Life Changing Weekend with Marked Men for Christ

This past week, March 8-12, I headed out to San Luis Obispo, CA for a day of solitude and then to hook up with a Marked Men for Christ weekend near Pismo Beach, CA. After months of transitioning from Mexico back to the U.S. and getting settled into what God is calling us to be it was a good time to process and be alone. Immediately God began to shower me with His blessings. The connecting flight from Los Angeles to San Luis Obisipo (SLO) was the first part of heaven I experienced that that weekend. The reason I headed to SLO and not just up to some mountains in CO was that I went to school at Cal Poly SLO from 89-93 and it is by far my true love of CA. The coast, the green hills, the small town feel and community surfaced a dream to live there again.

Immediately I headed to Pismo Beach for some time on the pier. It was so healthy for me to just sit on the pier, pray, journal and praise the Lord for His love and goodness. Also in Pismo is my favorite clam chowder in Bread Bowls at the Splash Cafe. I found this little and growing hole in the wall in '89 after a morning of surfing and since then try to make an annual trek to soak in the sites and clams.

After that I cruised up the coast 10 minutes to downtown SLO, drove by my old college homes and then up to Paso Robles to stay at Tobin James Vineyard for the night. About two years ago Christine and I did some wine tasting here and have been wine club members ever since. They have a wonderful guest house out in the middle of nowhere. I did some wine tasting, sent some wine back to CO and then just read and took a nap. God was giving me the rest and process time that I needed.

One of the reasons I wanted to head out a day early was to experience the world famous SLO farmers market. There is nothing like it on the planet. It is small town America at its finest. Some of the best brisket, tri-tip and baked beans on this side of heaven. Every Thurs night there are about 3-4 thousand people just hanging out buying their farm fresh strawberries, veggies and almonds. I just love it. I remember sitting on the street eating my tri-tip kabobs sandwich and baked beans just praising God for the experience. Too many good memories to take in and in such a pretty area.

The next day I slept in and decided to drive from Paso Robles through some of the wine country to the coast near Cambria. This ends up on the world famous highway south of Big Sur and north of Morro Bay, Highway 1. I stopped by some surf spots we would frequent in college and then back into SLO for lunch on the creek; maybe even a nap.

I only had about 3 1/2 hours to eat, read, rest, shop, pray and I did find time to take a quick nap. The past month my boys have been memorizing Ps 23 and I felt like God was giving it to me specifically during this time in the central coast. What a blessing!

That night I was warned to show up to the Marked Men for Christ retreat no later than 5pm. I didn't know a soul and entered the weekend on the advice of a good friend, Michael. I didn't know what to expect but what I can say that God used the weekend, the other men and the power of His Holy Spirit to do some serious work in my life. The Holy Spirit poked and prodded and did some good healing on my heart. I am so thankful for the staff and other men for the weekend. I was even blessed to see a friend, Johnny, I haven't seen in 14 years and didn't know he was going to be there. I would encourage you to take a weekend in CO and many of the other places that Marked Men for Christ hosts their weekends to do some work with the Lord and let Him bless you beyond your greatest wishes.

Off to the airport. I arrived only 3o minutes before my flight because I forget to change my watch for daylight savings time. But the Lord blessed me again. I sat on the left side of the 30 seater plane for the flight to San Fran. Again I was blessed to see the coast. Only about 15 minutes into the flight I saw the spot I proposed to Stine in Big Sur. Then over Carmel and Monterey. The layover in San Fran allowed me to inhale some more clam chowder but also another quick view of the bay area.

I'm so grateful to the Lord for His Kindness, great mercy, love and beauty. This weekend reminded me that I love Him more than ever.

Categories: Family, God