Real Live Preacher

I'm Going to Laity Lodge in July

May 21, 2007 - 10:37pm

I hope you can join me.

Laity Lodge is a retreat center in the hill country north of San Antonio. It is one of my most favorite places in the world. There are retreats there all through the Spring and Summer. The retreats cover a wide variety of subjects, but truly the subject doesn't even matter because this is a quiet retreat center where guests are encouraged to wander around and set their own pace. I have friends who have gone and only attended one session. They spent the rest of the time wandering the property or hanging out by the river. Oh, and the food is the best I've ever had at any retreat setting. Click here for a map with slideshows of the grounds.

So I'm going to be at Laity Lodge in July. I'm speaking at a retreat called Engaging the Next Generation: "Raising Youth in a MySpace World."

July 12-15 (Thursday-Sunday)
Based on research from his award-winning book Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, Chap and Dee Clark will help parents and people who work with youth understand them and respond in a way that helps them to thrive.

That sounds like a pretty interesting topic to discuss with passionate/engaged people for a few days. The retreat will be lead by Chapman and Dee Clark. Chapman Clark is Associate Professor of Youth, Family and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA,. Dee is a marriage and family therapist.

As for me, I'm leading one of the sessions.

There is plenty of free time, and there are all sorts of creative classes you can take as well. Click here for more info on this retreat. (Scroll down the page to find the MySpace retreat.)

Anyway, I know this is a long shot, but in case some of you have the time and a little money, we could hang out together for a few days. I think it would be fun, and I'd enjoy showing you this very beautiful part of Texas - The Hill Country.

Email or Call Laity Lodge for Details:
Ann Jack annjack@laitylodge.org
Or call Ann Jack at 830-792-1230.

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Here are some photos I've taken on my trips to Laity Lodge in the past:
(click for larger photos)

rlp

rlp's blog

Personal Update | Laity Lodge

That is gorgeous! Sound

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 12:51am.

That is gorgeous! Sound like a neat topic - especially since my boys are "myspace" freaks...

Oops, that was me above,

Submitted by Janie on May 22, 2007 - 12:52am.

Oops, that was me above, forgot to sign in.

My wife and I were blessed

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 7:18am.

My wife and I were blessed to be scholarshipped to a couple of leadership weekends at Laity Lodge. What a gorgeous setting and yes the food is unbelievable. The food is amazing and they catered to my wife's salt allergy without any glitches. Furthermore, we met some folks there that we still keep up with!

Your words on depression really helped me sort through my own depression which broke a few weeks ago. I did the Baylor/Southwestern combo and really relate to your writing.

May the Lord richly bless you and heal this heart thing.

Before you leave give us a

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 8:23am.

Before you leave give us a little preview of your speech, like a transcript or something. It seems like a cool topic.

I'll do something. Maybe an

Submitted by rlp on May 22, 2007 - 8:38am.

I'll do something. Maybe an mp3 file. I don't know.

It looks awesome. If I

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 9:10am.

It looks awesome. If I hadn't just taken a trip - requiring more money than I could really afford to spend - I'd arrange for vacation time.

Yes! You drive in the river?

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 10:04am.

Yes! You drive in the river? :-)

yes, right in the river. A

Submitted by rlp on May 22, 2007 - 11:43am.

yes, right in the river. A shallow part that runs over solid limestone.

Driving in the river. Yes.

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 10:15am.

Driving in the river. Yes. It is shallow and flat bottomed and, as you can see in the picture, there are markers to say "Don't go here!" Even if you know you will drive in the river, it is more than a little off-putting to do so. I didn't tell my husband about this until we got to the sign. Wo, some fun! Old poet

I remember going there for a

Submitted by Lisa in Austin on May 22, 2007 - 12:46pm.

I remember going there for a retreat when I was in law school, knowing I was supposed to drive in the river -- but still, when you get there, and it's dark, and all those messages about low-water crossings and flooding echo in your head -- it's a little bit hard to actually drive right in.

Have fun to all who go! Oh yeah, and I remember the food, too. Fabulous! And if I recall correctly, they will share their recipes.

I'd go if I could… looks

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 22, 2007 - 11:01am.

I'd go if I could… looks fantastic.

Laity Lodge (and the entire

Submitted by Mark Goodyear on May 23, 2007 - 7:44am.

Laity Lodge (and the entire canyon) really is fantastic. The first time I went out there was quite an experience. They have this art gallery--which will be featuring the work of Sandra Bowden I think--that is like Rivendell or Lothlorien or something.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more elvish the whole place feels to me.

Maybe I'm just too caught up in the new Tolkein book.

All the photos are very

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 23, 2007 - 9:54am.

All the photos are very nice, but I especially like the moth picture. The contrast of color between the moth and the flower is beautiful, and the details on the bottom of his wings are amazing, aren't they?

You're a fabulous

Submitted by Anonymous User on May 23, 2007 - 2:25pm.

You're a fabulous writer,
but we need Gordon back.

Nice. But the only

Submitted by Tripp Hudgins on May 24, 2007 - 7:45am.

Nice. But the only adolescent I am wrangling with is the one that I see in the mirror...somehow denying his 37 years. Heh.

Tripp Hudgins

http://www.anglobaptist.org