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Have you ever thought about how grace and the ocean have a lot of similarities? Check out this post which was originally written following the Liberate Conferences 4 years ago.  I am sharing it again today because I have just been to the Here We Still Stand Conference in beautiful San Diego and definitely made a few trips to the beach while I was there. Be reminded of what Christ has DONE for you. Grace is like an ocean because: It is deep .  When we think we have understood its depths, there is always more and more. It is far reaching .  No matter what you have done in your past, God's grace can reach you. It is free . Isn't it amazing that you can go to the beach for free?  No admission fee. It draws you in .  Just like the undercurrent in the ocean, God draws us to Himself. It is rest . Listening to the waves is relaxing and peaceful. Living by grace is rest and freedom. It is unpredictable . You cannot predict th...

I had the opportunity to attend Here We Still Stand in San Diego organized by The 1517 Legacy Project and Christ Hold Fast on October 19-21.  Today, I would like to share some reflections from the conference. These are in no particular order. 5 Solas -Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, Scripture Alone, To the Glory of God Alone.  The speakers focused on these Solas and they were a great reminder to me that often as a Christian I can get distracted from the most important thing.  What am I going to focus on?  Humans and our ability to do and to be or on Christ the One who has done it all for me. Thanks Doug Klembara for the banner picture! The Gospel -As I was glow paddleboarding in the bay in San Diego, I talked with Elyse Fitzpatrick about the difficulty in finding a conference focused on the gospel.  What do I mean?  The gospel is what Christ has DONE.  It is Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension.  So, often we as Jared C. Wils...

I am so excited!  As you read this, I am headed to beautiful San Diego, California for Here We Still Stand.  This conference is a celebration of the Reformation that occurred 500 years ago.  Some of the speakers include: Jared C Wilson, Elyse Fitzpatrick, and Steve Brown.  I will be sharing quotes from the event on the blog over the next few days so check back to read what I have been hearing. I will also be spending time at the beach, at the pool, participating in a live recording of Front Porch with the Fitzes podcast (maybe even glow paddle boarding), and enjoying being with brothers and sisters in Christ from around the country. Check back for quotes from the speakers and workshops from Thursday-Saturday!

Donavon Riley-The Lost Sheep & Coin-Luke 15:1-10 There's Facebook You and the True You. All of Scripture is about Jesus.  There's God's truth and then there's our truth. How bad do you have to be separated from the sinners? (i.e. tax collectors) They were the worst of the worst. Not only did Jesus spend time with tax collectors but he also ate with them.   In Luke's gospel, who you sit with is who you want to be identified with. Lost sheep & Lost coin-When they find what was lost, they celebrate. When Jesus tells parables of grace, what Jesus says is what causes people to crucify him. We treat parables as if they are snapshots.  How many times .....? What if the answer is there is never a time that the Shepherd does not seek the lost sheep?  Everything that comes to you from God is gift. You cannot earn it. You don't deserve it. How we react to grace resembles story of Hosea and Gomer? Caleb Keith-The Prodigal Son-Luke 15:11-32 This is the father story t...

Daniel Van Voorhis-The Pharisee & Tax Collector-Luke 18:9-14 Theme of Luke 18-Prayer We see Pharisees as Bond villains or storm troopers. Before we judge them, remember they are trying to live out the law they have been taught. However, we often identity with the tax collector. Pharisees & Those Who Have Contempt For Others Contempt-one of the great problems in our society. It's killing our culture.  The Pharisee-"Look God, I'm doing it." Let's take the black hat off of the Pharisee. Tax Collectors They sold out to the government. They working for Caesar Rejected the coming of the Kingdom Jesus hangs out with them We are all Pharisees and tax collectors.  We have sold out to the government and said, "God, look at what I'm doing". We all need a Savior. Who do I hold contempt for? In our contempt, we think we are protecting. We hold contempt for certain kinds of sinners. We are all three of the these characters.  But in Christ eye's we are ...

Today, Bethany and I are headed to Dallas for the Christ Hold Fast one day conference.  Check back tomorrow for quotes from the speakers. I am looking forward to hearing the gospel and a weekend away with my beautiful wife without kids.