I am Jamaica's husband, Personality's founder, Foursquare's comm director, CFCC's evangelist, and more.
I'm also blogging at:
Personality™
Church Marketing Sucks
Abare News Archives
June 29, 2008
Pursuit of Less Continues
Filed under: Abare News
I really don't like cars.
When I moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in March of 2000, I arrived in a 1987 Honda Civic. It had been given to me a few months earlier after my previous vehicle was stolen (long story). The Civic had a manual transmission without air conditioning and came nicely loaded with 225,000 miles. Had it existed then, I would have been looking real good in the Junky Car Club!
The Civic was definitely meant to be a temporary car since it needed tons of work, not to mention being able to pass California smog inspections. With Jamaica meeting up with me in California after a year in England, she was going to need a car too (we were not yet married). I bought a used Chrysler Sebring with a convertible top--a request of the lady friend (soon to be fiance). Between the Civic and the Sebring, we'd be able to get along just fine in SoCal for many years to come.
Until the Civic died out on us 18 months after we got married. Frustrated with unreliable cars all our lives, we bought a new Toyota Matrix. Good gas mileage, decently priced and the perfect car to last a couple hundred thousand miles. Between the Matrix and the Sebring, we'd be able to get along just fine in SoCal for plenty of years.
Until one of my younger brothers--who was living with us at the time--borrowed the Sebring and completely totaled it in a car accident. Fortunately no one was injured! My dream car up until this time had been a BMW, so I thought this might be the perfect excuse to start test driving. After several months of shopping, I settled for an Acura. Not quite a BMW but it was a nice car for a great price. Between the Acura and the Matrix, we'd be able to get along just fine in SoCal for a lifetime.
Until we moved to downtown Los Angeles. Not only did we not need two nice cars, we didn't need two cars period. Although Jamaica has to commute 25+ miles for her job, I live just three miles from the office. That's walking/biking distance people. So began our quest to sell the Acura--the more expensive of the two cars. As of this past week, I am happy to say we are now a one car family! Between the Matrix and my two feet, we'll be able to get along just fine in SoCal.
It feels good to continue living on less. Having one less car will mean mucho money savings, better stewardship of the environment, increased exercise and more exposure to people.
Here we go!
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June 12, 2008
My Wife Is Smart, Duh
Filed under: Abare News
My brilliant and beautiful wife Jamaica has been investing hundreds and hundreds of hours over the last six months in preparation for her big exam on Monday, June 16. She'll be taking the LSAT with the anticipation of starting law school in the fall of 2009. This law degree will be in addition to her undergrad in Philosophy and her master's in Philosophy and Religion. I think it's safe to say I married a smartie.
I'm really proud of Jamaica for having the discipline to prepare for this grueling exam. In addition to taking an 8-week prep class, she has been pacing herself with some intense self-study. We're talking 4-hour practice exams a couple times a week. This is on top of her being an adjunct professor teaching five undergrad classes, serving as the chairperson for a Hollywood nonprofit, and being my best friend. Whew.
I'm rooting for you babe. I can't wait to see where this journey takes you... and me.
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March 30, 2008
Echo Promo Video
Filed under: Abare News
Earlier this month I mentioned that I'll be speaking at the Echo Church Media Conference later this summer. I just saw the promo video for this event with yours truly. Very cool blend of live motion graphics, although the voice-over is a little creepy.
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March 25, 2008
New Easter Tradition
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica and I stumbled upon a new tradition during Easter where we visit a new church each year. For the last several years we have found ourselves out of town, usually on a long weekend for a spiritual retreat or reflection time. Because of my proximity to Foursquare--my tribe--we've looked up the local Foursquare church in whatever city we're in and have gone there. This was our third year so I guess we can call it a tradition, right?
This year we visited Evangel Foursquare Church in Cottonwood, Arizona, just 20 miles outside of Sedona. I love seeing how different churches "do" church. Pastor Timothy Hall seems like a great guy--very connected to the community. It was difficult not to be drawn to him after he put his hand up a puppet after the worship time and started talking to kids about the meaning of Easter.
The highlight was meeting an elder married couple during a "meet and greet" time. They were from Oregon and had been living in Sedona for the winter. Sixty seconds into the pleasantries they were sharing their political convictions. Also found out the gentleman just got his PhD in Economics. He's 82. I love it!
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March 24, 2008
Long Weekend in Sedona
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica and I enjoyed a great four days in Sedona, Arizona this past Easter weekend. It was our first time to this beautiful little town just 100 miles northwest of Phoenix. I imagine the Grand Canyon often overshadows this magnificent little treasure because they're only a few hours away from each other. In many ways, being in Sedona felt like being at the bottom of a miniature Grand Canyon. We were surrounded by huge rocks with towering beauty.
