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Category: Adventures

Yosemite Reflections

  I’m often asked why I return to Yosemite time after time. I think the answer lies partly in the words of Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from Yahweh, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Listening to God is something every Christian knows they should do. But it’s hard—especially with all the noise, distractions, and daily demands of life. As I enter my mid-fifties, I find myself becoming more reflective… I wonder: What will be the sum of my life? What will I have truly invested my days in? I’m thankful that, as a young college student, I read a book that challenged me to create a life ministry manifesto— To reach and teach as many children as possible with the good news of God’s love, and in the process, to enlist, equip, and encourage others to do the same. This mission has led me to countless outreaches, guided me to become a children’s pastor, and maybe—just maybe—part of my legacy will be this annual event I created for children’s pastors: Yosemite Summit. It’s a chance to unplug, to get away, to spend time with the Lord in…

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Why Yosemite?

I began YosemiteSummit.org in 2008 first for myself, to restart my weary pastors heart in a difficult season of life – and invited other pastors to join me. Over 50 have since on multiple annual Summits. I call it The UNconference for Children’s Pastors.  No Workshops, Just Worship No Resources, Just Relationships No Networking, Just God Working.  On the plane today I started re-reading from my first Summit Journal and decided to share it as many people often ask me – “Why do you keep going back?” This was my first journal entry, back in 2008. I was struck today by how well I described WHY I do this. If you want a taste of our Summits, visit the Highlight Videos at YosemiteSummit.org/videos Below is the transcript, but here are the journal pages: This place is beyond description, though of course, I will try. As I often say it is where God showed off. Our language lacks adequate words to do Yosemite justice. Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. Breathtaking. Beautiful. Magnificent. I suppose the best I can use is awe-inspiring. Awe at the sheer size, and height, and depth, and distance, and beauty, and splendor that hits your eyes all at once.…

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In the heart of a hidden forest, a lone lamp post casts its soft glow, barely piercing through the mist. A wardrobe, tucked nearby, stands half-open, inviting curious adventurers to step inside. Somewhere in the distance a roar echoes — the unmistakable call of a mighty lion. High upon a hill, a castle towers in the distance, promising grand discoveries and noble quests. And just now, emerging from the wardrobe are a parent, a teacher, and a children’s pastor, each ready to embark on an Adventure of faith and discovery, guiding children through some of the greatest stories ever told. Welcome to the Narnia Curriculum Series, where you’ll journey alongside your children into the world of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. These downloadable companion studies will help you plan, organize, and teach the spiritual truths woven into these classic tales. The first stop on your adventure? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, where good battles evil in an unforgettable story of courage, sacrifice, and redemption. Through this curriculum, kids will discover parallels to the Gospel, the power of Christ’s sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil. This beloved story sets the stage for deeper biblical conversations, providing not…

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A Pen-Pal in the Philippines

It was a Sunday night in high school. And even though I was sitting in the back pew with my buddies, it was a day that would change my life forever. We had chosen these seats, the farthest possible away from the action because there was a guest speaker from out of town. A missionary who had asked if he could come preach in Chicago because they happened to be in town, even though most of his supporters were out West. My dad had offered his pulpit. I knew the missionary sermon all too well. Matthew 28… Great Commission… pictures of the mission field… challenge to pray, give, or go. I probably could have stepped in if he’d gotten a sore throat and needed me to. But then, I saw it – the picture of his family – and heard him talking about his daughter, Sara. I had just returned from a mission trip to Honduras the week before and perked up. (She was cute.) As her dad talked about some of the dangers they had faced as a family – including hiding her in a hidden compartment when soldiers came through the neighborhood – my buddies and I all…

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What Will You Leave Behind?

Life is lived moving forward, but it’s good to look in the rear view mirror once in a while. WHAT WILL YOU LEAVE BEHIND? Recently, I did some off roading in the mountains here in Colorado. I came across old structures and enjoyed taking pictures of them. Hard to believe this old mine once produced gold! What a happenin’ place it must have been. The imagination allows you to picture this structure new and bursting with activity as men toiled to produce gold. Now all that remains is a pile of wood – a shadow of once was. I came across a few cabins, roofs long gone and one had a 20 foot tree growing inside. And yet, imagine when there was not only a roof, but a floor and furniture and people eating, sleeping, laughing and calling this home. It got me thinking. What will remain of my life’s efforts one hundred years from now? What ‘ruins’ will hint at how I spent my limited time here on earth? How have I spent my time and what mattered most to me? What will last and what will vanish without a trace? 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 says: For no one can…

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