Brookhill - "Breaking Free" posted 11/30/2008 6:05:29 PM | 3 kudos what's this?     report abuse tagged: chains

MetryTechie

I've been meaning to write about Brookhill for weeks. Finally, I am getting to it.

Last month I wrote that I had the opportunity to go to Brookhill in my blog entitled, "A Beautiful Day Of Reflection And Retreat". This blog is to tell you a little about it and my experience.

The seminar was entitled, "Breaking Free". Led by Pastor Tim Brooks, we heard from several of the pastors that weekend. The retreat was held at the beautiful Brookhill Ranch, located just north of Hot Springs, AR, Friday, October 31st through Sunday, November 2nd. The weather was absolutely awesome the whole time we were there. It pretty much stayed between the fifties and low seventies. The ranch is quite large. The "pavilion", as they call it, was the building that our meetings took place, as well as meals and where we slept. It was located on a hill, looking down into a valley with lakes and a range of mountains in the distance. The view was breathtaking. Outside, looking down into the valley, there was a cross slammed into a hole in the ground, much like the way the cross of the crucified Jesus was slammed into the ground. There were concrete pews outside positioned to where those seated in them could look down into the valley and see the cross before them. "Wow", was the word that came to me and many others.

Thirteen of us went together in three vehicles. I rode with three other guys. What a great time. We met about 3:00 AM and hit the road by 4:00 AM and got there early afternoon on Friday. Around 4:00 PM, they started checking us in. Upon check-in, they put a chain on our wrist. It was a simple black anodized chain, about 3/8" thick, cut to size. We ate dinner about 6:00 PM before our first session. It was fantastic. REAL hamburger steak right off the grill, with some amazing brown gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and the BEST green beans. They definitely know how to feed a bunch of men. If I were to go on about the food that we ate, I would probably have to write another blog....and I might gain a couple of pounds.

Towards the end of the evening Friday, after several sessions, we were given a 6" x 6" piece of ceramic tile and a Sharpie. We looked deep into ourselves, probed and prayed, and realized things that we must "Break Free" from; things that we may have been holding on to. Whether we had unforgiveness in our hearts for anyone or something from our past that we just haven't been able to be freed from, we wrote them on the tile. After praying and asking the Lord to release us from these things, we walked up front and put the tile on a tree stump and smashed it with a hammer. There is something truly spiritual in the physical. Many guys did this in different ways. Some hit the tile once and busted it and walked away. Some smashed the tile with much aggression and passion. There was a serious release going on and quite a few tears in the room. I wrote down a few things. I actually felt pretty good for the most part. One of the things that I wrote, not really understanding exactly what or why, was simply, "Nicole", my wife's (ex) name. Even though I didn't understand it at the time, I believe that it may have been the beginning of what occurred Thanksgiving night, as I described in my last blog, "First, last and in between...".

The next day was pretty awesome. After a wonderful breakfast, we started out the beginning of our time together outside. Steve Sexton spoke to us about worship and quiet time with God. We started out worshipping the Lord, as we looked down into a beautiful valley and gazed upon the cross. After we worshipped, Steve spoke a little more. Then, he encouraged us to take about fifteen minutes and find a place, alone with God, and just have some quality time with Him. I walked down the hill and looked at the water and had a great time of fellowship with God.

We went back inside for our first session of the day. I figured that they had quite a mess to clean up from the night before from about 150 men smashing tiles. To my surprise, it was neatly swept up front around the six tree stumps in plain site. That was powerful in and of itself. We had several sessions until lunch time.

After lunch, we went out to do whatever we wanted. There were several different activities. Some got into the nap & snoring competition , some got into the basketball tournament, some went fishing, some did some fly-fishing competition, and some went to the driving range to bang some golf balls. That's what I decided to do.

After dinner, we came back for our evening sessions. The last session was also very powerful. Tim reminded us of the chains that were put on our wrists when we first arrived. He said that many of us probably became quite comfortable with them, maybe even forgot that they were there. The picture that he was painting was how often we fall into temptation and sin. The Holy Spirit will convict us and we say, "I"m sorry". Yet, we don't repent, turn away from. We do the same things over and over and the Holy Spirit convicts us less and less. In a sense, we are in chains, in bondage, and we have gotten used to it...even comfortable. As Tim said, "Well men, it's time to break free". We looked at ourselves and made a decision that we were going to "Break Free" from the things that have kept us in bondage. It was time to turn away from the sin in our lives that has dominated us. One by one, over 150 men went up and Tim prayed for us before we walked over and got our chains cut off. We "broke free". Many tears were shed and the release could be felt by all.

The next morning, Sunday, we had one final session after breakfast. There was broken tiles and chains all over the floor. Tim told us that we were free to come up and take a piece of tile and put it in our pocket and take it with us, or put our chains back on. It was all still there for us. He reminded us that even though we had "Broken Free", the enemy would surely be ready to attack us in our weak areas just as soon as we got home, whether it be immediately, a day later, a week later, a month later, or after that. We still have to choose not to sin. We have to say, "NO". It gets easier every time.

The retreat was absolutely amazing. The ride home was awesome. The four of us worshipped all the way back and had a great time of fellowship. I also find it interesting how Nicole actually tried to text me on the Sunday, while driving back from Brookhill. Seeing how things are playing out, it causes me to wonder if this was just one more way the enemy was trying to get me off track. I think the broken tile was the beginning of what would end with the cake.

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Blogs by MetryTechie: A Call To Action A Divine Appointment I Am His Being Shaped Relationship Or Religion? Advent Conspiracy: Enter The Story Why Do You? I Like What He's Doing A Moment Of Worship When The Spirit Moves Brookhill - "Breaking Free" First, last, and in between... No turning back, no turning back. God Is Moving! A Beautiful Day Of Reflection And Retreat. A Day Of Mixed Emotions Ruthless Trust Majesty Gustav - Before, during, and after... Two Years! Busy & Blessed I Will Not Be Shaken! What a week! Another Trial...Jail! Pressing On! Kitchen Table Episodes