Author Brian Aaby

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

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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…

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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…

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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

Child-Like Faith

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So, this blog is not only going to be about the adventures of Brian, or the adventures of Youthmark… it is also about the family.  While I was on my baseball trip and Elisabeth was playing the role of “SuperMom” (which she plays even when I am home) she sent me a very cute email.  Here is part of her emial to me:

Okay, here’s the note Halle wrote to me yesterday (I’ll type everything exactly as she wrote it):

“Dear Mom, Thank you for signing us in for swiming lessons.  I’m really exited about learning   to swim.  i’m also exited to learn how to duck my head underwater.  i think that swiming  lessons is really fun.  I love you. Love, Halle (in fancy letters) xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo (and on and on)”

Then, later in the afternoon (after lessons), she asked if she could be alone in her room for a while… I noticed Halle had her Bible and a little journal.  She gave me this twenty minutes later:

“Dear Heavenly Father I pray you would help me in swiming lessons to duck my head under
water without holding my nose.  Thank you for the beutiful earth you made.  I pray that you  help me to grow in knowing and loving you in Jesus name i pray.  Amen.”
Wendsday praer.  HGA

The Lord answers these prayers.  Yesterday I took Halle and Audrey to their 4th swim lesson.  Halle went under water 3 times without any freak outs!  It was awesome.  Below is a pic of my girls at their lesson.

May we all thank the Lord for the lessons He is teaching us and may we all pray to grow in knowing and loving Him!

Grace,

Brian

 

Ready to take the plunge!

Ready to take the plunge!

So, what are you doing?

Brian Aaby 3 Comments

Where to begin?  As I sit down to begin my “career” at Youthmark I am struck with this question, and to be honest, it’s the question I have been asked the most the last couple weeks, “what is the first thing you will be working on?”  

I want Youthmark to provide quality products, events, experiences, resources, coaching and more for the greater youth and family ministry causes.  To that end I will be putting together mission trips, conferences, camps and written resources.  Over the last few years I have written a series of books (Bible Studies) which will make their debut and be published sometime in the next few months (we hope).  Because this is out of my hands (or off of my computer so-to-speak) and in the hands of more professional people doing the final edit/formatting/publishing, then I am free to begin some of my other projects.

So, to answer the “what will I be working on” question… I am developing what I think could be a HUGE program for Youthmark. It will be one part mission trip, but will include resources and the like to enhance the mission of the Youth ministries in the northwest.  Please be in prayer as I write these resources, develop a business strategy and market the plan.   

Over the next month or so I will be receiving feedback from move: mission prep workbook, and reformatting this to be included in the overall mission strategy. 

I am hoping to head down to LA in the next few weeks for some key meetings and will also be working on a writing project with Elisabeth.  We greatly appreciate your prayers.

Speaking of prayers… Sometime in the next month we will have a gathering of sorts (I’m hoping a BBQ) for those who want to be part of the Youthmark Prayer Fellowship (just came up with that for lack of a better title).  We want to gather from time to time to bring our prayer support team up to speed and just enjoy hanging out together.  I’ll let you know when this is, Andy and Terri Heider will host the first one.  We’d love to have you there!

Okay, back to the other writing!

Grace,
Brian

Contest #2

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Name This Celebrity

*If you are this celebrity, or if you know this celebrity (specifically, married to him) or are related to me, you may not answer this question.  Winner gets a free Starbucks card.  I’ll post hints until someone gets it.  We’ll start just with the pic, then check back, hints will be posted below.

Hint #1: Uses his vocal chords a lot.

Hint #2: Is not a mormon, but people might think he is.

Hint #3: Though on a baseball trip, he “calls” Basketball and Football his favorites.

Hint #4: It is not David Locke (but Wes is on the right path).

Hint #5: He’s a professional, but doesn’t “call” professionals.

Hint #6: Lives near a lake where he could float, but it isn’t Dead.

Hint #7: His voice can be heard, but he can’t be seen.

Hint #8: He is a white man (as you can see) and he cannot be called the “color” guy.

**CONGRATS** 

Jan B. is our winner.  How funny, there is a Jan A. and Jan B. who frequent the blog.  Shoot me an email Jan B. and I’ll get you your prize.

Mike Lageschulte was on the trip with us.  He and his wife, Becky, were really sweet.  I got to know them a bit and they said they were going to check out the blog.  Mike is the play-by-play guy for the University of Utah football and basketball programs.  He does the Play-by-play for the radio.  He is friends with David Locke, who was on KJR here in Seattle for years.

