Month March 2009

Still Here

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

I haven’t forgotten about my faithful blog.  I just have had a couple things going on here (quick update with the hope of posting more about missions and such later)…

Halle’s fever has broken, but stayed home from school one last day today (hope she can go tomorrow).

Working on the spring retreat (everything from talks, to cabin assignments to worship sets).

Following up with people from the NW Ministry Conference I spoke at last week.

Outlining the next Mission Prep Workbook (for 2010).

Researching for a different writing process (more on this later?).

Trying to sneak in a few alone and reflective times with the Lord and planning and scheming to try to get Elisabeth some of that alone time she needs too!  She is the best!

Hope all is well for you, appreciate your prayers.

Grace,

Brian

Speaking of All Nighters…

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Okay, so I haven’t had the craziness of an all-night drive, but I had certainly underestimated how crazy this week was going to be.  Speaking engagements at Young Life, Rainier Christian High School Chapel and the NW Ministry Conference on top of the blitz of getting everything done for the first of two Spring Retreats for Youthmark (April 3-4).  Sleep is a precious commodity, I want some more.

It has been such a wild week that this morning, sitting at a Rendmond Starbucks, I think of my blog for the first time in 3 days.  Hadn’t even thought about it, let alone think about a post.

I should be able to update the rest of my Montana trip in the next day or two… I know, you’ve been on edge every since Tuesday (ha)!

Pray for Halle, she has missed the last few days of school with a fever and was up a few times during the night with a really bad earache.  Pray for good connections at the conference and pray for for my messages to flow together for the training times at the retreat next weekend.  

Grace,
Brian

All Nighter To Montana

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

A week ago Monday I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with my YoungLife students at Kentridge… My Montant Lead, Jess was able to hang out with us at club.  He and I then traversed to the traditional DQ after-party (great contact work done over some cool treats).  It was here that Katie, another YL leader (and Sbux barista), volunteered to get us a Java-To-Go box from Sbux.

We needed it!  At 10:00 PM, Jess and I jumped into my 4Runner and began the trek to Drummond, MT.  Jess (bless him) stayed up for most of the night keeping me company.  We had great discussions; he eventually nodded off for the last 2.5 hours.  It was in the last 2.5 hours I could have used him the most.  The snow was falling, the road was a solid sheet of ice and the coffee was now cold–oh, and I hadn’t slept for nearly 24 hours.

We arrived in Drummond at 6:30 (Mountain time) and we were able to rest for an hour or so before our breakfast meeting.  I wasn’t able to sleep, but at least the eyes being shut helped.

Tuesday was a day of creating contacts.  We were able to meet with the head of the Rocky Mountain Bible Mission (an affiliation of Churches serving in rural communities in MT and ID).  He (Dave) gave us plenty of contacts (though many were very spread out).  Jess and I began our tour with three appointment we quickly lined up for that day in Phillipsburg, Anaconda, and Potomac.  These towns were all many miles apart and through the mountains, so that was about all we could do on this first day (especially on little/no sleep).  

I met another Aaby… only this Pastor spelled his name incorrectly (Abbey).  Great family in Phillipsburg, it may/may not be a connection for this year, the town has another group coming in from the Spokane area to lead VBS.  Then to Deer Lodge/Anaconda where we met the most unique guy of our trip (Pastor Bill).  Once again, this town has a group from Federal Way already coming (through Tom Horton and RCYM, so this was a big blessing to hear that).

We made a few calls along the way to and from these locations to try to line up other appointments on our way back toward Missoula (only got answering machines and/or no answers).  When we arrived back to Missoula we lined up a hotel (with a hot tub of course).  Our dinner was set with another pastor for the early evening, but we were able to grab a quick nap before dinner (which made me feel worse, as it was only 45 minutes).

Dinner was a great burger at Fuddruckers (one of the best burgers I’ve ever had).  We made a great contact with the Pastor from Potomac (though the town may be too small).  It was at Fuddruckers where I had the KEY idea of the trip…

To be continued.

