gcr church of christ

by Sean Patty

In late January of this year I embarked on a weekend of spiritual growth for men. However, this was no ordinary “retreat.”  This was unlike any other experience I had ever encountered! The overarching objective for the weekend was to discover authenticity and deep abiding truth in my heart. For one of the few times in my life, I was challenged to go deeper, uncover the truth about me and be “real.”  Like most men I know, it is very comfortable for me to remain at a superficial level in relationships.  Conversation takes place with the same people on a recurring basis with a consistent shallowness: sports talk, family matters, the weather, current events but no real, genuine “checking in!”

This past weekend I experienced yet another step in my walk towards being authentic and real. Staffing a Dare to Soar weekend reminded me of the brokenness that is present in every single one of us. We have all been betrayed by Satan and live our lives with deceitful messages playing in the backs of our minds and deep in our hearts. Messages such as, “am I worthy,” “am I valued,” “does God really love me,” and “does God really forgive me?” The weekend experiences provide a container of safety for discovering, facing, and touching our “shadows,” the dark places of our heart that bind us from the transforming grace of God. Genuine truth is discovered in the heart.  In the midst of the dark shadows, a man finds real gold that enables him to discover purpose, passion and power for living.

All my life I have craved to really, really experience the grace of God and his presence in my life. Nine months ago, I experienced this kind of power for the first time. Am I now complete and full? Absolutely not!  However, I have been transformed. I have wrestled with God and He has touched me. I am a human being operating in a fallen world, so don’t expect perfection from me because you will be sorely disappointed.  However, I now know how to hear and receive the truth about me and continue in my quest for true authenticity in Jesus Christ! Men are waiting to breathe the fresh air of real spiritual relationships rather than the draining burdens of religion. I invite you to overcome the fear and accept the invitation to experience the power of God’s touch in your shadow!

And the journey continues…

The next weekend retreat is coming up in January.
If you would like more information about the Dare to Soar weekend for men, contact Barry Thomas or go to www.thecrucibleproject.org.