Conference Lectures Are Up

Ligonier Ministries has put the 2011 National Conference lectures up on their blog for people to watch. 

They are all worth listening to but my favorite would be a toss up between R.C. Sproul Jr.'s message called "Almighty Over All" and John Piper's message on "25 Years of Desiring God."

Enjoy!

Conference Booty

I try not to go crazy at the conference bookstore each year but it is so hard because I love books!  Thankfully I have budget and only a carry-on bag to get books home- this helps keep me under control.  Here is this year's booty...

 On top of this my mom also bought some great items she is sharing with me: the mp3 audio of this year's and last's year National Conference lectures and mp3 audio of the entire Bible as read by Max McLean.  Hope my ipod is hungry!

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Upon my return from the conference I found this on my bedside table, a gift from my loving husband in honor of our anniversary which was this past Wednesday, the day I left for Florida. I was so blessed to find these beautiful roses and a bottle of one of my favorite wines we used to drink while living in Europe.  It is a Portugese wine called Altano from the Douro region- yum!  Happy Anniversary, My Love- by the grace of God we have made it 9 years.

My Soul Refreshed in the Lord!

Just back from the Ligonier Ministries National Conference in 85 degree Orland, Florida.  What can I say but praise be to the Lord who poured out His word upon me richly at this conference, making me wise unto salvation, teaching, reproving, correcting, and training me in righteousness!  Honestly, this conference was just what I needed to refresh my soul and was an answer to many of my prayers over these last few months.  

Here are a few pics from some good times together in Orland last week...

Time for the Conference- YIPPEE!

My mom, sisters, and friend Cbass have been attending the Ligonier Ministries National Conference in Orlando, Florida since 2004, missing only last year due to the dates being moved to summer.  This will be our 7th conference! We love to go for the two and half days of awesome Bible teaching, the amazing book store, and the time of fellowship and fun we have together.  Not to mention the fact that it is in one of our favorite places to visit, Florida!  This is the first time I will be traveling with my family from Minnesota and this is the first time I am really looking forward to one of the aspects they always look forward to- the weather!  Spring is trying to take hold in Minnesota but March is know n for snow storms filled with heavy, wet snow.  The temps here have been slowly creeping up but 80 degrees this week in Orlando is going to feel awesome!  We leave Wednesday and the conference starts Thurdays morning.  The speakers this year are Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, John Piper, RC Sproul, and RC Sproul Jr.  I can't wait to hear all the lectures as well as the Westminster Brass bringing down the house with A Mighty Fortress!  I love when they play Holy, Holy, Holy and stop the music towards the end of the song and let the voices of the saints rise to heaven in a glorious chorus!  I love the banter of the the guys back and forth on stage and how RC always cracks himself up while he preaches.  I love spending hours in the bookstore which is huge and has any book I could ever want.  I love going out to eat at yummy places with the ladies every night like the Cheesecake Factory...  Oh, I can't wait to go!

Here is this year's schedule:

Thursday March 24 

Forty Years of Proclaiming God's Holiness (RC Sproul) Ligonier Ministries' purpose is to awaken as many people as possible to the holiness of God by proclaiming, teaching, and defending God's holiness in all its fullness. In this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul will expand on this statement, explaining why a proper understanding of the holiness of God is absolutely crucial if we are to know the true God as well as the depths of our depravity.  

War on the Word (Steven Lawson) The first temptation recorded in Scripture is an attack on the trustworthiness of God’s Word. Such attacks have continued unabated to our own day. In the past, such attacks were usually made by liberals, but today we hear more and more doubts cast upon God’s Word by professed evangelicals. In this lecture, Dr. Steve Lawson reminds us of the importance of a commitment to the authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of Scripture.

Why the God-Man? (Sinclair Ferguson) The Apostle Paul declared to the Corinthian church that he had decided to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The person and work of Jesus are at the heart of the Christian faith. In this lecture, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson explains what it means to confess our faith in one who is fully God and fully man and what it means that this Jesus was crucified for our sins.