Grace,

Brian

Prayers Appreciated

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

I have a few teaching times on the horizon, I’d really appreciate you praying for these talks.

Monday (3.23):  Speaking at KR YoungLife.  We are going to once again talk about the cross, but emphasize more the resurrection and opportunity we have to have relationship with Christ.

Wednesday (3.25): Speaking at Rainier Christian High School Chapel.  Really looking forward to taking on the subject, “How can we be witnesses to the lost when we are Christian school students?”  

Saturday (3.28): Speaking at the NW Ministry Conference at Overlake.  I’ll be doing a session entitled, “Jesus-Focused Youth Ministry.”  I’ll try to convey the much needed, but often neglected areas of student ministry.

I am speaking several times for the Youthmark Audiences in April in May for the spring retreats and one-day training for each of the groups going on the missions.  These talks are also being formed this week!  

Truly I appreciate you lifting up these talks to the Lord.  I am excited to present His Word!

I’ll get you more of the Montana/Idaho report Monday!

Grace,
Brian

Sleep Deprived and Thankful

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As I have shared here before, I am leading YoungLife at Kentridge High School. It has been a blessing. I love interacting with these students who are seeking truth (whether they know it or not).  On Monday night I had the opportunity to share the story of the Cross.  It is such a blessing to share the Good News!  I don’t ever want to take for granted the privilege it is to share the Gospel.  

So, with that in mind, I didn’t schedule my Montana and Idaho scout trip to start until after I was done sharing on Monday night.  My Montana Lead, Jess, and I loaded up the 4Runner and we took off for an all night drive.  Fortunately, Jess was awake enough that he did not need to sleep until about 4:00 AM.  I drove the entire way from Seattle to Drummond (about an hour east of Missoula).  The last two hours were in a solid sheet of ice on I-90.  Praise the Lord for keeping us safe on the road. 

Over a few of my next posts I’ll bring you up to speed on blessings of this scout trip. But first I want to speak simply about the relationship I have with my three leads and what it has been like taking these scout trips.  These men are a total blessing to me and I am so thankful I have had an extended time with each of them on these scout trips.

It’s been so great to see the strengths of Jess, Aaron and Nathan on these trips.  Each has been so different, though each has a couple key things in common.  

Similarities: They all have a great sense of humor.  When spending hours on the road, you need to be able to laugh.  Believe me, we all laughed!  Jess, Aaron and Nathan all have a passion to see their own students thrive in their relationships with Jesus.  This has been the thing that has made the scouts so easy–they don’t have to speak on behalf of Youthmark–they can speak on their own behalf and why they want to come and serve with their students.   Last, each of these guys have  unending love for their families and our Lord.  Being on a trip with guys who love the Lord and have their priorities straight has encouraged my own passionate pursuit in wonderful ways.

Differences: It was so great to discover the different strengths each of these guys bring to Youthmark.  Nathan is the only one (besides me) who has done a Rural mission trip.  He has been able to bring his past experiences to the table as we shared with Pastors.  Aaron was the first to really bless me by listening to him talk (make phone calls) to other pastors (as we tried to line up appointments).  Hearing him say, “this is Aaron and I’m with Youthmark…” was such a blessing.This really made the “team” a reality to me.  With Aaron and Jess I found myself letting go of so much more and trusting these guys in representing the ministry.  As I’ll share later, we had so much territory to cover in MT and ID that I actually rented a second vehicle and sent Jess off in a different direction so we could cover more space in less time.  This was a wonderful blessing to trust another with the ministry.  I am thankful that God has equipped Jess with an ability to speak with passion about his ministry while accurately communicating what Youthmark is doing to team with the local church.

These guys are a blessing to me!  Please lift these guys and their families up in prayer!

Back with more MT/ID soon!

Grace,
Brian

Christmas in March!

