CLOVERCREST MEN’S RETREAT

For discussion

1. Telling our stories.

2-1 Jesus as Warrior: ‘Jesus fought against the enemies of our wholeness (what enemies were they?) but told us to love our enemies (how do we do that?)’

2-2 What for you/us are the deadliest of the ‘7 Deadly Sins’ (pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth)?

2-3 ‘We try to heal the father-wound, or fill the father- void, with addictions’. What are they?

2-4 Sport is supposed to be ‘civilized warfare’ but it’s becoming corrupted in many ways. What ways?

3-1 Jesus as ‘Wise Man’: Jesus spent five days with the ‘wise men and elders of his tribe’. Why is that sort of experience either non-existent or rare for youths these days?

3-2 ‘You can have one year’s experience 30 times; or 30 years’ experience’. How?

3-3 What is the essential difference between knowledge and wisdom, information and transformation?

3-4 ‘Maturity is living with ambiguity rather than black-and-whiteness’. Is it?

4-1 Jesus as Lover: ‘Jesus was/is the world’s greatest lover.’ How can we become more like him?

4-2 What is the difference between romantic love and realistic love?

4-3 There’s so much need out there, where do we start?

4-4 We’ve all had imperfect parents. How do we make up the love-deficits from our childhood?

5-1 Jesus as King: ‘Jesus’ #1 preaching theme was the Kingdom of God.’ What is that?

5-2 We like being powerful rather than powerless. Anything wrong with that?

5-3 ‘King is another name for father or grandfather – the strong and stable energy that protects us from chaos, fear and doubt’ (Richard Rohr). How can we become the fathers for our children our fathers weren’t for us?

5-4 Jesus is ‘King of kings’ but calls himself a servant. Why is ‘servant leadership’ in our homes, or at work and elsewhere such a challenge for us?

Rowland Croucher
August 2005