Blogging like crazy…
I noticed I haven’t been on here that much this week…I have spent a lot more time lately on my Youthmark blog, posting and reading. I have a couple things brewing for this one, but for today, head over to that blog and read-up on the teams this week and check out my blog there for some specifics and pics too!
Grace,
Brian
The speaker released the students to a 15-minute solo time to think about and perhaps even pray about what each camper had heard over the last five days of this amazing seven-day experience. Silently they all left the building, the song “silent night’ doesn’t begin to describe how quiet these students were after the powerful demonstration of God’s love being poured out for these high school sinners.
One young man had fallen in love with the scenery surrounding him and knew exactly where he wanted to go and think. He made his way to a dock overlooking the perfectly still waters. The reflection of the mountains was almost as clear as the day above the water.
Several other students chose a similar setting, but none was within 50 feet of this soon-to-be-senior.
Kevin, his cabin leader approached him. Several minutes of conversation ensued, but was quickly coming to an end when Kevin asked, “so, are you ready?”
The young man’s response, “ready for what?”
“Ready to begin a relationship with Jesus?”
“No” he replied.
Kevin, looking like someone just told him water is actually orange, said with hesitation, “really?”
The young man, “you see Kevin, I can’t have a relationship with God, I have too much junk in my life back home; I am not a religious guy, never have been… I cuss, I have done lots of other bad stuff and am dating a girl who really doesn’t believe there is a God.”
Kevin simply sat with the young man for a minute and then quoted and explained Romans 5:8 to him. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The boy didn’t remember the exact words, but remembered the point–you don’t need to clean-up and make-up for your sins before you can have a relationship with God… God initiated and God wants a relationship with you.
On June 28, 1990 (19 years ago today), I asked Jesus to take control of my life. He became my Lord, my Savior and the ONE whom I desire to please with my life–because He pursued me!
Grace,
Brian
Curiosity caught me the other day when I sat down to post to this blog. I was trying to remember when I started my blog, so I went back to the archives and discovered that it was exactly one year ago today!
I decided to start the blog so I would have a way to update friends, family and those who asked how they could support as we began Youthmark. Of course this is still one of the primary purposes of this blog. I have enjoyed being creative with it from time to time and have very much appreciated those of you who have prayed for us and even commented from time to time.
If you click here you can read the original blog post.
Since that post I have posted another 286 times (including this one), I have received 381 comments and had nearly 20,000 (19,977) hits on this site (the busiest day had 195 views).
In this next year I think I will keep posting prayer requests for the Aaby family and Youthmark but will slowly transition more of the Youthmark related things to my Youthmark blog here.
Maybe some time this next week I’ll look through some of the archives and give you a “top 5” of my favorite blog posts thus far… any stand out to you?
Grace,
Brian
114: The total number of participants at the YMV Launch #2.
25: The approximate number of vehicles in the Opportunity Pres. parking lot right now.
19: The number of missionaries who will be “Landing” tonight, coming home from Simms, MT after a great week.
15: The number of people who barely stayed awake to 11:00 PM last night– because they are from Spring TX and had been up since 3:00 AM (Pacific) to catch their flight from Houston.
7: The number of towns these missionaries will be serving this week (June 27-July 4).
6: The number of churches serving on this second YMV (LSCC has is going to two towns)
5: The approximate number of hours I was able to rest last night.
4: The approximate number of hours I slept last night.
3: The number of times I have been to this Starbucks in less than 15 hours (addiction? No, wifi? Yes).
2: The number of YMV participants at this Starbucks by 6:20 AM–way to go Miki (she just walked in!)
1: The ONE reason we all came, the ONE name we hope to exalt, praise and proclaim, the ONE way to salvation… JESUS!
Appreciate your prayers, my guess is that most of the Youth Pastors will be able to post today, so check out the youthmark.com blogs page.
Grace,
Brian
We are just three hours away from YMV launch #2 and about 23 hours away from the first landing!
I would appreciate your prayers, this weekend is a busy one, but one in which I trust God will be glorified!
Please do go over to our Youthmark.com blogs and catch up with the 6 churches/7 teams going out this week!
I’ll try to get an update here or at my youthmark blog tonight after the launch begins!
Grace,
Brian
We have run into a glitch with the Youthmark.com blogs right now, so if you went there to check, go back, I’ll update here when I know it is back up and running, hopefully a MINOR glitch. The latest text from Chehalis is that all is going very well, day 4 of VBS was great and the team will get to do some sight-seeing in Great Falls this afternoon.
Grace,
Brian
UPDATE (Noon, Thursday): Fixed, so go check them out again: Youthmark Mission Venture Blogs.
**** Updated Thursday night, 10:30 PM at bottom****
You may remember me posting about my friend Byron. If not, click here really quick and then come back and finish this post for the new requests!
