Pepperdine University Pepperdine Digital Commons Pepperdine Bible Lectures: Programs Religion 2011 68th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectureship -- Psalms: God's Unchanging Faithfulness (2011) Jerry Rushford Pepperdine University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/churches Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Rushford, Jerry, "68th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectureship -- Psalms: God's Unchanging Faithfulness (2011)" (2011). Pepperdine Bible Lectures: Programs. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/churches/69 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Religion at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pepperdine Bible Lectures: Programs by an authorized administrator of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. GOD’S UNCHANGING FAITHFULNESS THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER 68TH ANNUAL BIBLE LECTURES May 3 - 6, 2011 Malibu, California Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. FOR THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER; HIS FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS. Psalm 100 The New International Version Message from the President Many believe we are at a turning point in America. But whether that be true or not, we are always at a crossroads, constantly challenged by our God. It’s important to reexamine our relationship with the Creator, and this year’s Bible Lectures provide a tremendous opportunity to do just that. Two thoughts leap to mind as we approach this year’s theme, “God’s Unchanging Faithfulness.” First, we must open our eyes to the unsurpassed majesty of the God of the Universe. The Book of Psalms, our text for this week, leaves no doubt that God reigns supreme… He is high and lifted up, far beyond all other beings and powers. No one or no thing is remotely like Him. Not only is He all powerful and all loving, but also His very Name is majestic in all the earth. The 2011 Pepperdine Bible Lectures will challenge us to come before our magnificent God and endeavor to behold His beauty, His excellence and His enduring faithfulness! A second thought follows immediately as we pause to consider the source of all goodness and life. God’s steadfast love and creative power call for our sincerest and most profound praise. It is true that we often fail to adequately acknowledge, on a daily basis, the God in whom we live and move and have our being. But even when we do remember Him, our feeble efforts at praise seem to fall far short of what He deserves, and we may become discouraged. However, we will be called to reflect more deeply, to sing a new song, and to find fresh ways to lift high the Name that is above all names. It is likely to be a challenge that has eternal consequences. We hope you will feel at home at Pepperdine, and we trust you will enjoy the wonder of God’s earth that He so beautifully displays on the mountains above the sea in Malibu. He has given us this lovely campus to use to His glory. And we encourage you to come before our reigning Lord—in joyful assembly with many of His children— to seek a new depth of understanding of Him and a more profound expression of praise to the One who made us, who loves us and who wants us to know Him intimately. Much human effort has gone into preparing for this spiritual conference. But we want you to know, we believe it is the Holy Spirit who will bring great things into our lives—if we allow Him to live and work through us. May these special days prepare you to thrive and to serve more fully in the power of praise, because of God’s steadfast love. Andrew K. Benton President As a Christian University, Pepperdine Affirms THAT GOD IS That God is revealed uniquely in Christ That the educational process may not, with impunity, be divorced from the divine process That the student, as a person of infinite dignity, is the heart of the educational enterprise That the quality of student life is a valid concern of the University That truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in every discipline That spiritual commitment, tolerating no excuse for mediocrity, demands the highest standards of academic excellence That freedom, whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic, is indivisible That knowledge calls, ultimately, for a life of service Message from the Lectures Team Long ago, God’s people would journey from near and far to the mount of God, to present themselves before the Lord at His holy temple. And as they went up to Jerusalem, they would joyfully sing the “Psalms of Ascent,” the “going up” songs. We hope that many thousands of Christians will have that kind of exhilarating attitude as they travel to Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, to seek a deeper faith and experience from the Lord of Heaven. This year at the 68th annual Bible Lectures, we believe there will be a spirit of joy and praise that is more profound than in all the preceding years of this forum! That is our desire and our prayer as a Lectures Team. And it is the goal toward which we have been striving for many months now. As you know, there are moments that come in a person’s life that never appear again—the birth of a child, the warmth of a new love, that certain sunset over the ocean, the morning fog in the pines. Seven men of God will be in Malibu to bring us before the Lord of unchanging faithfulness, and they will open “God’s hymnal,” the extraordinary Book of Psalms. And we believe these will be moments not to be missed. We are convinced that they will point us toward the incomparable Christ and the everlasting Father of Lights. God knows that words and music can do things to the human heart that nothing else can do. That’s why the Psalms have blessed millions of people through the ages. And this week in Malibu will be like no other. Perhaps you are aware that we have been expanding the Pepperdine Bible Lectures into an international forum, and this year we will welcome participants from 30 nations around the world, including teachers from 40 states of America. Jerry Rushford, Joella Michael, Tami Williamson, and Rick Gibson There will be an anticipatory spirit of Pentecost in the air as people stream onto campus and into more than 300 classes and events presented by excellent and enthusiastic teachers “This special week will be about lifting and performers. There’s nothing quite like it, from brilliant mornings to star-studded evenings. highest praise and adoration to the God Now is a historic time, as human events seem to be reaching a crescendo. Now is the time for Christians to be about the who is good beyond compare and whose love business of God’s kingdom—now, more than ever! This special week will be about lifting highest praise and adoration to the God who is good beyond compare and whose love endures endures forever! Welcome . as you join the forever! Welcome . as you join the saints who are singing the “going up” songs to the Lord, here above the endless sea saints who are singing the “going up” songs that stretches out like the limitless love of God! to the Lord, here above the endless sea that The Lectures Team stretches out like the limitless love of God!” OUR GLOBAL GUESTS IT B XHI E ECTURES ART L NATIONS LE Christians From 30 Nations Are Teaching On This Year’s Program B BI BOLIVIA GUATEMALA RUSSIA BOTSWANA HONDURAS RWANDA CANADA JAPAN SENEGAL CHINA KENYA SWAZILAND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MALAWI THAILAND ECUADOR MEXICO THE GAMBIA EL SALVADOR NEW ZEALAND UGANDA ESTONIA NIGERIA UKRAINE GHANA PANAMA UNITED STATES GREECE PHILIPPINES ZAMBIA GALLERY EXHIBITS ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY GAy BAnowskY DALLAS, TEXAS YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE AWARD WINNING WORK THEY create FOR THE UNIVERSITY. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY to see work from their personal portfolios. This exhibit features drawings, paintings, and photography from members of Pepperdine’s Public Affairs team. MAy 3-6, 2011 FREDERICK R. WEISMAN MUSEUM OF ART 4 OPENING NIGHT DINNERS B OO NE C ENTER F OPENING NIGHT DINNER PROGRAMS O Please purchase tickets in advance. See reservation form on page 51. R THE F ASSOCIATED WOMEN FOR PEPPERDINE MEN’S DINNER A Rockwell Dining Center, 4:15 p.m. Drescher Cafeteria, 4:15 p.m. MILY MARY JO BIGGERS TYSON MOORE President, Associated Associate Minister, Women for Pepperdine Crenshaw Church of Christ Indio, California Los Angeles, California EMILY SPIVEY TODD HALL Pepperdine Alumna Worship Leader, Seaver College 2000 Southwest Church of Christ Escondido, California Tigard, Oregon Saturday, May 7, 2011 9AM - 9PM MALIBU, CALIFORNIA presents the amily o aith N E T W O R K CONFERENCE f Connecting the Natural and Spiritual Family Want to leave a legacy of faith through your family and your church? CONtact 310.506.4771 Extend your stay at Pepperdine University to attend the Family of Faith [email protected] Network Conference, May 7, 2011, hosted by the Center for the Family.