The above words have been throbbing in my head and heart since the last of three Sons Gathering at our Firecreek Mountain retreat near Asheville, North Carolina. 

Why is it that as the sons begin to gather, most to meet each other for the first time, the introduction seems immediately to be more than a chance meeting with a strange proneness to ask, "What is happening to us here?”  

Why does it happen that when we begin to hear one anothers' stories God comes in such extraordinary ways?  Why is that we weep so easily when so few of us seldom weep at all? 

Why does it seem in the whole Firecreek experience that many spiritual mysteries are made clear and life-changing from the start?

Why are the informal sessions, the "porch meetings", as well as the sumptuous meals so freighted with significance with no planned subjects suggested?

Why, as we come to the last night and day do we begin to see each other, all of us, in a different and joyous light, really eternally related!

Why does it seem natural for those who have part in these gatherings to be getting together later, spontaneously and supernaturally to actually "hang out" and work together in ministry?

What is there about these 60 acres that is so at once isolated but central, remote but dignified, informal but mysteriously loaded with an indescribable, unexplainable Presence?

What is the strange feeling that each of us senses, "This is a safe place for me to be me"? (We have sort of adopted the adage, "What happens at Firecreek, stays at Firecreek". 

To these questions I answer, "ETERNITY ALONE will reveal the complete answers! That being so, Let's relax and enjoy the journey and the majesty and the mystery of it all! I will not answer these questions but I will make a few observations:

The above and many others similar things, though mysterious, are happening with increasing intensity in gathering after gathering.  It seems that the next one begins with the momentum and spiritual intensity with which the prior one ended. I must confess that with an already-busy (actually packed!) schedule I hesitated to involve myself for more than a couple of days at a time and for more than two meetings per year.  After the undeniable dynamics of the place and the drastic changes in all of us who attended, I was smitten with the conviction that we should have the whole time from Monday evening through Friday noon, and as many of these meetings through the year as possible.  Our goal is to have every son in attendance at one of these meetings.  That will take at least a year or more. We all have agreed that we have never gathered in such a setting nor been blessed to any greater depth than at Firecreek among the family of fathers and sons.

We have two dates for 2011 remaining, the first, August 22-26 and October 24-28. We max out at 24 so if you plan to attend the late summer event, let us know ASAP.  Keep in mind also that for the purpose of continuity we encourage a few who have attended before to be there. 

A WORD TO THE WOMEN: We are planning for you and you are guaranteed to be thrilled and pleased with concepts and ideas and will be welcomed to add yours…as if we needed to say that!  Be looking for details for the inclusion of ladies at a Firecreek gathering before the end of 2011.

Church member, want to do something extraordinarily special for your Pastor?  Make sure he attends the next Sons Gathering at Firecreek.  He will never be the same and your church will reap the benefits far beyond the cost of the trip and for years to come.  Send him if you have to, but get your Pastor to the next Sons Gathering.  Details for the gatherings can be found at: http://www.sonslink.com/sons-gatherings.php or by going to www.sonslink.com and clicking on the Sons Gatherings link.  There is an ebrochure that can be downloaded for each of the next two gatherings at Firecreek.  Do yourself a favor and get your Pastor to the next one!

Much Love and Blessings,

   Papa Jack, Sonslink