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I am glad that you read this blog, but what are you expecting when you open it up?

I can't be inspirational everyday, and I am not trying necessarily to be inspirational. Sometimes though, life is inspirational. I can't be funny every day, but sometimes, life is funny. Some days, there is nothing in there. Do you ever have days like that? You get up, you go about your business and you do the best you can, but there is nothing of note in there.

I guess the one thing that I am trying to do in this blog is to be myself. Sometimes funny, sometimes, inspirational, sometimes up, down, happy, sad, just be myself. Actually, I think that this is a very important thing. I think God is looking for people who will just be themselves. Honest. Real life.

I hope that most days you get something from the blog. I don't want to disappoint anyone, but I have no promise of any particular experience for you. Just the daily grind of one man who is a parent of teenagers, pastor of a church, husband of a travelling wife, ornery, silly, a less than perfect dude.

I am enjoying the ride of life. I hope that you are too.

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

cats, dogs, and pythons

I want to thank all of the cat lovers for their comments to yesterday's blog. After another sleepless night, I am at my wits end. I saw a news story yesterday that might help me. A family in Austrailia had a pet dog and a python came to visit. Now they have a python.

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0227snake27-odd.html

I wonder how much pythons cost? I wonder if I could rent this one? You know the really bad thing is that someone from church would teach the snake how to open the bedroom door and we would have a snake on our bed. A snake on the bed is probably worse than a cat. I guess I will keep the cat after all.

Lesson: Give thanks when a cat wakes you up and licks your head. Things could always be worse. At least it isn't a snake.

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

kittens

Kittens are cute. Everyone likes kittens. But the problem with kittens is this: if you feed them, they turn into cats. A lot of people do not like cats. I am starting to understand why.

My daughters will tell you that our two cats are part of the family. I will tell you differently. They are freeloaders. They sleep and eat and sleep and eat. They do nothing to contribute to the welfare of the home. They don't even have the "sitting on your lap" thing down right. One of them, Princess KiKi, never sits on your lap unless it is cold. She is the cat that if you didn't find her eating at the bowl, you wouldn't know that you had her. She hides all the time. Like the big dog in the Chevy Chase movie, Funny Farm. What is the point of that? Her brother, Tylor, is just the opposite. He is a neurotic dependent thing that is incomplete by himself. He must sit on someone's lap all the time. If you ever make the mistake of scratching his head, you will become one of his best friends. He will follow you around the house, crying and moaning until you pay him his needed attention.

And why do cats have names anyway? It's not like they come when you call. It's not like they use their names to identify each other. And do you blame them? What self respecting cat would want to introduce themselves by saying, "hello, my name is Princess KiKi?"

So, you may be wondering why I am up in arms about cats today. Well, they have learned a new trick. In the past, KiKi has pounded on the bedroom door to get in. If you ignore her long enough, she will go away and return to hiding. I have often wondered why she wants in anyway, she won't let anyone pet her.

So during cold weather, we have this nightly dance. She pounds on the door, drumming it with her feet. We ignore her, we yell at her, we throw shoes at the door. Most couples don't wear shoes to bed. I wonder what they throw at the cats in the middle of the night?

Two o'clock, three o'clock, all hours of the night, and this cat is pounding on the door to get in. I just get back to sleep from the last episode and I guess she hears me snoring, [that is me snoring, isn't it?] and she is back at the door, trying to wake me up.

Well, she has learned a new trick. The door knob to the bedroom is a lever type knob. You don't have to grip and turn it, all you have to do is pull it down and the door will open. Who ever decided to teach my cat how to do this is in a lot of trouble with me.

The last two nights, about the time the pounding wakes you up, you hear the door open and the approaching yowls of a cat, a cat so big, she can hardly jump up onto the bed. If we had not fed her, maybe she would still be a kitten, but now, this is a cat. C-a-t Cat. A big one. A keeper. Bass Pro shop has offered us money to put her on display.

So here she comes across the floor, up onto the bed. Her brother follows her in. In short order, I have Tylor laying on my chest, his purring reverberating on my neck. KiKi, the door opening, magic cat, well she has decided that she wants to lick the top of my head. So you have this purring noise in your throat and this cat-scratch-tongue noise on the top of your head. I wondered why I was losing my hair. Now I know. I wonder if there would be fewer bald guys if there were no cats to lick the top of their head.

Tomorrow, I am locking the door. I hope that helps. I need to get some sleep. Whoever is working with this cat, please do not teach her how to unlock the door. Have pity on an old man and let him get some sleep.

And a bit of fatherly advice for those moments when you are tempted. Do not go into Petco. Do not go to the wayside waifs web site. If someone is out in front of the grocery store with a cardboard box, just walk on by. Sure, their sign says "free kittens." There is a reason that they are free. Just walk on by, you will sleep better at night, and you won't be prematurely losing your hair.

