the high handed methods of yesterday's church.

The other day I was driving down the road through a rough part of town.  I saw an African American man walking with a gas can.  I pulled up alongside him and asked him if I could take him to the gas station.  At first he hedged, then he accepted and got in.  I introduced myself.

I am Jeff.
I am Charles.
Nice to meet you.

It was only a mile to the station.  I told him that I would wait for him and take him back.  He put in $2.50 and we headed home.  When I got to his apartment, I shook his hand and said, God bless you.  Charles began to tell me about an ailment that he was struggling with and he asked me to pray for him.

I did not announce that I was a Christian or a preacher.  I was just nice to another human.  I am not bragging and I don't want or deserve a medal.  My point is this -  If you want to reach people for Jesus, just love them.  Coercive methods are ineffective and immoral.

"Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, elegance or learning."
                                                              Frederick Faber

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

What I can lift

My remaining extension ladders hang in the garage
which also serves as my office.  My how things change!

I have been a first hand witness to the departure of my muscle mass.  I can tell that it is departing by the size of ladders that I can handle and the weight of things that I can lift.

I used to own a 40' ladder that I got from my friends Bob and Grace Lighthizer.  The last few years in Kansas City I needed someone else to help me prop it up against the house.  Today it belongs to my friend Larry Smith of Fish Window Cleaning.  I also owned a 32' ladder.  It was given to my father by Bill Cook many years ago.  [yes the Woods Chapel Bill Cook]  Although smaller than the 40' it was very heavy.  They just don't make things like they used to.  When the house sold in KC, the 32' ladder stayed.

Today I own a 24' and a 16' ladder.  The 24' is getting to be difficult at times.  Oh, I remember when I could wrestle the 40' all by myself!  Those were the days.  Soon, I will only own a step stool.

I have noticed that cases of water are getting heavier.  Soon I will have to stop buying cases of 24 and go to the 12 packs or the six packs.  Maybe I will eventually just buy them one at a time from the cooler by the checkout.

In this life we all climb ladders and we all carry water.  You may not feel that you are as good as you used to be, but believe me, there is always someone who needs a step up.  There is always someone who needs a little living water.  You can still help them up.  You can still deliver the water.  Never say, "I can't."

The race isn't always to the swift nor the battle to the strong.  You have gifts to give.  Do not grow weary in well doing.  Someone needs you today.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Can this bird sing?

This is our Canary Island Date Palm Tree. 
Can you see the little friend that has taken up residence?

can you see her yet?

a beautiful dove has made a nest

and she has two wonderful eggs!

I wished this story ended well.  It did not.  I was a little concerned about where she chose to make her nest.  It wasn't long after these pictures were taken that The dove was gone and the eggs were gone.  I am not sure who ate the eggs, but we do know that life can be tragic.

I wonder how the bird responds to bad, horrible news?  I wonder if she can still sing.

The other night I woke up thinking about one of the most difficult episodes in my life.  I could not stop my brain from thinking about the players that went after me and intentionally hurt me.  I finally got up out of bed and came to the computer.  My brain needed to focus on something else.  A change of focus can be very helpful.

Sometimes in life, the snakes get our eggs.  It hurts.  Years later we will likely remember.  But we are called to forgive.  We are called to love.  Most of all, we are here to sing.  To wake to each day with joy, and if we have trouble finding the joy, we must just keep on singing until the song takes.

This bird can still sing.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

sad people

I was in a restaurant the other day and I was watching a server fill up a bunch of water glasses.  You could tell that the person was sad.

Maybe something bad happened that day.  Maybe something so tragic that they could not shake it and put on their happy face for work.

It is hard to hide sadness.  It just comes out.  In the lack of a smile, in the droop of the shoulders, and in sad eyes.

Sad happens to all of us, but don't let it hang around.  Don't let it hang around.  Keep working on seeing the good.  Keep working on getting to the other side of the mountain.

