As a deacon at Redeemer, I get to help out with all kinds of things.

Three times, one of those things was the annual Redeemer Women's conference, which is scheduled for November 13-14 this year. I haven't helped at this one yet. But I will be.

I've helped cook. I've helped clean. I've run around looking for what needs done and I've sat behind the sound booth for a few sessions.

Every time, I felt weird being a dude in my mid-twenties hanging out at a women's conference, trying to serve and stay out of the way. But every time I've learned something, something either spoken or in service.

We try not to do a bunch of event stuff on the blog these days. But every once-in-awhile, we've got something we really want to make sure people know is happening. And since the registration deadline is this Sunday (November 7), we wanted to plug it one last time before we finally shut up about it.

So, like I said, I'll be running around this year, too. And while I try to be invisible, I'm looking forward to eavesdropping just a little bit; your speaker this year, Kendra Dahl, is coming in from North Dakota (read about her here and here), and will be digging into Romans 8 and how we are set free in Christ.

So ladies, if you haven't done so, sign up for the women's conference.

All the details are right here, including how to sign up. If you'd rather do so in person, you can sign up Sunday morning, but don't forget, because, again, Sunday's the deadline.

One last thing: Don't let money be an issue for you, because it's not an issue for us. We want every woman that wants to be there to be there. Just let us know, and we'll work something out to make sure that you're there. Remember that because of Jesus, you can ask for help without letting your need define you.

And men, (Dads, in particular) take the kids to free Mom up for a couple days. Or, you can sign up on the City if you're available to help out with set-up / clean-up or meals. Older kids are welcome to help out, too!

Again, the registration deadline is this coming Sunday, (November 7), so don't forget to sign up.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Should We Expect More From Our Teenagers?:  “What does it reveal about the condition of your heart if you are measuring your value by the number of likes you acquire on a social media site? And as concerning that is, what would ever inspire anyone to solicit fake likes?”

The Beauty And War Of True Fellowship: God has given us each other in the church, not just for company and co-belligerency, not just to chase away loneliness and lethargy, but to be to each other an indispensable means of his divine favor. We are for each other an essential element of the good work God has begun in us and promises to bring to completion (Philippians 1:6). Such is true fellowship.

Must Art Be Evangelistic To Be Christian?: The scriptures do not determine what art you must make. But they do focus on the content of your life and heart. So we must rule out anything that does not flow from a regenerated heart, anything done for selfish gain or sinful motive, whether speaking ill of someone in order to get a promotion or changing your music solely to gain acceptance and accolades.

15 Prayers For God's Power: But make no mistake, the pursuit of this might is not the path to human power and pride. It is the path of ceaseless warfare with your own self. The greatest power in the world among human beings is the power not to sin. The power of holiness and love.

If Jesus Is The 'Word of God' Can We Call The Bible The Word Of God?: At this point I think it becomes clearer that to pit Jesus as the Word of God incarnate against the Bible as the Word of God written is a false choice. It’s not only confused both at the level of language, not the attitude towards the Scripture taught to us by Jesus, but at the deeper level I fear it leads many to denigrate the diverse testimony of God to Christ in Scripture all in the name of elevating him. So then, is Jesus the Word of God? Yes and Amen. Should we still speak of the Bible as the Word of God? Of course we should–Jesus told us to.

The Problem With Jesus: So when it comes to evangelism, we do have a problem with Jesus. But we also have a wonderful opportunity. In every way, the Jesus of history and of heaven is more genuine, and brings more joy, than the domesticated fake Christs of our culture. It’s our privilege to be able to say to someone, “Let me tell you about my Jesus. He’s more compassionate, more controversial, more compelling than you ever imagined. And he’s real. Wouldn’t you love to know him?”

The Gospel Of Resurrection And Repentance: The Church was founded on the belief that the resurrection demonstrates the lordship of the Son of God. If Jesus has risen from the dead, then that historical fact is sufficient evidence that He is who He said He was. And if He is truly Lord and God, He has every right to claim absolute rule over every life. Slow down and read that sentence again, for it will truly change your life if you believe it. If Jesus is Lord, He has absolute and unbounded authority over all things—including you.

Delighting In The Greater Adoption: God did not choose to adopt you because of anything you did, for we are completely undeserving of his great adoption. As a helpless baby in Romania, I could not do anything to prove that I was worthy of being adopted. I could not work my way into my earthly father's heart. I could do nothing but accept and enjoy the gift of adoption. As God's child, there is nothing you can do to make him love you more, for he has already given the greatest gift—his Son.

How Complementarian Teaching Shaped My Life: So I am not surprised when people who do not know Christ do not conform their lives to God's standard for gender and sexuality. And in some sense, it is easy to understand how even young believers or confused believers, living in a sensual culture, can fail to understand God's standards for purity, gender, and marriage. It's a process for all of us as we are conformed into the image of Christ. Here are a few things I learned in my journey to understanding what it means to live out the ethics of Christ regarding sexuality and gender, a view that I have come to know as complementarianism.

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