The theme of the retreat was SONS, BROTHERS, SOLDIERS. What does it mean for men to live in a Christian community as sons of God, brothers, and soldiers?

Friday night started promptly at 8:30pm with a sermon by Pastor Ed about men first of all learning to be sons of God. Before we can become right with God like the rich young man in Mark 10:17-31 we first need to learn to become like one of the little children ...

Friday night started promptly at 8:30pm with a sermon by Pastor Ed about men first of all learning to be sons of God. Before we can become right with God like the rich young man in Mark 10:17-31 we first need to learn to become like one of the little children in Mark 10:13-16. Similarly, the prodigal son's older brother had already received all the inheritance due him but he had not yet learned to receive and enjoy his inheritance. Instead of focusing on the blessings he had already received from his father his focus was on his brother receiving special attention causing him to become jealous. We, too, first need to learn to be sons and to receive God's fatherly blessings. Godliness in other areas as husbands, fathers, and brothers will automatically follow from first of all knowing how to be faithful sons, receiving receiving Father's love. Pastor Ed placed a special emphasis on the receiving part. We often try to do so many things for God that we forget to simply learn how to receive and enjoy God's fatherly blessings.

After the sermon we split up into small groups and shared with each other a brief testimony of how we came to Christ and what our challenges and struggles have been since then in our Christian walk with God. One great thing about the small groups was that we learned many new things about each other and wrong assumptions we might have had about our brothers' walk with God were corrected. After the small groups we split up into pairs where we further shared and prayed for each other. Most of us finished the evening at about 1am and some at 3am.