Monday, January 01, 2024

Personal Reflections: A Dozen Memorable Events of 2023

 


Image: CRBC Meeting House, Louisa, Virginia

Here are a few reflections on at least a dozen highlights from 2023 in general chronological order. I’ve composed similar lists the last couple of years. Look here for 2021 and 2022 reflections.

First: My oldest daughter Hannah was married to her husband James on January 7, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. I was honored to walk her down the aisle and co-officiate at the wedding with their Pastor.

Second: On Friday, April 14, 2023 I was happy to serve as host Pastor for the inaugural Presbyterion, Spring Pastors’ Fraternal, hosted by the Reformed Baptist Fellowship of Virginia, meeting at CRBC, and to offer a review of a chapter, along with three other brothers, of James Renihan’s Exposition of the 1689 Confession.

Third: I greatly enjoyed teaching a weeklong intensive course on the Gospels for IRBS-UK in Ramsbottom, England from April 24-28, 2023. I also had the privilege of preaching at the Trinity Baptist Church in Charlesworth and the Trinity Grace Church in Ramsbottom on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Fourth: My second daughter Lydia was married to her husband Brendon on June 3, 2023 in Alexandria, Virginia. I was honored to walk her down the aisle and to co-officiate at the wedding with one of their Pastors.

Fifth: I traveled to the UK June 12-17, 2023 to speak at two Trinity & Text conferences for the Trinitarian Bible Society. I gave lectures on “The Providential Preservation of Scripture” and on “The Trinity and the Text of John 1:18” in Lisburn, Northern Ireland on June 14 and in London on June 16. I enjoyed good fellowship and travel with Samet Sahin of Turkey and Jonathan Arnold of TBS. I also preached in midweek meetings at Westminster Baptist Church in central London and Ridley Hall Evangelical Church in Battersea.

Sixth: I taught the Life and Teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Luke to the children of CRBC during our annual Vacation Bible School, June 19-22, 2023 in Louisa, Virginia. Later in the summer, on July 21-22, 2023, I organized and oversaw the 2023 Virginia Reformed Baptist Youth Conference at Machen Retreat and Conference Center in Highland County, Virginia.

Seventh: I enjoyed a week of vacation with my family at the beach in Topsail Island, North Carolina July 10-15, 2023, which included a 90th birthday celebration for my father-in-law.

Eighth: My booklet Why John 7:53—8:11 Is In The Bible was published by the Trinitarian Bible Society. Along with several other articles and book reviews which appeared in various places, I also wrote an extended essay titled “Retrieving the Bibliology of John Owen” for the 2023 Journal of International Reformed Baptist Seminary.

Ninth: I attended the International Congress on Calvin Research, held at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 25-28, 2023, where I presented a paper on “John Calvin as Textual Critic in his Commentary on John” and got to visit the Meeter Center for Calvin Research. Some of my family came along for the trip and we got to watch several baseball games along the way including Tigers-Giants in Detroit and Pirates-Phillies in Pittsburg, as well as the minor league White Caps-TinCaps in Grand Rapids.

Tenth: I attended the 2023 Keach Conference at Covenant Reformed Baptist Church in Warrenton, Virginia on Saturday, September 30, 2023 where I delivered the annual “Orientation” to the conference and enjoyed meeting and hearing Pastor Geoffrey Thomas of Wales.

Eleventh: I officiated at the wedding service for my niece and her husband at Ash Lawn Highland in Albemarle County, Virginia on October 28, 2023 and got to spend time with my siblings and their families.

Twelfth: I attended and had the privilege of giving two lectures on the “Authenticity of Scripture” and the “Accuracy of Scripture” at the 2023 Kept Pure in All Ages Conference hosted by the Five Solas OPC Church in Reedsburg, Wisconsin on November 3-4, 2023.

I am thankful for the Lord’s kindness in these and many other memorable moments in 2023. I am very blessed to pursue and do many things that I greatly enjoy.

SDG!

JTR

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