Month July 2008

Contest

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Elisabeth and I had a wonderful day/evening anniversary celebration.  Spent some time at the Mercer Island Starbucks just chatting and doing a little work (she was reading for a meeting she has with a girl she meets with/disciples).  Good relaxing time.  Then we went to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for a WONDERFUL dinner.  We had never eaten at one before.

We were blessed with some gifts at our going away party at BPPC and felt so fortunate to have such a treat last night!  The steak was soooo good!

Anyway, we had a “Brush with fame” last night as we sat next to two celebrities.  I will update with hints until somebody wins the free Coffee Card up for grabs.  Name both of the celebrities.

Who am I?

Who am I?

 

And who am I?

And who am I?

I’ll slowly add more clues:

1. Similar to the last contest

2. TV

3. These two were in Seattle because ESPN was in Anaheim (Los Angeles)

***WINNER***

Congrats to Nathan Schlaud.  Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo are the TV commentators for the Boston Red Sox. Because ESPN was doing the game on Sunday these two were “off.”  The funny thing, not only did they not have the game on Sunday, but Saturday FOX was doing the LA/BoSox game too, so they actually had two days off!  We chatted a couple minutes.  Nice guys who felt bad for Seattle fans! 

Nathan, a coffee card is coming your way soon.

Grace,
Brian

Twelve

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Normally, 21 is my favorite number.  However, for the day I am going to reverse those two digits and make 12 my favorite.

Why?

Because today is our 12th anniversary!  12 years ago today (10:30 AM Mountain Time, 9:30 AM Pacific) Elisabeth Stimer and I became man and wife.  We were married at Shove Chapel (pronounced like “show” but with the v at the end) in Colorado Springs, CO.

My parents are going to take the girls for the afternoon/evening and we’ll take Will on an adventure to Pike Place/downtown, enjoy some coffee time, and a nice dinner out!  The weather looks like a perfect match to that in Colorado 12 years ago (only we had huge thunderstorms in the evening).  

Besides salvation and a relationship with Jesus, Elisabeth is the best gift I could have ever received.  I am thankful for these 12 years and the many more to come!  I love you Elisabeth!

Here is a pic of Shove Chapel!

Grace,
Brian

Shove Chapel, Colorado Springs

Shove Chapel, Colorado Springs

Looking Forward… Halle

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I have enjoyed my first three weeks of blogging, much has happened in my life in these three weeks.  From time-to-time I think I will have a post entitled, “Looking Back.”  However, today I am starting a new series called, “Looking Forward (with a subtitle as well).”  Every now-and-again, I’ll post a few things happening in the next days, weeks, months or even years which get me pretty excited.  And before you go verse quoting on me, yes, I am aware of the verses which speak about not worrying about tomorrow, etc… these are just fun dreams so don’t be a party-pooper!

So, here’s the first with the subheading of “Halle”

(ALL of todays “Looking Forward” pertain to Halle)

In the next…

…hour I am looking forward to going in our kid pool with Halle and hearing her giggle and practice her “eyes in” (going under water).

…day I am looking forward to Halle telling us what she learned at her Sunday School class.  We are checking out our third new church and she is quite the trooper.  She normally can recite about everything the teacher has said (so be prepared if we come visit your church!).

…week I am looking forward to a daddy-daughter date with Halle to just spend some one-on-one time with her.  I think we’ll do either Baskin Robbins or Coldstone, these seem to be her favs right now.

…month I am looking forward to taking Halle camping to Lake Kachess.  She and her sister will head up with me (and my dad, brother and a few others).  I can’t wait to see her explore the woods, splash in the lake, hike the trail and read by the fire!

…year I look forward to her first grade year with Mommy as her teacher.  I think she is going to learn so much and her creative juices will never cease to amaze me.

Father, I am so thankful for my family and I pray your blessing upon Halle today!  Thank you for the gift she is to me, Elisabeth, Audrey, Will and so many others!  

Perhaps you’ll take a minute to lift up my daughter in your prayers! 

Grace,

Brian

 

Halle Grace!

Halle Grace!

It’s Like Riding A Bike!

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Today is the day!  Yep, going to do it… I think.

Discipline: Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement (and in my case add “physical” and “spiritual” improvement).

As I posted before, the next three weeks are going to be quite busy.  I have a fun trip with my old small group (Lifeboat) coming up in early August (a last hoorah of sorts). In order to get everything done that needs to get done I decided the best thing for me to do would be to put together a “to do” list for each of the next 15 days or so.  Discipline produces discipline for me.  If I am discipline in my spiritual life, it usually means I am disciplined in the other areas of my life (and vice versa).  So to that end, about two-thirds of those 15 days listed includes a bike ride.  Because when I am disciplined in my physical life (eating habits and exercise) I am typically disciplined in the other areas as well.  

I desire to be disciplined w/o being legalistic.  I desire to have structure w/o having too much of a check-list mentality.  I must show myself grace, but not abuse that grace!

 

It'll hurt, but the pain will be worth it!

It'll hurt, but the pain will be worth it!

So, today is the day.  I have already accomplished a few things on my “to do” list for today (but not the bike yet).  A lot of times my spiritual life is a lot like riding a bike too, sometimes I just need to get on the trail. Perhaps this can be an encouragement to you today!  Get back on your bike (physical, spiritual, emotional, etc.)  

