Yosemite Summit 2009

As mentioned in the video for the First Things First Kidology online training session, my pastor challenged us to consider what “re-creates” us, and to intentionally PLAN it into our lives. Up until that time I wrongly considered recreation to be equal to play and often said my recreation and my occupation were the same: children’s ministry. How wrong I was! While I DO enjoy children’s ministry, it isn’t what re-creates me, it drains and uses me up! So I took the challenge to consider what truly RE-creates me, and for me it is time AWAY from ministry, out in nature with my Bible and camera. (and perhaps an iPod with worship or classical music playing.) As I prayed about what God would have me do to make RE-creation a regular part of my life, a dream began to form that slowly transformed into Yosemite Summit.

God has answered my prayers by filling up this retreat with 8 more men seeking the same. So now I’ve been working on planning the hikes and figuring out what to bring (and not bring). I am so looking forward to this time AWAY from life as “normal” to spend with eight other guys who love God and kids on this UNconference! As I always describe it, it is the conference that promises:

No Workshops - Just Worship
No Resources - Just Relationships
No Networking - Just God Working

Well, one of the ways I enjoy remembering or anticipating something is to look through pictures. So I took a few minutes (that’s all it takes on a Mac) to make a music video with pictures from my last trip to Yosemite on my sabbatical. (You can see those blog posts here, here, here and here)

ENJOY THIS VIDEO:

It may be too late for you to join Yosemite Summit, but IT IS NOT TOO LATE for you to intentional plan something into your life that re-creates you! There is no excuse. There is no “can’t.” You are not too busy. In fact, I would say, if you are feeling too busy, then you need to do this even more. There IS a way, if you are willing to seriously think and pray about it. You only live once, DO SOMETHING INCREDIBLE that will be a once in a life time memory. YOU are worth it! And your soul and ministry will greatly benefit. What’s holding you back? What recreates you? What refreshes you? Pray about it, and then GO FOR IT! Don’t let life sneak past… grab it and DO SOMETHING with it. What are you waiting for? Don’t worry, everything else will be waiting for you when you get back. Take a dream and allow God to make it a reality.

I’m not just typing idle words here, I mean it! What are you going to do?

I have updated what to bring and NOT BRING to Yosemite Summit on the BRING page of the site.

Be sure to work with your wife on the packing!

There will be absolutely no blogging, webcasting, twittering, jotting or text messaging on this retreat! (and that includes me…. especially me!)

The hiking schedule has been updated on the SCHEDULE page. Here is an overview of the three full days in Yosemite:

Monday, May 19th, 2008

After breakfast we will drive into the Valley and start with Bridal Falls. Next, stop along the valley for introductory views of the Valley and a visit to the Yosemite Chapel. Park in Yosemite Village and walk to the Mirror Lake Loop. On our way out of the valley we will stop and enjoy the Base of Yosemite Falls hike. After enjoying lunch in the valley at the El Capitan picnic area, we will drive to Tunnel View and do the hike to the Inspiration Point in the late afternoon and then return to the lodge in the evening.

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Our second day will be the longest and most ambitious hike, but will be done at a leisurely pace. We will leave very early in the morning so that we can experience the sunrise at Glacier Point. (We will need to park in the valley and secure a ride to Glacier Point) We will then hike the Panorama Trail all the way to Nevada Fall and then follow the Mist Trail past Vernal Fall and back into the valley. This is an eight-hour hike, mostly downhill, so we should be done by early evening and return to the lodge.

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Our final full day in Yosemite will begin on Glacier Point Road at the Sentinel Dome / Taft Point Trailhead. We will hike first to Sentinel Dome and then use the Pohono Trail to loop around to the Taft Point Trail to Taft Point. This will certainly be enough hiking for the day and we will conclude the day with dinner in the Valley followed by viewing the sunset at Glacier Point. (After a stop off at Washburn Point)

(Click image for wallpaper sized view)

(Click image for larger viewing)

Here is an overview of the guys God has brought together for this once-in-a-lifetime event. If you know any of us personally, we would appreciate your prayers for this event:

• That God would foster quick and deep fellowships
• That we would discover unity despite different backgrounds
• That we would be safe on this event
  • (that our lives wouldn’t worry about us too much)
•  That God would speak in new and fresh ways
• That we would experience God like never before
• That we would hear what God has for each of us
• That the only agenda would be God’s in our spirit
• That life long friendships will be formed

We appreciate your prayer.

It’s hard to believe, but two months from today I’ll be waking up in Yosemite with eight other guys who are seeking a refreshing time with the Lord. Our last “Summiteer” to join us is Lenny Corliss, a veteran children’s pastor from Scottsdale Worship Center in Phoenix, Arizonia. I met Lenny at iFest last summer when Yosemite Summit was still in the dreaming stages. While we had crossed paths a few times in the past at children’s ministry events, I had never been moving slow enough to meet Lenny. But the newer chilled out me who is much more relaxed and relational than in my hyperactive days, met Lenny at iFest and we ended up talking for several hours about my journey in life and ministry, and he shared a very moving story with me that is part of the First Things First Kidology Online Training Leadership Lab video. As I shared my dream and purpose for Yosemite Summit he encouraged me to go for it and hoped he could come. As you know, I did! However, it ended up that he couldn’t come this year due to some scheduling issues, but his encouragement continued. Eventually Yosemite Summit was full, and I was bummed that Lenny wasn’t able to join us, but was hoping perhaps next year it might work out better for him.

