Dreaming of T4G

The guys (Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Lig Duncan and C.J. Mahaney) who put on the Together for the Gospel conference in 2006 are doing it again next month in Louisville, KY.  I didn’t get to go in 2006, but I did buy the MP3’s of all 7 sessions and I’ve listened to them repeatedly.  (The addresses by Dever, Mahaney and John Piper are especially good, although I can easily recommend all 7.)  I would really like to go this year, but the facts are these:

  • I don’t know anyone who lives in Louisville, so I’d have to get three nights in a hotel - and since I don’t want to rent a car, it would have to be close to the venue. Cost: around $350, once you factor in the hotel taxes.
  • Louisville, KY isn’t within easy driving distance of Mount Vernon, WA, so I’d have to fly.  Cost:  $250-300, depending on when I buy the ticket.
  • Then, I have to actually register for the conference.  Cost: $299.
  • I might want to eat sometime during my trip.  Cost: $100-200, depending on what kind of restaurants are available in the area.

So, to add it all up, I’m looking at paying over a thousand dollars for this conference.  Is it worth it?  On the one hand, yes.  The preaching will be stellar, and the opportunities for meeting people will be good.  (I’d especially like to touch base with Tim, Justin and Thabiti, all of whom write blogs that I regularly frequent.)  I also want to see how the mapping application that was built for T4G turned out.  (The T4G guys asked software companies for bids to build it, and I was “first runner-up.”  I’m curious to see the results from the winner!)

On the other hand, that’s a lot of money, and there are many other ways to spend it - debt retirement, home improvements, family trips, etc.

How to decide?  Again Messrs. Mohler, Dever, Duncan and Mahaney are here to help me out.  They’re asking questions on the T4G blog and giving out free registrations to the best answer to each question.  (I’ve answer four of the five questions so far.  Haven’t won yet.)  If I won a ticket, that would probably put me over the edge into the “going” category.

So, anyone know of cheap accommodations in Louisville, just in case I find favor in the site of … whomever is choosing the best answers?

March 10 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »