My new niece: Jada Ball
9 pounds / 10 ounces
2-24-09
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Spring Volleyball
Our Spring Volleyball League is starting soon and my wife couldn't be more excited. We started Volleyball last year, and since she was pregnant during our first season, she couldn't play. Although the only volleyball skills I have is my height (and some would question whether or not height is an actual "skill"), my wife's happens to love the sport. So....it looks like I will be playing volleyball this spring with my wife and some friends. It promises to be a fun time. Come join us. Deadline is next week so hurry and sign up.Monday, February 16, 2009
Dominican Republic
Promotional DVD from Amanda Braisted on Vimeo.
Last year I was fortunate enough to take a trip down to the Dominican Republic. Above is a little taste of the work being done through sports ministry in this country. In August this year we will be taking our own team from Shepherd Sports down to the Dominican Republic. I pray you will consider joining us.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
We're In....
Emily enjoying her first day at her new desk
The finished project
Leading up to installing the carpet
Getting ready for the furniture
Finishing the reception area
Getting ready for paintToday my staff officially moved into their new offices. Over the last week or so we have been gradually moving all our odds and ends into the new space. However, today the computers and phones we need are up and running and the Sports Ministry finally has a place to call home.
During our team meeting this morning, we spent time praying over each desk and staff member who will be occupying that space. As we continue striving to let God lead us, we also turn this space over to Him. If you get a chance, please pray for the Sports staff, that God would use our gifts and talents to golifiy Him.
My wife making me watch HGTV finally paid off...lol
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
God Facts!!!
It looks like history still has a lot to teach us...
DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?
Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):
'Be not deceived; God is not mocked
for whatsoever a man sow,
that shall he also reap.'
Here are some men and women who mocked God:
John Lennon(Singer):
Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:
'Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
that, I am certain.
Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966).
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
Tancredo Neves(President of Brazil ):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.
Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):
During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro),
while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:'God, that's for you
He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.
The man who built the Titanic :
After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.
With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God can sink it'
The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic
Marilyn Monroe(Actress):
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
'I don't need your Jesus'.
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment
Bon Scott(Singer):
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead,
he had been choked by his own vomit.
Campinas (IN 2005):
In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:
'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.'
She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travel s In The Trunk,
Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full '
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.
The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact.
To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken
Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer):
said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.
In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.
'Jesus'
DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?
Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):
'Be not deceived; God is not mocked
for whatsoever a man sow,
that shall he also reap.'
Here are some men and women who mocked God:
John Lennon(Singer):
Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:
'Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
that, I am certain.
Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966).
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
Tancredo Neves(President of Brazil ):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.
Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):
During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro),
while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:'God, that's for you
He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.
The man who built the Titanic :
After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.
With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God can sink it'
The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic
Marilyn Monroe(Actress):
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
'I don't need your Jesus'.
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment
Bon Scott(Singer):
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead,
he had been choked by his own vomit.
Campinas (IN 2005):
In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:
'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.'
She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travel s In The Trunk,
Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full '
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.
The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact.
To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken
Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer):
said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.
In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.
'Jesus'
Monday, February 2, 2009
How much more does GOD love you?
Working from home today because my baby boy is fighting a bad cough. As a new parent by only three and a half months, I am becoming more and more aware of God's love for us. As I watch my boy play, or sleep, or even cry, my love for him pours out of me. I can't help but imagine how much more God loves us than that! I have to think that my son needs to build up his immune system so he can fight off other viruses and infections as he gets older. I believe it is the same with you and me. As Pastor Dudley shared in church a couple weeks ago about pruning the branches, we need to fight off things today that are keeping us from being all God created us to be. Sometimes we need the trials and tribulation so that God might grow us.
Though my love for my boy seems so great, our Lord in heaven has looked down on each one of us since the day we were born with a love that we can't begin to comprehend. God desired for us to lean on Him and have faith in Him. Just as I feel I can teach my son so much, how much more can our almighty God teach us? We are like children in the sight of the Lord. Humbly set yourself before Him and watch what He can do through you.
