A praise report: with 6 weeks to go to Next, we already have all the ushers we need. Remember: these are people who pay their own way (travel, lodging, meals) so they can serve us. The security team is also filling up.

In the midst of the financial challenges we are all facing, we are grateful for people who sacrifice their time and money to come to Next… and then work long and hard there to serve us. Rather than worrying about their future financial investments, they are investing their time and money into serving us and, ultimately, our Savior (which they do year round in their local church).

This Saturday evening (18th), Josh and Grant are gathering together all the key people involved in Next. These include those leading:
    * graphic design
    * website
    * registration
    * ushers
    * security
    * bookstore
    * ninjas
    * community groups
    * sound, lighting & video
    * worship
    * photography
    * administration

The above provides a glimpse of the people, the variety of gifting, and the servant hearts, needed to make it all happen.

I can sometimes forget and take for granted how blessed we are; we have never had to run a volunteer recruitment campaign; we don’t have individuals pushing their own agenda; we don’t have people quit because things aren’t being done their way; we don’t have people stepping on others to get recognition.

I’m not saying issues don’t arise: but when they do, humility and hearts to serve our Savior make them non-issues, and so are opportunities to see the gospel at work.

Please do pray for all those involved in the planning and organizing of Next, but above all let’s thank our God and Savior for his work on the cross being daily demonstrated in the lives of the people he has provided for us.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Josh sent me something encouraging yesterday I thought I’d share with everyone.

Over on Josh’s blog Nikki Jones commented about the decision to have Kevin DeYoung speak at Next:

“I read your blog about once a week and i love it! Thank you for the time you put into keeping this updated! But especially today i had to comment on it, because i have to share how amazed i am at God!!

Thank you again for this post and i cant wait to see God continue to faithfully work! :)”

Nikki probably isn’t the only one new to Kevin DeYoung. Most of my friends had puzzled looks on their faces when I told them he was speaking at Next. But I hope that between Josh’s blog and the material we’ve posted from him here that a few more people know who he is and will benefit from his writing and preaching.

I’d heard such good things about Kevin’s book Just Do Something that I bought five copies at the Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference (Obviously, four of them were to give away). Well, I read one of the copies on the plane today and I wasn’t disappointed. Here’s one of my favorite sections:

“God’s will is that we live holy, set-apart lives: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

“He wants you to buy a house that will make you holy. If you marry, he wants you to get married so you can be holy. He wants you to have a job that will help you grow in holiness. Count on it: God’s will is always your sanctification. He has set you and me apart that we would grow to be more like Christ.”

Thanks Kevin for serving us through your writing. We look forward to you serving us with your preaching in May.

Part of our planning process is to consider how we can serve you, as attendees, while you are at Next.

So we have Glen Ballinger, leading the ushers, taking care of everyone arriving for the sessions, during the sessions, and leaving the sessions, as well as helping you find your way around the convention center.

Abe Groveman is leading the security team, a group of men who will be out and about: around the convention center, the hotels, the streets, looking out for you, helping you with directions, caring for you and your interests, in a city you don’t know.

This Saturday (11th) Glen, Abe, and I will be spending time at the convention center, hotels, and surrounding areas to come up with a strategy to serve all the attendees at Next.

Sometimes I feel it is a little selfish to ask for prayer for myself, but I’m also aware that we are dependent on God. As we wish to serve you effectively, please continue to pray for the Next administrators and, as you think of it, this coming Saturday for Glen, Abe, and me as we visit Baltimore.

The April 2009 issue of the Next Webzine is up. Here’s what you’ll find inside…

Author Spotlight
This month we’re highlighting work from Kevin DeYoung. We like Kevin because he’s a young pastor committed to learning from older generations and helping his generation faithfully receive the gospel.

If you’ve never heard of Kevin DeYoung and wonder why he’s speaking at Next check out Who Is Kevin DeYoung?–a brief intro to who Kevin is by our friend Justin Taylor. If you’re already a Kevin DeYoung fan check out the resources from Kevin that Justin lists.  (Our favorite: a sermon series on Ecclesiates.)

We also did an interview with Kevin on everything from his upcoming message at Next to his upcoming book to recommending books for college students.

Kevin DeYoung’s new book on finding God’s will starts shipping today and, coincidentally, we have an excerpt from it: The Long Road to Nowhere. Kevin also takes readers on a tour through the pastoral epistles in the article Truth that Transforms, Doctrine that Damns.