The long and the short of it… the chemo treatment was a great success! He didn’t need to go a full four-rounds of treatment, they cut him off after three intense rounds, and in fact, after two rounds they checked his cancer markers in his blood and it was already indicating zero. So praise the Lord the chemo (though it was very intense) worked!
As I type, Byron is undergoing an estimated 6-hour surgery. Because of the location of the cancer (abdomen) the scar tissue that has formed is so close to all the vital organs that they need to go in and remove it. Though the cancer is gone, a re-occurrence would be too probable if the docs don’t go in and get it!
Byron and Shannon have been doing very well. He was very thankful to go back to work for about a month between the end of the chemo and this surgery. After today he will have the next 6-7 weeks off for recovery.
Please pray for this surgery, it is a dangerous one to do and carries risk for things in the future; but it was needed and they (and we) are trusting the Lord for a full recovery!
I appreciate your prayers for my friends Byron and Shannon, their families and right now for the doctors!
Grace,
Brian
UPDATE: Michele, Byron’s mom texted and let me know their have been some new discoveries during the surgery which have made it more complicated. PLEASE PRAY for wisdom and the guidance of the surgeons hands. Pray for Shannon and the family, this is very difficult for all of them!
UPDATE (10:30 PM Thursday): Byron is recovering in ICU, we just spent an hour and a half with his parents. Pray for a full and speedy recovery. Praising the Lord for the wisdom and guidance they gave the docs in the midst of complications (tumor had wrapped an weaved its way around some major internal stuff).
Thanks for your prayers! Keep them coming.
Thank you God for these blessings!
Grace,
Brian
A couple weeks ago I have a quick-stint travel opportunity I could not pass up! I flew in to Reno and rented a car for the 75 minute drive to Graeagle, CA (Quincy is the only town that anyone would recognize in that area if you’re not from around there).
I was invited to share at the Summer Connection for the Pastors/Missionaries (and their families) of Village Missions SW District. The 20-or-so families represented many churches from CA, AZ and NV. This was a Godsend opportunity for me. For years I have partnered with this fantastic organization on mission trips. They do such a great job of establishing or re-establishing churches in rural communities.
Because I personally like to scout each of the places we will be sending teams (I value the personal relationship and it builds trust between the church and the organization) I end up spending quite-a-bit of time on the road. As Youthmark expands this demand could very easily become overwhelming and really impossible. So, this was a Godsend in that in just a few days I was able to touch base and build relationship with about 15 Pastors interested in having a YMV come to their community! Because of the relationship, I won’t have to travel to these towns to establish the relationship! Praise God for His provision!
The true blessing was the relational time I had with these friends. Though I made many new friends, I was able to spend extended time with some old friends as well! I ran into the Primer’s (who now serve in CA, but were in Plummer ID when I sent a team there in 2000), the Rivers (we are sending a team to French Gulch this summer) and my good friends, the Murrells (from Pine Valley, CA). The Murrells have become very good friends through the years, I have visited them a few times since leading a team in PV a couple years ago.
I was personally blessed to have spent an afternoon with just the Murrells on a scenic drive to a lake and to be led in worship by Josh and Caleb!
I’m praising God for the people he has brought into my life all over the country! And am blessed to partner with such a great organization like VM!
Grace,
Brian
Happy Father’s Day to all you Dad’s out there!
Today was a fantastic day:
Church (great worship through song, sermon and prayer)
Church business meeting to call new Lead Pastor (unanimous vote)
Fantastic meatloaf lunch made by Elisabeth (“Mommy, this is the best thing you make, ‘cept maybe your blueberry muffins”)
Watched the M’s on the couch (they sweep the D’backs)
Napped while watching the M’s game (wonderful two-inning, 20-30 minute nap)
Daddy-Daughter date with Audrey to the Starbucks with the toys (Benson)… she got the cinnamon swirl coffee cake.
Return home, pick up Halle for her Daddy-Daughter date to the Fairwood Park… we then proceed to my parents house to borrow (with no intention of returning) some treats (M&M’s and Propel for Halle, Coke Zero for me).
Return home, pick up Will for Dad and Dude Outing. Kent-Kangley Starbucks where Wescott is hanging out. The three dudes hang out and Will munches on some Applesauce and Milk. I refrained, didn’t want to spoil my appetite!
Return home and start a “continuing story” for the girls (another bedtime thrill for the gals, I do a made-up story for up to months on end, always with cliff-hanging moments like tonight: (keep in mind, they are fully into this story already) “and when Papa arrived at the door with their surprise they couldn’t believe their eyes… you know what it was?” (girls: “what, what was it?”)… you’ll find out tomorrow.”) The girls act like they hate that moment, but despite the tears, I know they actually love it!
All the kids in bed, I make myself BFD (breakfast for dinner)… yummm.
Posted an update on my Youthmark blog here about the YMV Launch.
Posted this post.
Now, I might watch part of a movie with my lovely Bride!
I am so thankful I get to be a Daddy! A great day!
Grace,
Brian
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