Pictures from Sunday posted moments before we head back Monday morning.

A camera man. We really were in three adjacent rooms, each with a screen. I don't know whose idea the Christmas lights were, but they were fun.

Carolyn Custis James (Women's Bible Study will know who I mean) spoke before the Sunday morning session. She mentioned her experience as the wife of Frank James whose brother was one of three hikers lost on Mt. Hood, and their experience (positive) with the national media (I heard Frank speak at a Sunday School during one of my courses down at Reformed Seminary in Orlando, where he now serves as the president.)

Last music by the Getty-led praise band singing a song we've sung at Carlisle.

Paul Tripp delivers the message during the Sunday service. Without notes, of course. How does he do that?

After the morning service was over, we took a drive over to Lancaster to visit my dad and sister and Deb's dad. The grass was so very green (the picture barely does it justice) in the fields here . . .

And seeing the rolls of hay in the fields . . .

. . . or the Amish horses and buggies (note the detritus on the road that makes this romantic image just a little less so).

And when we're in Philly, we try not to miss this unique, extraordinary, and oh-so-sixties pizza place (I had buffalo wings pizza . . .

. . . . and a hoagie (ok, it's a sub, but we're romanticizing a bit the local color so familiar to us--lots of meats on this thing, though).

Wow. What a day. Two general sessions on the subject of dealing with fear given by Dr. Welch, who has recently come out with the book upon which this conference is based. Exodus 14:13-14 ¹³ And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." The Lord brought them out of Egypt and placed them before the Red Sea and the whole complement of Pharaoh's army. He was letting them in on their fragility and his strength. They could have had a clean and easy way out. The Lord told them to go where they could only be rescued by a show of His power. He was showing them His ways. A servant you don't tell; you say and they do. But a friend, well, you show a friend how you work. It's the not the way we expect. But it is the astounding way He works. Exodus 16:4 ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. He is the God who gives you the manna you need for today, and tomorrow's need tomorrow. It's as if He said, "Don't bother about tomorrow, you're not equipped for tomorrow; I've equipped you for today." We won't have grace for tomorrow until tomorrow. He says you will have manna, our fears say, "I don't think so, in the way I desire . . . ." But he knows how we work. It's as if He said [says Ed Welch] I'm going to give you a Greek test. Those of us who don't know Greek panic. But he says, first I'm going to teach it to you, so that when the test comes, you'll be ready to pass it with flying colors. God says, whatever that thing is that you are fearing in the future, I'm not giving you grace for that. I'm giving you grace for today. And tomorrow I will give you grace for tomorrow. Then, in the second session he spoke of God wanting to give us the better manna, the sort of thing I've heard someone else say along this line: you so wanted a horse and a buggy, and so afraid you're not going to get it; then you get a brand new Jaguar. Is it what you wanted? no. Are you unhappy when you receive it? no. Because what He gives is better and beyond our ability to see into what we really need. We just don't have the maturity to understand the gift. Dr. Welch has heard of a family that, when they buy a new car, allow the youngest to hit the new car body with a sledge hammer. They want that dent to remind them that this is not their hope. Then when there's that fender crunch in the parking lot or whatever, they remember the car's not what's important.

But, I suppose the biggest thing for me was the singing. We are 1800 strong, and it is always moving to sing with so many. This year, Keith and Kristyn Getty led. I don't remember a time recently when I was converted to a puddle. Unlike other years and other places, everyone sang. And so many songs we've already sung at our church, including the song from our most recent retreat (which they wrote), Speak, O Lord. And then, so I couldn't miss the kindness of the Lord, Keith Green's There Is a Redeemer. Keith Green I heard in concert before I was converted and this particular song has always been significant. It was as if the Lord gave me a view of the beginning of my Christian walk all the way to the present. A worship team from down here provided most of the band work. Here's Keith at the piano and Kristyn standing, looking at him.

She does most of the singing and he plays the piano most (a local guy provides additional vocals). And we sang, all together, O How Wonderful. Truly a time of worship when the crowd sang full voicedly and heartedly. We also sang "O what a morning" (Easter) and "In Christ Alone," all of these theirs. Here's what the whole platform looked like.

Then for lunch we went downstairs and, as there were no more seats around tables, sat down on the carpet close to a pillar, as did many. And there, coming from the beverage dispenser, were Linda Ware and her daughter Lauren Groves. What a treat to have lunch with them and talk. And where was my camera?

In the afternoon, Deb saw a favorite author whose name the women's daytime Bible study may remember: Carolyn Custis James. I heard Michael Emlet speak on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with some helpful suggestions and encouragment for coming alongside those struggling with OCD.

My last seminar was with David Powlison on Facing Death. Dave faced it himself a couple of years ago, and then again this past year when Lauren [Ware] Groves' father-in-law, the distinguished Old Testament Prof at Westminster died of brain cancer. Many were the testimonies to the way the Lord used Alan as he faced his own death. Challenging and thoughful material and helpful. You may remember that, though incidents of particular cancers are down, mortality rate is still 100% and doctors eventually lose all of their patients. Will we honestly and in the weakness that is ours face His strength and His wisdom and agree that he is stronger and wiser? Many practical thoughts about facing our own coming deaths and coming along side others . . . deep calling unto deep.

Here's a picture that proves we're really here taken by a kind staff person. This is a remarkable production here, with many staff. Both Deb and I look forward to a final session tomorrow and then the worship service with a message by Paul Tripp and music by the Getty's. I think this weekend was a remarkably important time in my own life and a time where the Lord of the Universe has been so kind as to personally and directly touch me. I suppose the messages might have been useful to the other 1799, but it seemed they were all aimed at my heart personally. But then, He's like that.

Ah, I have indeed not written in a long time, but here we are, Deb and I together, the next day after the Imago Hymnsing, in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, at the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation Conference, this year on the subject of anxiety. Though I've not yet been at a session to hear them, Keith Getty and his wife are providing music for the Main Sessions (with Stuart Townend, Keith wrote the one praise song almost all English-speaking Christianity sings, "In Christ Alone.") and I had the opportunity to see them rehearse. Already today we have heard a message from David Powlison, Gripping Fear, a description of the struggle with the kind of fear that leads to panic attacks, a broad nameless fear, and how to come alongside. Then we heard Paul Tripp speak about the issues of midlife (actually, all of life) in a way that I'll likely not forget and which has already sent me to the prayer closet. In the picture below you see the evening panel discussion. The profs are the bright light in the center. LOTS and LOTS of people. And, um, lots of books . . . .