Monthly Archives: August 2011

Books I'm Reading, outdoors, Yosemite

THE WILD MUIR

I am loving reading in his own words, is a collection of John Muir’s most thrilling experiences. From his famous snow avalanche trip down a side canyon in Yosemite Valley to his dizzying ride in the top of a tree during a fierce windstorm.

Would have liked to meet the man.

He founded the organization I work for, the Sierra Club, in 1892, and helped protect places like Yosemite. For instance, before he was a treehugger, he was an inventor who exhibited his work at a state fair. He was blinded in an accident but regained his sight. He was a world-traveler long before Southwest airlines. He’s got a planet named after him. And, hey, he’s on the California quarter!

I’ve walked where he walked.

Steve

Standard
church family, Ministry

ORIGINALITY

Looking forward to our new series starting this weekend called Originality.

Some of my favorite quotes about being an original are:

” You were born an original…don’t die a copy ” – John Mason
” You owe it to yourself to be yourself”. – Mark Batterson
“Be yourself ….everybody else is already taken”. – Oscar Wilde

“Each of us is an original.” – Galatians 5:26

Yes, I did just copy four other guys quotes on originality but Ben Franklin said; “Originality is the art of concealing your sources”

Steve Lummer

Lead Pastor

Prescott First Assembly

Sundays 10:00 am

1455 Willow creek road

Prescott Az.

Until we officially relaunch Prescott First Assembly to a new location we will be meeting @the Willowcreek location. – 10:00 A.M.
Watch for our new web site and podcast soon.
Standard
leadership, Yosemite

Summitt Leaders Yosemite – The Anti – Conference

I just wanted to post the other side of our week in Yosemite.

Sitting in camp Curry with Mark Batterson, Joel Malm, Doug Reed and other spiritual leaders last week was a defining moment for me.
Summit Leaders put together an amazing “Anti-conference” in the words of founder Joel Malm.
Man I love that kind of thinking and I loved that kind of conference.
We worked hard physically and pressed in deep spiritually.

The opportunity to hang out with and learn from Author and pastor Mark Batterson was in itself epic and stretching for all of us at the event.
Mark Batterson shared with us out of his newest book Soul Print.


Here are just a few quotes by Mark and others I picked up on the trip.

“Everybody wants to be president, but no many want to do president”. –  Carl Kuhl

“It’s water we’re talkin about” – one of our dudes.

“Most people are on the world, not in it“.-John Muir

“it is by far one of the special temples of nature that I was ever privileged to enter.” – John Muir

“there is a difference between prayer and praying through.” Mark Batterson

“Steve, you are going the wrong way.” – Joel Malm


“If David goes into battle as Saul, he doesn’t have a chance.” – Mark Batterson

“Defining moments define your life.” – Mark Batterson

“Don’t accumulate possessions, accumulate experiences .”  – Mark Batterson

“Time is measured minutes – life is measured in moments.” – Mark Batterson

“Destiny is a by product of the decisions we make.” M.B.

“We are all just one decision away from a totally new life.” – M.B.

“If you can do this, you can do anything” – etching on the top of Half dome

“if you run away from your fears you’ll be running your entire life.” – M.B. regarding half dome climb

“It is what it is”. Me


“This trail never ends” – Doug Reed

“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” — John Muir

“The greatest freedom in the world is having nothing to prove.” – M.B

“let’s do this”. – me

What an amazing out of the norm conference –

Steve
A changed leader
A challenged learner

Standard
leadership, Life Goals, outdoors, Yosemite

Yosemite/Half Dome Hikers Club

Just wanted to posted a few pics and reflection from my week in Yosemite National Park.
Each year 4 million people enter Yosemite Valley and every one of them sees Half Dome.

(double click the pic with your mouse to enlarge for a better view)

A very small percentage of them consider hiking to the top.  Of that small percentage, an even smaller percentage make it to the top.

This hike has been on my list of “Gotta Do” Hikes for a long time.  For years I’ve wanted to make this trip, but I have never found the time to prepare or train for this trip.  Last week on August 17th, A group lead by my friend Joel Malm of Summit Leaders and I made it to the top.

http://www.summitleaders.org/

The top of Half Dome was worth the wait and the journey was definitely an adventure to remember.

