Re-read that title and then you can understand why I haven’t posted much lately and why this blog-post is so short.

Today’s list is all about the projects I am working on RIGHT NOW and need to be done with As Soon As Possible.

Without further ado, the very un-lengthy list.

Five: Messages for Colorado.  I am preaching at two Colorado camps I am doing this summer.

Four: Messages for Oly. I am speaking at a Youth Retreat  for Westwood Baptist of Olympia soon.

Three: HomeBase. A devotional I write for the parents of participants who are out on YMV’s.

Two: RoadGrip.  The devotional for the summer mission trips.

One: Merge-Joshua.  The follow-up book given to all our missions participants.

The good-news is that all of these are in process and most are nearly completed!

Grace,

Brian

Another invite to yesteryear…

Had a hard time coming up with the subject for todays Top 5, however, when it finally came to mind, my brain was flooded with some great choices.  So here it is, the top 5 childhood activities for recess when I was in elementary!  The criteria:  The options that were available at my elementary school.

Without further ado, the list.

Honorable Mention: Boys Chase Girls (early elementary), “500,” and Bar Tag.

Five: Rainy Day Recess “Heads Up Seven Up.” Let me start by saying that Rainy Day recess stinks!  But, since we had a few growin up in Western WA I must say that hearing the teacher say, “Heads Down Thumbs Up” got us pretty excited.  The only problem with this game, everyone cheated!  C’mon, tell me you didn’t look at the shoes of the people walking by?

Four: Hoops. Because there weren’t enough good hoops at our elementary school this one is not as high on the list as it could be.  We especially enjoyed picking teams at first recess and keeping those teams for the two longer recesses.  The game started in the morning and ended at the whistle ending the afternoon recess!

Three: Wallball. Do you remember this classic?  “No bouncies, carries or bombs!”  Two people head to head, one bounce to the wall and one bounce after the wall, alternating hitters.  If you lose on serve, you are out and go to the back of the line.

Two: Buttball! A great game with a tennis ball and a wall.  First person serves by throwing the ball at the wall.  All participants try to catch it cleanly with one hand.  If the ball is dropped or touched anyone touching it must run and touch the wall before someone throws it at the wall.  Each time the ball reaches the wall before you do after touching/bobbling it, you get a letter.  If B-U-T-T is spelled you then have to stand against the wall and everyone playing gets to throw a fastball at your rear-end from about 30 feet away.  Bottoms beware!

One: Our grade vs. other Grade Football! I had a very athletic class.  Boone, Randolph, Evans, Joyner and Aaby.  We were the fearsome fivesome back in the day and even as fourth graders we could give the sixth grade bullies a run for their money!  I remember the grass-stained jeans and sweaty shirts coming back into the over-heated elementary school room and creating quite the wonderful smell for all to enjoy!

What were some of your favorites at recess?

Grace,
Brian

Are you ready to stroll down my sappy-memory lane?

Today’s top 5 explores the memory of my dance-career in high school.  Do you remember the days of being dressed up in your high school gymnasium or cafeteria on a Friday or Saturday night, hoping that the next song is a slow one?  I do.  Don’t give me the fast-paced MC Hammer, give me some slow songs from Richard Marx.  The white-man overbite and running man never suited me, but the mix-tape of Chicago and some moody-Madonna got me geared up for the slow-dances with the ladies.

The criteria for today’s top 5:  these were the top 5 songs I can remember grooving too in my late Jr. High through High School years.

Without further ado, the list.

Five: Time After Time, by Cindy Lauper. Okay, I might be remembering the snowball skate in late elementary with this one, but hey, it was “mass-rad-song.”

Four: One More Try, by George Michael. C’mon, listen to this one and you’ll be drawn back to the slow-swaying of yesteryear!  Wow, I just did and I just flashed back to my Meeker Jr. High Cafeteria and the wretched smells of over-perfumed girls and mal-deodorized boy-pits.

Three: Crazy For You, by Madonna. This one landed in my 6th grade year, I think, but I can remember requesting it at a dance in 7th grade.  I can’t believe that they actually played this stuff.  It’s pretty risque if you ask me.  Warning, these lyrics are NC-17 if you ask me.  But I guess I’ve become quite-the-old-fuddy-duddy.  Or, I have daughters.

