Chronicles of Classic Christianity Conferences

Bob Christopher begins reading the Lord's Supper passage

Okay, if you’ve never partaken of the Lord’s Supper in New Covenant style, you are in for a REAL treat! I remember the first time, many conferences ago, I almost didn’t show up for the Lord’s Supper, because of my past experiences with it. Growing up in the Baptist Church, we were told NOT to take of the Lord’s Supper unworthily, i.e with any unconfessed sins in our life, for to do so, would mean damnation to our souls. I often wondered how that played into the “once saved always saved” thing? Was that one of those clauses written in fine print? I also remember children not being able to participate, because they had not reached the age of accountability yet, and any ‘unsaved person’ partaking of the Lord’s Supper would surely be lost forever. Yup. This was what I was taught. Scary stuff, huh? Well, I remembering praying intently for God to forgive “all my sins”. I didn’t dare try to name them, I’d forget one, just as sure as shootin’. I figured the blanket, “Forgive us wherein we have failed thee” prayer would be good enough. Must’ve been, I was never struck by lightening when I took of the Lord’s Supper. Read the rest of this entry »

Conference manual

Several good points were made in this session. One of which was, ‘A branch doesn’t produce fruit; it bears fruit” I had often wondered what the difference was. Simply put, one creates and the other just holds what’s already been created. For example, the tree branch doesn’t create the acorn, but the trunk of the tree, the roots… it produces the acorn, and puts it out on the tree branch. So it is with us, as Children of God. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. We can’t create all those things. Jesus, the true Vine, creates that, and then puts it out on us, His branches.  Read the rest of this entry »

Admittedly, this session always gives me comfort. I am my Daddy’s child. No matter how many identities I go through in my  lifetime, the only one that matters is that I am a Child of God.  There are several things that the human race might use to determine their identity:

1. Who others think you are

2. Who you think others think you are

3. Who you think you are.

4. Who God says you are.

Which of these will we use to base our identity on?  Sometimes we even use our behaviors to determine our identity. We might tell people we are:

Alcoholic

Anorexic

Bulimic

Schizophrenic

Manic Depressive

Thief

kleptomaniac….

The list could very well continue. Is what we do the criteria of who we are? God says no. In II Corinthians, we’re told:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

As people, sometimes we forget exactly who we are. We wind up trying to gut out our problems on our own, or try to wind the approval of our boss, spouse, or any number of people we deem are important in our lives. Are we not a child of the King?  Are we not in Christ? Is Christ not in us?

If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ–Romans 8:9b

So, there will be none of this “Get saved today, and get the spirit later”. If we don’t have the spirit of God living in us, we are not, by God’s terms, “saved”

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’ Galatians 4:6

Again, if the Spirit of Christ does not live in us, we simply do not belong to God. Our identity ought to be as simple as that–we either belong to God, or we don’t. Our very life is given us by God, not by our good works. Our very Salvation is sustained by God, not by our good works.

To them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentile the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory–Colossians 1:27

Do you know the mystery? The mystery is Christ living in me. This truth is simply hid from the majority of the church world, and surely all of the non-church world. Did you get that? Christ is LIVING in me–not just stopping by for an occasional visit when I holler for help, or when He needs me to do something. He’s LIVING in me. What’s He doing? He’s leading me to walk in a Life of Love.  As a horse is lovingly guided by the reins of his master, so am I lovingly guided by my Master’s heart.  He’s not awaiting me to cry out for help, and then fly in from parts unknown to get me out of trouble. No, He’s living in me, and will live in me, for all eternity. My life is eternal. My identity in Christ is eternal.

So, who are you?

This session is always an ‘in your face grace’ type of session for me. In a good way, of course. Here we’ve learned the reason the Law even exists in the first place. It exists for the lost. Those who do not belong to God (yet). Romans 3: 19-20 tells us:

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Read the rest of this entry »

Bob says 'hello'

The conferees were all treated to a sweet surprise, when Bob Christopher announced that Bob George would like to say a few words. This would be the first time he’s spoke in public since his stroke over a year ago. A serious stroke that had a huge impact on his communication skills, Bob George has had to step down and take a sabbatical while he undergoes therapy for his speech.

