Historic week for Nazarene's

As I have shared recently, our denomination is in the midst of our every four year General Assembly in Orlando, FL. For several reasons this was a very pivotal Assembly. One of those reasons is that 3 General Superintendents were to be elected. There are only 6 total so half of the General Superintendents were to be replaced. (There is a mandatory retirement age that forced the retirement of Nina Gunter, James Diehl and Paul Cunningham) As of this evening all 3 of the Superintendents have been elected.

The first to be elected was Dr. Eugenio Duarte, regional director for Africa and a native of the island of Brava in the Cape Verde Islands. Dr Duarte became the first citizen from outside the USA/Canada Region elected to the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents in the 100 year history of the denomination on Tuesday, June 30. You can read more about Dr. Duarte by clicking here.

The second to be elected was Dr. John Bowling, my Pastor during my freshman year of college at Olivet Nazarene University. He was pastor of College Church, in Kankakee, IL at the time. Shortly after I left Olivet he became the President of the University where he is currently serving. You can read more about Dr. Bowling by clicking here.

The third to be elected, on the 22nd ballot, was David Graves. Rev Graves is currently the Senior Pastor of College Church in Olathe, KS. You can read more about Rev Graves by clicking here.

You can download the Quadrennial written report from the Board of General Superintendents by clicking here. (you will have to create a free account to download the report)

You can still watch the proceedings live on www.nazarene.org or you can watch archived footage of the last few days at the same address. We're marching forward as a denomination

Backping trip to Lake Ingalls

I've been gone the last two days on a backpacking trip to Lake Ingalls with my good friend Larry Pusey. Great views and great conversation was the order of the last few days.

We made camp just short of the saddle that leads to the bowl that contains Lake Ingalls. We had a beautiful campsite that was protected from the howling wind that whipped through at night but we were still afforded a beautiful view just outside the tent. Can you see Mt Rainier in the distance?

We hiked to Lake Ingalls on Monday and spent the afternoon there having lunch, reading and napping in no particular order. The lake is still frozen but is melting out quickly, you can see little pools of water near the edges of the shoreline. I plan to go back in a few weeks with my daughter Katie when the wildflowers are in full bloom and Mt Stuart is reflecting in a thawed lake so I can fill my memory card on my camera with beautiful images. Speaking of my camera, you won't believe that I forgot it on the front pew of church on Sunday. Fortunately Larry brought along a small digital camera that he allowed me to use for most of the trip.

I have read many trip reports of mountain goats in the Cascades but have never experienced them myself until this trip. We saw goats neraly our entire time near the top. They woke us up in the morning tromping through our camp and hung around us as we ate. At one point we had over 15 goats within about 25 feet of us. They were very tame and most of them had a young kid (is that the right term?) in tow. Mother and child made sounds like a little baby crying quietly. It was fun to watch them run up and down the steep slopes that Larry and I were lumbering over.

I'm taking a group of teens to Spider Meadows on a backpacking trip July 26-28. Anybody interested in coming along?

Summer SLAM

Shane's
Leisure
Activities on
Monday

Lots of things going on this summer for the youth and friends of Wenatchee Church of the Nazarene. Our next outing is a campout at Silver Falls along the Entiat River. Deadline to register is this Sunday. Please see Shane Endicott or myself for permission form.

Date of Campout: July 5-7 Departure: 2:00 PM Return: 11:30 AM Student Cost: $20.00

Destination: Silver Falls Campground along the Entiat River

Individual(s)/ in Charge: Shane Endicott and Pastor Donavon

Mode of Transportation To & From Event/Field Trip: Church van and private vehicles of adult chaperones. No students will be allowed to drive!

What to bring:

• Sleeping bag
• Bible
• Clothes (bring extra in case of accidents)
• Toiletries (There is a toilet but no showers)
• Flashlight

Nazarene General Assembly

Every four years our denomination holds a General Assembly. I know your next question is, "What is a General Assembly?" General Assembly is an international meeting of the church where business is conducted (you can view the resolutions that the delegates will be deciding on here and 3 new General Superintendents will be elected along with many other officers voted on) training seminars are offered, and worship is paramount. General Assembly is in Orlando, FL this year but you can still be a part of much of the program through the wonder of the internet. Click here to be directed to a page that explains the streaming video resources available.

My kid's are growing up

We have been in need of more help in the sound room at church for awhile. We could use a few more people to mix on the soundboard and we also need more people to run Easy Worship (software we use to manage what is projected on the screen). A few weeks ago I was thinking about our needs and I had an idea pop in my head that my Katie would be perfect for running the projection software. I talked to her about it and she was excited about the opportunity. Yesterday was her first day of training with Miss Nancy. I guess she did alright because I noticed she was behind the computer running things for second service. All I could really see was the top of her head because she isn't tall enough to look over the monitor. I was surprised at how emotional I felt watching her up there.

Today was her first day at a youth group activity since she is going into sixth grade. I'm not sure I'm ready for this. My little girl is growing up.

LAN party Friday night at my home

Are you ready to celebrate the end of the school year? You're invited to a LAN party at my home Friday night beginning at 7:00 PM. If you don't know what a LAN party is, then it's probably not for you.

Anybody want to go here?

Because of a busy work schedule and covering for a sabbatical last year, I haven't been backpacking in almost two years. This really is one of my favorite things to do so I have a real itch that needs to be scratched!! I have my first trip of the summer planned. I'm going to Lake Ingalls up the Teanaway River valley. The picture on this post is of Lake Ingalls as it reflects Mt Stuart in the distance.

I plan to leave the afternoon of June 28th and return on the 30th. It's a 4.5 mile hike from trailhead to lake with 2600' of elevation gain. I may be bringing my daughter Katie along as she loves to backpack with Dad. I have one other friend confirmed for the trip. Let me know if you'd like to come a long. I have gear to loan so don't let that be the reason you wouldn't go. Can you hear that..........it's the outdoors calling. I almost said it was nature calling, but that has an entirely different connotation.