T4G – Day 1 – Travel

Well, the week is off to a good start.  I had a great time with my family at Wellspring Church on Sunday where Pastor Sam Shin preached a Gospel Centered message on Hypocrisy that I needed very much – at least that’s what my kids say…hmmm…anyway.  Now today I am sitting at the San Francisco International Airport waiting to board my flight, a red-eye leaving at 12:40 a.m. that will get me into Lexington, I mean, Louisville, Kentucky, at 9:50 a.m.  A red-eye – you are probably thinking, “Rod, you must be crazy taking a red-eye.”  Yup, you are right, but it isn’t so crazy after all.  Taking a red-eye gives me a little more time with my family, helping with rides to and from school and also saves me about $150 on food and a hotel if I didn’t…so, I am happy to red-eye it as there is no way to leave the same day and be present for the start of the conference.

So, why the Together for the Gospel Conference?  What makes that such a special event or gathering of brothers in Christ?  Well, simply put, it is a gathering of pastors from a variety of denominations that are committed to the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the Gospel of the reformers, the Gospel expressed often as the doctrines of Grace.  One of the problems with American Christianity has been its sectarianism.  I have grown up in a Christian culture that tended toward sectarianism and separated from every Tom, Dick and Harry (which means brothers like John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, John Piper, etc.) not so much because of doctrine, but because of secondary issues that became tests of fellowship, i.e. Contemporary Christian Music, association with certain schools or seminaries, and everyone’s favorite the superiority of the King James Version (KJV).

Well, let me just say that the men of T4G are a breath of fresh air.  First there are the two Southern Baptist Pastors, Mark Dever pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC and Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary.  Next is J. Ligion Duncan, who pastors the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi.  Finally, and not least there is C. J. Mahaney, leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries, a mildly charismatic fellowship of churches.  But as diverse as they are on a number of issues, i.e. infant baptism, cessation, eschatology and a theology of hair (that’s a funny for those who understand) they are united unequivocally on the centrality of Christ, the Cross and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

O.K. so it is confession time and gratitude time…  The gratitude is for all the people who are part of CVFirst Baptist Church who have graciously provided this trip for me.  I am humbled and truly thankful for the opportunity to be encouraged and strengthened at a conference like this.  Well, the confession has to do with getting to the conference.  When I was given the “go-ahead” to register for the conference I found that it was sold out one week before the registration was to close.  All I could say was one word – “aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhh” (I think that’s in Webster’s Dictionary as “you got to be kidding” – that’s the abridged version as I think the unabridged has a few more expletives as examples).  Well, my fiendish mind began to spin and a web page that said “sold out” wasn’t going to stop me…so I thought…and I thought…and then it hit me…  Two years ago our church had registered for six attendees, but at the 11^th hour I and another pastor couldn’t make the conference.  Certainly there had to be other churches out there with the same situation…a registration was out there ready to be snatched up…but how could I find it.  Then it dawned on me – the T4G Map (It’s the Map, it’s the Map, it’s the Map, it’s the Map, it’s the Map!) which is a listing of all the attendees in 2008.  Well, this was a time for risks, to stick ones neck out and experience rejection and the possibility of being rebuked…but it was all worth it.  Well, if you went to T4G  in 2008 and you live in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona,  Texas, Michigan or Georgia you probably got an email from a desperate pastor trying to get a registration for T4G – that was Me! (shhhh, please don’t tell)  And, thank you to Robert Davis from Rome, Georgia who decided not to attend and offered his ticket for me… “and there was great rejoicing in the camp and merry were the hearts of men, especially the ones going to T4G!”

So, a little persistence paid off…and tomorrow I arrive with enough time to check into my room (I hope) and then attend the first session at 1:00 p.m. (that’s 10 a.m. Pacific Time)

Now, for a restful plane ride…and compassionate neighbors who can put up with my snoring…