Join Andrew Bauman's Transformative Virtual Sessions at the Samson Summit!

Can't make it to North Carolina? We have the answer:

We are thrilled to announce that for the first time, participants from around the world can join the Samson Summit virtually to watch Andrew Bauman's four sessions! Each session lasts TWO hours, giving you access to 8 hours of teaching over the three days for only $35! Men, it’s time to name the ways your glory has been marred and take steps toward reclaiming who you truly are. Learn More & Register

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17 Days 'Till The 2024 Samson Society Summit

The 2023 Summit was a dud (despite it being hailed as a celebratory tenth anniversary milestone event).  The venue was completely (laughably) out of scale for us +/-250 perverts. Plus, it was incredibly posh (by Samson Summit standards).  You could sense that generations of rich white Texas families had poured millions of dollars into this (rich, white kid summer camp) facility there in east Texas.  Why anyone felt it a worthwhile fit for a Samson Society weekend retreat, I have no clue.

The pristine buildings (meeting space, cafeteria, bunkhouses) were spread far, far apart, and like much of Texas, the landscaping (trees) was not prolific.  Hence, there was an abundance of "wide open space(s)" between buildings which only exacerbated the sense of over / out-of-scale.  To summarize, the retreat, to me, was filled with entirely too much necessitated traversing back & forth, back & forth from building to building to building due to the college-campus scaled venue.

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I did not ride with a crazy speed demon Samson guy as I'd done during '22.  This time, it was my sweet wife and youngest daughter that accompanied me (after dropping me off in Van, they continued on to Dallas / Fort Worth for the weekend).  

After retrieving me early Sunday, (11/5/23) we headed to Marshall, TX for church and then on to lunch with Presbyterian pastor friends.

Frankly, that was the highlight of the trip.  Everything else felt like a raw deal.  And again, much of it had to do with the extremely loose-fitting, high-falootin' venue (which continues to leave me scratching my head).

I'm afraid many guys won't be returning to the '24 Summit event due to having a similar experience as I did in '23.  It simply left a bad taste in my mouth for the monies / time spent.

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This year we're headed to North Carolina.  Fayetteville to be exact.  And by my count, this will be Rob's 8th Samson Summit.

Hence, due to the distance, I'll be flying.  And, there's an extra day baked into the Summit this year.  One that's specific to facilitator training.  This will allow for more THERE time which I'm very much anticipating.

Another plus:  I'm semi-private rooming it this year.  Every other Summit, I've stayed in the bunkhouse.  That, I'm anticipating as well.

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I've said this before about these trips, and I'll close with this.

There're so many ghosts present during these retreats.  So many.  It is uncanny.

Samson Society is one of those ministries that simply doesn't nurture long-term commitment.  And frankly, I like that.  It gives guys a clearcut opportunity to receive and give of their own accord, at their own pace, with no strings attached.  And that leaderless / non-goal-setting formula hasn't changed from day one.  And this is what makes Samson Society so very important to me.

It's as if I'm literally wired for this specific ministry as a non-team player / loner.  Thanks be to God for Samson Society.

Lagniappe

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Escape from Doubting Castle: Counsel for Christians in Despair | Desiring God

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Chad Bird’s book, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul. 

He is a pastor and seminary professor who fell and writes of his multi-year process of repentance and redemption after losing everything.  

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Fruitful No Matter What: Life in the Garden of Contentment | Desiring God

Shortened leash

 

I've written that Covenant Eyes is no longer working on my pocket computer, and that my pocket computer has a screen that's larger and more vibrant than anything I've ever had prior (I "inherited" it from my oldest daughter earlier this year as a result of her purchasing her own, more up-to-date pocket computer).  

For years, I've kept my pocket computer on my bedside table whilst sleeping.  Hence, I was prone to browse the www late into the night and also whilst having short bouts of insomnia during the early morning.  

I'm a reader and curious to boot.  As a boy, whilst spending time at my grandparents' house in rural Humphreys County, I'd bide my time by devouring the 1970 edition of the World Book encyclopedia.  I vividly remember arbitrarily picking a volume (they were published by letter of the alphabet) prior to reading my heart out (for hours on end).  They also had some National Geographic tomes that featured subjects such as the oceans / deserts.  I loved perusing those too.  Especially for the fantastic photography.  

Today, msn.com and drudgereport.com are wonderful jumping off points for Rob, but sans Covenant Eyes (pocket computer only), there's also porn tube sites, porn blogs, porn, porn and more porn.

Consuming porn is cathartic.  Mindless.  Trance-inducing.  There's nothing to learn.  It's an alternate reality sort of experience that's a huge time waster.  

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Entertainment venues for Rob, particularly those involving video viewing, are restricted / nonexistent.  No streaming services, no CATV or Dish Network.  I do have a small collection of DVDs, but that's it.

And I'm okay with that.  I'd rather spend time using my eyeballs for something else.  

Nonetheless, the bedside pocket computer has been a guilty pleasure for too long.  Not anymore.  That all changed this week, and so far, I'm loving it.  

Recommended Reading

Is Science Incompatible with Christianity? (thegospelcoalition.org)