I'd like to begin by giving two answers to the question, why does this conference exist

or more personally, why do I consider a grace and a privilege to be here first?

Bernard of Clervot wrote those words that song a thousand years ago and said what

language shall I borrow to thank the dearest friend. He was expressing a universal

human experience, namely that human language does not suffice as an adequate

expression of the greatest realities in the universe. What language shall I

borrow? One answer to his question, that God gave in his word and that the church has given

for four thousand years is the language of music. I will borrow the language of singing. The

same conference exists because the realities of the Christian faith are so glorious, so great,

so beautiful, so valuable, they will never, never be adequately expressed by written or spoken

language alone. They must be sung, hence the sing conference. That's my first explanation for why

the conference exists and why I'm honored to be here. Here's number two. It comes from an

interaction over the last 50 years with my wife. Why is it a grace that I'm here and why does this

conference exist, can be seen if I tell you about this interaction? So when we travel together,

which we did yesterday coming down here on the plane and which we've done for 52 years together,

I have said to her countless times in airports, on elevators. I'm so glad that you can go with me.

It makes me happy that we can do this together and do you know that never in five decades, never once

has she said, you are so selfish. It makes you glad that I'm alone. It makes you happy that we

can do this together. You are so selfish, makes you glad, makes you happy, never once she said that.

The reason that this conference exists is found in the answer to the question,

why would she never think to say that? Why would it never enter her mind to say that?

The worth and the glory that we see in others is measured by the gladness that we have in their

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