Thrift Boys

Getting Old?

Its official, Kimberly and myself are now homeowners. We purchased 1445 E Englewood, Fresno CA 93728.

We have gone to Lowes/Home Depot a few times and end up looking at things like: trees, ceiling fans, lights, paint, door locks, flowers, air conditioners, wood floors etc. I have mentioned to her several times; Dang we are getting old, these are the kind of things we are looking at buying. We even watched a home tv show on landscaping tonight. Lord please help me to enjoy being 23 and not 50. Different seasons of life. I will update some pictures on here of the house b/c we are going to be doing some fun and new things to the house and want to document the before/after of it all. Thanks for your prayers and love.

Lack of Patience

I have never been a man of much patience and that definetly shows itself to me now. Kim and I were suppose to close on our House (the one pictured below) last thursday but currently do not hold any keys to it. Friends from the neighborhood have told me that this was the most stressful thing that they have ever done in their lives and i am beginning to see just a piece of that. I think that is way to big of an overstatement but i see this is a big stress hurdle that needs to be overcomed soon. I don't want to bore you w/ all of the details of everything (whoever it is that may be reading this) but we are experiencing a few set backs that need to be overthrown. Kim and I are seeking God in this and as of recently i have been reminded that since i believe that Kim and i are following God on this adventure of house purchasing and relocating into the neighborhood we serve that we need not take ownership and control over everything where we are not letting God be who he is. Brad's sermon was another reminder to me that the best thing that we can do is let God be God. All else is secondary and how love for him should be ever increasing.

Who am I to try to take things into my hands and be frustrated over anything?

Engagement Photos

Here are a few pictures that my brother Andrew Q and his wife Denise Q took for Kim and me. We are so excited about how they came out and my new wedding job is to put together a guest book photo book for the wedding. I am pretty excited about it and know that it will be hard to mess up because we will at least have some sweet pictures that will be in it.

The Moment

I often feel very safe and secure in where I live. Although it is not the most up and coming areas of town, I love all that it is. My end of the street can be very quiet at times when the northern section tends to be more rowdy. However, after a day like today, I notice different events or pains that exist around. Today at Neighborhood Thrift, it came to my attention that drugs are definitely around this area and can affect lives to those we care about. A very crucial conversation took place as I learned how drugs were affecting this guy and that it tends to take control w/ very little intention being needed. After leaving the store with that heavy on my heart I rode my bike down my street heading to City Hall for a meeting, right across the street I saw a volunteer hanging out outside of a neighbor’s house. Although I can be wrong, I got the sense that something shady had just happened and I may have appeared at a wrong time. I had a conversation with this guy who was an all-star volunteer and he informed that he got the job he was going for at Chuckchansi park being an extra hand around there when events/games were going on. This was a big accomplishment for him and I was super stoked to see him get some much-needed work. I pray that I am still able to enter into relationship with him later down the road but who knows.
Even tonight I am reminded that pain exists in this community as I observe really high dollar cars drive up and down the street. Ivan my roommate says that these could be cars from outside the neighborhood bringing drugs down or perhaps picking them up. I have seen cars drop prostitutes off down the street as to avoid them being put on the main drag. Although this is a very safe neighborhood for the most part, I should remember that good things aren’t always happening and God is calling for me to be a part of a small story of Fresno. He wants all of these people to be cared for and valued just as much as those on the north side of town but roadblocks tend to be set up in unfortunate times. As he uses my neighbors to be a part of his redeeming process, his ultimate goal is for them to see the hope of God and his Kingdom.

Prayer Time

I really wish i had more time to post on this but i don't have the internet at my house and am prohibited in doing so. I have had a lot of thoughts that i felt that i would like to post on here but never the time to log in and get it done. This season is one of prayer i feel. Prayer for my job and its future of waiting on a building and prayer for a marriage commitment that i am going to be making very soon as well as prayer for growing up and putting an offer on a house.




This is the one that we are in the waiting process for. A bid has been put on it from us and we just wait it out to see if God wills this to go through or whether we move into an apt or find something else. We know that it will only be because God destined this for us and its hard to not think/worry/be anxious about hearing back. It would be a great situation because it is really close to the Susan B school as well as the thrift store. Andrew/Denise/Kim and I went by there yesterday to show denise and i met the neighborhood who happens to be a shopper at Neighborhood Thrift. This is all that i will say and leave it in the hands of the Lord. He is good.

So as i was saying this is a real season to just keep prayer ahead of me although it doesn't happen half as much as i would like. Love and Peace

Life Update

Update on Life 1/09

Hallelujah. Who am I? I am constantly brought to this question in wondering why it is that God has given me all that he has.

