L'abri Conference 'n Thangs

WELL I MADE SOME CHANGES SO THAT THE WEBSITE LINKS WOULD WORK THIS TIME.....................

What's a "L'abri?"

I'll use the description L'abri itself gives:

L'Abri is a French word that means shelter. The first L'Abri community was founded in Switzerland in 1955 by Dr. Francis Schaeffer and his wife, Edith. Dr. Schaeffer was a Christian theologian and philosopher who also authored a number of books on theology, philosophy, general culture and the arts.

The L'Abri communities are study centers in Europe, Asia and America where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life. L'Abri believes that Christianity speaks to all aspects of life.

So that's what L'abri is.

L'abri Conference is affiliated then with, of course, L'abri, as well as with several different churches and Christian organizations. And a bunch of different speakers, pastors, professors, etc., come and lecture on different things, such as "cynicism in Christians" or "echoes of redemption in film" or "instrumental faith: why it's wrong"....

And it was incredible. I learned so much, particularly from Edith Reitsema and Denis Haack. Edith Reitsema offered a workshop, "Help for Cynical Christians," and Denis Haack gave a plenary lecture (where everybody at the conference gathered to listen) on film, and "echoes of redemption" in many, many movies. Of course he used Shawshank Redemption. But then he also talked about American Beauty, which I was psyched about. I got to talk more to him later in one of his workshops in which he and his film-maker friend, Toddy Burton, discussed different things about film and culture with the audience/class.

Toddy Burton is really cool, a good filmmaker and a solid follower of Jesus. We got to watch her short film "The Aviatrix." It's really good. I suggest you go watch it here.

Anyway, I got to stay and talk to Denis Haack for about fifteen minutes after his workshop. After talking to him further and discussing film with him, and hearing his views on the subject, which uncannily matched my own views, I told him that I wished I could talk to him for hours...And I will probably get to do just that next year, because Mr. Hodges told me I would be able to if I really wanted to, next year, when he and I and the other students of the Center for Western Studies come up to L'abri for two weeks.

If you want to find out more about Denis Haack, you can go to his blog here, or you check out his ministry's (Ransom Fellowship) website here.

That's all I got today. I'm tired from the twelve-hour drive back home.