I’ve been attending the Stonebriar Men’s Retreats since 2010. Every year is different yet the same.
This year was no exception.
I’m always glad when I can go with the set up team on Thursday for several reasons.
The Christian fellowship is amazing and fun. The team changes over the years but the comradery is basically the same.
In other words we have fun together.
The Pine Cove campground is so peaceful when I go early. It’s still relaxing after the men arrive but louder with more tasks to be accomplished.
It’s good to be able to unwind before the crowd shows up.
You never know what wildlife will make an appearance.
Thursday evening I was pacing in the dining hall when I saw something white on the lake. Upon closer inspection I saw the distinctive profile of a distinct bird.
The oversized beak told me a flock of pelicans was stopping on Lake Palestine for the night.
I stepped out on the balcony to get a better look. Sure enough these were pelicans alright.
They didn’t make any vocalizations but as they flapped their wings to move around their crowd they slapped the water.
That was an experience for the remembery banks all right.
On Friday morning I watched a bald eagle chasing another bird over the lake. I don’t know what their disagreement was. Perhaps it was political.
There seems to be a lot of that going around these days.
Rob rode out with me this year. He took a phone call from his daughter shortly after we left the church. He knew she was making him a grandfather again. He learned she was doing double duty this go around.
Yeah, she’s having twins. I got to hear that announcement as he received it on his speaker phone.
The stunned daddy of said kids joined us Friday.
There were at least three father/son sets on this retreat.
That’s always good to see. Rob and his son-in-law made another good pairing.
Pastor Les said there were more younger men this year. That’s a great thing to see. I love seeing the younger set taking their walk with God seriously.
There were about 100 men this time. Their dedication was evidenced as most of them drove through the rain to get there on Friday.
David Dusek was our speaker. He runs a ministry called Rough Cut Men.
When I saw three guys come into the registration area with umbrellas I pointed out that because of the theme umbrellas weren’t allowed during the weekend.
They thought it was funny. I was serious though.
David’s approach relies on showing clips from movies to make his points. That was interesting but lacking to me. I wished there was more reliance on the Bible. He used verses, just not as much as I’m used to.
God spoke to me anyway. He always does.
This year it was more after the retreat than during it. Maybe that was because I was so busy at the retreat this time.
In His own subtle way God asked me what I would speak on. John chapter 15 came to mind. The theme would be Abiding.
Friday evening’s talk would lay the groundwork about general abiding in Christ using the metaphor of grafting plants together to get something that can’t be formed any other way. That’s the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Saturday morning would focus on being better husbands and how we abide with our wives. The text still needs to be researched. There are several to choose from.
Saturday evening would center around Deuteronomy 6 and how we’re to teach our children to abide with God.
Sunday morning would be mostly a personal testimony about how God has taught me to abide in Him. God even gave me a song to work out with the band to tie this all into a challenge to be used by God.
It’s tentatively titled Send Me.
I heard Pastor Les doesn’t have a speaker lined up for next year’s retreat. Perhaps he’ll be desperate enough to use me. Probably not, but God is the one who gave me an outline…and a song.
That’s what happens when a guy abides in Christ practically his whole life.
It all goes back to my prayer when I asked God to, “Break me. Break me. Use me.”
Yeah, that’s part of the song lyrics.
Prayers are appreciated for how and when God will use what He’s given me.
I’ll see you later. Wade
