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Today we’re traveling from Tupelo to Cannon Beach, Oregon for a week of ministry at Cannon Beach Conference Center. If I counted right, this is my tenth time since 2006 to speak at a Cannon Beach event. I was first invited to speak there as part of Moody Week. Since then I’ve been back at least once every year.

This time we’re bringing some reinforcements with us in the form of three other couples from Tupelo who are coming for the week. One of the couples came with us last year, but the other two will get their first taste of Cannon Beach. 

Every Bible conference has its own unique flavor. Several weeks ago I spoke at Camp Forest Springs, deep in the woods of northern Wisconsin. Cannon Beach is right on the Pacific Ocean. If things go as usual, we’ll have a sand sculpture contest (which I will help judge) on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. 

When you return to a Bible conference year after year, you build friendships with folks you would never otherwise meet. Because of Cannon Beach, we now have friends across the Pacific Northwest. 

We’re flying from Tupelo to Memphis to Los Angeles to Portland where Lisa Beedy will meet us and drive us to Cannon Beach. It’s a long day but we’re glad to do it, and we’re looking forward to all that God has in store for us this week.  

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By the time you read this, we will on the road for our last major conference of the summer. This time we’re heading west and north, all the way to the Pacific Coast of Oregon, to spend a week at Cannon Beach Conference Center. When I say we’re going to the coast, I mean it literally. You couldn’t be much closer to the Pacific Ocean than we will be.

Cannon Beach is a true beach resort, with the conference center tucked in to the north end of town. The one main street is filled with touristy shops selling salt water taffy, fudge, and all sorts of souvenirs, and then there are some neat little bookstores, some very nice art galleries, and lots of restaurants, most of them with outdoor seating. Plus the beach stretches for the entire length of the town.

I first spoke at Cannon Beach three years ago for Moody Week. We’ve been back every year since then. Last year I went by myself. This year I’m delighted that Marlene can go with me. She says I do better when she’s around. That’s definitely true.

I remarked to her that we will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary next Saturday by flying home from Oregon. She agreed with me that somehow that seems appropriate to be flying on our anniversary. More about that later in the week.

This morning we’re getting up at 3 AM, driving to Memphis, flying to Salt Lake City and Portland, and then it’s about a two-hour drive on to the coast. I’m speaking tonight in the evening service, twice tomorrow, and so on through next Friday, with one morning off.

So far this summer we’ve been to Michigan, Florida, Ontario, New York, Dallas, and now it’s on to Oregon. We rely on the prayers of our friends for the strength we need. Thanks in advance for praying for us this week.