How is it possible that a conference's music is hailed as a highlight when it simply includes hymns of the faith and a little bit of piano? Don't you need a band? A worship leader? A worship team? And yet, each year I hear the same thing from guys who, with hymnal in hand, were ready to sing, but were so overwhelmed at the sound of the first note that they just couldn't. Thanks Nathan Eshelman for trying to capture this (link below), but having been in that chapel today, I have to tell you, it simply cannot be fully captured in a recording! Listen to Nathan's recording and see some other pictures here (but where's the pic of Tim and me?):
http://nathaneshelman.blogspot.com/2008/05/banner-singing-and-preaching.html
Overall, day two went very well. Our warehouse manager began his day at 4:00 a.m. and me, an hour later, as we got the conference book room restocked with Banner of Truth books. Between the sessions and the fellowship - some great talks - it seems to have been very beneficial to many guys. And the word is now "out" as to next year's conference ...
The Dates: May 26-28, 2009
The Speakers: Sinclair Ferguson, Allistair Begg, Walter Chantry, Bill Edgar
The Reasons to Come: Rich spiritual nourishment from the Word of God and close, personal fellowship from other men in the ministry, either as pastors, elders, deacons, chaplains, missionaries and seminary students.
I hope you'll get it on your calendar now for May!
Blessinsg,
Steve
May 27, 2008
The U.S. Banner of Truth Conference is Underway
Today kicked off the 2008 U.S. Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference, a gathering of "men-in-ministry" that's been going on for years. If you'd like to follow the main events of the conference, I'll direct you to any number of bloggers who are with us this year, some of which include the following (any others, please let me know) ...
Tim Challies (www.challies.com),
David Bissett(www.thebreadline.wordpress.com),
Nathan Eshelman (www.nathaneshelman.blogspot.com),
Michael Dewalt (www.gospelcenteredmusings.com).
Dan Layman (www.thelaymanchronicles.blogspot.com)
Obviously my perspective is bit different: behind-the-scenes, you might say. And from where I sat (or stood), it was a little hectic, as all first days are (I still can't believe I got lost between Carlisle and Grantham!), but relatively smooth. We've increased the number of titles in the conference bookstore by more than 100 as compared with last year alone. Discounts were good, but got even better since Iain Murray did his bookstore tour. What a delight to listen to this man share his own personal insight into so many of these books! But I think I would say that a big "stand out" feature of the day was seeing and participating in a number of reunions between brothers in Christ. This may be hard to believe, but these guys really do develop some pretty close friendships at this event, friendships that continue through the year and are then rekindled at the next Banner conference, year after year. Like I've said before, I haven't been to many conferences that resemble this. To share one example, one young guy who just graduated from college two weeks ago came up to me tonight after dinner, visibly excited, even exuberant. He is seeking the Lord's guidance and direction regarding his future and apparently he shared that with the guys he sat with at dinner. To his surprise, I guess, these other guys really rallied around him, encouraged him and even prayed for him, right there, together, in the college dining hall ... guys he didn't even know and had never met before. "This is so great," he exclaimed! And I thought, "Yeah, you know something, it really is!" If you're not among us, perhaps next year!
Well, since we're restocking the conference book room at 6:00 or 6:30 in the morning, I guess I'd better get some sleep!
More to come ...
Steve
Tim Challies (www.challies.com),
David Bissett(www.thebreadline.wordpress.com),
Nathan Eshelman (www.nathaneshelman.blogspot.com),
Michael Dewalt (www.gospelcenteredmusings.com).
Dan Layman (www.thelaymanchronicles.blogspot.com)
Obviously my perspective is bit different: behind-the-scenes, you might say. And from where I sat (or stood), it was a little hectic, as all first days are (I still can't believe I got lost between Carlisle and Grantham!), but relatively smooth. We've increased the number of titles in the conference bookstore by more than 100 as compared with last year alone. Discounts were good, but got even better since Iain Murray did his bookstore tour. What a delight to listen to this man share his own personal insight into so many of these books! But I think I would say that a big "stand out" feature of the day was seeing and participating in a number of reunions between brothers in Christ. This may be hard to believe, but these guys really do develop some pretty close friendships at this event, friendships that continue through the year and are then rekindled at the next Banner conference, year after year. Like I've said before, I haven't been to many conferences that resemble this. To share one example, one young guy who just graduated from college two weeks ago came up to me tonight after dinner, visibly excited, even exuberant. He is seeking the Lord's guidance and direction regarding his future and apparently he shared that with the guys he sat with at dinner. To his surprise, I guess, these other guys really rallied around him, encouraged him and even prayed for him, right there, together, in the college dining hall ... guys he didn't even know and had never met before. "This is so great," he exclaimed! And I thought, "Yeah, you know something, it really is!" If you're not among us, perhaps next year!
