Ozette Beach Loop and Shi Shi

On Sunday, Shaun (my brother-in-law) and I left at 5 p.m. destined for two or three days of hiking in the Olympic National Park. I had long heard about the amazing beaches that can be found there and are often listed as comprising some of the best beaches as well as the best hikes in North America.

Our first hike of choice was to do the Ozette Beach loop, including an extension up to the Ozette River. We were planning on crossing the river if possible and then camping as we made our way North towards Shi Shi (pronounced shy-shy).

I had planned this trip for a long time but it was dependant on weather…well it turns out that weather completely cooperated with us and it would just as well have been the best summer day imaginable. We had sunshine, no wind, and no fog. The mornings were crisp, but the days were indescribably pleasant.

After witnessing an amazing sunrise, we carefully walked the icy boardwalk to Sand Point. When we arrived at the beach the tide was high, but after climbing over the drift wood we found a narrow sandy beach that we were able to easily and safely walk.

Shortly after getting started we came across bear tracks in the sand. We hoped to see a bear, but in spite of sighting tracks twice, we never actually saw one.

The bald eagles immediately began putting on a show for us. I seriously think I saw more bald eagles than seagulls. It was amazing. They were around for both days. At times there were ten eagles in sight at once.

The rope scrambles (especially on day two) were a lot of fun and were needed to get around some of the rocky cliffs. (Fixed ropes are placed in sections that require climbing over the cliffs where the ocean comes right up to the rocks).
I had hoped to see some of the Native American petroglyphs that I had read about and we were fortunate enough to find them. They were awesome to see and obviously took a long time for someone to draw. They are deeply dug into the rocks and record a history of whale hunting as well as the arrival of Westerners by ship.

Late in the day we arrived at the Ozette River and realized that crossing it wasn’t the best idea. I knew we could go back to our motor home, drive to the Shi Shi trailhead, camp in the motor home, and do the North end the next day. This is what we ended up doing and after driving through Neah Bay we found a perfect campground on Hobuck Beach. We were the only campers there but they also had hot showers. Sunset on the beach was awesome and the next morning we drove four miles to the newly improved Shi Shi Beach trailhead.

Blue skies, a great surf, long beaches, sea stacks galore, arches (Point of the Arches), caves, cliff climbing, tide pool exploring, beach combing, wild-life watching (seals, eagles, deer, etc) all made for another unforgettable hike. Shi Shi beach was recently featured on the Travel Channel as one of the best beaches in North America, and it deserves that recognition. Still, the Point of the Arches and South of there are the best for unique beauty. We made it within sight of the Ozette River before turning around and getting back to our car at about 4 p.m.

All in all we hiked 26 miles in two days. We saw only four other people, each day. We drove by Lake Crescent on the way home and arrived home at 10:45 p.m. It was two incredible days, well spent.

For more photos, click on the link provided with the heading of this blog.

Dogs In Church

This past Sunday a couple visitors brought their dog to church. The dog apparently enjoys worship, so they took their dog with them and found an empty seat on the front row of the 11 a.m. service. The dog didn't have a leash or a crate. The owners would hold the dog, set it down on the seat next to them, and occasionally loose control of it. I think it spent most of the service on the carpet close to where our pastor was valiantly preaching while trying not to be distracted.

I was tempted to "boot" the dog from the church -- but apparently some are more gracious than I am and consented to their canine friend. Still, I felt the dog was extremely distracting. I was especially outraged to watch it urinate in our foyer. The dog owners dabbed up the urine with a napkin before exiting the building.

We now have a "service dogs only" policy for our auditorium. If they come back, the dog may have to take a nap in their car.

This has been an issue in churches for about 100 years. Check out this article that I found:
The Gonzales Inquirer, May 6, 1882
DOGS IN CHURCH

After calm deliberation and mature judgment, we have reached the decided opinion that it does not improve the morals, and elevate the manners of dogs, to have them attend church, and we are positive that nothing is added to the comfort of the worshipers by their presence.

