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September 2010 Blog Archives

Thursday, September 30

7:51 PM Here’s the latest on Maurice Robinson:

Dr. Maurice Robinson is in ICU, at Wake Med Hospital, for observation after suffering an apparent heart attack.  He needs to have bypass surgery, but mitigating health issues will have to improve before that is possible. The doctors are hopeful that Dr. Robinson will be able to receive the bypass procedure in the next two to four weeks. Please lift him up in your prayers.

This information came from the seminary dean’s office. I’ll try and keep everyone updated.

7:26 PM I took this video not 45 minutes ago. It features the most beautiful double rainbow I have seen in my 58 years on this planet. Our God is an awesome God.

 

6:05 PM This week I asked a few of my students to tell me where they had been on international mission trips. Here is a partial list:

• Costa Rica

• South Korea

• Myanmar

• Israel

• Turkey

• Jordan

• Egypt

• Jamaica

• Dominican Republic

• Russia

• Guatemala

• Argentina

• Singapore

• Malaysia

• India

• Holland

Don’t wait to graduate to take the Gospel to the nations. The time to act is NOW. You can sit on the fence too long. This is the message of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland:

The Mock Turtle, in a deep hollow tone, said: “Sit down, and don’t speak a word ’til I’ve finished.” So they sat down and nobody spoke for some moments. Alice thought to herself, “I don’t see how he can ever finish if he doesn’t begin.”

Folks, it’s time to begin! You can’t finish unless you start. Is it hard? Are you kidding? Nothing’s harder. I’ve found world missions to be tough, tiring, and (at times) terrifying. It takes commitment to deny yourself and serve others sacrificially. Finding and working with the lost in our own community is a good place to start. But don’t stop there. Serve the kingdom worldwide. It involves time, effort, and money, but nothing can match it.

12:25 PM I’m looking for a couple of seminary students to help me do some farm work next week during semester break. It will require some heavy lifting. I’ll pay you for your time and even serve you a delicious lunch. Email me at dblack@sebts.edu if you’d like to help.

12:20 PM The latest issue of The Reader’s Digest has an interesting article entitled “13 Things Used Car Salesmen Won’t Tell You.” Here are “13 Things Your Greek Teachers Won’t Tell You”:

1. Greek is not the only tool you need to interpret your New Testament. In fact, it’s only one component in a panoply of a myriad of tools. Get Greek, but don’t stop there. (You’ll need, for example, a Hebrew New Testament as well.)

2. Greek is not the Open Sesame of biblical interpretation. All it does is limit your options. It tells you what’s possible, then the context and other factors kick in to disambiguate the text.

3. Greek is not superior to other languages in the world. Don’t believe it when you are told that Greek is more logical than, say, Hebrew. Not true.

4. Greek did not have to be the language in which God inscripturated New Testament truth because of its complicated syntax. Truth be told, there’s only one reason why the New Testament was written in Greek and not in another language (say, Latin), and that is a man named Alexander the Great, whose vision was to conquer the inhabited world and then unite it through a process known as Hellenization. To a large degree he succeeded, and therefore the use of Greek as the common lingua franca throughout the Mediterranean world in the first century AD should come as no surprise to us today. I emphasize this point only because there are some today who would seek to resurrect the notion of “Holy Ghost” Greek. Their view is, in my view, a demonstrable cul-de-sac.

5. Greek words do not have one meaning. Yet how many times do we hear in a sermon, “The word in the Greek means…”? Most Greek words are polysemous, that is, they have many possible meanings, only one of which is its semantic contribution to any passage in which it occurs. (In case you were wondering: Reading all of the meanings of a Greek word into any particular passage in which it occurs is called “illegitimate totality transfer” by linguists.)

6. Greek is not difficult to learn. I’ll say it again: Greek is not difficult to learn. I like to tell my students, “Greek is an easy language; it’s us Greek teachers who get in the way.” The point is that anyone can learn Greek, even a poorly-educated surfer from Hawaii. If I can master Greek, anyone can!

7. Greek can be acquired through any number of means, including most beginning textbooks. Yes, I prefer to use my ownLearn to Read New Testament Greek in my classes, but mine is not the only good textbook out there. When I was in California I taught in an institution that required all of its Greek teachers to use the same textbook for beginning Greek. I adamantly opposed that policy. I feel very strongly that teachers should have the right to use whichever textbook they prefer. Thankfully, the year I left California to move to North Carolina that policy was reversed, and now teachers can select their own beginning grammars. (By the way, the textbook that had been required was mine!)

8. Greek students think they can get away with falling behind in their studies. Folks, you can’t. I tell my students that it’s almost impossible to catch up if you get behind even one chapter in our textbook. Language study requires discipline and time management skills perhaps more than any other course of study in school.

9. Greek is fun! At least when it’s taught in a fun way.

10. Greek is good for more than word studies. In fact, in the past few years I’ve embarked on a crusade to get my students to move away from word-bound exegesis. When I was in seminary I was taught little more than how to do word studies from the Greek. Hence, I thought I had “used Greek in ministry” if I had consulted my Wuest, Robertson, Kittle, Brown, Vincent, or Vines. Since then I’ve discovered that lexical analysis is the handmaiden and not the queen of New Testament exegesis. Greek enables us to see how a text is structured, how it includes rhetorical devices, how syntactical constructions are often hermeneutical keys, etc.

11. Greek can cause you to lose your faith. It happened to one famous New Testament professor in the US when he discovered that there were textual variants in his Greek New Testament, and it can happen to you. When the text of Scripture becomes nothing more than “another analyzable datum of linguistic interpretation” then it loses its power as the Word of God. That’s why I’m so excited about my Greek students at the seminary, most of whom are eager to place their considerable learning at the feet of Jesus in humble service to His upside-down kingdom.

12. Greek can be learned in an informal setting. The truth is that you do not need to take a formal class in this subject or in any subject for that matter. I know gobs of homeschoolers who are using my grammar in self-study, many of whom are also using myGreek DVDs in the process. If anyone wants to join the club, let me know and I will send you, gratis, a pronunciation CD and a handout called “Additional Exercises.”

13. Greek is not Greek. In other words, Modern Greek and Koine Greek are two quite different languages. So don’t expect to be able to order a burrito in Athens just because you’ve had me for first year Greek. On the other hand, once you have mastered Koine Greek it is fairly easy to work backwards (and learn Classical Greek) and forwards (and learn Modern Greek).

Okay, I’m done. And yes, I’m exaggerating. Many Greek teachers do in fact tell their students these things. May their tribe increase!

Now who wants to tackle “13 Things Your Hebrew Teachers Won’t Tell You”?

8:21 AM Currently writing an essay about Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, who led the attack on Pearl Harbor. A man’s man. I’ll explain what I mean shortly.

8:18 AM If you’re interested in studying the LXX,take note!

8:15 AM Henry Neufeld muses abouthis latest book.

8:06 AM Fledging New Testament doctoral students can take heart fromthis statistic:

The longest doctoral program in the nation is the music program at Washington University in St. Louis, with a median length of 16.3 years, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Unbelievable. I completed my doctorate in 3 years, but that was B.C. (before children). Still, I don’t think I could have lasted 13 years. In fact, I KNOW I couldn’t have lasted 13 years.

Wednesday, September 29

8:52 PM My academic dean at SEBTS just tweeted:

Pray for Dr Maurice Robinson. In ICU w apparent heart attack. Will need bypass surgery.

I’m praying! Join me.

8:42 PM Wednesday shout out to my LXX class. These are truly the crème de la crème. Over half of them are going on for the Ph.D. after graduation. Just as importantly, they have a heart for the nations. To the right stands my co-persecutor, Robert Cole, a really smart man who married a gal from Hawaii. We’re having more fun than a sack of confused weasels in class! 

6:59 PM Recently I received this email from a DBO reader:

Hey Dave,

I really appreciate your blog. 

One of your recent entries got me thinking again about my own studies in seminary (Dallas and Trinity).  I made very good grades at both places and received a number of awards.  Unfortunately, I constantly battled making these things idols. 

I would love to see a post from you on how you navigated doing good work in undergrad., Talbot, and Basel.  How much did you struggle with making an idol of grades and honors, etc.?  You can’t make mediocre grades and go to Basel, so how did you navigate those choppy waters?   And how do you now counsel students who want to do a Ph.D?

What a great question! For what it’s worth, here’s my response:

Modesty is not generally a hallmark of recently minted doctoral students. The devil tempted Jesus on this very point but He did not fall to the tempter’s wile. There’s a huge difference between being self-confident and confident in God. One fault I think I succumbed to while in Basel was the snare of perfection. It’s okay to aim at excellence in all we do, but the perfectionist sets goals that are beyond their ability to perform. Sometimes I would also delight in criticizing others whose work I found lacking in excellence rather than encouraging them in positive ways to excel. It is a characteristic of truly great Christians that their humility looms larger with the passing years. Maturity is seen when we become less and less like the pompous and overbearing and more and more humble and lowly like our Master (Matt. 20:25-27). Humility should be an ever-increasing quality. I remember one of my seminary professors once telling his students, “Don’t take yourself too seriously; nobody else does.” Those wise words I tried to take to heart during my doctoral studies (though I often failed!). If I had to name the most important quality of a doctoral student it is teachability. It is for us to emulate the humility and meekness of our Lord in our studies for Him. Above all, I needed to learn how to be sensitive to the overriding leading of the Holy Spirit in my work as a scholar. It is clear from the book of Acts that the leaders whom God uses are always people who are filled with the Spirit and who refuse to depend upon their own natural abilities. As those who are seeking academic credentials, we must remember that every accomplishment is but the effluence of the Holy Spirit through our weak but yielded lives. As students of Scripture, no one should be more unselfish and modest than us in the sense that our one goal is the building up, not of our own careers and reputations, but the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Doubtless Jesus had us in mind when He said, “Those who will be greatest among you will be the servants of all.”

So how do we negotiate the treacherous waters of scholarship? Jesus said, “Abide in me as I abide in you.” Let’s abide in our moment-by-moment relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s live with a kingdom consciousness and a kingdom focus. Let us grasp the absolutely catastrophic implications of a proud, haughty attitude toward others. In my own life I’ve discovered I simply don’t have the energy or the motivation to worry about much else.

6:42 PM Lionel Woodsdoesn’t home school. Good for him. I used to be an apologist for homeschooling but not anymore. Lionel’s essay is rather long but I encourage you to chew away at it.

6:35 PM Check out the cover to mynew book:

Guess orange is “in”!

6:30 PM The prodigal son’s fathershouldn’t have run.

6:23 PM Do you agree with this statement by Mark Driscoll?

In Revelation, Jesus is a prize-fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is the guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up.

One pastor doesn’t, andtells us why. I spend an entire chapter inThe Jesus Paradigm discussing the problem of war and, more particularly, the bellicosity one finds among so many evangelicals today.

There is much to love about America, and there is also much to criticize. Rambo-ism is one of them.

6:16 PM Did you know there’s a town named “Biola, California“? Here’s proof:

6:09 PM So today was National Coffee Day. Well, I think every day ought to be National Coffee Day. Being the astute cultural observer he is, Allan Bevereopines:

The difference between drinking store-purchased coffee and freshly roasted coffee is as vast as eating a home-made-from-scratch pizza and a store-purchased frozen pizza.

I’m not so sure. I am quite content to imbibe the store-purchased Kona Coffee my secretary makes for me daily. “Kona Coffee?” you say. Yep – the best stuff in the world (other than real Ethiopian coffee). Pardon me for flaunting my cuppa, but Allan started it.

Monday, September 27

9:56 PM New at DBO: Coloring Outside the Lines.

8:06 PM Had a wonderful trip to Florida. I’m sure our book tables would have rivaled Car Talk’s “Shameless Commerce Division.”

My hosts were Dan and Melinda Henry. I immensely enjoyed staying on their farm near the Alabama border.

