briankclark-blog

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Encouragement with Brian Clark from the bathroom...being grateful!

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I picked up my first prostitute yesterday after lunch and we spent a few hours together. No joke. After lunch near downtown Orlando, my friend and I were in the parking lot. Melissa asked to borrow a phone to call her “ride” back to her hotel. Her occupation was evident after asking a few questions even though she didn’t say it. We both said “no” to giving her a ride back to her hotel on Universal Drive when she couldn’t reach her pimp. Then I basically asked, “What have the last few years been like for you?” My guard of not wanting to put myself in a compromising situation came down and my heart for a person came out. As I drove to her to her hotel room this is what I saw and heard: Melissa is a part of a group of young women that get text messages or calls from men that pay $ per short appointment. Many of these men are married, can’t connect with women naturally, some are obviously not great dudes...but if they can afford it, they connect. It is a job. As I shared parts of my story she was encouraged to know that is out there and wants to have a normal life at some point. Her last few sentences before we left were tearful. Her body reminded me of a woman my age although she is only 24! Gray hair, cuts on her wrist, wrinkles, teeth are nasty, and her body was just...used. “What I do doesn’t leave me feeling good at night.” I could sense the honest shame and hopelessness....yet also a sick, but real sense of community and providing for herself since all she has know in neglect, homelessness, abandonment, and need for security. She is a homeless youth! She has ONLY KNOWN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS. Period. Her father and every young man she tried to be with since. She has a 1 and 3 year old in the system since she has been in jail for drugs and other things. She has lived as a homeless youth in Orlando for years...so now she is grateful for a roof over her head each night and food in her belly (although she doesn’t need much since Cocaine suppresses your hunger). She bounces around from different hotels and even cities each few days, not staying one place for long...for obvious reasons. She has done every drug and says that she is not addicted to Coke but does it eve

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Four years ago today... This is the worn magnet on our fridge that some of you may still have up somewhere. Our family chooses to celebrate an amazing man of character and compassion. My brother was a rock star dad, friend, and person to be with. Stop and read his family motto, life verse, and goal. He was living that. How about you at this season of life? You have life! Isn’t that amazing. Life. I remember it was actually four years ago today that Erin Leigh Clark and I were in Cancun on a remote beach three days into a nine day cruise for the first time. It was an epic and relaxing and wonderful day. It wasn’t until that evening that we found out. We were in the midst of a challenging season of life with young children and feeling in a fog. That day on the beach for years ago today I will never forget as being so life-giving with so much laughter and fun with my bride. Yet isn’t it crazy how life works? We were off the boat and in Indiana the next day. As I reflect back over these past four years I do so with gratitude towards so many of you. Life will never be the same without Tim as a brother and as a son and as a father. Yet there is a Beautiful thing that can happen in a person‘s heart when they experience such brokenness and hardship and loss. There is a true understanding of how fragile life is and an appreciation of the simple things and to celebrate and embrace family no matter what. There is no simplistic answers to life. If you don’t question God‘s goodness and life’s bigger issues then you’re not being real with yourself. I will constantly lean forward with questions and love more than answers the next few decades of my life. Tim‘s daughters have not had a father the last four years that will laugh and love and serve beside them. It isn’t “fair”. Yet define “fair”? I don’t have the answer as I enter stories around the world. Laugh, Love, and Serve today. Love ya!!!

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Good Friday golf with Wally Armstrong (10+ year PGA player), Thomas Proben (World long Drive champion)...and Kirk and I (professional hackers). We had a few good shots and many laughs. Awesome Horizon meeting in afternoon, shared video and Easter story with 40 middle school kids at Avalon Cru and going home now...

