bombers in the car

So I was at a meeting with a friend today. The weather was nice so I left the sun roof open. Not a bad idea. When the meeting was through we got into the car so I could take him back to his place of work. As I was driving on this little country road outside of Snohomish with a fresh cup of coffee in my hand I was attacked by a bumble bee who apparently was laying in wait for a victim. He was like a World War II bomber. I could hear him but I couldn't see him until he hit me in my right temple. All I can say is the coffee I had just purchased now was on the dash board and windshield as well as on all of the front half of me. I would have been able to pull over if it wasn't for the car behind me tailgaiting and the fact that there was NO place to pull over! I almost went into the ditch but was able to catch myself by some very nimble moves I learned in college football. Tuck and roll took on new meaning. It reminded me of a time I was hiking in northern Idaho and found a really cool cave to camp in. In the middle of the night I had to turn my light on to look for something and found a heard (I don't think that's correct) of bats on the ceiling. They came to life the moment my light went on. Problem was, I was the only thing between them and the opening to the cave. When the light came on they all made a mad dash for the cave opening. The dance moves I made would have impressed John Travolta!

At any rate, after pulling over and getting the bomber out of the car I sat laughing at what life throws at us. We are never free from unscheduled events in our lives. We seem to always find new adventures. Well this week has been one of those weeks. With the Entiat camp ground canceling our family camp, Brent, Elizabeth and I have been working to pull something together. The good news is, WE HAVE A CAMP! We will be meeting at a camp near Leavenworth for our Memorial day camp. There are about 70 of us still going. Though its about half of what we would have had, we will still have a great time together. We will also have a family service at 11:00 on Sunday at the Lynnwood campus. I encourage all who are still in town to come. I will be teaching on the miracle of Peter's release from prison in Acts chapter 12. It was totally the result of the church praying. I will be teaching on that as well. I hope to see you all there on Sunday (unless you are camp). Look out for the bombers!!!!

Great Days Ahead!

Pastor Steve

Rain, Rain, Rain!

Have you ever noticed that when you want rain you don't get it and when you want sun it doesn't seem to stop raining? well, that's the story of our week. We just hydroseeded the 33,000 sq ft field in the back of our property. The cost was substantial and so we attempted to time it so we would have rain in the forecast, to help with the watering process. Every weatherman in town said rain. I have found that being a weatherman is the only position you can be wrong 90% of the time and still get a raise at the end of the year.

So, Brent and I have been water boys this week. I don't know what it is about Lynnwood and weather. It rained in virtually every surrounding town this week. Lynnwood? Not so much! Oh well, we are well on our way to a great field and a bunch of fun on the grass. The youth are already planning several summer activities. In the evening of July 2nd we'll have an outside movie on the grass. Brent is salivating over the possibility of having a field for deerbase. If you don't know what deerbase is I can't explain it in writing. I can barely explain it in person. Needless to say it is high energy and a blast!

On another note we are really excited about our Memorial Day Family Camp. We have 111 people signed up so far, many are new families. It will be a great time to be with old friends and to make new ones. If you are in town that weekend we will have one service at 11:00 am. I'll be coming back to teach that day. I'll be teaching on another great story out of the book of Acts. I hope you will join us.

I just looked outside. IT'S RAINING!!!!!!

Great Days Ahead,

Steve (The water boy)

We all need some Amazing

My wife Julie is so amazing. After we attended the Financial Peace University class that was held at Silver Creek in the the fall, we determined that to reach our financial goals she would need to head back to work. She has now been working at Starbucks, in Mukilteo, for close to four months. She has consistently been getting scheduled for the opening shift, which means she has to be at the store by 4am. Which has her getting out of bed a touch after 3am.

I love Julie, but she is not naturally a morning person. The good news is, she's not actually getting up in the morning, it's still the stinking middle of the night. When I say she's amazing it's not because she is able to get up at this time but her motivation to get up when the alarm clocks blares it's ugly noise. She's committed to the future of our family. She cares about our three kids and sees the benefits for them if we are able to get ourselves completely out of debt. If we get out of debt there's a good chance that we can help each of our kids with college costs, hopefully more than the $150 we currently have saved up for their college education. Getting out of debt will give us the freedom to be more generous with others that we see in financial need. It will also mean that someday we can retire. Ultimately, she goes to work for the betterment of her family.

Julie is often tired in the afternoon and is certainly wiped out by around 8pm, following those early morning shifts. But she is sacrificing in a tremendous way for us, she is truly an incredible example of a loving and caring, wife and mother. In the same way that I started this note, she is amazing.

This got me thinking, we all need amazing people in our lives. We all have so many shortcomings or areas where we could just use some help or a little extra care and attention. The problem is that it's not really practical to hold up a sign requesting someone to be amazing for you. Here's my solution.

Rather than any of us holding interviews for amazing people, what if all of us watched for and took opportunities to be a little bit of amazing in other peoples lives. When we see an area of need or something we could do to make someone's life a little better, let's do it. If all of us would commit to being amazing for those around us, think how incredible our community would be. Both as a community within Silver Creek and the community in which we live.

Thanks Julie for being so amazing and an example for the rest of us to consider being amazing for each other.

Brent

It's May? Really?!

Well, its been about a month now that I have been resisting the fact that, as much as I would like to pretend its warm, it is still WINTER out there! I know the calendar says its May but rainy and 50 degrees doesn't exactly qualify as shorts, flip flops and tank top weather...that being said, I am a true Seattle-lite and if I waited around for the weatherman to tell me what to wear, I would never get out of my fleece and winter boots. SO, I continue to live in denial, wear capris and short sleeved shirts and freeze!! I am looking forward to sunny 70-75 degree days! I don't need HEAT...just warmth! The school year is wrapping up, kids are still engaged in school and projects but are starting to realize that days are getting longer and sun might be in our near future (ever the optimist).

The beginning of summer is always marked by a few key events. The first major marker is our Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp. Our family has had the privilege of celebrating the past 3 Memorial Days in Entiat. Our kids know the routine. We put away school books, pack the car to capacity and head over to Entiat for some warm weather and an amazing weekend of fun with a church family that we love. We spend days at Lake Entiat, evenings are spent back at camp by the campfire, reconnecting with friends and new acquaintances, enjoying Margo's cooking and taking a break from the daily grind. Kids team up for tent sleepovers, parents stay up to the wee hours of the night playing ridiculous games and acting like kids again. Sunday we get to spend time worshiping together at the lake and baptisms are celebrated. Entiat marks the beginning of summer for our family. We know that we will return to one final month at school but for now...on that weekend...we get to spend time doing nothing but enjoying each other's company and spending time with so many that we love.

I hope that you will consider joining us in Entiat over the Memorial Day Weekend. It is a few hours away, the traffic can be crazy, camping can be an experience in and of itself but ultimately, you will look back with fond memories and build relationships that will last a lifetime.

Looking forward to getting away! Hope you can join us! Sign up at the info kiosk this weekend! Cabins are limited but campsites are still available.

See you Sunday!
Elizabeth Volz
Executive Pastor