Next 2009 LIVE Worship Album

The Next Worship Album is finally available for download. WooHoo!!! You can download it HERE for $5! Here is the song line-up:

God Over All (Devon Kauflin)
His Name is Jesus (All Hail the Power) (Judah Groveman)
He Is Jesus (Stephen Altrogge)
Praise the Lord (Doug Plank)
By This We Know Love (Judah Groveman)
All I Have (Jordan Kauflin)
Jesus Thank You (Pat Sczebel)
I Need You (Kristian Stanfill/Eddie Kirkland)
The Name above All Names (Judah Groveman)
What a Savior (Devon Kauflin)
I Will Glory in My Redeemer (Steve & Vikki Cook)
Blessed Is the One (Doug Plank)
Oh the Deep, Deep Love (Bob Kauflin)

All I Have Is Christ from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

And you can see a bunch of my friends in the video! :)

CJ Mahaney – Session 4 – Monday

Christ’s Death – My Notes

Mark 15:33-39

We cannot think of that death too often. C.H. Spurgeon

His death is a matter of first importance. Heaven is never indifferent of the cross. The cross involves more than the physical suffering of Christ.

The cup (of God’s wrath) dominates His soul in the garden.

Jesus prays for an alternative even though He knows there is none, it was motivated by the horror of One wholly of the Father.

If there was an alternative, God would have provided one. Cry from the cross is Gethsemane realized.

1. suffering, forsaken Savior
2. dying Savior
3. revealed Savior

By death we determine that we are not gods.

Romans 8:20

My Thoughts From The Message:

During CJ’s sermon I was once again (it happened a lot at the conference) overwhelmed by Christ’s passionate love for me. That Jesus (who is part of the Trinity) would die, that He would take on the full force of God’s wrath. It blew me away. Why? It seems to be the dumbest thing to do. Why would God die for rebellious creatures? Why not just kill us all. He doesn’t need us. He can easily receive glory another way. Why punish your Son? Why die, experiencing the full fury of your Holy Father? Why does He love me??? The knowledge of His awesome power and otherness was colliding with the knowledge of His extravagant love for me. The two should not go together. They don’t make sense. And yet, they do. This is when the smoke starts coming out my ears and my brain begins to overload. Jesus screamed the cry of the damned in my place. The awesome Creator of the Universe…He died for my sins. As goose bumps gallop over my body, I sit here once again amazed. Amazed at His otherness (which the cross so clearly displays). Amazed at His boundless love for me. Amazed at my testimony. Amazed at His protection and favor. Pretty much amazed at everything about Him.

You can download the sermon HERE.

You can also read a couple of great synopsis’ HERE and HERE.

Pics from Monday:

“Dear friends I am going to preach to you again upon the cornerstone of the gospel. How many times will this make, I wonder? The doctrine of Christ crucified is always with me. As the Romans sentinel in Pompeii stood to his post even when the city was destroyed, so do I…every thing else can wait, but this one truth must be proclaimed with a voice of thunder. Others may preach as they will but as for this pulpit it shall always resound with the substitutions of the Christ…Our blessed Savior would have us hold his death in great reverence; it is to be our chief memory we cannot think of that death too often.” – Charles Spurgeon

Kevin DeYoung – Session 3 – Sunday

Christ’s Life – My Notes

Luke 8:22-56

Work of Jesus Christ as a declaration of the life of Jesus Christ. His death doesn’t matter unless His life was perfect…little more than a historical figure.

Don’t you realize Who is in the boat with you? No one rebukes the wind and the waves.

Ps. 65:67, Ps. 107

In Him they (wind and waves) live and move and have their being.  As the storm comes, it is Jesus’ storm. The demons know who this is. Even the devil is God’s devil.

This is not a hard fight, it is a costly (cross) fight, but not a test of God’s power.

This is not entirely safe.

God’s holiness is more contagious than your uncleanness. You cannot exhaust God’s forgiveness.

The gospel is not about what you can do for God, but what God can do for you.

Who do you say that I am? Faith is moving from fear to fear.

My Thoughts from the Sermon:

