Men of Valor: Thoughts on the Men’s Retreat

By Rich Shores 

Why is it that military movies like “Band of Brothers,” “Saving Private Ryan,” or “Glory” are so popular with men? I would suggest it is because each of those movies portrays men depending on each other with their lives. Their common denominator is a “brotherly love.” Without it, they would all likely perish in battle. The Marine Corps tells its recruits during boot camp that they will “Find the willpower you never knew you had, the strength you never knew you needed, bonds that will never break, and a lifelong desire to serve a purpose far greater than self.”

Well men, if you did not know it, our spiritual journeys present a battle that is no different than those battles that have been waged on the beaches and deserts of foreign nations. However, the battles we face are uniquely different. Paul says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT).

Take note, Paul tells us, our enemy is not other men; our enemies are those of an unseen world. I ask you, how will you defeat an enemy whom you cannot see? Well, there is hope for all of us at LBF. Men’s Ministry is a band of brothers who are ready to stand up for one another. It not only equips us individually for the battles we are going to face, but we find a brother on our left and a brother on our right to connect with, confide in, and share from the heart when the going gets really, really tough.
Men, believe it or not, we are designed for relationship. We need relationships in order to continue to fight.

Case in point: The recent men’s retreat at Forest Home sent 53 men from LBF for a weekend of building faith and fellowship. I am new to LBF and knew that this was my opportunity to “get to know the guys.” Let me tell you, there were moments of hilarity, late nights of talking about movies, and eating some amazing ribs for lunch (am I right, men?). However, if I had not gone, I would have missed out on the opportunity to forge relationships through those shared experiences. We were also challenged in our faith through some amazing sessions and testimonies. As men from LBF, we learned how to strengthen our ability to serve, not only within ourselves, but as a community of men. For some of us, we shared some very deep seeded hurts and hardships that turned into opportunities to pray for one another. Relationships are not only built on the fun we have, but the trials we face together in the trenches.

In Matthew, we read how Jesus walked along and called His disciples. Imagine the courage it took for each of those men to stop what they were doing and follow Him. Imagine the courage it took to face the challenges Jesus was proposing those men would face for His sake. But do not forget, Jesus did not call just one or two guys… 

He called 12. Those 12 became a band of brothers, standing up to the enemies of the unseen world. Don’t you want to have your own band of brothers? As you read this, other men of valor are waiting to link shields with you and fight our common enemy. All it takes is that little bit of willpower – that you never knew you had – to join.

Why Should a Guy Go to the Men’s Retreat?

April 12-14, 2013 

By Steve Mylar, Director of Business Operations 

You can expect to be refueled mentally, physically, and spiritually!

Let me answer this by asking a different question: why wouldn’t a guy want to go?

Here are the reasons/questions I hear most: I’m not a camper; no sleeping under the stars for me. I don’t eat camp food. I won’t know anybody. What kind of guys will be there? Do we have to hold hands and sing Kumbaya? It will be boring. What are we actually going to be doing?

Having been to several retreats, and having a great time at most of them, I tend to forget that these are real and valid concerns. So let me respond to some of them.

First, let me say that getting away for the weekend from all of the busyness of life has been wonderful for my mind and my soul. The men who attend come from all walks of life and are all at different places in their walk with Christ. One can choose to connect with others or to find peace in solitude (I find there is a healthy combination of the two that can be achieved). The camp itself is amazing. Forest Home hits a home run every time with its beautiful location, venue, abundantly delicious food, and myriad of recreational choices. Over the course of the weekend we will have five main sessions with teaching and times of worship. We will meet separately with just LBF men 2-3 times and break up into smaller discussion groups. We won’t force interaction or make anyone share anything they don’t want to. During our free time there is a plethora of activities such as rock wall climbing, ziplining, hiking, trout pond fishing, miniature golf, horseshoes, etc. To accommodate your tastes and financial situation, the rooms come in three different “flavors:” Deluxe, Standard, and Economy. They are comfortable, clean, and all include a bed/bunk with mattress. Think of Deluxe as a shared motel room (bedding and linens), Standard as a shared cabin without bedding/linens (bring your own/sleeping bag), and Economy as a shared room with shared bath without linens.

In a nutshell, we’re just a bunch of guys who have decided that taking time to reconnect with God, learning how to be better followers of Jesus, and having a great time of fellowship is highly needed and desired in our lives. And we would like for you to join us!

Most guys often need a personal invite to be the vehicle to get them to go, so if you are a guy who is going this year (and you should!), think about the guys you should invite. And do it! Register online at lbfchurch.com > Men’s Retreat.

Men's Retreat

By Steve Mylar, Director of Business Operations 

Join us this year for our annual men’s retreat at the beautiful and inspirational Forest Home Conference Center! We anticipate another fantastic time of teaching; worship; fellowship; an abundance of absolutely amazing food; and a myriad of recreation options, including ziplines, a trout pond, a game room, a climbing wall, the sky trail, hiking, and mini golf.

Save the dates of April 12-14, 2013. 

Registration will only be taken online this year and payment must be received when registering. If you require assistance to register, please stop by the Men’s Ministry table between Sunday services.

Accommodations: 
Deluxe – $260
Standard – $230
Economy – $180

Contact me, Steve Mylar @ (909) 921-7987 or steve@lbfchurch.com with questions or for more information. Register online now. We are looking forward to seeing you on the mountain top in April!