Retreats

Attentiveness is acquired by most people through a habit of refectiveness—learning to step back from experience to ponder its meaning. Most often meaning presents itself to a gently disengaged consciousness—fierce interrogation habitually yields nothing. As Archimedes discovered, insights often come at the most unlikely moments. Those who give a high priority to the pursuit of wisdom should, accordingly, try to structure their lives so that times of disengagement are multiplied.    Michael Casey in Strangers to the City

Retreat Days, or as I call them Making Space for God Days, are regular times of disengagement. Many of the people that I work with schedule them monthly. These days become essential habits that help us make sense of life in our very noisy world.

Listed below are individual retreat guides that you can download and take with you. I suggest you download this Making Space Guide first. It includes general instructions on how to do a day of prayer. The individual guides are ones that I have done over the years. I will periodically add new ones.

The following nine retreats focus on the life of Jacob

Lessons from Mark:
#1 Beginnings-Mark 1:9-15
#2 Still Point-Mark 1:29-39
#3 The Calling of Matthew-Mark 2:13-17
#4 Pharisees-Mark 3:1-6
#5 Leaving the Crowd- Mark 3:7-15
#6 Parable of the Sower- Mark 4:1-20
+ Vincent Van Gogh and His Sower Paintings
#7 The Storm-Mark 4:35-41
+Christ and the Storm by Rembrandt
#8 The Wildman- Mark 5:1-20
#9 The Woman of Woe- Mark 5:24-34
+ The Touch
#10 Mary’s Son- Mark 6:1-6
+ Mary’s Son Reflection
#11 Herod and Herodias- Mark 6:14-29
#12 Feeding the 5000-Mark 6:30-44

Elemental Spirituality:

The Hebrew and Greek words for “Spirit” is the word “Breath.” Genesis 3 suggests the idea that spirituality is that which energizes or animates us. In so doing it connects us to God, neighbor and our deeper self. It creates for us a sense of meaning.

Breath
Touch
Refuge
Loyalty
Childhood
Depth

The Elijah Stories:
The following set of retreat guides and essays were created for the Western Regional Director’s Retreat. This material explores stories about Elijah from the Book of 1 Kings and the theme of revival.

The Elijah Stories and Revival on Campus- A Short Essay
Mission Impossible- Introduction
Generosity Amidst Desperation–1 Kings 17:1-24
Obadiah, Man in the Middle–1 Kings 18:1-15
Elijah at Mt. Carmel–1 Kings 18:16-46
Broom Tree Tribulation–1 Kings 19:1-9
The Sound of Silence–1 Kings 19:11-18

Art Project Ideas