Whatever it is, it feels like forever, but it is not.  You can rise from the ashes of this moment and regain your joy.  Life is good.  Find your smile.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Sermon Audio from Sunday

The sermon is on Mt 25 what ever you did for the least of these you did it unto me.

click here to listen

Losing Your Voice

If you cheer really loud at a sporting event, you can lose your voice.

There is another way to lose one's voice.  If you yell at a child long enough, they will stop listening.  If you nag a spouse long enough, you can talk, but they won't hear you.

People and organizations lose their voice, their ability to be heard, in a number of ways.  Sometimes they are mean, and they lose their voice.  Sometimes they can't admit that they are wrong, and they lose their voice.  Sometimes people and organizations are so conflicted, so dysfunctional, so irrelevant that they lose their voice.  People stop listening.

The church in general has been losing it's voice for decades.  A young person in their twenties told me the other day that the church is on the verge of becoming completely irrelevant.  One of my friends wrote to tell me that in their opinion, the church is currently behaving immorally.

How do we counter this trend? 

Be nice.  Be kind.  Put people before ideas.  Apologize when we are wrong.  Our behavior will either draw people towards us or push them away.  We either endear ourselves to people or we become irrelevant and lose our voice.

Kindness, grace, love, joy, peace, patience....

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Is this helpful?

How is this helpful?

This little church is 3/4 of a mile from our house.  I am sure that they think that they are doing the Lord's work.  However, this is the message that I think signs and statements like this give off.

1.  We are in and you are out.
2.  We are right and you are wrong.
3.  We get it... come in here and we will teach you the right way.
4.  If you don't you are going to burn in hell

I would like to say that I personally find such messages to be arrogant, not helpful, and just plain wrong.  They are driving away the very people that they had hoped to win.  Today's society does not respond positively to shame.  It is no wonder that so many churches are having trouble keeping their doors open.  There are so many painful messages going out from so many churches.

I hope that you and I can do everything that we can to love others and counter messages such as this.  Life is short.  Love is needed.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

an amazing story

This wonderful story is from my friend Jennifer.

When I was a little girl (10-12) years old, my friend Sheila came to my house to hang out. We played "school" in my room.
After Sheila went home that night I noticed that the hidden box where I kept my birthday money was empty. EMPTY! Earlier that day my birthday money was in the box! The box didn't have a hole in the bottom. The birthday money was no where. I told my mom and we looked high and low in my room. My mom yelled at me for being irresponsible with my money. I told her that I thought Sheila might have stolen my money.

The next day I remember going with my mom and dad to Sheila's house to talk to her and her parents. I was nervous about blaming her for something she may or may not have done. I remember her dad saying firmly, "My kids don't steel".

I remember walking out of Sheila's house feeling sad that I blamed her and sad that I would't have any birthday money that year. I'm sure I had my eye on the latest toy or gadget from 1984 and was probably planning to use my birthday money to make the purchase but not that year. My birthday money was gone.

Last week I received a letter in the mail from my friend Sheila. There was a note and a $50 bill. The note stated off with this, "I need to apologize and return something that was yours, it has been on my heart for 30+ years."

My jaw hit the floor! I don't remember how much birthday money was taken and it doesn't matter. What matters is that my friend reached out after thirty-something years to apologize and return something she took from me. She asked in the note if I would please accept her apology. Of course! Of course I accept it! How could you have carried this with you for so long? Please free your heart of this guilt and never let it weigh on you another day.

Friends, it's never to late too apologize and it's never too late to make amends. Lay it out, be truthful and be thankful for friends.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

selfishness

We have many definitions of selfishness:  a taking to ourselves, the practice of putting my own interest first, keeping more than I need, on and on we can go...

I recently reread Anthony deMello's definition of selfishness:
"Selfishness is demanding that others live the way that you insist."
                              Walking on Water pg 128

There are countless ways that we insist that others live the way that we think that they should.
1.  My adult children should go to church.
2.  That couple should spend more time together.
3.  That person should save money.
4.  That person should stop taking drugs.
5.  My kid should call me more often.
6.  That person should....