In fact we believe that church-going dogs are the most depraved of the canine family. They generally consider it the time and place to show their [pugnacity] and animosity to the rest of the gang that have congregated there. They make themselves at home in a manner that is supremely exasperating to average mortality.

The manner in which one of the well-trained ones can march up the aisle and scornfully survey the rest of the congregation would make a Texas legislator almost weep for envy.

The difficulties between the canines are generally adjusted in the middle of the church, and all other proceedings are generally brought to a close until the settlement is reached, and each one will resent an invitation to leave as a personal insult.

They seem to know that the bipeds are restrained by the laws from creating a disturbance and imagine that they have the right to run affairs to suit themselves.

Any town cur who is in the habit of attending church is as ambitious of being noticed as any politician in the country, and will play as many disagreeable tricks to gain the designed end.

One of the most harrowing methods is to plant himself in front of you, stare into your face with fiendish delight, and vigorously use his hind foot in scattering enough vermin on you to keep you thoroughly entertained during the rest of the services.

A few Sundays since one of the meeting house canines, after sliding up and down the aisle some forty times, walking into the stand and endeavoring to gaze the minister out of countenance, and performing all the other diabolical pranks that his abominable instinct could suggest.

Finding that he was not attracting that attention which his villainous heart longed for, raised his bristles looked savagely in the face at a lady near him and commenced barking in a manner that would almost render you frantic.

There were only five out last Sunday, but that was enough, and they made themselves felt, seen and heard. As members of a congregation assembled for religious worship, dogs are a decided failure.

We have never been able to appreciate dogs anyway, unless they were ornamented with a sardine box and earnestly and solemnly hunting for solitude and rest.

There is also a new law being considered that would allow dogs to go to bars with their owners here in Washington. You can view the Seattle Times article HERE.

At what point are people going too far?

New Life – The Legacy of Hyla Gonzalez

In May of 2004, our Senior Pastor, Jim Hayford, was in Manila for the annual Church Planters’ Institute which is for training new pastors who are committed to establishing churches in the poorest communities in Manila. It was during that time that Hyla was born to one of newest church planters, Jun and Salve Gonzalez.

What normally would have been a joyous occasion became one of great alarm and concern when they saw what appeared to be Hyla’s heart protruding from her chest cavity, protected only by a thin membrane. She was rushed to critical care as pediatricians and cardiologists began scrambling to try to figure out what could be done to preserve Hyla’s life. It didn’t take them long to come to the anguished conclusion that Hyla couldn’t be helped and she only had days to live.

While still in the hospital Pastor Jim was able to visit Jun and Salve to pray with them as they faced a situation that appeared to be impossible medically, financially and emotionally. Through prayer, Jun and Salve found strength and hope in God. When Pastor Jim returned to Eastside he shared the plight of “Baby Hyla” with the congregation. Immediately hundreds of people rallied by pledging their prayers and financial assistance on her behalf. A fund was established that would be used to make sure she had access to the best medical care.

Doctors were consulted here in Seattle (and around the world) and they all agreed that her condition was inoperable.

Well, Hyla beat all the odds and quickly became known as a living miracle. Days of life turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. Soon Hyla was released from the hospital and went home under the care of Jun and Salve. During the coming months visiting “Baby Hyla” became a beloved stopping point for teams from Eastside Foursquare Church. To everyone’s amazement, Hyla began to crawl, then to walk, laugh, and even to talk. Doctors were astounded by her progress.

Furthermore, she became known as a living miracle throughout her community.
Many turned to Jesus Christ and began attending Living Sanctuary Foursquare Church under the leadership of Pastor Jun. Every day of her life was considered a miracle due to the severity of the defects afflicted her heart.

On August 7, 2006, Hyla Gonzalez went on to be with the Lord. Hundreds of people attended her funeral. Neighbors flocked to her wake and children were seen bringing as much money as they could and leaving it by Hyla’s side.

