Friday, April 30, 2004

10:38 PM Notes from the Faithful Men Conference, Word of Life Inn, opening service … 300 men gathered from all over New England for the conference … Lots of laughter and chatter before the service … My favorite moment: When Mike Bush asked who had come the farthest, one man pointed a man on his left and said, “Last week he was in Baghdad.” The whole crowd spontaneously gave a standing ovation for the the soldier just returned from the war in Iraq. Deeply moving to see the outpouring of emotion… . I met a man who told me that he had helped distribute 2000 copies of “An Anchor for the Soul” in NYC after 9/11. He got his copies from Rick Warken. He told me about a young man he met in the Bronx who said he wanted “another copy of that book.” When he pulled out his copy of Anchor, it was ratty and torn. Turns out he had been reading it so much it was falling apart. He had accepted Christ through reading the book and wanted a copy to give to a friend who needed the Lord … I prayed with Roger who told me his wife left him five months ago after 28 years of marriage … Prayed with a man who wants to yield his whole life to Christ … Prayed with a man who feels called into the ministry … Talked with my friend Peter, a native of Kenya who is returning there in August with his new bride to head up the Word of Life ministry in Mombassa. He mentioned that my sermons on forgiveness last summer had helped him minister to his family in Kenya … I’m spending lots of time talking and praying with different men. I think we’re off to a very good start. I speak tomorrow at 9 AM and again at 7 PM. 1:22 PM Philip Lawler explains why John Kerry should not take communion. Charlotte Hays says give Kerry communion—for now. 1:20 PM Just finished teaching Galatians. We ended on a high note—lots of enthusiasm from the students. I enjoy teaching the Bible to the next generation of Christian leaders—it’s one of the best things I can do with my time and energy. I’m back in the cabin, getting ready to pack up and move to Word of the Life Inn for the Faithful Men Conference that begins tonight.