I’m off for Big Shindig weekend on a spiritual retreat. This is something that’s direly needed. So I’m driving with a van full of folks.  I’m taking my Bible, an Erwin McManus book, and a tired soul. I’m excited to get out of town and spend some time with the Lord.

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
-John Lubbock

If you live in the Northwest, you should really sign up for this. I’ve been before and it’s a great event. Don’t worry if you’re not a baptist… you can hang with me (remember, I’m a DB after all). This year’s speaker is Donald Miller (Blue like Jazz) and I’m so excited. Miller is great and it’s going to make this year’s Men’s Round up amazing. It’s a weekend full of sports, worship, speakers and man food (steak and portions you can’t finish). $90 before mid-August and $100 afterward.

Either email me or go to www.mensroundup.com if you’re interested.

During a recent retreat we did a game called the Blind Maze. The youth are blindfolded and led on a journey that ends in a maze. The way to win the maze is to find the” key of life.” The maze is comprised of rope tied amongst trees in a criss cross pattern. Each student has their hand put on the rope and they must follow along the ropes looking for the key. The only instruction they are give is: “you are looking for the key to life - if you need help raise your hand.”

Then off they go, following the maze of ropes looking for the “key.” The only hitch is - there is no key. The key to life is asking for help. Once they get exasperated, some will raise their hand. Then they are taken off the rope and instructed to take off their blindfold. It’s an amazing experience for many of them. They begin to feel hopeless and frustrated. Then once they ask for help, they are rescued.

How often do we forget that the key to life is asking for help. We need Christ and can’t survive without Him. We need others as well. We are blind, lost, and clinging to a rope that feels safe, but leads nowhere. We need Him to take the blindfold off our eyes and rescue us. It’s amazing to watch the students go through this experience. Some relent right away, but most are stubborn and keep going, looking for this “key.” I watched them stumble along, bumping into themselves, and I saw myself. How often is that still me? I know Christ, but how often do I call upon His help? I’m just too prideful to ask for help. There are too many areas of my life where I am still blind and need to ask for help.

Anyone still looking for the key?

It always takes me a couple of days to process a trip. And since everyone’s sick around my house that couple of days became a week. But here it is the long awaited Middle School Rock n’ Roll weekend roundup.

First off, this trip was different from the get go. The Lord had been working with me on the recruitment process. Usually I stress and keep after kids to turn in their money and parent slips for the trip. Typically since they are Middle Schoolers, we have a 50% return rate for those who are “really-really” interested, to who actually shows up. So I took a step back. No hounding. No calling. Just prayer, be laid back and give it up to the Lord.

The results were amazing. Besides the fact that I wasn’t stressed out going into the trip. I had to actually turn away kids because we were booked. I know it’s a simple concept, leaning on the Lord, but why can’t I get it! I somehow prefer suffering. So needless to say this was a good start. (to be continued…)

Shaved the beard. Sporting some newly cultivated back-country redneck scruff. Ready for a weekend in the outdoors with a bunch of middle schoolers. Camping. Rockclimbing. Whitewater rafting. Sharing the Gospel. Does it get any better than this?

Keep us in your prayers for safety and good bonding time with these students.

I’ll give ya an update with pics on Monday.

Enjoy the weekend!