Pastor John talks about an end-of-year practice that's helped him take a step back to assess his life and ministry:

Watch the entire End-of-Year Video Update.

Pastor John on the heart of Christian Hedonism, from Psalm 16:11:

Watch the entire End-of-Year Video Update.

Darrin Patrick invites you to make an investment in your ministry by joining us in Minneapolis from January 30 to February 1 for our 2012 Conference for Pastors:

Darrin's topic at the conference is on how to be and build men for the mission of the local church. Register before December 30 for the early-bird rate of just $130. We also have a group discount of $100 (per person) when you bring five or more guys from your church.

With the world's population just crossing the seven billion mark, Pastor John talks about the amazing power of the web to reach people everywhere with the truth of the gospel and Christian hedonism:

Watch the entire End-of-Year Video Update.

Charles Spurgeon on December 24, 1854:

Feast, Christians, feast; you have a right to feast. Go to the house of feasting to-morrow, celebrate your Saviour’s birth; do not be ashamed to be glad; you have a right to be happy. Solomon says, “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.”

“Religion never was designed
To make your pleasures less.”

Recollect that your Master ate butter and honey. Go your way, rejoice tomorrow, but in your feasting, think of the Man in Bethlehem; let him have a place in your hearts, give him the glory, think of the virgin who conc…

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In this one-minute video, Pastor John reflects on John 12:24, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Watch the entire End-of-Year Video Update.

Doug Wilson will join us in Minneapolis on January 30 to February 1 for our 2012 Conference for Pastors, "God, Manhood & Ministry: Building Men for the Body of Christ." Register before December 30 for just $130.

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Recent posts for the 2012 Conference for Pastors —

• Have We Over-Elevated the Family? (Video from John Piper)
• Don't Lose Your Manliness by Pursuing Riches
• "Never" — A Word Worth Its Weight in Gold

Char Ransom was on the search committee that brought Pastor John to Bethlehem Baptist Church in 1980. In this two-minute video, Char gives us a glimpse into those first years at Bethlehem and the beginning of our ministry here at Desiring God.

Watch the entire End-of-Year Video Update.

Last week we released our end-of-year mission update. Here's a version with Spanish subtitles that you might want to share with Spanish speaking friends.

As well, you can read Pastor John's letter (available only in English) where he takes a look forward into the future and what we're hoping to accomplish at Desiring God.

From Pastor John…

Desiring God exists to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ, especially by focusing on the truth, and its implications, that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

We want to spread that truth and all of its amazingly God-exalting, practical implications everywhere in the world. So when the world passes beyond the seven billion population mark, we look at the 15 million or so people that checked us out last year and say, hmmm, that's about 0.21%. And we say: There is some work to be done here. And we aim to do it as hard and as wide as we can.

We want to multiply lan…

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