Month October 2008

CONTEST: Startin’ him early

Brian Aaby 13 Comments

I promise that in the next week or so I’ll go back through my posts and announce the winners of all previous “contests” (I have them, just haven’t announced them).  But I thought I’d start a new one (yes, it’s based off an idea that I have seen on other blogs, but we’ll switch it up a bit).  It’s called “What Am I Thinking?”

You’ll need to give your best or funniest thought/quote for the person(s) in the picture. Today, we’ll start with my son Will, this pic was staged last week in California.  What’s he thinking?

 

What Am I Thinking?

What Am I Thinking?

Have fun, we’ll see who comes up with the best one (the entire Aaby fam will be the judges).

Grace,
Brian

Two Nights In A Row

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

I had the privilege of going to a second youth group in as many nights tonight.  Last night (as I previously posted) I spoke at Avondale Bible Church in Woodinville.  What a great group of students.  As I shared about Paul’s “fear and trembling” in his letter to the Corinthians I could see the students really relate to the Scripture.  A big thanks to Ben, their Youth Pastor, for inviting me to come share.

Tonight, I drove south to Tacoma to be a part of the Real Life Family Center youth group.  It was exciting to hear their worship band and to see the students praising God through song.  It was interesting I was down there tonight.  Troy, their youth pastor, announced that on January first he would know longer be the YP at RLFC.  The gasp from the crowd could be audibly heard.  He is very loved and loves the students.  It really brought back memories of sharing the news of our departure with my former students (I welled up as Troy was sharing).  The positive news for Troy and these students, he is becoming the Discipleship Pastor at the growing church.  So the students were saddened by the change, but ecstatic he will still be there.  Afterwards, I was able to grab Applebees with Troy and Les–the YP-to-be at Real Life (he is currently a volunteer and they are passing the full-time torch to him).  Great times.

First thing in the morning I get the opportunity to meet with two different YPs from the south (Lacey and Chehalis) and then another one at lunch from West Seattle.  Last week was a great working vacation, this week has truly been work, and it’s been wonderful!

Grace,
Brian

Last Week, This Week

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

 

We just got back from a trip to California, it was a “working vacation,” as I like to call it.  Really, got a lot of rest, time with family and some great stuff done for Youthmark as well. I thought it would be good to post a few of the things we were able to do while in SoCal, so I’ll start with a great picture of what we were able to do last week at this time, and what I did this morning!

Grace,
Brian

 

Last Week...

Last Week...

 

This morning

This morning

Halle, 1-2-3-Jump!

Halle, 1-2-3-Jump!

 

Ditto for Audrey!

Ditto for Audrey!

Speaking…

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Anyone happening by the blog on Tuesday evening, would appreciate your prayers as I speak at a youth group in Woodinville.  Pray I connect well with the students and parents in attendance.  This is a church interested in a Youtmark Mission Venture… I feel like it is a working interview!  Ha.

While you’re at it, pray for another speaking opportunity next week in Covington.  That is a church already doing a YMV.  Fun opportunities to connect with the youth whom I will get to serve with this summer in Idaho!

Grace,
Brian

Faith Foundations: Confidence in Christ

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

You may have read my previous post about three of our friends going through some very hard times. Last night, while online, I had another conversation in which a friend shared another very tough family situation.  It is interesting, in the midst of these very difficult situations we are called in Scripture to “consider these things pure joy (James 1).”

You ever want to say, “are you serious, Lord?”

I do.  Yet, having been through various trials, the trail, in hindsight, is imprinted with grace markings. As I sat down this morning to read the Word and to pray through these various “trials” others are going through I have a hard time seeing the trail ahead for my friends, but I do know that the fog will clear, and though the trail may be steep, slippery or full of potholes, the Guide, by His grace, will lead us through.  However, It’s very difficult to have this understanding in the midst of the fog.  

So, I rest in the promise of Psalm 27 today.  Asking God to be our confidence.  Praying/praising the following (Psalm 27:1-3, 14):

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear? 
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

 

 2 When evil men advance against me 
       to devour my flesh, 
       when my enemies and my foes attack me, 
       they will stumble and fall.

 3 Though an army besiege me, 
       my heart will not fear; 
       though war break out against me, 
       even then will I be confident.

 14 Wait for the LORD; 
       be strong and take heart 
       and wait for the LORD.

Grace,
Brian 

Prayer for Friends

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

In the last 24 hours we’ve received three very hard-to-swallow updates from good friends of ours.  We’d appreciate you praying for these matters.

1. A medical situation for a missionary friend of ours–pray for a safe return to the states.

2. A friend was admitted to the hospital and is dealing with complications that are causing paralysis.  Please pray for her and her family.

3. A close friend of ours lost her father in an auto incident last night.   

We are deeply saddened by the news but we are trusting the Lord in all of these situations.

Thank you for your prayers!

Grace,
Brian

A New Family Phrase

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

One of the unforeseen things about having a blog now occurs a few times a week (if not daily).  Anytime one of our daughters says or does anything funny or cute and they see us laughing or talking about it, they ask, “are you going to blog this?”

I can guarantee that I never asked my parents that one!

Grace,
Brian

Sleep Anyone?

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

My parents have pictures of my childhood that can be used against me; therefore I try not to make them too mad.  The bathtub pics, the caught you doing something wrong pics and various other not so flattering shots. They, of course, haven’t used them too often.  Besides the above, they have numerous pictures of me sleeping anywhere, including on the stairs.

Well, apparently this is a character trait that can be passed on from generation to generation.  Audrey is our “sleep anywhere gal.” We’ve found her on the floor in about every room in our house, on a beach towel at the lake and even in our (empty) master bathroom tub.  Elisabeth recently snapped a shot of her sleeping–on a counter.  She was drawing away, content as can be and apparently thought this was the place to take a nap.  Classic.

Hmm, a nap sounds mighty nice right now, let me go get my crayons and pens to prepare!

Grace,
Brian

The Draft

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

The beach… a walk… the mall… the coffee shop… sleep.

Many of us have our own little “escapes” in life; perhaps one of the above is an escape you use to take a break from your daily grind.  Well, one of my reality escapes is fantasy basketball.  Last night launched my fifth season in the league and my third as co-commissioner.  12 guys gathered in cyberspace (connected via the web from four different states).  We drafted our teams and will begin play in a matter of a couple weeks.  For those not familiar with fantasy sports, the basic concept is this:  Your game play is based on the stats (from that week) of the players on your team.  So in basketball if I had Lebron James on my team and he scores 32 points and has 10 rebounds in a game then each point and rebound is given fantasy point values.  You add up each of my players scores and I have a total for that night.  Add up each night (for a week) and my hope is that my total is better than the total of the fantasy team I am playing.

So, for those who understand fantasy sports, you’re excited for me (I hope).  And for those who aren’t sports fans or aren’t fantasy sports followers, it doesn’t matter you stopped reading this at “last night launched my fifth season in the league and my third as co-commissioner.”

So, hoops fans unite, though you may not have the Sonics to cheer for, you can now cheer for “Jack Bauer Makes Chuck Norris Cry” (the name of my fantasy team… we have a theme of “Small Screen Characters” for our team names).  Let’s go Jack!  Thanks for the escape (I’m a big 24 fan as well, so there’s my other escape).

 

Grace,
Brian