It’s time for me to get in shape… and may that shape be different than round!

Grace,

Brian

Trip Report

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

I am posting from the Promenade Starbucks (very close to LAX) as I prepare to fly home from a wonderful two days of meetings down in SoCal.  Two weeks ago, as I began this venture full time, I knew some of the things I wanted to get started on.  These last two days were affirming and inspiring. I am very excited about the first two projects I will be working on (more so than before).

The first is the mission component.  Over the next three weeks I will have a far more intensive plan and even some of the beginning promotional materials developed.  Please pray specifically for the details to come together (many contacts to make, arrangements to be made and the financial commitments to be worked out).

The second is the completion and expansion of my original Youthmark Product.  It is a series of Guided Studies on the Life of Christ.  The expansion is exciting but will mean that at least half of my time over the next three weeks (have to meet a deadline) will be dedicated to this project. 

I really would appreciate your prayers for both of these projects and as the release dates and promotional materials are developed I can speak more specifically about each of these.  

Off to In-N-Out for the obligatory and much appreciated Double Double (weight watchers to begin again AFTER the trip!!!!).

Grace,
Brian

Memories

Brian Aaby 3 Comments

I’m soaring 35,000 feet over the Golden State as I type this entry. I have had many a spiritual memory in SoCal. Not only did I go to college here, but my in-laws live down south.  I thought it’d be fun to list a few of my most Spiritually Memorable locations in life and maybe a quick sentence or two as to why.  I’d love for you to comment and list any of your own!

Malibu Club, Canada (British Columbia, Young Life Camp).  On June 28, 1990, I trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  God’s glory shown at this beautiful scenic locale.  I have been back 4-5 since and I am flooded with great memories of His majestic views and the new eyes He gave me for His Word.

Santa Clarita/Castaic, CA.  Can’t really say “it’s beautiful,” but will say that this is where God began to build the foundation for the rest of my life.  I met my best friends for life (most importantly my wife), began my first youth ministry and learned much about the “B-I-B-L-E!”

Lake Kachess, WA. As my friend Miki Vercammen was sharing at my going away shin-dig she reminded me of some great times I have had at Lake Kachess.  Many of the most recent memories were of leading the Wave Campout.  Great hikes, boating and plenty of fantastic talks/prayer/worship!

Rural America.  Each town has a different personality.  But each of my Rural Mission trips has had significant impact on my spiritual life. Specifically, Mineral, Morton, Pine Valley, Rockaway Beach, Unity (including the Bus Caravan there), and Julian stand out the most because of the settings and the people (on my team and in the town).

There are more, like Colorado Springs (married there, speaking at camps), Hawaii (speaking), Mexican Prison (a mission, not an inmate), India (mission) and others, but I wanted to keep my list at least somewhat short!

What about you?  What physical locale has been significant to you?

Grace,
Brian

Thankful

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

I am so thankful to the people of BPPC and the surrounding ministries (merge, Youth Group, etc.) for the wonderful “going away” party/merge service they had for us last night. We are thankful we don’t need to leave these relationships and we know that many of you will be partnering with us through prayer. 

I look forward to having a Youthmark Prayer Fellowship on Monday, August 18 at the Heiders.  I will keep you posted at this site (it will be in the evening).  We covet your prayers in the mean-time.  

I will be heading down to LA for a quick day and a half of meetings to discuss publishing, marketing and the like.  Please pray for these meetings.  Pray for safety in travel as well.  I’ll post from down there.

For those of you connected to BPPC and the family gathered last night.  Thank you.  We were/are very blessed to have you as friends.

Grace,
Brian

If We Only Knew…

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

While I was in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, and Baltimore I encountered scores of wandering people.  Some of them were homeless, some of them looked just like you and I.  Some of them were angry, some of them wore smiles.  They were wandering though.  

I enjoy people watching.  I wonder, “what is going on with his life?” or “where is she coming from right now?”   Do you ever wonder what someone else is thinking.  You ever just want to meet a need?  What does it mean for us to look outside ourselves?  

I was reading a blog of one of my former students here.  He posted this video recently, hope you like it and I hope it makes you think.

Grace,
Brian

Shopping…

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

This Sunday is the official “first Sunday” of our church shopping expedition.  This is the first time since I was 19 years old that I/we have gone looking for a church to attend; all other churches I have been a part of I have been hired.  This should be a unique experience.  

Some have asked, “why not stay at BPPC?”  We truly love the people at BPPC, but it is usually not a good move to have an outgoing pastor stay at the church when he moves out of the pastorate there.  For Eric’s sake, he needs room to make it his own; to build the team he will work well with; to make the changes he needs/wants to make and not feel the pressure to make it like Brian, Miki, Doug, Bill or Tom had it! Blessings on Eric and Miki as they move this group forward!

Our plan is to take the next several weeks of the summer to visit 4-5 churches just once each, then in the early fall (and after the regular church stuff is back up and running) we will narrow the field to 2-3 churches which we will visit a few times each.  We look forward to the blessings we will receive in seeing many churches this summer and we look forward to plugging into a body again too!  Your prayers are appreciated!

Grace,

Brian