OPTIONAL SESSION: Redeemed Womanhood - Generation to Generation (Susan Hunt)

OPTIONAL SESSION: The Next Story (Tim Challies)

Questions & Answers With R.C. Sproul and Ligonier's Teaching Fellows Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, and R.C. Sproul Jr.

Friday March 25

Defending the Faith (RC Sproul) In his first epistle, Peter informs believers that we are to be always prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us. In this day and age, the number and kinds of questions that arise are astounding, but this does not give us an excuse to give up the fight. In this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul reminds us that apologetics is the duty of every Christian in every walk of life.

Almighty Over All (RC Sproul Jr.)  Most Christians claim to believe in the sovereignty of God, but many define His sovereignty in a way that ultimately exalts man over God. Scripture continually magnifies the sovereignty of God, but what does this mean? In this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. explains what it means to say that God is sovereign and examines the implications of this confession for our lives and ministries.

Worshiping the Triune God (Steven Lawson) Fallen human beings have devised many ways of worshiping their gods, but the living God will only be worshiped in a manner that honors Him. We know we are called to worship our Lord in a manner pleasing to Him, but what does this look like? In this lecture, Dr. Steven Lawson examines the biblical principles of worship and explores the insights of the Reformers into this vitally important facet of Christian faith and life.

OPTIONAL SESSION: Believing God (RC Sproul Jr.)

OPTIONAL SESSION: Pillars of Grace (Steven Lawson)

Don’t Waste Your Life (John Piper) Many people, even Christians, go through their lives devoted to trivial things, living for comfort and pleasure. There is no passion for God. In this lecture, Dr. John Piper will exhort all of us to not waste our lives on such trivial pursuits. Only a life passionately devoted to the cross of Christ and the glory of God will be considered a life not squandered on the last day.

Clothed in Righteousness (RC Sproul) Justification is the article upon which the church stands or falls, the main hinge on which religion turns. Yet as important as justification is, many Christians remain confused about it, and others actively blur its features. In this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul will explain the basic tenets of the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone that we might know the ground on which we stand before a holy God.

OPTIONAL SESSION: An Unexpected Journey (Robert Godfrey)

OPTIONAL SESSION: By Grace Alone (Sinclair Ferguson)

Ministry Reflections with John Piper & R.C. Sproul A round table discussion on the valuable lessons learned by each man throughout their ministry experiences as well as advice to the next generation of Christians and leaders in the church.

Saturday March 26

Evangelism & Missions (John Piper) The highest motive for missions and evangelism is not obedience to the Great Commission, although obedience is required. Nor is the highest motive love for sinners, great as that love may be. The greatest motive for missions and evangelism is a passionate zeal for the glory of Jesus Christ. As Dr. John Piper will explain in this lecture, worship of the living God is the fuel and goal of missions and evangelism.

Pleasing God (Robert Godfrey) Scripture calls us to be holy as God is holy and exhorts us to strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. There are pitfalls, however, as we strive to mortify the flesh: we can easily fall into either legalism or antinomianism. In this lecture, Dr. Robert Godfrey will provide biblical guidance and wisdom for Christians struggling against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Twenty-Five Years of Desiring God (John Piper) Celebrating the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him, Desiring God was published twenty-five years ago to explain how delight is our duty. In this lecture, Dr. John Piper will expand on the themes and vision of this paradigm-shattering work.

INVASION!

Regan warned me Liberty was going to turn Sharptooth and Indi's cat tree into a Barbie play house and she sure did! On top of this we have been playing endless hours of Nintendo (Mario 1,2,and 3, Paperboy, and Tetris!), putting on makeup, cooking, and we went to see another movie at the cheap theater- Guliver's Travels. The funniest thing  was  when Liberty got all excited that we had a toy at our a house- it was the box and styrofoam pieces from the new TV we just got  which she quickly turned into a fort. Kids!