1) A wonderful lady that is by my side to be married to me in May
2) Two great friends to run a thrift store with.
3) A brother and sister who live within a mile of me who I get to work with and be blessed with.
4) A terrific roommate to live with in a neighborhood in which we love.
5) A God who lets me be a part of what he is doing in Fresno.

I feel lately that I want to be much more introspective in this season of life. What does God want of me and how have my previous experiences formed who I am now. I am much more of a verbal processor and have learned this in living with Ivan. Challenging questions don’t seem to let up from me when someone asks me something I feel like I know but don’t really. Being challenged in different situations and staying away from the routine is what helps me thrive on a weekly/daily basis. Staying challenged helps me to think about how much actions and my heart are entwined and support each other (because they don’t always seem to do that).

Life is moving right along with the store doing great and expansion hopefully on the near future. Every week we are constantly learning more and growing as a team, that seems to manifest itself in many different ways (relationally with customers and volunteers, and financially). Marriage is coming soon and it can not come quicker, although I know we have a short engagement Kim has gotten most of it figured out w/ a bit of my assistance in that area. The date is May 2nd and if you think that you are invited you should plan on being there! Kim continues to blow my mind and reminds me that I am a very lucky man to belong to such a great girl. Hope that this post finds you well.

B

Guatemala

The trip to Guatemala was one that gave all of those involved a smile on their face (at least I think). The team of 14 of us left on the 1st of January and returned on the 10th. It would be a long post if I were to write it all out but some of the highlights can be seen by looking at the pictures. We were able to experience Guatemalan culture in many different ways, by attending 8 different villages in 5 days we saw some of the most beautiful people in the world. Kids as young as 1 years old dressed in their traditional native Indian dress and mom’s who seemed as if they were 60 still breast-feeding. The people there were very hospitable and gave us their best which was sometimes displayed in a nice cold Coca-Cola or lovely pine needles spread out on the ground in order to provide a lovely aroma and keep the dust down. To see young and old celebrate in praise to God through kids worship and dancing put smiles on everyone’s faces.

Off to Guatemala

On New Years Day a team of 14 or so of us from the Well Community Church are headed down to Guatemala to spend some time serving w/ an organization call Christians in Action. This trip is an interesting one for me, as i feel like i haven't prepared too much for it by myself but have been doing plenty of group activities w/ those who are going. We have a spectacular team going and are looking forward to what lies ahead on this journey. You can check out what we are doing by looking at our blog as we will be updating it frequently. I will miss my lady but the trip will only be for 10 days, God always shows his love and grace in distance such as this. Please pray for us, PEACE

I got myself a future wife!

On December 21st I proposed to Kimberly Urquhart. She said YES and now we are moving towards getting married to each other on May 2nd 2009. Plans are coming together and we are trying to enjoy this even though hiccups come along. She is a very special gal that loves God very much and wants to follow Him all of her days. Because of this i know that God has prepared an amazing future of unknown events in our lives.

Redistribution

I am glad i get to blog again (i originally started this b/c i was subbing a lot and had tons of time on a computer so once again, i am back subbing, thus i am blogging)

Throughout the last few years of my life, I have been very attracted to the idea of Redistribution. There are 3 R's which are used frequently w/ the CCDA they are Relocation (moving into the neighborhood) Reconciliation (between God and each other w/ your neighbors) and Redistribution (of oneself and materials).

Of these three redistribution has caught my attention, partly due to slowing becoming a man of business and of economics. The thrift store that i am a part of is also looked at as a redistrbution of goods to those who our local community. Some middle class some lower class some even upper class. I am reading a book by Robert D. Lupton called "Compassion, Jusice, and the Christian Life - rethinking ministry to the poor." He is one of my favorite urban ministers that really focuses on the thoughts and actions that "relocators" (those moving into the urban neighborhoods w/ an intention to be a part of change) make towards there neighbors. He believes (as many do) that we need to restore human dignity to people and stop w/ the welfare concept. There is much to learn from this book but here are a few things i am taking from it thus far.

1) "Doing for others what they can do for themselves is charity at its worst"

2) "Perhaps the deepest poverty of all is to have nothing of value to offer in exchange. Charity that fosters such poverty much be challenged. We know from 40 years of failed social policy that welfare depletes self-esteem while honorable work produces dignity. We know that reciprocity builds mutual respect while one-way giving brews contempt"

3) "We must come to deeply believe that every person, no matter how destitute or broken, has something of worth to bring to the table"

These are just a few thoughts that are powerful to me that i should be keeping in mind when working w/ those that come into our store on a daily basis. There are a few people that i can think of that seem to be able to offer little to nothing to us but how can i think differently about that? usually it seems impossible especially when someone seems off their rocker for sure. Do we need to start w/ medication for some or forget that and just try to work w/ them for who they are now? Where is the line?