We can make laws and hold people accountable.  We can fire employees that don't meet our standards.  We can de-friend people who we don't want to be friends with.  But beyond that, much of what other people do in this life is none of our business.

Selfishness is demanding that others live the way that I insist.  Something to think about.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Why is this my lot?

A 61 year old man sits alone on a bench.  He is hot, he needs a haircut, he has body odor, he is homeless.  He lives under a bridge and pushes his belongings around town in a shopping cart.  He is estranged from his family.  He has some sort of small mental deficiency.  His family does not want him around.  That hurts.  He is homeless.  While sitting on the bench, reflecting on his life, he thought, "why is this my lot in life?"

A 61 year old man sits in the doctor's office.  He has just been told that he has terminal cancer.  3-6 months to live.  His wife of 40 years sits in the chair next to him and begins to sob. He has three children and five grandchildren.  He is close to them all.  He can't bear the thought of leaving them or telling them goodbye.    While sitting in the chair, he thinks to himself, "why is this my lot in life?"

A 61 year old man floats in his swimming pool.  His body is cradled and supported by a pool noodle.  A screened in lanai insures that he is not bothered by the insects.  In his hand he holds a bourbon and diet.  The sun is kept off of his head by a shade sail overhead.  The all 70's station from Amazon Music is playing by blue-tooth through his portable sound system.  He has everything that he could possibly need.  And he has this thought, "why is this my lot in life?"

Dear friends, we who are not homeless and we who are not sick, we who have pretty charmed lives need to remind ourselves from time to time of a few things.

1.  Always be thankful.  Our problems are boring.
2.  No matter how hard or how long we worked for this, we don't deserve it.  It is a gift from God.
3.  May our hearts be filled with compassion, may our wallets be open to those in need.
4.  We all need each other, we all matter.

What is your lot in life?  Why is that your lot in life?

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Don't do that to me

This is an embellishment of an actual event.  I am changing the story a bit to make a point.  Here goes:

A teenage girls was swimming in a lake.  Her mother is in a lawn chair on shore.  A gator approaches the girl in the water.  She is fortunate enough to get out of the water, but the gator follows.  The girl climbs a tree.  The gator camps out at the base of the tree, waiting for his meal  to come back down.

The girl's mother calls 911 and is hysterical.  Sobbing, she is beside herself.  The police arrive and dispatch the gator.  The girl comes down.  All safe and sound.

Then the mother goes off on the daughter.   Slapping her on the arm, she says repeatedly, "DON'T DO THAT TO ME!  DON'T DO THAT TO ME!"

Don't do that to me?  What did the girl do to the mother?  The girl was the one in peril.  The mother made a situation that was about her daughter, about her.  She made it about her.

How often to we take over a situation that is really about someone else and make it about us?
As Christians we are invited to live outside of ourselves, but it is not easy.
There are 10,000 roads back into selfishness.  We find them far too often.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

to judge or to love?

I love the email exchanges that I have with you guys.  My friend Georgia shared this quote attributed to Mother Teresa, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

I would expand on this by saying that we humans talk about multitasking but we can really only focus on one thing at a time.  You can't hate someone and truly pray for them.  We certainly can't judge someone and love them.

Since we have limited time in this life, let's spend our moments and our days engaged in loving.


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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

retired but not done

A lovely friend of mine was bothered by my post about being retired.  They were worried that I was hanging it all up and just going to sit around and do nothing.

Let me clarify.  My relationship with the United Methodist Church is "retired."  However, I am serving a church part time in Ft. Pierce, Florida and I am loving it.  This assignment only goes through November 2018.  At that time, I may be offered another church, and maybe not.

Even if I am not serving a church, I will still write the blogs, I will still answer emails, and I will still love every person that I can.  I am not quitting.  We may retire from a job, but Christians never retire from sharing God's love.  I will be looking for every way possible for me to do that.

One thing that I plan on doing in November if I do not take another church is to hang my hat out there as a consultant to local churches.  Churches are going through difficulty right now anyway, but after February with the special called General Conference and the issues surrounding "The Way Forward," there may be churches that could use the advice of a 61 year old guy who has been around the block.  My plan would be to keep the cost of that to a bare minimum.

Anyway, you get my point, I am not quitting.  If I don't have a church after November, I may record a sermon from time to time if I think I have something to say.

That's all.  Hope that clears it up!  Love you all.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Sermon audio from this morning

click here to listen to the sermon on the parable of the prodigal son

shaming is never acceptable

It is a beautiful shame free day in God's world, or at least it should be.

I received an email, yesterday July 21st from a dear friend who reminded me that when we call other people sinners, it hurts them.  We humans are funny.  We want to point out smoking or such as a sin, but over eating?  Never.  Not if it is my sin.  Think about that for a minute.  We have no room to point a finger at anyone.

Oh.  I so agree, when we call someone a sinner, it hurts them.  I did not mean in any of my posts to declare who the sinners are.  I think we are all sinners but I do not believe that it is our place to tell others that they are sinning.  They have God for that. 

Some people have been so shamed by the church and well meaning Christians that they have taken their own lives.  How tragic. Tragic. TRAGIC!

People are here to be loved, not judged.  It is not our job to call others sinners.  It is our job to love them.  If your church taught you to point the finger at others, then your church taught you wrong.  We are to love and embrace everyone, just as Jesus did.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

We keep trying to clean him up

Jesus that is. We keep trying to clean him up. Clean white robes, nicely cropped beard, pearly white teeth, you get the idea. Oh, and he doesn't like sinners.

Really? Stop. Over and over again, Jesus is found running with sinners. In Luke 7:34 he says, The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

Jesus reputation was that he was a friend of sinners. He ran with sinners. Not repentant sinners, sinners. Jesus didn't insist that people clean up before he loved them.  We should not either.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

Soul Awareness

One of my friends asked me to write something about soul awareness.

Yes.  There is this 6th sense.  There is this knowing that cannot be explained.  There are these experiences where we meet someone that we have never met, yet there is some connection.  There are those in this life to which we feel an other worldly bond.

My friend Paul Dodds used to tell  me that when you have those feelings for someone, that you were neighbors or cousins in heaven before you were born.  Maybe so, I don't know.

I do believe that the spiritual world, though unseen, is just as real as the physical world.  From time to time, I sense the presence of loved ones who have died.  I have a feeling for a person that is so special, it goes so far beyond what I would normally expect.  Love is deeply spiritual and deeply soulful.

It is all around us, yet so many people live life as if the most important things are whether or not I can get my car in front of yours.  Or who has the most or biggest toys.

When we are stuck in the world of stuff, it is easy to forget that we are all souls on this journey.  Not that we have souls, we are souls.  How would today look differently if you and I saw everyone that we met, not as a random human, but as a living soul?

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure

With

If you are getting the idea that I have no original thoughts, you have probably hit upon something. I would tell you that some of my best thoughts come from you guys.

My friend Pat wrote in regarding the potential split in the Methodist Church: "What’s tragic is that one central point of Christ’s ministry is to teach us how to be “with” one another. I firmly believe that with is the most important four letter word in the New testament."

With. With. Is there any Christianity really if we are alone? Didn't Jesus gather people around him? And while I am on this subject, where is the phrase "personal relationship with God" found in the Bible? It isn't. Now I am all for personal relationships with God, but has our insistence on keeping faith private and personal allowed us to push away anyone that we wanted? Has it allowed us to ignore the plight of many needy people in the world? The Good Samaritan did not have a private faith, he had a "with" faith.

We are all in this together. Everyone matters. Even those with whom we disagree.

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

- - - - - - - - -

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

Wesley's Ireland with optional London Extension
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#.WqHrI7puLIU

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

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl19030419g17768#.Wt84h7lRHcs

Paris-Normandy River Cruise

October 23-31, 2019

Click here to read or download the Paris Normandy Brochure