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CrossRoads in the Wilderness August 15-17, 2008 James Park near Boulder, CO |
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A New Rite of Passage for Christian Men
While the comfort and regularity of Sunday services and the moving words of a well penned sermon are a mainstay in the spiritual life of many, there are some who thirst for something different. We seek to quench this thirst by tracking Jesus' departure from civilized village life to journey into the wilderness to drink of God's mysterious masterpiece. Jesus understood that going into God’s wild Creation with a yearning soul and a humble intention can change one’s direction, liberate one from inner fears and obstacles, clarify one’s mission, reconnect one to the wild untamed God, invite more joy into life and prepare one for true loving service.
In the Chronicles of Narnia, the Christ-figure is called Aslan. He is portrayed as a lion—a fierce, compassionate lion of courage, gentleness, understanding, dedication, wisdom, and willingness to put it all on the line for love and reconciliation. The image of Aslan is one image that can remind us of the wild power of Spirit, the fierce, beautiful way of Christ that empowers us to engage life with passion, love and commitment, to open heart and soul to know, and to receive and give God’s Grace amidst life’s struggles.
A Passage into Heart and Soul This three day retreat is a powerful new place for men to experience Spirit in a real, heartfelt way, a potentially life altering way. We experience together the challenge and Grace of the spiritual road of Christ. Jesus followed that sacred “Cross road” of initiation, that road of separating and going down and in. This is the journey that leads to transformation and to resurrection. Then we can return to the people bringing new life.
When men follow Jesus on that road, amazing things happen. Men reclaim the spirit they may have lost along the way, find new clarity and inspiration, work through grief, release old burdens and resentments, experience true male friendship, and encounter the God who cannot be tamed. To adequately support this powerful journey, we build strong retreat “containers” by keeping participant to staff ratios low, usually two to one. We are not aware of any other similar programs (outside of MLA) that provide the same level of professional and volunteer staffing. The program also provides a comprehensive training notebook that includes pre-training preparation and post-training integration. Hearty, healthy meals are also provided. |
It's not about Dogma or Doctrine MLA honors many ways of belief and understanding of Spirit. It is said, “There are many ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” What they have in common we believe is the Greatest Commandment: love of God with all of one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength, and the love of neighbor and self. This program offers men a unique Christian language “map” of the paths and gateways that lead into that love. If you have more questions about our way of understanding Christianity, see our FAQ.
But a map is not the territory. CrossRoads also offers men the support needed to make the passage into Christ-Love to release the blocks and fears that keep us from loving God, neighbor, and self fully. This is a place beyond rules, shaming judgments, and exclusive dogma and doctrines. We offer an experience that men inside, outside or on the margin of church, or even men who plain don’t like church, would value and love. Young Men (Eighteen and Older) and Elders are Encouraged to Attend These men offer invaluable insights that are a critical source of guidance and balance in our gathering. Location and Times We will stay at James Park, a rustic wilderness camp in beautiful Boulder County near the Continental Divide at 9500 feet elevation. Men will sleep on bunk beds in the rustic lodge (or bring their own tents, if desired). The retreat begins Friday, August 15th at 9am when we rendezvous in Boulder to caravan to camp. We return to Boulder by 4pm, Sunday, August 17th. Staff Guided by Rev. Todd Smiedendorf and staff. You can view biographies of our staff here. What To Bring Further information regarding logistics details will be sent upon receipt of your payment or deposit. Costs We offer a sliding scale registration ranging from $650-1250. We ask that you pay what you can afford and help with scholarships. We know that this program is worth the $1250, but we want to assure that everyone who wishes to attend is not held back due to financial consideration. A minimum non-refundable deposit of $105 is required to hold your reservation and assure you of a spot in this gathering. Meals are included. Space is limited to 30 participants. If you wish to set up a payment plan or inquire about a scholarship, please arrange with the MLA office prior to the event.
Registration Register on-line for this program using PayPal's secure website:
Or you can print, fill-out, and mail your registration using the form below. Please include your deposit or registration fee by check made payable to "Men's Leadership Alliance".
Further Information Download the brochure for this program For more information contact us.
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