My Epic Journey

I am at the Orange Conference in Atlanta this week.  I am here with our Children’s Pastor, Steve Ogle.  For both of us this is our second time attending.  We have been excited about the conference and after leaving at 6:00 this morning we were especially glad to get to the conference center and checked in.

I will admit though, that after check in, I am very disappointed so far.  There is one thing I always look forward to after check-in and that is the conference bag and notebook.  The bag this year is from Plywood People (www.plywoodpeople.com).  The idea is pretty cool and I like the concept.  Don’t know if I will carry around the bag this week though because it really looks more like a purse than anything.

But what I was disappointed about the most was the notebook.  In the past years the notebook has been a really well put together resource that is suitable to take notes in and to put one my bookshelf at the office.  This year, I feel they tried to cut corners financially (which is odd because the cost of the conference was still expensive) by putting together a “newspaper” look.  No room for taking notes and completely pointless to carry around because it is so big and awkward.

I so hope that the conference from here on out doesn’t have a cheap feel.  Praying that even if it does, God will still give me the fuel to take EPIC to the next great thing He has for us.

The Middle School Conference is less than a month away.  If you haven’t already, you need to register.  You can do so by clicking HERE.  We need adults to go as well.  If you are available and would like to join us click HERE.

Important Information:

When is it?                                                                                                                                                  October 2-4, 2009

Where is it being held?
Heartland Conference Retreat Center
3201 County Road 225
Marengo, OH 43334
Phone: (740) 747-0220
www.heartlandretreat.com

What Should I Bring?
Your registration will take care of everything you need. Just bring some clothes (Don’t forget at least one pair of warm clothes), personal hygiene items, towel for showering, a sleeping bag and pillow, an extra sock for scalps, a Bible, and a pen or pencil.

What does it cost?
The registration fee is $69 for students and adult leaders. A $10 late fee kicks in if your registration is received after Friday, September 11, 2009.

Last night was our first session at the GCC Pastor’s Conference in St. Louis.  Tom Short spoke.  Here is his outline:

5 Signs We May Be Ashamed of the Gospel

Text:  Romans 1.14-16

#1.  If we feel that what we offer is not of real value.

#2.  If we don’t know how to handle our faith in a relativistic, pluralistic, post-modern, multi-cultural society.

#3.  If we are afraid because the Gospel condemns men as sinners.

#4.  If we are afraid to called “hell-fire and brimstone preachers”

#5.  If we are fearful to take the Gospel into the public square.

It was a great challenge to what we are called to do as Great Commission Christians–and that is preach the Gospel with passion and fervency.