GUY TIME

Ever since moving from Medford to Talent over a year ago, and establishing ourselves in a church closer to our new home, I have made a renewed effort to get better connected.  Last summer, I decided to sacrifice some sleep on a weeknight in order to attend a Thursday night men's group at our church.

 

I recognized my propensity to withdraw and to isolate myself, so I joined a group that studied what the Bible says about building friendships.  I made some good friends in that group and most of us decided to stay together as a group in studying the next topic:  Understanding A Woman's Heart.

 

Then, the church announced a men's conference in Redding that would be attended by several churches in Northern California and Southern Oregon. About 45 of us boarded a chartered bus at 4:45 a.m. this morning and left for Redding at 5:00 a.m.

 

I had to get up early, at 3:30 a.m., to make the trip, but it was worth it.  Four pastors shared from Psalm One, two meals were provided, and the bus trip allowed me to retrieve some lost sleep both going to and returning from the conference.



 

Leaving the house at 4:30 a.m.

We arrived at The Little Country Church on a rainy, Redding morning, in time to register and to eat breakfast.

Several hundred men stood in line to register.

After breakfast, the conference started with high levels of testosterone-enhanced worship.

After Session 1, dealing with Psalm 1:1, we took a break to re-caffienate or to de-caffienate or to do both.

Returning to the auditorium, we continued with Session 2 (Psalm 1:2) and Session 3 (Psalm 1:3), before breaking for lunch.

Our pastor, Mark Anderson, chats betweens sessions.

One of the things I learned at the conference is that I need to learn how to take better selfies.

Breaking for lunch before returning for communion and for the final session.

Getting ready for communion.

Pastor Mark Anderson concludes the conference with Session 4 (Psalm 1:4-6).

While cruising back home on the bus, we passed a metal cow along I-5 that has been mooing in the same spot for as long as I can remember.