Bye, Bye, Boston

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

My view looking left

My view looking left

So… My first place for ballparks is now a great debate.  Safeco was number 1 going into the trip, Wrigley was number two… I’ll post an official list in a day or two, but I can tell you after sitting in the seats we had last night, factored with the humidity, heat and everything else, I can’t say “Fenway is the clear cut #1 anymore.”

The seating at Fenway was made for my kids.  Enough said at this point.

Great game last night though!  Boston pulls out a 1-0 Pitching duel.

We are at Logan Airport as I type, getting ready for a flight home.  Can’t wait to see Elisabeth, Halle, Audrey and Will.  Elisabeth is such a great Mommy, but I am sure she is looking forward to a little down time with just Will.  And I can’t wait to have an extended Daddy/Daughters Date (taking them to Lake Kachess later today).

I’m looking forward to start posting some of my other thoughts about this trip, my transition, Youthmark, my family and anything else I can think of.  I’m even thinking of some cool contests I can run on here from time-to-time!   

I posted a couple pics of last night below.  Pray for a safe flight for the Aaby-boys!

Grace,


Brian

 

Back side of Fenway

Back side of Fenway

my view looking right

my view looking right

 

 

Bean Town!

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

We made it to Boston!  As soon as we arrived we were able to take a tour of Fenway Park.  For those of you who don’t know, I took my dad on a baseball trip to Chicago last year.  We were able to see US Cellular Field (WhiteSox), Wrigley Field (Cubs) and Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers).  I liked all three parks, but Wrigley was the one we both looked forward to the most.  It did NOT disappoint at all.  Heading into this trip, I was certainly excited about all 4 parks and Cooperstown, but was most looking forward to Fenway, here in Boston.  

Even after last years trip to the Midwest, Safeco Field in Seattle remained my #1 park I had ever been to.  Well, Fenway has now moved into first place.  The stadium, atmosphere and everything else combined (even w/o taking in a game yet) makes it the best I’ve been to.

Here are a couple pics.

 

One of my first views

One of my first views

Not my seat tonight!

Not my seat tonight!

After our introduction we were able to head over to the “Green Monster” and sit in the seats there as well.  These seats were added in 2003, and retail at $160 per game (and you have to enter a lottery to even get to one game here).

 

On top of the Monster

On top of the Monster

view from the Monster

view from the Monster

After touring and on our way out I got a part time job and then David and I were interviewed by the NBC affiliate.  Okay, the first isn’t true, but the second is!  We might be on TV tonight in Boston, if I find it online tonight I’ll let you know!

 

My P/T job

My P/T job

David on NBC

David on NBC

And then when we got to the hotel we got on ichat with Mom.  Here is a pic in Boston showing Seattle showing Boston!  Cool with technology, huh?  

 

Dylan made my blog!

Dylan made my blog!

 

 

Off to the Best Stadium I’ve ever been to!

Grace,
Brian

Anytown, USA

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

As I sit in our hotel room in Albany, NY, I miss the blast from the past of yesterday.  Yesterday, it seems, we traveled back to 1948, Anytown, USA.  It was actually Cooperstown, NY.  What a great scene.  The place celebrating America’s Pastime looked more like a place I’d take a Rural Mission trip than the place hosting the Hall of Fame of Baseball.

 

 

One of the streets in Cooperstown

One of the streets in Cooperstown

After an almost 5 hour bus trip we enjoyed scenes like the one above. It was truly gorgeous.  We grabbed lunch at Doubleday Diner first, then entered the Hall of Fame.

 

The Hall was great.  For my Dad it was reliving so many years of history.  For me and David it was reliving some of ours as well, but a lot of learning about the history as well.  It was a great experience and I can’t wait to bring my own family here someday.  The beauty of the town itself is worth it.

 

The M\'s \

M

We sort of separated at the Hall for quite some time.  After I had had enough for one visit I went walking through the town and encountered some great scenes and a good break from the crowds (the whole trip we’ve been surrounded by each other and thousands of fans at each game, and in each city); this was a great little break.

I’ve very much enjoyed the trip, I enjoyed the one day break from games (though the town hosts “Doubleday Field” and I did catch a few innings of a couple youth and young adult games yesterday). Looking forward seeing Boston and Fenway Park.  Certainly the stadium we all have looked forward to the most!  Can’t wait! 

Hope you’re enjoying the trip vicariously through us!  

Grace,
Brian