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

initiative

A father I know recently sent this message to a child that I know, but it could as easily been written from our heavenly father to one of his children.

Initiative:
energy or aptitude displayed in the starting of an action : at one's own discretion : independently of outside influence or control

If someone sits around and wonders why no one will help them, no one will. If someone stands up and says, I am going to get after this, I am going to take the initiative, well, people are impressed with this approach to life.

Not just when you are home for the weekend, but your whole life, people will want to help you, if you stand up and show some effort. Those who sit back and complain, well, no one wants to run with that.

In your classes, show your teachers that you want to do well, and they will help you. It is a self fulfilling prophecy of life. In the workplace, show that you care, and good employers will reward you.

Stand up and take the world on, and your Father will help you.
I love you and I am proud of you.

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

freewill

One of the greatest gifts that we have is freewill. The freedom to choose our attitudes. My mom used to say, your mom used to say, "no one makes you mad, you choose to be mad."

It is very easy for us to look at circumstances and be upset. The sky may be blue, but if all we ever see when we look up is the clouds, then it is always going to be raining on our parade.

Last week, someone asked me if I was ok. I was glum. Down, but not out. I told them I was fine. Yes I was glum, but I am going to get better. I am coming back. The choice of a positive attitude can't fix everything, but it sure helps.

As a young man, I experienced many highs and lows as I was buffeted by life's circumstances. Now that I am older, my life history tells me that these clouds are only temporary. This too shall pass.

Don't let the pain of this moment, capture your entire disposition. Tomorrow is coming and you will be better then. Especially if you choose to be better.

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

trusting

Yesterday, someone told me one of their secrets. When people tell you their secrets, they are saying that they trust you. Not just that you won't tell, but that they trust you to still love them, even though you know something about them that not very many people know.

This is a great blessing. To be someone that is trusted. To have someone that you can tell your secrets to. I am thankful for those dear friends who understand and accept me. All of me. Not just the good things, but the broken things. To have people that you don't have to pretend with, it is a gift. To have people that would rather know the real you, than the pretend you, this is a gift.

This is also the gift that God offers us. We can trust him. We can share our innermost thoughts and secrets with him. Why not? He can see it all anyway. He is a trusted friend. He loves us even though we are not perfect. Wow. That is good news!

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

Use me Lord

The Gospel Choir is working on a new song, "Use me."

Here are the words:

If you can use anything Lord, you can use me.
If you can use anything Lord, you can use me.
Take my hands Lord and my feet,
Touch my heart Lord, speak through me,
If you can use anything Lord, You can use me.

You can watch the song live, performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPhAlDBzOI0

Let the Lord use you today.

The Gospel Choir will be singing on Sunday, March 2nd.
Don't miss is.

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

ok, yes, I drove a vega

After driving a'63 Ford Galaxie 500 [4 door, sky blue, 350 v-8] a Vega seemed like a step up for me. As I look back on it, well, that Vega did need alot of dressing up. I had it painted...........gloss black. I bought mag wheels and raised white letter tires from the Firestone store on Johnson Drive. I had air shocks installed so that the back end was raised up. I put in a radio with a cassette player. Woooo. This was a hot car. Sort of. Underneath, it was still a 4 cylinder motor with an alluninum block.

Sometimes you can dress something up, but it still doesn't change the essence of what it is. I see advertisements for all of these make over shows. Someone who dresses frumpy gets a new haircut and new clothes. But, aren't they the same person inside?

On a hot August night in 1976, just outside of West Wendover, Nevada, as I was entering the 100 mile drive across the Utah Salt flats, I blew the motor in that Vega. You see, I had it all dressed up on the outside, but underneath, it was still a ticking timebomb. A mechanics dream. I was towed 100 miles to Salt Lake City to the mechanics shop. I sat in a little motel for a week, waiting for the car to be fixed. Why? There were 6 other Vegas in line ahead of me.

Jesus told a story about the cup that was clean on the outside, but dirty on the inside. A made over exterior with a broken interior. If the sermon on the mount was today, maybe he would have spoken about that Chevy Vega. I hope that I wouldn't feel that he was talking about me.

What is on your inside? How is it with your soul? When the soul is beautiful, no one cares how you look on the outside. Bodies change and decay. Hair falls out. The soul is forever. What are you spending your time on?

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

decisions

A friend of mine has a very big decision to make. Big decisions are complicated. What are my thoughts, my family's thoughts, the future, friends, etc. He is in a spot. Or is it an opportunity?

Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has advice. My friend has to make the decision.

Sometimes I think that there may not always be "one right choice." Sometimes, I think God watches and celebrates as we think and pray and exercise our gift of free will.

This I know. The soul is clouded by the noise of life. The soul misses opportunities to be engaged in life, because our brains are so full of worries. What about the money? What about my friends? What about my family? What are they trying to do to me? How can this happen? What will the future hold?

