Louisville, Kentucky; April, 2008. Albert Mohler has just concluded his lecture at the 2008 Together for the Gospel Conference. I make my way to the front of the auditorium, clutching my copy of Dr. Mohler’s new book, Culture Shift, hoping to get it signed by the man himself. If successful, this will be the second signature I have acquired, the first being that of John MacArthur on the new 25th anniversary edition of The Gospel According to Jesus. I feel confident — not in my chances of getting the coveted signature, but of something far more important: not saying something stupid in the few seconds I will have in his presence. I managed to maintain my dignity with my Favorite Living Theologian, Dr. MacArthur, even making a couple of intelligent comments; surely I can manage it with Mohler, as well.
I wait behind the ropey-thing that separates the celebrities from the groupies while Dr. Mohler converses with a young seminary student (I know he is a seminarian because he has that broke-but-trying-very-hard-to-look-scholarly appearance). He approaches, pausing momentarily to jot a note on a scrap of paper and hand it to one of his minions. Suddenly, it strikes me: he has more brains in that fancy fountain pen than I have in my whole body. Like a child ducking behind his mother’s skirt, my brain sneaks away. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. I silently hold out my book, only vaguely aware of how stupidly mute I am. Dr. Mohler looks at me expectantly; I say nothing. He takes the book, signs it and hands it back. Finally, my tongue breaks loose.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he replies, and moves on.
Back at my seat, I open the book. It is signed, “To David.” I spend the remainder of the day, name tag hanging around my neck, wondering how he knew my name.
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Posted in: Humor? · Together for the Gospel 2008
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14 Comments:
#1 || 08·07·19··12:43 || Victoria Lynch
That is so funny!!!
Dr. MacArthur is also my favorite living theologian. I have been getting his tapes(now CD's)for more than 30 years. I used to get his taped sermons when they were a dollar each. Imagine that!
I honestly feel like every important thing I know about God I learned from him.
I have met him twice and basically did the same as you did with Al Mohler.
I guess silence is better than stupidity. And then being a woman it was really important to me not to blow it, but when I am nervous I usually do!
Makes me wonder how we'll do when we stand before the only ONE who really matters?
#2 || 08·07·19··14:52 || Jeremy
I have a story about meeting Dr. MacArthur. I wish I could tell it on the internet.
#3 || 08·07·19··15:34 || David
Victoria, I have stacks of Grace to You cassettes, too. I think they were $2.00 when I got them, though. MacArthur completely changed the way I read the Bible.
Jeremy, that’s not fair. Now I’m dying to know what you did that was so embarrassing.
#4 || 08·07·19··20:14 || Jeremy
It's more about what I couldn't do.
OK, here goes. Dr. MacArthur was going to be preaching in Knoxville a couple of years ago at a 'Real Evangelism' Conference. I don't know how to explain that. Anyway, the Church is about twenty minutes from my house so I have to go. Of course, they sing a million songs, Geraldine talks to little 'Ricky', Somebody preaches a message from one of the passion narratives in the John's Gospel and somehow makes it about Bill Clinton, and I have to make water. So I go to the bathroom and get ready to go when Dr. MacArthur walks in and comes to the only open place right next to me. We nod, and then I end up going outside and waiting because I can't make in the presence of Dr. MacArthur, and I don't want to just stand there until he leaves so I pretend I'm done. After he comes out and gets out of sight I go back in.
Feel free to delete this if you want to.
#5 || 08·07·19··21:47 || David
Now that’s a funny story, and one I can relate to. I don’t feel compelled to delete it, but I will at your request.
#6 || 08·07·20··19:05 || Jonathan Moorhead
Jeremy, that is truly funny.
David, I'm glad I didn't have your problem because I was wearing Norm Harris' name tag.
#7 || 08·07·21··08:52 || David
Jonathan, I suppose it's lucky I recognized you, then.
I think Jeremy should have taken the opportunity to correct Dr. MacArthur’s eschatology.
#8 || 08·07·21··09:04 || Daniel
Long ago I ran into a rather famous wrestler on the street, myself and my cousin actually. We looked at one another and said, Hey! That's ________! And immediately we put ourselves in his company and drawing his full attention to ourselves we suddenly realized we had nothing to say. After an awkward ejaculation of such profound things as, "Hey you're ________!" and the like, we ran out of things to say.
It must have been a pretty common thing for him, because he thrust out his big meaty hand, and shook each of our in its turn, then smiled at as, thanked us for our kind words, and excused himself graciously.
We marveled afterward, both at our own sudden inability and again at the command he had of our language - considering we had never heard him string more than five words together on TV...
#9 || 08·07·21··12:40 || Jeremy
I'm also reminded of some more potty humor...
Some guys from our Church went to one of the semi-annual association meetings at a local Church. Above the urinals they had posted the ABC's of salvation. If they had been Presbyterians I suppose they could have wrapped up Conversion and Baptism in one easy step.
#10 || 08·07·21··13:22 || David
Now this is degenerating — from professional wrestlers to urinal baptisms . . .
#11 || 08·07·21··13:38 || Victoria Lynch
Yep-you guys need to get out of the toilet,
and please leave Dr. Mac's eschatology alone!
#12 || 08·07·21··17:28 || David
I don’t disagree with MacArthur’s eschatology, but I know Jeremy does. I just thought he might have taken advantage of a somewhat captive audience to have his say.
#13 || 08·07·22··06:20 || Victoria Lynch
My,my David
I hope you did not just open a theological can of worms!
#14 || 08·07·22··06:27 || Victoria Lynch
By the way -thanks so much for the great links you post! I just found my way to White Horse Inn and some excellent resources thanks to the links you have posted this morning.