If you get a chance, pray for Donovan. Thanks.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
What's in a LEADER...
The busyness of life often grasps our every spare moment and it is easy to lose focus of what God has petitioned us all to do. So how does a church, or a ministry or a single person stay focused despite the busyness of everyday life? How does one keep God first in all one does? How does someone find a balance as we are called to be in the world but not of the world?
For me, it boils down to the simple idea of leadership. Many of us read books or listen to sermons or motivational speakers discuss how we can become leaders, and we often only think of someone who is powerful as having the ability to lead. However, I believe that each individual person, great or small, can be a leader. It doesn't matter if you have the big desk in the big office, God has called each and every one of us to be leaders. As a follower of God we must also lead.
The word of God is our answer on how to lead, and godly leadership is our answer to avoiding the pitfalls of this world. If we as Christians are able to ground ourselves daily in the word of God and dwell on what God has called us to do, our leadership will flow from that which we put our trust and time into. The word of God is our ultimate tool for success in anything we do. It is our road map to become the best leader (follower of God) we can be. You might lead a big company or you might just lead those around you, but if you lead in the way God has asked us all to lead--in humility, love, and service as Christ showed us--then your life and your testom0ny will show and speak the truth of God.
In the busyness of life, may we as leaders always find time to put God first so we might lead for the right reason.
For me, it boils down to the simple idea of leadership. Many of us read books or listen to sermons or motivational speakers discuss how we can become leaders, and we often only think of someone who is powerful as having the ability to lead. However, I believe that each individual person, great or small, can be a leader. It doesn't matter if you have the big desk in the big office, God has called each and every one of us to be leaders. As a follower of God we must also lead.
The word of God is our answer on how to lead, and godly leadership is our answer to avoiding the pitfalls of this world. If we as Christians are able to ground ourselves daily in the word of God and dwell on what God has called us to do, our leadership will flow from that which we put our trust and time into. The word of God is our ultimate tool for success in anything we do. It is our road map to become the best leader (follower of God) we can be. You might lead a big company or you might just lead those around you, but if you lead in the way God has asked us all to lead--in humility, love, and service as Christ showed us--then your life and your testom0ny will show and speak the truth of God.
In the busyness of life, may we as leaders always find time to put God first so we might lead for the right reason.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Keeping Busy...
Looking into our future offices
Inside still needs a little work It seems lately that, along with our everyday busy lives here at Shepherd Sports, we have seen an accumulation of projects taking place. Although these special projects take a lot of time and planning, I believe they represent the growth and progress we have made as a ministry at Shepherd. It is only through God's blessing and grace on Shepherd Sports that we have been able to grow and continue God's work. Please continue to pray for this ministry as we all recognize that, without putting God first and as the backbone of this ministry, we won't go anywhere.
After launching our website in December, our biggest project is finally breaking ground on our new office space this week. If you have been in the gym recently you will notice the new pipe and draping that is hung on the south side of the gym. This new space behind the pipe and draping will allow us to move some of the large objects that use to be keep in our storage/office space. Our old storage and office space is being converted into new office space with a small storage area. We are excited to get this done and finally have a place for the Shepherd Sports employees and volunteers to call home.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Donovan's First Game...
Love & BasketballA friend called me up to join him in a charity basketball game they were putting on at Westmont College for the victims of the recent fires in Santa Barbara. It was a nice two-day trip for the wife and me, and gave my boy a chance to see his dad play for the first time. It started out as a great experience for him until the first buzzer went off and then the ref's whistle. One of the two would go off every few minutes while Donovan tried to sleep in mommy's arms, and it turns out Donovan doesn't love the gym as much as daddy (yet). But I will cherish the memory of looking up from the bench and seeing my boy sitting in the gym with his mother. He better get used to being in the gym, because that's where daddy likes to play and work.
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