In God’s perfect timing, he has come back into my life. About three or four Sundays ago he came up to me in the church that I am now going to, River Valley Vancouver, and told me that my name is Laurence Brand. I turned to look at him, and although I didn’t recognize him, I believe that he didn’t even know me. He mentioned that he knew me back when we attended Richmond Alliance, church, for which he got a very big hug from me, and which I my dad, he did not shrink away from, but rather leaned into my embrace.
I need to tell you here that I received him then and there, with absolutely no idea what to do with him or for him, except what I’ve already stated, I received him.
It turns out that two of his grandparents, Frank and Elsie, were in my Sunday School class, that I taught at Richmond Alliance church. They believed in me, way back then, at a time when I was just emerging into who I am now. I love to talk about the Lord. There is no special time or place for me to do this. anywhere anytime.
Also, Barry, reminded me that he used to ride on my 403, and although it took me a while, I indeed remembered him getting on my bus, I would see him and Long to have him know God. I prayed for him after each and every one of these times.
I should also mention that that Sunday school class at Richmond Alliance, was first taught by a man named Ross Hayhoe. He is related to Barry also. He is the one who taught me how to teach in the way that I do. So in that way he is a mentor of mine. When Ross left that church, and there was no teacher for that adult Sunday School class, they turned to me and asked if I would teach them. The pastor at the time, I’m sure I’ll remember his name soon, approved this and so it was.
I apologize this is a bit raw and unedited. We can straighten some nails and paint some boards later, laugh out loud.
Today is June 26, 2025, and I have gotten out of bed, I’ve been up since about 530 but out of bed since about six. I’ve been in a little bit of a lapse, due to my routine being upset. Wait till I tell you, what upset my routine! I am on summer vacation, because I now drive school bus, when school’s out I’m out. Do I love my job? Well, I guess I do, but it’s also just merely a case of being part of my routine.
So not knowing how to order my days here that are before me I woke up early, which is one part of my routine that I can still routine Retain, and then there’s that pot of coffee I made, and writing up my Bible I got about a page done before another friend of mine messaged me, which has led to me creating this introduction of Barry.
I know Barry needs to tell his own story, and I will certainly let him do that. But I’ll just say that yet another friend of mine, art Ferreira, has been an important milestone in my life, for many reasons, but the most important in this case is that he is the first person that I knew there were things That he needed, I had a burden for him, but it was in the realm of angst, I didn’t know what he needed. As a person who is prone to what is called codependence, this is a significant thing that I am telling you. First of all, I didn’t know What needed fixing, but I certainly could have guessed and then begun that horrible process that I get into when I am engaging in this aberrant character defect. I think that’s a double negative, laugh out loud.
In codependency, which I refuse to say is ME, yet it is a way in which I’ve behaved many times. There exists a pattern of behaviors. Rather than list these, which would just be a distraction from the point here, I’ll tell you what God has been doing in me.
In this case, with Barry, I don’t know what he should or shouldn’t do with his life. I receive him as a brother that God has brought into my life, and honor him as such. I pray for him. We both have a desire to know God, and we spur one another on. <scripture> That’s a great scripture there. Proof that the Holy Spirit is the one who is bringing these scriptures to mind! There’s another crucial one, Romans 14:4, which pretty much sums up the fact that Barry is not MY POSSESSION. He is my brother in Christ. Bonhoeffer in “Life Together” fleshes this concept out so well!
Running Down Vimy 