Dan is a former president of the Florida Dental Association and has led over 20 dental mission trips to Costs Rica (you can read about his mission workhere). Our meetings were held in the historic First United Methodist Church in the great American port city of Pensacola (founded in 1559).

Its nickname “The City of Five Flags” refers to the five flags that have flown it (Spain, France, Great Britain, the CSA, and the USA). During Hurricane Ivan in 2004 over 10,000 homes were destroyed in the metro area alone, but you wouldn’t know it today. It is one of the most beautiful downtowns I’ve ever seen. On Sunday morning I was honored to speak in the innovative “Icon” service at First UMC.

Its leader is Geoffrey Lentz (who, like all wise and good pastors, has ablog). Geoff has a Duke M.Div. but that is forgivable.

He is also a former student of my friend Henry Neufeld, president ofEnergion Publications and publisher of my forthcomingWhy Four Gospels? (2nd edition). Here is Henry’s “tidy” office. Love it!

My thanks to Henry and his wife Jody for inviting me to the Sunshine State. On Sunday evening they arranged for me to speak on Ethiopia to a small but very enthusiastic group at Chumuckla United Methodist Church.

I really missed not having Becky Lynn with me for this presentation, though we certainly felt her presence in spirit. Speaking of Becky, her meeting today at Duke Oncology for a second opinion confirmed our present course of treatment with Adriamycin. Her blood counts have begun to drop again (nothing new there) but we’re praying they won’t bottom out like they did the last time. I’ll keep you updated.

One final thought about this weekend. As everyone knows, the “mainline” Protestant denominations are in decline and have been for many years. One of the main reasons for this decline is purely sociological: as long as there was a cultural expectation that everybody should belong to a church, mainline denominations held their own because they provided a culturally respectable way of being Christian. Once that cultural expectation waned, however, membership declined. First UMC of Pensacola is an exception to the rule in that it has been growing rapidly over the past several years, largely because of its emphasis on the Gospel. This is good news. To God be the glory.

Wednesday, September 22

9:40 PM Fellow bloggers, I leave the house tomorrow morning at 3:00 to catch my flight to Pensacola via Atlanta. I’ll be in that fair city at the kind invitation of my publisher for a book signing and for several speaking engagements. If you’d like to see my schedule for the weekend, gohere. Sorry, no more boring posts at the DBO blog until next Monday.

9:20 PM Becky has updated the Bethel Hill blog. ReadFamily News, September 2010. Makes me tired just reading it. How God is blessing us!

7:37 PM Check out the new press release for Why Four Gospels? The scheduled release date for the book is October 15, less than a month away!

7:28 PM I’ve always had great respect for Eric Carpenter, and my esteem level for him has just risen again (seeI’ve Resigned from Professional Pastoring). (Okay, he took Greek from me in seminary, but that doesn’t count.) Like all of us, Eric and his family are seeking genuine community in which the “one anothers” are taken seriously — a community in which church is not a solo performance, a place in which each person has a part to play in harmonious concert with others, a family in which all the members share in the ownership of the assembly. This is Paul’s image of the Body of Christ — a place in which my gifts are yours and your gifts are mine, a community where diversity is not merely tolerated but celebrated. I recall the Dr. Seuss story called “Too Many Daves.” It tells of a woman named Mrs. McCave who had 23 sons all named “Dave.” When she calls out for Dave, all 23 of her sons come running at the same time. The story comes alive when Dr. Seuss begins to speculate about all the silly names Mrs. McCave might have chosen for her sons instead of naming them all “Dave.” His point is that when everyone has the same name there is chaos, not order.

It is the same in the Body of Christ. The church could not function if everybody had the same gifts. Each of us brings to the group a variety of different gifts that together sustain the Body, and the result is order and not chaos. Every-member ministry is therefore an integral part of that way we call “faith.” God’s kingdom is designed to be a place of spiritual wholeness, individually and in the community. In my judgment, the external form does not matter that much as long as there is genuine community where some persons are not exalted over others. Here in this blog I talk a lot about my own fellowship, Bethel Hill Baptist Church, and the way it embodies the love of Christ. It invites us to value the gifts that all of us bring to our common task of mutual edification. This sense of community is, of course, the gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. I desperately hope that brother Eric experiences something like this in his new home fellowship. The matter is totally at the disposition of the Lord. It is a gift of His love, and to receive the gift it is only necessary to become a spiritual child. This poverty of spirit is what characterizes Eric’s entire post and is one of the many reasons why I admire him so much. We can all emulate his attitude of complete trust in the promises of God, a trust that places no confidence whatsoever in our own human merits. It requires but a moment’s reflection to realize that we all need to have the very same attitude regardless of how or why we gather on Sunday mornings.

Eric my friend, you have taken a great step of faith along with that wonderful woman you chose to be your life partner. Continue to do what is right even if nobody seems to notice or care. Trust God to work in and through you. Don’t ever give up on your quest for genuine Body life. As long as your ultimate aim is to please the Lord Jesus, you can rest in His sovereignty. He will provide for you and your family perhaps in ways you’ve never dreamed of before.

Three centuries ago a man lost his job and went home to tell his wife Sophia. Rather than being disappointed she beamed at him and said, “Now you can write your book!” He answered, “Yes, but what will we live on while I’m writing?” Sophia went to a drawer and pulled out a large sack of money. “I’ve always known that you were a man of genius,” she said. “I knew that some day you would write an immortal masterpiece. So every week from the money you gave me I have saved something. Here is enough to live on for one whole year.” The amazed husband went to his study and began writing. His name was Nathaniel Hawthorne, and his book was The Scarlet Letter.

Eric, it is my prayer that your commitment to follow your convictions will produce the greatest chapter yet in the book of your life. To God be the glory.

Monday, September 20

9:32 PM It’s back to beginning Greek tomorrow, and we’re invading the Greek adjectives this week. (I love them things!) I hold no illusions about Greek. It is one tough language, perhaps the toughest course one can take in seminary. I enjoy education, but my faith has never been in education. I’ve got a better God than that. I do, however, entertain the notion that by providing students with language tools they will be better prepared to negotiate life’s challenges Scripturally. Students need to know that they’re paying for more than an education when they come to seminary. Or a degree. Hopefully they’re learning something about character, self-discipline, time-management, etc. As the Red Queen explained to Alice, “Here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” That is an entirely accurate picture of the Greek classroom at times — working ourselves to a frazzle and then feeling as though we’re running in place. I am not bothered that this contradiction exists. But I am profoundly bothered to find people who think they can make progress in any human endeavor without divine aid. As Jacque Ellul once put it, “Man can’t do God’s will without God.”

My friend, whatever your academic goals, let “him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine” join you in the work.

8:58 PM Almost forget to report that the church in Burji just concluded a two day prayer meeting for our Becky Lynn. Becky was able to call Oshe (our contact person) today and give him and the church there a fresh update on her condition. I stand in amazement at the goodness of our God.

8:36 PM B’s treatment at UNC today went exceptionally well — and fast. We got home and took a long nap. Then tonight Matt cooked ribs on the grill for one and all. They were exquisite! Nothing like home-cooked meals. 

Oh, and Micah has learned how to ride his bike. Congratulations young man!

Today I wrote the preface to the second edition of Why Four Gospels?, an enjoyable task and one for which I felt some pressure as the book is scheduled for release in early November or even before that time. Tomorrow Mr. Lapsley flies back to Dallas and I begin another week of teaching and writing. Lord willing, I leave for Pensacola on Thursday morning to speak several times there. It depends, of course, on how Becky Lynn is doing. Usually her blood doesn’t start acting up until a week after her treatment, but one never knows and has to anticipate her white count dripping. It’s in the Lord’s hands, and He knows what He’s doing.

Sunday, September 19

8:15 PM For some strange reason tonight I was reminded of a conversation I had last week with a student during the 9Marks conference on campus. I mentioned to him that when Becky and I take people with us to Ethiopia we allow them to chose their own ministries. We don’t say, “We’re doing VBS and you are to do such-and-such.” No, they pray, seek the Lord, and then tell us what they sense God is leading them to do. For example, one of my elders (Jason Evans) has been to Ethiopia with us 4 times. On his first few trips he taught church leaders. But on this last trip he told us he wanted to work with the construction team. He ended up being the “paint master” at the Galana clinic and did a marvelous job. When I told the student this he was dumbfounded. How, he wondered, could a preacher waste his time doing something as menial as painting? “That’s like seeing my pastor on a Sunday morning operating the sound system instead of preaching!” he told me. “Yeah,” I thought to myself, “sort of like Jesus washing His disciples’ feet.”

In my Greek New Testament I wrote the following note on Rom. 12:16:

“Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble” — or “be engaged in humble tasks.”

The Greek here is a bit ambiguous. (For you Greek scholars out there, it all depends on whether one word is masculine or neuter in gender.) Paul either means that we should be eager to hang out with people whom the world considers “humble,” or else he means that we should be willing to engage in tasks normally reserved for the lower classes. I tell you, when I see my gifted pastor (he is an excellent public speaker) engaging in humble tasks I cannot help but think of my precious Lord Jesus who was eager to humble Himself for the sake of others.

I love you Jason. Thanks for being the real deal. Thanks for modeling for us the Scripture and not just teaching it.

7:45 PM I enjoyed readingThe Sermon: More Than Just Preaching. The idea is to allow several gifted persons (not just the pastor) to be involved in Sunday morning ministry.

Let’s stop criticizing inactive people. Instead, let’s prepare them for the work. If you’re a pastor, that’s your job. The task of a spiritual leader is to equip members to serve (Eph. 4:11-12). Then release them into service. Let them handle everything in the service while you sit with your family in the pews. Incorporate a time of sharing into your service. Allow those with a “word” to bring it. And when you do stand up to teach (not “preach” – see Eph. 4:11 and 1 Tim. 3:2), do so not from the stage (an invention of the secular theater) but on the people’s level lest you give the impression you are 6 feet above contradiction. A question and answer period afterwards can be beneficial both to you and your congregation.

There is nothing original in these ideas. Mutual participation was a hallmark of the early church (1 Cor. 14). It characterizes our Women’s and Men’s and Youth Sundays. And rightly so. Nothing is more foreign to the New Testament pattern of church meetings than to have the leaders do all the work. We need the strength, the encouragement, the teaching, the stimuli of every-member ministry.

6:30 PM A DBO reader on the left coast sends along this note. Check out this resource when you can.

Dave: Here’s something to check out.  It’swww.swiftbible.com – an online concordance.  The site is pretty new, so it supports, so far, only the KJV and a couple of online Bibles.  And boy, is it fast.  I typed in the word “love” and, in less than a second (literally!), it listed every single place in Scripture where that word occurs – the reference, the entire verse quoted, with the relevant word highlighted.  Fun to play around with. Once it gets a few more translations up to speed there, it’ll really be helpful. Time to throw out our concordances, I guess…

6:15 PM I must tell you how much I enjoyed being at The Hill this morning. I am extremely happy to see our youth becoming fully involved in the various ministries of the church. This morning they helped lead the singing and give announcements. Way to go guys!

Then it was Woody’s turn to give a report about the recent marriage conference that 14 of our congregation attended in Woodstock, GA. His concluding joke had the congregation belly laughing (and had pastor Jason turning red in the face. Ask him if you want to know why.)

Afterwards Becky was greeted by various and sundry while her dad (right), who is visiting us from Dallas, watched.

During the service we honored Ms. Jeanie Rogers for her faithfulness to the Lord in playing the organ for the past 41 years. As Jason put it, “Each and every member of Bethel Hill is important,” and that’s not just a pious platitude at BHBC.

The Rondeaus and Johnsons joined Becky and me at Roxboro’s wonderful Mexican restaurant after church for fun, food, and great fellowship. Here brother Ed Johnson (Ethiopia veteran and experienced grandfather) plays with Micah and Isaac as we waited for a table that could seat 11.