Only one more sleep and then Liberty goes up to Grandma's.   Then Indi can come out from under the bed and life can return to normal... that is until the next babysitting adventure!

Day 1 of Our Captivity...

I am babysitting for the first time in my life EVER! 

Or rather we are- but Matt gets to go to work while I am held captive by my niece.  She is 6 years old and surely the cutest girl I have ever seen.  Today after taking showers and having uncle Matt comb out her hair we went out on a little adventure.  We went shopping at the thrift store, then to see Tangled at the cheap theater, and then on the walk home we stopped at the Mexican bakery and got some treats.  Once home we played some Super Mario Brothers on the original Nintendo, baked a green cake  for St. Patrick's Day, and then got dinner ready.  Jamie and Steven joined us for Irish bangers and green mash for the holiday.  Here is a picture of Liberty with her cake.  We will have her here with us for 3 more days or as Liberty would say "3 more sleeps!"

Look who was waiting for Liberty to arrive!

MY Contribution to Salvation

"The only thing that I contribute to my own salvation is the sin that makes it necessary."
                                         - Archbishop William Temple

The Rapture: History & Influence in America

The Rapture: History and Influence in America from Derrick Sims on Vimeo.

We Missed Painting...

We spent so much time painting while we were in Tucson we missed it... or to be more honest I missed it... or rather I just miss bright Mexican colors.  So we recently bought a cheap ($8!) shelf at a local thrift store for our TV and painted it to remind us of warmer desert days.  Here is how it turned out...

Before...

...After

Recent Concerts

I love love love music and lately I was able to attend two different concerts of artists I really enjoy.  They are both in the top 15 most beloved artists of my heart. The first one is Sara Groves who is a Christian singer songwriter.  She sings my favorite song of all called time "When the Saints."  She recently performed at a women's conference up here so me and my sister Regan, who introduced me to her music years ago, went.  Groves is an extremely talented songwriter who has a beautifully clear and crisp voice, the kind of voice that pours out easily as if it takes no effort for her to sing at all!  She unfortunately didn't sing my favorite song during this concert but she did sing a song that went strait to my heart about marriage.  Here is a video of her explaining it and singing it on a radio station.

The second concert was of a singer songwriter by the name of Griffin House.  Matt introduced me to him a few years ago.  He plays acoustic guitar (my favorite) and is also a very good songwriter.  Matt and I saw him last night at a really neat venue in Dinkytown at the U of M called the Varsity Theater.  This place was really cool inside and very intimate.  We sat about 15 feet back from the stage at a round table.  I wish concerts were always like this!  Anyway,  so you can get a taste here is a video of Griffin House playing one of his more fun songs, written about his personal history.

Griffin House has played in Tucson before but I would be surprised to ever be able to see Sara Groves in concert there so living in Minnesota has some benefits!

A Serious Sharpening...

This is one of the best sermons I have ever heard and because of it I may have entered the fold of covenant theology- which I have only flirted with in the past.  Ryan and Ben and Phil will be so proud of me...

"The Law, the Prophets and the Last Days" by Sinclair Ferguson

This sermon is from the study I am doing on eschatology- the fruit of which may not be a particular view of the millennium after all but may instead be  a serious sharpening or even a kind of  paradigm shift in my understanding of the Bible as a whole and God's plan of redemption.   I hope you will take the time to listen to this amazing sermon and at the end stand up in triumphalistic worship of Christ and God the Father, who is all in all.

For further information on covenant theology versus dispensationalism check out this helpful article by Ligon Duncan. Dispensationalism: A Reformed Evaluation

The Truth about the Sharptooth... and his Sidekick

This video is to stop up the mouths of all you Sharptooth mockers! He is supposed to be big, he is very strong (the vet can't even hold him down!), and he is the friendliest, fluffiest, most beautiful cat the Lord has created!



And don't forget about the Sharptooth's faithul Sidekick, Indi...