I am currently attending the second Together for the Gospel Conference in Louisville, Kentucky (man do the people talk funny here...I feel like Vinny in "My Cousin Vinny"). The first session was great, Pastor Ligon Duncan presented a lecture on the need for Systematic Theology and doctrinal preaching in the church. It wasn't new, in fact, it exactly mirrored my own philosophy and attempted practice, but hearing such a pastoral "pep talk" is helpful when serving in the midst of Evangelicalism, which is turning more and more anti-theological and anti-doctrinal.
The conference has several great speakers in addition to Duncan (a fellow PCA pastor)- Mark Dever, Al Mohler, CJ Mahaney, RC Sproul, John Piper, John MacArthur, and Thabiti Anyabwile. Quite a powerful lineup for sure, representing several different denominations and traditions still under the general umbrella of "reformed". There are lots of baptists by my count, but hey, I'm an eclectic guy, I can get along with those who are quasi-reformed! Ha ha. We agree on the most important issue- the gospel of God's sovereign grace through Christ(hence the name of the conference).
I should have some opportunities to blog more about what I'm hearing and learning. The conference website is here.
4 comments:
Pastor T,
Take copious notes so you can share it with us. Look forward to reading about it in up-and-coming posts.
BTW- Mark Dever is one of the nicest guys. Christina and I had an opportunity to spend some time with him several years ago. He loves military guys; he ministers to quite a few military and DOD civilians.
Been traveling for Jesus and my business in the past 3 days so haven’t been able to keep up. Wow, what a powerful line up of vast wisdom to glean from! Can’t wait to hear your Sunday, “FIRED UP FOR JESUS”, report from the Word!
One of my favorite scenes of My Cousin Vinny
Vinny Gambini: It is possible that the two yutes...
Judge Chamberlain Haller: ...Ah, the two what? Uh... uh, what was that word?
Vinny Gambini: Uh... what word?
Judge Chamberlain Haller: Two what?
Vinny Gambini: What?
Judge Chamberlain Haller: Uh... did you say 'yutes'?
Vinny Gambini: Yeah, two yutes.
Judge Chamberlain Haller: What is a yute?
[beat]
Vinny Gambini: Oh, excuse me, your honor...
[exaggerated]
Vinny Gambini: Two YOUTHS.
From the book and Movie by Norman Maclean A River Runs Through It
As a Scot and Presbyterian, my father believed that man by nature was a mess and had fallen from an original state of grace. Somehow, I developed an early notion that he had done this by fallen from a tree. As for my father, I never knew whether he believed God was a mathematician but he certainly believed God could count and that only by picking up God's rhythms were we able to regain power and beauty.
Older Norman: [narrating] My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation - came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy.
Rev. Maclean: Each one of here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.
Older Norman: [narrating] They were Methodists, a denomination my father referred to as Baptists who could read.
And as we all know...
Well, a Baptist is mearly a Catholic that lost his fear of the water. A Methodist is simply a Baptist that learned how to read. A Presbyterian is just a Methodist that went to college. And an Episcopalian is just a Presbyterian that did exceedingly well on his investments.
Which leads to the question
How many Presbyterians does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Answer: Change?
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