As I previewed, I had the great privilege of being the keynote speaker at the South Arizona Grace Bible Conference on the weekend of October 27-28, 2007. The topic was (what else?) "Insights from Proverbs," and it was hosted by the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Rio Rico.
"Where," you inquire, "is Rio Rico?" I'm glad you asked. It is in very very south Arizona. To wit:
One of the more thrilling emails I received last year came in mid-December. It was a letter from Jim Kirby, the pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist. It ended with this question:BTW, are you available for conferences? Let me know. We have a Bible conference each year [that] needs a keynote speaker.Am I available? Oh boy, yes. So I wrote Jim right back in the enthusiastic affirmative, and
shortly we were planning to devote a conference to one of my for-decades favorite subjects: the Proverbs of Solomon.So that conference was alternately at the back, middle and fore of my mind through the year. I had to get some more books on Proverbs (of course!) and ramp up my studies. My dear wife graciously saw to it that I had all the time I needed. Then the time came, and off I went.
Pastor Kirby took me to the church early....
...and I got the lay of the land before anyone else showed up.
Then the folks came, and we began. I didn't ask anyone's permission to put his or her picture up, so I won't presume.But I will presume to show you a bit of the fine spread they laid out for lunch:
This was in fact one of two really good meals the church put together for the two days.But the food, wonderful as it was, was nothing to the joy of fellowshipping with the good folks who came to feast on the Word. What a gracious lot of brothers and sisters they were: eager for the Word, and responsive. They made me feel right at home. I was blessed to have the privilege to begin to get to know them. Pastor Jim Kirby and his wife Paulette were very gracious and hospitable.
It was a joy to bring this portion of the Word that has been so instructive to me through the seasons of my life.
And then, near my motel — roadrunner!
The only down-side is that that cleared my "dance-card." Now I'm looking to the next challenge, project, or opportunity.
NOTE: Some of you expressed interest in the conference. All six sessions are available online, thanks to Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, as are the outlines and bibliography I provided. Topics include: Understanding Proverbs, God in Proverbs, Wisdom and Folly in Proverbs, marriage, children, and the fear of the Lord. Enjoy!
23 comments:
meep meep!
I just wanted to point out that Dan was speaking in "Rio Rico" and not at the Rio Rico Resort in Rio Rico Southwest.
He was on a mission from God, people, and not on a vacation.
And I make this comment-thread-derailing comment out of pure jealousy toward Dan as he becomes the second-most sought-after seminar-speaking PyroManiac, behind Phil (of course). I'm not even a distant third except in my sunday school class where they are forced to listen to me every week.
The Arkansas Hermeneutic shows itself again: take any post, and make a beeline for Turk.
(c;
Thanks for sharing the info and pics, Dan. This sounds like the kind of reception and fellowship that would warm a Bible teacher's heart.
And kudos to the church for making the seminars available.
"Arkansas hermeneutic?" ROFL!
Ah jes' luv it! I'll have to remember that when I next head down to Harrison and Jasper for a little trail-hiking. And when I bring it up, I'll get asked, "Herman who?"
Note to Frank: My family is Arkansan, so I'm allowed to take shots, all in good fun of course.
Btw, Dan..did you know that they have armadillos in Arkansas. The roadsides are littered with them and they tear my uncle's yard to pieces looking for grubs.
Actually, Frank, now that I've clicked your link...
...that is where I stayed.
Nice place!
Rio Rico? Are we sure it wasn't Rio Lobo or El Dorado? If you say Asgard, I will really be worried.
On topic, Proverbs contains such gems. Although reading through them again recently, I had to wonder how many of them the EC would deconstruct.
Pastor Kirby told me some John Wayne movies were indeed filmed nearby.
"looking to the next challenge, project, or opportunity" look in your e-mail.
What I've been able to listen to so far has been incredibly insightful and edifying (just started the third session). I encourage everyone to download those files.
[grrrr]
And also the outline! Didn't mean to leave that out...
Thanks! Glory to God.
Did you skip to the third, or are you drilling down them all?
Oh no, no skipping. Started with the outline in one hand, and an iPod in the other. :-)
By the way, you're quite the soft-spoken sort! I had to import them all into iTunes a second time, and use the feature that allows for increasing the volume. But it was worth it...
Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't listened (I was there for all the meetings). I know that for some reason, I battled a bit of a rough throat — don't know if it was the dryness or what. First time I recall that happening. Felt really bad for my listeners.
This comment thread is getting buried by the comment thread of a post that consists of one (1) picture.
THAT's how MY day is going.
(c;
No problem. Really, it probably isn't necessary if someone is listening through headphones. But I needed more volume to listen through my car speakers using one of those wireless IR transmitters. Should have made that clear previously [sigh].
Thank you Dan! I am looking forward to listening to your conference sessions on Proverbs. I read a preview of them, and I was very excited at your insights. I loved your concept on "looking ahead to the end of the matter." Thank you again, and God Bless!!
They worked fine for me, nolongerblind.
Dan, I can't wait to hear these. Thanks in advance.
Thanks Mike. It was my joy. I'll be interested to hear what you think.
I don't know if it amounts to a different server, but the talks are also on Sermon Audio.
I don't know what to say other than - pass the mashed potatoes please.
I'm adding these messages to my iPod at this very moment. I'll be traveling to Ft. Lauderdale Thursday. Thanks for giving me something to listen to on the way. Incidentally, that means either you or Frank will prolly need to post something Friday.
Thanks for letting us know that the messages are available!
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