In case you haven't read the news

It really is an incredible story. Distraught woman makes rash decision to jump off the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, ending her life. But quick-thinking rescuers grab her just as she jumps, and then hold her for twenty minutes, until rescue personnel can come and pull her back up. And it was a windy, stormy day to boot.

A couple of our people saw it in progress, as they commuted home that night. Doug said he simply saw four people lying on their stomachs, arms reaching over the side, holding this woman tightly. I can't imagine the terror in those moments, waiting for help to arrive with harnesses and ropes.

It's the kind of story that needs to be told. Although once again it reminds me that too many people find themselves in desperate situations, feeling they have no way out. Society ought not to be that way.

Thank God for Good Samaritans who sometimes have the chance to intervene before it gets too late.

Wild You've

"Something's constant underneath this place, shape this prayer to sing with such a grace, for today, just today or someday what I'd really like is to wrap my arms around your name. . ."



Wild Montana Skies - John Denver
William and Maggie - Charlie Peacock
Willie Poor Boy - Laurie Lewis and Tom Rosum
Wings of a Dove - Nanci Griffith
Won't Be Coming Back - Infamous Stringdusters
Wondrous Love - Blue Highway
Wouldn't Be So Bad - Alison Krauss and Union Station
Wrap My Arms Around Your Name - Sarah Masen
Yarrington Town - Nanci Griffith
You're An Angel and I'm Gonna Cry - Chris Thile
You're Just a Country Boy - Alison Krauss
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor

(tune in next week when we finish out the ipod and bring this series to a close)

new toys

Just got one of these:

That would be a Dell Inspiron Mini 10, with Windows 7. I got tired of lugging the Sony Vaio widescreen on plane rides. This should make travel much easier. Even that 10 minute walk home every night.

See? It Can Be Done

Lakebay Community Church held its annual meeting yesterday afternoon. We dealt with a number of potentially thorny issues, including passing a budget that is 40% smaller than last year (in most areas), making adjustments to our leadership structure, and amending the bylaws dealing with membership status.

And everbody got along. A couple good questions were asked, one or two issues were challenged, but in the end everything happened that needed to happen, and everybody stayed happy. We were actually all laughing at the end. Plus our bake sale raised hundreds of dollars to support the upcoming mission trip of one of our high school students.

Get that: no yelling, no accusing, no yawning, no passive-aggressive behavior. . .just God's people endeavoring together to move ahead in service and love for God and community. Concerned, careful, discerning - yes. But faithfully trusting that God is still with us, that God is providing, and that God has a purpose for us still. And trusting our leaders, trusting each other to make wise decisions.

Believe it or not, church is fun when God's people "Love One Another" and "Serve One Another" and "Consider Each Other Better Than Ourselves" and all those things we're supposed to do. And, if anything, the way this church conducts 'business' is one more reason I love this place.

So, the Feast

Since nobody seems to know what it is I'm working on out here. . .

The Feast is a spiritual life event hosted every three years by the Evangelical Covenant Church, preceding the denominational annual meeting. The focus of The Feast is to bring a representation of the Whole Covenant family (and all others who want to come) together for a few days of prayer, worship, rest, challenge, and growth. An emphasis this coming Feast will be the intergenerational aspects of Christian Life together, creating a space in which young and old, single and extended family are welcome and valued at the table. We also are working hard to continue the Covenant's passion for being a true multi-ethnic, multi-lingual family worshiping, learning, and playing together.

The next Feast will be in June, 2011, at Estes Park, CO, and that's what we just spent the last few days planning and dreaming and hoping and seeking. There will be a lot at the Feast - worship, recreation, Spiritual Life Experiences, relaxing, growing, eating, singing, creating, meeting, and primarily being met by the Spirit of God.

I've been given co-leadership of two particular areas, sharing the work with Deb Steinkamp from Bellingham. We are responsible for the early-morning activities (by early we mean 6:00 a.m), and the 'spiritual life experience' sessions (think seminars) later in the morning. Our hope is to offer multiple outlets for people to experience God in a variety of ways - through exercise, creativity, lecture, family experiences, prayer exercises, spiritual listening, early morning worship, dance, and more traditional Bible study. And a bunch of other stuff to which we trust God will lead us.

The Feast will offer more 'traditional' worship formats, as well as truly intergenerational worship times. There are a lot of outdoor activites, from horseriding to fishing to a high ropes course to swimming to a skate park, we're hoping to have open mic nights and music jams and an art tent and lots of time to relax and rest and enjoy the Kingdom of God.

That's it in a nutshell. . .expect much more to come.

When Wide

When Summer Ends (Done for Posterity) - Ken Burns' Lewis and Clark, the Original Soundtrack
When the Roll is Called Up Yonder - Mars Hill Music
Where Did the Morning Go? - Blue Highway
Where the Angels Sleep - Bebo Norman
Where the Streets Have No Name - Chris Tomlin
Whiskey Lullaby -Alison Krauss, featuring Brad Paisley
Whispering Jesse - John Denver
Who Showed Who - Dan Tyminski
Whole Again - Jennifer Knapp
Wholly Yours - David Crowder Band
Whose Shoulder Will You Cry On - Dan Tyminski
Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks

Truly Rocky Mountain High

Climbed a hill today. Realized we're at higher altitude here.

But it's been "Sunshine on my Shoulders" all week, snow-capped peaks all around. A herd of elk wandered by. Wandered over toward Rocky Mountain National Park today.

Good meetings, great discussions, a lot of fun and laughter, worship and prayer. The Feast is going to be pretty special, if this planning team is a reflection. The location, the plans, the people. . .I'm excited.

Tomorrow I head down to Denver for an afternoon and night with Joel and his wife, then back to Lakebay on Friday. Hopefully, I can bring some of this sunshine with me.

Rocky Mountain High

I'm heading off to Colorado tomorrow, to join with the planning committee of Feast 2011. The Feast is the Covenant's once-every-three-years family camp, always preceding the denominational annual meeting. In 2011, it will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies, so that's where we're gathering for this first planning meeting. It's always a blessing to be a part of these things, meeting and hanging out with other good Covenant people, enjoying the excitement of anticipating the many ways God's going to use this group and these plans to touch people's lives. I think I know about 1/2 of the team already, and look forward to meeting the rest.

Before all is said and done, I get to spend a night with a friend and former youth group member, now living in Denver as well. So, really, this should be a good week.

Except for this little head cold, and the prospect of leaving Karina home with two sick kids. So if you get a chance to pray for all of us. . .we'd appreciate it.

In the meantime, they tell me there's wireless internet up there in the Rockies (what would John Denver have said about that?) so expect some updates from there.

Wayside When

"The walls of pride can't be knocked down when silence is the only sound. . ."


Wayside (Back in Time) - Chris Thile
We Win! - David Crowder Band
Wedding Dress - Derek Webb
A Week From Today - Blue Highway
What a Friend I've Found - Delirious?
What a Friend We Have in Jesus - St. Olaf Choir
What if the World Stops Turning - Mindy Smith
What Wondrous Love is This - Jill Phillips
Wheels - Dan Tyminski
When I Fall - Barenaked Ladies
When Nothing Satisfies - Jennifer Knapp
When Silence is the Only Sound - Infamous Stringdusters