Together for the Gospel (in Canada!)

This is to remind any of you who will be at Together for the Gospel next week that we will have our brief Canadian meeting on the evening of April 16^th (the Wednesday of the conference). We will meet in room 112 of the convention centre at 9:30 PM (or immediately after the evening’s final session wraps up). This room is apparently immediately below the room where we will be for the main sessions. There will be no announcement during the session, so you’ll need to remember. We are excited to meet you face-to-face and to share even just a few minutes of fellowship with you.

Pastors Poorly Dressed

On a recent flight to Texas I secretly watched a man. (Isn’t that what you do on planes? Watch people and pretend not to?)

He was clearly a pastor.

The white, button-down shirt was one clue – but there were more.

He had a big, black NIV Study Bible in his hand. And a big voice. And a big gut. And a big attitude. The flight attendant had to ask him several times to move back to his own seat... being a big man he kept moving to rows with two open seats so he could spread out. Then another passenger would board and the whole process of shifting around would begin anew.

Finally, he grumped back to his original seat, while the flight attendant gave a knowing glance to surrounding passengers.

Watching him reminded me of a conference I attended where pastors nearly crushed one another in a mad dash for a free Christian book. The irony was profound.

All of this made me wonder how my life stains the Gospel. Paul urges the early church to seek to “adorn the Gospel” by our good and loving behaviour, but too often I think I am a stained garment. And yes, it is all the worse since I am a pastor. I ought to lead by example, but my example can be misleading.

Watching that big man on that little plane was like looking in a mirror. The expressions of sin might be different, but too often I wear the same tarnished clothes. May God give grace to me and that man to “let [our] manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

ATTENTION LEAFS FANS!!

GoLeafs.net

If you are thinking it is time to forget sports and move on to the garden, think again.

You can still cheer for the Maple Leafs.

About Texas...

Just a quick report on my trip to Texas. God gave me the grace to preach 5 times between Friday night and Sunday morning. Four of those messages were to the men of Kerrville Bible Church and Believer’s Fellowship (San Antonio). The fifth message was at KBC on Sunday morning.

Things I learned:

• Believer’s Fellowship has a long-standing connection to our missionary, Charles Woodrow.
• Texans are not impressed when you tell them you drive a ’91 GMC Sierra pick-up... unless it is a V-10 diesel.
• Men are men, wherever you go.
• Texan men have a lot of guns.
• Texan men like to shoot their guns.
• Texan men know a lot about their guns.
• It is hot in Texas.It took me exactly 17 minutes to burn.
• You should not mess with men named, “Buzz.”
• Texans are some of the kindest people I have met.
• Delta must be owned by Air Canada... see Tim Challies for explanation.