• Hi, I’m Brad Abare

  I'm a make-it-happen guy working with big idea people. I design teams and orchestrate strategy so that great ideas I believe in get done.
  
  I am Jamaica's husband, Foursquare's comm director, Personality's founder, and a catalyst for CFCC.
  
  
• Search for:

• Archives (by category)

  Select Category Abare News Big Ideal Brad Works God, Faith & Spirituality Hot Topic Inspiration Leadership Life’s Journey Media Politics Rant Reading Room Stuff I Like The City Wisdom

• Archives (by month)

  Select Month March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 October 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003

• Recent Comments

  • Ben Eige on Managers, Ministers, Manipulators
  • Joshua Cody on Self-Sacrifice Always Wins
  • abby on Unity to Begin, Not End
  • Bernie on What Business Are You In?
  • Brad Abare on Unity to Begin, Not End

• Subscribe

  Add my RSS feed to your reader.

Dear Family and Friends,

Last year, perhaps against our better judgment, we officially started our annual Abare Christmas letter. Intuition tells me that when we have kids (don’t get too excited), we’ll have a lot more to say. Since this end-of-the-year letter also serves as a time for personal reflection, we’ll continue with some meaningful meanderings.

As my father-in-law so aptly put it, our home has been a sort of turnstile -in the best sense of the word – this past year. I knew there was some redeeming factor in southern California living! This State seems to have a magnetic pull from the chillier regions of our hemisphere. From New Zealand to North America, Hotel Abare was seldom vacant and often overbooked. We’d like to think that people come to see us as well, but we soon recall some people thought the earth was flat too!

It wouldn’t be fair to say that Brad and I have been playing host and hostess all the time. We’ve managed to go up north a few times for weekends on the beach or in wine country. Unfortunately, our schedules have limited the number of cross-country trips we enjoy together, but separately we have managed to visit Washington, D.C., New York, Ohio, Arizona, North Carolina and several cities in California. (Brad is quick to remind me that my trips have been for pleasure and his for work.) Hopefully this coming year we will manage to go international at some point together, as experiencing all the world has to offer is a passion Brad and I share.

Aside from our social calendar, daily living has been far from routine, though not without hard work. Brad has been continuing his education several nights a week on top of his expanding role at Foursquare and the increased growth of his companies. He also launched a web site called ChurchMarketingSucks.com which is a worldwide conversation that seeks to frustrate, educate, and motivate the Church to communicate, with uncompromising clarity, the truth of Jesus Christ. His endeavors leave him with a sense of eager anticipation as well as epistemic humility, wanting to pursue a vision far greater than himself.

I must say I hold a high degree of admiration for this man I married. I remember when he was working on a computer in the kitchen out of our little one-bedroom starter home. His effort and vision have been successful without compromising any of the compassion and humility of his heart.

We interrupt this conversation to bring you a word from our sponsor:
Before Jamaica gags us with too much husband hoopla, I must insert a little of my own admiration for the woman of my dreams. We’re going on four years of marriage and I feel like the honeymoon is just getting started. Without her support, I don’t know where I’d be. It is such a privilege to be living life with her and learning as she learns. She has made our house a home and life more exciting! I’m so in love with her I could…

And now back to our regularly scheduled program:
I (Jamaica) started at Claremont Graduate School this past spring pursuing the study of world religions. After the first year (one more to go), I am left reflecting on the difference between knowledge and wisdom, desiring to deepen my own faith alongside a well informed view of other beliefs, and aspiring to seek and communicate the truth, all of which Augustine reminds us, “belongs to God.”

We trust you are doing well and are touched profoundly by the infinite God who chose to dwell among men. May Christ’s presence enliven your spirits and open your eyes to new truth this coming year. We love you and look forward to hearing about your lives.

From our heart to yours, merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Brad and Jamaica Abare
Los Angeles, California

Comments