Day 1 of Together for the Gospel has been fantastic. I wish I had the brain power to blog about it properly, but I can’t. It’s midnight here, and I’m already on information overload. If you want detailed notes, Aaron Armstrong at Blogging Theologically has posted notes on all three sermons today. So head over to Aaron’s if you’re curious about talks by C.J. Mahaney (When a Pastor Loses Heart), Al Mohler (The Power of the Articulated Gospel), and Mark Dever (False Conversions: The Suicide of the Church). It also looks like you can watch the videos here.
The highlight for me was connecting or reconnecting with people who for most of the year are just pixels on a screen. First I attended Band of Bloggers, which was fun and edifying. Here’s picture I took with my phone. Sorry the quality is so poor, but it’s the best I can do:
(That’s Owen Strachan, Justin Taylor, Collin Hansen, Tim Challies, and Tim Brister.)
I also got to say hello to Cruciform Press founders Kevin and Bob (Tim was there too, but he was busy being on the panel). I also got to spend time with my friend Kim Shay and her husband Neil. Neil blogs at the Calvinist Gadfly, and Todd and I got to meet two of his fellow gadflies, David Kjos of The Thirsty Theologian and Pyromaniac Frank Turk.
So yes, the teaching has blessed me, but having the time to sit and talk has been my favorite part. Some other quick thoughts, since this is taking longer than I thought.
Here’s a picture I took from my seat of the crowd:
Lots of people. I’ve heard that the there are 8,000 people here, about 90% male. This means two things: short lines in the women’s restrooms, and awesome singing time. When over 7,000 male voices are belting out hymns like “The Solid Rock” it’s really wonderful to hear.
All in all, a blessed day. Now to get some sleep, so I’ll be ready for tomorrow.
I saw you out there in the crowd and was hoping to say hi, but kind of got hung up after the panel was done. Maybe our paths will cross today…
I hope so. Although I’m so much shorter than the average person here, my own husband is having a hard time keeping track of me.
Wonderful!
The thing I liked the most about this first “report” is when you mentioned that 90% of the audience are male! WOW! Praise God!
Enjoy your day!
XOXO
Wow, Staci! Hope you enjoy and can share great advice with me again, based on what you learn. Have a great time and soak it all in!
Sounds wonderful Staci- I like the short lines for the bathroom part. Will head over to Aaron’s blog.
Sounds really awesome. Soak it all in on behalf of the little people and by little people I mean, those of us who aren’t there… *grin*