Well, since we're restocking the conference book room at 6:00 or 6:30 in the morning, I guess I'd better get some sleep!
More to come ...
Steve
May 19, 2008
A NEW SERIES from Banner of Truth!
A new series of books has been released and is now available from Banner of Truth. It's called "The Pocket Puritans." Check it out at: http://www.banneroftruth.org/.I happen to have already received a copy of all four of the initial titles in this series and readily see how each would be perfect to always keep on hand and give away, to help in each area addressed, but also to easily introduce others to the Puritans. Each book lists for $6.00, but with the Banner 25% Web order discount, they're just $4.50. Imagine, $4.50 for a great little book that's small enough in size to fit in any normal shirt pocket, with or without one's pocket protector ... but its content is huge! Enjoy!
The New POCKET PURITANS Series, from Banner of Truth:
-- "Impure LUST," by John Flavel
-- "ANGER Management," by Richard Baxter
-- "Living FAITH," by Samuel Ward
-- "HEAVEN, A World of Love," by Jonathan Edwards
-- "ANGER Management," by Richard Baxter
-- "Living FAITH," by Samuel Ward
-- "HEAVEN, A World of Love," by Jonathan Edwards
May 13, 2008
Praying for the Upcoming Conference ...
It's great to begin seeing the anticipation of the upcoming Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference among pastors who blog. Here's one recent post, from Jim in Canada.
If you cannot be at the conference, I would certainly welcome your prayers for the guys who are coming. Thanks.
Steve
------------------------
Jim wrote, "It is only two more weeks until our group leaves for the Banner of Truth Minister's Conference. I can already feel the anticipation growing. I have been very drained from a very busy couple of months. Even when it wasn't busy, I found that I have been spiritually flat. God has been gracious in that sermons did get written every week, but each week the task became more and more difficult. Just knowing I will have some time off to recharge is encouraging. Knowing that, DV, I will be doing that under the preaching of God's word with other men who serve as pastors, elders, and those who are studying to do so, is something I look forward to even more."
If you cannot be at the conference, I would certainly welcome your prayers for the guys who are coming. Thanks.
Steve
------------------------
Jim wrote, "It is only two more weeks until our group leaves for the Banner of Truth Minister's Conference. I can already feel the anticipation growing. I have been very drained from a very busy couple of months. Even when it wasn't busy, I found that I have been spiritually flat. God has been gracious in that sermons did get written every week, but each week the task became more and more difficult. Just knowing I will have some time off to recharge is encouraging. Knowing that, DV, I will be doing that under the preaching of God's word with other men who serve as pastors, elders, and those who are studying to do so, is something I look forward to even more."
May 2, 2008
Pictures from T4G
It was definitely an interesting week in Louisville recently, as the every-other-year Together for the Gospel conference converged upon this Kentucky city.
Here's where most of my time was spent - the conference bookstore!
The Together for the Gospel bookstore was quite the caverness place!
If
If
you were among the 5,500 people there, you well understand what I mean. How good to see the Banner of Truth billboard standing in the midst of it all!
I'm pictured here with Bo and Cam, a couple of guys from Eastern Kentucky University. Actually all of these pictures are courtesy of these guys (thanks). Uhhh, I'm the one in the middle, in case you weren't sure.
:-)
It was a good, yet busy time!
The Positive Road to Joy
"An inadequate understanding of our own sinfulness is probably the greatest single cause of our failure to rejoice in the Lord always, and to realize that this message is the greastest good news that the world has ever received. Let us therefore examine ourselves. If you are lacking in joy, the thing to do is not to try to work up some joy within yourselves; it is to go to the Bible, to the law, and to see your sinfulness. The positive road to joy is always via the depth of sin."
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Romans: Exposition of Chapter 1, The Gospel of God
Banner of Truth Trust, 1985
Romans: Exposition of Chapter 1, The Gospel of God
Banner of Truth Trust, 1985
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