Important Newsflash: Why Kansans Call It "Ar-kansas" River

http://www.cimarronkansas.net/arkansas.htm

Note: I was born in Great Bend, KS the "Arc" of the Ar-Kansas River (that once it arrives in the state of Arkansas correctly becomes the Arkansas (pronounced Arkansaw) River).

May Garden Photos

I've worked hard in planting and keeping up with my gardens in the last month. Linda and Andrew have both helped me some. I also have my first ever vegetable garden* (just an "experiment"!; not-photo worthy) with corn, watermelon (I think, maybe), cucumbers (if I remember right?), green beans (possibly), tomatoes, strawberries, who knows what else (I have absolutely no clue where anything is!?) and a few petunias that I didn't have room for in my other gardens. My mom said, "What are you going to do, add some petunia blooms to your salad?" It will all look so, so much better come July! (*I did grow tomatoes in Chandler once. After they grew and were ready for harvesting, I didn't know what to do with them because I don't even like tomatoes! Many have asked me this year, why I am growing tomatoes? Well, it just seems like the thing to do!)

Extreme Camp Makeover

Extreme Camp Makeover continues...or as Matt now calls it, Extreme Camp Hangover! Trying to get everything done before next Saturday, May 30 when the first camp begins...

Linda's Pictures

Linda gave me this picture and said it was taken at her church!

The Best Sunset of the Year!

Saturday night's sunset after the storm!

'Way Back' Pictures (Andrew, Dad, and I)

Sabbath Retreat Pictures (2) and Report

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for partnering with me in prayer for this week's Pastor's Sabbath Retreat. I returned home late last night, so I am exhuasted of course, but it is one of the most "refreshing" and "fulfilling" experiences of exhaustion that I have had for quite some time.

The Lord blessed us with wonderful weather during our time in Estes Park, which allowed everyone to take full advantage of the rest and renewal provided through the beauty of God's creation. We also enjoyed wonderful times of worship and fellowship together, as well as a number of spiritual exercises focused around the theme of listening to God, based on 1 Kings 19.

It was obvious from talking with others that by far the greatest benefit of a retreat like this one is simply the gift of time and space to "breathe" or "unwind" or "decompress." Most church leaders devote so much time and energy to serving others that they often neglect to take adequate time for themselves, so retreats like this one can be especially life-giving, if not life-saving.

I met with one brother, for example, who has had an unusually difficult and personally disappointing history in vocational ministry. In fact, he felt so defeated that he almost turned around and returned home before arriving in Estes Park. As we talked together towards the end of the retreat, he summarized his experience with this simple statement: "I have been rescued."

Praise God for His saving and sustaining grace, and for the gifts of rest, renewal and restoration. May you experience each of these realities in your own lives and ministries as you continue to follow hard after Him.

[Nearly every resource I cited during the retreat can be found on the Center for Spiritual Renewal website: csr.barclaycollege.edu. The website can also be accessed through the Barclay home page (http://www.barclaycollege.edu/) by clicking on the "Center for Spiritual Renewal" link in the bottom right-hand corner. Those who are wanting to get a copy of the "Shalom Prayer" can go directly to the following website: http://www.maranathacommunity.org.uk/shalom.aspx (which is also included in the recommended resource page on the CSR website).]

Agape,
Dave Williams

Sabbath Retreat at YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, CO

Happy Mother's Day 2009

To celebrate (early) Mother's Day, Andrew and I worked cleaning the gutters and then planting a flower bed for our mother last evening!

Pre-Sabbath Retreat Prayer

I guess the people of God in the Old Testament had to do a lot of work to prepare for the Sabbath. So do we! I thought I'd pass along a letter from Dave Williams sent out to several people, requesting prayer for the upcoming Sabbath Retreat. (And the schedule below.) -Adam

Dear Friends,
As I prepare to lead a "Sabbath Retreat" for my fellow pastors next week in Colorado, I am keenly aware of the need for adequate prayer cover. The more I lead retreats like this one, the more conscious I am of the enemy’s desire to undermine any efforts we might make to help our spiritual leaders experience rest and renewal. I have experienced tangible resistance to the topic of Sabbath rest, in particular. This should come as no surprise, of course. If Satan can keep church leaders in a state of perpetual exhaustion, disillusionment and isolation, the rest of the body will tend to fall apart as well, i.e., “strike the shepherd, scatter the sheep” (cf. Mt 26:31).

With this in mind, I am writing to ask you if you might be willing to join me in prayer for this retreat, for each of our brothers and sisters who will be participating, for Gabe and Sarah as they lead worship, and for me as I offer teaching and spiritual direction. I am including a list of registrants below, and attaching a copy of the retreat schedule so you can pray more personally and strategically. Lord willing, this retreat will help each of us become better equipped to care for ourselves, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of those we are called to serve.

Thanks for your partnership in this vital ministry!

Blessings,
Dave Williams

2009 EFC-MAYM/RMYM Pastor's Sabbath Retreat registrations:
Dan & Janet Biernacki
David & Rochelle Bridges
Eldon & Gayle Cox
Tom Decker
Rich & Karen Miller
Darin Kearns
Dave Kingrey
Mark McDonald
Matt Macy
Adam Monaghan
Eric Linville
Charles & Vicky Orwiler
David & Jan Robinson
Charity & Richard Sandstrom
Ken & Lila Smith
Homer & Lois Smuck
Ben Staley
Lyle & Peggy Whiteman
Scott & Susan Rose
Jadon & Audrey Ross
John & Vicki Hinshaw
Francis & Bulah McKinney
Bill & Helen Powell
Forrest Brandt
Donnie & Rhonda Hinshaw
Gabe & Sarah Hancock
David Williams
Thayne Thompson
Gary Getting
Carol Whorton
Alfred & Mabel Lugalia
Eric & Lisa Mason
Jeff & Mary Naggell

Pastors Sabbath Retreat:
“Speak, Lord, for Your Servant Is Listening”
Discerning God’s Voice in an Age of Complexity and Confusion
May 11-14, 2009 - YMCA of the Rockies/Estes Park, Colorado

Sponsored by
Evangelical Friends Church-Mid America
Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting
The Center for Spiritual Renewal at Barclay College

Monday, May 11:
4-6pm Check-in at Alpen Inn
6-7pm Supper Served
7:30pm Welcome Session
9-11pm Hospitality Room Open
Featuring Espressos by Thayne Thompson

Tuesday, May 12:
8-9am Breakfast Served
9:00am Morning Session w/ David Williams:
Discerning God’s Voice through Nature
12-1pm Lunch Served
1-6pm Free Time: Rest & Renewal
6-7pm Supper Served
7:30pm Evening Session w/ David Williams:
Discerning God’s Voice through Scripture
9-11pm Hospitality Room Open
Featuring Shakes & Malts by Gary Getting

Wednesday, May 13:
8-9am Breakfast Served
9:00am Morning Session w/ David Williams:
Discerning God’s Voice through Prayer
12-1pm Lunch Served
1-6pm Free Time: Rest & Renewal
6-7pm Supper Served
7:30pm Evening Session w/ David Williams:
Discerning God’s Voice through Community
9-11pm Hospitality Room Open
Featuring Limeades by Charity Sandstrom

Thursday, May 14:
7:30am Friends Ministers Fellowship Meeting
Everyone invited to participate
8-9am Breakfast
10:00am Check-out

Special thanks to Gabe & Sarah Hancock, who will be leading us in worship throughout the retreat.