WorshipGod 08 Conference

I am super-encouraged that I'll finally be able to make it to Sovereign Grace's WorshipGod Conference this year!!

Planning and leading gathered worship every week is one of the highest privileges in my life, but I find that I am not often enough lead by others in gathered worship. So this will be a refreshing, equipping weekend for sure. With speakers like Bob Kauflin, Mark Dever, Thabiti Anyabwile, David Powlison, and Donald Whitney I know that my soul will be fed, my hands equipped, my heart challenged, and my mind renewed.

So...will I see you there?

Here's the "press release":

WorshipGod08—Rediscovering the Psalms

July 30–August 2, 2008 Gaithersburg, Maryland

Worship leaders and planners are always on the lookout for ways to serve their churches more effectively. Thank God, we have an increasing number of tools, websites, and books we can turn to. But the most important teaching on modern worship wasn’t written in our lifetime. Thousands of years ago, God gave us the Psalms to inform, inspire, and direct our worship. Every generation has the opportunity to rediscover what he’s said.

That’s what we’ll be doing at WorshipGod08, a conference for anyone who wants to grow in understanding and leading biblical worship. Six main sessions will explore how the Psalms model worship that is God-glorifying, Christ-centered, emotionally engaging, full of faith, relevant, and lived out every day. You’ll also be able to choose five practical seminars that will sharpen your thinking, improve your skills, and refresh your soul. As in past WorshipGod conferences, one of the highlights will simply be meeting and interacting with like-minded Christians who share your passion to glorify God.

Whether you come alone or with your whole team, I hope you’ll join us at WorshipGod08 as we rediscover how the ancient Psalms can transform our worship today.

Bob Kauflin
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Worship Matters

"Rambo 4" Viewers Face 10 Years 20 Lashes

"Rambo 4" viewers face 10 years 20 lashes for watching Rambo 4...that is of course if you watch it in Myanmar!

Because Stallone's last installment of the adventures of John Rambo reveals the darker and truer side of the practically genocidal treatment of Karen and other tribes at the hands of the Burmese army, the tyrannical military regime is cracking down hard on anyone caught watching or in possession of "Rambo 4."

The word on the street about the movie is that the violence is gratuitous. But having been to Myanmar and having heard stories from refugees who fled the country because of the atrocities done to them and their families, it's probably not that far from reality. At least the violence perpetrated by the junta, not the Hollywood-ized shock-action of Rambo.

While Rambo 4 may help get the word out about the plight of Karen tribes and the horrific conditions in Myanmar, John Rambo and his relentless bloodshed is not the answer. Rather, the blood shed by the true Rescuer is the only hope for the dark land of the Golden Triangle. May the faithful lives of men and women who trust in and follow Jesus shine brightly there.

And may their testimonies, in life and in death, bear fruit in a church that overcomes evil with good. And may men and women risk their lives for that which is infinitely more valuable than than 90 minute of cinema. May it be said of them...

And they have conquered [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Revelation 12:11

Watch Video at CNN.com