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Category: Yosemite

Stop Holding Up the Rock

I snapped the photo below of my friend Zach while hiking in Yosemite. At first glance, it looks like he’s holding up a massive boulder. His face says it all—strained, burdened, fighting to keep the weight from crushing him. Of course, He’s not really holding up the rock. The rock is holding itself up. But isn’t that exactly how ministry can feel sometimes? There are seasons when it seems like we’re carrying everything. Recruiting volunteers. Writing lessons. Scheduling teams. Solving staffing problems. Ordering supplies. Managing budgets. Answering parent emails. Training leaders. Following up with guests. Planning events. Putting out fires. Preparing for Sunday while already worrying about next Sunday. The list never seems to end. Before long, we begin to feel like the success of the ministry rests entirely on our shoulders. We start pushing up against the weight of it all, convinced that if we stop for even a moment, everything will come crashing down. Yet God never asked us to hold up the rock. In fact, Scripture paints an entirely different picture. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” A refuge is not something you carry. A refuge is something that…

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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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GUYS ONLY – Time to UNPLUG and Reconnect!

Have you ever wanted to UNPLUG from the hectic busy pace of ministry life? That is the entire point of Yosemite Summit. It is a week where you are unplugged in every sense of the word. No computer, no e-mail, no phone calls, no work, no deadlines, no ’emergencies’, no pressure. Better than a day off spent catching up on personal things – it is a complete break for the sake of complete rest and renewal. I was once told by a very wise mentor, “Karl, you need to stop being a human doing, and learn to become a human being.” That is what Yosemite Summit is all about. It is an annual cessation of activity. Too often we confuse busyness with what God is truly seeking from us. Not that we aren’t busy doing good things! But we get so busy doing these good things that our relationship with God can grow distant, and soon God is wondering, why or who we are truly busy for. Stopping completely, once a year, is an opportunity to recalibrate. It is a time for reflection and renewal. It is not a time of evaluating ministry goals and seeking a new “ministry vision”…

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The UNconference for Kid’s Pastors

Back in 2008 God gave me an idea. It was a crazy idea. But then, that’s how you know it’s from God, right? It was to create an “UNconference for Children’s Pastors.” In time, I welcomed other Christian leaders, but most were children’s pastors, because honestly, it’s one of the most challenging jobs in the Church. The title “Kid’s Pastor” sounds fun – and it is – but it’s name hides the challenges it brings. Often, it is the largest ministry of the church; overseeing the largest group of volunteers, the most hours of programming, every single week of the year (no breaks like other ministries enjoy) and often with special programming and the list could go on, but I won’t play the violins because we LOVE every minute of it. The hard reality is, burn out isn’t just common, it is standard and expected, and the average length of tenure for children’s pastors is three to five years. Many go back to being volunteers, while some quit altogether. I know, I was there. In the midst of “great success” from all ministry metrics, my soul was running on empty. I didn’t need another conference. I needed something different. If…

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Do You Need a BREAK from Ministry?

So, just HOW excited would you be to get AWAY from your job for a week? You can only IMAGINE… no e-mail, no texts, no meetings, no phone calls, no to-do lists, no boss dropping in with some new task… how excited would you me? Maybe as excited as this guy on Yosemite Summit at the top of Sentinel Dome! Yosemite Summit is a week long sabbatical retreat for men in the heart of Yosemite National Park. This is not camping. This is a week at a relaxing lodge for refreshment, renewal and recharging away from the hustle and bustle of fast-paced ministry life. You can leave your watch behind as there is no schedule other than eat breakfast, hike, chill, and return for home cooked dinner in the evening enjoying fellowship with other men during the day. Explore YosemiteSummit.org to learn more or register here! I’m praying for the guys that will join me on next year’s Summit. Will it be you?

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Yosemite Drawings from 34 Years Ago Discovered!

Recently, I was going through some old personal papers in the garage – much of it was useless and finally was tossed out, but hidden in the ancient folders, binders and loose papers I found an art pad with some drawing in it from when I was fourteen years old… that would be 34 years ago. While I’ve never been much of an artist, I was surprised at how good these were. I obviously must have spent some focused time doodling these. I now commit them to the Internet for Eternity! Here is another: I am so thankful that I dated these, otherwise I’d have no idea when they were drawn. I am so thankful for this incredible place that has become my Sanctuary where I travel every year to spend some focused time walking with God and listening to what He has for me. I’ve always known that Yosemite had a special draw for me… now I know that I did a special drawing while I was there as a young boy falling in love with my Creator and His amazing displays of beauty He collected here.    

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