While we were sitting around the table someone came up to me and told me an acquaintance of mine was in the restaurant and, sure enough, who do I see but my former student Zsolt Sebjan Farkas who had taken beginning Greek with me 7 years ago. Small world. After spending the last 6 years in his home country of Hungary he has begun doctoral studies in theology under the guidance of my esteemed colleague John Hammett at SEBTS. Here he is with his wife and son, neither of whom speak English yet but that will change very soon I’m sure.

Finally, Becky’s dad was able to repair the rocking horse he had built for the kids and whom we affectionately call “Blackie.” In this photo Micah is trying it out at a fast gallop.

As I type I’m dealing with one of my patented sinus headaches and expecting the barometer to either rise or fall rapidly in the next few hours. This evening I’ve got to prepare for my classes this week and that includes trying to come up with a passage in the LXX that will stump my brilliant students. They are doing a really fine job in the class and I’m so proud of their eagerness to learn. Ditto for all my other classes. And to think I get paid for doing this.

8:44 AM I was reading John 7:15 this morning and I thought of my good friend and fellow missionary Kevin Brown of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Halfway through his teaching in Alaba he asked his class, “How much formal biblical education do you think I have?” Most guessed that he had at least an M.Div. Actually, brother Kevin is completely self-taught when it comes to the Bible and theology.

Jesus had no formal biblical training either. Yet He taught in a compelling way. “How does this man have such learning when He’s never been taught?” the Jews asked after hearing one of his lessons. Ironically, some of the most compelling teachers I know have had no formal biblical training. And some of the worst exegesis is performed by seminary grads. My friend, you do not need a diploma to teach. Let your words earn their own authority. The Good News of Jesus Christ welcomes all, regardless of educational status. All of us, whether educated or not, can emulate Jesus. He delights in going to the bottom of the ladder. He associates with the lowly. He fights His way through thorn bushes to find a lost lamb. In short, with Him, down is up.

8:12 AM Hey there. Don’t know how I missedthis review of Why Four Gospels? See if you enjoy reading it as much as I did! (I am completely unbiased.)

Saturday, September 18

8:12 PM My visit to Southern Evangelical Seminary confirmed my status as the Alfred P. Newman of New Testament scholarship, defending, as I did, the completely indefensible theory called Matthean priority.

I did so, not so much to argue for any particular order to the Gospels as to try and make a case for the absolute historicity and apostolicity of the Fourfold Gospel as preserved to us through the ages. Whether I succeeded or not will have to be left unanswered. But I sure had a good time making the effort. My thanks to all who made my stay so wonderfully enjoyable and to all who turned out to hear a fuddy duddy obscurantist wax elephant.

As if to provide icing on the cake, this evening two dear friends from Smyrna Baptist Church in Dinwiddie, VA, stopped by the farm to bring us our supper. Ben and Sheila Abernathy have been longtime supporters of the work in Ethiopia and faithful prayer partners.

They remind me so much of Cornelius in Acts 10 who “gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (Acts 10:2). They drove an hour and a half just to bless us. What great partners in the Gospel! My friend, Jesus is a pearl so precious you’d sell everything you have to get it. He is a wonderful, magnificent, glorious Lord, and He’s asking all of us to join Him in the harvest field. Becky and I are blessed to be bound together with other believers like the Abernathys in a fellowship that goes far beyond anything this world can offer. Thank you, Ben and Sheila.

Tomorrow Becky and I are planning on attending both Sunday School and the main service at The Hill. Her strength and blood counts are holding up quite nicely — thanks to your prayers and the mercy of the Lord Jesus. Monday is back to the hospital at UNC for round two of her chemo treatments.

5:40 PM Back from Charlotte. Great trip. Update later.

Note: Don’t forget to check out Dave Black’s surfing shoot. Awesome pix.

Thursday, September 16

7:20 PM Bec’s dad is visiting us from Dallas. He took us out for Chinese food tonight. He heard I was scheduled to cook supper 🙂

7:16 PM Our new porch!

Students, come and enjoy it with us on “Student Day” next month!  

11:59 AM Lionel Woods asksWhat Is the Purpose of Going to Church? Here’s a cool out-take:

You shouldn’t go to church to hear good sermons, listen to good singing or network. If you are going to church for any of those reasons you should stop going today.

Be sure to read the rest of what Lionel has to say.

11:53 AM Between painting jobs I’m pouring over the page proofs for the second edition ofWhy Four Gospels? It went out of print last year but another publisher was kind enough to pick it up. Release announcement shortly.

Note: You can still purchase a new copy of the book over at Amazon for only $998.99. A steal!

11:45 AM Martin Roesel reviews theAnalytical Lexicon to the Septuagint. LXX students, please consider purchasing this excellent tool.

11:40 AM Painting the front porch today. Hope to bring closure to this project!

11:33 AM Honored to be speaking at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte tomorrow night. Join us if you can at 6:30 and 8:30. My topics are “The Historical Origins of the Gospels” and “The New Testament Scholar as Fulltime Missionary.”

Wednesday, September 15

7:50 PM More flashcards for my beginning Greek grammarhere.

7:48 PM Some interesting stats:

The 22 largest seminaries in North America

According to data from The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, here are the theological schools in North America with the highest enrollment. Fuller is the largest. Southern Baptist Convention seminaries take up 5 of the top 10 spots. 

Casual Name / Full Time Equivalent Enrollment / Real Name / Status / Independent, University-Affiliated, or College-Affiliated. / Predominate racial/ethnic identity / State / Denom

1. Fuller 1940 Fuller Theological Seminary ACCRED I W CA INTER
2. Southwestern 1477 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I N TX SBC
3. Southeastern 1430 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W NC SBC
4. Southern 1364 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W KY SBC
5. Dallas 1108 Dallas Theological Seminary ACCRED I W TX INTER
6. Gordon-Conwell 1037 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary ACCRED I W MA INTER
7. TEDS 908 Trinity Evangelical Divinity School ACCRED C W IL EFCA
8. Asbury 781 Asbury Theological Seminary ACCRED I W KY INTER
9. Golden Gate 772 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W CA SBC
10. New Orleans 656 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W LA SBC
11. Bethel 649 Bethel Seminary of Bethel University ACCRED C W MN BAPTGC
12. Talbot 604 Talbot School of Theology ACCRED U W CA INTER
13. RTS 584 Reformed Theological Seminary ACCRED I W MS INTER
14. Princeton 578 Princeton Theological Seminary ACCRED I W NJ PCUSA
15. Seventh Day Adventist 566 Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary ACCRED U W MI SDADV
16. Luther Seminary 548 Luther Seminary ACCRED I W MN
17. Duke 517 Duke University Divinity School ACCRED U W NC UMC
18. Denver 479 Denver Seminary ACCRED I W CO INTER
19. Ashland 473 Ashland Theological Seminary ACCRED U W OH BRCHAO
20. Candler 458 Candler School of Theology of Emory University ACCRED U N GA UMC
21. Covenant 451 Covenant Theological Seminary ACCRED I W MO PCA
22. Concordia Seminary (MO) 450 Concordia Seminary (MO) ACCRED I W MO LUTHMS

Source.

7:39 PM Did a lot of personal mentoring on campus this week. To be a good teacher you have to be a Paul and a Barnabas. Paul teaches, Barnabas encourages. Paul exhorts, Barnabas loves on. When Paul refused to take John Mark, Barnabas saw the gold in him, said in effect, “I’m gonna work with him because I think there’s quality in this young man.” Later Paul would see it too: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is very helpful to me in my ministry.” I know this comparison of mine is overdone, but I do think that we teachers sometimes focus so much on the cognitive aspect of teaching that we forget the interpersonal side. Kindness is such a needed quality in the kingdom. When I was in college I had a Barnabas in Dr. Harry Sturz, who saw in a young Greek instructor the potential to make a contribution to the field of New Testament studies. I honored all of my seminary professors but I admired a handful of them. Dr. Sturz made me feel like a capable teacher. He had “busiest man alive” status but he never failed to take time for me. Many of my own students today are hurting and struggling. They need help with their Greek and more. They need real encouragement now. If all I give them is knowledge, they are in grave danger of becoming intellectual cynics. I am eternally grateful for my profs who didn’t sit passively by when I was struggling. I am compelled by their example to take action through prayer and service in and out of the classroom.

Students, if you are struggling, I’ll keep an eye out for you. Whatever you may think and feel, you are not alone.  

7:30 PM Our meeting on Monday went well. Becky will resume her Adriamycin chemo treatments on Monday. We’ll take another whack at it, this time with a reduced dosage. If it wipes out her immune system again then it looks like it will be time to consider trials. We continue to be very grateful for the health care we are receiving and for your support and love. Meanwhile, Becky manages to carry on with the zest for life and ministry that have been her greatest gifts to me. She is an example to all who know her of unconditional love, commitment to service, training by example, and the will to be self-disciplined. I’m eager to write the next chapter in our life together. 

Monday, September 13

7:57 AM Last night Ronnie asked me a very important question. “What is it that keeps us from having a kingdom mindset?” We talked about the distractions of TV, football season, pleasure, comfort. I added into the mix: the church. As long as we continue to tithe to ourselves, as long as we overlook the fact that the gathering must always lead to the going, as long as we prioritize our programs and our successful ministries over making a tangible difference in the world for Christ we will never have a kingdom mindset. The greatest problem that most churches face today is not that they aren’t doing anything. They do plenty. The problem is that they’re not doing the right thing (Phil. 1:27), preferring soft cushions over Bibles in India. And the greatest danger most pastors face is not that they aren’t doing anything. They’re far too busy! It’s that they don’t do the essential things. Their purpose is to equip God’s people for works of service. The clear command of our Lord is to go to the world.

I think it’s vitally important that we stop playing the “Look how great my church is” game. I know, because I often play it myself. Oh, what a high view of the church we must have! But we must never view church as an end in itself: she is a means to an end!

7:42 AM You’ve heard the story about the airline pilot who announced over the intercom, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that we have a tailwind and are making excellent time. The bad news is that our compass is broken and we have no idea where we’re going.” Today Becky and I have a tremendously important meeting with her UNC oncologist. It’s time to map out the future to the best of human science’s ability. All possibility lies in this: “I am Almighty God.” Whatever the prognosis, I have to tell you that through all of the bright moments and frustrations of the past year, God’s plans for us have not been less than our hopes but far more. He never lets us be content with anything short of what perfectly fulfills His loving purpose. He can be trusted!

Our appointment is at 3:30. I’ll give you an update tonight, Lord willing. Ask God to give us a vibrant witness to everyone we meet today. So many of them are lost.

Sunday, September 12

8:53 PM The phone companies are experts at urging us to “reach out and touch somebody.” Of course, Jesus Christ has been calling His people to do the very same thing for 2,000 years. Tonight we had the joy of welcoming to Bradford Hall 3 special people who have chosen to make Christ central in their lives and relationships. They came to bless us and love on Becky Lynn. Rachael (left) is a former SEBTS student who now works there as a faculty secretary. She has been a very special friend to Becky for many years now.

Tara (right) is a counseling major at the seminary and plans to take my Greek 1 class in J-term. Ronnie had me for elementary Greek last year and was one of my constant “110 Award” winners. We chatted, had supper with the Rondeaus, and took a walk on the farm as it grew dark. Tara fell in love with “Lil Bit.”

Here we’re calling on Ronnie to resolve a translation issue from the Greek of Ephesians 2 (with Caleb’s help).

And Miss Rachael baked the most delicious Waldorf Astoria cake I have ever eaten.

It was a good evening. Our conversation focused on things of eternal value. Needless to say, Becky and I were blessed and encouraged by their visit. I just put Becky to bed, tired after a long but good day. I pray she sleeps well tonight. She is a very special person, and not just to me. I keep thinking of Jesus, who allowed and affirmed displays of affection even as He prepared  for the anguish of the cross. I feel like our 3 friends anointed our heads tonight with special perfume. May God bless them abundantly for their kindness toward us.