Well, as it turns out, one of our hikers needed to back out (ouch) and will be joining us in 2009 instead. I posted the opening for a few weeks with no serious interest expressed, but knew God would bring just the right guy. Well, last Saturday on a drive back from an Easter event I did, I was calling a bunch of my friends to use my long drive time to connect, and called Lenny. He asked how the Summit planning was going and I told him about the opening. Turns out, he had some schedule changes and now could come! In Lenny’s words:

I believe that by a divine appointment our paths crossed last July of 2007 and from the moment I heard of the event I felt I would like to participate but thought it wouldn’t be possible because of conflicting schedules. Thanks to a change in schedule and a phone call at just the right time I will be joining you. Thank God!

Lenny will bring with him much wisdom and maturity that we will all benefit from, but he is teachable too. He’s one of those guys you quickly learn to trust and open up to. He’s been a good mentor to me this past year. As Lenny said to me:

I believe that the men present at this event will be specifically there to bless and help each other. I expect to be both on the receiving and giving end of that process.

When asked why he wants to come to Yosemite Summit, Lenny nailed the purpose and the cry of my own heart:

I have found that I too easily integrate my ministry responsibilities and my personal relationship with God. I would like to spend some time listening to the Lord with my heart without an agenda. It is helpful for me to get out of the normal routine and take a fresh view of things with an open heart for the Lord to direct me.

I am so happy that Lenny will be joining us! Thank you God for again filling up this event. Please say a prayer for Chip and his healing. He is still going to join us for the first evening (he lives locally) and then be a part of the 2009 Summit.

I think it is great that while Lenny first hoped to come, had to say no and wait on God’s timing, but now it is a Yes for him. God works all things together for good for those who trust Him.

One of our Summiteers ruptured his achilles tendon and is headed into 9 months of rehab. (ouch!) Seems the doctor doesn’t think hiking Yosemite is such a good idea. I’ve gone ahead and guaranteed him the first spot in Yosemite Summit 2009 - but that means we have ONE MORE SPOT OPEN for this May.

If you would like to join us, register ASAP! 

This week I was speaking at a children’s revival week at a friend’s church in Waterford, Michigan. The theme was a hiking / climbing theme on “Climbing Spiritually” so I had all my climbing and hiking and camping gear as part of the stage set up and as object lessons. After the last night, the youth pastor came by, and on seeing my new backpack (purchased this week at an outlet mall for Yosemite Summit!) he asked if I was a “serious hiker.” I answered that I’m not sure I’d use the word “serious” but that I DO love to hike in the outdoors and, of course, I told him about Yosemite Summit and showed him the website.

He then told me about a trip that he and about six other guys do every year, and then I knew what he meant by “serious!” They hike all fifty-five miles of the Paria River in Utah (crosses into Arizona). The start at night, with a silent walk in pitch black darkness! The canyon walls are so narrow and high in the slot canyon that at times the packs have to be held overhead with arms up to walk. Oh, and you are walking in water the entire five days. I’m summarizing a ten minute description of the hike… sounded very “serious.” 

But I also got some input on the spiritual atmosphere and some ways to encourage reflection on the trip. If you’d like to read more about this intense hike, check out this Paria River link. I did some Google Earthing of the area, but was not sure I had it correct, so I’m not posting any screen shots, but it was fun to trace the canyons in the area both in satellite and Terrain views.  They start here (I think) where the river dumps into the beginning of Colorado River, and then get a ride back 55 miles and hike back to their cars in a week of walking!

If you can’t come to Yosemite Summit… maybe this is an option for you!

Josh, the first Summiteer to to sign up, writes:

I was listening to Matthew West’s new album “Something to Say” yesterday and a song really touched me deep in my soul. I think it applies directly to the mission of Yosemite Summit.

We are all so very busy everyday and we don’t take time to spend time alone with God. I really love this song. Here are the lyrics:

The TV is talking
The telephone’s ringing
The lights are all on and the radio’s screaming
A million distractions are stealing my heart from You
I’m tired and empty
This life is relentless
It weakens my knees and breaks my defenses
It’s wearing me down and I’m desperate to hear from You

Stop the world I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me

I need to be still before I make a move
I need to be humble with nothing to prove
I need Your Word to show me the truth
And I need time, precious time

Stop the world I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me

Stop the world I’m ready to listen
Show me sign, give me a vision of Heaven
I can hold on to
Stop the world I need some time with You

Before I can find my voice
I need to hear Your voice above all the senseless noise

Matthew West

That pretty much says it all. Take time for God today!

Roped my last guy to come to Yosemite Summit!

Praise the Lord! Yosemite Summit is now FULL! That’s right. Josh, Tom, Dave, Chip, John, Peter and now Kurt and headin’ with Karl to the greatest place on earth to worship where God’s majesty is on display like no where else!

There will be a waiting list just in case something happens and one of these guys can’t make it in the last few months. If you are serious about coming, contact Karl for details on how to get on the waiting list.

This site will continue to give updates, encouragement to keep your walk with God first, and after the Summit there will be pictures and a highlight video.

And YES, there will be a Yosemite Summit 2009. For details click on 2009 above.

Amazing What Google Images Can Dig Up!*

“Voila! I’m in.”

So said Peter when he became the 7th guy to join Yosemite Summit. And what better place for a guy to go whose name means “Rock!” And that means there is ONLY ONE MORE SPOT available for this unique Unconference retreat for children’s pastors!

Peter is leaving the flat lands of Indiana for the peaks of Yosemite so that in his own words:

“I need to rest, reflect, and re-vision, and re-tool for the next chapter of my life and ministry.”

Well, it seems I have begun a trend of posting the newest guys on top of a famous Yosemite rock, so here is Peter on top of Yosemite Falls:

All that remains now is to see who will fill the LAST SPOT on this excursion!

*No, that’s not really our Peter, it’s what google images gave me after a search for “Peter Rock.”