“This world is full change and even the spiritual circumstances of the godly are exceeding changeable in many respects. What different frames are the godly in at different times? Sometimes in the Light and sometimes in Darkness. Sometimes Joyful and at another time cast down with Sorrow. Though the Light doesn’t always shine, sometimes tis day and sometimes night, and often is the Light hidden with clouds. But they that ascend this Ladder [of Happiness] (gen. 28:12), it will bring them to that Glorious City where there is no night (Revelations 22: 5). And there was no night there, neither shall there ever be a cloud to hide any of the Light of God’s Glory. In this world the saints often meet with sorrowful changes. They meet with great affliction, and sometimes are sorely persecuted. But they that ascend this Ladder, it will bring them to where there is no affliction nor persecution. The Church here sometimes is agitated with horrible storms and tempests, but the Ladder which God hath set on the Earth will bring it far above the reach of stars. Above clouds and tempests, where such things cannot molest them. They shall dwell in perfect and perpetual tranquility. Not only this Earth that we live upon is full of changes, but the visible Heavens also are so. The sun, moon, and stars are continually changing, performing their revolutions from day to day and age to age, sometimes in one part of Heaven and sometimes in another, and they are liable to eclipses. But this Ladder reaches far above all such changes to a world of Immutable and Eternal Glory and Blessedness." “The Ladder of Happiness,” p. 3 Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions to help keep him focused on the glory of God revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. To read and download all seventy resolutions: click here

The Dwell Conferencel Jeremiah 29:4-7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Well I spent last week in New York at The Dwell Conference hosted by the Acts 29 Network and the Redeemer Church Planting Center. We met in this old Unitarian Universalist church building. Its architecture was amazing though I could not help but feel a little weird worshipping in a building whose leaders sold their soul to the demon of compromise in the name of social gospel. Here's a picture for you: The conference was beneficial in several ways. One, for me spiritually, to be preached to and fed and not be the one preaching. I was blessed to be rebuked and challenged and free to worship without my normal pastoral responsibilities. C.J. Mahaney was particularly convicting as well as my friend Darrin Patrick. C.J. drove home the need for Pastors to have a regular plan and method of making themselves open to correction by their wives and leaders. Darrin drove home the need for Pastors to always be living intentionally missional lives with non-Christians. Second, the conference was a blessing for me relationally, to connect with new pastor friends and spend some time with old friends. I had the privilege of meeting several men who are in the planning or recently planted stage and was able to both impart wisdom and get some good feedback. I also had the privilege of meeting my church planting coach, David Pinckney. David is probably ten years older than me and pastors an Acts 29 church of a few hundred people out in New Hampshire. David has been a blessing to me both in encouragement and in challenging me with several tools to aid us in The Resolved Church plant. Also, I had a chance to spend some time with Mark Driscoll one of the evenings after the conference sessions. For some reason I've sort of held Mark in superstar status in my head before and probably still do in some ways...but I was blessed by his humility and openness of friendship toward me. Mark asked about how The Resolved Church was doing and encouraged us that we are on the right track as we are maintaining our missional drive without compromising our dedication to the true gospel. Lastly, the conference was a blessing in that it stretched my thinking regarding how we might fulfill the mission God has called us to for the The Resolved Church to be a glory driven, gospel centered city within the city. Tim Keller spoke twice and outlined a biblical theology for a church to follow after the pattern of Christ and the apostles through missional incarnation, a cross centered message, and kingdom deeds among the city. Missional incarnation tells the story of a God who created us in his image and then came in a manger to rescue us because we have all defaced that image. Jesus' cross gives us our righteousness through his perfect life given to satisfy the debt of wrath we owe to God, thus all of our life is found in and through the cross. Kingdom deeds point to Jesus kingship and his imminent return to make all things new and thus every earth, human, and social issue is a gospel issues as it points to the fulfillment of Jesus' soon and coming kingdom. Thanks to all who gave a little extra financially in order to send me to this conference. You'll be hearing about it more in up and coming weeks as we seek to implement some of the things learned there. It is my joy to be your pastor. Soli Deo Gloria. - Pastor Duane

Regular Activities: + Next Biblical Manhood Mid-Week Group: May 20th at 7pm. For more info go to www.theresolved.com/midweek.htm or call (619) 393-1990 + Next Resolved Moms: May 9th at 10:00am. *This group is now meeting at Trolley Barn Park in University Heights.* Go to www.gothere.com/UniversityHeights/trollybarn-park.htm for directions. For more info call (619) 393-1990, leave a message, and one of the moms will call you back. + Next Theology on Tap: NOW MEETING ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS!!!! The next meeting will be May 14th. This next week we will be meeting at Pizza Port in Del Mar/Solana Beach. A more specific update will be sent out through the Theology on Tap mailer very soon after this email is sent... For more general information check out the Theology on Tap myspace:www.myspace.com/resolvedtheologyontap. + Next Mission Gorge Group: This Thursday, May 8th. Dinner served at 6:30pm. Discussion and prayer topic: "Idols in the 21st Century" For more info go to www.theresolved.com/midweek.htm or call (619) 393-1990 Special Events/Dates: + San Elijo Camping, May14th-15th! Greg reserved a campsite in San Elijo as a space to hang out and celebrate Carrie's birthday. Up to 6 more people are welcome to hang out at Greg's site, any more will have to reserve their own. The plan is to drive up there straight from Theology on Tap at Pizza Port on the night of the 14th. If you're interested in this, you're probably already friends with Greg or Carrie so call either of them for more info. + Theo 101 - Theology of The Resolved Church, our church membership and gospel class, will begin May 18 and end July 20th (8 weeks). We meet in the school of "Calvary Baptist Church" in the classroom adjacent to the parking lot with an exterior door. In this class we discuss the story, vision, values, doctrine, and mission of The Resolved Church. It is required for official church membership and is a great way to get to know people and really understand who The Resolved Church is and what it is about as a church plant. To read more about our church's view of membership: www.theresolved.com/members. If you would like to sign up for the class CLICK HERE and type your name in the subject line.