Wednesday in Buffalo

A full and fulfilling day at the conference. Which started with a fire alarm going off sometime before 7 and everyone trying to get out by the stairs, though it was a false alarm. The morning continued on a more positive if also more challenging note with another hour of Bible teaching from Mark Dever of Capitol Baptist, this study from Colossians 2. Here's that picture I promised:


I'm told that mp3's of the annual meeting main sessions will be up on the CCCC website, when they've been uploaded (http://www.ccccusa.com/audio.html). All of these messages by Dr. Dever bear careful listening; all touch at the center of what we are as the Church of Jesus Christ as well as reminding us of all that pulls us to add to or distract us from the Gospel.

After a morning seminar on worship, my second session was with one of my favorite seminary profs who is now at Grove City, Dr. David T. Gordon. Dr. Gordon has been studying and writing the last decade on the subject of media ecology, how media affects the human environment. Just as the medium affects what is communicated, so does the manner of communication impact how people think and their ability to think. As to the first, imagine a Native American sending smoke signals for a message. The medium (the smoke signals) limits what can be said and the depth of what can be said. More alarming was his discussion of the changings in the ability to concentrate and think in our post-typography era. Much of what he had to say carried over into the men's luncheon, where he also spoke. I hope to have an opportunity to talk about the profound importance many of these studies have to do with the communication of the Gospel in our community and homes. However, let me leave you with a nugget: Dr. Gordon requires of his students a "media fast," where they use no electronic devices for 24 hours. Expecting to hear of the in-depth conversations they were able to have with dorm mates and the like, instead most of what he heard in student write-ups was their saying how hard it was to go with out these props to everyday life that so distract and limit our ability to concentrate and focus. Much more to follow, but I think we get a better picture of how trained some of us have been by electronic devices, when we see how hard it feels to live without them and live with the "musico mundi," music of the earth, everyday sounds that people now miss because they are "plugged in" with their Ipods . . . .


Choir was much better attended today, with 5 or 6 more women and at least one or two more men, and the sound is quite good, and the feeling of our fellowship in Christ is sweet: there is also something about singing with people from so many different parts of the United States. (And, it's a national phenomenal: the basses thought their part was too high. Hm, where have I heard that before?) Two new singers were from an Episcopalian church in Rhode Island that has just joined the CCCC (and was received into fellowship today) after what seems to me a remarkable testimony about the right way to leave a denomination that has left the Bible.

We shared a wonderful dinner with Suzi and "Burni" Burnock and Jeannie and Bob Hall. One of the encouragements of these annual meetings is getting together with those who have labored long over the years in the same work, like these dear brothers and sisters.

The day ended with a message from Dr. Ron Hamilton, who spoke of this year's work in Church Multiplication and the new churches planted and in the process of being planted. These include a church planted that is a "grandchild" church of Forestdale Congregational in Malden where Paul McPheters serves, and will serve second generation Indians in Philadelphia. Another is thriving in LA, and another in Salem, Massachusetts; all represent some hopeful work in planting vibrant and diverse local churches. Dr. Hamilton: