There are scheduled meeting times and usually informal/guided discussion. Lots of free time to visit, get to know people, laugh, etc... very relaxed.
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Summer 2022 family retreat - Knoxville area, Aug 18-21st - details are ready!
- Thread starter nathan
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So glad you will make it this year! As for the Mockumentary, seems you have the popular vote! Drop Nathan a DM and see what he thinks.
We are about 6 weeks away from Summer Retreat! If you are still considering attending we encourage you to message us at retreats@biblicalfamilies.org to request retreat information. If you are unable to attend, please take a few minutes each week to pray for retreat and those families attending. Thank you!
Let me add this to what @julieb wrote: if you are even thinking about getting on the fence about the possibility of attending and have never been to one of these before, you are very, very unlikely to regret having done so. Take the leap. Rearrange your schedules. Make the sacrifices. Risk being known and knowing others. You won't be sorry you did, and if you end up being sorry and only attended because you felt compelled to because of what I'm writing here, I'll personally refund you half your family's entrance fee. The thing is that the kind of biblical lifestyles this organization supports puts one in a position of having to be in hiding in the world in general at worst or invisible at best, and therefore being surrounded by like-minded folks is profoundly liberating -- and to a higher degree than is even normally the case when one finds fellow travelers. The Biblical Families gatherings are almost always very special occasions, but that is most especially the case when the numbers are large, and that's compounded this year by our return to what I believe is the best overall destination from past retreats. It's not only isolated and conducive to both group meetings and the opportunity to have multiple side conversations, but the owners know what we're up to, and it's especially freeing to not have to do any whispering or fancy gesturing in side hallways, etc., as is sometimes the case at certain venues.
In addition, the layout of the lodge and its property is such that, if you want to have maximum fellowship with the most people possible but would also like to generally avoid certain people (like me, for instance!), that's also easy enough to do. I mean, sure, we're all Christians and wonderful, blessed people and all, but no matter how saintly we are there are always going to be personality types that rub any one of us the wrong way, so, even if you fear having to spend a couple days around some particular old geezer or be exposed to too many rambunctious kids (or whatever), the lodge in TN is just as conducive to putting a limit on interaction as it is to providing ample opportunities for it.
So, please, if you're even just a little bit tempted, take the plunge and jump into joining us next month. Not only will you be glad you did; the rest of us will as well.
In addition, the layout of the lodge and its property is such that, if you want to have maximum fellowship with the most people possible but would also like to generally avoid certain people (like me, for instance!), that's also easy enough to do. I mean, sure, we're all Christians and wonderful, blessed people and all, but no matter how saintly we are there are always going to be personality types that rub any one of us the wrong way, so, even if you fear having to spend a couple days around some particular old geezer or be exposed to too many rambunctious kids (or whatever), the lodge in TN is just as conducive to putting a limit on interaction as it is to providing ample opportunities for it.
So, please, if you're even just a little bit tempted, take the plunge and jump into joining us next month. Not only will you be glad you did; the rest of us will as well.
@Keith Martin is right, you should go. The retreats are wonderful weekends that encourage strengthen and expose. I think I got the maddest I’ve ever been at @windblown at a retreat. But the rest of the times have been fun, refreshing and very, very sweet.
Actually, now that I think about it, as mad as I was at her I’ve been madder. I’m a little high strung.
Thank you... hair may be thinning on top, but not the beard!@PeteR I am so glad you have posted a current picture of yourself (well, I am guessing it is) I am not sure if I would have recognized you at retreat with your newly grown stylish beard!
I'm in
Looking forward to it. I only ask that Jim and I not be in the Mockumentary please!
We can now announce this publicly: we are thrilled that the Amelangs (all 4 adults, 2 youngest boys), will be joining us next month in Tennessee! If you don't know who they are, well, have a look at our front page "poster family" (biblicalfamilies.org), you should definitely come meet them. We look forward to Andrew sharing some, and I think they will lead a little worship as well (no full band).
We don't yet have the quota we need for the rooms, but we are getting close, if you are still thinking about it, just make your plans, we are looking forward to our largest crowd since at least Oklahoma in 2019. (Which I missed half of, with a stomach bug!)
We don't yet have the quota we need for the rooms, but we are getting close, if you are still thinking about it, just make your plans, we are looking forward to our largest crowd since at least Oklahoma in 2019. (Which I missed half of, with a stomach bug!)
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Does “not met quota for the rooms” mean that we might not get the rooms? Do those of us reserving them need back up plans? Perfectly fine, just want to make sure I can pivot on the fly.
Seriously, if you are unsure, do it. It's worth it. I've travelled all the way from New Zealand to them twice, and @FollowingHim2 has done so once, and it's been worth every dollar spent. I was nervous turning up the first time (everyone is, understandably), but the moment I got there I just felt at home. Shift your schedule, beg transport from someone, and get there.
What @FollowingHim said!
Retreats feel like a family reunion....even if you don't know anyone before you get there.
The sweet fellowship and God honoring worship makes you look forward to the big reunion all believers hope to attend.
Seriously, it's a bit like a drop of heavenly preview.
Retreats feel like a family reunion....even if you don't know anyone before you get there.
The sweet fellowship and God honoring worship makes you look forward to the big reunion all believers hope to attend.
Seriously, it's a bit like a drop of heavenly preview.
No, it doesn't mean that. It just means if we come up short I'll be doing my best TV-preacher appeal to cover the total cost.
And we have a little in the bank that will help cover any shortfall as well. It'll take nuclear war or martial law to keep us from going, at this point.
I spend most of my time on the road, trucking. It costs me money to go home.
Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays don’t matter.
The only time that the girls can count on seeing me is for these retreats. I have flown and driven across the country for them.
They are that important!
Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays don’t matter.
The only time that the girls can count on seeing me is for these retreats. I have flown and driven across the country for them.
They are that important!
Don't forget my partial-money-back challenge!
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