I read a fresh view of the story of John 9 where the disciples ask jesus "who sinned here?" and he answers there question in a way that only Jesus can. By healing this man and responding that it was "for God's power to be displayed"

"Through eyes of faith we recognize that this could be an opportunity for tragedy to be transformed into celebrations so that the power of God may be seen at work in him and in her."

"When Clarity of compassion illuminates our vision we can visualize healin that goes far deeper than physical cure"

AMEN

Ode to Dave

I recently had an unblievable chat w/ my boy davey franz who is currently is Bangladesh. I got to hear his voice for a solid 30 mintues. It was fantastic. As i was looking through some pics on my computer, i couldn't help but really miss him. I hope that you enjoy all of these, b/c this is something that i couldn't resist posting. Some things don't always work out as you have planned but they are always a blast. enjoy the hitch hiking to san fran pics. so full of HOPE.











These pictures were taking at all different times during our trip and all of the them were enjoyable. God Bless Friendships!

Simply

It has been far too long on this deal. i am going to try to make it more frequent from now on. i guess being on the computer just makes me feel like i am working still or something. I just wanted to share w/ you something that makes me feel like i am living the LIFE. here it is



It is just a great juice. My ol' roommate nate turned me on to this stuff but it is usually too dang expensive to buy, however, at Target i found it at an affordable price. I would suggest you go out and give it a shot. i wasn't feeling to good, just having a little sickness, and just wanted to chug some OJ, so this is what i went w/. i drank a large bottle in a day and never looked back. Love

Change and Chocolate

Today i was thinking about how funny/crazy change has been in our lives. We are one person in one season of life and then someone who has changed a bit (maybe for the good maybe not so good). An example of this is when i was in junior college and looking forward to a life of comfort and "success." I think that a lot of factors had played into this season of my life, relationships that i had around me, some male some female. Through changes in my life i realized that God had much more designed for me than that vision that was planted into my heart and mind. As i said, many influences were around mainly being one of the culture that i was plugged into and the lifestyle that i was grown up around. A lifestyle of passion and following God began to stir about in my heart and a search for what i would enjoy spending a majority of my "work" life doing became a desire of mine.
God ultimately brought me down the path of using a bachelor's degree that had been so fortunately bestowed upon me. Through choices that i had made which i knew would ultimately be good (ie the Pink House) he directed my path. All of this to really say and comment on my opening sentence, what i had ultimately wanted to become now becomes hard to not judge against those exact things. What i wanted originally is no what i don't want for anyone yet what happens and belongs to many that i know. Its just a crazy thing that i have recently noticed and am choosing to think about in a more positive way. I hope that this doesn't come of boastful in any way b/c i am not intending it to be, just that i feel that i am content in what i have found to be comfortable for me. God has a way of changin us through seasons of our lives to i think ultimately please him and for him to use us in the most glorifying way for him. Life gets a heck of a lot more exciting when we think about the future in this lense and one that realizes that He is never done w/ our character and w/ our goals/dreams/expectations that are within us. I hope that this is making some sort of sense. What i am doing and living right now may not be where i ultimately land in 15 years but if i have realized a few things in my immature life it is that it will be one great ride.

On a side note b/c i know that everyone likes a great picture, here is one of Kimberly and me at a recent wedding we attended in bakersfield. They had a few chocolate fountains and some fine treats to put them in and she did something very unexpected (at least that is what i thought) with a table of our friends around. Man she is
lovely. This is one of the last days that the stache was at its full length, i recently shaved it down to absolutely nothing, with a razor and everything. i havent felt that in over a year and a half...

life is toooo good

Things are a cooking here in Fresno. I want to just post a little bit about my life currently. This week is exciting for the Thrift Store b/c i recently got the store on Fresno City College's Work Study Program, which means that kids at the college who have financial aid to work can come to the store and work 15 hrs a week and the state will pay them. I posted the job and within 2 days i got a total of 18 applications! God is good, free labor and a chance to free Garth and myself up to get things rolling w/ the community! I am a little anxious about it all b/c now we have to interview people and find jobs for them to do. It is a great step and i am excited to see the new life that we can bring into the store. We have a lot of great community outreach ideas, such as creating our own currency for the local kids programs to promote good behavior/good academics and in the process get our name out there a bit more. Trying to serve the community in new ways is our mindset and i think this is a great step for us.

I also had a spontaneous opportunity to go to Shaver Lake w/ Andrew and Denise for Saturday night. He invited Kim and i up to hang out and enjoy Denises grandmas house that is unbelievable. we played an intense game of monopoly (i missed you dave) and watched too many seinfelds. Life is good. hope that you are all well. love bryan

Well...

