There was one thing I left out of the first Q & A time that I wanted to share before I moved on, so I'll mention that and get on with it.
- The last question that was asked in the Clavin mini-conference, if my memory and notes serve me well, was something along the lines of "What was the highlight (for each pastor on the pannel) of Calvin's work/life for you personally?" There were many similarities in answers and most common was Calvin's devotion to God as a preacher, but something Al Mohler said really struck me. He made the comment many other men made, about Calvin's example to his congregation as a preaher, he added that he (Calvin) pushed his congregation to be thinkers and learners, and then added something especially profound in its simplicity. "Calvin didn't retire...he died." I was momentarily dumbfounded. That simple statement has exceptional relevancy, not only for people aspiring to ministry, but the Christian in general.
- The first time R. C. Sproul taught it was tough for me to take notes. Not because I was drowsy, like many of the audience at that point (due to the back-to-back-to-back nature of such short conferences), but because I was captivated by the man's vision of our Holy God. His first message was simple. It was titled "I Am the Lord, And There Is No Other." It was essentially a message/lecture on God intrinsic, transcendent uniqueness. I couldn't list out his points. I'm sure he had some sort of a formal outline but the unique nature of his topic was such that all the "points" flowed seamlessly together. I came out of that session with two things. One, I learned the term "asciety." It indicates God's self-sustaining, self-existant, eternal nature. Two, I came away with a renewed sense of awe and wonder of the holiness of God. The fact that His nature is completely apart and above us is something to vast to even begin to grasp, but as Dr. Sproul aptly pointed out: "We must try."
- Since I've titled my blog(s) on the Holiness of God conference "Nuggets of Glory," the contentious part of my mind would tell me to skip over the next "message" due to my general dislike and disregard for the majority of what was presented. R. C. Sproul Jr's task was to tackle the issue of God's Holiness in regard to the family with an emphasis on raising up children. "Useless" would not at all be the best way to describe it, but if I was asked to evaluate it in one word and was not given much time, that might be the word I recklessly grab for. A better way to put it would be that I felt it missed the point of the conference and crossed over into the side of being too preachy, and opinionated. There were two important things I did get from this session though. First, the husband/father has an extremely important spiritual role in his family. He is called to be like Christ in relation to the church and be his family's example and intercessor. Second, Sproul Jr. aptly used the C. S. Lewis quote, "Our problem is not that we are too difficult to satisfy, but rather that we are too easily satisfied," to demonstrate that when handling such an important responsibility it is necessary to strive for excellence and "man up" and admit it when we drop the ball.
I know that was only three points but the next three sessions were on the "individual" members of the Holy Trinity and I did not want to split them up and I do not have the time to adequately handle them at the moment.
I hope some of the things God used to work in me this past weekend are able to be of some benefit to others!
