What Happens in Green Lake Doesn't Stay in Green Lake

I arrived home from Green Lake and Judson' Men's Retreat about 4 hours ago and am working through everything that we experienced.  Thirty-five guys worshiped, connected, played, shared, challenged one another, spent time with God and hopefully grew beyond where we were before the retreat.  I appreciate each of the men who were able to come this year because each man brings something that makes the weekend powerful.  Thanks guys for being my band of brothers!

I want to share some highlights with you, but you need to understand that there are some things that simply need to stay at Green lake.  Some just wouldn't translate.  You wouldn't get the joke or understand the conversation because you were not there.  Some things cannot be shared because our retreat is a safe place for conversation and honesty.  Masks are removed as we seek to meet with God and one another and we have pledged to keep those things that are said between those who were there.  But let me list some things to give you a taste of our time together:

1. Worship carries us.  We know that our time together is more about God than ourselves.  We may not all sing on key but we know worship is a key of our time together.
2. Michael Dimarco challenged us.  To be "one another" puts us in reciprocal relationships.  Did you know that bearing one another's burdens "fulfills the law of Christ"? (Galatians 6:2)  Did you know that confessing to one another is not a Catholic ritual but a scriptural command? (James 5:16)  When is the last time you outdid someone in showing honor? (Romans 12:10)
3. The small group time enabled us to work through these "one another" commands and some of the guys have agreed to continue meeting when we get home.
4. There were 7 generations of guys at this retreat, and the "young guns" invited the "old guys" to be in their small group.  Awesome!
5. God showed up!
6. This retreat could be called "The Year of the Donkey," because we learned if God could use a donkey to speak what needed to be said, he could use any one of us. 

I will leave the rest up to the band of brothers to share whatever they would like to share.   We often say "Whatever happens in Green Lake stays in Green Lake."  I hope that is not completely true.  I hope what we have been challenged to be comes home with us as we seek to be the church of one another!