SR13 – A Week of Ministry

We are back from Washington and are rejoicing in perhaps our best trip to the Pacific NW in our 12 years of marriage. Annie and I were gone for 10 days in total and actually went without our boys. The reasons for our trip were two-fold: (1) so I could speak at SR13 (Snow Retreat 2013) at Double K Ranch up near Snoqualmie Pass and (2) to surprise Annie’s mom with a visit, which she deserved since we skipped out on a visit for Christmas.

So we came a few days early to spend some time with her parents sitting around their house drinking coffee, tea and hot chocolate. We ate at my favorite restaurant on the planet for breakfast – The Maltby Café – and got to know a number of people in their church and enjoyed sweet fellowship.

And then it was off to SR13. The week was filled with wonderful ministry, highly intense singing, preaching through the Book of Jonah, etc. I chose the theme: “God’s Amazing Grace: His Pursuit of Sinful Rebels” as we considered Jonah’s story in 6 sessions.

As I shared with the group on Thursday night, I have never encountered a more attentive, gracious and thankful group of students in my life. I have had the privilege of serving as a youth pastor, taught at a Christian school, served in a well-known college ministry in Southern California, and spoke at a number of youth retreats and camps, but I have never been around a group like this. They were a true joy and delight. You can read more about them here.

The trip was wonderfully encouraging I am even more thankful for the ministry that is going on at GBC of Marysville. If you ever visit the area, check them out.

Many thanks to so many who made this trip happen: John Zimmer, Tim Lugg, Curtis Wentling, Mark Ruhlman, Tom Greene and perhaps others I failed to mentioned.

This week, we get back to our normal blogging schedule. This week I hope to get another book review blurb out from a book on worship and tomorrow we return to a “Don’t Waste Your Sports” feature from today’s Super Bowl.

Go Niners!