I Skipped Church on Sunday -- Jason Brown

I Skipped Church on Sunday -- Jason Brown

I wasn’t at church on Sunday . . . but I had a good excuse.  I was at the Men’s Retreat, hanging out with 130 other male Emmanualites.  I speak for nearly all the men when I say it was a great weekend. 

What did we do?  Well, we took a closer look at Emmanuel’s mission statement: Deeply Connecting People to Jesus, People and Mission.  I have to tell you that this is a really helpful mission statement.  The more we pursue deep connection with Jesus, deep connection with people, and deep connection with God’s mission on earth, the closer we will be to Jesus’ vision of what a follower of his will look like.   

The talks around this theme were great – so was the worship.  But as I spoke with many of the men afterwards, they consistently mentioned two things:   

  1. The hour and a half long personal retreat on Saturday morning and
  2. The time for honest conversation and prayer in small groups.

Most of the men who did the 1.5 hour personal retreat had never done anything like this.  Most didn’t even know they COULD do something like this.  Most said they would never have done anything like this had they not been on a retreat and forced to do it.  But nearly every man I spoke with had the same story: God met me in a powerful way.  I consistently heard men saying, “Why don’t I take the time to do that more?”  Good question.

The discussion time in small groups focused on these things:

  • What key decision do you need to make this weekend?
  • What sin do you need to confess? 
  • How does your heart need to be healed?

What’s truly amazing is that we were honest.  We went for it, not holding back because of our pride.  We openly talked about our sin.  We let people know our hurts and how we needed to be healed.  We actually committed to some difficult decisions.  Heaven came to earth this weekend and will result in better (not perfect) men.

Men, if you have any stories of how you were blessed at the retreat, please post those – I’m sure your brothers and sisters at Emmanuel would be greatly encouraged by your story.

As always, post your stories of how DJ08, the current sermon series in Luke, or your small group is transforming you.

Posted on Wed, April 9, 2008 by Jason Brown

11 comments (Add your own)

1. Cory Halbardier wrote:
At the men's retreat, Jason mentioned a certain someone who said that the last day they didn't pray with their wife was in 1997. WOW! Talk about knocking me off my horse. Or at least making me realize I wasn't on my horse. It inspired me to realize I was off my house and then get back on. I plan to pray for my wife every night before or after we watch TV. And I calendared it for 5 am every day to write an email prayer to my wife. My wife always tells me things she wants me to pray for and, being such a terrible husband, I don't do it. My hope in writting these prayers is that maybe the things she hopes for can happen through my intercession. And also maybe I can become at least 1% better as a husband.

I hope to stay on the horse this time. If you get a second, pray for me.

Wed, April 9, 2008 @ 1:56 PM

2. Dave Nearpass wrote:
The weekend encouraged me for several reasons. Getting away from distractions, chores, tasks and the to-dos that are continually pressing was important. Just as Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives with his disciples before his death or when he went into the wilderness before his public ministry, so also today the separation creates time and space to help us focus on our need for God. This separation helped create an environment that was strongly affected by the humbled hearts that encountered God personally, the joy that came from a divine healing, the hope that came from seeing the kingdom of God saturate lives and relationships, and finally the soft hearts that graciously care for one's brothers. Encounter God personally is indescribable and beautiful, but knowing that your brothers singing on your left and right are singing through tears because they also have encounter that same Savior is even greater. May God be Praised.

Wed, April 9, 2008 @ 2:06 PM

3. Robert Manns wrote:
Jason Brown has always talked about bringing Gods kingdom to earth and I never quite understood what he meant. But this weekend, God revealed himself to me and 130 brothers. We each spent one-on-one time with our Savior. Being with men who know and love the Lord was simply amazing! I have never seen so many men loving each other as brothers should. This experience was surreal. GOD came to earth this weekend to transform some lives.
God has a mission and purpose. God wants us to be better men and hold each other accountable. I have been worried about my personal, school, relationship problems, but God revealed no problem is too big for him. God shared his love this weekend. God is love. Praise GOD!

Wed, April 9, 2008 @ 3:42 PM

4. Bill White wrote:
It's been a long time since I've seen that many grown men cry. Thank you, men, for sharing your hearts so deeply. The level of honesty - sheesh - if we could keep that up every day, I don't think the Evil One would have hardly any ground to harrass us any more.

Also - thank you to the brave men who protected me from the evil terrorists on the paintball field. What you didn't tell me, however, that I would still be finding new quarter-sized bruises DAYS afterwards.

Wed, April 9, 2008 @ 3:47 PM

5. Greg Wallace Dolmage wrote:
In the midst of playing paintball, arguing why the Dodgers are superior to the Angels, and eating amazing food provided at the men's retreat, God also decided to show up in a big way. I think I was most amazed and encouraged by the honesty of men. Like draining an infected wound, confession was bringing the truth out to prepare the way for healing.

It was truly incredible to see so many men letting down their tough exterior and allowing God to shape them into better men. I honestly wonder why we don't do this every year...or every month for that matter. Emmanuel is already an amazing church, but what would happen if every man was actively loving their wives, children, and co-workers with the love of Christ while allowing God to remind them that they are deeply loved and that they matter. I believe that Southern California would change. So again we pray, "Father, Your Kingdom come and Your will be done, please."

Thu, April 10, 2008 @ 7:59 AM

6. Mr. Immink wrote:
I was blessed this past weekend of seeing the brotherhood of my fellow church. In my small group of guys was one person I had known by first name and nother more then the other in the small group was someone I had never seen before. As Jason said I we were honest and upfront with each other. We were honest with our broken lives and in turn this encouraged each other to be open the Holy Spirit and let him show us what the brotherhood of the church is to look like in our lives.

Monday morning as I was reflecting on the weekend I had my iPod blasting listening to the song, "Brotherhood" by Flatfoot 56, the lyrics capture my community of brothers.

"Brotherhood" by Flatfoot 56

As I walk through this land,
I remember the boys who took a stand,
Who stood there strong when things got rough,
They would shout and scream at the things that were tough,
No weapon formed against them would live,
A punch to the face, a kick to the rib
Their cause was justice and they strove to be pure,
All of hell shook when their knees hit the floor,


Never look back never give up,
There's someone behind who will pick you up,
I got a sword in my hand and I'm ready for the attack.


Raise up the flag let them see,
Our creed is a symbol for those who are free,
We fight against evil, we fight against sin,
Our battles not outward, our battles within.

Thu, April 10, 2008 @ 3:36 PM

7. Ricky Williams wrote:
I went to the men's retreat four years ago. I was 19 years old. I sat with my brother on Saturday night of that retreat. We prayed, talked, cried and confessed like we had never done before.

One of the things we prayed about was the Williams legacy. We do not come from a line of people who are pillars in the faith, or even upstanding citizens for that matter. My brother and I prayed that we would be the generation to break this cycle. That our Williams family name would be known for blessing. We prayed for our dad. That his life would be transformed. That one day he would be able to join us in reversing the cycle of destruction and dysfunction passed through the Williams family.

Last weekend, my brother, my dad, and I were in a small group together at the Men's Retreat. We prayed together, we talked together, we confessed together. The truth is, it was really new and awkward. We have never related with each other like that before. But God is good. God is doing a work. All three of us prayed on Saturday night, "Thank you Jesus. Lord you are good to us. Thank you for your work in our family. Thank you for allowing the Williams' to share communion together. O Lord, thank you. You are good."

God is good. He is redeeming the Williams family. Thank you Jesus.

Thu, April 10, 2008 @ 4:14 PM

8. chris d. wrote:
This weekend: Man, where to start? It was a serious blessing getting to worship with the men of Emmanuel. We talked a lot about deeply connecting to other men, confessing stuff that we don't want to talk to anyone about, and making some serious, tangible changes in our lives. This to me is what the kingdom of God is about. And I'm pretty sure we can't do it without each other. I know for me and a couple other guys it was a time of great healing. It's pretty miraculous stuff.

