Transitions Retreat: ON MISSION... Taking Back Our Cities!

Super pumped... STILL! Where should I begin? I'd been counting down the months, weeks and days until this retreat. My first retreat with this group- Transitions: Young Adult Ministry- from Brooklyn Tabernacle. The meetings I'd attended prior were awesome so I came EXPECTANT, not of them but of God. Let me tell you, HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT! ON MISSION was held in Glen Spey, NY at Lake Champion.

The Opening Rally

We received the fire starter aka the first "ON MISSION Moment" from Pastor Rafael Castillo entitled "Shake but Don't Break". Oooo weeee, can I say that again? Oooooo weeeee! Just a snippet from my notes:

Sometimes when we are in the dark we forget what God told us in the light. God doesn't lie, so His promise IS His promise! ... You have to FEED THE FIRE...

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ON MISSION Moment:

There's something different about today, the presence of God is felt- strongly. Mark 5. The very presence of Jesus stepping onto land let all that was not of God know it was time to go because they (it) was NOT welcomed there. Does the presence of God in our lives show? Does it cause atmospheric change (make things happen for the good)? We are challenged to leave our comfort zones... Go On Mission!

Message:

Pastor Josh Kimes from Hillsong NYC hit us hard with a message entitled "More Than Meets the Eye". Check out Nehemiah 2:17-20. So much more goes in to rebuilding a wall, a city, a relationship, a life, a career, a ministry than recognizing the ruin and stacking mere 'bricks'. Confidence needs to be rebuilt but it is not the confidence in self, it is the confidence in God. Three OUTSTANDING points were given for staying ON MISSION...

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ON MISSION Moment: 

When you feel like you are not equipped, just know that The Lord is equipped! Just obey. (1 Samuel 15:22)

When we thought our spirits could not get lifted any higher, go any deeper, praise any harder, learn anymore Pastor Tim Ross came on the scene to challenge us to GET OUR WEIGHT UP!

His message was entitled "Strength Under Pressure". Whaaaaat?!!!!! *insert high pitch* Proverbs 24:10 says:

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Mind blown! Then he took it further and discussed Philippians 4 verse 13, you know you know it, the verse we have ALL quoted and misunderstood at least once. Here's the clue to understanding it, read it in context. Verses 10 through 13 go together. Paul was speaking of having experienced times of suffering, having joy, being dead broke and having abundance- it was within any of those situations he had learned that it was Jesus Christ who enabled him to be successful through it all. Yes, I said success, because success is not to be measured only by financial means but by achievement of desired outcome. In Paul's case, he had success because his life remained to preach the gospel and souls were saved. SUCCESS! So now that you know the context, can you recite the verse with the same conviction? I hope so :)

The Last Session

Pastor Todd Crews, whose wife Nicole and baby boy are super beautiful by the way, wrapped us up with "Gather, Scatter & Spread". By now my voice was almost shot but that didn't stop me from shouting and cheering. He countered our self-made excuses of boredom in and with the church or Christianity all together with charging us to be ON MISSION or stay in boredom. There is NO boredom in Christ Jesus, the boredom comes from us confining ourselves to four walls or as he creatively put it the "Holy Huddle". What in the world is the "Holy Huddle"? Ha, I'm glad you asked. Take for instance a NFL game (my favorite sport, yes yes Go Giants!), the team calls a time out, they gather to discuss plays and revamp strategy- break! They're out on the field- the game is about to begin or so you think but just then they call another time out and they do this consistently WITHOUT EVER GETTING IN THE GAME! How frustrating and boring right? Well that's what makes us bored in our Christian lives, we're in the huddle and never get in the actual game to carry out the plays!

I can tell you this, I've strapped on my helmet, knee and shoulder pads, I got my cleats and I am ready to get in the game. Like Pastor Ross said, I gotta get my weight up too, if not I will crumble like a shortbread cookie. So God is my personal trainer and I got my gear (Ephesians 6:10-17).

So many great messages, moments and experiences it is unreal but all amazing! I tried to condense it but woooo! Seriously, if there is a message that you want to read my entire notes on (it will blow your mind!) just email me at silvertongued1@gmail.com 

Did I mention that we partied like nobody's business???? "Ain't no party like a Holy Ghost party 'cause a Holy Ghost party don't... stooop!" Glow sticks, beach balls and all of that! Ziplining into the lake, tubing, swinging on a gigantic swing, canoeing, the bonfire, 'smores!... woooo I am exhausted and happy!

Leave your comments, questions, and experiences down below. I would love to read them :) Enjoy the pics!

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The Butler

(Mr. Eugene Allen, age 89 at the time, pictured getting dressed. 2008)

The Butler. Before I begin to discuss this movie let me say this- IT WILL TAKE YOU THERE.

I recall reading the 2008 Washington Post article about Mr. Eugene Allen, "A Butler Well Served by This Election", it made me proud. I didn't then imagine a movie would be made. Truth is, when I heard the buzz and saw the commercial I still didn't feel the nudge to go see it. Would it be an overdone all-star cast? Color Purple-esque? A tear jerker with nothing but one-sided emotion? Honestly, I didn't know what to expect when I agreed to go see it with a friend.

The opening scene- I flinched, covered my face and knew I was sold on the movie already! Thoughts ran through my mind as I glanced to my side, I was seated with those of the Caucasian persuasion, it felt awkward. Awkward for both of us (being seated right next to each other) because no facial expression could be masked, no sound silenced, no movement unnoticed. As I sat and thought on how to make her feel comfortable it came to me that it was not my job to do so nor was it her job to make apologies. However, you could read the stories in our faces, our body language said it all- the few glances shot in my direction at pivotal moments said all I needed to know. She was ashamed and sorry. I digress.

This movie not only chronicled the life of a game changing man, Mr. Allen, but so many key moments in this country's history- our BLACK history. From JFK to MLK (John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. for those that fell asleep in history class) to Nelson Mandela who is as much as, or more, a part of the American history than Christopher Columbus but that's another story. The richness of the stories told, the delicate weaving of actual footage from the March at Selma or the hose down/dog attack rampage unleashed on innocents or the peaceful sit-ins for integration at restaurants all brought to the surface the pain of injustice and the coldness of mankind.

I personally remember a painful childhood event. I was visiting my mother's workplace when I decided I'd walk outside because I knew the area pretty well. I'd seen this adorable elderly woman hunched over walking with a cane, she was so cute she reminded me of my great-grandmother (except that she was Caucasian) I wanted to help her. I approached with a smile, expecting the usual friendly nod, instead she'd scowled at me and then ... SPAT! Yes, she spat at me- an 8 year old- because I am black. Thank God for fast reflexes, I dodged the saliva and I wish I had dodged the experience all together. It was at a similar moment in the movie that I jumped and tears rolled down my face that I noticed I was being watched. Chords were struck.

Another thing that cut deep was the realization that we are fast heading BACK to the days we fought hard to abolish! From stripping away voting rights to getting away with murder (southern states trend, up north isn't far behind) we need to pedal fast forward. Could we examine ourselves for a moment?

Alright, back to it. This movie encompassed several elements: the importance of communication between parent and child, pride in one's work, courage to change the face of injustice, loyalty, gratitude... There were so many more but I suggest you see the movie for yourself.

Watch. Think. Let it marinate.

The Butler, he served generations.

You can read the article mentioned above here: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-11-07/politics/36906532_1_white-house-black-man-history