Men's Campout Report

Wow - what a great time...kudos to Rob Goodlett for putting on a great show in putting this overnighter together. A huge thank you goes out to our hosts and totally fantastic couple Jim and Amber Sheffield...it would not have been possible without you!

I arrived on the scene about 3:30pm to see about 8 guys hanging around throwing shoes and hear echoes of shotgun blasts from the platform high above the Sheffield house on the property adjacent to our base camp at the Equestrian Center, owned by Dan Stephenson.

What a perfect day for a camp out...not too hot and not too chilly. THe horseshoe pit was competitive, but it got tighter when I took a walk over to the Sheffield property and stopped to chat with Tony Kestle, who was watching a two on two basketball war.

Just as I sat down to watch the fest, MAN DOWN! At first, we thought it might be just a little fall, but it turned out to be a popped ankle. Not sure if it is broken, but Eric Tomlinson's short day was over. Jim Sheffield, the most awesomest host in the world, drove him back down the hill to seek a real opinion and we prayed that it would be just a sprain. I jumped in to the game as Dave's new partner and ended up winning a very draining game of basketball. Dave has a killer 15 foot jumper by the way...

As I shuffled back to our site, the guys had built a substantial fire and we were ready for some more horseshoes. A few games of shoes and it was time to get our food on. Rob G. manned the BBQ and put out some outstanding Dogs and Burgers and Amber Sheffield delivered some good old fashioned chili -- yep, we had quite a time later!

After dinner, we relaxed by the campfire and got to spend time just hanging out - being guys. We had a great time of worship led by David and a discussion on the Lord's prayer facilitated by Rob G. So cool how a bunch of guys who really didn't know each other we so quickly bonded together by time spent focusing on Jesus.

Around 10pm, 8 of us decided it was time for some volleyball under the lights on the Sheffield's sweet grass volleyball court. A mere 40 some degrees couldn't stop over 2 hours of fun. Amber and Jim broke out some hot chocolate, tea and coffee for us and after one more game, we headed back to our camp fire where some guys headed off to bed - while the firebugs continued into the early hours of the AM.

Thanks to Joe Geddes for letting me and Jeff Hohenstein crash in his rig. I heard it was cold out in the tent, but Joe had the temp just right all night.

By the way, never underestimate the impact of a 24 pack of Ding Dongs, some chili and late night volleyball at a Men's Campout! Thanks for a great time guys, the next one we will be adding our kids.

Again, kudos to Rob Goodlett for making this one happen and to our wonderful hosts the Sheffield's and the Stephenson's.

Camp Out de Men - 4/25 - 4/26

Join us for the first Lamb's Men's Camp Out! We will be posting signs along the way and will be sending out multiple emails this week -- and we will have everything posted on this blog as well. Check back early and often...

Here Rob G. and I are following Jim Sheffield from his property over to the equestrian center that is next to his property - and will be our base camp.

You can arrive any time after Noon on Saturday, April 25th to stake a claim for your overnighter. A large 12 - 15 foot firepit will be the center of our site - so pack some wood if you remember. We will be staying Sunday until about Noon.

Please bring your own food and maybe a little something to share as we hang out at the campfire on Saturday night. If you have a guitar, bring it. I believe that Rob G. has lined up the music, but a jam session would be cool too? eh? Of course!

Here are a few shots of the Sheffield property that we will have access to as well, along with some awesome hiking trails are: basketball court, grass volleyball court, skeet shooting platform, concrete skatepark and a lot of nature to hang out in. Come join the fun...

Mens Bfast Recap

Hey, for all you that missed it, we had an awesome morning last Saturday. We invited a good friend of mine, Eric Beeman, Associate Pastor of Chorus Church in French Valley, to share. Eric presented us a challenge: Take up the sword and get in the battle.

He reminded us that we are in a battle - every day - and that the only way that we can fight is planting God's Word in our hearts and relying on Him to carry us through. He boldly talked about the imagery in Ephesians 6 - the action that is mentioned and how we are to put on the full armour of God. We are not supposed to put all this stuff on and then sit down, but to "stand firm" in Him. The battle gear that God tells us to put on is for protection and most of it is a defense mechanism against the forces of evil. That is right, protection -cause we are in a fight - Lord give us the ability to see those things that are unseen that war against us! Since, we cannot fight with a breastplate or a helmet, but with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17) - we need to pick up that sword and get in the battle.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occassions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Thanks to Eric for taking time away from His family and church home to be with us and deliver a great message! Pray for Eric's ministry and family, me and mine, and the brothers and sisters that you are fighting with - let's get in the battle and be ready!

What are you using your Sword to fight?

Good Friday

Wow, what a turn out at the cross walk. It was so refreshing to read the great articles and see the photos - well done Rob and Corey G leading the pack!

Most of yesterday for me was filled with tying up loose ends on my way out to the first week of vacation that I have had in several years. It is amazing what switching jobs can do for you. During and throughout yesterday, I kept reflecting on what that day was like when Jesus walked, stumbled, and tripped his way to Calvary. I was thinking it looked a lot, weather-wise, like yesterday; probably felt a lot like it looked too...cold, gloomy, clouded-over, sun peaking through for moments at a time.

About 3/4 of the day through, I got this message from Matt Klock "Praise God that He sent His son to die for our sins"...what a sweet message indeed.

How was your Good Friday?

Golf Anyone?

From Yahoo.com's frontpage:

The brand-new golf course at the Legends Golf & Safari Resort in South Africa is an amazing stretch of 18 holes designed by 18 different top-flight golfers, including Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, K.J. Choi, Retief Goosen, Justin Rose, Trevor Immelman and Vijay Singh. And I'm sure each one of those 18 holes is a perfect mini-masterpiece of challenge and reward. Along with, apparently, a lion or two along the way, if we're to believe the brochures.


But that's nothing. Wait until you get to the bonus 19th hole.

The course's so-called "Xtreme 19th" hole is a par 3 -- a par 3 whose tee is atop a cliff on Hanglip Mountain, more than 1,400 feet above a green carved like the continent of Africa. You've got to take a helicopter to get to the tee box, and from there it's more than 630 yards to the pin. Once you tee off, it takes nearly 30 seconds for the ball to hit the ground.

Check it out if you haven't seen this one yet...I would love a shot at this green, how 'bout you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_W_JryhR0

Return of the Sand Toilet

Every time we go to the beach, my son Dillon and daughter McKenna want to build a sand castle. Since I remember doing it with my dad, I have worked with them to come up with a standard format. All of our sand castles pretty much looked the same until a couple of years ago. Dillon, the engineer, decided that it should have a couple of rooms instead of just the front moat and massive blockade wall. So, we went about creating a few different areas in the castle. We always have a living room area, which has a flat screen t.v. and a couch to kick it on - sand style. Then we starting adding on other areas/rooms stairs and whatnot - it was getting a little stale...that was until last summer when we created the sand toilet. It got so much play that it is a stape in our castle now. We have had people come by and take photos of themselves on it or "about" it. McKenna, the interior decorator, roams about finding new "things" to adorn our castle and make it look really upscale.

Not enough time was spent on this one, as we unearthed some huge fishy thing in the sand that made us want to vomit, to place the flat screen t.v., barka-lounger or our sink for the toilet room...also, my engineer and decorator bailed on me - so I quit on this one. We did have a great time destroying it though...

What are some elements to your sand castle?