Like I said, I’ll have way too much fun with this feature!
Grace,
Brian
Category Random/Rant
The Draft
The beach… a walk… the mall… the coffee shop… sleep.
Many of us have our own little “escapes” in life; perhaps one of the above is an escape you use to take a break from your daily grind. Well, one of my reality escapes is fantasy basketball. Last night launched my fifth season in the league and my third as co-commissioner. 12 guys gathered in cyberspace (connected via the web from four different states). We drafted our teams and will begin play in a matter of a couple weeks. For those not familiar with fantasy sports, the basic concept is this: Your game play is based on the stats (from that week) of the players on your team. So in basketball if I had Lebron James on my team and he scores 32 points and has 10 rebounds in a game then each point and rebound is given fantasy point values. You add up each of my players scores and I have a total for that night. Add up each night (for a week) and my hope is that my total is better than the total of the fantasy team I am playing.
So, for those who understand fantasy sports, you’re excited for me (I hope). And for those who aren’t sports fans or aren’t fantasy sports followers, it doesn’t matter you stopped reading this at “last night launched my fifth season in the league and my third as co-commissioner.”
So, hoops fans unite, though you may not have the Sonics to cheer for, you can now cheer for “Jack Bauer Makes Chuck Norris Cry” (the name of my fantasy team… we have a theme of “Small Screen Characters” for our team names). Let’s go Jack! Thanks for the escape (I’m a big 24 fan as well, so there’s my other escape).
Grace,
Brian
Wow, How Cool!
So, WordPress just added a new feature that I will have WAY too much fun with! It is a polling feature on the blog. So, now I can get some responses from my readership (anonymous) and you don’t even need to comment, you simply need to “click.”
So, to kick-off my first blog-poll let’s find out something about my audience:
Thanks for participating!
Grace,
Brian
Contract Fulfilled
Several years ago I made an agreement with one of my young sophomores in high school. Kevin had walked into a party wearing an old yellow polo-type shirt. It was one he had purchased at a consignment store to use on a summer mission as a scrubby shirt to paint or do work in. Even as a sophomore in high
A sample Goldenboy Shirt
school the shirt was already starting to show a little midriff (not a good look; especially for a guy). Kevin, knowing he was dressed a little strange for this party said, “check out my shirt Brian!” For some reason, my immediate response, “Kev, if you wear that shirt everyday to school this year, I’ll take you on an all-expense paid trip to Disneyland.”
Long story short… Goldenboy (aka Kevin) took the challenge and completed it. I fulfilled my duty by taking him to Disneyland as well! I’ll have to share the whole story later because it included a presidential campaign, huge youth group growth, a 3 minute piece on the Local news and a call from The Tonight Show with an invite to be on Jay’s show!
Fast forward several years, I’m the new guy at Boulevard Park and I meet one of my brand-new Freshmen guys, Frankie. Frankie, as a frosh, looked a little like Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite–complete with the puberty produced mustache! So, first time I met Frankie I stated, “Frankie, if you don’t shave all the way through your graduation day, I’ll take you on an all expense paid trip to Ruth’s Chris Steak House (yes, I learned my lesson in terms of the expense of a prize).
Frankie on our Lifeboat trip to AZ
Long story short, Frankie graduated in June, and last night we enjoyed Ruth’s Chris! Frankie has since shaved and now looks younger than he did the day I met him. Great time, great food and contract fulfilled!
By the way, these were never “bets,” they were all “Christian Agreements!”
Grace,
Brian
Picture and Personality
Many of you have not had the privilege of meeting my son, Will, yet. For those of you who have, you can cheat and participate as well if you’d like!
They say a picture says 1000 words… well, I don’t want 1000, but a couple will be fine. When I uploaded this picture to my macbook I had to chuckle, I think this picture, for some reason, shows Will’s personality so much.
So, based on this pic, and as an experiment to see if a picture does speak volumes, what are the words that come to mind to describe Will’s personality traits? Keep in mind, I have the power to delete any answer I don’t like, so don’t take any shots at me/us! Ha.
What do you think this picture says about his personality?
Grace,
Brian
Feeling Old
Saturday was a day of discovery. The problem, my discovery: I’m getting old. My knees (and really my legs in general) are really achy. The bones, muscles and joints are all talking back to me right now.
What did you do, run a 10k, climb Mt. Si or go mountain biking?
Hey Brian, did you do an all day workout at 24 Hour fitness?
These would be appropriate assumptions/questions. But no; I installed a gas line under our house. My friend David came over… he was the “gas guy” and I was simply his helper. But spending 9 hours on one’s hands and knees in a crawl space, installing pipe and finding an angle to tighten the joints of said pipe apparently wreaks havoc on one’s body.
The good news: We will have our new stove/range installed on Tuesday (we are switching to a dual fuel, thus the need for the gas to be routed to the kitchen). And, on top of that, we are now ready for a gas insert (if we ever desire to do that) in our fireplace AND we’re ready to switch off propane and use natural gas for grilling in the summer (ahhh, no more trips to refill the propane tank mid-grilling!). So really, it was three projects in one!
So, yes, it is worth the stiff muscles and swollen knees; bu not sure it was worth the discovery that I’m getting old.
Grace,
Brian
CONTEST: Want to Join My Club?
Megan and Nathan
Last week the Aabys joined the Schlauds (okay, Nathan and Megan aren’t married yet, but it’s fun to tease). We revisited the place I took Nathan the day he arrived from Michigan to begin his year of serving with me. He was the Apprentice (insert Donald Trump joke here).
