What Makes Fall Great?

I love fall.  September and October are my favorite months and the list of reasons why this season is the best grows every year. Here are just a few.

The season of lame sports is over.  After watching the NBA playoffs, afternoons of tennis, golf and regular season baseball will put anyone into a coma.  Fall equals NFL football in full swing.  Go Broncos!

Summer’s heat is gone and the perfection of warm days and cool evenings are upon us.  I would rather put on a sweatshirt and warm up instead of being hot without any way to cool off.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice lattes are back!  Reading, coffee, and a chilly day is a combo made in heaven.

Leaves turn colors and snow starts falling in the mountains…enough said.

And most importantly: It is FALL RETREAT season at theMILL.  I have been theMILL pastor for nine years now and we have done a lot of events but fall retreat is the only one which has faithfully stood the test of time.  I have many good reasons as to why I invite everyone I know, as well as perfect strangers, to join theMILL for fall retreat.  So why go on Fall Retreat?

*Relationship. It can be difficult to meet people if Friday nights is all you can do.  theMILL is not about gathering a big crowd, it’s about community. Our strength is in how well we know each other.  In the course of three days, fall retreat starts relationships and helps them gain a momentum that would take months of Friday night attendance to achieve.  This year’s theme is BELONG, focusing on how God made us to connect, not live a solitary life. (On a side note, I regularly talk to people getting married who met at fall retreat.  Not saying it is the reason to come to Fall Retreat but it can’t hurt.  Just saying!)

*Location, location, location.  For the past 8 years we have gone to Young Life’s Crooked Creek Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado. Let me be clear: this is no youth camp.  If your idea of a retreat is ramshackle cabins with no heat, 30 year old mattresses and “camp food” then get ready for a pleasant surprise.  The accommodations at CCR are basically luxurious, the food is excellent, and the views are spectacular.  Plus you get a sweet afternoon of free time with tons of activities (besides a nap)…like mountain biking, super swing, hiking, hot tubbing, and more…

*Simplification.  We are constantly pushed on by school, work, cell phones, roommates, and family obligations. To have a weekend without the push and pull of everyday life is a gift we need to experience more often.  Getting into God’s creation and away from the busyness of life  helps us de-clutter our souls and refocus for the days ahead.
 

*God-space. When we create space for God, we provide room for Him to work.  Every year we meet Him corporately and individually in wonderful ways. Crooked Creek doesn’t have some sort of magic dust that they sprinkle on the weekend. God says that when we seek Him, we will find Him.

The list could continue and I could talk about the amazing times of worship, the hoedown, the massive horse, knight, rider game and the 75 person hot tub but I think you get the idea.  Don’t miss theMILL Fall Retreat 09.  There are two weekends to choose from (they are both the same) – October 16-18 or October 23-25.  Register at www.theMILLonline.org to lock in your rate and weekend.

Hope you don’t miss theMILL event of the year!  See you there.

Comments

[Rob Birch]

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Phil and Joe. I don't know what Laura stance is but....since she's a woman she is probably right.

Anyway one of the many reasons I like MLB is because they are no salary caps i.e. every team is competitive as long as they are run well. The NFL, NBA, NHL ain't so fun to watch because of the salary cap, sign one or two good players and you have a championship.

[Phil Canipe]

I have to admit, I have a point of contention with your post.

Regular season baseball is NOT boring!

Other than that, good job...

[Laura Tucker]

*sigh*

[Joe K.]

Word!