Gospel Coalition Messages

While I was away on Youth Pastors Retreat the Gospel Coalition 'Entrusted With The Gospel' Conference took place in Chicago. I believe this conference to be the most important of the year so here are the session videos that are online. Feel free to work through them as I do the same.

Click on the sermon title for the link.

Session 1: Tim Keller: "The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry" (Acts 19:21-41)

Session 2: John Piper, "Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel" (2 Timothy 1:1-12)S

Session 3: Phil Ryken, "The Pattern of Sound Words" (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)

Session 4: Mark Driscoll, "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:14-26)

Session 5: K. Edward Copeland, "Shadowlands: Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry" (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

Session 6: Bryan Chapell, "Preach the Word!" (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5)

Session 7: Ajith Fernando, "Gospel-Faithful Mission in the New Christendom"

Session 8: C.J. Mahaney, "The Pastor's Charge"

Session 9: Ligon Duncan, "Finishing Well" (2 Timothy 4:6-22)

Session 10: Don Carson, "That By All Means I Might Win Some': Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Panel Discussion: Don Carson, Stephen Um, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, Tim Keller, Crawford Lawrence, "Panel Discussion"

We're Going To...

It's true, out of nowhere, we decided 'we need a break, and this is exactly the kind of thing that brings life to us'. So, we're jumping on a plane in Seattle on June 3rd and flying to Raleigh, North Carolina to spend three days listening to Piper, Driscoll, Chandler and many others. We'll also get the chance to fellowship with other Brothers and Sisters stoked on the Gospel. We've never been to a conference like this before, so it will be a real experience for the two of us. We're going to try to follow up the conference with a couple of days on the coast for a well earned rest. We praise God for this opportunity. He is faithful and has provided us this opportunity just at the right time.

Vintage Reel Life

Hey all, this coming Sunday will be the first night of 'Vintage Reel Life'; a film and theology evening at a local coffee house here in Cloverdale, B.C.

I've never done this before, so it should be a good experience. We're going to watch and then discuss
'Iron Man' this week. This may become a regular event with Vintage Young Adults depending on it's success.

Hopefully see as many of you out as possible!

Blessings,
Dave

The Resurrection

O GOD OF MY EXODUS,
Great was the joy of Israel's sons,
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy
when the redeemer's foe lay crushed in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives for ever.
He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil's sceptre is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died, in him I rose,
in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,
in his ascension I shall be glorified.
Adorable redeemer,
thou who wast listed up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as man of sorrows wast crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed in glory.
Once, no shame more deep than thine,
no agony more bitter, no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious, no advocate more effective.
Thou art in the triumph car leading captive thine enemies behind thee.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
THY DEATH IS MY LIFE, THY RESURRECTION MY PEACE,
THY ASCENSION MY HOPE, THY PRAYERS MY COMFORT.
Amen.

- 'The Resurrection' - Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Happy Easter Everyone!
Dave

My Google Life

Last week's computer problems really brought home the face that I really am unbelieably reliant on this complicated piece of machinery. Without it, my ministry and life in general grinds to a near standstill. Sure, I can still converse with people face to face, or on my cell phone, but I lose all my sermon notes; half my library which is contained on Logos, not to mention the exegetical capabilities that have been so useful; emails; online sermons; blogs; and so much more.

I've taken the opportunity of this collapse to update my computer setup, including going wireless with my keyboard and mouse, picking up a large monitor that I can use whilst sitting on the couch (honestly, not just lazy, my fused vertebrae make laptops/books rather painful viewing after a few minutes), and picking up some more powerful speakers that I can hear around our little basement suite now that the computer is grounded.

I've also began to use a few different organisational/networking tools; most notable of which are Twitter, Google Reader and Google Calendar.

Twitter: This little micro-blog tool has already thrown up some diamond links. I follow other pastors, authors and theologians as they update their personal lives, research and general thoughts; including links. So far I've been linked to a Sinclair Ferguson lecture on the puritans; a 10 question evaluation tool to determine how missional our church is; a video of Pastor Josh Harris and his family enjoying a day off; stats from the Resurgence website; and lots of insight into the lives of pastors I look up to, appreciate and enjoy.

Google Reader: There's a list of blogs that I read daily on the right-side navigation bar, right here on my blog. If you, my readers, wanted a constant stream from these blogs you would only have to access this blog and then jump from there. I was using bookmarks still! Of course, it's not THAT hard, but Google Reader gathers all the blogs I follow into one place and I can enjoy them from there. Great tool.

Google Calendar: This has been the most useful and practical of my updates. It's helped Amanda and I look ahead at this coming month and plan together. It's also helped me visualise where I'm taking my various ministries over the coming month in regards to meetings, sermons, study topics, etc.

All of these have handy little quick links that allow me instant access. April is looking like a quieter month, which we're looking forward to. Now, because of these helpful little tools, we'll be able to free up even more time.