For many people, Hyla brought a face to the Urban Church Planting Project. She represented the plight of the urban poor as well as the power and hope of a partnership forged by a common faith in Jesus Christ. Our church became more passionate about this project when her story was told. This is what the UCPP is all about. Hyla was a familiar face to all of us, but she represents hundreds and hundreds of children and adults who are being helped through your generosity as you find ways of becoming involved in the UCPP.

Today, Pastor Jun, Salve and their daughter Hannah are doing well. They are expecting another baby in March of 2007. Please keep them in your prayers as they anticipate another miraculous life born into a world of challenges and hope.

Solitude on Dirty Harry Peak

Solitude is sometimes defined as a spiritual discipline -- as a way to create space in one's life for God. Solitude allows our hearts and minds to be still and quiet. It is in the quietness that we can gain perspective on life and perhaps even hear the still small voice of God. In the Bible the places of solitude were often referred to as the wilderness. Moses spent time there (and on the mountain), John the Baptist lived there, Jesus withdrew there, Paul spent significant time there (in the desert) and there are many other examples. For this reason, I give myself permission to intentionally get away, quiet my mind, and be renewed. With that in mind I set out today for Dirty Harry Peak, just East of Mt. Sai:



The weather was perfect today. My choice of climbs was a small mountain or butte called "Dirty Harry Peak". It seemed a like a safe winter climb that would provide me with a good workout .

This climb ended up being everything I had hoped for. It was a rugged and steep climb, but didn't require snowshoes and also didn't pose and threat of avalanches.





I was able to summit and return to my car in just under 3 hours.
I always wondered why it was called "Dirty Harry Peak". To learn why you can read the article that I have linked HERE.

Matt Messner's Blog: Solitude on Dirty Harry Peak

Matt Messner's Blog: Solitude on Dirty Harry Peak

The Difference A Coach Makes

It is easy for me to list the coaches who made a difference in my life as a runner. I am proud of their credentials...


Mike Hodges: Coached me as a youth while coaching track at South Western Oregon Community College.

Phil Pursian: My high school coach -- his photo here is with Steve Prefontain. Phil and his wife also were strong Christians and members of the Foursquare Church in Coos Bay. In 1996 Phil had 3 former high school runners competing in the Olympic Trials Marathon.



John Lodwick: I met him while I was in high school. A 2:12 marathoner and a pastor in Bend, Oregon. He coached me during my best years as a marathon runner.


Tom Cotner: My current coach who gives selflessly of his time and knowledge. Holds track workouts at Greenlake come rain or shine every Wednesday night and Saturday morning. TOM COTNER recently won the Scott Hamilton award for leadership at the association level in the area of distance running.

Coaches provide us with a model for leadership development and mentoring. World class runners have world class coaches. The best musicians usually have the best teachers. Without these kind of influencers, spiritual, athletic, artistic and vocational development can stagnate. Lately I have been reading a book on coach Bill Bowerman (Bowerman and the Men of Oregon) - and it has made me think a lot more about this subject.

So find a coach and be a coach...Is there a"coach" who has made a difference in your life? What are the qualities that made them good at what they do?

Christianity on MY Terms

I have observed what appears to be a growing sense of subjective morality among Christians. An example of this would be Christians living together prior to marriage and having no qualms about it whatsoever. Another example would be the casual use of profanity. I still adhere to the idea that the Bible provides us with objective morality that transcends time and culture. The process of unbiasedly identifying and applying that to ones life can be a challenge over some issues, but most behaviorial issues seem clear to me. I'm sure we all define morality by our own terms at some level, but I want to be careful to let God define right behavior. I'm really trying not to judge "these" people, but this bothers me when I encounter it. What do you think?

The Gingerbread House

The Hazen family tradition continues. Hope you enjoy this year's Washington Wind Storm version of the disposal of their holiday gingerbread house. If you like it you'll want to see previous years' editions (Click here to view the archives).


Video: Gingerbread House 2007