Get it the right way around!
I have had several conversations and requests for help in the last few months and each has had the same problem.
The problem being that they planned their weekend away, retreat or camp and had not given any thought about what they wanted to say about God or what God might want to say to those attended their event.
All the activities and other programme were sorted apart from the most fundermental part.
This can make it really hard work for a speaker to try and make the message fit the theme where building a theme around the message is far easier.
It also raises some interesting questions such as is God an important part of the event.
Are the other aspects of the programme seen as more important?
What is the point of the weekend.
These questions may sound harsh and God was important to those I spoke with but it highlighted the importance of getting things the right way around.
God first, activity second is in my humble opinion always the better way of planning.