The first view of the cables is intimidating, but the set of switchbacks cut into granite are equally intimidating.  These switchbacks are more of a Class 2 scramble than a Class 1 trail.

The “Cables” are the cable system that help you get to the top. The Forest Service requires you to have a permit to climb the cables.

The cables are very intimidating because:
• If you slip you will fall to your death, no doubt about it
• It takes a lot of energy to climb up the steep slope.
• The high elevation (8,836′) makes it very difficult to climb up the steep 50+
degree slope.  It’s steeper than the pictures render.
• You are tired from walking 8 miles uphill just to get to this point.

Once on top you feel amazing, tired and challenged…..because you have to get down.

We enjoyed the view at the top for about one hour before we headed back down.  When we were at the top, there were probably 100 other people also celebrating.  When we came back down the cables, there were at least another 100+ people climbing up the cables.  We fought our way down squeezing past the climbers.

Some overwhelming desire forces me to identify the ledge I stood on which overlooked the Yosemite Valley.  I don’t know why, but since I’ve been to the top, Half Dome looks different.

So glad I went up – So glad I listened to a friend of mine who told me “don’t even think about it Steve, just climb it”.

Here are just a few pics of some other spot in this amazing place called Yosemite.

The Valley with deer that have no fear.

El capiton had four climbers that were in day three of their five day mission….We had binoculars and could see them make the ascent.

The Valley at night is magical.

The Muir trail on the way back was fantastic.

Big time thanks go out to all the friends that joined in and Joel Malm with Summit Leaders. I highly recommend this organization if you are looking for a top drawer adventure and first class experience.

What a great event!

Steve (HALF DOME HIKES CLUB since August 2011)

Standard
church family, Ministry

Seven Good Cows

I am really looking forward to this Sunday morning @ Prescott First Assembly.

Tomorrow is all about forecasting the seasons you are in.

There are reasons for seasons –  We need to be in tune with what season we are coming out of and what season we are going into.

It’s not enough to know what to do; you also need to know “when to do a thing” and “how to get it done.” If you get any one of these three steps wrong (the what, the when, and the how) you stand the risk of interfering with God’s perfect plan for your life and living out of balance with the timings and the seasons of the Spirit.

A wise man will not move with undue haste to complete a matter. First, he will seek to understand the right season and the proper timing that ensures the most favorable results.

This message “Seven Good Cows” is all about discerning the season that you are about to go into.

See you Sunday @ 10:00 am.

LOCATION UPDATE NEWS:

We are still meeting at the old location @ 1455 Willow Creek Road on Sunday mornings until we find our new temporary location.

In the meantime, Mountain Oak Charter School is still renovating the campus for their school year that starts up in a few days.

Pastor Steve

Standard
Mountain biking, Prescott

Nocturnal Mountain Bike Ride

[nok-tur-nl] – of or pertaining to the night.

While Brenda was watching the first pre-season Arizona Cardninals NFL game, I was clipping in for a two hour Night ride through the Prescott National Forest with friends .

We kicked off the ride out of Granite Basin/Ironsprings parking lot around 7:00ish.

Looks like a new Yeti is born .

“Lovin the new 29er.” –  Micheal Taylor

“I love riding at night. It is a blast, especially when those sharp turns sneak up on you.” Jeff Combs

Rick Brazil  on his 29er singlespeed

“Was a lot of fun with a group that big. Looking forward to the next!” – Steve Renolds

Just a great night with good friends and good trails.

Steve

Prescott, Az.

Standard
LEWIS AND CLARK

Lewis and Clark @17 months old

Just wanted to post a few pics of the pups @ 17months – Haven’t posted many pics over the last couple of months so here ya go.

Double click the pic with your mouse to enlarge the pic to full size.

If we don’t run them …they run us at night.

Lewis on the left is 82 lbs and Clark is 92 lbs.

Lewis

Clark was a poser today so I took advantage of it.

Everyday they are getting into better habits of fitting in and contributing to our journey….next year they will be old enough to go on vacation with us.

