Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” I love this quote because of its simplicity of thought.
I, like many of you, have been to many conferences over the years—some good, some not so good. At each of those gatherings, there were topics, missions, personalities or resources I was interested in. Some kind of currency for the soul or the mind, if you will. I probably cannot recall all of the conferences I have been to, nor could I recall all of the messages I have listened to. Some stand out, but it is rare.
I cannot recall all of the books I have read. Again, some stand out, but it is rare. What I can tell you is that my soul has been encouraged, my life has been enriched and my fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ has brought blessings each time I gather with people I know, in a state I love, to hear the Word of the Lord preached from a Gospel that changed my life. That happens every year at the Pastors Conference, not just for me, but also for many in my Oklahoma Gospel family.
The Pastors’ Conference will have fellowship
On Nov. 15, at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills, we will have great fellowship. After 20 months of pandemic chaos, we get to join with our Oklahoma Gospel family to laugh, hug, share stories with old friends and make new friends.
Paul writes to the church in Ephesus and celebrates the spiritual condition now afforded to the saints because of Christ. He says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).
What a great promise we have in the Gospel! We belong to God, and we belong to each other. We are not strangers to God, and we are not strangers to each other. Happy are the people of God when they can come together for fellowship.
The Pastors’ Conference will have faithful preaching
There is no doubt that this year God has blessed us with men who love the Word of the Lord, and can handle the preaching of His Word with great integrity. I pray I never come to think that I can graduate mentally or spiritually from sitting under good preaching.
Until Jesus comes back or my mortal body ends, may I never stop learning and growing by the preaching of the Word. This year’s theme, “From Whom All Blessings Flow,” is sure to draw our hearts into worship and celebration as we think richly about who God is and what He has done.
I so love what the Lord’s prophet Isaiah says to us, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to being good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort those who mourn, to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him” (Isa. 61: 1-3).
In the “Year of Jubilee,” the messenger of the Lord speaks. He brings a Word from the Lord. He speaks words of encouragement, freedom, joy, celebration, remembrance and future hope. All built on the promises of God by His grace and fulfilled by His Son, Jesus Christ.
I look forward to the faithful preaching from these faithful men on Nov. 15. I trust the Lord will give us encouragement, joy, remembrance and future hope as we hear from Him by way of His Word proclaimed.
The Pastors’ Conference will be fun
That’s right, it’s going to be fun. For the reasons already mentioned, it will be fun. See you there!
For schedule of the Pastors’ Conference visit oklahomabaptists.org/pastors.