Articles
At a time when more people are shedding layers as summer approaches, Lydia Brownback writes to single girls about the importance of modest…behavior. Her article The Single Woman and The Modesty of Personal Restraint encourages girls to take 1 Peter to the workplace.

Do your friend’s music choices drive you crazy? Bob Kauflin provides some helpful ideas for how to share musical opinions humbly in I Hate That Music.

This month we’re going to start including a new kind of article in each webzine issue. Read the introduction to Rick Gamache’s A Crucifixion Narrative to find out more, and to vividly remember what Christ did on our behalf.

So let us know what you think and how we can make the webzine better. We want to constantly improve and provide more helpful content all the time.

ps. This month’s artwork is by Jeff Martin. Thanks Jeff.

If you’re not signed up to receive our Next updates, this might still be news to you. And it’s big news:

We’re extending the early registration price. (And it’s not even an April Fool’s joke.) We’re serious. We don’t want economic hard times to make it difficult for you to join us at Next. So until April 20, the conference registration cost will stay at $150 for an individual and $225 for a married couple.

We’re happy to be able to do this and we hope it helps.

If you’d like to receive our e-mail updates with future news such as this, put your e-mail address into the field on the page header and click “Get Updates.”

Part of my job on the Next blog is to give ideas on how we can spread the word about Next, and get new people there. But people outside Sovereign Grace might not know about Next. And therein lies our dilemma… How do we get them to know about Next and to go?

So I’m here, ladies and gentlemen, as the advocate of an incredible product. If faithfully implemented, it could revolutionize the conference and make you new friends. No three easy payments of $17.99 necessary. This item is available to you for $Free.99. So, if it fails, I personally will give you all your money back…Honest.

It’s called talking to people. About Next. Using words and such.

Now, don’t knock it like you’re past that and want something more novel to amaze the campus (church/workplace/bus stop) with. We all know people who claim to be Christians. If they are Christians or are interested in knowing what it means to be one, Next would be perfect for them!

A Next Conversation might go something like this:

You: “Hey Timmy and/or Sally.”
Them: “Greetings, You!”
You: “Do you want some of my Cheetos?”
Them: “No thanks, I hate it when my computer gets all orange.’
You:  “Hey, what are you doing over Memorial Day weekend?”
Them: “Hmm…nothing yet. Probably just grilling out.”
You: “You should check out this conference I’m going to. It’s called Next. I’m pumped about it and would love for you to go with me and some of my friends.”
Them: “Oh, neat. Thanks for letting me know. Does it have a website and/or blog?”
You: “Does it ever…”

Easy.

But do it! Do it today! Carry some of the Promo packets around with you and pass them out. I bet people will be more interested than you would think.

See ya there!

As you know, after much brain-storming, consultations, and input, we decided to keep the name the same… much to the delight of many. Ninjas it was, Ninjas it is, Ninjas it will remain.

If you’ve not been to our conference before, the Ninjas are people who are around and about throughout the conference seeking ways to serve and bless us.

Please pray for:
    - Mike & Sarah Thompson, two very busy people, who are leading the team
    - The recruitment of select couples willing to give up their weekend to serve us
    - The planning process, as they decide what to do, when, and how

One of our goals is that if you’ve somehow found your way to thisisnext.org you won’t stay here long but will get pointed to other, better resources.

Don’t get me wrong, we’re glad you’re reading this and want to participate in helping faithfully transfer the gospel to the next generation. But with all the outstanding content out there we’re convinced one of the best ways we can serve you is just by highlighting the excellent work other people have already done. That’s what we try to do every month with the author spotlight in our Webzine and what we want to continue to do on our blog. (Read: You’ll see more posts like this in the future.)

Today, I want to point you to some must-read book reviews by Tim Challies. If you’re a christian evangelical and know how to use a computer, chances are you know who Tim Challies is. I’m grateful for many things Tim does but I specifically appreciate his book reviews. I love the way Tim helps readers think carefully about what they’re reading. Even if you disagree, your sense of discernment will be sharpened.

So here are the top ten book reviews by Challies I think you should read. Some of them are of books he disagrees with, others are of books he agrees with. But most of them are, or have been, widely read books in Christian circles. Lots of people are reading them, so have an intelligent overview of them.

