Author Brian Aaby

Proud Family/Friend

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For the last few months one of my best friends, Anthony, and my father-in-law, Andy, have been hard at work on a pretty phenomenal event.  Legacy Ministries is hosting an event entitled, From the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Bible in America.  In short, this two-month exhibit celebrates the Scriptures and its history.  Anthony is the executive director at Legacy and my father-in-law serves on the board of directors; the two of them, in many ways, put the right people together to put this event together!    Check out what the Phoenix Fox affiliate had to say about it!

I’ll see if I can get the video embedded into here, but for now, click here to get directly to the video.

Hope many of my old neighbors in PHX get to check this out.  I am hoping to swing a trip down south just to see it!

Grace,
Brian

Words

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I wanted to take a quick break today and blog; but really couldn’t think of what I wanted to post.  I have a few ideas that I want to pursue, but these ideas would be longer entries.  So, I thought a fun entry, from time to time would be something you could participate in as well.  What three words describe your day?  It could cause intrigue, follow-up or confusion!  So, here is my attempt:

1.Network

2.Creating

3.Expectation

How about your three words?

Grace,
Brian

Calance

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imagesSince blog is a made up word, I figured I could make up my own word as well (for the computer illiterate, “blog” is a combo of web and log).  So, “Calance” is my attempt at finding Calender Balance over the next few months.

 

On the agenda:

  • A few speaking opportunities, local and out of state
  • continued consulting (which may mean another few trips)
  • planning, writing and all the details/teaching for the 2009 Spring Retreats
  • Several scouting trips for the 2009 summer missions
  • Writing for several projects, including the 2010 Mission Prep Workbook (the follow-up to move)
  • Scouting and Meetings for the 2010 mission season
  • and a few other “not yet on the radar” things.

images-11It may not seem like a lot, but I am trying to figure out the right (and write) “windows of time” to get each of these done.  The scout trips will take 2-3 days each and are ideal to do mid-week when Pastors in the receiving towns are available.  Balance that with a few weekend speaking gigs, and then you try to make time to do the other things w/o interfering too much with family and you then come up with the term “Calance.”

Pray for my calendar balance, I seek to honor the Lord, my family and my work.  I am thankful for the time God has designed for me and gives to me to steward!

Grace,
Brian

A Smattering Of Fun/Work

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What day is it?  

For some reason the days leading in and following Christmas always seem to throw my internal calendar into a thick haze.  I think it is that Christmas and New Years feel like a weekend day no-matter-what.  Then throw in an actual weekend and then you’re really messed up.  On top of that, as a Youth Pastor, we would throw in the occasional all day event or overnighter and I’d be thrown off even more.  

This year, though not a Youth Pastor, was no different.  In many ways I felt like I got a lot done for Youthmark (especially in the last days before Christmas), but in other ways I feel like I now need to hit it hard because of the lack of productivity lately.  

It was a great Holiday Season, really a smattering (in a good way) of family, friends, work and ministry.  Though each felt a little short changed and rushed, as I look back, the amount of time with each was a created a nicely put together puzzle.

A few of the highlights:

Ministry: Able to share at Calvary Chapel South on a Sunday morning, speak at Highlands Community Church Winter Camp and then, today, speak at a parent meeting back at Calvary Chapel South.  Oh, and I had a great Reunion with my old Lifeboat guys as well!

Family: Too many, bound to miss some, but having E’s folks in town is always nice; the Aaby extended family Christmas went really well; our immediate family loved doing Advent Sundays together and of course Christmas morning is the highlight of the time with them.

Work: Though ministry and work can sometimes be confused, I will say completing the Youthmark Mission Venture Leaders Guide was a huge highlight, especially getting them out on time, before Christmas!

Friends: Of course taking 4th place last night at the hearts tourney was pretty sweet, but it was equally as cool hanging out with the friends there.  On top of that we were able to spend time with many out-of-town folk who were back home for the Holidays.  I learned Farkle (or Farkel depending on who you ask).

Though there are more highlights, I need to leave for church, busy/fun day ahead, continuing the smattering for the next couple days as I have set aside times for friends, work, games, ministry and family!

Grace,

Brian

I Heart Hearts

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Tourney #2 Tonight!

Tourney #2 Tonight!

For the last 0h-so-many years I have participated in a Hearts (card game) tournament.  My friend, Frank, had been hosting it at his Lake Tapps home location.  He was probably a good 7-9 years into hosting the tournament when Boeing up and moved him to California (for some reason the 25 or so guys who participate didn’t want to commute for a tourney?). 

 

At the time of his move we decided it could be a good thing to keep it going and I would host it (Frank would come home for Thanksgiving to see his extended family anyway).  Frank was not long for California (I think he may have only been in CA for one or two holiday seasons?).  Anyway, he returned to the NW and we like the tournaments enough that I kept hosting one and he added a second tourney (he is now up north in the Everett area).   So, now twice a year around the holidays (T-Giving and Christmas) we participate/host two tournaments.  

We are moving my tourney to my dad’s house this year (something about an 8-month old and sleep?).  They are always a lot of fun.  I just hope the move offsite (away from my house) allows me to play better than I have for the last 3-4 years.  If you’re good at hearts, live in the greater Seattle area, you’re a man (sorry, we’re not Politically Correct yet), and you are free tonight (Saturday), hit me up with an email, we’ll get you in.

Here’s to Shootin’-the-Moon!

Grace,
Brian

Brrrrrringing In the New Year!

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I returned from my 4 day (5 message) retreat with Highlands Community Church.  It was a wonderful camp with about 100 others at the historic Mt. Baker Chalet.  It is a 4-Story A-Frame lodge about 1/4 mile from the Mt. Baker Ski Area. 

 

One of the views from the lodge

One of the views from the lodge

It was COLD, but the Highlands group was very warm!  From the time we arrived on Monday to the time we left yesterday, I believe it stopped snowing for about one 8-hour stretch.  My 4-Runner was buried up to the windows with some three feet on top of it as well, it was quite the sight.  Inside the lodge we bonded well and old relationships improved and new ones were established!  God was at work!

 

The theme of the camp, “Face to Face Friendships” was a perfect one to use 1 Thessalonians as our key text.  I love how Paul names and displays his love for that church.  It was so nice to get away to a place where ipods, hand held gaming, texting, calling and the like were not allowed.  It put us all into a place where we relied upon Face to Face contact.  None of these things (the above mentioned devices) are  necessarily BAD, but they sometimes can distract and/or replace face to face encounters.

It was a great way to start the year, I greatly missed my family, but am blessed to have a wife and three kids who support me the way they do! 

Happy and Holy New Year!

Grace,

Brian

CONTEST: Ninja Chipmunk W.A.I.T.

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I started a contest series awhile back entitled, “What Am I Thinking?”  Up until now it has always been family and friends who I’ve pictured.  I saw this pic on a friends facebook the other day, couldn’t pass this one up.  So… What am I thinking (WAIT)?

You choose the thought (s) of either of these rodents (or both) and “comment” them.  The funniest will be In The Running and then an eventual winner will be chosen as well.  Let’s see if you’ll be the first contest winner of 2009 (I’ll end the contest on January 2).

In celebration of the Chipmunk the winner will get a jar of nuts.

 

What Am I Thinking?... or what are we thinking?

What Am I Thinking?... or what are we thinking?

Let the comments begin!

Grace,

Brian

******************** 

In the Running:

“she said she loves me!”
“no! she loves me!”  Ricky

“Stop calling me ALVIN!!!!!”  unowho

“O.k. geez,you win, I’m allergic to nuts anyways!”  Jan A.

WINNER: the very clever “Stop calling me ALVIN!!!!!” unowho

The cashews will be sent soon!

The Eagle Has Landed

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I had the honor of speaking at the Eagle Court of Honor  for Alex Randall yesterday.  Thanks Alex (Alex was in my small group of guys who just graduated in June of 2008).

I used 2 Timothy 3:10-17 as my text.

 

Alex last summer on our trip to AZ

Alex last summer on our trip to AZ

My prayer for Alex is similar to the charge from Paul to Timothy:

 

 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

How about you?  For the Christians in this readership, are you standing firm in the things the Lord has taught you?  Are you following the example of those Godly people who have provided the example?  You see, my prayer for Alex, is really a prayer for all of us!  Let’s use these last few days of 2008 to examine where we have been, celebrate His work, thank those who have set the example and seek His Word and Spirit for the direction of 2009.

Congratulations, once again, to Alex, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak from this passage, it gave me some great moments of meditation!

Grace,
Brian

Camp Speaking

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I am in the midst of studying for an upcoming camp speaking opportunity.  Highlands Community Church of Renton has asked me to speak for the Sr. High Winter Camp.  This will take place at a retreat facility which sits about 1000 feet away from the ski lifts at Mt. Baker.  

 

The Mt. Baker Chalet in the summer

The Mt. Baker Chalet in the summer

The lodge is a 4 Story self contained retreat facility complete with a dining area which doubles as the speaking area, a couple of floors of dorm style cabin rooms and a game area.  Should be a lot of fun getting to know the 100 high school students and staff in this setting.

 

 

The theme of the camp is “Face To Face Friendships.”  This is a theme their youth pastor, Wes, came up with and when he asked me to speak and explained his hopes I instantly became excited and started praying for God to lead me to the right text.  Beyond the speaking theme, I love that  the students are bringing no ipods, cell phones, or electronic gaming devices–all the things which can prevent face-to-face friendships.  This will greatly enhance  the spiritual side of things and the direction I believe the Lord has taken me…

The Fire and View (where I'll speak)

The Fire and View (where I'll speak)

 

 

I have loved my study on 1 Thessalonians.  I love the way Paul loved this church and shared his love for them.  This letter is encouraging, bold, authentic and gets quickly to the point.  I think it has all the makings of “face to face.”  So, pray for this camp, the hearts of the students/staff who will be attending and for God to use the messages and cabin times to speak to the students about His desire for face time.

Grace,

Brian

Christmas Eve Service and Jingle Bells

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We went to the Christmas Eve service at our new church, Faith Baptist (in Kent)… that’s right, I said it, our new church.  Finally.  That’ll be another post.  The point being, they started the service by inviting the parents to pull out their keys and hand them to their kids.  Suddenly I fast forwarded 10 years–Halle will be asking for these keys again about then (AHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOO!).

Anyway, back to this story!  The girls totally got into it, I quickly pulled out my phone and took a quick picture.  Here is the joy of that moment followed by the traditional ending of the service with candlelight and singing Silent Night.

 

Rockin' the Keys as their Bells!

Rockin' the Keys as their Bells!

Yes, Halle is eating a candy cane and singing Silent Night.

Yes, Halle is eating a candy cane and singing Silent Night.

Hope you had a wonderful celebration of the birth of the Savior!

Grace,
Brian