This past weekend we had our annual youth winter retreat. We had a great time. One of the activities on the trip was to participate in the high elements of the ropes course. The youth group was divided into teams of 6. We weren't sure if we would be able to get all the students in on the course so I waited until the last group to make sure.

My group mostly consisted of adult leaders and two students. We had Robert Tubbs, Brett Crabtree, Myself, and lead singer Marc Martel from the group Downhere. We also had Cole Smith and Tim Sanders. Tim was a reluctant ad on. After watching the other groups, Time decided he would try the course also.

We went through five elements in about 1 hour and 45 minutes (which was a testimony of how challenging the course was). We were suspended about three stories in the air, though we were safely harnessed to cables, we still felt an element of risk (and none of us wanted to go through the embarrassment of having to be "rescued"). We had to depend on one another to get through the course. There were several times we felt like we were risking our life to help our team mates. It was important for all of us to succeed. The bond we shared became closer and closer as we approached the end.

While Marc and I waited for our team to complete one section of the course, I shared with him about another time I risked my life to do something challenging- This was the time I went skydiving with my friend Jay Montgomery in 1990. I succinctly remember the rush of adrenaline as we dropped from the plane. I also remember the joy we felt afterwards as we talked about our adventure (it seemed like we were on speed talking a million miles per hour followed by the adrenaline rush crash when we took a nap 45 minutes later). That day Jay and I felt a close bond with one another- we had looked death in the eye that day and survived.

I hear there is a similar bond among war veterans. They too risked and escaped death and their bond is closer than any brother.

On the second to last element, I almost fell while changing ropes. As I lost my balance a surge of adrenaline rushed through me. Tim (remember he was the reluctant one) reached out to grab me in the nick of time. I was grateful. We reached the last element. The instructor asked us what was the hardest part. Brett responded, "Controlling your bladder."

The last element was taking the zip line down- a nice 40' plunge to the ground. It was beginning to get dark. It was also freezing cold. There was about a 6-8 minute gap between each rider as we waited for the zip line to be reset. I was the last one down. I expected to be by myself with the instructors as my team probably un-harnessed  and went inside to get warm.

I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the ground to find the entire team waiting for me. They each wore smiles, gave me a high five and we all hugged each other (don't worry they were burly manly hugs). We had shared a life threatening experience together. We walked away from the course sharing a new bond with one another.

I wonder why we don't have this same bond within the church. Maybe it's because we forget we all share a common experience that we almost died in our sins. We all deserved hell, but Christ saved us. We should recognize we all stood at the precipice and apart from Christ, we would have lost it all. "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren" 1 John 3:14 (NASB95). Maybe we need to be reminded of that life from death moment regularly. Every Sunday morning we should give each other high fives and hugs and say to one another- "Thank God we made it."

To my friends, Brett, Cole, Robert, Marc, and Tim- Thanks for being there. I'm glad we made it. I love you guys.