Two: Could’ve Been, by Tiffany. Not only did she rock, “I Think We’re Alone Now,” only one of the most popular songs of my eighth/ninth grade summer, she slowed it down for us with this little gem.

One: Somebody, by Depeche Mode. The live version of this song blasted through my white boom-box way too many times to count.  I distinctly remember shot-gun riding in my friend Mike’s Red VW Bug and hushing the convo and turning up the tunes so we could dream of our future MRS. that was sure to be at the dance the next weekend!  Depeche Mode was also known as “Depress Mood,” but they hit the grand slam with this song.

No doubt I am missing some great ones, hook me up with your memories and let me know some of your favorite dance-sap memories of these songs too!

Grace,

Brian

Join me in my walk down memory lane.  I can honestly say that taking on this subject will be tough, and will make me seriously wonder about hitting Toys-R-Us tomorrow just to re-enter my childhood.  I might just have to.

This top 5 looks at my favorite toys as a young’n.  The criteria… I had to have owned one (or more) of these in order for it to qualify.  They don’t necessarily have to be legitimate “toys,” rather something I used to do to go out (or in) to play.  Side note: Do you remember the days of just calling your friend and saying, “can you come over and play?”  I think we should still do that.

Without further ado, the list.

Honorable Mentions: Electronic Football Field, Intelevision and Nerf hoops.

Five: Legos.  Spaceships, hydroplanes and cars made out of these plastic gems.  Enough said.

Four: Big Wheel/Green Machine.  I loved the three-wheel wonder that is the Big Wheel.  I don’t know why they don’t make these for adults?  Do you remember when you did the power brake and power-slides so much that it actually made the wheel go square?  I didn’t mind, because that meant a new one was coming next Christmas…. until I was 12.  Getting old stunk.

Three: Big-Tonka Trucks. I remember a couple years Tonka made some vehicles that were almost perfectly to scale, I had a couple Broncos, Jeeps and Tow-Trucks that were about 18-24 inches in length and a good 8-10 inches tall.  These differed bigtime from what you have out there now… back then it was metal; I’d send those things off rock piles and cement barriers and it was just like I saw on the Dukes of Hazzard!  Loved me some Tonka.

Two: Baseball/Football Cards. I know, not a toy, but the sheer energy spent in purchasing, trading, drafting, researching, ranking and studying these things easily make them a true childhood toy.  I still have thousands.

One: Stompers. These little 4×4 were the best.  I know it is pretty silly to think, but I would honestly still play with mine if I had them.  Equipped with a single AA battery these Stompers did the offroad and off-carpet racing.  I loved setting up the ol’ Sandbox with tall mountains, deep tunnels and  plenty or boulders (baseball sized rocks) along the way.  Anyone have one they want to give me?  C’mon!

What stuff did I forget? Got one you agree or disagree with me on?

Grace,

Brian

It’s been a busy early spring.  Between the Youthmark Mission Venture Spring Retreats, a wedding in Montana, writing for the summer of 2010, and other family happenings, I am noticing a growing list of stuff that I want to get done (and sometimes NEED to get done) growing.  So, for today’s list, I thought I’d procrastinate on getting some of these projects started and give you the list of the Spring Projects I want to work on in the order of most excitement.

The Criteria:  These projects are all things that I have not yet started work on (otherwise, the next five spring retreats would dominate the list, because I’m so excited about these).

Without further ado, the list.

Five: The Yard. Yep, that’s right, haven’t even mowed the lawn once in 2010.  Ouch.  It’s looks nasty, the only saving grace so far for our yard is that my lovely Bride has been a fantastic blessing and done a lot to keep the yard looking good (leaves, weeds and other general “yard” stuff).  Okay, I’ll get to it… oh darn, it’s starting to rain…

Four: The Garage. New Youthmark inventory means re-arranging the clutter of the garage, once again.  The good news, Elisabeth has still been able to park in the garage.  The bad news… I can’t remember the last time I parked in the garage.

Three: Odds and Ends for Elisabeth. I hate to call it a “Honey-Do” list because Elisabeth is just not that type of a gal.  However, she does have several things on her list that I could be of great help to her.  So the little things like the drooping curtain rod and large hole in our kitchen ceiling are on the list of things I look forward to getting done for the family.

Two: Revised Business/Ministry Plan. This whole “Youthmark” thing has been quite fun.  However, it can get a bit overwhelming and though I am a planner, I have discovered that without a road-map it can become difficult to know exactly where we are going.  I look forward to sitting down and coming up with a comprehensive ministry/business plan.  With this being said, please understand that it starts with and is maintained with a trust in the Spirit to guide (just don’t want anyone reacting to the word “plan”).

One: Pre-Marketing for 2011.  I have had a lot of ideas zippin’ around the ol’ noggin.  The only problem, I haven’t had a lot of time to get them written out and started.  However, my goal is to have 2011 “stuff” written by the beginning of the 2010 missions (this makes for better/smarter marketing as well).  Fun stuff in store, and quite different than the previous two years!

That’s the list for now… I don’t want it to grow, so please don’t send in your suggestions!

Grace,
Brian

Time is not my best friend right now, but do want to stay consistent for those of you who check in on Tuesdays to see the ol’ top 5.

Here is a quick one… my top 5 little bits that take place on Late-Night TV right now.  The criteria for this one, it has to be now, current and on one of the late-night talk shows.  Sorry Conan, can’t give you props right now, though you’d have one or two if NBC hadn’t messed that one up!

Without further ado, the list.

Five: Rupert G. Any bit with David Letterman and his Deli-buddy Rupert makes me laugh.

Four: Jaywalking. I don’t really like Jay Leno that much, but every now and then I’ll see his bit on the street and see him interview people who just don’t know much.  It makes me laugh.

Three: Top Ten. The Letterman classic is still in the top five for me.  Way to go Dave!  Not all of them are great, but I have a new sense of appreciation… I have a hard enough time coming up with a top 5 list once a week, c’mon they do something funny every night!

Two: This Week in Unnecessary Censorship. Jimmy Kimmel Live has found his little niche in my late-night channel surfing, if I’m still awake.  This bit is sometimes over the line, but usually will have me laughing out loud a couple times.  Especially when he throws in something from a cartoon or Sesame Street.

One:  Thank You Cards.  Jimmy Fallon was so awkward when his Late-Night show started, however, he has found his groove and on Friday evenings he does his “Thank You Cards” for the week.  Absolutely creative and funny!

I am quite sure I am missing something here, let me know what bits are the best and perhaps I can check ’em out!

Grace,

Brian

Sorry, almost tardy on the entry, an extremely busy time and an even more extremely busy day.

Today’s top 5 has to do with one of my favorite traditions, Opening Day!  I’ll be at Safeco on opening day once again and this quick list highlights the top 5 things I am looking forward to about being at the Safe!

Without further ado and so I can get to bed, the list.

Five: Tradition! Going the game with my wife (and now more family) has been such a fun tradition!  I can’t remember the last opening day I missed!  It helps to have an incredibly wonderful “gifter” each year who makes this tradition possible!

Four: The Food at the Hit It Here Cafe. The food isn’t the best, but it’s not the worst either… but the very fact that I’m eating it while watching the M’s makes it get on the top 5!

Three: Magnet Calendar! This would be number 1 on Elisabeth’s list.  We get a free refrigerator magnet of the M’s schedule every year!

Two: The Player Introductions. The roar of the crowd is quite contagious.  Looking forward to hearing Ken Griffey Jr. announced one more time on opening day!

One: The Actual Game! I love baseball, I love the M’s and I am looking forward to seeing the season start!

Got any opening day favorites of your own?

Grace,
Brian

I am not a “prayer warrior” as many call it.  I like to pray, but I am not as reliant as I would like to be, so please pray that I would pray more!  And while you’re at it, read this unique top 5 and please lift up these things that I feel are at the top of our prayer list!

The criteria for todays list:  The things that immediately come to mind that I would like you to lift up on behalf of me and the ministry of Youthmark.