Who is Kevin DeYoung? Out of all of the sessions, I was expecting this one to hit me the least. I didn’t know this dude, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t expecting God to knock me off my feet. Kevin went through “a day” in the life of Jesus. Teaching on Jesus calming the storm, healing the demon possessed Gentile, healing the women with an issue of blood, and raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead. I was in awe. Kevin made a comment that Jesus (God) was in control (Lord over, preeminent) of nature, demons, health, and death. Everything is subject to His power and word. I was amazed at the HUGE God I serve. The Trinity became that grander in my eyes. I know in my head of the power of Jesus Christ (He is God after all.), but this message brought it home. His power is unlike any other. He has the power to do ANYTHING. The Creator came to earth and became a creature. Wow! As Kevin was teaching the Holy Spirit was speaking. He was challenging my faith and my perspective. Why do I not ask Him to heal my allergies? ‘Cause I assume He won’t. I assume He will get the most glory by not healing me. Why ask? I know the answer, I don’t want to be disappointed and get my hopes up. That wasn’t the right response. As we entered into to prayer time, the Holy Spirit was telling me to ask. I didn’t want to. My stubborn streak (that doesn’t rear it’s head very often) was in rare form that night. I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to. The Holy Spirit reminded me that I have no idea what is in God’s plan. Who do I think I am to know God’s will for my life? This all-powerful God has all the power to heal me if He so chooses. Who am I to dictate His decision for Him? I do not know the outcome, but I am being commanded to ask. Ask in faith. The decision is His, but I need to ask believing that He may heal. It became a matter of obedience. I needed to ask for healing because the Holy Spirit was telling me to. So, I spent probably a half of an hour on my knees crying and begging for God’s help. I wanted to ask, but I had no faith. None. I needed Him to give me faith. It was a sweet time with my Savior. I finished and I still have all my allergies. But, the desire and faith to be healed are still there. I daily ask my all-powerful Creator to heal me. If He chooses not to, that’s fine! But, both answers (no/yes) will glorify His name. I trust Him and His timing (healing on earth or in heaven). He knows if He will heal me. I just need to ask and ask often. Trusting Him and knowing that ALL He does is good!

It was a great message and I highly recommend it. You can download it HERE.

So In Love

I am so in love with my church family! The best part of a conference is coming home and worshipping with them! They are so incredible and I am so grateful to God for them!

Reason To Get Up Early

This is the real reason I get up early at NEXT. If you arrive at Starbucks around 8am, there is no line...

We Need Coffee from Next Conference on Vimeo.

D.A. Carson – Session 2 – Sunday

Christ’s Incarnation – My Notes

John 1:1-18

His (God’s) ultimate expression of Himself was Jesus. The ultimate revelation is not more words, but Jesus. The deeds and words of Jesus is the deeds and words of God.

1. The Word creates
2. The Word gives us light and life
3. The Word confronts us and divides us
4. The Word incarnates God for us

It’s the doctrine of creation that grounds all human responsibility.

If God had needed anything (or anyone), he wouldn’t be God.

We are entirely dependent on Him. Our Makers voice is all the creature hears.

God’s love is not so awesome because the world was so big, but because the world was so bad.

The most heinous thing we do is to ignore our Maker. Not recognizing that God made us for Himself. We’re still at the center of the universe.

You have the presence of God or you have nothing.

Do you want to see God, study Jesus!

My Thoughts:

I didn’t walk away from this message extremely convicted. I walked away extremely wowed (I’m not sure if that’s a word.). I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into the conference. It was very obvious that God wasn’t giving me the opportunity to prepare how I wanted or to have, really, any expectations. My prayer was that I would love Jesus more and be wowed by Him. This message began the answer to that prayer. As I listened, I was amazed. I love messages on the Trinity. I love the studying about the Trinity. So, I was all over this message. God became bigger. I was especially struck by His power and just how other He is from me. That knowledge coupled with the knowledge that He loves me more than I can ever imagine, was staggering. The two should not come together. Yet, it does! I cannot get my head around that. He’s the awesome CREATOR of the universe, yet He loves me passionately and died for my sins. That is the biggest mystery and completely confounds my puny brain. I left that message in awe of the majestic Trinity that I know, worship, speak to, love, and am loved by. Being a Christian is the most incredible thing on the planet!

Pictures from Sunday:

Josh Harris – Session 1 – Saturday

Christ’s Preeminence – My Notes:

Colossians 1:15-20

Preeminence – far surpass others, tower above them.

Jesus perfectly, represents God’s character. Jesus is supreme over all earthly powers. His preeminence is in the past, present, and future.

Are you living your life and shaping your life as if Jesus is preeminent?

1. Come to Jesus
2. Hear Jesus Words
3. Put His Truth Into Practice

We often come to Jesus on our way to something else. The Christian faith is all about Jesus. Welcome to a Person who is God. Our confidence must be in Jesus and Jesus alone.

If you ignore the words of the Creator, you’re in trouble. Are we going to hear His words???

If you want to feel deeply, you need to think deeply.

Emotion and feeling need to be grounded on something unchanging, Jesus.

The foolish person didn’t, not hear the truth…he heard, but did not put them into practice. Christian doctrine is for living.

It’s not enough to have yourself in near proximity of the Rock. When Jesus is preeminent in your life, He pushes everything aside and demands first place.

Download SERMON HERE!

My Thoughts From the Sermon:

There was a lot going on in my head. It had been a good time of worship and I was simply enjoying the fact that I was at NEXT for the tenth year in a row. It had been a fantastic trip up. Riding in a bus was incredible! The Lord had tested me during check-in at the hotel (and I failed miserably) with some check-in problems…ggrrrrr. I had, had such a fun time in the bookstore before the session started and now hear I was, listening to Josh. What a great start to a great conference. What stuck out the most to me was the simple fact that Jesus Christ is supreme over ALL. He is before, more important than, in complete control of ALL THINGS. Josh asked if I/we lived our lives and shaped our lives as if Jesus was preeminent? I started thinking about times I’m anxious. Times when I want to know my future and God doesn’t choose to let me in on the secret. Times when things don’t go the way I had planned. Times when I need to obey, but really don’t want to. What am I focused on in those times…myself or my Saviors supreme control? If His preeminence is foremost in my mind, I obey joyfully…I go with the flow, no matter my plans…I trust Him, knowing He has my future completely mapped out…I choose to trust rather than fear, I know He is in control. If Christ is preeminent in my soul and in my life; I do not fear, I am more Christ-like, I am more joyful. That’s something to chew on!

