That Blessed Christmas Morn

"War Horse" Opening December 25th

DreamWorks Pictures' "War Horse," director Steven Spielberg's epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.
Planning to see this new film on Christmas Day with my family.

The History of Religion in 90 Seconds

Desiring God 2012 Conference for Pastors - God, Manhood & Ministry

• Overview
• Schedule
• Speakers
• Travel Information
• Registration
• Pre-Conference

Pastor John's Invitation

Conference videos

• The Bishop of Liverpool, J. C. Ryle (John Piper)
• Masculinity Is the Glad Assumption of Responsibility (Doug Wilson)
• What Is Father Hunger? (Doug Wilson)
• Dads, Your Leadership Role Is Inescapable (Doug Wilson)
• Departing from Masculinity: Two Ditches to Avoid (Doug Wilson)
• What Does It Mean to Be at Man? (Doug Wilson)
• What Discipling Men in the Local Church (Doug Wilson)
• A Culture of Hope for the Men of the Church (Darrin Patrick)
• Lessons Doug Wilson Learned from His Dad (Doug Wilson)
• Have We Over-Elevated the Family? (John Piper)

On December 31st a registration price increase will go into effect.  Register now at $130 thru December 30th. 

Famous Generals - General John J. Pershing

Produced by the Department of Defense.

General John J. Pershing

Author John Perry unveils a general somewhat neglected by history, a mystifying fact considering that at one time more than a million soldiers followed him into battle.

Attentive to the last detail, rigid in his expectations of drill and execution, and fiercely protective of every man he commanded, General John J. Pershing helped shape the 20th century by leading American troops in a war that saved Europe.

Perry does an excellent job of portraying Pershing in this new Thomas Nelson series "The Generals."  I highly recommend this work.

Memorial Day blog

I have an interest in Pershing as he is my great uncle.

Patton Speech

Film clip of General George S. Patton 1945. The narrator is Ronald Reagan.

General George S. Patton Jr.

In this series called "The Generals" from Thomas Nelson Publishing the authors Von Hassell and Breslin provide a good account of Patton.  They show him as a harsh taskmaster who comforted dying soldiers.  Foul mouthed General yet tender to those at home.

In this book "Patton: The Pursuit of Destiny" shows that the myths surrounding Patton are bigger than life or as portrayed in the 1970 movie "Patton."  The authors show him with all of his faults and the genius on the battle field that he was.

Desiring God 2011 National Conference - Slideshow

Music tracks by Matt Papa.

I Am My Brothers Keeper

R.W. Glen, Pastor of Redeemer Bible Chuch preached an excellent sermon that I would recommend to you.  It was titled "I Am My Brothers Keeper", you can download the mp3 from SolidFoodMedia.com.
At Solid Food Media you will find a great  selection of sermon audio from Pastor Glen.  I love this guy.

General Robert E. Lee

Lee by John Perry is part of a series from Thomas Nelson Publishing called "The Generals" edited by Stephen Mansfield.  This work shed light on Lee's spiritual life and I believe why he proved to be a highly honored general.  Just before the Civil War broke out President Lincoln wanted Lee to lead the Northern Army.  Lee a states right believer sided with his home state of Virginia and was asked by Davis to lead the Southern Army.

Perry shows the tender side of Lee in various correspondence with his wife during time on the field.  After the war he lead Washington College and devoted the rest of his life helping students learn duty, and conduct.

Some other Generals in this series are: Pershing, Washington, Patton, MacArthur, Sherman.

Finish the Mission - Desiring God 2011 National Conference Schedule

Conference Schedule

	Friday, September 23
10:00 AM	Check-In and Registration / Bookstore Opens Seminars
	Track 1: Frontier Missions	Track 2: Church Planting
1:00-2:00 PM	David Sills	Jeff Vanderstelt
2:00-3:00 PM	David Sitton	Dave Harvey
3:00-4:00 PM	Jason Mandryk	Ed Stetzer
4:00-5:00 PM	Q&A Panel	Q&A Panel
3:30-5:00 PM	White Horse Inn Live Taping "Making Disciples: The Mission & Its Methods"
7:00-8:30 PM	Session One: Louie Giglio “The Global God Who Gives the Great Commission”
9:00-9:45 PM	John Piper Interviews David Sitton and David Livingstone
10:00 PM	Bookstore Closes

