All John Piper Books $5.00 !!!!!!!!

From Desiring God Ministries:

Every book in our store will be $5 on June 27-28, Wednesday and Thursday next week.
No limits, so spread the word.
(This sale is online only.)

Thanks to Gary for this HT.

Plow Patrol Pics

On Saturday, June 16th, several 2.22ers went to Mrs. Goodson's home (she's a friend of Elijah's family) to serve her by cleaning up her yard. After many hours and lots of sweat, the work was completed and God was glorified by this ministry.
Why don't you join us next month to help serve someone else? Details coming soon.

Three Share Thoughts from Na

From Beth Riley:

What are the idols in your life? Or "in the pursuit of something, do you sin to get it or sin when you don't get it"? (Todd Murray, he wasn't at the conference :)) In defining idolatry John Calvin stated that the evil in our desire usually doesn't lie in what we want but that we want it to much. Thinking through my daily pursuits I am convicted of the time I spend pursuing pleasure. Pleasure such as being "comfortable", feelings of happiness, getting my way, receiving other people's good opinion ... Whether or not these "sins" are viewed "as bad as" the world or not, the motivation is still the same, namely the pursuit, or idolatry, of SELF. We should call it the "S-word".

Mahaney gave four ways to identify idolatry:

1. through scripture

2. through the Holy Spirit

3. through the church-example: blue strip on his cargo shorts (listen to the sermon for a good laugh)

4. circumstances-what is your response if you don't attain your pursuit?

Mahaney also gave the hard reality of idols in your life, namely that they NEVER deliver. They ALWAYS disappoint. Pure joy cannot be derived from idols, or anything created but can be found only from shifting focus from created things to the Creator. Applying this is hard. I see so much sin that I have been blind to. I see just how much like the world I am in my thinking. But, I am encouraged to be able to struggle and strive to become more like Christ. This is just one of the truths from the conference. I encourage you to listen to the sermons and plan to go next year for the Word taught WILL reveal sin, encourage your heart, and build relationships between the body.

~a debtor to mercy alone

Beth Riley

From Sarah Ross:

Here are my thoughts on the conference. It was Amazing. It completely opened my eyes to so many things. My walk with Christ is so much Stronger and I was able to see sin in my life I was totally oblivious to. It was a true blessing to be able to hear Awesome sermons from such Christ like men. I was able to build friendships and add on to those I already had. I have a clearer understanding of what discernment is and means. One verse that stuck out to me is 1st Corinthians 10:13-14, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."

My action point that everyone could pray for is that I need to be an imitator of God.

From Peter Witkowski:

Spiritual discernment is often something we foolishly believe we possess or it is something we do not realize we lack. Falling into the later category, I ventured into the NA conference believing that my heart would only be warmed by a fleeting emotional high, facilitated by exciting music and passionate pleas from the portable pulpit. I left 4 days later truly convicted, challenged, and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Through the sermons of Piper, C.J. and the other speakers, I saw that my spiritual growth was being stunted by my “own affections” (2 Cor. 6:12b). I was relying upon my heart to guide my spiritual life, being one of the many who spent less than 8 minutes a day in scripture and who often saw their horizons darkened by the despair of sin. This conviction has caused me to spend more time each day reading and studying the word so that I may live more fully for Christ. I also know that God is not pleased by obedience designed as a repayment for Grace. During these past days, I have been applying the teaching I heard by checking my heart to see if my spiritual desire is being replaced by cold, methodical studies.

The music was also resonated with my soul. The songs were all scripturally based and seemed to readily express the repentance and joy that was flowing through my heart. The music presented a rare blend of superb theology and contemporary music. I left with several CD’s.

In short, I would encourage people to go next year because NA is one of the few Biblically based conferences that are designed to equip people of all ages for their life in the real world. The environment is rightfully charged with emotion, because the conference is about making much of grace and more importantly, making much of God. I encourage all to go to the New Attitude website and download the sermons for free.

Cheers,
Peter Witkowski

Guys & Gals Summer Bible Study

Girl's Study - "The 10 Greatest Struggles of Your Life" by Colin Smith

Meet each week at Rachel Shaver's house at 7PM unless otherwise noted.
Contact Rachel for details at rachel.shaver@alumni.cedarville.edu or Beth Riley: bth_riley@yahoo.com
You don't need a book if this is your first time to attend.

Facebook RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2600576001

Guy's Study - "Desiring God" by John Piper

The first meeting will be in Conway - this Thursday, June 14th at the San Fransisco Bread Factory on Hwy 64.
Email Rob Molden rhmoldeniii@yahoo.com or Peter Witkowski pawitkowski@ualr.edu for details.
They will alternate venues - Conway one week, then Little Rock the next.
You don't have to have a book for this first meeting.

Facebook RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2413234206

2.22 Week Links - Book-O-Rama

When I was a kid, during the summer my mom would take my sister and I to the Grant County Library to listen to story time. We'd also participate in the book club, where we'd commit to reading a list of books during the summer.

This week's links are all related to books - for our un-official summer reading club. Who knows, maybe we can all sit on the floor Indian style and have Pastor Jeff read us a story...

Tim Challies highlights four new books from Reformation Trust, featuring R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur & former BCLR pastor Steve Lawson. Be sure to check out the rest of Tim's incredible site for the discerning reader.

John Hendryx lists his "Top Ten Books on Piety, Sanctification, Spiritual Growth" over at Reformation Theology. (HT: Taylor)

Non-Fiction - Al Mohler makes his summer reading recommendations for your leisure reading. (HT: Challies)

Crossway Books has some compelling titles coming out this summer and fall. Here's a list - you can discern which ones are compelling!

I don't wanna read! - Before you say that, consider some thoughts from C.J. Mahaney, Al Mohler and John MacArthur.

What are you reading this summer? Leave a comment below & let us know.

The Hunter and the Quarry

"We are the hunters. They are the quarry. It is for men to strike out into the forest and look. It is for women to crack the twigs and stir the leaves so we know where to find them."

This was a quote read by C.J. Mahaney at the recent Na conference, from the book "Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart" by John Ensor. This illustrative quote caught the attention of those of us in attendance, and has since become sort of an "inside joke" among us (look for t-shirts soon!).

Well, if you're interested in finding out more about this book, Tim Challies - THE "discerning reader" has done us a service by reviewing this book on his blog. You can read his full review here.

Now, it's not just guys who've been reading this book...the girls over at Girl Talk (Carolyn Mahaney & daughters) will be reading this book in their new & upcoming Book Club.