2:25 PM On Friday at the conference I met a young man who was surprised that Becky and I work with non-Baptists in Ethiopia. Let me say it as plainly as I can: I am committed to serving the Body of Jesus Christ worldwide. We must learn to love and serve one another in Christ. I am not in denial about denominationalism. I am a committed Baptist. But I repudiate sectarianism. I repudiate the hubris that says “I have a corner on biblical truth.” What I believe about cooperation in the work of the Gospel can be summarized in an essay I wrote years ago. Speaking aboutHow We Do Missions, I said that

… we have intentionally adopted a cooperative model of missions. We will gladly work with any Christ-centered evangelical church that is willing to answer Christ’s call to obedience and self-sacrificing love. We don’t have to see eye-to-eye on secondary issues to work hand-in-hand. John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” once wrote to a fellow pastor: “What will it profit a man if he gains his cause, and silences his adversaries, if at the same time he loses that humble, tender flame of the Spirit in which the Lord delights, and to which the promise of his presence is made?” We believe that the whole Body of Christ can and must submit itself its Head, the great Redeemer of mankind. This is the very heart of Christianity – disciples of Jesus following Him in obedience and love. In Him we are all one family in which each member is given a grace gift, a functional service to carry out for the good of all. We are all brothers in Christ, members of one spiritual family, parts of one spiritual Body. However, love must be balanced by biblical knowledge and discernment, as Paul reminds us (Phil. 1:9). We therefore reject teaching that emphasizes prosperity and well-being as concomitants of the Gospel. We also reject the spirit of lovelessness and strife that characterizes theological fundamentalism. We eschew the “church marketing” concept and the professionalizing of “the ministry.” We seek to avoid the pitfalls of missionary paternalism. For us, a lump in the throat is no excuse for a hole in the head.

Please, my dear friends, take this to heart. Yes, we can hold to our biblical convictions (I have many of my own!). But the Gospel does not belong to “us” alone.

2:02 PM One more thought about Matt’s message. His topic was the unity that Christ produces in His church. All of us are equally recipients of God’s grace. As he was speaking I thought about 1 Cor. 1:10, where Paul writes that all of us “should agree.” The term for “agree” may also be rendered “say the same thing.” The expression is found on a first-century gravestone of a married couple, indicating a harmonious relationship. This does not imply that the husband was a yes-man or that she was a door stop. Harmony is not unison. Different people can live together in harmony even though they retain their freedom to express their own convictions and insights. Aquila and Priscilla worked together in this manner, and I would like to think that Becky and I do so as well. At least we travel together frequently — a distinctive characteristic of the ministry of Aquila and Priscilla! They had lived together in Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome; and Becky and I have lived together in La Mirada, Basel, Oxford, and now Southside Virginia. Sure, the journey has been bumpy at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Last night, as we celebrated our anniversary, I was reminded of the many years we have stuck to each other in partnership and marriage, through times when it was easy to stick together, and when life turned so dark it was difficult to see any sunshine in our future. And now, as Becky and I enter the winter of our lives, we do so living, laboring, and sacrificing together for a cause much larger than both of us. It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor the Lord Jesus through our  marriage than by serving Him together. We “agree,” as Paul would put it — which is a pretty amazing thing for two people who couldn’t be more different in background, temperament, and personality.

1:50 PM Matt’s teaching from Acts 15 this morning was a blessing.

At one point he quoted from Matthew Henry’s commentary with reference to the letter sent from James to the churches. How I wish our churches today, who gladly proclaim “I am of ___________” (you fill in the blank with your favorite pastor or Bible teacher’s name) would grasp hold of this truth!

Here is a very condescending obliging preamble to this decree, v. 23. There is nothing in it haughty or assuming, but, (1.) That which intimates the humility of the apostles, that they join the elders and brethren in commission with them, the ministers, the ordinary Christians, whom they had advised with in this case, as they used to do in other cases. Though never men were so qualified as they were for a monarchical power and authority in the church, nor had such a commission as they had, yet their decrees run not, “We, the apostles, Christ’s vicars upon earth, and pastors of all the pastors of the churches” (as the pope styles himself), “and sole judges in all matters of faith;” but the apostles, and elders, and brethren, agree in their orders. Herein they remembered the instructions their Master gave them (Matt. xxiii. 8): Be not you called Rabbi; for you are all brethren. (2.)

Earlier in the service we sang that great old chorusBecause He Lives. During the last verse I put my arm around Becky and we both sang triumphantly, with tears trickling down our cheeks:

And then one day I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.

Here was grace reaching down to lift us up to truth. It’s amazing how God orchestrated today’s service. I wanted to throw my arms around Becky and say, “It doesn’t matter. I understand. Our life is wonderful. I love you!”

Alas, we were “in church”!

9:55 AM Off to the greatest fellowship on earth!

9:53 AM This morning Micah came over to sit on my lap. “Come on aboard,” I said. To which he replied, “Are you a board?” Everyone’s a comedian around here.

9:01 AM I’m thrilled that B is feeling strong enough to come to The Hill this morning, mask in place. Actually, it would take a herd of horses to keep her on the farm today. She craves the fellowship, plus our Matthew is teaching from the book of Acts during the service. Twill be a great time!

8:45 AM A Sunday morning seems a good time to call attention to my colleague Steve McKinion’s excellent post about the “call” to ministry:Is Spurgeon Unhelpful Here? Some great questions are raised here. InThe Jesus Paradigm I noted:

Unfortunately, we have become caught up in the whirl of professionalization that characterizes the ministry. There is one Book, and one Book alone, that can cure us of dangerous deceptions. Specifically, I am referring to a very basic truth about ministry that many of us have forgotten – in part or in whole – in the church today. It is that every child of God is a minister. I am not just referring to that individual who has felt a “call” to enter “the” ministry. Everyone who is a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ has entered the ministry. The Bible knows nothing about a Christian who is not also a minister (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12-14). Another way of putting this is to say that, according to the Scriptures, there is no clergy-laity distinction. Again, this may come as a shock and a surprise to those of us who are accustomed to referring to certain individuals in the church as a “reverend” or a “clergyman.” The Word of God knows nothing of a “ministry of the clergy” on the one hand, and a “ministry of the laity” on the other. The simple truth is that all of God’s “clergy” are laypeople, and all of God’s “laypeople” are clergy. This is not to deny the fact that there were pastors/elders/overseers in the primitive Christian community. There were pastors, but they were also a part of the laos – the “people” of God (Phil. 1:1-2). The New Testament knows no separate existence of pastors apart from the rest of the Christian community.

I think the distinction between “sacred” and “secular” work is overdone in our Baptist circles. Recently I met an American believer living overseas in a Muslim nation who told me about his experience. He had felt a “call” to “the” ministry, left his successful IT business, went to seminary, and then relocated to the foreign field as a professional missionary. Eventually the Lord led him to leave the mission board and begin his own IT business. Today he considers himself to be a fulltime missionary as he exercises his God-given skills as a computer expert, hiring local Muslims and leading them to Christ. Is he “called” to ministry? He would answer with a resounding Yes!

7:36 AM So here’s a pic of the honeymooners. I took Becky to the fanciest, most expensive joint in town. The filet mignon was magnificent.

We reminisced about what we were doing 34 years ago and had some good laughs thinking about all the little foul ups and practical jokes done to us at our wedding (they had attached several Hawaiian Punch cans to our rear bumper). I’ll never forget that drive to Los Angeles or our honeymoon in Hawaii. How young and naive we were!

On the drive to the restaurant last night Becky asked, “What three adjectives describe you right now?” It was a critical question and I thought carefully before replying. “Happy.” “Blessed.” “Grateful.” Becky agreed. Last night two hearts touched, as they had done three and a half decades before, swamped with happy memories, filled with gratitude toward God. So there we ate and talked. Committed. Sensitive. Transparent. Communicating. Still growing. That’s intimacy, and the heart knows it.

Saturday, September 11

5:12 PM Hooray! My Becky Lynn is feeling well enough for me to take her out to dinner tonight!

2:10 PM Special recommendation: read Andy Bowden’sThey Came Knocking and then be prepared to share your faith with people whom the Lord may bring to your door.

10:54 AM Here’s a fine post from Eric Carpenter:Thinking About September 11th. That leads me to ask, “What would happen if we really took our heavenly citizenship seriously?”

10:24 AM Almost forgot. Today is not only our anniversary. So, to all of our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia, here’s wishing you 12 months of love, 52 weeks of joy, 8760 hours of peace, 525600 minutes of patience, and 31536000 seconds of goodness.

8:48 AM Today Becky and I are celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary. During these years we’ve learned many lessons.

We’ve learned to build into each other’s lives, to seek the best for one another, to say “I’m sorry,” to keep climbing even when the odds seemed impossible, to grow in our Christ-likeness, to pass through valleys and heights that left us breathless, to stumble and walk again, to know euphoria, relief, gladness, sorrow, joy, and victory, to commit our lives to serving Jesus together in a lost world, to hold nothing back — nothing! — from each other, to give and receive love, to need each other, to be connected, to value and cherish the other for who they are, to give the other permission to fail, to spot the weeds before they take over, to admit when we didn’t know the answers, to help balance our extremes, to become totally available to each other, to pursue a healthy ruthlessness with ourselves, to make our feelings known, and to prepare ourselves for the anguish of separation.

Jesus has been our model in all these things. He rejoiced. He wept. He experienced anger. He made His feelings known. He was responsive to those who sought Him. He protected the weak. He affirmed displays of affection. He opened His life to pain and death. We are growing in our marriage primarily because we are learning to walk and live with Him.

Today I have a perfect right to feel nothing but sheer unadulterated joy. How good and kind is my God.

Becky Lynn, I want to love you a thousand times more than I’ve ever loved you in the past. I want you to know, without any doubt whatsoever, that you are a higher priority than career, than comfort, than anything and anyone except Christ, and that you can count on me to be at your side until that day when we will laugh off our suffering as “present light affliction.”

Happy Anniversary, Darling.

I love you with all my heart.

Dave

 

Friday, September 10

11:20 PM End-of-a-tiring-but-good-day update:

1) The doc says I’ve got Tarsal Tibial Syndrome and Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot. Have no idea what that means. Wait! Google to the rescue!

2) Becky’s slowly but surely regaining her strength. I’m praying she’ll be fit enough for me to take out to a local restaurant (with face mask) for dinner tomorrow to celebrate our anniversary.

3) Enjoyed my breakout session at the conference tonight in Appleby Chapel. I don’t know about you, but I never speak without a partial sense of failure. There was so much more I wanted to say. And I’m sure I could have nuanced my talk better.

But I hope my main point came through loud and clear: We’re all missionaries, even if we don’t know it yet. A Christian car salesperson is not simply a salesperson; he or she is God’s representative in the showroom to show car shoppers what God is like. A Christian secretary is not simply a secretary; he or she is God’s representative to show the boss and everyone else what Jesus looks like. A mature Christian doctor isn’t simply a physician. Those hands that sooth the sick demonstrate how God responds to sickness and sorrow. Jesus has passed His commission on to each and every one of us. No exceptions. The Lord throws the ball in our court and says, “Play the game!” No hocus-pocus involved here. We just take up our crosses and follow Jesus wherever He leads, whether across the street or around the world. As my colleague Alvin Reid puts it, “Life is a mission trip; take it!” Disciple-making isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily assessment of our willingness to make expensive decisions, again and again, day after day, for the sake of the Gospel. The Christian faith is so much more than orthodoxy, as vitally important as orthodoxy is. It lies in our willingness to walk in the way of Jesus, engaging in basin ministries that embody kingdom values. God isn’t calling us to force unbelievers into a corner and mash them with our mental machinery. He is calling us into action. Evangelism, pure and simple, means loving people until they ask us why.