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Yes, this is Mike and Karen Pence. The Vice President of the United States of America made a comment 15 years ago about one moral boundary he set in place with his wife about not dining alone with another woman. I have read and seen some of what individuals in the media have posted and it really does boggle my mind. (Haven't heard from one woman that felt slighted in time from him that worked with him yet...) We have a society swept up in moral bankruptcy with no end in sight. We have less and less men to point to and say, "That is a man of character and integrity, follow his example." (Regardless of political or religious backround) I have had that same boundary in my marriage and many others do as well. And there is plenty of time to meet with women during the day or in groups at meals as well. Think of all the politicians, religious leaders, and your neighbors that you think of and shake your head and wonder why they made a bad choice or fell into something that is not the best. Most of the time it is because there has been no boundaries in place and many live in isolation or think they can handle anything. Look at what is going on with Bill O'Reilly and what happen with Bill Clinton and with so many others. Think of all the young teenagers that are hearing the story and hearing it mocked and not seeing it for what it is…a man that knows his limits, has seen countless fall morally. He saw what Billy Graham and others have done for a lifetime of marital faithfulness and is following that lead with this boundary and others I am sure as well. The worldwide pandemic of pornography and sexual abuse is only going up every day. It is harder and harder for parents and families and leaders to have boundaries and limits with so much access, and so many saying that truth is relative, and that as long as you do not get caught is OK. Moral boundaries I have in place to consider for yourself (no one can shove anything on you and don't live in guilt...yet what do you want for your life and where is your moral code coming from?) 1. I don't have an unfiltered web browser on my iPhone. 2. I have 3 friends I can call at any time to talk about anything with and the

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Never met this family before they picked us up at the airport today in our van. We were in Cincy for 5 days with family for spring break and they came down with the Hensley family. They all stayed at our pad down here and had their first family vacation south of Ohio and touched the sand for the first time. So fun to be a blessing when we have been blessed by so many...it is what life is about. Keep living for others and creating family memories in this short life we have friends!!! (at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB))

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Brett this AM. Almost every morning I am on our back deck with a journal and Bible. Simple and life giving! Psalm 19 if you can today...

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Laney wanted to make mom breakfast in bed so we went for it. Love these two...and Caper, who would have loved the breakfast in bed too, but...no.

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Fun Spot for Funnel cake for dinner and sunset with my boys, then homework late! No one here for our three hour adventure. Parenting has so many challenges. Enjoy the ups! (at Fun Spot America)

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Today is a celebration of life! It was three years ago my brother, Tim Clark, rocketed into eternity...wow, how time goes by! My parents, Erin, and I spent a few hours together today remembering, reading what he wrote down, and celebrating his life, and sharing how we feel together. It takes YEARS just to get to some type of "normal", yet all along we are grateful for life and where God has us. As I look back on pictures like this of adventures in CO and Gabarus, NS I can't help but encourage you to just go for it in life! When you can, take risk, doing something adventurous with someone you love, and do something special in honor of someone you love. Keep an authentic faith, live boldly with conviction, and find friends that just LIKE YOU and you can laugh with!...that is all. I love ya.

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This picture this morning with my son Noah reminds me of time with my dad. He turned 70 this next weekend and has loved and built into his children and other people for his whole life. That is the legacy that I have the privilege to follow. If you did not or do not have a father that just likes you and wants to be with you, then I would encourage you to look around and find a man that you could spend time with and look up to as a positive person that just cares about you and loves you for who you are. (at Panera Bread)

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A little before church Monopoly on the back deck with Noah...yep, 86 degrees today. What is up with that!?

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Star Wars club this week after school. Foam light saber battles are the norm, and we are pumped to go to the movie together Saturday! Anyone else going?!;-) (at Stone Lakes Elementary)

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The Clark breakfast table. Books, wigs, food, and kids. We are not the all together family and I blow it so often as a dad...but grateful for grace and this season of life!

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My parents coming tomorrow so...a cloudy family beach day it is. No regrets and grateful. Missing my bro today and it isn't the same without Clark/Hershey football but embracing the moments we have on this earth...especially with this princess God has given us. (at PAFB Tables Beach)

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My prediction for President and encouragement to make a difference in the world.

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In Uganda. Loving God, people, and life in the process. Struggling with the rich/legit poor balance. So real!