We’re here!! I registered ages ago, as soon as I got the email. It said that Desiring God was holding a regional conference in Sacramento! Not only that, but John Piper was speaking at all three sessions!! How could I not attend with it so close to home?
It took long enough to get here today, though. I had planned to leave work early and get a head start, get here, get settled in… The best laid plans of mice and men… But we’re here. I say we, because there are approximately 30 here from Redeemer. Pretty cool for a church of not that many more!
I hope to register sights and sounds and as much of the talk as I can for those not able to attend, Lord willing.
Bryte Russian Baptist Church opened their doors to this conference and they are acting as hosts and guides to the masses that have descended on their beautiful facility. I learned how to say thank you [spasibo] and hope to be able to use it to thank them for allowing us to take over for this evening and the morning.
I’ll have to ask how many have registered when I have a chance. They may tell us.
Worship was sweet and simply led by one of the worship leaders from the church. Then John Piper took the stage. I’ve listened to audio messages and watched videos of him but it was still cool to be able to see him in person. He’s funny. He’s PASSIONATE! He’s passionate about God’s Glory!!
He started tonight’s session with his mission/vision statement: “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” And the message went from there. He referenced a book by Henry Scougal, “The Life of God in the Soul of Man” and how he read it many years ago and was taken by a statement in the book, “The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” He then asked the question, is that true for God? And he then asked, why should we care? He then talked about God and being happy, and thinking about God’s excellencies makes us happy. But it’s not about us being happy. It’s about God.
1Tim 1:10
The outline for tonight was laid out:
God takes greatest pleasure:
1. In Himself as reflected in His eternal son – Matt 17:2-5; John 3:35; Col 1:13; Heb 1:3; Phil 2:6; Col 1:15;
2. In the display of His Glory, the fame of His name- Isaiah 63:14; 43:6; 30:18 (this verse was particularly engaging to me – God exalts Himself to show mercy to me! He increases and I decrease! So cool!); Isaiah 43:25
That’s as far as we got with the outline. There are six more points on God’s pleasure, the first five having to do with Himself and the last three with us. It must be God-centered!
I know I’ve missed a lot and I hope others will come along and help fill in my glaring gaps.
All Things Elda 