Desiring God 2010 National Conference to Feature Rick Warren

warren.jpg SharperIron has confirmed with Jonathan at Desiring God in Minneapolis that Rick Warren is among the speakers for the 2010 Desiring God National Conference. There will be more details explaining the invitation from DesiringGod.org in the near future. UPDATE: This URL will provide further information as it is available.

Discussion

Maybe there can be some iron sharpening iron for Rick at the conference. He needs it. But I wouldn’t go to hear Rick (I have already been to his church campus and disliked many cultural aspects), I would go to hear Piper.

Prominent pastors/elders of certain churches in both fundamentalism and conservative evangelicalism, who host conferences, really face wisdom issues as they look upon the American Christian landscape and determine where they can find some common ground and think there would be benefit in getting certain pastors together. How much does one acknowledge in how Bethlehem might share with Saddleback the ancient creed of Ephesians 4 and sincere love for the Triune God?

et

p.s. - I am not too surprised by this invitation of DG. But I would be surprised if the elders of GCC in California asked Rick just south of them to speak in the Shepherd’s Conference 2011. Now that would be a shocker.

I’m curious what they’ll have to say when official statements come out regarding why these particular speakers were chosen. Do they do that every year?

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Can I suggest something? Years ago, I really got tired of the expenses, repetition, celebrity atmosphere, exclusivity (good ole buddy stuff and special seating of the big donors), and controversial decisions and whispers at most conferences that I attend that I just quit going to many of them. Instead, I decided to get in better touch with the pastors serving God in the region where I serve. In all honesty, I am more challenged by the examples, testimonies, messages, and prayers of these men than I have ever been at a conference.

Now, I do attend the Annual Conference of the Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches, while there are differences over the items of business, there is a sweet spirit of fellowship amongst the people most of the time. This year, we will be having Dick and Holly Stratton and I look forward to meeting them. I do profit from this meeting most of the time.

At the upcoming “Desiring God” Conference, most attenders will have their minds on the controversy surrounding Warren instead of desiring God. So just stay home and be blessing to the brethren nearest to you and be blessed. It’s that simple for me.

If I can find a conference where I can truly focus on God great. If I have to work my mind through a bunch of stuff in order to start focusing on God, then I just stay home.

Joe, the DG conferences are about God and His greatness. :)

The Shepherd’s conferences are about controversy. :)

And btw, your conference sounds delightful for Christian fellowship.

et

(This upcoming weekend is the granddaddy conference of all religious conferences in America for organizationally and institutionally joining together people. Thousands upon thousands upon thousands upon thousands. And look at all the languages that it will be translated - http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,9080,00.html . It is truly unbelievable. And it is my mission field.)

I’m hoping that this is some strange April Fool’s joke. But from all indications, its for real. Very Very upsetting!

FWIW, “In Defense of the Gospel” posted the story before us. But for various reasons, we considered it to still be a rumor until we could verify it directly. I’m avoiding linking to IDOG since they view us as a pseudo-fundamentalist site and I don’t want to hinder their efforts to maintain proper separation from us. ;)

Also… If it’s a AF joke, I am also a victim! … that is, I believe the story is true.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

I’M SHOCKED. I’M FLABBERGASTED. I’M DISMAYED!!

How can he possibly be involved with such a person. Oh the sin and compromise of it all! :O :bigsmile: ;)

Piper has been slowly pulling this kind of stuff for years. I honestly think he thrives on pushing the envelope.