Jamaica and I sat through a 90-minute timeshare presentation on Saturday so we could score a free helicopter ride the next day. It was well worth the sales pitch (no, we didn't buy) to fly for 30 minutes over the whole Sedona area. We got to fly right up to the rocks, look at Indian ruins and feel like a bird. Very cool.
We both forgot our camera--doh!--but I did grab some photos with my iPhone. Most of them were taken during a four mile hike we did on Saturday morning.
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March 14, 2008
Echo Church Media Conference
Filed under: Abare News
I'm looking forward to the first ever Echo Church Media Conference this August 14-16 in Dallas, Texas. It's also an honor for me to be a keynote speaker with such heavyweights as Donald Miller, Mark Batterson and Mark Steele. Reminds me of the story about the farmer who entered his donkey in a horse race. The farmer's friends were incredulous, "You really think your donkey has a chance at winning this horse race?" "Heck no," said the farmer, "but the company would certainly do him some good."
I've been putting a lot of thought into what I'm going to share about, and so far it's coming together nicely. It's definitely going to be a departure from what I'm used to, but I'm up for a challenge.
But even if I am an ass, at least I'll be in good company...
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March 4, 2008
Goodbye Facebook
Filed under: Abare News
After much peer pressure, I signed up for Facebook late last year. To date, I haven't used it much, I've logged in only a few times, and it tires me every time I get a notification of some sort. Whether it be a request to befriend someone I don't know or poke someone before we've shared a handshake, it was becoming too much.
As of today, my account has been deactivated.
It appears I may be in good company, just saw that Tony Morgan is considering a departure as well.
If you still want to be friends, you can call or email me. Or better yet, let's share a meal or a drink together! There's a concept.
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February 24, 2008
Minor Blog Updates
Filed under: Abare News
Every once in a while I get a hankering to tweak my blog and make a few changes to it. Unfortunately, this desire usually comes when I have way too many other things to do that I don't feel like doing. I've been out of town the past week but for some reason clearing out my inbox sounds more daunting than delightful right now. Besides, it's Sunday, Jamaica is having an extended brunch with girlfriends, and it's not often I get to be a slacker. To the three of you that read my blog, here are a few of the changes I've made:
- Added my Twitter feed to the left column so you can briefly browse through what I've been doing lately. I just started using Twitter so I don't know how long this will last. It's a really easy way to keep a running journal of my day's events that I think will end up being more interesting to me than anyone else.
- Added a link on my Gallery page to my Mac Gallery.
- Updated and revised my Influences page with blogs, brains and books.
- Subtle content and graphic changes that give me opportunity to hone my paltry tech skills.
I can't believe I actually just wrote a blog entry about this.
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January 19, 2008
Unpacking Haiti
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica and I returned this morning at 2 AM after being in Haiti with my family the last 10 days. I leave town again tomorrow for an offsite Foursquare trip all next week, so I'll try and unpack via the blog over the next days and weeks. In the meantime, you can scroll through hundreds of untitled and unedited photos in my .Mac gallery.
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January 9, 2008
Off to Haiti
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica and I take off on a red-eye flight tonight with my brother Mark. The three of us are flying to Miami where we will meet up with the rest of my family. There will be nine of us flying from Miami to Port-au-Prince tomorrow. We'll be in Haiti working with an indigenous organization that was originally started by some family friends who live in Canada. For the next eight days we'll be serving in a medical clinic, orphanage, schools and churches. This Saturday we'll get to witness a Haitian wedding.
What brings us here is a dream we had about 11 months ago when we decided as a family to give up our Christmas presents and presence this past year and instead pool our resources together for this trip.
This won't be an easy journey for us spoiled Americans, but I love starting off the year in an intentional way! These short-term trips usually do more for the people going than for the people there.
Because of Haiti's third world conditions, I'll be going off line for the next 10 days.
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December 28, 2007
Grandparent Pinches
Filed under: Abare News
I received a recycled (already used) birthday card with a one dollar bill a couple weeks ago--well ahead of my birthday today. It was from Jamaica's grandparents and it reads:
Dear Brad,
May God give you a joyful heart.
Happy Birthday.
Love,
Grandma and Grandpa
May you enjoy this card--we did and we share the savings.
It's nice to have "green" grandparents.
