A few things I’ve seen and heard:
1. I saw tomorrow morning’s keynote speaker sitting next to his father. His dad was worshiping with his arm around his son. I don’t mean one of those “guy hugs” where you could just claim you’re stretching. I mean this dad has his arm around his son as if he were ten. I found that to be very touching. His son is huge (maybe 6′5″) and is in his early thirties. But his father isn’t afraid to show that kind of affection.
2. I got to worship behind Tom Olbricht. I’m not an ACU person by heritage. I came here late. But my life — and nearly everyone else’s in Churches of Christ — owes so much to this man, to his rich theology, and to his gentle spirit.
3. I heard a testimony given in a church on missionality and church planting by a woman describing the dramatic change in her daughter’s life that gave me hope and reminded me that the gospel is true. (Thanks, Gailyn, for putting this session together.)
4. I tried to get in to hear Dan McVey but it was packed. He’s a rock star from Ghana. (I’ve asked him to give the special Saturday afternoon address at Zoe. Bono was unavailable.)
5. I’m hangin’ with my parents. Pretty cool.
6. John York spoke right to my soul today as he preached from John 15. He drew us into the image of vineyard and land throughout scripture, leading to that striking statement of Jesus: “I am the vine.” John said he prefers the older translation “abide in me” over the newer “remain in me,” because “remain” sounds external and distant (”please remain on the line and someone will be with you shortly”) while “abide” sounds internal and close. I’ve be abiding in that comment!
Mike Cope reporting live from the ACU lectureship . . . .
UPDATED AT 9:00 PM Tues PM - Don McLaughlin rocked the house tonight with a call for Christian unity that was bold, wide, gospel-formed, biblical.
Tom Olbright is an amazing godly man. How awesome!
Mike, Are you talking about Tom Olbricht? Or is there a Tom Olbright also?
Joel Quile here in Abilene reporting live from the new Theological Room in the library. Here’s what I’ve seen so far in Mike’s latest post:
1. The Father/Son momment was the real deal. That is because the Father is the real deal. His boys are blessed. To be a blessing no doubt.
2. “Dan McVey is a rock star from Ghana” is one of the best lines Cope has ever penned. (or typed?)
3. John York spoke to more than just your heart Bro Co - that abiding comment was so powerful and made me think of John 16 where Jesus actually tells us that it is good that he is going so Holy Spirit can take up residence in us!
And some final comments:
- This new Theological Reading Room in the third floor of the library is incredible. This, coupled with the new commons/Starbucks would have possibly been enough to cause me to frequent the library back when I was a skawler in the late 80’s.
- This just in: Tim Woodroof is starting a new series on Romans this week. He is very excited about it and I want to encourage everyone in the greater Nashville area to check it out. (Tim is sitting next to me and so I got a little insider scoop!)
- And finally, the new Fall date for lectureship is brilliant! Of course, eating at Harold’s two days in a row is great in any kind of weather.
Joel Quile, reporting live from Cope’s blog…
Annie -
All right. That PROVES I’m not an ACU person by heritage. I forgot how to spell his name.
Yes, Tom Olbricht. (For those reading comments, I’ve gone back and corrected the spelling.)
Poor Jim Woodroof. How seldom has he seen his name spelled correctly? It’s usually Woodruff. To say nothing of Don McLaughlin — which I’ve just recently learned to spell correctly.
I kept noticing the substituting of “abide” in John York’s talk–was wondering what version he was using, then he explained his reason and I will always read my Bible’s John 15 in the future subbing abide for remain–”living in/close to,” not just “hanging on.”
Dan and Brenda McVey are definitely my stars from Ghana–had to order his session on CDs!
Mike your comments about a vineyard reminded me of when I would help my grandfather trim back rows and rows of grape vines. If you didn’t it would produce either small bunches or no grapes at all. Can you a imagine a life without pruning? What would we be like?
Personally, I thought that Stephen Johnson’s keynote last night was incredible. I live here in Abilene, but if I traveled in that hour alone would have made it worthwhile.
Mike, At HU, people were always getting Dr. Ulrey & Dr. Olree mixed up. And yes, everyone always got mixed up on the spelling of Jim Woodroof & George Woodruff (science teacher). Jim would gesture so much in his sermons, & many a time make a “roof” over his head with his hands, & George Woodruff was a “gruff” man, so the teacher in me would think of those comparisons, & I spelled their names right every time. I’m sorta weird that way.
Amen to the comment on Don McLaughlin’s speech tonight! He did rock the house! What a blessing it has been to hear from a rich variety of amazing speakers at this Lectureship! I’ve participated more this year than ever before, and now I feel like I’ve missed out all those other years!
Mike,
Thank you for the lectureship updates. I think Bill Banowsky’s book still speaks in relation to the ACU Lectureship, “Mirror of a Movement.”
BTW - If your preaching gig doesn’t work out, I would check to see if Nickelodeon needs a reporter.
I was tremendously blessed to be able to attend ACU Lectureship for the first time in many years. The fact that I have a freshman daughter at ACU and parents in Abilene I don’t see often enough had nothing to do with my decision to attend. I’ll give a few thoughts later on lectureship, but David directly me above me it was so cool to meet your daughter who informed me that “that would be my dad” about the Katy poster that often comments on HS football when we were discussing Mike’s blog.
Glad all is well on the lectureship front, Mike. I was sorry I couldn’t be there especially to hear Dan McVay and Don McLaughlin. Both are men that I have a great deal of respect for.
We are rejoicing here at the Fieldhouse because Stacey got a job yesterday! Hallelujah…!
I love Tom Olbricht! I wish more folks had his type of spirit.
Has there ever been a time when Donnie DIDN’T rock the house?
He is amazing, even with just one eye!
Hug your folks for me, please!
DU
Mike,
Thanks very much for sitting in on our session about missional church planting. Sue is an amazing woman, and God continues working mightily through her and her family.
well i finaly know who el diablo is.
Hey Mike or anybody that might know,
How do we score CD’s of the lectures? Is there a site like ISWW has? Are they being podcast somewhere? Somebody pleeeeeeeease help me!!!
Tell us!! What did Don say???
From ACU’s web site:
Thank you for visiting the Lectureship website. To obtain audio recordings of lectures and classes from the February event, please contact Gaylor Mutimedia at 615-361-4120 or http://www.gayloronline.com.
For DVDs of Theme Lectures, contact IN-Focus Digital at their website, http://www.infocusdv.com.
David Gaylor does the taping at the lectureship. check gayloronline.com. I don’t know of anyplace online where it is podcast.
Great news about Stacey, Chris!
Tina — Well, it was a rather LONGISH message (ha!). Hard to condense. But Don kept insisting that doctrinal accuracy — while important — is not the basis for unity among people who name the name of Jesus. Get the tape if you can.
I would so love to hear Dan “Rock Star” McVey’s take on the whole Pope-Isalm reaction thing. Alas, I’m eating rice with chopsticks on another continent at the moment, instead of all-you-eat deepfry at Lectureship. But thanks for the reports.
Google is the best search engine
Hope Don gets to preach the same thing at North Atlanta.