So, today is my first day subbing again. it has been quite awhile but it seems like i never really stopped. this is such a great job, i am at hoover high today and the kids have been great. although the most chatty class is coming up next. Life seems really busy lately, after my girl moved up here it seems like i have things going on every single night. although they are not all long things and they are fun things they are still things that i have to be a part of. I enjoy being busy and having things going on that i want to be a part of, but sometimes it is also nice to not have any plans and just come home and see what happens. I am super blessed to be a part of all that i am be it the Thrift Store, dodgeball, Guatemala, The Well Southeast or other various events. I am still learning to balance different things in life and learning how to say no to some. (although thats the tougher lesson) because i want to be a part of those things but need some time to just sit down and read books that i want and watch films every so often. i think its a responsiblity thing but also that life is just a bit busier right now. It is absolutely terrific to have Kim live 4 streets away from me and makes for less long phone calls and a chance to get to have more one on one time w/ her. Thanks for all of your love.

Truth

How can we seek truth in the simple and compilcated? (if you read this leave me your thoughts)

Bryan

Portland...mmmmmm

Well we are a few days down in our portland adventure, seeing and being w/ my friend Chad as he gets married in a few days. We got in to town on saturday evening at about 11:00 pm and went camping sunday afternoon. We went to a place called Canon Beach (where come of the goonies was filmed) and stayed two nights there. To fill you in on a bit of what happened, we made torches out of my jeans shorts and ran around the coast, found an illegal spot to camp on the coast, made a shelter out of ginormous drift wood pieces, ate ravioli and mac and cheese boiled by laying it next to the camp fire, and many many more things. i will upload photos soon of the adventure. the wedding is thursday and there will be a lot of hangin out until then, i hope to hit some sweet thrift stores and discover some pants that are in need of some loving. this city is incredible. the end.

ENJOY THE PICS

just some things in my brain...

well all my friends, i sit on my lawn at 9:43 typing this message under a sweet moon w/ a cool breeze. I got back from a killer weekend at Morro Bay where we had a weekend get away for my Boy Davey, we played a ton of monopoly (which is one of my favorite games to play) and had a few beers while we walked down to the water many a time and watched entirely way toooo much T.V. My girlfriend just left fresno and is headed back to bakersfield. it was fantastic to see her for the afternoon/evening b/c it will be a bit until we get to hang out again. i leave for Portland on saturday as i will be particpating in and enjoying my best friend Chad's wedding. we (friends and family) have been looking forward to this for about eight or so months and it will be the gathering of the year. It is sad when we can only count on getting friends together for weddings even though we are all super close w/ each other. life has a way of taking people to different locations and different time periods. We are going camping on the west coast of Oregon for his bachelor party and will have the time of our lives there i am sure. friends from different walks of his life coming together to form one heck of a week.
Life is great in all aspects of the word. Things with the job are going very swell as the Well Community church keeps expanding and job descriptions keep shifting. The apt is great but i feel the lack of involvement that i have gotten to have yet. It seems like i am going to have to be a heck of a lot more intentional to develop the relationships that i want w/ the neighborhood. it is not going to come easy as i am a white man in a hispanic culture. Ivan and i have had a blast together going through a book together and just sharing more about our lives. here is a few pictures of the area that we live in, the one pic w/ the sun glare is what has been dubbed the "martin park" b/c we live behind the family wtih the last name of the martins. The picture w/ the stairs is where ivan and my studio is located. behind the park and behind the house. it is really a beautiful place to dwell...





I am not really sure what else to include in this blog, i really need to start riding my bike more, awwww, which brings me to something else. last ngiht while playing dodgeball, i was headed for a ball near the center line and locked my ankle in place and moved my body and heard/felt 4 or so loud cracks. i immediately went down b/c of the pain and the inability to move and had to be escorted off of the court and to a hospital near by. i was lucky enough to have my brother there so he took care of me and was super patient w/ my 4 or so hour process of getting x rays and all of that jazz. it turns out that there were no broken bones but they are not sure of the 'soft tissue' around it. so i have crutches and am taking care of it so that i will be good to go this weekend up in portland.
other than all of this i feel like God has been ohh so good to me. he keeps leading in me in paths that i really feel fit me and has put those around me who have much to teach. i love all of you and let me know what else i should write on. love and peace

B

My Plants (organic ;)

Here are some pictures from my cherry tomatoe plants. I got them quite awhile ago and didnt' know if they would make it b/c of the werid weather which was real warm and then cooler and then warm again. I have them in pots b/c of my moving in the last month. I would like to pot them but who knows what will happen. Anyways, i am really excited that they are going to be eaten very soon. i have only had one so far but....soon. click on those pics and see how lucious they are!