Category Faith Foundations/Bible Study

The Same Holy Spirit Today!

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

Technology today is pretty amazing.  Can you imagine what it would have been like to have had a webcast/podcast of the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)?  Well, this evening while at Starbucks I decided to log on to the Harvest Seattle webcast. I was unfortunately out of town most of the weekend speaking at other events, so I was not able to attend the festival.

I am somewhat of a skeptic (in general) but especially can be skeptical of “mass salvation.” However, as I sit and finish the writing of this next book, Anywhere, which studies the book of Acts, I read over and over again and consequently write over and over again about the salvation of lost souls.  Often times these moments of souls being saved happened in mass!

Tonight, while I listened (and sort of watched) Greg Laurie share the great news of Jesus, I was reminded that the same Holy Spirit that was present in early Acts and saved literally thousands in a single Peter sermon is the same Holy Spirit that can save literally thousands in Seattle tonight!

As I watch these souls move from the seats to the ground floor of Key Arena I trust that God is moving.  I believe He has performed another miracle and I believe that one of the most unchurched and God-hating areas in the USA just came a little more alive in Christ.  Former God haters became grace-lovers.  May these new believers understand that this was not just a one-weekend experience and get on the path of Mission51, the other 51 weekends (and weeks) of life outside of Harvest!

I am moved to tears as I think of salvation in Seattle!

Praising the Holy Spirit that He is present today, just as He was in the very book I write about right now!

Grace,
Brian

P.S. If you’re a friend who does not know about salvation and would like to know this grace, forgiveness and freedom you can have, please contact me (brian[at]youthmark[dot]com).

SMS: Help me! I’m busy! (part 1)

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

A good friend of mine, whom I consider very much “on the ball” as a Youth Pastor recently confessed to me that he’s really struggling with keeping his schedule straight and balanced while still trying to maintain his sanity as he navigates youth ministry, church ministry, family life, personal relationships, etc. etc.

Okay, this wasn’t a just a good friend.  It was four.  I literally have had the same conversation with four of my good youth pastor buddies in the last three weeks.  So, I thought I’d give this Student Ministry Stuff (SMS) blog post a shot at tackling the foundation of the Youth Pastor’s Time Management.

Some people are “charts and graphs” people.  Others reject them.  So I’m going to challenge myself to do a two week SMS blog post again and write to both those who can deal (or should deal) with the attempt at becoming organized with a thought-out plan (methodology). Next week I’ll try to get in the mind of a free-thinker and create a non-system way (philosophy) of taking on the busy schedule.  So, those who already reject me for being “chart-y” give it a shot anyway, and/or come back next week.

Let’s lay the cards out on the table right away–we  (Youth Pastors/Leaders) want to do well, we want to please others, we want others to like us.  But we feel like we’re failing a lot of the people a lot of the time.  It seems, as a Youth Leader (whether paid or not) that ministry never ends and there is always someone else we can be reaching out to, discipling, blessing or keeping off our backside.  Toby’s Mom wonders why you’re not giving Toby individual attention; the board member wonders why he didn’t see your truck at the office “at all” on Thursday?  Mr. Gregory emailed you about the most trivial theological discrepancy “he heard” you taught his daughter last Sunday. Unfortunately this may be your life:

Why didn’t you return my email?… Where are your receipts?… When is camp?… How come we didn’t do more songs last night?… Why do we sing so much?… Can you fill-in for me this Sunday and preach?… We used to have 40 at youth group, why are there only 32 now?… Toby didn’t know about the mission trip application deadline, can he still turn in his form?… Honey, how many nights are you going to be out this week?… Daddy, you went to Toby’s game, how come you didn’t come to my spelling bee?

Jesus.  Will. You. Please. Return.  NOW?

I am praying for you.  I’ve been there.  I want to help.  This week I’ll present one possible help: become a little more task-oriented by creating a pretty simple system that helps you keep things in place.  The reality, this is not a fix-all, but I hope it creates a little rhythm in your life and will help you see when and where you do and do not have margin in your life. Essentially, I hope it gives you a little more of a helicopter view of your ministry/church life and could possibly give you freedom to say the words that you (I) need to say a little more often: “No” and “Help.”

The following are some suggestions to give yourself a little overview of your ministry life and the landscape of the year, it’s just the first of a two step process for the day (be patient).

