Author Brian Aaby

Burgers: Top Five

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

Every now and then I like to create a little controversy with my blog… don’t know if this will be one of those times or not, but worth a shot.  

A couple months ago, while in Colorado Springs, I was able to take in a new Burger joint with my good friend Steve Burford.  Steve and I go all the way back to college where we enjoyed many an In-N-Out Burger (Double Doubles, of course).  Well, Steve introduced me to a new place: Five Guys.  This is no a “new place,” I believe it has East Coast roots.  Well, it was fairly new to the Springs.  It was wonderful, instantly cracking my “top 5” of fast food burgers.

I am proud to announce that Five Guys has made their way west and have landed in The Landing, in Renton.  In its first week at The Landing, Elisabeth and I have been there twice.  Re-affirming its “top 5” status.

So, without further ado, here is my current ranking of best Fast Food Burgers (qualifies as “fast food” only if you order and pick up at counter, no waiters/waitresses, and reasonable price comparisons to other fast food places).  Counting down from #5 to #1

 

#5

 

Another CA native, made its way north and worked its Magic.

Another CA native, made its way north and worked its Magic.

#4

 

Ahh, the Garlic fries make the cow taste better!

Ahh, the Garlic fries make the cow taste better!

#3

 

Little known, but worth going to the Seattle Center house for this!

Little known, but worth going to the Seattle Center house for this!

#2

 

Welcome to WA Guys!

Welcome to WA Guys!

#1

Only available in CA, AZ and NV... but worth the drive!

Only available in CA, AZ and NV... but worth the drive!

 

So, what do you think?  Is your list different? 

Happy eating!

Grace,
Brian

Book List

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

imagesI am currently reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  I have greatly been encouraged (and convicted) by it.  Francis is a very honest speaker/writer and I really appreciate the way he is living out his faith in his writing and pastoring.

Over the last few months I have asked the question of other youth pastors/leaders for the names of some of their favorite resources they are using in Youth Ministry.  This book was suggested more than once, therefore I picked it up and am reading it.  So the question I have for you, my faithful reading audience…

What book needs to be on my list?  

I am not a fast reader and I don’t read a ton, but I really do enjoy reading books others suggest for me.  So, what  do I need to read next and why?

Don’t only list a book, go and buy Francis’ book and read it!

Grace,
Brian

What is Wrong with this Picture?

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

Does anyone else find it very odd (or maybe just a sign of the times) that there are lots of children around as the WA governor signs this bill?

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I will choose to meditate on this Scripture today.

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-5

We live in an interesting time, none of this really surprises me.  Tolerance is being preached, but it seems we are to tolerate everything as long is it isn’t narrow-minded Biblical instruction.  

I have witnessed the mindset of students each year become more and more open to the ideas society would want them to believe.  I trust that as Christians we can continue to live in and be about grace, but keep our head in all situations as well!

Interesting photo opportunity for Governor G.

Praying for our nation.

Grace,
Brian

Finally an Update

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

The busy season has gotten the best of me; it was tough enough to keep up with this blog, but I have finally begun posting again at the Youthmark “Brian” blog as well.  You can link to that here. 

 

Over at the other blog...

Over at the other blog...

 

 

My hope is to post at least 2x a week over there, while maintaining 3-4 posts a week here.  Content wise, the Youthmark blog is going to focus more on the mission trips and upcoming Youthmark events/products, etc.

My biggest hope/goal for both blogs is that it leads folk to their knees in prayer… okay, and the occasional falling to your knees in laughter on this blog as well!

Thanks for your support!

Grace,
Brian 

FoF Update Again

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What my Status Update looks like right now

What my Status Update looks like right now

 

 

The FoF (Faith on Facebook) Challenge is about 6 weeks old and I am very encouraged by the emails, texts and facebook messages I continue to receive. 

For those “not in the know,”  the FoF Challenge was given as the last message at each of the Youthmark Mission Venture training events.  Here were the dates/places people received the challenge:

April 3-4: Lake Retreat, 6 churches from Western WA received the challenge.

