I just recently got back from the Trinity Family Advance in Valparaiso, FL. The speakers were Doug Wilson, Steve Wilkins (my pastor), and Randy Booth (one of my Dabney professors). Pastor Booth spoke on a Biblical view of Celebration, and Pastor Wilkins spoke on Biblical hospitality. Pastor Wilson spoke on a hodgepodge of things from the objectivity of the covenant to what men and women want. His final lecture was the best in my opinion. That was on the whole “men want respect” and women want to be loved” subject. Booweee it was good (redneck talk). I really enjoyed hanging out with Pastor Wilson and asking him many questions. I stayed in the same condo with him for part of the time so that helped afford me the opportunity to bug him.
Pastor Wilkins also said something that really stuck with me. He said, “An untroubled life is a useless life.” Isn’t that the truth? Troubles are such a joy, and I am glad God has given me so many. I know that God has used my troubles to sanctify me and grow me faster than many others that have been studying the Word longer than I have.
But the conference was not all lectures. I doubled my alcohol intake for the semester in one short weekend. I spent time talking with friends that I have not seen in a long time. I got to know better others that I have not had the chance to really get to know…like Jennie Jones and Drew Lancaster. I thank God that He has given me the opportunity to meet and get to know so many godly Christian people.
I also got to see some of my friends that I knew well already. Israel Contreras and I stayed up til 2:30 one morning discussing the salvific nature of the covenant. Then we stayed up another hour as Israel kept trying to prove he wasn’t a gnostic
I love that guy lol. He’s not really a gnostic, but I love to give him a hard time about it.
I did spend some time on the beach. I think I will forever be picking sand out of my skin. As one who grew up in an athletic climate, I am not afraid of competition. That means…I was diving in the sand a lot. I even did my award winning performance as a beached whale.
We had a ball. I went. I danced three dances. One with Rachel Booth and two with Emily beck, my roommate’s girlfriend.
I bought a lot of books this weekend. If only I had the time to read them!
I need to catch up on sleep.