Thanks for Praying.....

My speaking engagement at Briarwood Presbyterian church was an absolute joy & privilege to be a part of. I had confidence that the message given was the one God had given me to share. The Spirit filled me as I spoke. It's always hard to answer people when they ask me how did my speaking engagement go. Does the question mean, "did they like what I had to say?" or "did I feel it went well?" The answer to that question is always the same for me, only God knows the fullest extent of the impact of the message with regards to it's eternal value. Nothing else really matters!

The message was entitled, "The Ref that stunk!" I discussed the serious implications and ramifications of a Christian "losing it" on a referee. Shared the need for each believer who finds him or herself in the environment of competitive sports to prepare themselves well for the challenges they will face. The text I used was 2 Peter 1:3-9.

This was an encouraging message received by Ryan Leib, the Sports Ministry director at Briarwood, the next day.

Hey Ryan,

I just wanted to echo what David had to say about last night. The fellowship and food was great, but what Brian had to say was the highlight of the night and was a great reminder to me personally about what we are really trying to accomplish as a soccer club. The story about the soccer ref who died really spoke to me about how each encounter we have with someone might be our last opportunity to pass along God's love to them in some way. I didn't get a chance to speak with Brian afterwards, but please let him know that what he had to say was really impacting to Brandy and I. It would be great if somehow we could have him speak to the soccer club as a whole. I think it would really help some of the parents have a better understanding for the vision of the club and would be a great blessing to them also.

It was fun talking with people before and after the program. I had a chance to talk about Sports Friends and invite people to join us on a July vision trip to Ethiopia. A message the next day by a man was like wise encouraging when he shared that he never thought he would hear the day that his wife would want to go on a missions trip to Ethiopia. Well done Spirit of God.

Keep Ryan Leib and the Briarwood Sports Ministry coaching staff in your prayers as they minister to youth soccer players and their families in the Birmingham community.

brian

ps Had a wonderful evening talking with Abby and Ryan into the late late evening....maybe even the wee hours of the morning. It was great to see Ike Reeder and to catch up with him over a cup of Starbucks coffee as well.

December 14th

That's the date for Chris DOUBLE KNEE SURGERY. We have been informed that she will be in the hospital 4-5 days and that the first two weeks of rehab is BRUTAL. She is tough though and we will be there for her EVERY STEP of the way. It will be a privilege or as they say at Chick Fila, "My Pleasure" to serve this AWESOME Wife, Mom and teacher!

Prayer Warriors Needed....

Speaking at Briarwood Presbyterian Church on Nov. 23rd 6pm for the Coaches Sports Ministry Banquet. Invite from former Eagle Ryan Leib. Always want to have opportunities like this surrounded and bathed in prayer. Would you consider praying for me? If yes, here are some specific prayer requests with regards to this engagement:

1. Monday and Tuesday I will have blocks of time set aside for praying and preparing for this speaking time. My prayer is that I will listen to the Spirit's leading for what I should speak about, have the courage to stay the course (not speak abt what I want to talk about) and the focus to prepare well. *must resist the temptation to speak to please people rather than communicate the words/message God gives me to say to challenge their hearts and service to the King of Kings.
2. Next weekend - Pray for those coming to hear the message that God would prepare their hearts and minds for what is shared. Pray that they would not be prevented from coming because of busyness and the enemies distractions.
3. Tuesday the 23rd of Nov. -am final review of message 6pm ish is the delivery of the words.
4. Pray that the message would be powerful towards impacting the coaches heart, mind and perspective for utilizing their coaching position for being spiritual life influencers! I want to be an ADVOCATE for helping imperfect Christians (athletes, coaches and parents) to "live out" the righteousness of God in the environment of competitive sports. The message I think I'm going to give is entitled "Sports Does Not Develop Character but the Holy Spirit Can!" Text is 2 Peter 1:3-9 It's part of a series of messages I'm developing for various audiences which is called "the Righteousness Challenge"
5. pray for one special coffee mtg. with a long lost friend.

Sports Friends Gatherings - To Ethiopia and Beyond!

TWO GREAT CHANCES TO CONNECT WITH SPORTS FRIENDS in the COMING DAYS:

1. Thursday, November 18th 7pm at SIM USA for those of you who have been to Ethiopia before on a Sports Friends trip. It's a time to thank you, provide an update on new God stories from Ethiopia and to give you an idea of what else is developing in the ministries of SF in West Africa & Asia. A special guest will be on hand from a closed country that we are serving in East Asia. Just RSVP by Tuesday evening please! Thx.

2. Monday, November 22nd 7pm at Maggiano's for those who want to know more about Sports Friends and might be interested in participating on Vision trip to Asia or Africa, a Father Son camping adventure to Africa, or in sending your teen age daughter on a fantastic missions trip. Perhaps just you and your wife want to go on a 10 day missions experience. All of these trip possibilities will be available in 2011. Maybe you just want to learn how to pray more specifically for our ministry or would consider an end of the year gift to SF (not a fund raising evening per se but we always accept gifts for the ministry), either way PLEASE be our guest's on this evening. This will be a short and "sweet" evening. Dessert served at 7pm, short presentations start at 7:30 and end around 8:15. ***By the way, if you have been to Ethiopia before but know of 1, 2 or more people that haven't and might be interested (or in going to Nigeria or Asia), no problem, PLEASE BRING THEM THIS NIGHT -You can attend both events if you like .....JUST RSVP!

My new Sports HERO.....

Josiah is no doubt one of my new sports hero's. I think you will love and be inspired by this video. Thanks Kyle for sharing this story with me. http://search.espn.go.com/josiah/

Butler Visit

Great trip to Indy this past week. Opportunity to share personal spiritual journey with Butler Coaches at their 10am Bible Study. Was an advocate for "the righteousness challenge," imperfect Christians committed to live out the righteousness of God in the environment of competitive sports. Shared my personal journey in this area as an athlete, coach, parent and sports minister. Lots of challenges faced, lessons learned, and character revealed. Learning to ABIDE IN HIM daily is how athletes can genuinely glorify God, grow in the sanctification process and give of themselves totally to the cause of Christ with their God given gifts. Coaches will only become maximum life influencers and parents will only develop a kingdom perspective in sports, thus becoming faithful to training up their kids in the way to go rather than living vicariously through their sports involvement, when they commit to ABIDING in HIM daily. Heart and Mind must be focused on what matters most to God when one enters the environment of competitive sports.

Thursday night a good group of students gathered and I was able to share the difference between being highly successful in life from the world's viewpoint and significant in the sight of God from an eternal perspective. Shared the story of Andrea Buehital and her family who were pioneers in opening up the Camp Langano mission station. Andrea lost her life at a young age for the cause of Christ in that region. The blood of her flesh has become the seed for 5 churches being planted in the region along with hundreds of people's lives being transformed forever in the name of Jesus. A wasted life? I think not! Many americans search for success while all Christians should seek to be obedient and faithful to the call of God, using one's God given gifts for what matters most to God, wherever, despite the cost, locally and to the ends of the earth, for this is a significant life well lived.

In between these times I spent time with Kelly Findley, a former Charlotte Eagle player, and his family. Kelly now coaches the Butler bulldogs soccer team and is currently 15-0-1. More importantly, Kelly loves the Lord and seeks to make a name for God through his coaching efforts rather than himself. Pray for him towards this end along with finding the right balance between family, fellowship/ministry, coaching a D1 program, and life in general.

Next speaking engagement is Briarwood Church in Alabama Nov. 23rd.