Pastor's Retreat

This past weekend Naomi and I attended our district's ministerial retreat. We stayed in room # 400 of the Days Inn on Munson Ave. (I give the room # just in case I die young like Elvis and everyone wants to stay in the hotel rooms I once inhabited.) We ate trash food and partied like fools all weekend. If we could do this every weekend I think I would "really" enjoy pastoring.

We loved the worship times at the Bayview Church in their new facility. Wow! The Lord is really blessing their work. Great worship team (where does that lady get all her energy?). And a wonderful banquet on Saturday night.

It was good to see our colleagues in the ministry. What impresses me so much is to be around men and women who love Christ more than self. I see those in bigger churches and smaller churches. And what I see is not a status or swagger or low self-esteem but a genuine commitment to the call. This encourages me. And lots of love and laughter between friends.

Dr. Weeter from Oklahoma Wesleyan U. somehow crammed one hour sermons into twenty minutes- every time. I have to figure that out. My people hear me cram a twenty minute sermon into an hour. How does he do it? Anyhow, his thoughts were encouraging and challenging at the same time. (I did tell him that I thought the two un-named disciples in the boat in John 21 had to be a pastoral couple.)

And what would be a great conference without good coffee? Huh? We discovered a little coffee and deli shop in downtown Manistee. Just drive west of 31 on River street and it will be on the left side. Definitely worth the stop. The sandwiches looked great but not so great right after a Chinese lunch. In Traffic City (Traverse City for those who have not been there in the last ten years), Beaners offers some great variety that both my wife and I can agree on. She likes the stuff that coddles you as awake to a new day. I like coffee that grabs you by the throat, throws you out of bed and kicks you awake (besides, I still need hair on my chest). Beaners offers both kinds (well, kind of. If you want real "get-up-and-go" coffee there is a Starbucks in the Meijers across the street). There is also a myriad of coffee places downtown.

I was glad to see old pals like Chris and Sue Ann, Paulette and Tony, Mike and Pam, and so on. And of course my college professor, Dr. Mark Haines. We had a chance to spend some time with Glen and Sandy. And of course our future "friends in laws" Brian and JoJean. I can't name everyone but I will end the list with Leanne and Lyle and our niece Sierra and nephew Shawn (I rubbed his head for good luck for the Red Wings).

What more can I say about the retreat? Lots more. But what happens at a Ministerial Retreat stays at a Ministerial Retreat. Especially around the game table in the hotel lobby.