Brian Aaby 3 Comments

On Christmas eve at the Aaby house (as in, my house growing up, not my current adult life), one could always count on “the squeak.”  Approximately three to five minutes after lights out, as the anticipation for the next morning grew, my brother, David, would let out a rather girlish (keep in mind he was only 4 or 5 when this started) squeak.  His level of excitement had risen so much that there was nothing he could do but squeak.

I think for at least 5-6 years the squeaks were real, but then for the next several years he claims he was only doing it for my benefit (hmmm, I’ll have to call his wife to see if he still doing it)?

march_madness_2008Yesterday began my squeaking for the Christmas in March I am about to experience.  Selection Sunday!  Every year, in the middle of March, the NCAA tournament brackets are announced for March Madness, the 65 team tournament for college basketball.  The Thursday and Friday after the brackets are announced are the two best days in any given sport hands down!  People schedule days of vacation just to be a couch potato.  Doctors report they are booked with men making “the appointment” for the Wednesday before March Madness begins just because they want to be sitting around for the next couple days.

Last night, after the tourney was announced, we had two other couples over to our house for the first ever Aaby Tournament Draft.  Every other year I have had an office staff to do a tournament draft with, well, this year my wife wanted to get in on the action and so we invited the Rocks and the Robinsons to jump in.  

This challenge is different than the average “fill in your brackets” (guess the winners all the way through).  In this style you pick a number (in our case 1-6) out of a hat.  This establishes our draft order.  Then the person who had #1 picks a team he/she thinks will get the  most wins (in our case it was Heather, and she picked North Carolina).  Then #2 picks, all the way down to #6.  Here’s where the twist happens.  We then go back the other way, #6 picks again, then #5, all the way down to #1.  So it is constantly going up then down the order.  Each round of the tournament we will count the number of wins a given participant had. 

I’m looking forward to a great tourney.  If you’re interested in knowing my teams (again, not necessarily the teams I think will win, just the ones that were around when a given round came to me):

Pitt, Gonzaga, Utah, Kansas, Utah St., Butler, BYU, VCU, Stephen F. Austin, Portland State and Binghampton.

Sqeak!

Grace,
Brian

Saturday

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

So far I have been able to chill on the couch with Audrey.  Laugh with Halle.  Crawl around on the floor with Will.  Go to Arby’s to pick up a roast beef sandwich for Elisabeth and do absolutely NOTHING else productive.

It is a wonderful Saturday at home!

Grace,
Brian

3 Words

Brian Aaby 3 Comments

I know I have done something like this in the past and it is time to do it again.  I’d love for you to participate if for no other reason for me to become more curious about you.

I’ll post three words that describe my current state of mind… they are just words, but perhaps others can relate, or you’ll find yourself curious enough to find out why I am feeling each of the following.  

After reading mine, go ahead and “comment” your own, perhaps I (or others who comment on this blog) will follow up with you?

My Three Words:

Jumbled

Sore

Hopeful

Now, what about you?

Grace,
Brian

My Friend Byron

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

On Sunday afternoon the Aaby family hosted a prayer gathering for our good friends Byron and Shannon.  A few weeks ago I had posted about Byron and his recent discovery of cancer.  Well, on Monday he began his chemotherapy treatments which will last for the next couple of months.

The report is that the first chemo treatment went well (he goes in every day this week, for up to seven hours in a day).

As you know, many who go through chemo will lose their hair… this WILL NOT be the case with Byron (see below).  We took care of the hair issue already at the end of the prayer time.  It was such a rich time of fellowship and prayer, folk from as far south as Olympia and as far north as Marysville came to the gathering.  Shannon’s brother, Neil, is on spring break from Boston and was able to join in as well!

Pray for Byron, pray the Lord has much ministry in store for this great young couple in the years ahead!

Grace,
Brian

 

What it looked like at the end.

What it looked like at the end.

But first, I had some fun!

But first, I had some fun!