It is quite a challenge to shrink that message into an hour. If you didn’t quite get what I was trying to say, please look over the dozens of essays here at my site or, better, go to the Scriptures themselves. Being a professor for 33 years has convinced me that there is no substitute for straightforward Bible teaching in order to produce healthy Christians. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Whether the issue is one of theology or practice, our starting point must always be “What does the Word of God say?” So to all who attended my talk this evening, may I challenge you to look at this issue — and every issue — from a Scriptural angle. You will be a wiser and better Christian as a result.

(By the way, these pix were taken by a good friend of mine from Raleigh Chinese Christian Church, Andrew Chang. Andy is finishing his M.Div. at SEBTS and considering doctoral work when he is done. Thanks Andy for lending me your photographic skills tonight.)

9:32 AM A few minutes ago a pastor friend of mine in Houston tweeted:

Just had a fantastic time w/2 Mormon missionaries in my living room.

Way to go! Invite ’em in and show them the Way.

8:26 AM New essay The Future of Southern Baptist Missions at Dave Black Online. What do you think?

7:55 AM Happy Twentieth Anniversary to the journal Philologia Neotestamentaria! The latest volume has an extended editorial by its editor Jesús Peláez called “Veinte años después” (Twenty years on). What a fascinating story! The volume also includes a complete index of authors and articles. It’s been my joy to have served on the editorial board ofFN since its inception. Ad multos annos!

I add here, for what it’s worth, a list of essays that appeared in FN from my hand:

• “Some Dissenting Notes on R. Stein’s The Synoptic Problem and Markan ‘Errors’.” 1:1 (1988) 95-101.

• “The Pauline Love Command: Structure, Style, and Ethics in Romans 12:9-21.” 2.3 (1989) 3-22.

• “Remarks on the Translation of Matthew 7:14.” 2.4 (1989) 193-195.

• “An Overlooked Stylistic Argument in Favor of Pantes in 1 John 2:20.” 5.10 (1992) 205-8.

• “Literary Artistry in the Epistle to the Hebrews.” 7.13 (1994) 43-52.

Let me encourage my fellow students of the New Testament to consider this journal for their next publication. Articles are accepted in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian.

7:41 AM The controversy over the Qu’ran demonstrates the need for building redemptive relationships with others. Here are some thoughts on witnessing to Muslims based on my personal experience:

• protect their dignity

• affirm their value as persons

• let your actions speak as loud as your words

• become a friend

• recognize that some will reject you

• look for opportunities to serve them

• allow them to serve you

• ask questions

• be slow to speak

• become aware of religious barriers

• introduce them to your family

• refuse to argue

• be sensitive to signs of receptivity

• plead with God for their salvation

• love, love, love

Remember that only the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He, not you, is the real mid-wife to a newly-born saint. Allow your Muslim friends to make informed decisions based on an accurate presentation of Christianity. Effective evangelism always has content. But it never stops there. It is both “show” and “tell.”

Can you do this? I know you can! On this September 11 weekend, let’s pray for boldness and open doors. Let’s believe that God will use the witness of our serving lifestyles. Let’s bathe lost souls in prayer. After all, isn’t that what Christianity is all about?

7:33 AM Dear foot. I hope you enjoy your visit to the doctor today. Please stop hurting.

Thursday, September 9

8:32 PM Chicken fried venison for supper tonight, along with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans. Thanks Liz for a real treat — one of Mama B’s favorites.

After dinner Nate treats the boys to a ride on Hercules.

Swinging on Nate and Jessie’s vines.

Picking flowers for Mama B.

Love. Peace. Tenderness. Warmth. Family.

God is good.

6:08 PM We’re using George Guthrie’sHebrews commentary in our class this semester, and for very good reasons. I’m impressed with the author’s exegetical acumen as well as his ability to draw applications from the text.

This week we saw how Jesus “destroyed the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil” (2:14). Guthrie, quoting from The Art of Dying by Robert Neale, lists 3 aspects of this fear:

1) We fear dying because it involves a loss of control over our lives.

2) We fear incompleteness or failures.

3) We fear separation from our loved ones.

Guthrie adds a fourth:

4) We fear death because it leads to a realm of unfamiliarity.

The good news is that Jesus has delivered us from all these fears! Our loss of mastery is compensated by our trust in a sovereign God. Our sense of incompleteness and failure is balanced by our hope of eternal life. Our fear of separation is overcome by the knowledge that we will enjoy relationships with those we have been separated from through death. And our fear of the unfamiliar is counterbalanced by our certainty that heaven is a perfect place. Death is not the end for the follower of Christ. It opens the door to the place of the waiting Father where we will be given the greatest gift in the universe — intimacy with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The message, surely, is loud and clear. Nothing is taught more firmly or frequently in the New Testament than the value of an eternal perspective on life. Paul puts this quite bluntly: “For to me to go on living is Christ, and to die is gain.” The lesson for Dave Black is obvious. I am incurably proud of my ability to cope. But all that is a façade. Facing the specter of death has opened a gateway to the grace of God. The light of the Gospel strips away the devil’s lie. He does not have the power of death. Only God has the power to determine who dies and when life will end.

Glory be to God.

5:45 PM Just surfaced from a deep sleep. Feel exhausted. Hope I’m not getting sick. Can’t afford to right now.

2:06 PM Tucked away in the news is this story about the first U.S. Army chaplain to be killed in action since Vietnam. His funeral is today. Read his story and then say a prayer for his wife and family.

Note: Chaplain Goetz responds to the attacks on 9/11 inthis editorial. I urge you to read the entire essay and to take your time while doing so. I was particularly interested in this quote:

I’m not saying all Muslims believe this or take this to the same conclusion, but this is the rationale of the extremist.  When they see western society they see beer commercials and know about dance clubs where unmarried men and women touch one another and maybe hook up later.  They know pornography is available in stores and the internet for anyone to see and they see the fashion shows with immodest clothes being advertised as sexy.   They know that the majority of people who get married had premarital sex.  They know about the divorce rates and the abortion rates and see other social evils that western society has to offer. Extremist see all that a free society has to offer along with these moral issues and decide that freedom is not worth it, if that is how their kids will turn out.  The kids from Muslim nations come to America and turn their back on their beliefs and this is evil to the devoted Muslim.  For many it is better to live with repression and religious holiness than a society that is free and socially evil.  So, when we advertise freedom to these people and they reject it, you have a better understanding of why because in their eyes freedom is associated or synonymous with sinful behavior.     

I strongly disagree with their doctrine and as Americans we repudiate the practice of the terrorist.  Though I disagree with their practice, I do understand their complaints against western society.  Doctrinally, I don’t agree with their method of receiving forgiveness from sin.  I believe Christ died for my sin and I do not need to become a martyr for salvation and forgiveness.  Because of my conversation on the night before, I was better able to process and understand the why of 9-11 and it continues to help me understand the on going struggles in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.

1:46 PM This quote by the great A. T. Robertson made me sit up and take notice:

Perhaps those who pity the grammarian do not know that he finds joy in his task and is sustained by the conviction that his work is necessary. — A Grammar of the New Testament in the Light of Historical Research p. x.

It’s hard to imagine me doing anything else with my life than teaching Greek grammar and trying to put that into service for King Jesus worldwide.

1:36 PM I can’t help but link to Allan Bevere’s latest postLife Is Like a Box of Chocolates. Allan writes:

We simply do not not know what we are going to get in life. Jesus himself reminded us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45) and calamity comes to all persons righteous and unrighteous (Luke 13:1-5). As followers of Jesus our task is to respond in faithfulness to everything that comes our way, things we plan for and things we don’t; happenings we are prepared for, and happenings that are unexpected.

To be a disciple is to know that I am not the master of my fate, nor the captain of my soul. My fate and my soul lay in the hands of another who not only sends the rain on everyone, but also has secured my fate, my destiny, by his cross and resurrection.

Please read that second paragraph again. And don’t miss the delightful line he ends with!

1:16 PM If you’re going to SBL in Atlanta this year be sure to check out thisSymposium on the Johannine Epistles at Mercer University. My esteemed colleague Andreas Köstenberger is one of the speakers.

By the way, SEBTS is exceptionally strong in the field of Johannine studies. Budding scholars, you can check out our Ph.D. programhere.

1:12 PM Just had a fine lunch prepared by Liz. THE topic of discussion: Where can we findsake surume (dried cuttlefish) and li hing mui (dried and salted plums) — my childhood favorites from Hawaii?

12:30 PM Today I’m prepping for my breakout session at tomorrow’s 9 Marks Conference at SEBTS. If you’d like a sneak preview of my talk, you can take a gander at Why Church? andThe Purpose of a Seminary. For more on the conference gohere.

12:03 PM Good news! B’s blood work is showing signs of improvement. Her white count is up a smidgen, as are her platelets. She remains fatigued. Looking forward to pampering her on our anniversary this Saturday.

8:26 AM If you live near Fort Worth, check out this workshop on Hebrews.

7:59 AM Campbell University announces an opening inNew Testament.

7:55 AM In our LXX class yesterday we were talking about certain “untranslatable” words (such as the direct object marker eth in Hebrew). Reminded me of a story. Several years ago, when Paige Patterson was my seminary president, I went to his office to give him an autographed copy of my latest book. The title of the work was Untranslatable Riches from the Greek New Testament. It was a handsomely produced hardback replete with endorsements on the back by John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, etc. I would guess the entire tome consisted of about 350 pages.

The president was deeply appreciative of the gift as I handed it to him. But when he looked inside he saw – to his great surprise – 350 blank sheets of paper. He looked up at me and laughed. (He always appreciated practical jokes.) My reply was simply, “Well, they’re untranslatable, after all.” Then I told him how one of my publishers had agreed to produce this volume solely for him. He is thus the only person in the entire universe who can claim possession of my priceless “book” calledUntranslatable Riches from the Greek New Testament.

Odd, isn’t it, how we so easily write and speak about the supposed “untranslatable” riches in our Greek New Testaments. They are, indeed, translatable. Yesterday in our Linguistics Seminar we discussed morphology and how our English versions so often miss the mark when it comes to reflecting the morphemes in the Greek text. A classic example is James 1:17, where the NIV (“Every good and perfect gift”) completely overlooks the fact that there are two (not one) Greek words for “gift” and that both are different. Dosis implies the “act of giving,” while dorema implies “that which has been given” (= “gift”). One could therefore render the phrase, I suppose, something like “All good giving and every perfect gift,” or, as we did in the ISV New Testament, “Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above.” (For more on this rendering, see my essayGood Giving?) We also discussed Paul’s delightful invention “leaster” in Eph 3:8, which we rendered “thevery least of all the saints” in the ISV. Here Paul uses a comparative suffix on a superlative adjective!

Takeaways?

1) Everything you have ever given to another person has actually come from God through you. Indeed, if I understand James 1:17 correctly, even the desire or the propensity to be generous is a gift from God, and therefore we can never claim credit either for the desire to give or for the actual gift itself!

2) If Paul could claim to be the “leaster” of all believers worldwide, what right do I ever have to claim anything less? As we discussed in class, the kingdom of God is flat. In this kingdom we are all “brothers and sisters,” as Jesus taught us (Matt. 23). The Japanese bow when they meet each other. The bow is a symbol of respect. You can always tell who is most revered, for he or she will receive the deeper bow from the others.

In Godworld (the title of a book I’m currently writing) the bows are all level. In fact, we are even willing to consider ALL others as more important than ourselves for the sake of Christ. I have been to meetings (such as SBL) where I have seen a conversation between a seasoned scholar and a doctoral student interrupted when a “more important” person has come along. This is not the way of Christ. And it’s not the way of a person who considers him- or herself to be “the very least of all God’s people.”

7:43 AM Yesterday’s chapel message by one of our missionaries was great. His topic was suffering, and his text was Heb. 11:39. Note, he said, that the author wrote, “All these were commended for their faith,” not “for their suffering.” He told us, “We have this notion that persecution is bad. But suffering for Christ is the norm in 80 percent of the world (China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, etc.). Then he asked this pointed question, “Are you tough enough? Are you tough enough when your Joseph is thrown into prison?” His point was this: Let’s not automatically pray for our Josephs to be released from prison. Maybe God wants them to stay in prison so that they might deliver others. I need to view persecution in that light.

7:22 AM Yesterday I learned that a friend of mine is being divorced by his wife. She has found intimacy with another man. I am heartbroken over the situation.

Why do so many of us – men and women – fail to find true intimacy in marriage? Why do young people complain that they were never understood by their father or mother? Why do a son and father speak of a closeness once possessed but now lost? Why it is it that we find it so difficult to maintain deep and lasting relationships? Why do we men so often complain of a lack of close friends? All these questions have been brewing in my mind of late. Why, in this very blog, do I so often find it difficult to be transparent and honest? Am I, too, afraid of intimacy?

Right now Becky is writing the fourth chapter in her spiritual autobiography. This chapter will deal with her married life, her vocations, her family. I don’t have any idea what she will write about our marriage. But with Becky I can say that I’ve found a genuine slice of intimacy in my life. B has become my friend, my teammate, my partner. There have been exultant moments and there have been despairing moments, bright sunshine and stormy interludes. But we are still in love with each other. One of the greatest gifts Becky has given me is the knowledge of how to love others – the importance of committing to a relationship, nourishing it, being willing to give even if it means giving more than I got back. I’m learning how to be open with my feelings and thoughts. I’m a very rich man as a result of these lessons I’ve learned from Becky.

A man I greatly admire is Robertson McQuilken of Columbia, South Carolina. Here’s a man who knows a thing or two about intimacy. When his wife developed Alzheimer’s, he resigned as president of a college because he decided that the situation required him to provide fulltime attention to his wife Muriel. “After all,” he told a reporter, “she cared for me for nearly four decades; now it’s my turn.” Amazing, isn’t it? I’d call that raising the bar for marriage. It was not easy for him to watch his wife slide into dementia. He is a role model to me about the joys and pain of lifelong love.

Marriage, as I’ve discovered over the past 33 years, never comes at a discounted rate. You pay full price or nothing at all. Faults, pain, flaws – Becky and I have seen it all, and, by the grace of our kind God, we are still together. I’ve begun praying daily for my dear friend. I’m thankful he came to me and shared his torment. Marriage is a deep mystery. It is, in fact, terrifying. In it we find forces at work in ourselves that have never before been fully submitted to our vows and promises. I hope and pray that the moment will come when my friend and his wife (the divorce is not yet final) will both experience a rush of energy to unpack the conflict, bringing resolution to something that right now seems so shattered. God is able to do this. He can heal a broken marriage. How I pray that He will.

7:03 AM ReadMore PhD Recommendations. Students note well: It is perfectly fine, a thing to be encouraged in fact, for you to publish journal articles before receiving your doctorate. Please don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Sure, you haven’t “arrived yet,” but I’ve got news for you – none of us has, and that includes well-published scholars. So I say: Go for it!

Monday, September 6

8:48 PM I dare not forget to say thank you to all those who have written us emails during Becky’s hospital stay, emails that have come from Tokyo and the Bahamas and every place in between it seems, many of them from complete strangers. We deeply appreciate each one of you.

8:22 PM Here I am, back home again, jogging through a stack of preparations for my Tuesday and Wednesday classes at the seminary. Liz has spelled me at the hospital (enjoy the sofa bed and free crackers, Lizzy Pie!). Becky’s condition is steadily improving and I’m hopeful she will be discharged tomorrow morning. Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned guy, but I still think hospitals are good places to get sick in, and I’d much rather have Bec resting in her own bed. I can tell you, it’s good to be back home again. Here’s the view that greeted me when I turned on to our driveway.

A second cutting of hay is a huge blessing from the Lord and one we don’t take for granted here. And here’s a pic or two of family:

Matt, Liz, and the boys enjoyed visiting Mama B at UNC:

As did Nate, Jess, and Nolan (here’s Mr. Blue Eyes himself wiggling out of his mask):

And here’s a balloon that says, quite ungrammatically, “Me loves you,” the “me” meaning all of us, honey!

On the drive home today I was strangely nostalgic, thinking about the heritage I will one day leave to my children and grandchildren. More than ever, I’m beginning to realize that the most important lesson for our children today is the lesson of faith. Not faith in one’s job or the economy or our intellectual attainments. Not faith in all of our human achievements. But faith in God — the God who created each one us, who made everything from absolutely nothing. Faith in the God who has the power to see everything, who understands our deepest heartaches, who has all authority, who alone has the power to forgive sins and to restore broken relationships. Faith in the God who who can keep us from wallowing in despair and self-pity. Do I have such faith? Sometimes I feel like a miserable failure in this area of my life. But if I want the next generation to have such faith I must first possess it, and possess it in quantity.

Of course, faith is merely the by-product of knowing God’s Word. That’s why, I suppose, Becky is always asking us to read Scripture to her. She seems to understand what I so often fail to realize — that to meet successfully the curve-balls that life tosses at us we need faith in the eternal God, and this faith comes only by being saturated with His Word. To be honest with you, tonight I am seeking faith, faith that replaces worry, faith that my Heavenly Father knows our needs and will supply each and every one of them, faith that I can overcome the temptations and lure of an abundance of nice, enjoyable things that make no difference in eternity, faith in God’s promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I am groping to find God’s supreme will in the midst of my confusion. I am grasping the rope of faith swinging from His hands, reminding myself of His words, “Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).

So, God is still on the throne. Right now He is there with Becky, even though I am not. And He is with me — and you too. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Friday, September 3

9:15 PM Right now we’re off to UNC Hospital. Becky’s being admitted. She’s running a fever and I suspect they’ll put her on strong antibiotics. I’ll update you when I can.

Trusting Jesus!

Dave

7:44 PM Now here’s a delightful email!

I was looking for something about another local church today, so I checked on their blog.  When I first started reading, I quickly observed that the “pastors” were highlighted.  I went to BH site, the great one that you do, and noticed right away that it was about the body.  You have small pics of leaders, and don’t go on and on about them, and it is very obvious that they do not have center stage on the hill.  Yes, they have leadership roles, but so do some other folks that you have listed.  Great job!!! 

(Note: “BH” stands for “Bethel Hill,” ourhome church in Roxboro, NC).

6:14 PM Farm vignettes:

 1) Dog patrol.

2) Off to check the mail.

3) The cattle are happy.

4) Front yard soccer game.

Life is good.

6:14 PM Becky’s dad has been sending us old pictures for Becky to use in her book. Here’s one showing the family about to leave for Kenya in their Land Rover. Isn’t it fantastic?

How thankful we are that Mr. Lapsley had the foresight to document their stay in Africa. These pictures are worth millions to us today. Interested in the people in this photo? They are all Lapsleys except Becky’s cousin (third from left). Otherwise we have Brad, Betty, Becky, Bonnie, Barbara, Beverly, Ben, and — the caboose — Lisa.

2:08 PM Quote of the day (Hudson Taylor):

God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.

12:57 PM Please, churches, heed this warning:

If a gathering of the church is dependent on the spiritual life and faithfulness of one man, then that congregation is inherently going to have a weak spiritual life and faithfulness. You don’t get to shirk your calling as a Christian by relying on a preacher. You don’t grow in the faith by watching someone else tell you about growing in the faith. You can’t blame someone else for “not feeding you”.

Read Preaching the Word is not just for pastors.

12:33 PM Here’s the latest on our Becky Lynn. Her blood counts have not improved, and the staff at UNC is very concerned. If her platelets drop any lower, or if she should develop a fever, Becky will be hospitalized immediately. I will be taking her temperature several times a day and having her blood drawn daily until we jump this hurdle. The long and short of it is that Becky has no immune system. The chemo saw to that. Right now she is resting comfortably in our bedroom, Bible by her side.

So there you have it. Love you guys and so grateful for your prayers!

Dave

10:58 AM Don’t miss Alvin Reid’s latest essay,What Is a Seminary Professor? I, for one, think that Alvin is more than qualified to tell the rest of us what a good seminary prof looks like (sans the snake, of course).

 

10:50 AM Markan priority is based partly on the so-called linguistic data. We discussed an example in our Linguistics Seminar on Wednesday. Notice that Mark’s “incorrect” grammar (he uses the middle voice in Mark 10:20) has been “corrected” by Matthew and Luke to the active voice.

Of course, this is nothing but philological voodoo. Arguments like this one fail because they are too subjective. (1) Perhaps Mark intended a reflexive sense (“All these things I have kept myself from since I became a young man”). (2) Perhaps Mark is imitating the language of the LXX (where the middle voice is used far more frequently than the active in contexts dealing with the commandments of God). Either way, the internal evidence is far too subjective to do anything more than perform a corroborating function. One wonders, then, why these argumentsare still being touted in New Testament studies.

Next week: How morphology helps us to use Greek in ministry.

10:30 AM Just took Becky in for her blood work. Should have the results in an hour or two. What will her white count be? 

8:38 AM As promised, here’s an excerpt from chapter 3 of Becky’s autobiography:

As part of my preparation for the mission field, I figured that I needed a husband who was spiritual. What better place to find such a person than in the Bible Department?  At that time, the Bible Department had the largest number of majors in the College, followed by the Nursing Department. So I kept my eyes open and began dating men in the Bible major.

Boy, was I in for a shock! As already written, my whole thinking and worldview was different from any of my peers, largely because of my upbringing in Ethiopia, but also because God matured me in Him so deeply in my high school years. And what I found in these Bible majors were men who were as spiritually shallow, vain and frivolous as the rest of civilization!

In November, 1973, I’d had enough. I “met” with the Lord in my dorm room to discuss the situation. I readily admit that the communication was one-way; I don’t remember a thing He “said,” but I remember well what I said. “Lord, I’d rather go to Ethiopia single than married to a man to whom I must be a spiritual mother! So, let’s just forget about a husband. That part of the plan is hereby deleted.” After this “conversation” with the Lord, I was so happy and free! A big load had been lifted from me. Now the road to Ethiopia was wide open!

Little did I know that the Lord was about to introduce His choice for me…and it would be a Bible major! About 2 weeks later I was standing in line at the cafeteria. It was about 6 pm, and I was due to be at work at 6:30. (I worked at the college switchboard; it was the old-fashioned kind with all the cords and switches!) As I waited in line, I looked toward the door and saw a tall man helping his blind roommate through the door. “There’s your husband,” the Lord said to me, as clear as if He were standing beside me in person! I thought to myself, “Maybe I should remind Him of our discussion”; then I answered myself,  “No, He knows.”

There was absolutely no doubt in my mind of His word to me, and there was no doubt of my accepting His decision. From the moment He spoke, I accepted His appointment. As Dave and Rubens came behind me in line, Dave offered me a chocolate-covered macadamia nut candy; he had just received a box from his mother in Hawaii. I thought to myself, “You don’t know this, but you are offering this to your future wife.” I ate the nut (Dave’s version is that I’ve been nuts over him ever since!), moved through the cafeteria line, and sat down at one of the tables. Dave and Rubens joined me, but our meal together was short, as I had to be at work soon.

It took Dave 2 years and 8 months to come to the conclusion that I was meant to be his wife. During that time we “dated” off and on. Many people said, “When are you two going to get engaged?!” I wasn’t in any hurry. I knew he was taken; we were already engaged on the Lord’s books, and that was good enough for me. Besides, I needed to finish nursing school.

But my goal for finishing nursing school had now changed. Marriage trumped Missions, and Obedience trumped Overseas. As Dave and I talked, it became clear that Dave was not appointed to mission work; his heart was in education. As a wife, it was my part to bend to him, not the other way around.