Thu, April 10, 2008 @ 4:26 PM

9. Ulysses Gallegos wrote:
How absolutley awesome GOD is, may all praise and glory be his.

I feel so fortunate to be among the men of Emmanuel, never in my life have I witnessed such love and honesty. It was in this love and honesty that GOD took away my fear of failure, my lack of confidence at work and my inability to deeply connect with those closest to me. He showed me what I had to do, he showed how to get out of my own way and let him be the driver.

It is just as our leaders preached:
Repent daily
Pray daily
Be accountable
Be intentional
Stay close to Jesus
I pray to use these tools daily.

GOD let me know that I do matter, he let me know that I am a gift and that I am chosen for his glory; for his absolute LOVE.
He let me know that only in community can we bring about the change the he wants, we cannot do it alone; the forces out there are too strong.
He confirmed to me that he is real; that he is everywhere. He is everywhere, it's amazing.
He showed me that he is love; unconditional love; he is all that is good.
His truth and joy were so overwhelming that I had to say stop because I couldn't take it anymore, I am not worthy of such grace.

I also see how truly blessed we are with our leadership at Emmanuel. We have great men of GOD guiding us, teaching us and loving us. I see how they need our daily prayers, please pray for them that they will be strengthened in GODS love.

What a life changing weekend; as Pastor Harold Korver said, "It is an event when GOD shows up", I pray that this event, will be "event-flow".

I hope this makes sense...

Thank you Emmanuel, praise GOD!

Sat, April 12, 2008 @ 5:59 AM

10. Craig Chapman wrote:
I had not expected to attend the men's retreat this year due in part to some financial reasons. However, two close friends found out that I was not going and provided a scholarship for me to attend anyway. They just said, "No excuses, you're going!" I submitted to my friends and went.

I began to pray and ask God, why me, why this, why now? On Saturday afternoon, Jason Brown and Pastor Larry Dove taught a seminar entitled, “From Dude to Dad, The Changing Face of Fatherhood.” I have longed for a closer relationship with my adopted sons. Could this possibly help bridge that gap?

Many of us men gathered around in the large circle and shared about our frustrations, disappointments and failures to be the fathers that our Heavenly Father wants us to be. It became apparent that we needed guidance and help and God’s grace to get to the place He wanted to take us to.

The following is a list of “tools” that helped me and might also help you as well:

1. Verbal blessing, tell your kids, “You are a blessing to me!”
2. Pray with them and for them daily, “God, deliver them from evil and make them great in Your kingdom.”
3. Appropriate touch, give hugs
4. Undivided attention, turn off the electronics and focus on them
5. Intentional modeling, your actions are their best teacher, remember they’re always watching you
6. How can I be present in my son’s life now? Pray and ask the Lord to show you
7. Intentional love, one person shared that his wife emails a blessing to the kids daily
8. Listen to them, don’t offer advice, affirm them and don’t have an agenda
9. Establish a regular outing with them, it may be dinner, a movie or whatever that lets them know that you think time alone with just them is valuable to you

Now I know you’re thinking, “that’s a lot of stuff to remember.” But you know, one thing really hit me between the eyes that day, the words “communicate, communicate, communicate”, with verbal blessings and encouragement, intentional humor and laughter. I can do this, by the grace of God, I can do this.

Thank you Lord for your unending love!

Sat, April 12, 2008 @ 9:38 PM

11. Doug Boerigter wrote:
I was blessed by who was there ...

There were literally guys from all walks of life and a multitude of different ministries who went up the mountain. There were about 140 guys covering at least three generations ...

And there was something special about being in that majestic setting with such a diverse group. As I looked around, I think we were in awe of God just because of his creative work, not only in the mountains but also among us ...

God met us, especially when we broke away to spend some time with Him.

Fri, April 18, 2008 @ 11:13 AM

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