Okay, back to dinner, the seven of us went to Stanford’s Restaurant down by Southcenter. We had a wonderful time with Nathan and Megan catching up and talking about their wedding; in fact, our girls are going to be in their wedding. But, we received some TERRIBLE news while at Stanfords. Stanfords has basically become a brand new place. They have the same seats and the same employees, but they were bought out and have a brand-new menu! Which means, my favorite, The Classic Club, is no longer on the menu. The new menu is great. We loved our food, but it is a whole new place. But I was SOOOO looking forward to my club!
All this to say… Help me find the best Classic Club! Have any suggestions? This is my new contest. If you point me to the best club in the greater Seattle area, and I deem it “a great club” then I’ll treat you to one. Deal? Let the suggestions begin!
Gotta run, for some reason I’m hungry now!
Grace,
Brian
Yo-Yo
At my house with my family for several hours today! YES! Here is the yo-yo I took my 4Runner on this week.
South to Canby, Oregon (Mentor experience)–Sunday to Tuesday
North to home–Tuesday
South to Auburn (Individual YP), West to Normandy Park (YP Network), North to Burien (Lunch with YP Network), East to Fairwood (Individual YP)– Wednesday
South to Lacey (to pick up Brad Hostak), farther South to Vancouver WA (hmm, felt like I was just there two days prior?) and then North to home–Thursday
North to Everett (Individual Youth Worker) and Further North in Everett (Individual YP), South to home–Friday
North to Snohomish (Individual YP) and Northwest to Marysville (Free Methodist Network of YP’s) and South to home.–Saturday
A premarital counseling appointment later tonight will take me a full 3 miles away from my house, making it, by far, my closest appointment! My 4Runner thanks David and Natalie for keeping it close!
Don’t know if you’ve noticed this yet, but gas is expensive!
Grace,
Brian
Things That Are Tough About My Job
After three straight posts about the things I’ve been loving about my new career path, I experienced a day in which I made some discoveries of the other side. So, here’s a quick hit, as to not throw myself into depression (no worries, I’m being somewhat overdramatic on that one) about the tough stuff:
- Though my job is full of meeting with people, I spend most of my time getting to know the other, rather than being known. This stands in stark contrast to being on staff at a church where, though you remain busy, you give and take in relationships. Have a “staff,” “volunteer staff” and “youth group” meant I was knowing and being known.
- Because I have spent so much time getting to know youth pastors and networks of youth pastors, I have been on the road (by day) a lot. Take today for instance… South to Auburn, northwest to Normandy Park, North to Burien, and east to Renton. Great meetings with individuals and with my network, but in order to do any of my other work (yes, I do have other stuff to do besides just meet with people; like emailing and calling to set up, yes, more meetings!). So, I find myself doing blog posts, emailing and advance work on other stuff either early in the morning or late at night (after the kids are in bed). Which generally leads to sleep deprivation (didn’t help that while in Canby I stayed up way to late).
- I desire to be around the house more than I have been able to as of late. I have loved the flexibility I had as a pastor when it came to “hours.” Because there were days I would be out until 10:00 PM, I wouldn’t start work until Noon (which afforded me some mornings at home with the fam and Elisabeth a regular half-day “off”). Well, this has NOT been the case thus far for me/us. I really miss driving Audrey to her preschool and spending a few minutes watching Halle in her homeschool setting. And before you “normal” workers (those who work 8-5) start screaming, I want you to hear me, I’m not whining about my job or my hours, I’m simply stating the change I am noticing and how I miss what has been.
- For those who know I like coffee shops (for the atmosphere, the coffee and/or tea), I have found myself missing the atmosphere a lot. I am still at coffee shops all the time, but right now, I am there to meet; not to chill out, work and witness. Now I am there to meet! I long for a two hour stretch at a coffee shop to just surf the net, send some emails and plug in my ear buds!
Okay, wipe the tears away; I’m done with my ONE post about things that are tough. For encouragement sake, go back and read my last three posts about what I love! I am thankful for my job, I know others have it way tougher than me!!! Today was a great day, a day in which a lot got done relationally and teams signed up for YMV’s; but even with that, I think it is okay to grieve the past a bit!… Isn’t it?
Grace,
Brian
Brian
Long Distance Prayers
Hello friends! I would greatly appreciate your prayers for my friend, Joseph Thomas, and his family. Joseph was one of our hosts on our trip to India back in 2000. He works with orphans and lepers in/around Delhi, India. His life and his ministry are in danger. I have attached his email he just sent me, however, I will not include a couple of the pictures he sent me. The persecution they face is very real. The pictures of the suffering is horrific. There are some very wonderful Christians standing strong and doing the work of the Gospel. It brings the early church (Acts) to mind as I read Joseph’s email. Pray that he remains strong (like Paul).
Dear BROTHER BRIAN AND SISTER ELIZABEHpray for us in India we are facing lots of problem, the churches were burned by the Hindu people they are trying to kill all the Christan and they are mainly targeting the leaders and missionary in India, we need your prayers , last night we got warning from one group also they asked us to close all our schools which we run for under privilege children in 3 slums, we don’t want to close that schools , and also we are praying for our leper ministry, and our Sunday school ministry , pray for GODS revival in India ,hold us in your prayersin HIM YOUR BROTHERJOSEPH FOR LEPER MINISTRY IN DELHI
WARNING: I did include a couple pictures, which are not nearly as graphic as some of the others I received. There is one picture of a young lady who received burns, and others of some kids together after their families were killed.
This was the house of a pastor
These kids lost their families
The persecution is very real
Please pray for the persecuted church in India!
Lord Jesus, brings others to yourself as a result of this persecution. Jesus, come quickly.
Grace,
Brian
BRIANAABY.COM 