  • Create a list of the “majors” in your ministry (sacred cows and regularly scheduled programs): This list should include youth group night, Sunday school times, small group time, all the normal camps or retreats you do, etc. You’ll probably add to this list as you think through the following lists as well…
  • Make a separate list of your typical weekly meetings: This list may include staff meetings, one-on-ones, network meetings, etc.
  • Jot down a third list of the weekly tasks that are obvious to you: You need time to study for messages, time to return calls, plan for programs, set up chairs, powerpoint creation, etc.
  • Write down (4th list) the things you like to avoid that take time (that is, if they haven’t already been listed above): For me this was stuff like data entry, return phone calls (I’m much better with email), reports for committees or elders, financial matters, etc.
  • Create a 5th list of the spiritual and relational stuff you wish you had more time to do: This list, for me, would have included more prayer time, personal normal sabbath, more prayer time, long term study for a teaching series, time of being mentored (not just mentoring others), more prayer time, personal evangelism, more prayer time.

Now that you’re overwhelmed again with all the stuff you can/should/need to to, you’re going to create a chart that helps you to see that some, even most, of the stuff can get done if you’re smart about where you place these items in your chart (as you add them to your chart, scratch them off your lists).

A couple tips:

  1. Be realistic… I have friends who love to study the Word.  In fact, I love to study the Word.  But the reality is, I couldn’t be effective at being a Youth Pastor if I was spending 10-12 hours on each talk.  I typically had 2 or 3 messages each week (not including the semi-regularly scheduled preaching in “Big Church”).  I would have had to neglect other areas of ministry–namely shepherding people– if I were to spend that much time on each talk.  The same could be said for other areas, not just messages.  So, be realistic about how much time you actually need to spend on emails, financial matters and messages.
  2. Understand your season… If you’re creating this chart while in the midst of planning a camp, retreat or mission, you’re probably overwhelmed with how long things take. You may want to wait until after the major event to give yourself a more realistic view. In addition, understand that this chart is just an overview, not a “have to” list.  This is YOUR chart, it can change and it isn’t a legalistic formula (I hope).
  3. Don’t celebrate your busyness… You are going to have to come to the realization that you simply can’t do it all, your above created lists may be so long that an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper isn’t even big enough for your Sunday tasks.  This is when you need counsel. And probably counseling. Seriously, have someone help you pare down your list/chart.  Don’t be the Pied Piper and try to do it all yourself.  Begin to recruit others around you to do some of the stuff you don’t like or aren’t good at.

StudentMinAdminPlanner (larger view)

In Word, Pages or even Excel, create for yourself a simple chart, like the one above, where you plug in those lists that you’ve created.  Take this bad-boy to church, give one to your spouse and begin to operate with it as a bit of a check-list.  In a couple weeks you’ll see that you need to make some changes or perhaps you’ll find that you’re not quite the ANALytical thinker and need more of a “philosophical” approach that I’ll attempt to take a crack at next week.

Last… remember you’re called to minister to students, leaders and parents.  This is a great calling. I am excited that you’ve been called to it and even though the words don’t come often enough, I’ll say them again.  Thank you!

Grace,

Brian

Thanks to Wescott for letting me adapt the simple framework of his chart for this blog post.

“All In”

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

I remember laughing the first time I saw a live Poker Tournament being televised on ESPN.  I mean, c’mon, seriously, who would watch Poker on TV, isn’t that like watching paint-dry, or worse, viewing a bowling match?

Well, they had me at “the river card.”  I don’t know why, but Texas Hold ‘Em had me hooked as I watched some guy with the last name of “Moneymaker”  win millions of dollars… SIDENOTE:  Chris Moneymaker is his real name.

Well, here we are, seven years after viewing my first ever “Main Event” and having seen many people go “All In” on TV, I am speaking this weekend where the retreat theme is “All In.”  It’s a fantastic theme to build around.  Jesus own words explain the theme well, “if anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me.”  In other words: if we want to be followers of Jesus, we must go all in.”

  • Stephen, he’s a guy who went all in… I love when he, in Acts 7, rebukes the Sanhedrin and says, “you stiff necked people…You always resist the Holy Spirit.”
  • Peter was a gambler with his tongue, he sometimes went all in (cutting off a dudes ear) sometimes for the wrong things; but ultimately, was the one who went all in in speaking up after Jesus ascended.
  • The Ethiopian in Acts 8, all in.
  • Priscilla and Aquila, a couple we read about in the early days of the church… they were all in.

In the post-apostolic age we read of and see many others (and know many more) who are all in for the Gospel.  Are you?

What does it mean to be all in?

This weekend we’re going to explore that with the students from Lake Sawyer Christian.

I think Paul gives us a great hint at part of what it means to be all in; Romans 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”  I believe it, am growing in boldness to proclaim it and try to live in light of it for His glory and so that others may know Him!

Going all in!

Grace,
Brian

The New Look!