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December 24, 2007
Our Third Christmas Letter
Filed under: Abare News
Dear Family, Dear Friends
And To Those Who Care Not The Difference…
“With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” – Matthew 5:3b
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” –Matthew 5:5
The journey for us really began in August of 2006 when we moved from “suburban” Arcadia, 22 miles southwest to downtown Los Angeles. It was one part convenience—Brad’s office is now three miles from home; one part investment—downtown LA is ten years away from becoming something; and one part missional—our hearts continue to turn toward the least, the lost and the left. Now, over one year later, our lives have been marked most by less.
Less Home
Not since our first three months of marriage have we lived in a space so small. Our new loft in downtown Los Angeles is small in dimension and in proximity. And it’s this proximity that has been the backdrop for our life of less. Our gated community with garage door seclusion has been replaced with outdoor pedestrians and shared elevator rides with neighborly strangers and strange neighbors. Our former neighborhood of social similarities has been replaced with businessmen, beggars and Hollywood hustlers. When we downsized our living space from 2,300 square feet to a one-room loft without walls, little did we know how much more we would experience because of how much less we have.
Continue reading "Our Third Christmas Letter"
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July 14, 2007
And We're Off
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica and I are sitting in the LAX airport awaiting our flight to New York. This is day number one of our four-week journey ahead. We'll arrive in Israel on Monday and be there through August 2. From Israel we head to Istanbul for a few days and then on to New York for five days before returning home on August 11 (our six-year anniversary).
The primary purpose of the trip is for the Foursquare Convention in Jerusalem. I am a part of the team producing the event. We'll have 3,000 people from nearly thirty different nations present.
After the convention, Jamaica and I will get to spend a week touring all around Israel. Our few days in Istanbul will be just us as we explore a country we've never been to. The New York crescendo will be spent with friends as we get settled back into life on U.S. soil.
Here we go...
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December 6, 2006
Jesus Christ Show
Filed under: Abare News
I'm in a meeting this afternoon and I get an email from one of the guys in the meeting (how did we ever get anything done without wireless laptops in meetings?) that points me to an article he just read that quoted me.
Sure enough, an interview I did a few weeks ago with Brad Greenberg from the LA Daily News was published this past weekend. Brad had tracked me down from an entry I had written on Church Marketing Sucks back in May of 2005. It's amazing how the blog world has connected everyone.
The article is about a weekly radio show on a big AM talk station here in Los Angeles called the Jesus Christ Show. You can read more in the article I was quoted in and on Church Marketing Sucks.
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November 29, 2006
Rev. Brad Abare
Filed under: Abare News
It was four years ago this month (November 1 to be exact) that I started working as the director of communications for the Foursquare denomination in Los Angeles. It's been quite rewarding to experience so many of the changes that have taken place since then, not the least of which has been my own view toward the very existence of denominations.
Growing up somewhat of a pastor/minister's kid, I was never a part of any "deominational" churches. Having come to Foursquare as somewhat of an import (so many denominations grow from within), being grafted into the Foursquare family has been both frustrating and exciting.
Five months ago I started the journey toward becoming a licensed and credentialed Foursquare minister. Working with a coach (one of the Foursquare vice presidents), we met each week to discuss doctrine, polity and pastoring. I wanted to become a licensed minister not because I feel a great call to be a church pastor, but because I wanted to get closer to the unfolding story -- the story that is being told through the lives of 50,000 other Foursquare licensed ministers around the world.
Today was the day I took my oral interview with a licensing committee. Two hours later, I passed. Say hello to Reverend Brad Abare.
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July 12, 2006
Found!
Filed under: Abare News
We just celebrated Jamaica's 28th birthday earlier this week on Monday. Among the findings this year was a picture that surfaced from her parents. The date is unknown, but the striking similarity in genius has peculiar inclinations.
Ah... what a beautiful professor I'm married to. My Jamaica Eire-Stotle...
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March 21, 2006
Jamaica Runs LA Marathon
Filed under: Abare News
My wife is amazing. When she told me a year ago that she was going to run the LA Marathon this year, I didn't think much of it. I didn't doubt her intention nor did I assume her eventual participation. It was at the end of 2005 when I really started to believe her. The intense training routine was my first clue. The added muscle was a second clue. And the insatiable appetite for pasta was my last clue.
This girl was going to do it.
And she did. On Sunday, March 19, Jamaica ran the 2006 LA Marathon. Her results are pretty impressive.
- Finished in 5 hours, 44 minutes.
- Finished in the top 50 percent of all runners (male and female).
- Finished with only one major blister.
I don't mean to steal any of her glory, but I am proud of myself for walking 11 miles meeting her at the 12 mile and 26 mile marker. It was just sad that I was more tired than she was at the end of the day when she came home and wanted to celebrate with pizza.
We got to celebrate this day with some friends from out east, Jen and Nathan. Nathan also ran the marathon with Jamaica and finished a few minutes before her. Jen and I got to be the cheerleaders.
