Hangin out with Ron Ritchie at Asilomar

Once a year I spend a couple of days with the rest of our church leadership team at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. I’ve just returned from this year’s trip learning from Ron Ritchie about discipleship. Overall, I found it a painful experience (the good kind when you realize your life needs a course correction).

I knew of Ron back in the ’70’s when Karen and I would occasionally attend the Body Life evening service at Peninsula Bible Church. He was usually the leader of those meetings. Although I never attended Sunday morning services there, PBC (mainly through the books and sermons of Ray Stedman) had an enormous impact on my Christian life formation, and I eventually met and talked with Ray Stedman and Bob Smith. I regret not having bumped into him earlier. There’s more about Ron on his website at Free at Last!

In between the rain, my friend Gary and I slipped away during some free time for a beautiful bike ride along the Pacific Grove coast, through Cannery Row in Monterey, and out along the bike path to Marina. Very nice—and a bit of challenge. The step up from my normal 10 mile ride to nearly 30 was noticeable, but welcome. I’m beginning to love bicycling again.