Leadership Team Retreat: What a delight to have had the opportunity to spend time with many of you this past week as we gathered in Leavenworth.  I trust you were able “to catch your breath and walk in the right direction.”

David Busic: Our new Seminary President offered us clear and helpful encouragement from the Word.

• We will never say “Grace and Peace” without being reminded that we serve a God “who gives us more than we deserve” and “who takes the broken pieces of our lives and makes us whole.”
• We must be ever vigilant in “guarding our hearts” as we encounter the hyenas of life and ministry.
• What hope there is in the reminder that we are on the offensive as we get back to what it is Nazarenes have always been about—compassionate, engaged, missional people loving and caring as we work in a broken and hope deprived world.

Morning reflections: As I read from the writings of Walter Brueggemann this morning, I came across this thought filled question: “Can you entrust possibilities to God that go beyond your own capacity for control and fabrication?”  He was writing about Abraham and the promise of a baby.  The years of waiting began to wear him down and the hope of a baby faded.  “Can God do the impossible?”  “Yes, but.” With that declaration we say the right word—“yes”; then we negate it with the wrong word—“but.”  Can we truly imagine a future that God can break into and bring newness and freshness to our lives and ministry?  May our declaration be: “Yes, Yes!”   Let us live with God laced anticipation this day!

District Happenings: To update you on a few district matters:

• Walt Wilkinson has accepted the call to Ephrata. He and Victoria will be arriving in early December.
• I've installed Chuck Wilkes at True North, Cliff Purcell at Lewiston First and Brent Hulett at Grandview.
• Chelan, Richland and Zillah are the three open churches I continue to work with.
• Cliff Purcell has accepted my invitation to be the coach of the Southeast Cluster.
• Three meetings of note happen at the end of this month.  The DAB will meet, then a team will gather for a strategic planning time, and the Ministerial Development Board will come together to do their work. I believe several initiatives will come from the strategic planning conversation.  One of the items of discussion will be about changes in our structure with an additional cluster and the establishment of missional areas.  I’ll bring you up to speed after our meetings.  Please pray for these important gatherings.

Ongoing meditation: These words from Revelation 2 and 3 have been challenging me in recent days:  “Are your ears awake?  Listen.  Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”  I want to stay attentive to what God is up to--The Spirit present, moving, speaking.  Are we attentive?  Not “Yes, But” rather “Yes, Yes!!!”

Grace and peace to you!

Randy