Wow - what an awesome time once again at the Men's Retreat at ARCG this year. As you may know, I was on the planning team for these men's retreats back in 2004, and led worship for the first two retreats we had. They were mostly SRAC men along with a few other churches' men's groups joining us for the weekend. When I came to Tucson in 2006, I was unable to continue participating, but then in 2008, I got a call from one of the camp directors asking if I'd be willing to put together a team and come back. And every year, it just gets better.
This time, Pastor Albert Tate was the key speaker, and he really brought it. He challenged the men with every message, and really was in tune with what the Holy Spirit was doing in each session. As a worship leader, it was a joy to serve with him, but as a pastor, I was really encouraged to do a lot more challenging, especially in giving the hearers a chance to respond by standing or coming forward to commit to something the Lord has taught them that day.
Pastor Albert taught on the 3 main characters in the Luke 15 account typically known as "the prodigal son" parable. He said that every man, at least once in his life, plays the role of one of the three main characters in this story. And some men play all three. Friday night, he preached on the younger, "prodigal" son, and challenged unbelievers to come home to Jesus. By my count, I believe somewhere around 40 of the 300 men came forward and were saved! Saturday morning, Albert taught on the older son - the one who wouldn't go in when the party was rockin'. He stayed away because he felt wronged, because he'd done all the right things and never had been honored for doing right. Albert challenged many of us who believe we've earned something with God in being raised in the church all these years, but not really rewarded like the prodigals. As if we truly believe we have the "right" to any such party. And Saturday night - he challenged all men to truly BLESS others around us - reminding all who we ARE in Christ. The father in the parable put a robe on his son, and a ring, and sandals for his feet. Sandals were a sign that a servant was no longer a slave, but a son! An heir! And Albert proposed that men in our churches don't do near enough blessing of other men - even our own sons - and that this is a Biblical principle we are sorely missing. It was/is a great challenge to live out a great truth.
Pastor Albert taught on the 3 main characters in the Luke 15 account typically known as "the prodigal son" parable. He said that every man, at least once in his life, plays the role of one of the three main characters in this story. And some men play all three. Friday night, he preached on the younger, "prodigal" son, and challenged unbelievers to come home to Jesus. By my count, I believe somewhere around 40 of the 300 men came forward and were saved! Saturday morning, Albert taught on the older son - the one who wouldn't go in when the party was rockin'. He stayed away because he felt wronged, because he'd done all the right things and never had been honored for doing right. Albert challenged many of us who believe we've earned something with God in being raised in the church all these years, but not really rewarded like the prodigals. As if we truly believe we have the "right" to any such party. And Saturday night - he challenged all men to truly BLESS others around us - reminding all who we ARE in Christ. The father in the parable put a robe on his son, and a ring, and sandals for his feet. Sandals were a sign that a servant was no longer a slave, but a son! An heir! And Albert proposed that men in our churches don't do near enough blessing of other men - even our own sons - and that this is a Biblical principle we are sorely missing. It was/is a great challenge to live out a great truth.
A special shout out to Mike, Keith, Dylan, Jeff, Matt, and my son Jake for making up the worship team with me - you guys rocked it, and surrendered your talent to Jesus in a way that really blessed the men and our Lord. And with 300 men singing their hearts out, it was like having a 300-piece choir, as we lifted our voices to our audience of ONE. And one last shout out to Jon Maves for making the retreat happen. You rock, my friend!
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