A Minimalistic Approach to...

Often I put off the writing of something because the perfect words are not at my fingertips. That happens to be the #1 reason why I have not put pen to paper in regards to fall retreat. 

But I'll tell you this, every time someone asks the inevitable question, "How was fall retreat?" I answer, "Amazing! It was the best ever." 

The dilemma occurs after that statement in which I have to give explanation for my enthusiastic evaluation of fall retreat. There aren't quite words for it.

Maybe it can't be summed up in a word, a feeling, so I'll give you a word picture instead.

Standing on the bank of a freezing cold river. The background, a wall of red rock under a cloudless blue sky. Under my boots, sand. 

I didn't want to miss a moment. There are not many things in life that compare to watching your child get dunked under frigid water proclaiming that they have died to self and live for Christ.

So fall retreat, culminated in this moment, 2 students and my daughter soaking wet and shivering on a river bank in southern Utah. 

In addition, as preachers, there are few things that make us feel like a sermon really hit home, but hearing the common language from the sermons that plays on repeat from the mouths of our students is one of the indicators that we look for. 

It's quite simple, our students have been transformed. They simply are stepping up to the proverbial plate and living for Jesus. It's breathtaking.

So there it is, a minimalistic approach to recounting fall retreat for you that made it happen through your giving and prayers.