Jesse, Chad and I returned home last night from Louisville, KY. We spent the last three days under powerful, profound Bible teaching and heart-searching music. I mentioned in my last post a few of the men we heard. I will post the entire list today. We heard: Mark Dever, R.C. Sproul, Albert Mohler, Thabiti Anyabwile, John MacArthur, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, and Matt Chandler. Anyone who reads this list will see the names of men they have read after and learned from. They will also see the names of men with whom they do not agree on every point of theology. While that is true, and while I do not agree with every man and everything he preaches and believes, there is much profit in the ministries of these men.

I am sure you know that one mark of maturity is the ability to eat fish. What I mean by that is this: when you eat fish, you have to pick out the bones and eat the meat. Some people, especially the very young, lack that ability. they have to depend on others to pick their fish for them. When you grow up, you learn to pick your own fish, eat your own meat and grow from the experience. Of course, every now and then, when you are eating that fish, you will still find a bone in your mouth. what do you do then? You pick it out and keep eating! Even when a bone gets stuck in your throat, you work at it until you get it out and carry on with life. The goal of eating a fish is not being focused on the bones, but on the meat you are after in the first place. There’s truth in that analogy that we need to take to heart!

So, I ate fish this week. I didn’t have to pick out many bones at all. In fact, what I received in the meeting was solid in its proclamation of the Gospel of grace, profoundly spiritual, and deeply theological. I was challenged. I was fed. I was helped. I was strengthened. And, I was drawn to love my Savior in a deeper way. I am glad I went to Together For The Gospel 2010. I have marked my calendar for April 11-13, 2012 for the next meeting.

Pass the fish!
Alan