My love for Ethiopia, my interest in mission work, and my desire to use my gifts and abilities for people less advantaged remained in me. But I was no longer footloose and fancy free; I was bound to work alongside another, yoked together. My plans for my life had to be voluntarily submitted to the life work of the man to whom I had been appointed. 

I completed my bachelor’s degree, graduated on a Saturday in June, 1976, and drove off with my family. Where I came from, if a woman is not engaged to be married, she is to return to her home upon graduation. So returning to Dallas with my family was never questioned. As Dave says, when he watched me go away in that big van, something happened inside him. He was lost. He phoned our pastor’s wife, Doris Hakes, and 2 days later she sat across from him at lunch and said, “Don’t you know you’re ‘spose to marry that girl?” With this clear guidance, he wasted no time! I had figured that he would come to Dallas in September and we would be married in December….instead, he came to Dallas in July and we were married 6 weeks later. 

On September 11, 1976, the Lord culminated our marriage at Grace Bible Church in Dallas, Texas. It was the first afternoon wedding in that church. It was a relatively simple affair. My sisters served as my bridesmaids, arrayed in a rainbow of colors, and an assortment of men, including blind Rubens Marshall, served as Dave’s groomsmen.  I sewed my wedding dress and my mother made the bridesmaids’ dresses. Dave and his groomsmen wore traditional Hawaii wedding dress of white shirt and white slacks. I carried a cascading bouquet and Dave had a maile vine lei draped over his shoulders.   As part of our ceremony, we placed pikake leis around our mothers. For myself, all of this wedding hoopla was for the benefit of my parents and others who had supported me over the years; I could not deny them the joy of my wedding day. As far as I was concerned, just say the magic words to make me his wife….everything else could be chucked away!  The simple African girl was showing again 🙂

To this day “Mrs. Black” is my favorite name.

Thursday, September 2

10:02 PM Newsflash! Bec’s just finished writing chapter 3 of her book My Spiritual Journey. In it she describes how she and I met and eventually married. My, my, isn’t THAT interesting reading! Warning: I may post an excerpt tomorrow. In the meantime I couldn’t help but post these two photos, one taken when Becky was a child and their family was vacationing at Lake Bishoftu, the other taken in 2004 when Becky and I visited the same place on my first trip to Utopia. For all I know we could have been in the exact same boat!

8:39 PM Will Hurricane Earl dump any rain on the Piedmont? I hope not. Nate’s been cutting and baling and still has a couple of fields to go. God knows.

8:12 PM Here’s a neat picture. It shows Matthew homeschooling the boys this morning. Brings back tons of memories of Becky and I doing the same. The generations just keep racing on!

1:39 PM Dear blogging friends,

During these challenging days I find myself continually drawn to Jesus and His upside-down kingdom, where weak is strong and down is up. Thanks be to God, the kingdom is big enough to include limping pilgrims like myself. I’ve tried to put my thoughts into writing in my latest essay at our home page. It’s called How to Pray for Us. I write as a husband who is especially grateful for the 34 years (as of this Sept. 11) that God has given Becky and me to enjoy each other’s friendship. And I deeply appreciate the kindness of so many of you who have told us you are praying for us. Jesus is not powerless. But He never used power for self-gain. He served at the bottom of the ladder, not at the top. This means that I should be willing to do the same and never presume upon His divine authority to advance my own personal agenda. Such is the gist of my latest essay, which I hope you will find to be an encouragement as you negotiate the unexpected twists and turns in your own walk with Jesus.

Peace,

Dave

1:12 PM Just asked by our student development department to recommend outstanding students for our Th.M. program. Glad to do it. We’ve got dozens of them.

8:02 AM Wonderful email reminder this morning from a dear friend of ours:

I just read your blog post from last night.  So sorry to hear this news.  It shocks us, but not Him.  It saddens us, but it is part of what He is doing. Our responses to His work may go up and down as His plan unfolds.  We pray that your surrender to Him will continue to be 100- in all things!

Amen!

7:56 AM Just a quick program note. Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte is hosting me on Friday, Sept. 17. Here’s the schedule. Hope to see some of you there.

6:30pm – 7:45pm – Lecture on the historical origins of the Gospels.

7:45pm – 8:00pm – Break

8:00pm – 8:30pm – Q&A dealing with the lecture.

8:30pm – 9:30pm – Report about my mission work in Africa and the Middle East

7:50 AM Yesterday, as we went over my essay “New Testament Semitisms” (The Bible Translator 39, pp. 215-223) in our LXX class (summarizedhere), I thought of this quote by Martin Luther:

Wenn ich jünger wäre, so wollte ich diese Sprache lernen, denn ohne sie kann man die heilige Schrift nimmermehr recht verstehen. Denn das neue Testament, obs wol griechisch geschrieben ist, doch ist es voll von Ebraismis und hebräischer Art zu reden. Darum haben sie recht gesagt: Die Ebräer trinken aus der Bornquelle, die Griechen aber aus den Wässerlin, die aus der Quelle fließen, die Lateinischen aber aus den Pfützen.

If I were younger I would want to learn this language, because without it one can never truly understand the Holy Scriptures. For the New Testament, although it is written in Greek, is full of Hebraisms and betrays the Hebrew style of writing. Therefore they have rightly said, the Hebrews drink from the spring, the Greeks out of the small stream which flows from the spring, but the Latins drink out of the pools.

—Tischreden (“Table Talk”), vol. 1, p. 525.

7:42 AM Today and tomorrow I’m working on the revision of my doctoral dissertation Paul Apostle of Weakness. I’ve decided to reissue the first 6 chapters essentially as I wrote them some 30 years ago. A seventh chapter will bring the conversation up to date. The original book was the result of a lot of hard work and not only by me — Becky typed it for me on a machine known only to ante-deluvians, a typewriter. I’ve discovered that my basic conclusions haven’t changed in all these years. I say this as an encouragement to all of my doctoral students who are currently in the dissertation phase of their studies. There are 3 things nobody can deny who has endured this phase of their program:

1) It takes longer than you expected.

2) It requires greater determination than you figured.

3) It is more difficult than you anticipated.

What keeps you going — and, hopefully, sane — is hope. Hope that God will use your paltry words to edify His church. Hope that your new discoveries will rub off on the world of scholarship. Hope that the thoughts residing in your head will bless others as they read them in your book. Just remember: It takes time, lots of it. But I urge you to stay at it. Pay the price so that others can reap the benefit. If I could do it, anybody can. And, when you consider the alternative, it’s well worth the investment of time and effort.

7:30 AM A reader sends along this astute observation from the great Neutestamentler H. C. D. Moule:

Dave:

Regarding Hebrews’ authorship, I thought this was interesting:

“Nor is any positive answer offered to a question to which, assuredly, no such answer can be given, the question, namely, of the authorship.  In my opinion, in face of all that I have read to the contrary, it still seems at least possible that the ultimate author was St. Paul.  All, or very nearly all, the objections to his name which the phenomena of the Epistle prima facie present, and some of which lie unquestionably deep, seem to be capable of a provisional answer if we assume, what is so conceivable, that the Apostle committed his message and its argument, on purpose, to a colleague so gifted, mentally and by the Spirit, that he might be trusted to cast the work into his own style.  The well-known remark of Origen that only God knows who “wrote” the Epistle appears to me to point (if we look at its context) this way. Origen surely means by the “writer” what is meant in Romans 16:22. Only, on the hypothesis, the amanuensis of our Epistle was, for a special purpose presumably, a Christian prophet in his own right.”

From:Messages from the Epistle to the Hebrews by Handley C. G. Moule (London: Elliot Stock, 1909), pp. v-vi (from the Preface). 

Moule (1841-1920) was Anglican Bishop of Durham (1901-1920) and a prolific author.  He has many commentaries to his credit, as I’m sure you know.

So, it sounds like he was at least dancing around the idea that Paul was the author.

Of course he did. If we take Origen seriously (and refuse to take his comments out of context), he would certainly have denied directly Lukan authorship.

Wednesday, September 1

9:32 PM Quote of the day (Allan Bevere): 

Parishioners need to know that their pastor is a human being; they don’t need to come to the conclusion that she or he could be a guest on The Jerry Springer Show.

Read There Is a Fine Line Between Disclosure and Exposure.

9:06 PM Jessie sent us this pic of Mr. Nolan. Isn’t he growing? Thank you, Jessica!

8:45 PM Received this wonderful email today from our brother Oshe in Burji, Ethiopia:

I called all Burji churches for prayer on your situation, All churches joins together for prayer  last Saturday, from each churches  4-5 leader came in Soyama hall for over night prayer. On Sunday morning when they left each leader promised to pray continually in their churches until our God answered our prayer for you.

With 34 churches, this means that over 150 people prayed all night for our Becky Lynn. Amazing!

Below: Some of the church elders in Burji, clapping and praising God. The melanin-challenged faranji to the left is none other than Bethel Hill’s own Ed Johnson, head of our construction crew.

8:23 PM Greetings fellow bloggers! It’s been a wild two days since I last updated this blog. As you know, Bec and I were scheduled to fly to Dallas tomorrow morning to pay a 5-day visit to her mom and dad. The trip has been cancelled. Becky’s white count has dropped through the floor (it’s now a mere 0.3 and possibly still sinking). Her platelets are also extremely low. It’s the result of the chemo drug she began taking a week ago today — Adriamycin. We have decided (in concert with Becky’s medical team at UNC) to stop this therapy immediately. In the long term this means that the only options available to us are experimental drugs offered though clinical trials. In the short term this of course means that Becky will be susceptible to all kinds of infections. We’re praying that she will weather this storm and that her white count will improve within the next few days. Meanwhile we are in “extreme caution” mode around the house and taking every precaution to ward off germs. Poor Becky, she’s now “grounded,” but at least she’s not in the hospital enjoying reverse isolation!

I received this news today just as I was coming off of four exceptional classes at school, including our Ph.D. Linguistics Seminar (which Andy Bowden, who blogs here, taught this week). Here’s Andy discussing the relevance of phonology for New Testament studies.

How esoteric can you get? And here’s my tag team partner Bob Cole waxing elephant in our LXX class about some obscure point of Hebrew grammar as we exegeted Psalm 1 in both Greek and Hebrew. And I thought I was guilty of rabbit trails!

I told the LXX class (in all honesty) that there are only 4 tools I really need for biblical exegesis: (1) my Greek New Testament, (2) my Hebrew Old Testament, (3) my Hebrew New Testament, and (4) my Greek Old Testament. Everything else is a mere supplement to these essential tools!

As for my other classes this week, Greek 1 is off to a great start, with more than half of the class getting a perfect 109 on the first quiz (9 extra credit points were offered). I’m so proud of you guys and gals! And in Hebrews class we were led in an excellent discussion of the letter’s first two paragraphs, 1:1-4 and 1:5-14. The opening paragraph — what a masterpiece of brief but lucid theology! There is a very close connection between these verses and everything that follows in the book. The author does not even identity himself, so eager is he to call attention to the divine authorship of all Scripture. As he sees it, Christianity brings to every person what every person needs, and all of it is to found in a Son (not the capital “S”). It is a very subtle and beautiful treatment of the superiority of Christianity for those who have eyes to see it and knowledge enough of the New Covenant to grasp it.

But to end where I began: the news of Becky’s condition hit me in the solar plexus, but at the same time I’ve just been reminded by Heb. 1:3 that Christ Himself holds all things together — even cancer-ridden patients and their bedraggled husbands — by His powerful Word. Praise His name!

