Resolved February 18th, 7:00 pm
While RESOLVED has not started yet, I am as ever excited for it to start.
Jim Aryes picked me and Kristi up from the De Neve turnaround today at about 12:40pm. I thought this was rather early but I guess Jim didn’t feel like chancing it with RESOLVED on the menu for the weekend (good thinking Jim). From there we drove and arrived at the Hyatt at about 2:30, a good 5 ½ hours early. We didn’t know what were going to do since we had so much time to kill. Kristi checked in and she and I went up to her room to hang out. We watched TV, attempted to nap and just talked about whatever.
Today I kept saying how excited I was for this conference to start. The waiting was becoming unbearable. I don’t think I’ve been this excited to go to something since perhaps my first CBM camps or the trip to Hawaii or even Ecuador. That really says something to how much this conference has been awaited.
It is now all of less than an hour from the start. Everyone is starting to arrive and the whole thing is coming into sight.
One of the other reasons I was looking forward to this was the fact that a lot of people from up north in Sacramento are making the journey to RESOLVED. Among them are Vince, Jarius, Steven, Heidi, and Taffy. Haven’t seen them for a while and I miss them because I was fortunate to get to know them while I was back at City College.
That’s all for now. I will report tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on the amount of energy left tonight after the first session.
February 19th 11:15 am
Since I last wrote, we have heard from Steve Lawson and CJ Mahaney.
Steve Lawson spoke about the person of Jonathan Edwards and the first resolution that he wrote. I was totally blown away with the magnitude of the teaching and how intense it was. It’s like I knew it was going to be but still I was baffled by the power of it. It surpassed my expectations.
Steve’s message really set a tone for the weekend. It totally blew away my expectations and made me want to hear more.
As I am writing now, CJ Mahaney just finished talking about “Interogating the Legalist within”. His funny examples of himself were mixed with teachings and quotes of other people who had the same understanding of justification and sanctification. It clarified a lot about what I thought it meant and it really spoke to me how he gave an example of himself. While he was praying, he confessed his sins but at the same time said he would do other things to try to make up for what he had done.
The point that got me was the fact that by doing this we are saying that the grace of God is not enough for us and our sins, which is totally crazy. CJ really encouraged me to do things because I am motivated by grace, not trying to justify myself.
Next session is quickly starting, better prepare to be fed again.
February 19th 12:10 pm
Since the last entry, two sessions and a long break have occurred.
John MacArthur spoke about a conscience. Although I did fall asleep during a BRIEF portion of the sermon, I did learn a lot. The introduction to the message was actually at least twice as long as the main message. Interesting how he arranged that.
During the break, I met up with the Sacramento people and we decided that we wanted to eat at Costco. Being in Steven’s car, we ended up going to wrong way and it took us about an hour to get where we wanted to go. Once at Costco we all consumed a hot dog and soda along with pizza and/or a chicken bake. Good times. Good food. Good people. That’s all I can say. In the words of Greg Ginn, “how can my home friends be so dope”?
After eating we returned to the hotel where we hung out until the start of the next session. We got our only taste of ALL STAR Weekend while we sat in the bar/lounge area. Talked with Mike and Lola for a while. Russell Peters was the man of the hour but Lola seemed to be unamused by his great comedy. Session started again and our seats weren’t that good so when the concert came around we didn’t stay.
Back to the message. Steve Lawson spoke about resolution #24 of Jonathan Edwards. It was about confessing and forsaking sin. Again it talked about our heart in and about the matter of sinning. We can change the outward actions but the position of our heart is what really mattered.
After hearing Steve Lawson speak and listening to a tad of the concert, Mike and I left to find Chris and David Voce. We wanted to eat so we decided to go to Little Saigon and look for a Pho place to eat at. None were open so we just decided to eat at Lee’s Sandwiches. Haven't eaten there for such a long time and people actually thought it was really bad. Of course I had to prove them wrong so we at there and everyone came to the conclusion that it was actually very good and decent in price.
We returned to Eric’s house and now we are listening to music and just hanging out. Today was very intense but tomorrow we are going to get hit by four sermons. That will be INTENSE. For now I can say that I have learned so much and am looking to learn even more tomorrow and on Monday.
February 20th 1:32 pm
We’re taking lunch right now at Jack In The Box.
The first two sessions so far have been awesome. CJ Mahaney spoke about the Garden of Gasemene. One thing that stood out to everyone was that he was deeply moved and drawn to tears when he was reading the passage. I think that, personally, I’m not usually moved by scripture and I’m not sure that that is such a good thing.
The second session, Rick Holland had quite a job to do to follow the amazing message of Mahaney. But he did it. He actually spoke on the passage of scripture that dealt with the time before the praying in the garden. He spoke about the Lord’s table, or communion. I have never heard a message about that subject matter before and was unaware of its superior importance. I also learned a bit about suffering through the stories of the martyrs.
February 21st 12:29 am
After lunch we came back to the hotel where we hung out in David Voce’s room even though he wasn’t there. I took a nap while everyone else proceeded to other random things. At about 4 o’clock we went to Buca di Beppo for dinner. We order very little but it seemed to be the right amount as we soon had to return to the Hyatt for the 6 o’clock session.
Steve Lawson spoke for the third and last time of the conference. Again he went through a few resolutions and made points about those and then moved on to summarize a sermon that Jonathan Edwards once gave. The main gist of his message concerned time management and how every moment of time was sovereignty given to us. Such a brilliant message.
Then something peculiar happened. As CJ Mahaney took the stage, he called the band back up to keep playing one more song for God’s pleasure. Then he had his own jam session with the band on stage. CJ waltzed around the stage, visiting each of the instrumentalists and had them solo for a bit while the rest of the band played the song. It was awesome. CJ is such an awesome person. And he’s funny. And it showed again through his third and final sermon. He spoke about the heart and how the change can come on the outside but until it happens within, we are no better off.
I thought the idea of four sermons in one day would kill me. Actually now that I am realizing the energy level, I am doing quite fine. It was a lot to take in and I’m sure I didn’t get every point.
Afterwards the gratitude continued and then the night ended with a CJ impersonation type announcement by Jon Rourke. All I can say is it was FUNNY.
Immediately after the service officially ended, me and Boston Monica rushed up there to get a picture with him. As of now, Monica has the picture so I trust that she will not lose it.
In-N-Out followed and then back to Eric’s. Today featured 4 sermons, one by Rick Holland, one by Steve Lawson, and two by CJ Mahaney. All I can say is that is a Sunday to remember. Thanks God. You are the Greatest.
February 23rd 9:29 pm
I now realized that I have not written after the last session.
Kirk Cameron, yes, the Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains and the Left Behind movie(s), spoke for the concluding message. His topic was evangelism. I’ll agree with Dr. MacArthur in that it was probably the best message on evangelism I’ve ever heard. His illustrations are still resounding in my head and his techniques seem to be so simple yet very effective. I love how he is such a down to earth person and how he was able to encourage everyone in that room. I thought it was going to be hard for him to follow messages by Mahaney, Lawson, Holland, and MacArthur, but he did it.
Overall, the weekend was a total hit. I couldn’t have asked for more other than I wish that it was longer. I can say that I have RESOLVED to do things differently. I can only trust in the Lord for strength, guidance, and opportunity. I am here to bring glory to Him.
Soli Deo Gloria. To GOD alone be the glory.
Pictures to come.
Awaiting Resolved 2006. | 
