It’s a Long Way To Minnesota

It was just about a year ago that I first liveblogged a conference. I posted the following:

By the time you read this I should be well on my way to Minneapolis. It is amazing how three hours worth of flying can consume an entire day. It will take about an hour to get to the airport and of course I have to be at the airport at least two hours in advance so I can clear security and customs. I then have a three-hour layover in Milwaukee before I finally board the plane for Minnesota. It seems that the total travel time, from my house to the hotel in downtown Minneapolis will be something like nine hours, only three of which will be in the air. Of course I fully intend to use this time to catch up on some reading and writing.

If you happen to live between Toronto and Minneapolis and see a MidWest Airlines jet fly over, feel free to wave. If I see you I’ll wave back.

Since the 2005 Desiring God National Conference I have been blessed with the privilege of blogging several other notable conferences. This weekend I will be completing a circle of sorts by returning to Minneapolis to blog the 2006 Desiring God National Conference. Strangely enough, my itinerary this time is exactly the same. However, this time I am travelling with two friends and will spent my three hour layover in Milwaukee meeting and having lunch with a long-time reader of this site who just happens to live there.

This weekend’s conference will confront the issue of “The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World.” David Wells, Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, will set the stage for us on the theme, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World. Don Carson, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, will speak on “The Supremacy of Christ and Love in a Postmodern World.” Tim Keller, Senior Pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, will address “The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World.” Mark Driscoll, the Lead Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, will aim at the topic “The Supremacy of Christ and the Church in a Postmodern World.” Voddie Baucham, the founder and leader of Voddie Baucham Ministries in Texas, will tackle the theme “The Supremacy of Christ and Truth in a Postmodern World.” John Piper’s address will focus on “The Supremacy of Christ and Joy in a Postmodern World.”

John Piper writes, “We would like to worship this Christ with you. That is what we plan to do: speak, think, pray, and worship the supreme Christ.” I hope you’ll check in over the course of the weekend, which lasts from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon, to read updates from the conference. I am travelling with a laptop and a camera and hope to bring updates both textual and visual, that will provide a sense of what is being said, what is being done, and who is here to enjoy the conference.

I also covet your prayers. I get occasional emails from others who have liveblogged conferences and they always write, “I can’t believe how hard it is!” And they are right! It is a difficult task and one that always makes me nervous (and even more so when having to attempt to encapsulate what is said by a guy as brilliant as David Wells). I’d be grateful if you would pray for wisdom and ability for me as I try to accurately relay what happens in the conference.

I should have my first update later this evening.