{"id":10176,"date":"2016-03-17T13:08:27","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T17:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=10176"},"modified":"2016-06-03T08:39:17","modified_gmt":"2016-06-03T12:39:17","slug":"mens-fellowship-planning-to-advance-by-retreat-31116","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=10176","title":{"rendered":"Men’s Fellowship Retreats and Grows into Leadership (3\/11\/16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes it’s really helpful to shift your focus from the daily routine, and get away to spend some time with friends around a time of learning, worship, and fellowship.\u00a0 And that’s exactly what a retreat is!\u00a0 For the 15th year in a row, our Men’s Fellowship group took a weekend apart and traveled to the Black Rock Retreat Center in Quaryville, PA.\u00a0 It’s a familiar place for us, but each weekend has its own character and its own take-aways of growth and learning.<\/p>\n

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Rev. Chris Yount<\/p><\/div>\n

This year’s speaker was the Rev. Chris Yount, pastor of the New Life United Methodist Church<\/a> in New Fairfield, CT. \u00a0 and a long time friend of our own Pastor Jim Bolton (from their days together at Drew… back in the ’90s<\/span><\/em><\/span>…)<\/p>\n

During the weekend, Pastor Chris challenged us to re-evaluate our goals.\u00a0 What is important in life?\u00a0 What’s the MOST important thing in life?<\/p>\n

The answer lies in the fact that contentment can only be found in the pursuit of God.\u00a0 Jesus asks us this question:<\/p>\n

Am I enough for you???<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What else could there be?!?\u00a0 What else could we possibly need?<\/p>\n

During the weekend, Pastor Chris gave us practical ways in which we can make this pursuit of God in our lives.<\/p>\n

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The goal of a basketball game is to shoot the ball through a hoop, and success is measured by how many times we do that. But the scoreboard in Black Rock’s gym reminds us of a more important goal…<\/span><\/p>\n

\"UMM16-<\/p>\n

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 To KNOW Christ… is that how we measure our own success?\n<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Growing Together<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our retreat consisted of a session on Friday night, two sessions on Saturday, and a closing session and worship on Sunday.\u00a0 Open the Drop Down boxes below to get a taste of Pastor Chris’ message to us…<\/p>\n

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Friday PM<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"Sycamore

Sycamore Tree in Jericho<\/p><\/div>\n

The backdrop for Friday’s session was the account of Zacchaeus, as found in Luke 19<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0 Zacchaeus, who was despised by the people because of his tax-collecting-excesses, really wanted to see Jesus.\u00a0 He heard Jesus was coming and he made it a goal to see Jesus.\u00a0 So he pulled up his robe and climbed a sycamore tree so he could catch a glimpse.<\/p>\n

Striving to see Jesus requires humility.\u00a0 We have to realize that, indeed, Jesus is Enough for Us.”\u00a0 There’s nothing in our power that we can do to add to that.\u00a0 Jesus is all we need.<\/p>\n

Our job is to “Love people into the arms of Jesus”, but all too often our pride gets in the way and we confuse our job with the notion that we need to increase numbers, or to have a bigger church than the others.<\/p>\n

“Lord Make this church the size you want it to be…”<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pride puts us on the Hamster wheel of success<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Instead, we need to “tie up our robes” and climb whatever “tree” we need to climb.\u00a0 We need to trust in the words of Philippians 4:13…<\/p>\n

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“\u00a0<\/sup>for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me\u00a0the strength and power.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Is God enough for you?<\/p>\n

We ended this session by writing a letter to God, confessing the things that drive us away from fully trusting in him.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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Saturday AM<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

This morning’s session looked at the Parable of the Sower, as told in Luke 8:4-15<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Are we “fertile soil?”\u00a0 We need to constantly ensure that we’re open to God’s leading.<\/p>\n

This parable isn’t just about salvation.\u00a0 It’s not a one and done thing.\u00a0 We can be different types of soil at any time.\u00a0 We need to constantly work in the following four areas:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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