Without further ado, the list…

Five: Prayer! This may seem  like a weird thing to pray for, but I do pray that hundreds, no, thousands more would join us in prayer.  I am praying that Youth Pastors who are training students RIGHT NOW, would utilize the youthmark.com blog website and that YOU would go there and begin praying for a team.  We have over 40 churches doing trips, but as of right now, only two churches have started the prayer blog.  Pray that they would get started on the communication side of prayer requests.  Prayer IS the fuel for these students, parents and leaders!  As soon as you’re done reading this post, I invite you to go there and pick a team to pray for!

Four: Spring Retreat; Challenge 2010. There is much “finish work” going on right now for the 2010 Spring Retreats.  They begin in less than a month and I feel fantastic about them, but as I stated, there is still much to be done.  Pray that the six retreats serve as a great training tool for missions here, missions now!

Three: Writing 2010 RoadGrip, HomeBase and Merge. The devotional guides for the trip and the following the mission trip are being written right now.  Pray that the writing process goes well and that the Lord gives us the insights we need in leading people through His Word during and after the trips.  RoadGrip and HomeBase are going to concentrate on key characters early in Acts and Merge this year is going to look at the life of Joshua.

Two: Receiving Towns/Churches. We are in the middle of the “scouting” season.  This is where we are looking for the connection places for our sending teams.  Pray that the right churches/pastors are open to receiving a well trained team to help reach their local community for Christ.  Because our teams come in and provide a spark, we need to be sure we’re connected with the right places equipped for the follow-up work.  Pray specifically for Alaska right now.  Because the Alaska Marine Highway dictates where we can go/when we can go, it is a difficult land.  Pray God opens the right doors in His timing!

One: Missionship! Youthmark does send teams out on trips, but his is NOT what drives us.  We are committed to the “training for the 51 weeks of life outside the mission trip.”  Missionship is a term I came up with to describe a “missionary always, all-ways a missionary.” In Matthew 28:19-20 we read about THE Cause of Christ and Christians–our calling to make disciples all the time (wherever we are).  So, please pray that the students and leaders we train would understand that though they have the privilege of a trip, that they’d be about Missionship!

What can I be praying about for you?

Grace,
Brian

An obvious category that I have not yet posted about would be the Apps on my iPhone.  I kind of had this one in the reserves for a Tuesday when nothing else was popping to mind.

Let me first state, I love my Lord, I love my wife, kids and extended family. I love my friends and I love the Lost (those whom have not placed their faith in Christ… yet).  Somewhere in the middle of the list falls my iPhone as well.

So, the criteria for today, I can only choose the apps I currently have on my iPhone, and my hope is that this list actually causes some folk to comment me some suggestions for new apps as well!

Without further ado, the list…

Honorable Mentions: Zippo Lighter, Paper Toss, SportsCenter, Mars Hill, Holy Bible, Flixster and The VIP Card.

Five: Dragon. I get pretty ticked seeing people on the roads on their cell phones and texting, well, Dragon is the cure.  This is a voice dictation app that allows me to text by voice.  Keeping my hands free.  The fun part, it’s not always right, so some of the things it hears compared to what I actually said give me some comic relief!

Four: Hearts. What can I say, I love me some hearts.  The nice thing with this game compared to the old Windows hearts game on a PC… these computer players don’t let you shoot the moon on every hand.

Three: Facebook. Who isn’t on FB?  Seriously, whether you’re waiting in the doctors office and need a cure for boredom or if you’re needing to get in touch with a friend but don’t have a cell # or email for them on you, FB will hook you up!

Two: Camera. I realize that most phones have cameras now, but not all have video cameras.  The ease of taking a video and/or photo and quickly emailing it is pretty amazing.  The quality continues to improve on both of these cameras, and as long as you’re pretty close to the action, the pics turn out pretty nice!

One: Maps! See ya later Dog, you have been replaced as “man’s best friend.”  Your nose could never point me in the right direction as often as the Maps App on the iPhone has.  Seriously, you don’t even need to know the address of the place you’re headed, I can simply put the name of the place (i.e. “Red Robin”) and this app will give me turn by turn directions!  I cannot imagine doing a YMV Scout trip w/o my iPhone (thought the AT&T service area needs to improve, or Verizon needs to land the next contract with Apple).

Alright, give me some great ones.  I have yet to pay for an App, so that may tell you what kind of App I am looking for!

Grace,
Brian