12 Useful Challies Book Reviews

_Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
_The Shack by William P. Young
_Death By Love by Mark Driscoll
_Become a Better You by Joel Osteen
_Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren
_The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
_90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
_The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
_Atheism Remix by Albert Mohler
_Crazy Love by Francis Chan
_The Courage to Be Protestant by David F. Wells
_John Adams by David McCullough
So next time you head off to the bookstore take Tim Challies with you. He loves books and I’m sure he’d love to come along.

Monday was a good day.

Instead of sitting at my desk sending e-mails, making phone calls, and attending meetings, I was gallivanting through the streets of Baltimore. I made this sacrifice to volunteer myself to go about the painstaking work of creating for you, the attendee, a list of restaurants and points of interest around the Baltimore Convention Center.

I admit this task was daunting. My job description here at Next says nothing about having to walk through the city streets on a beautiful, sunny, and only slightly brisk afternoon. But I like a challenge. Armed with a street map and legs for walking, I circumnavigated the convention center several times over, stopping only occasionally to gaze wistfully over the calm waters of the Inner Harbor.

This means that when you show up at Next and have a craving for, well, really whatever you want, you may be spared hours of wandering about aimlessly through the city. Whether it’s pizza from Uno Chicago Grill, a milkshake from Johnny Rocket’s, a burrito from Chipotle, or a good book at Barnes & Noble, Baltimore has it all. Want to do your shopping? There’s a grocery store and a CVS up the street. Want to drop your life’s savings on one meal? M&S Grill or Phillips Seafood are the places for you. And it’s all just a few minutes walk from the convention center.

This being my first solo excursion into Baltimore, I admit I reached a new level of excitement for Next. I can hardly wait until May when these streets are filled with all of you.

Well, that’s the latest from Next headquarters. See you soon.

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go.

Who said this?

You might be surprised. It was Abraham Lincoln. No, this is not the beginning of a political commentary or a review of how the current economic crisis is affecting our planning (although it is).

But the reality of our need, of our dependence on God, is very evident. And in our efforts – or even despite our efforts – we need God to help us.

Everyone involved in Next is very busy.  That’s the problem when you create a team from among the best – they are in demand and involved in many things. Let me give you some examples from our central team of planners: Josh Harris and Grant Layman have been away this last week on a Covenant Life pastors retreat; Bethany Gill went on vacation last week and will come back next week as Bethany Smith; Paul Medler and Brian Whalen are busy working on the Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference which is in two weeks time – Paul, Brian, and Bethany will administrating that conference, and Josh and Grant will be attending it. And then it’s Easter! (And we’re working on a number of other conferences simultaneously.)

This is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to highlight our need (and as the old guy on the team, I especially need it… if only to keep up with the others!).

Please pray for us, that:

  - In the middle of our busyness we will maintain the right priorities (our walk with God is more important than our work on Next)
  - We will not lose sight of our need for God, and that ultimately we are doing everything for him
  - We will know God’s peace as we encounter challenges and appropriate God’s grace in all things
  - We will be diligent, paying attention to detail, being effective in what we are do

And please pray for the host of volunteers who are assisting us – the same prayers will be as relevant for them as they are working on Next… as well as attending to school, work, &/or family (see last week’s prayer post for a list of some of them).

Two things you may have missed if you’re not a subscribed to our Twitter:

1) In response to Jennifer’s post on a group doing a garage sale fundraiser with a lightsaber my church group took it a step further. We combined that iconic lightsaber with another iconic image. The result? We definitely attracted attention. I can’t spoil it, you just have to see it for yourself. (Okay, okay, it’s a huge life-sized cut-out of everyone’s favorite elf.)

2) In the spirit of building humility through competition I challenged the readers of our little Next Conference twitter to get more followers for the Next twitter than the Sovereign Grace twitter.

Of course I know we’re on the same team (we’re really grateful here at Next to be part of the Sovereign Grace Ministries family). And of course I know that there seems to be no mathematical way for us to win this competition (especially given that we have a few thousand people come to Next and that way more people than that are connected to Sovereign Grace in some way). But I think we still have a chance here.  I’m not letting something silly like math get in our way and I’ll tell you why: I believe in impossible underdog miracles. I’ve seen several inspirational sports movies and if they’ve taught me anything, they’ve taught me this: you can make up in enthusiasm what you lack in athleticism, skill, and experience. So never tell me the odds, just tell me to keep trying really hard.

(Of course we don’t mind if you subscribe to the Sovereign Grace twitter and ours too. In fact, we’d love that. In fact subscribe to the Desiring God twitter, and the twitters of other great ministries too. It’s a great way to keep up at a glance with what’s going on.)