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

Welcome to the new look for brianaaby.com! (still under construction over the weekend)

As I stated last week, I am a fan of change, therefore this may happen from time to time.  What does the new look mean?  Well, beside a makeover, it means some new content as well.  The categories will expand a little bit as I am planning on implementing a few new ones.  For instance, I am going to add a category for those of you serving in Youth Ministry.  Sort of a Student Ministry editorial piece of sorts.  One might see it as an opinion, whereas others may see it as a written advice section.

What stays?: Contests will still take place from time to time… in fact I’ll try to do a contest at least once every two weeks.  I’ll keep posting stuff about my family.  I’ll continue posting Youthmark related stuff, however, I’ll also do other Youthmark blogging here.

What goes?: Just the old picture.

What changes?: Top 5 Tuesday is going to be changed at least for the time-being to Top Three Thursday.

What’s been added?: I plan on adding some more links, the Student Ministry editorial and perhaps a few other categories. In addition, I’d like to enhance the “Faith Foundations” category by doing these more often. I feel we learn so much from one another when we share about the things we do to pursue Jesus.

That’s it for now… I hope you enjoy the new look!

Grace,

Brian

Timing

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

The last several weeks have been filled with some very cool “God’s Timing” moments.  Things that happened that it was just so evident that God was orchestrating that exact circumstance for that exact moment.  For instance, I wrote about Brandon in Pine, AZ, who just happened to be pulling into the library at the exact time we were stopping in to ask about a church.  Then last week it was just so obvious to me that Sitka, Alaska was to be the place that our team from Dallas, Oregon should go.  However, the pieces did not fit and the day after they said, “not this year,” I heard back from Haines, Alaska who had not gotten back to me in three weeks.  Their leadership voted unanimously to have the team from Dallas!  God’s timing is perfect.

Well, yesterday He did it again. As I was listening to the Podcast of the sermon I missed last Sunday and after a much-needed 11 mile bike-ride while I was still cooling down, I thought I’d stop the procrastination and pull out our old lawnmower and begin the yard work for the year.  Side-note: our lawn mower is old.  It was old (used) when we received it in 1999. I had a hard time starting it this year and when it finally did start it would only go for about 30 seconds.  So, needless to say, 15 minutes into my lawn-mowing experience the front lawn was only 1/3 done.  It looked horrible.  As Pastor John was preaching through my earbuds and as the lawnmower was sputtering I was thinking about how long this would take with the engine lasting about 5-6 seconds each time I started it now…

…John, in his sermon, was talking about being Jesus in our world.  He literally had just introduced the point “share the Gospel” and was talking about our unsaved family, coworkers and our neighbors.

Over the light hacking of the mower and the proclamations of John I heard, “Hey, let me know if you need to borrow mine!”

My neighbor from across the street and a few doors down was inviting me to borrow his mower.  I had never met, nor seen the man.  However, this was a loud shout from God, not just a invite from a neighbor.

I love God’s timing.  Elisabeth and I had committed ourselves to this being the year we really invested in getting to know our neighbors.  We’ve seen some progress this year, but this was an unexpected blessing.  I did borrow my neighbor’s mower, and way more important than the lawn getting mowed was the foundation of relationship we now have through the couple of conversations we had before and after the mowing.

We left the conversation with the hope of doing a barbecue together soon!

Jesus is Lord of time!  He knew I’d be listing to that sermon at that time.  He knew our cruddy ol’ mower would sputter at that time and he  Thank you Lord for your timing!

Grace,

Brian

Family Meeting: Halle’s Poem

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

About every five or six weeks one (or all of our kids) will start running through the house yelling “attention, attention!”–which, is really fun to hear Will saying this right now.

Anyway, what typically follows is the announcement that we will be having a “family meeting.”  These meetings normally are more of a Letterman talk-show filled with prepared or unprepared talent. Last night we had a family meeting.  We all received awards prepared by Halle (I won “simply the best Daddy!”).  On top of the prepared awards, Halle read to us her Poem about Jesus.

Enjoy…

We were blessed.

Grace,

Brian

Let’s Watch Him Work!!!

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

I’m going to trust Jesus.  Will you join me?

This last week was one of huge blessings and answered prayer.  In the last week, I believe, we have had six or seven of our “question marks” in terms of places we will be sending mission teams this summer become “confirmed” places.

Here is the specific request:  We still have three invitations out there to places that we are hoping praying and trusting the Lord for.  Will you join us?

Pray for the town in Alaska that we’ve had great discussions with, but has yet to give us the “all clear.”

Pray for the two towns in Montana that we feel would each be a fantastic fit for the two different teams we have headed that direction.

Pray for the city-venture team to Seattle and the invite for the host church we believe would be a great connection.

These four places to match the four trained teams.  God, you know what needs to happen.  We trust.

Are you praying?