Pics from Saturday:

Great Conference

In the next couple of days I plan on blogging about the conference. I wasn't able to blog while I was there. The cost of internet was ridiculously high... 6.95 a hour, 11.95 a day. So, needless to say, I didn't get online. The conference was amazing and I am really tired. I don't have the brain cells to blog on all God did right now. Until then, here's a couple of pictures. I will be posting them all soon.

NEXT!!!

I leave at 5:30am tomorrow!!!!!!! I am going to try and blog while I'm gone...but no promises. ;)

I'm Ready For NEXT!!!

10 Years

49 days, 10 hours, and 45min…at 7:30pm on May 23 it begins! Next 2009 is approaching fast. As I was thinking about the conference, I began thinking about God’s kindness and all the ways He has blessed me and met me. The first New Attitude was on New Years weekend in 1999. Despite a 21 hour drive (7 singles and two dads in a van…wow that was an experience!), having the flu, and having a pathetic winter coat, it was an amazing trip. Here is a chronological listing of the years and cities (and funny memories I have) that have braved thousands of singles:

New Years Weekend, 1999 – Baltimore, MD

Having the flu

First trip without my mommy

Really weird restaurant…I was convinced there was dead people under the floors…it was weird.

New Years Weekend, 2000 – Baltimore, MD

“Is the Statue of Liberty in D.C.?”

My friend falling into the fountain and getting me all wet.

New Years Weekend, 2001 – Philadelphia, PA

Seeing snow for the first time!

Getting to see a lot of history. I’m a history lover and getting to see the liberty bell and Independence Hall was so amazing!

New Years Weekend, 2002 – Louisville, KY

I don’t remember anything from this trip. How sad is that?

New Years Weekend, 2003 – Louisville, KY

First time on a charter bus!

Our bus almost getting hit by a semi.

New Years Weekend, 2004 – Louisville, KY

First Na with South Carolina friends!

Getting sick and having sores all in my mouth.

No New Attitude in 2005 :(

Memorial Day Weekend, 2006 – Louisville, KY

Mario & JB drinking out of the same cup at the same time.

Memorial Day Weekend, 2007 – Louisville, KY

Emily dragging me down the hallway of the Galt House at 2:30am,

Memorial Day Weekend, 2008 – Louisville, KY

Wendy trying to kill me by pushing me out of the van.

Memories are fun, but not what makes Na/Next a highlight for me. Encountering God is what makes Next the highlight of my year. 4 days of undistracted worship. 4 days of listening to incredibly wise and gifted men teach me Scripture. 4 days of God revealing Himself in small (and big ways). 4 days of interacting all day with my church family. 4 days of laughing and serving. 4 days of concentrated time with my Savior.  

Every Na/Next has been different. But, each year I have grown. Some years were difficult (not all of God’s lessons are easy), some years have been refreshing, and some have blown my socks off. But, it’s the best $400 dollars I spend. I am a different person today because of how God has met me at Na!

I am still amazed that I have been to every one (which makes me old). God has been so kind!

Early Bird Registration has been extended to April 20th!!! There’s still time to register!

Save $25…Register TODAY!

Are you looking for something to do Memorial Day Weekend? Does you passion for your Savior need stoking? Then come out to the Next 2009 Conference. It’s better than grilling, better than swimming, better than Christmas…Come and meet God and be blown away!!!

Don’t wait, register TODAY! Registration increases tomorrow (April 1st, and that’s not an early April Fool’s).

http://www.thisisnext.org/2009-conference#register

Don’t delay…not sure…Just Do It! You won’t regret it!

Traveling Next Sticker

Here’s some more pics that I have taken. :)

 

www.thisisnext.org Check it out!

Twittering...

The Next Staff is now on Twitter...check it out!

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Spread the Word!

http://www.thisisnext.org/2009-conference/spread-the-word

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http://www.thisisnext.org/2009-conference/spread-the-word

Next Promo Video

This is amazing. It gave me goose bumps the first time I watched it...



www.thisisnext.org

More Next Pictures

This is the second installment of my “traveling Next sticker”. This little guy sure gets around. :)

 

Next Project

I’m working on a photography project, just for the fun of it. I’ve been wanting to take more random/odd pictures. I decided to make my project a Next 2009 project. So, in my camera case is a Next sticker. Last night I went to the mall with some friends, I brought my camera along. My goal is to take pictures of the Next sticker with normal and not so normal objects…

 

 

 

And now for my favorite…

This is Next

You’ll hear about the Next conference a lot. It’s my favorite event of the year. But, for now, head over to Next. It’s a pretty cool website… www.thisisnext.org