Congrats to my wife who continues to amaze me.
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May 24, 2005
Say Hello to the New Prof
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica had her final interview today with the department dean at Biola. It's official. She is a professor.
She starts with an intro to philosophy class for undergrad students this coming fall semester.
I want to be like here when I grow up.
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February 14, 2005
Valentine's Day 2005
Filed under: Abare News
Had a great time at the LifeStream Valentine's Day party In Long Beach, Calif. Good food. Fun dancing. Great people.
We also just returned from Chicago where we had our "real" Valentine's day. We were celebrating our 7th V-Day together at Geja's, the first restaurant we went to for Valentine's day in 1999. Call me sentimental, call me whatever you want. I'm crazy about this girl.
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December 15, 2004
Our Second Christmas Letter
Filed under: Abare News
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.
Continue reading "Our Second Christmas Letter"
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December 10, 2004
Christmas Tidings 2004
Filed under: Abare News
Note: This is a copy of a letter sent by Jamaica's family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Breathe deeply. The night fills your lungs with air that is cold and pure, while the brightest of all stars illunines your every step. Enjoying the silence that stills your soul, you are suddenly awakened by a phenomenon of sight and sound. Sky-borne angels sing unspeakable songs that swallow you up in the glory of God. You stand in awe and abject fear, before hurrying towards what cannot be, Messiah....Messiah born in a manger.
Welcome to Christmas night, where shepherds found Him, the desire of every nation, our Prince of Peace. Let earth receive her King, let each heart find Love that never fails. Breathe Him in. Breathe deeply.
Continue reading "Christmas Tidings 2004"
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December 1, 2004
Christmas Letter from Tulsabares
Filed under: Abare News
Note: This is a copy of a letter sent by Brad's family in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dear family, friends, and anyone else in my Outlook Contacts who might receive this letter,
I am writing this as Ann and I come down the mountain from Colorado Springs - of course, she's driving. Here are this year's eight compelling tidbits about this great family I get to share my life with...
Continue reading "Christmas Letter from Tulsabares"
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August 31, 2004
Summer Is Over
Filed under: Abare News
Last week we took a trip up the California central coast (Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Hearst Castle) for a 4-day getaway. This was our first and only summer breather due to Jamaica's intense summer school schedule.
This week is also the start of the new school semester for both of us. I'm taking a history and biology class and Jamaica is continuing her graduate work at Claremont.
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August 14, 2004
Brad's Mom Recovering Well
Filed under: Abare News
Yesterday, my mom (Ann) had surgery to remove hernia as well as a tumor on her liver. The hernia has been bothering her for the past two years and when last checked, doctors also found a tumor on her liver. The past month or so has been a bit flustered as the family prepared emotionally for the process of surgery, which is never something you look forward to.
The good news is that the tumor was benign. No cancer! The hernia has also been removed. She is recovering now in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and should be back home in a few days.
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August 12, 2004
Happy Anniversary to Us
Filed under: Abare News
Yesterday we celebrated our third wedding anniversary. We ate dinner at the once famous Yamashiro restaurant in the hills of Hollywood overlooking much of LaLa land. We had a very nice evening together. I love this girl a lot.
Three years seems so wimpy, so immature, so naive. People go to to college for more than three years (sometimes three or four times that amount). Kids can't even be left alone when they're three years old. A tree that is three years old is usually pretty unimpressive.
Continue reading "Happy Anniversary to Us"
July 20, 2004
We Tried
Filed under: Abare News
Our ambitious idea to write on a new topic each week for all 52 weeks this year got as far as April. Yep, we only made it 13 weeks. With both of us in school and Brad working more jobs than he should, our weekly ponderings were pushed to the side. You can read our individual thoughts on all the topics we did cover right by clicking on the Hot Topic category on this page.
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July 10, 2004
Jamaica Shutters
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica got a new camera for her birthday in July and she can't stop taking pictures. Look for her visual theater to come online as soon as she learns how to use iPhoto.
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July 5, 2004
Summer School
Filed under: Abare News
Jamaica started summer school today. She will be doing a crash course in German for her graduate work at Claremont. She will be in school every day (Monday through Friday) for over four hours a day plus study time! We also confirmed our fall academic schedules and it will be a full fall season ahead!
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December 17, 2003
Our First Christmas Letter
Filed under: Abare News
Continue reading "Our First Christmas Letter"
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December 15, 2003
2003 Christmas Letter from the Tulsabares
Filed under: Abare News
Note: This is a copy of a letter sent by Brad's family in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Continue reading "2003 Christmas Letter from the Tulsabares"
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