On to NOLA!

As I thought about leaving for the Youth Gathering tomorrow, I decided that I would do my best to keep a running commentary on the event for any folks who want to know what I think about what's going on. I'm looking forward to having a good time with our teens and their chaperones (who have done such a great job of getting the group together and ready for the event), and I'm coming along to be their pastor and to learn more about an important part of the life of the church—our teen culture.

Some may not know this, but this is the seventh youth gathering I've attended since coming to Hope. I've been to San Antonio, Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans (Hotel Life Team), St. Louis (Hotel Life Team), and San Antonio again. Now I return to New Orleans, but for our chaperones it will be their first time.

I expect HOT weather, thunderstorms, and more HOT weather. I understand why people like Tabasco sauce so much down there—it's the only thing that's hotter than the weather. By the way, did I mention that I'm expecting it to be HOT in New Orleans? And Humid?

But it should be fun. I will bring my video camera as well as my digital one. If I can, I will post some photos. I'm hoping that there will be some streaming video from the event, but I couldn't find any evidence of a link on the website at www.elca.org.

In any case, I'm sending this note out to you now because I'm not sure I will get to send out advance notices of blogging updates each day. So, if you're interested, just go on the internet to this site: www.hopespastor.blogspot.com. If I can meet my goal of daily updates, I think you'll be glad to read them. Take care.

By the way, for those who haven't figured it out yet: "NOLA" is "New Orleans Louisiana."