Grace,
Brian

On our behalf…

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

A couple weeks ago I was feeling the big-burden of wondering what God had in store for us in terms of the connections between our Sending and Receiving communities.  The biggest prayer request that I had was for Alaska and the connections we needed to secure.  Well, almost immediately we saw the Lord answer and open up doors.

As you read below, I’d love to know if you’ll take one of these specific areas and start praying for that specific one ALL Week!  I know HE wants to answer, I want to be sure we’re covering each one!  Please comment!

As we begin to turn the corner and start our Spring Retreats very soon, I would ask that we unite in prayer once again in the finalization of our connections between sending and receiving.  Specifics you can pray for…

  • Alaska: Four teams going to AK this summer and we have one locked-in, the other three are all solid leads, but the leadership in these receiving communities have important meetings this week.  Pray that the Lord opens those hearts/minds to understand the partnership that can be!
  • Canada: We have one team training to serve in inner-city Vancouver.  We have a great lead here, but nothing is set in stone yet, please pray that the most current email communication is clear to that receiving church and that they see it as a fantastic opportunity to partner.
  • Arizona: We have two churches meeting with their boards this week.  Pray that the miracle continues in Page, this one is quite the story!  I’ll post about that in my series I am writing right now!  Pray that both Pine and Page are a connection as Tonto Basin is already!
  • Montana: We are praying the Lord finalizes three more connections (all of which have good contacts, we just need the final “yay”).
  • Idaho: Still waiting on one last “go.”  Just got an email this morning from the Pastor we are pursuing as the hopeful place to go!
  • Washington: We have an inner-city team I am beginning to do the groundwork on.  Pray that my connections for this trip work out and we have a great receiving church to work with as we put together the day-in-day-out stuff!
  • Oregon: We are still placing one more team for a late summer trip.  In fact, there is still one more team considering going on this trip too, so pray for God’s will to be done and the right folk to go to the right place!  He knows!
  • Praise for the Connections: Please praise the Lord for the already solid connections we have in Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, Alaska, Mexico and Idaho.  We have more solid connections than not!  Praise God for these partnerships and pray that as the sending/receiving leadership start planning together that their bonds grow!

Now, as you read the above, I’d love to know if you’ll take one of these specific areas and start praying for that specific one ALL Week (every day, whenever the Lord brings this to mind)! Let me know which one(s) you are committed to for the week.  I’ll update you after the week!  Leave a comment letting me know.

Grace,

Brian

What is Your Cause?

Brian Aaby 3 Comments

Years ago a Southern California Pastor released a couple of books that caused millions to ponder the question of purpose…

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of your life is?  I have asked that question for myself.  And I know.

As a person who has placed my faith in Jesus (through His grace alone), I KNOW the Lord has left me here with purpose, with a cause, in fact, with THE Cause.

He tells me in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost…” He says in Matthew 28:19-20, “makes disciples…”

THE Cause is the rebranding of the 300+ year old name, “Great Commission” which in actuality is about a 2000 year-old command that Jesus Himself gave us.

This morning I gathered with eight Youth Pastors at a local coffee shop and I heard each of these Pastors share about their students who are now pumped about living out THE Cause.  Many re-introduced to this call at Dare 2 Share.  They relayed stories of students departing church on Sunday with the purpose of sharing the Grace of God with friends and strangers in their neighborhoods.  They told stories of students not just talking about it, but doing it.

The question to the Youth Pastors (and Youth Leaders/Parents):  Will you?

We want our students to live & share THE Cause, but as parents, leaders and Youth Pastors, are we?

I am committed to consumed by/for THE Cause.  It is my life… may my words, thoughts and actions reflect THAT Cause.

Youthmark is passionate for consumed by/for THE Cause.  It is our purpose!  May students/leaders/parents be trained for the 51 weeks of life outside the mission trip!  May we be about missionship (a missionary always, all ways a missionary)!

This isn’t about Youthmark.  It’s not about Dare 2 Share. It’s not about me/you. It’s about redemption, calling and purpose–it’s all about Jesus.

A note to those who don’t know know/think they have a relationship with Jesus: The Lord created you to be in relationship with Him.  Because you (and I, and everyone) has sinned, we have broken that relationship; you and I have turned our back on the God who loves us passionately.  Because He loves so passionately He sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to be our living sacrifice, a payment for our sin through His death on the cross–so that we may, once again, be in relationship with the Lord. This FREE and UNMERITED gift from the Lord came in Jesus’ death and resurrection.  We now may have life eternally with Him (starting now)!  If you have never placed your faith in Him, it would be my honor to help you to understand how you can do that.  Please email me at brian{at}youthmark{dot}com.

Let’s live/and speak out THE Cause!

Grace,

Brian