	Saturday, September 24
7:30 AM	Bookstore Opens
8:30-10:00 AM	Session Two: David Platt “The Glory of God, the Lostness of Man, and the Gospel of Christ”
10:00-10:30 AM	Break
10:30-11:30 AM	Session Three: Michael Ramsden “Courage, Christ, and Finishing the Mission”
11:30-1:45 PM	Lunch Break
1:45-2:45 PM	Session Four: Michael Oh “From Every Land to Every Land: The Internationalization of Missions – Its Potential and the Price”
2:45-3:15 PM	Break
3:15-4:15 PM	Session Five: Speaker Panel Platt, Ramsden, Oh, Stetzer, Giglio, Piper
4:15 PM	Dinner Break
7:00-8:30 PM	Session Six: Ed Stetzer “The Church, The Neighborhood, and the Nations”
10:00 PM	Bookstore Closes

	Sunday, September 25
7:30 AM	Bookstore Opens
9:30-11:00 AM	Session Seven: John Piper "Let the Peoples Praise You, O God Let All the Peoples Praise You!"
12:00 PM	Bookstore Closes

Desiring God 2011 National Conference - Registration Open

The theme of this year’s Desiring God National Conference is "Finish the Mission: For the Joy of All Peoples Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached and Unengaged." The event will take place in Minneapolis, MN on September 23 – 25, 2011.

We are pleased to announce that Louie Giglio, David Platt, Michael Ramsden, Michael Oh, Ed Stetzer, along with John Piper will be bringing the plenary addresses at this year’s conference.

We’ll also be hosting two tracks of seminars on frontier missions and church planting. Seminar speakers include David Sitton, David Sills, Jason Mandryk, Ed Stetzer, Dave Harvey, and Jeff Vanderstelt.

One of my favorite authors of military genre is Stephen E. Ambrose.  I have read almost everything that he wrote on WWII.  In preparation fo a trip with my wife to Springfield, IL this summer to visit Lincoln historical sites I have started to read Halleck: Lincoln's Chief of Staff.  It is a fascinating look at one of the men who surrounded Lincoln during a dark time in our countries history.

Ambose has a way of making historical figures like Halleck real in showing his personality and errors in judgment.  It is in seeing him in light of these areas that I feel we get a glimpse of the real man. 

Memorial Day, June 30, 2011

On this Memorial Day I would like to honor family members who have fought for our country.
WWI
General John J. Pershing (General of the Armies)
Arthur A. Clifford (Tank Division)
Edgar O. Wold (Ambulance Division)
WWII
Donald W. Hinsverk (Army)
Norman K. Wold (Navy)
Korean Conflict
Jack W. Clifford (Navy)

They bravely served their country to preserve freedom and democracy.  A museum is being built for General Pershing at his boyhood home in Missouri to honor him.  The video give a good overview of his life.


A good book on the Generals life "Until the Last Trumpet Sounds: The Life of the General of the Armies John J. Pershing."

Tortured for Christ

I heard Richard Wurmbrand when I was in college and read Tortured for Christ. This video gives a glimps into his 14 imprisonment.  It is a reminder to pray for those who are imprisioned for the sake of the gospel.

Louis Zamparini Redeemed

Unbroken: a World Warr II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand is a story that captivates one as it pulls you deeper and deeper into the live of Louis Zamperini.  Zamperini is a young track star who has his sites set on the Olympics when a war enters his world that would forever change him.  Bombs drop, planes crash, lifeboats, sharks, and God make for a remarkable encounter with Louis Zamperini.  Hillenbrand is the bestselling author of Seabisuit: an American Legend.  

I am about a third of the way through Unbroken and can't wait to pick it up again to find out how Louis is fairing. A good read.  I love history, especially survival storys.

Zamperini has written his own story as well in Devil at My Heels.  Louis attended one of Billy Graham's early revival meetings were he trusted Jesus Christ as his savior.  He became a speaker and returned to the part of the world were he fought in WWII, Japan to confront and forgive his captors while a POW. Those who like history and the call of God on a persons live will most certainly enjoy this narative.