He spoke of his frustrations of not being able to communicate the Gospel as freely as he had done for many years–26+ in fact. I’m sure there are lots of people that have suddenly been robbed of a beloved hobby that they’ve done for years,  no longer be able to do it for health reasons. The dedicated seamstress suddenly can no longer thread her needle to make wonderful creations; the artist who’s crippling arthritis has robbed him of the ability to hold a paintbrush to canvas. Perhaps the musician can no longer produce melodious strains of song due to sudden deafness. If these or any other numerous examples fit you, then you can appreciate Bob’s frustration with silence as the world around him carries on. Read the rest of this entry »

Mrs. Amy's book. Highly recommended reading

This was definitely one of the most favorite parts of the conference. During this time, Mrs. Amy tells a bit of her life growing up  with the strictness of Stalin, the atrocities of Hitler, and in spite of that–the faithfulness of God.

This really stood out to me this year. I thought for sure that I would be emotionally immune to the testimony, having heard it many times, as well as read the book many times. I know the story has a “happily ever after” ending, because she stands before us, talking, with her husband somewhere in the back of the room. But even now, a very valid point was driven home for me.

God is faithful…

……during fear

….during atheism

…..during hunger

….during economic crisis.

….during health issues

…slavery

….bad marriages

….Distance families

Quite frankly, God is just faithful, period. I suppose the longer we live, the more opportunities we are afforded to witness His faithfulness.  No matter what you, as a child of God goes through—He will remain faithful, even when we are faithless. If you’ve not read her book, Goodbye is Not Forever yet, I highly encourage you to purchase a copy at your local bookstore. It’s intense from start to finish.

Mrs. Amy shares her testimony

Conference manual

News Flash! We are NOT saved by the death of Christ. We are saved by His LIFE! How did I miss this? For years, I would sing about “The Old Rugged Cross”, thinking that because  I believed Jesus died on the cross, I was saved. While I am extremely grateful for His dying for me, His death is NOT where I’m going to find the Eternal Life. Come with me, three days later to a borrowed tomb. You know the story, too, don’t you? He is not there! He is Risen! Romans 5:10 tells us in no uncertain terms that His life is where we find Eternal Life. His death provided the sacrifice we needed for God to bestow His forgiveness once and for all towards all mankind, but the Life is only found in Life.

¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

That was there the whole time. How’d I miss that?? Read the rest of this entry »

Conference manual

So, mid morning and we’re gearing up for session 4.  I have to admit, throughout my church upbringing, Christ’s death really didn’t sink in for me as far as it’s purpose. Sure, I could chant the mantra, “Jesus died for my sins, past, present and future”, but really? I had not a CLUE as to what that meant. The verse, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ” was also very prevalent. But what did it all mean? He might’ve died for my sins, but that didn’t stop me from sinning. The wages of sin is death. The cemeteries are full of folks who are proof that we’re still dying.  So what good did His dying do? Read the rest of this entry »

Conference Manual

I never ceased to be amazed at the New Covenant, and how it’s managed to elude me all these years. The Covenant was there the whole time. I just have a veil over my eyes and couldn’t see it. Of course we know there’s an Old Testament and a New Testament. To be honest, I thought that was simply a time line reference to the adventures of the Bible. For example: Old Testament was the time before Christ, when all of the prophets and Kings were about doing their things. This is where all the neat Bible stories took place….like Jonah and the Whale, Moses and the Ten Commandments; David and Goliath…. the list goes on. Moving on to the New Testament, we have the life of Jesus recorded in the 4 gospels; and then we have a bunch of letters written by Paul, a few by Peter, and then of course, last but not least, Revelation. That’s all the “Old and New” meant to me, was a guideline of time reference. Read the rest of this entry »

James slowly wakes up to greet the day

Up and at ’em! The second day started around 8:30 am with coffee and pastries, and folks gathered back at the church for more grounded teaching. After a good night’s sleep, most conferees were more coherent to connect with old friends from past conferences, as well as making new friends. Today is to be a fun filled day for sure, as we hear Ms. Amy’s testimony of God’s faithfulness, have a question and answer session, and of course, the long break in between–plenty of time to catch up old friends, and get to know the new friends that we’ve made. Can’t wait to see what God has in store!