Camp Barakel-”Where God has blessed”

Shear Lake at Camp Barakel

This past weekend my wife was gracious enough to send me to a much needed men’s retreat at Camp Barakel. I dropped the family off in Ohio with grandparents and I headed on up to northern Michigan. The speaker for the weekend was Tom Harmon who is the father of our best friends in Michigan. He is truly a Godly speaker. I’ve listened to him preach in person a few times, and I’ve downloaded many of his Barakel messages. Perhaps the most needed part of the entire weekend was being away from all media: no wifi, no cell phone (other than to talk to my wife a couple of times), no TV, no football, no newspapers, no Facebook, no Twitter, nothing. It was great being with 300 other Christian men in the midst of the woods, with a beautiful lake right outside my cabin window. The worship services were amazing! Imagine all these big, burly men, singing out wonderful choruses, and genuinely pouring their hearts out to the Lord in song. There were no ties, there were no suits; think lots of flannel and cammo. The messages were just what we needed. Tom Harmon lays it out very plain and simple and the Holy Spirit makes sure each man hears what he needs to hear. There was much time for quiet reflection too. I thanked the Lord for my wife, my children, and the students he has given me charge over. Many tears were shed. It had been 4 or 5 years since my last visit, but I hope to make this a more regular trip. Barakel in hebrew means “where God has blessed.” God surely has blessed Camp Barakel, and I received many blessings by being there.