Piper Recommisioned at BBC

DG put together a good recap of the recommissioning service of Pastor John that we attended (we are by the fall wall, just left under the screen!).  

Attending meant for a very late night for our family (back home after 10 pm, when our oldest has never gone to bed after 8), but it was worth it. I was particularly blessed to hear Sam Storms' exhortation: "Give us more."

John Piper will be missed as pastor at BBC, but he does not plan to leave. Here are his future plans:

• 1 year in TN
• Continue working at DG full time
• 4 book writing projects (at least)

Pastor Jason Meyer

Historic vote at BBC on December 16, 2012 to affirm Jason Meyer as Pastor for Preaching & Vision, and Pastor John Piper as Associate Pastor for Preaching & Vision.  I am thrilled about this.

Below, the poem Pastor John wrote for the occasion following the Sunday morning sermon by Pastor Jason:

The Universe Unleashed:Meditation on a Sermon by Jason Meyer 

No mother, on this groaning earth,Has ever, after giving birth,Bemoaned, beneath her mother's kiss,"Have I endured so much for this?" 

Unless, the groaning earth entwinedLife's cord into another kind,A noose to still her child's first breath,And lay upon her bosom death. 

But even there, believing, sheCan see, beyond the groaning, freeA lifeless Friend who rose, and thenMade all the children live again. 

And when, the final grief is groaned,She’ll whisper to her Friend, enthroned,“My ev’ry loss and lifeless kissI would endure again for this.”

Don't Waste Your Life...Sentence

Announcement from Desiring God today (this event looks to be very edifying!):

What can convicted felons teach us about an un-wasted life? We invite you to find out. 

The Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, LA, is the largest and historically one of the bloodiest maximum-security prisons in the USA. In 2009, John Piper and Desiring God visited Angola to learn about prison life, hear from men who have been radically changed by the gospel, and minister to many of the 5,000 inmates.

On August 20th, we are hosting a premiere of our new DVD documentary created from the experience -- Don’t Waste Your Life Sentence: Voice from the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Join us at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis for the premiere, a live Q & A with some production staff and local prison ministries, and some refreshments.