The ending of one year and the beginning of another naturally
lends itself to reflection. For the fourth consecutive year, here are a dozen memorable
events from the year past (see 2021,
2022,
and 2023
reflections) in rough chronological order:
First: I had two books published (or republished in new editions) this year: First,
my book on the doctrines of grace, Before
the Foundation of the World: Doctrines of God’s Free Grace (Broken Wharfe,
2024). Second, my simplification and abridgement of John Owen’s work on
ecclesiology, Gospel
Church Government (Grace Publications, 2024).
Second: I attended and participated in the 25th Year Anniversary Banquet,
Faculty Conference, and Graduation Ceremonies at International Reformed Baptist
Seminary (IRBS) May 16-18, 2024 in Mansfield, Texas.
Third: I joined three brothers from a sister RB church in Virginia for a
ministry trip to Costa Rica, May 30-June 3, 2024. I had the privilege of
teaching in a Bible Conference at the San Jose RB Church and then preaching on
the Lord’s Day at the RB church in Liberia. Thankful for Luke Peterson for
organizing the trip.
Fourth: I had the privilege of teaching the children of CRBC in our summer Bible
School on the great writing prophets of the OT (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and
Jonah), June 17-21, 2024.
Fifth: I enjoyed a week of vacation with family at Topsail Beach, North
Carolina, June 24-29, 2024.
Sixth: I had the privilege of teaching the youth of CRBC using Peter Masters’
book Steps for Guidance in the Journey of Life at our annual Youth Conference held at the
Machen Conference Center in Highland County, VA, July 19-20, 2024.
Seventh: I has the privilege of serving as the founding chairman of the Reformation
Bible Society and participating in our first annual conference on August 3,
2024 at the Liberty Mountain Conference Center at Liberty University in Lynchburg,
VA, where I presented a plenary address titled, “How Did the Early Church Use
the Septuagint?”
Eighth: Our family reached a milestone when my youngest son left home to begin
engineering studies at Virginia Tech in late August, 2024.
Ninth: We hosted my friend Pastor Miklos Chiciudean (from Soli Deo Gloria BC in
Budapest, Hungary) and his wife Kinga, September 26—October 2, 2024. This
included attending the 2024 Keach Conference at Grace Baptist Chapel in Hampton,
VA on September 28, 2024 where Pastor Miklos and Pastor D. Scott Meadows, from
Calvary RBC in Exeter, NH, preached on the perseverance of the saints.
Tenth: I preached at the 2024 Salisbury Conference, October 4-6, 2024, at
Emmanuel Church in Salisbury, England, addressing four conference messages on the
theme, “Experiencing the Word of God” and preaching on the Lord’s Day. Our
generous host was Pastor John Thackway and wife Margaret. After the conference my
wife and I enjoyed a few days of travel in Cornwall (including Newquay, St. Ives,
and Port Isaac) and Wales (Cardiff).
Eleventh: I had several book reviews and articles published throughout the year in
Puritan Reformed Journal, Bible League Quarterly, Biblical
Theology Bulletin, and the TBS’s Quarterly Record. These included, “Verses
with ‘Zero-Support’ in the Modern Critical Text of the Greek New Testament,” QR
No. 649 (October-December, 2024): 21-26.
Twelfth: I enjoyed a ministry trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 18-21,
2024. I spoke at the annual conference of the Trinitarian Bible Society-USA on
Monday, November 18 on the topic, “Why
the KJV is still the best Bible in English: A dozen (or so) reasons as
to why one might justifiably prefer to use (or continue to use) the AV
translation of the Bible.” I also visited with some faculty, staff, and
students at Puritan Seminary and did some planning/preparation for the 2025
Reformation Bible Society meeting, which will be held, DV, in GR.
“My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15).
SDG!
JTR
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