T4G Day 3 (The Day After)...

Well I'm writing about day three of Together For The Gospel a day later, as I didn't have time to record my thoughts with all of yesterday's travels and assignments due today. Just by way of general retrospect, the whole conference was a great time of worship and focusing of the heart and mind on God. If you can make it down there in two years, do it. Anyway, day three was essentially just a morning session, but it was packed with three messages. Ligon Duncan got up first and gave a lecture on the presentation of the gospel in the church fathers' writings (the leaders of the Christian church for the first few-hundred years after the Apostles). I know this sounds dry, but it was absolutely fascinating and Duncan demonstrated what happens when intellect is fueled by passion. After this, Matt Chandler gave some personal testimony as to what God has done through suffering. After radiation treatment, he is now going through chemotherapy to treat a malignant brain cancer. Chandler is a very gifted communicator, but the real highlight of that time was just hearing his prayer; that his children and family would never grow bitter toward God no matter what happened to Him. I hope this is included in the download on the T4G site. Lastly, C.J. Mahaney gave a sermon geared at all of us normal people in the crowd who do not have the gifts of a Piper, Dever, or Duncan. With much emotion (a Mahaney trademark), he encouraged us normal men to be faithful pastors, a fitting commission as we all returned home. I would strongly, strongly encourage you all to listen to the lectures, sermons, and discussion panels from the conference; they will impact you. Here's a link, all of the video should be made available in the coming days; http://www.t4g.org/resources/. I hope to Lord willing return for T4G 2012, and would love for many of you to come along as well.