Sports, Family and life as a follower of God.

Kyle was excited to be selected to run the mile in his 2nd NCAA D1 meet which will take place at Penn St. 11:30am this Sat...he does his wholehearted best and leaves it at that! Johanna has a rec. level B-ball game today but is probably more excited about the ride up and back with her friends and their planned after game pizza party then the game itself. Two different levels but both enjoying the sports they participate in and the teams they are on, win or lose. Hmmm...wish I could have been like that! It was life or death for me. I took it all way to seriously. I was a junkie! Addicted to winning! My identity, self worth, and significance was all tied up in my performance and achievements. Sick! I'm sooooo glad I fell in love with God, so in depted to the Holy Spirit's work in my life (so much left to do but grateful for the progress and life long commitment to help me) over the eyars and happy I married Chris who had a strong biblical foundation in her life as well as life's priorities properly ordered. Ahhhhh.....sports, life, and God's purposes that I'm called to serve.....WHAT a JOURNEY!

Stay tuned to this blog if you want to know more gory details and the spiritual life lessons I've learned from the Trinity, as I "open up" about all God has, and is continuing to do in my life through serving Him as a sports minister the last 26 years (and as a follower of Christ for 32 years). I pursue "living out" the virtues of Christ that He modeled for me, but my sinful selfish heart so often gets the best of me. Not sure of the rating that will be attached to this revealed content yet (because half is really gross and sinful while the other is clean and wholesome-Hmmmm...does that make it RPG?).

Pursuing glorifying God with my life....the Impossible is possible but by the grace, mercy and power of the Holy Spirit. thanks be to God!

Brian

Fasil has gone Home. March 9, 1982 to Jan 7th, 2010

Berhanu called me early yesterday morning, Ethiopian Christmas day, to tell me that Fasil went home to the Lord at 4am. A large group of friends and family including the Addis Ababa girls team (Fasil was the founder) had gathered at his home by 7. Berhanu and his best friend Drey (who many of us have prayed for for so many years) were two of the first to arrive at his home to comfort his Mom (Fasil was her only child). The pain of death is so real. It's hard to comprehend that Fasil won't be there at the airport in March waiting for me like he's done so many times previously. My heart, along with Christine's, is honestly broken with his passing. He was like an adopted son to us. We loved him so much! He will be missed greatly. Thank God for redemption and eternal life. Thank God he acknowledged his sins, sought forgiveness, and had his heart transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. For today Fasil is in the presence of our Lord and Savior, not because of any works he has done, but because of Jesus Christ dying for His sins & conquering death on his behalf. Thank you Son of God, Savior of the World. Brian PS highlights of our time with Fasil coming in our next blog.

What if he grew up on one of our Sports Friends teams?

When I read about the 23 year old young man from Nigeria on the Northwest flight recently I just couldn't stop thinking about our Christian Coaches in Nigeria and our church centered sports ministry teams. Our coaches seek to impact the hearts of young men through the platform of sports by becoming "Life Influencers." This Nigerian who attempted to blow up a plane that was about to land on US soil admitted he was lonely, depressed, and basically down on life. How many other Nigerian young men feel the same way? There is a epic battle between christians and m*****;s being being waged in this country (in the capitol where I just came from 2 weeks ago there is a huge huge Mosque and a huge huge church right across the street from each other....that says it all!) for the hearts of the youth, the lonely, and those down on life looking for a life purpose. Let's involve as many youth in our CCSM movement in Nigeria as possible so we can wholeheartedly attempt to positively impact their hearts in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit for the Kingdom of God. If we don't then our enemy will. The enemy will use these man/woman for evil purposes, but God can transform their lives for our Heavenly Fathers purposes on this earth. What if our coaches, who are trained to be life influencers, had this young man on one of our teams over the past 6 years? Instead of trying to blow up a plane and now facing life in prison or worse he could have been a vibrant witness for Christ in his own town, city, nation or to the ends of the earth. What a difference one SF trained coach can make in one life. Pray for our SFN coaches who work in these type of villages and for the youth they have a chance to influence for the cause of Christ. May this young Nigerian man come to Christ in the prisons of the United States of America. To God and God alone be the glory. PS If we Christians don't find ways to reach these youth outside the doors of our church I promise you others will. Ck this out: link http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/01/07/purefoy.nigeria.child.cnn

New Home in 2010

Ethiopia here we come. We will be traveling back and forth regularly between the US and Ethiopia. However, we do see ourselves (circumstances can always change which cause reshaping and refiguring of plans) setting up in Ethiopia for our home base.... if we can work out all the logistics (need reliable renters for Charlotte home, finances and other personal challenges still need finalizing)!!! More on all the specifics in future updates. Your prayers for everything to fall into place would be greatly appreciated. All three of us really want to spend the next 2-3 years back in Ethiopia.

Chris Has Surgery on Her knee toDAY......

Pray for Chris minor surgery toDAY, Wednesday the 30th, at 6am on her torn menicus.

Christmas 2009 Was an Awesome Family Experience

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. Joy and Nathan surprised us Christmas am with their "presence." It was one of the best "presents" of the year. Chris was given a book that she has wanted for years but has been out of print (very expensive) by her parents (that got a great deal!)...WOW was she excited! The boys played lots of WII and Play Station 3 (Nathan's gift from lots of people) games while the girls watched movies on their laptops. We played family games, had friends over and just had so much fun together. Hate to see it all come to end tomorrow.

Nigerian Leaders.....

It's all about leadership. Leaders needed to be able to make a lot of good decisions and some great one's as well. In our ministry they must be able to be competent in training and/or implementing sports MINISTRY philosophy, principles, and priorities. They need to be able to be above reproach, motivate others and be passionate about the lost. It must be about doing the Father's will not making a name for oneself. Would you pray for these four SFN ministry leaders. Daniel (picture with training slide in the background) and John (solo shot) are both on SFN staff. Pray for wisdom in decision making, balanced lives (Daniel is married with 2 girls while John is single), and for all the qualities mentioned above for them. The two men pictured with me are top coaches in the ministry who we will be investing in further over the next year. They desire to be "Life Influencers" and multipliers for the CCSM. Pray that all of them will love God wholeheartedly and spend time alone with God daily. Thank You.