New Word Alive in Eleven Bullets.

In no particular order, here are some things that I learned last week at New Word Alive:

1. In Welsh, a double “L” (i.e.: LL) is pronounced like a guttural “CH.” Sort of like channukah. So the conference was in Pwllheli. You do the pronunciational math.


2. One of the best definitions of the Trinity: That God exists as three Persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, loving each other. I heard that from Mike Reeves, who gave a three-day lecture series on the Triune God. I really appreciated his seminars.

Curious about the Trinity? I’ve got pages of notes!

3. I finally finished the notebook that Daylan gave me for my twenty-fifth birthday! Woo Hoo! Now I can tap into the brand-spankin’ new Molskine that I got for Christmas.

4. I like John Piper even better in person. He spoke for two of the evening sessions on the topic of suffering using Romans 8. “The meaning of all misery is that sin is horrific.” Very challenging.

5. D.A. Carson, who I had never heard preach, reminds me a little of my old business prof, Dr. Mackey. He walked us through 1 John (which I call “First John” and everyone else over here calls “One John”) during four of the morning sessions.

Great stuff along the lines of “I’m a Christian, but I sin.” How do we as believers deal with the dichotomy of both the light and the darkness in our lives? Answer: You must not walk in the darkness. And praise the Lord for his grace.

Curious about 1 John? I’ve got pages of notes!

6. Stuart Townend is alive. Who knew? Well, most people probably do, but I kind of had him in the John Wesley/Charles Spurgeon generation. The first time I had heard of him was my last year at Master’s when we started singing “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” I always thought it was like an old Irish ballad for some reason. Ah well. He’s alive and kicking and led some rock-awesome worship sessions.

7. You don’t necessarily have to wash soapy water off dishes when you’ve washed them. Some do, some don’t. It’s very freeing.

8. I am a bad car DJ. (Bad like bad. Not bad like good)

9. Jo Mango is a female Scottish folksinger. Not, as initially thought, a male Caribbean-cruise lounge singer.

10. I go to church with some very cool people.

11. In general, it was just wonderful to be around people who believe in the Father’s plan, the Son’s saving work, and the Spirit’s sustaining power. It was refreshing to sing with thousands of other voices and to be reminded that this world is fleeting. I’m so encouraged that God created us for relationship and then gave us the Church.

So that was my week. I am now back in Bath and happy to be here, hanging out with good friends from the MA and writing my little fingers to the bone.