When we stop asking all of these questions, the soul rises to the top. It finally has a chance to sense the possibilities. Jesus said, "Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest." The best decisions are made when the soul is at rest. When we get past the noise of life and discover that peace that passes understanding.

Let your soul rise to the top my dear friend. And let there be no mistake, you are a great soul. You have been bought with a price, saved for a purpose, called and gifted to leave a mark on this world. What ever you do, it will be from the essence of your being. And when we decide from the soul, everything always works out.

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

New web site

Well............. This is one of the most uncomfortable moments of my life. We have launched a web site that contains things about me and what I want people to know.

This kills me, because I truly am an introvert. But, there are some things that I really think must be said, and I do not have time to say them on Sunday morning.

Ideas that I have about baptism, evil, altar calls and membership. Only a few people are interested in such topics, so I cannot spend a Sunday on them. The web site will allow me the chance to discuss some things that I don't have time to deal with on Sunday morning.

If you have ideas or questions that you would like for me to write about, please let me know. Leave a comment with a question and I will post some thoughts about it on the web.

The link to the new web site here is "one pastor's thoughts." The www is http://www.jeffbrinkman.com/

It is a work in progress. I hope that there is something there that will help you.

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

Love

Love.

From the heart of God, given to you without reservation.
From the heart of God, given to all, without prejudice

From the heart of a Christian, love goes out to all.

The tree does not choose who will get it's shade.
The lamp does not offer it's light only to a few.
The scent of the rose goes out to all.

So the love of God is given to you without reservation.
We are but asked to do the same.

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

forgiveness

Sometimes, words that are spoken in church are better read then said. Having said that, I wanted to put the following into print regarding forgiveness.

When you become a player in an arena of pain, and you step into the fray and truly forgive, you have chosen the high road, you have chosen the way of love, you have chosen to bring a healing balm to the wounded, you have chosen to bring greatness to the stage of life.

I am not speaking of a greatness as most people consider greatness. I do not refer to an accomplishment of national or political stature. I do not refer to a greatness that comes from wealth or fame. No, I am talking about the greatness that occurs when true spirituality is thrust into an argument. When grace is delivered to a foe. When entering the field of battle, where we have raged with fury in the past, now we enter with a different attitude, a different countenance, a different purpose. We step forward and face our former foe and we say to them,

"I am sorry. I am sorry, I am sorry. I forgive you, please forgive me. Let the grace of Jesus Christ rule in our hearts and lives. Let the grace of Jesus Christ be larger, longer and heavier, than any chains I have carried around in the past. I forgive you. Please forgive me."

Winston Churchill said, "Some people are born great; some people achieve greatness; and some people have greatness thrust upon them." Jesus invites us to choose greatness by injecting true spirituality into the most difficult moments of daily living.

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

broken arm

So, you want your son to go on the church ski trip. He will be 17 next month and he is a good boy. Let him go. Let him grow up. Everything will be fine.

You help him pack, you make a list of what he is missing. You pack a cooler of food for him. You take him to the bus. "Bye Scottie!" Off they go.

They drive all night. He loves the all night bus ride. Hmm. They arrive in Colorado. Saturday they ski. Saturday afternoon, you are sitting at home and the phone rings. It's a nurse from the hospital in Colorado.

"Is this Mrs. Brinkman?"
"yes."
"This is nurse Simpson from the hosptial in Glenwood Springs. We have your son Scott here. He has a broken arm."

I wonder how he broke his arm? "hot dogging," the nurse says.
I am offended.
I can't believe than my son would be hot dogging it on the ski slope.
JK!

Oh well, he is fine. It is nothing really serious. Arms heal. Heck, he has broken three arms. He is an expert at this.

But there is this little fatherly worry. I wish I could be there. I hope he is ok. I know he is ok, I just want to see him.

Do you ever think that God worries about us? Maybe so. Do you think that God wants to find us, and hold us, and help everything be ok? I think so.

We are out hot dogging it on the slopes of life and we get broken up. God loves you and wants to heal your wounds. Let him. Sometimes our wounds slow us down so that we can stop and really see what is important in life.

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

waiting

Waiting for your love to come home. I miss her. She has been gone all week. She has had plane trouble and she missed valentines day. I actually had a present for her this year for valentines day.

She misses her house, her pets, her kids. I miss her. So I wait. I try to keep busy. I keep my mind on what I should be focusing on. I wait.

It occurs to me that God is often waiting for me. Waiting for me to come home from where ever I have gone. Hoping that I miss him as much as he misses me.

You know, the love that we have in this life, is a type, an example of God's love for us. When we experience love, whether it is a spouse, a friend, or a neighbor, those good relationships are an example of what God wants to have with us. I hope you are taking advantage of the opportunity to have a relationship with a loving God.

