Yesterday and this morning there was an ongoing feast of messages about the person and work of Jesus Christ at the G3 Conference in Atlanta delivered to a crowd of several thousand responsive worshipers. Yesterday’s speakers were David Miller, Phil Johnson, and James White during the day; and Voddie Baucham (photo #1 above) and Paul Washer in the evening. This morning the conference concluded with sermons by Mike Riccardi, Hensworth Jonas, and Steve Lawson. So, in all there were 13 sermons that focused on and exalted our Immanuel.

Book-buying continued to be brisk. Until the end of the conference, thousands of the attendees filled the large book vendor hall that hosted scores of book publishers. Several titles that we brought hundreds of copies of, sold out in the first half of the conference, so we took hundreds of back orders. I spent as many hours as I could at the book table when there were no preaching sessions, speaking to several hundred people throughout these days and selling books, as did David Woollin, Ian Thompson, and a new employee for RHB, John St. Martin. Our table was a beehive of activity from the beginning to the end of the conference. What an opportunity to minister these three days were! SDG!

In the midst of the busyness of these days, we managed to find time to spend with some friends. Late last night we had a delightful outdoor dinner with Dr. Marty and Roelie Faasse, members of our church and longtime friends, at a French restaurant. (We didn’t even know they were at the conference until they texted us!) We also spent some time talking with several brothers in the second photo below (from left to right): Pastor James Coates (who recently spent 35 days in jail in Alberta for holding worship services—what a story that was/is), our good friend Paul Washer whose stories of his work were as moving as ever, and then on my right, another good friend Pastor Mike Riccardi and his assistant, Pastor Sheldon Ko—both of whom are on Dr. John MacArthur’s ministerial team.

Now we have arrived safely back in Michigan, and I am looking forward to preaching tomorrow for our beloved flock in Grand Rapids on the Holy Spirit and His saving work. Then, early on Monday morning, Mary and I look forward to begin leading a tour group of 40 friends, together with David Woollin, to Greece and Turkey for twelve days to follow in the footsteps of the apostles Paul and John. At the end of this tour, the Lord willing, Mary and I will fly on to Italy by ourselves for five days to speak at a conference there on how the Puritans lived to the glory of God.

Will you be so kind as to pray for us for the outpouring of God’s Spirit for the dozens of occasions to speak in the next few weeks, as well as for our health and strength and safety? We truly covet your prayers.

Enjoying selling hundreds of books at the Reformation Heritage Books booth at the G3 conference today in Atlanta. Also enjoyed speaking about things spiritual and practical over lunch with these young adults from several localities (picture #1), followed by quality time with our friends, Dr. Conrad and Felistas Mbewe from Zambia and Dr. Hensworth Jonas from Antiqua (both brothers are plenary speakers; picture #2).

Today was an intense but good day at the G3 conference here in Atlanta, Georgia—which is focused on Jesus Christ—being attended by close to 7000 people. We took in all five addresses on Christ which were delivered to the entire audience in this order: Dr. Josh Buice on “Who is Jesus?” (Mark 8:27-31); Dr. Conrad Mbewe on “Christ as Head of the Church” (Eph. 5:22-27); myself on “The Utopian Marriage with Christ in Heaven” (Rev. 19:6-9); Dr, Steve Lawson on “The Darkness of Golgotha” (John 19:19-31); and Dr. John MacArthur on “The Suffering Servant” (Isa. 52:13 through 53—see photo).

We also spent several hours today selling several thousands of dollars worth of books at the RHB table. People here are hungry and eager to learn. It was particularly exciting to introduce scores of people today to the Puritans (or to see them already excited by Puritan material such as the three young ladies with us in picture 3 below) and to see them walk away also with family worship resources that can both change their lives and transform their families.

We met with dozens of old friends and new friends today, and were deeply gratified and humbled by their encouragements. Pray that God will continue to bless this conference mightily as we look forward to five more addresses on Jesus Christ tomorrow.

I just took my dear wife out for a nice dinner here in Atlanta to commemorate her birthday yesterday and the restaurant gave her a special dessert! God is so good to us.

We are at the G3 conference in Atlanta, which is being attended by close to 7,000 people. The pre-conference is today. Mary participated in a Table Talk Event for Pastors’ Wives with Kari Buice, Erin Coates, and Jennifer Buck. About 100 pastors’ and elders’ wives attended, as the ladies shared wisdom and advice about the challenges and joys of serving the church alongside their husbands. I am scheduled to speak tomorrow afternoon. Your prayers are appreciated.

Today is my Queen’s 62^nd birthday. By God’s grace, she is my better ¾, my tender-hearted, God-fearing, help-perfectly-meet for me wife. She packs our days, weeks, and months with love, kindness, understanding, and pleasure. Next to Christ Himself, she is God’s very best gift to me. She is so lovable that loving her becomes an automatic joy that cannot be restrained rather than a duty to be given.

All our friends and our whole church knows Mary models integrity, godliness, and kindness. Her simple, child-like humility of which she is not even aware is a fresh joy all over every day—in the home and among the church family. I thank her often for a peaceful, open relationship, 32+-year argument-free marriage.

Her unflagging support and undying loyalty are beyond words. She is the sunshine of my life in winter’s cold blasts. In her tongue is the law of kindness (Prov. 31). She is far and away my best friend and confidant. I love her more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. And my ministry would be far less effective without her. To this special woman, I wish a truly blessed birthday and many more years with her grateful husband and cherished and loving children and grandchildren.

In the picture below, we are standing on our front porch. An hour ago, during supper, six children rang the doorbell, and presented my dear wife with a candled cake for her birthday. She was touched—deeply!

Here are the five addresses on “Union with Christ, Unity, and Holiness” that I gave a week ago in Forest Falls, California for Abide—an adult camp for ages 18 to upper-30s.

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92721157173341 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92721158131348 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92721158502776 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92721159266698 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92721151057642

“True Revival” is the subject of Westminster UK’s annual conference next month, 14-16 October. As a speaker from previous years I can recommend this conference.

More details here: https://youtu.be/rSuY9UQiKQo

The Puritan paperback series published by Banner of Truth Trust over the last 60+ years have had a huge impact in my life, leading me to liberty in Christ as a teenager. At a recent conference, Pat Daly, who is in charge of Banner of Truth in North America, spontaneously asked me to recommend one of these titles and to comment on their influence in my life, and then encouraged me to post the video he made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqDK3pFce-U&list=PLUNl3x537t5IclSh-gEp4fTnNPo855C43&index=29

Excuse the conference noise in the background please. All of the Banner titles you can order at steeply discounted prices from www.heritagebooks.org.

If God will be pleased to bless these books to your soul as he did to mine, you will be greatly blessed.

This evening the women of our church prepared a delicious meal for about 150 men, fathers, and sons of our congregation, and they asked me to give a testimony of the Lord’s work in my life together with some concluding lessons for men. It was the first time I have done something like this in 34 years of serving this dear church family. It was great to fellowship with the men. Pray for God’s blessing upon it so that He would receive all the glory.