Basics 2009 Pastors' Conference

Last week Steve and I attended and greatly enjoyed Alistair Begg's Pastor's Conference at Parkside Community Church outside of Cleveland. We stayed with Kent and Anne Ramsay (Kent being the son of our members, Jim and Jeanne). We appreciated their hospitality very much.
My reflections: First, the conference was very-well organized. From the plentiful supply of water-bottles, to the excellent meals, to the relaxed schedule, Basics 2009 was excellent. Parkside's facility is beautiful, well-planned, and utilized to its fullest. Just being there was a real treat.
Second, the preaching was as expected: biblical, passionate, challenging, and Christ-exalting. A Scot, an Irishman, and a Piper make for some excellent sermons. One thing I appreciated about the conference was that each speaker had three sessions (2 plenary and 1 seminar), as opposed to a conference like Together for the Gospel where each person speaks once. Basics 2009 allowed for a greater connection with the speakers and gave them an opportunity to teach on a topic more thoroughly.
Third, I greatly enjoyed the Christ-centeredness of the conference. It was clear that we had gathered around the non-negotiables of the gospel. The speakers ability to joke about differing views on baptism demonstrated a spirit of unity and bond of peace that comes from seeing Christ and Christ alone as gloriously satisfying.
Fourth, the corporate singing, though brief, was powerful. Standing with close to 1,100 men and singing about the glory of the cross is a little glimpse of heaven. I am particularly thankful for Keith and Kristen Getty's music ministry. Biblical lyrics, written for today's singers, with excllent music is a rare combination.
I hope Steve gives his thoughts on the conference. After it was over, he was contemplating becoming a professional conference attender.