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

Doing the dishes

I have noticed something. There is something special about people that come over to your house and do the dishes. They are thinking outside of themselves. They refuse to leave a mess for others. They are willing to serve.

One life rule that I really like is this: stop at every lemonade stand and make a purchase. Let's add another life rule: when you go to someone else's house for dinner, do the dishes.

Heck, why not just sneak into your friends home and do the dishes. Maybe when they find out you did it, they will invite you over for dinner.

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

my poor wife

The poor woman. She is married to me. It is a cross to bear. Now add to that, she was supposed to fly home last night, but Minneapolis was snowed in. So she could not come home. After spending an enjoyable evening at the airport, she flew to Salt Lake City instead, arriving there about 11pm. Friday she is supposed to be in Las Vegas for work, so she is just going to catch a flight today to Vegas. She didn't get to come home for valentines day, and I actually have a card and a present for her this year. Flying around the country in the winter has it's challenges.

Now onto another topic.
Friend-
I could tell when you came in the door that it had been a tough day. I hugged you. I noticed that others noticed that you were in distress too.

We talked about lunch and decided on breakfast or a cup of coffee. I want you to know something. I have a feeling that things can get better for you. I am not talking about some generic hopeful idea, I am suggesting to you that in the world of God's grace there is something real waiting for you.

Take heart, things are going to be looking up.

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

a song in the night

A song in the night can save us from ourselves.

One of the praise bands at church sang a new song a few weeks ago. It is a "Point of Grace" song, called, "All the World." Jennifer please ask Kris to get it on the table again soon.

This song is playing in the foyer on WCTV. Yesterday it got stuck in my head. That is a good thing. All night long it was coming out of my heart. Here are the words.

All the world is a story
All the world is a stage
All the world is a canvas
All the world is a page
All the world is a horizon
All the world is a field of dreams
All the world is an open doorway
All the world is a place for me

(Chorus) To be your voice
To be your touch
To give an answer
To show your love
To hold out hope
To offer peace
To shine your light for everyone to see
In all the world

All the world is a someone
All the world is a dance
All the world is a moment
All the world is a chance

(Chorus) To be your voice
To be your touch
To give an answer
To show your love
To hold out hope
To offer peace
To shine your light for everyone to see
In all the world

You are amazing mercy
You are undying grace
I want them all to see how wonderful you are Upon my face

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

self inflicted wounds

Do you have any? I do, from time to time. Things that get broken, and I have no one to blame but myself.

I wasn't paying attention, I dropped the ball. I mis-spoke, I did't see it coming. I only saw the world the way I see the world. I had a bad moment.

However you define the moments that bring brokenness, I hate it when they are self-inflicted. I hate to disappoint others and I hate to disappoint myself. Sometimes it makes it hard to sleep at night.

I guess I am glad that my worries keep me awake because sometimes it is in the early morning hours that I do my best thinking and my best praying. If you have a self inflicted wound, do not lose heart. Today is another day. It is another chance that God gives us to do it right, to make amends, to rise above the failures of yesterday. I thank God for second chances.

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

feeling crummy

Last night I wrote this blog as I was feeling crummy. Not sick, but spiritually crummy. I think everyone has moments like this.

Why is this feeling here? Have I been bad? Was the sermon bad? Humility is not a very exciting topic. It's not a very funny topic. In fact, it is real serious. Am I just tired from preaching 4 sermons? Emotionally spent? Is it a stage? Am I having a personal problem that is weighing on me? Any or all of the above. Does it matter why? These moments just come sometimes.

When these times came when I was young, I thought that something was wrong. I prayed harder, I cried out to God. I expected him to fix the crummy feeling. I don't do that so much anymore. I know that these moments come and go. I have to learn to trust him no matter how I feel. It is not God's job to fix me every time I feel discouraged. We can't always go by our feelings.

You know, just getting this out, and on paper is making me feel better. It's like anyone can trust God when the sun is shining. It makes me feel good to trust him and not have to go crazy everytime I feel distant from him.

It is a beautiful day in God's world, whether I feel it or not. Let's keep working at seeing the good.

Chris Cahill

Chris was a teacher's aide at the freshman center. All three of my kids got to know him and enjoyed him during their 9th grade year. He had an engaging way about him. Outgoing, friendly, he was someone who was always glad to see you. He was someone that we seemed to run into from time to time.

Last Sunday night, Chris was killed in a one car accident on 470 near Woods Chapel Road. He was 43.

He will be missed.

Every life is valuable. Every person should be cared about. I have at least one friend that reads this blog who struggles with their value. They worry, they are depressed from time to time. They wonder about their life.

I don't always get to tell you, but I will today. I love you. You matter to me. You matter to lots of people. You are awesome. Life would be much less without you.

Tell someone today how much you care for them. You just never know what may happen on the drive home.

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