Steve

Standard
Arizona, Ministry, outdoors, Prescott

THE CHURCH AT 7,200 FEET

Tomorrow is Sunday and I will have two services @ two locations for anyone who wants to attend either.

The first service is rather conventional, traditional and has seats –  it starts @ 10:00 am and is held @ 1455 Willow Creek road here in Prescott Az.

The Second site is @ 7,200 feet at the top of Granite basin and will not be typical, traditional or conventional….It has no seats but a really good view.

Here is a pic of our location of our Sunday afternoon worship service. (no fried chicken allowed).

Pretty nice temple  right?

Desire – We are going to meditate on the word  “Selah”  when we reach the top of the peak.

Destination –  The scenic, tranquil, Prescott National Forest. –  We will unplug from the fast-paced life in an effort to slow down, relax, connect with each other and listen for the voice of God.

The “service” won’t be lengthy and we won’t even take an offering…..but we will reflect on some amazingness of God’s handiwork and artwork.

Details – We leave Granite Basin/Iron Springs parking lot at 3:00 and  commute to the trail head area to save on parking fees.

The eight mile hike round trip will require you to be self contained with plenty of water and snacks. (remember it will be hot in the afternoon.)

The hike is approx two hours up and two hours back.

Here is a link to help you with info. regarding the climb and decent.

http://www.eatstayplay.com/html/az/a317p011c2079.html

Plan on arriving back to your vehicles around 8:00ish.

Pastor Steve

710-0750

Selah

Here is part two of this blog post of some pics while up on the summit of Granite Basin.

The hike was pretty much two hours up and two hours down….good work out for the Yosemite trip coming up next week.

(Double click on the pic with your mouse to make it full size on your screen)

The face of GB

On the way up looking toward Skyline drive.

GB trail

Close to the meadow on the top of gb.

The back side of granite Basin looking toward willimson valley/Sedona/ Flagstaff…One of my favorite sections of this amazing trail.

The entire afternoon I saw four other humans.

Summed up I say: Scenic time for solitude and Selah.

Steve

Prescott Az.

Standard
Ragbrai

Thanks For The Support

I just wanted to send out a special “thank you” to all those who helped make my RAGBRAI journey a success.

To ride a bicycle 500 plus miles across the state of Iowa takes a lot of support believe it or not.
Thanks to Jean Earl for the use of her late husband’s road bike. (Jean, I road from Iowa City to Davenport in honor of your family).

Thank you High Gear bike shop and Bike World of Des Moines for the mechanical work. Without your exxpert detailed work this trip would have been a job not a joy….The bike worked great.

Thank you Christophe Noel for the hard case to transport the bike…got to get me one bro.

Thank you Gerald Graves and Des Moines First Assembly/Team Impact for well planned out support. – The support vehicle’s sleeping accommodations and schedule were top notch. The amazing people on this team were pleasing to be with for the entire 7 days.

Thanxz to Dave Douglas for pain relief advice – you know what I’m talkin bout bro.


Thank you pastor Scott Rooks and the fabulous congregation of  Westside Assembly of God. The homecoming welcome was an unbelievable gift to me .


Thank you Patty Chesling and tribe for the laundry, transportation and memory support – I love you guys,
Thank you Steve and Kelli Grubbs for the hospitality I received at your beautiful home and beautiful family.


Thank you Mom, Dad and my brother for pick ups and transportation the airport.
Thank you to my wife Brenda for the encouragement and gift to get me to Iowa and back,
Thank you to Adam my son – in law for covering PFA while I was “suffering”. Lol

Iowa is not flat…..Here is a link that compares Ragbrai with Ride the Rockies.

http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archives/2011/2/8/4744191.html


Thanks to the RAGBRAI people and leadership for an awesome experience – no wonder 10,000 people join in your event each year. – this was epic for me.
Thank you gracious God for health and the desire you put in me to adventure your planet.

Finally, thank you to the state of IOWA for some amazing, loving, and fun people –My home state of  Iowa Rocks

We started with around 8000 cyclist in Glenwood Iowa and fnishished with approx 20,000 cyclist riding into Davenport.

http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_e8fb56a8-bd77-11e0-bc4e-001cc4c03286.html

Steve the rodie for a summer

Standard