We can never put on a conference like Next without a host of volunteers. If you’ve been to Na, you will have seen them serving on various teams: ushers, security, bookstore, ninjas, and a small elite group of logistic-heroes who assist the conference staff.

What you may not know is that these people not only give up their weekend, but they pay their own way!  These are super-servants.

This year we will have a couple of extra volunteer teams: Intercessory Prayer Team (who will be praying for Next up to and during the conference) and the Ministry Team (who will be available to pray for attendees at the end of sessions).

Please pray for the volunteers:
  - The team leaders, as they plan and prepare:
        * Ushers: Glen Ballinger
        * Security: Abe Groveman
        * Bookstore: Drew Garfield
        * Ninjas: Mike & Sarah Thompson
        * Intercessory Prayer Team: Tim Kerr
        * Logistics: Paul Medler
  - For sufficient volunteers for each team
  - That God will provide all that each of the volunteers need to enable them to attend (especially in this economy)
  - That God will bless each volunteer as they make sacrifices in order to serve us

This morning as I was thinking about the frustration of not really knowing what I was supposed to be doing for Next and how things keep changing and Ricky keeps reminding me that I need to write another blog post updating you all on main sessions (even though I feel like I have no idea what is actually happening), the Lord gently brought to mind 1 Corinthians 1:25-31. He reminded me that this is His conference, not mine. He reminded me that I’m foolish, but He’s wise. He reminded me that it is only through His strength that I can accomplish anything and that it’s a privilege to get to be a part of what He’s doing. And He reminded me that I serve a great God who can do great things …especially when I feel clueless. These reminders gave me a fresh excitement for what God is already doing in my life through Next and what He wants to do at the conference. It’s exciting to see how God is already preparing my heart. Do you have any examples of how He’s already working in yours? Please comment, I’d love to hear them.

As far as where we stand on main sessions…things have been changing quite a bit lately; however, I think we’re settling into a stage and seating plot that will work with the budget cuts. Please continue to pray for Darryl Wenger (Paul mentioned him in a previous post). Pray that God would give him favor with the contractors and union labors he’s working with, and that God’s priorities for the main sessions would become clear as we see what is feasible within our budget. And make sure you thank God that we have such a gifted and gracious man to work with us to help make this conference happen!

And if you happen to think of it, I’d love it if you’d pray for me too! Pray that God would reveal to me how I can best serve the conference and that He’d continue to point my eyes back to Him, even when the work ahead seems somewhat cloudy.

People tell us this Twitter thing is big. So we’re going to try it.

We just launched our Twitter at twitter.com/thisisnext (or search for the username “thisisnext”).

Personally, I love Twitter. It’s about the only thing I have time to keep up with during the day. I can’t keep up with all the articles and ebooks and in-depth studies that get published every day. But 140 characters a Tweet? Yep, I can keep up with that.

Here’s what you’ll find on the Next Twitter: You’ll be the first to know when something interesting happens in the world of Next. And you might get extra tidbits like this bit of information I got in an e-mail exchange with Justin Taylor today: “DA Carson: 100,000 miles of travel/year. Reads 500 books/year. Speaks 12 languages. Written or edited 50 books 235 articles and 111 reviews”

Oh, and if we make lots of friends and followers on Twitter something will happen: We’ll twitter the Next 09 conference. (We’re not suggesting that you twitter the conference of course, we’d rather you actually listen to the speakers, but we’ll be happy to do it for you if you can’t make it to Baltimore.)

And if you have no idea what a Twitter is, how to Tweet, and think this is all crazy talk…you can learn more about Twitter at Twitter.com.

The competition was brutal, the stakes were high, and the outcome uncertain. For days on end, some of the most brilliant minds in academia (at least the ones that read this blog…) exerted the full force of their mental capacity to ascertain the answer to our lofty conundrum.

Such was the nature of our recent Naming of the Ninjas contest.  We put power in the hands of the people and let the chips fall as they would. We asked you what you thought we should rename the Ninjas, and it is now with great pleasure that I am able to announce the winner of this most prestigious contest.

Before I proceed with the announcement of the anticipated verdict, I want to thank everyone who took the time to submit their ideas. The suggestions were… diverse. Some of them were nothing short of… stunning. We thank you for your labors.

And so now, with no further delay, I present to you the new name of the Ninjas. This year at Next we are going to call them… the Ninjas.