April 19: Escondido CA, the Emmanuel Faith group received the FoF Challenge.

April 25: Two Colorado Springs groups received it.

April 26: A group from Glenwood Springs was trained and received the challenge.

May 3: The Spring, TX group was challenged by the FoF

May 8-9: The remaining 12 churches from Western WA came to Lake Retreat and were given the FoF Challenge.

Participants are asked to donate their “Status Update” for a week, a month, or until their mission trip this summer.  In the update they are to write something along the lines of “Ask me about my FoF Challenge.”  In turn, Facebook friends do begin to ask about the FoF.  The trained missionary is then able to respond (usually in a private message) by saying something like: “The FoF is a Faith on Facebook Challenge I am taking, the challenge is to find out what my FB friends think of Jesus… so, what do you think of Jesus?  Who do you believe Him to be?”

The goal is to open up spiritual conversation between FB friends!  

It is working!

There is not a day that goes by I don’t receive some sort of FoF related question, comment, report, etc.  

I am proud of the FoF participants!

The neatest thing, I am finding the FoF is giving me more confidence offline too!  I am quicker to engage in spiritual conversation anywhere (as it should be)!

You wanna join the FoF revolution?  Jump on!

Grace,

Brian

Youthmark, the last 5 months in pictures…

Brian Aaby 3 Comments

Here is a little picture timeline of the last 5 months in the life of Youthmark.

Each of these pictures calls for 1000 words, but I choose to just show the pictures instead!

What a blessing it has been to speak in a variety of places, meet scores of rural pastors, eat many a club sandwich and spend valuable time with students and adults training for a 2009 YMV!

Grace,
Brian

Happy Mom’s Day!

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Look forward to posting a couple lengthy blog posts soon about stuff that’s been going on in my life, but today, I want to celebrate the Mom’s in my life!

My mother-in-law, Karen, is a great Ma-n-La.  I so appreciate her love and support of our family.  She is a very giving person, evidenced by the several weeks she has spent with us after the birth of each of our three kids.  I always look forward to the times we get to spend with our SoCal extended family!  Thank you Karen for being a wonderful M-I-L!

I am thankful for my Mom and am very thankful for her role in my life and the life of my family.  She is a very good “grammy” and loves spending time with our kids (as well as the other grandchildren).  My mom receives much joy in being part of the church choir, Mother’s Ministry and other church activities, this thrills my heart!  Thank you mom, I celebrate you today!

And for my lovely bride and the mother of my kids, Elisabeth!  Elisabeth is simply the best mom I know.  She exemplifies a Christ-like attitude of putting others first in the way she thinks of me, the girls and Will.  Elisabeth is able to discipline with grace and consistently encourage our kids in a way I believe truly brings glory to the Lord!  She is also fun, creative and very patient (though she’d probably try to contradict the last one).  I love parenting with Elisabeth!  I love you Babe, thanks for being such a fantastic Mom!

Hope you’re celebrating the Mom’s in your life today!

Grace,
Brian

Pray-4-Retreat

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Tonight begins our last Spring Retreat/Training for the Youthmark Mission Ventures!

I look forward to being with the 180+ people who will be attending the retreat!  Pray for the hearts and minds to be open to doing missions NOW and not just then (this summer).

I look forward to catching up with many blog posts I have been thinking about but not able to write quite yet! Busy season!

Thanks for your prayers!

Grace,
Brian

CONTEST: What Am I Thinking?

Brian Aaby 9 Comments

Sorry it has been awhile since I last posted, and I will pick some of my favorites from the last contest as well.  Here is a new one, do you have a comment that will work for either me or Will on this one?  I’ll post my favorite “thoughts” after you give some thought comments.

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Grace,
Brian

 

********** The Winner **********

No question on this one:  Congrats to Elisabeth for her entry… Bringing new meaning to the term “wet willy”