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September 2009 Blog Archives

Wednesday, September 30

8:55 PM Ekkehard Stegemann (photo), professor of New Testament at the University of Basel, has written a provocative essay called “Calvin als Ausleger der Heiligen Schrift” in the latest issue of Theologische Zeitschrift 65 (2009) 73-89. This Jahrgang is a Festschrift for Martin Anton Schmidt on his 90th birthday. Calvin’s theological engagement with Scripture involved a good deal of methodological reflection. What is striking about Calvin’s method, argues Stegemann, is his hermeneutical consciousness, that is, his awareness of how methodology shapes our interpretation of texts. Stegemann rightly assesses Calvin’s thought as a model of Christian thinking that can help us shape a distinctive religious philosophy.

8:48 PM In the July 2009 issue of Bible Translator (vol. 60), Tommy Wasserman proposes a new rating system in Greek New Testament editions that takes into account both external and internal evidence. He makes some good arguments, though my sympathies lie more with Keith Elliott’s view that the whole notion of a rating system is “patronizing spoon-feeding” and ought to be scrapped altogether. 

8:42 PM Good news! Kregel has published my first-year Greek vocabulary for your I-Pod or cell phone. It’s callediVocab Biblical Greek. Check it out.

8:35 PM In 1 Corinthians, Paul had a game plan for the church. He exhorts the believers there to be united around Christ. I have found that where the church is not first vertical, first rich in God, first correctly related to the Lord Jesus Christ, it will be poor in its horizontal relationships. And when a church is not spiritually united around the Lord, its exploits for God in the world will be severely challenged. Love God. Love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Then, as the bond of love with Christ and with each other is secured, we will be able to reach out to a hurting world. I truly believe that, if our churches are to develop a far-reaching vision for the world and a plan to influence others for Christ, we must learn the lesson of 1 Corinthians. Any group of believers must be constantly called back to the Lord Jesus Christ, to brotherly love, and to love for the lost.

This was just one of the themes discussed in class today during Alan Knox’s lecture on 1 Corinthians. And an excellent lecture it was. Look for Alan to post audio of his talk tomorrow on his website.  

P.S. Students, the link I mentioned in class is called Unleashing the Church.

8:31 PM This just in. It’s a photo of a prayer meeting held this morning in Gondar, Ethiopia. It brought tears to my eyes. The people were praying for Becky. 

This note came with the photo:

Dearest Mama B,

Today was a very special day for me here in Gondar; as I wrote you this morning we had been praying for your health. The evangelists and I started praying. But as soon as we start praying others who were in the church for other program join us in the prayer. Every body was enthusiastically praying here and there in the church building. We prayed for complete healing, for Papa B’s strength and for your ministry; so we strongly believe God will make miracles in your health and ministry. I will write you more in the following days; all the evangelists and the entire people have sent their greetings and love.

Please know that we will continue to pray for you even after every body is back home. We can hardly wait to see you again!

Your brother, Tilahun

8:25 PM I want to express my gratitude to Josh Mann for hisreview of my latest book, The Jesus Paradigm.

8:22 PM TheHusband of the Year Awards have been passed out.

8:16 PM Talbot Davis explains the virtues of theOne Point Sermon. An aside: Talbot’s church website is one of the best I have ever navigated. Check it outhere.

8:12 PM John Meunier discussespreacher idolatry and how to avoid it.

8:06 PM Will Willimon provokes nutritious comment in his essayChristians as Consumers or Disciples?  

7:55 PM It is my pesky duty to point you to Ken Carter’s essay onThe Problems and Possibilities of Healing. Mr. Carter doesn’t touch on all the aspects of biblical healing, but he does make some excellent points. As you can well imagine, this topic has become a front burner issue for me in recent days.

7:43 PM Craig Adams asksIs There Wisdom on Twitter? He notes: “Because of the 140 character limit, it’s not a good medium for extended debate. (And given the acrimony so often displayed in debates among Christians, maybe that’s a good thing.)”

Tuesday, September 29

6:36 AM Without Jesus, the 5,000 would have gone home hungry. No matter what we offer to Jesus (our fish, our loaves, our talents, our resources, etc.), it is He who must do the work if anything is to be accomplished.

Lord Jesus, with prayerful expectancy I leave for campus this morning. Like the 70 of old, I’ve tightened my sandals, taken a deep breath, and marched out to serve you. Thank you for filling my life with purpose and meaning. Serving you is thrilling, awesome. I am but a common foot soldier in your army. Help me to follow you, my Commander, wholeheartedly! I ask this in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

6:32 AM Not everyone agrees that all of the so-called Prison Epistles were written from Rome. For a minority perspective, see Bo Reicke’s Caesarea, Rome, and the Captivity Epistles. Reicke was my Doktorvater in Basel.

6:24 AM Speaking of brotherly love (and admonition), Tommy Wasserman calls our attention to a new website devoted toKJV-Onlyism. The debate over the KJV is alive and well where I live. And it is most unfortunate. Beware of “professional weaker brothers,” people for whom gray doesn’t exist. Unless you adhere to their narrow list of do’s and don’ts you are sub-Christian, pure and simple. I know of many Christians who live in deadly fear of such people. My advice to you is: Stop! You must realize that while some KJV-advocates are motivated by sincere love of the Word and love of the brethren, others simply want control. We must confront them, in love, but confront them nonetheless. The “look-down-on-others-because-they-do-not-use-the-KJV” position is not a lifetime option. Above all, we must not allow professional weaker brothers and sisters to scuttle our evangelistic efforts.

6:12 AM In New Testament Theology class tomorrow Alan Knox will be speaking on the assembling of the church according to 1 Corinthians 12-14. All are cordially invited to attend this guest lecture. We meet in Adams 211. Alan’s lecture begins at 2:00 sharp. At the heart of this great passage is the Love Chapter. Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) once preached a sermon called “Brotherly Love Recommended by the Argument of the Love of Christ,” in which he exhorted his congregation in Philadelphia to greater love for one another.

He observed that the closer Christians get to each other the more they learn of each other’s faults. It is at this crucial point, he said, that they must move forward in pain and self-discipline to perfect their love for one another in spite of their obvious differences. This is courageous Christianity at its best! And it sometimes involves admonition and loving confrontation. I know this theme is near and dear to brother Alan. I am eager to learn more from him what it means to have an honest, open, and loving interaction with other Christians at intimate levels.

6:07 AM My colleague Andreas Köstenberger discusses such issues as the “husband of one wife” requirement and the question of whether churches should have deaconesses in his excellent essayThe New Testament Pattern of Church Government (.pdf).

6:05 AM We all owe John Anderson a great debt for hissound advice on applying to Ph.D. programs. May God bless you at Baylor, John!

6:01 AM Looks like I live in thegluttony capital of America.

Monday, September 28

1:58 PM A reader sent alongthis link. Thank God for those who loved instead of hated. Are you praying for Muslims?

1:44 PM Just finished mowing the yard. The sun is shining happily and the temperature is a perfect 78 degrees. I have rarely seen a more beautiful day.

12:38 PM Churches in Cobb County, GA, have just redefined “morning church service.” You’ve got to love it!

12:18 PM Just ordered:A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn – the Last Great Battle of the American West.

11:50 AM A week from today Becky and I will have the wonderful privilege of being on the campus of Houston Baptist University to talk about language learning as well as Ethiopia. I couldn’t be more excited. This will be my first ever visit to HBU.

According to the organizers, here’s what we’re told our schedule looks like:

• 9:00am to 9:50am — Hebrew Classes (we’ll combine our 2nd year and 1st year Hebrew students) 

• 11:00am to 11:50am — Advanced Greek Class (with MA students): 

• 12:00pm to 12:50pm — Greek Classes (we’ll combine our two 1st year Greek students, and one 2nd year Greek class): 

• 1:00pm to ?? — LUNCH:  We will have you for lunch at our campus dining facility (yes, the silly ambiguity was intended!:).  It will be informal, all of our BA and MA students in BL will be invited to come and eat and pepper you with all kinds of questions.

• 2:30/3:00pm to 5:00pm — Free Time

• 5:00pm to 6:00pm — Depart for DINNER:  We will have a private dinner with just the MA students (and spouses) and several of our BL and Biblical studies professors (and spouses).

All of this is part of a scheduled 10-day trip to Texas that begins this Thursday, Lord willing. We’ll be presenting the Ethiopia work to churches in Dallas and Houston and also meeting up with missionary friends from the past. Our desire is to give God all the glory and to consider it a great mercy on His part that He has used us in His service. We are so unworthy of this task!

11:22 AM Wonderful devotions today from 2 Cor. 4. Here we get a great description of God’s power in weakness. Paul, the fragile vessel, says he was “afflicted in every way but not crushed.” The REB says he was “hard-pressed but never cornered.” I love that! Paul then goes on to produce one of the New Testament’s greatest word plays when he writes “aporoumenoi but not exaporoumenoi.” Furnish, in his commentary, translates this as “despairing, but not utterly desperate,” while Garland prefers “stressed but not stressed out.”

Paul’s honesty is refreshing. No rigid Stoicism here! Here are some takeaways I jotted down in my notebook:

• God works through my weaknesses, limitations, and failures.

• I cannot do anything without His power.

• My weakness is necessary if I am to preach the folly of the cross.

• God’s means of making us strong is by making us weaker and weaker until the divine power alone is seen in our lives.

One last observation: Note that Paul uses the plural. It wasn’t just he who needed to learn these lessons. You can bet your bottom dollar that everyone on his mission team felt exactly the same way.

Let me end this post with a hymn of praise that Paul sang in Eph. 3:20-21. May it encourage your heart as much as it has mine:

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

11:06 AM The Axis of Evil has now been reduced toa Spoke. When Hillary goes to the United Nations to make her case for war with Amadinejad, it will be just like the good old days of U.S. foreign policy. The historian Daniel Boorstin was right when he said that planning for the future without a sense of history is like planting cut flowers.

10:37 AM Ed Goodman tells usHow to Love Everyone, friends and foes alike.

10:24 AM Just a note to mention how blessed I’ve been to read Becky’s essays written in the midst of her suffering. Thus far she has written 10 of them. I’m reminded of what Paul said in 2 Cor. 1:6 — that his troubles contributed to the welfare of the friends to whom he was writing. He hoped that the encouragement of his example would deepen their dependence on their Lord. Becky has consistently demonstrated the sustaining power of God to keep her. No doubt this is one reason she receives so many emails from like-minded sufferers.

But, you ask, isn’t your mission work hampered as a result? The answer is yes only if we think of missions as traveling in person to some far-off mission field. Like Paul, we seek to be a “savor of Christ” to others wherever we are, and this can be accomplished just as effectively, I suppose, through a website as through a mission trip. Our greatest concern to save the lost by whatever means God gives us, for it is the task of every Christian to share what he or she enjoys.

A hearty “thank you,” then, to all who have so graciously expressed their love and appreciation to my wife. We are all struggling — every one of us — with uncharted territory. But isn’t it nice to know that we don’t have to travel down the highway alone?

10:06 AM I’ve noted with interest the number of conferences these days on church leadership, most of them having to do with preaching. As I read the New Covenant of Hebrews 8, I wonder if our emphasis should be elsewhere. Here the author (Paul, of course!) refers to a Christocentric fraternity of normal, everyday “laypeople” whose job is to “know the Lord” personally (without the mediation of any so-called “expert”) and then do their jobs daily to the glory of God as His servants. It is the layperson, not the leader, that forms the spearhead of the missio Dei. Any conference that focuses on leadership should, I would imagine, seek a larger role for the laity in both the teaching and witnessing functions of the church. The church gathers for mutual edification for the very purpose of being dispersed out into society. Unfortunately, nearly all the conferences on church leadership I’ve been acquainted with seem magnetically attracted to treating primarily (or even exclusively) the place and function of the ordained clergy. I’m wondering if I’m an oddball exegete in thinking that every Christian is an equally valuable vessel in the Master’s house, and that conferences on the biblical characteristics of a church should display this truth more prominently.

9:49 AM I am amazed at how many churches in the South have the word “Corinth” in their names. The Corinthian church was riddled with factions and cliques. They had their Paulites, their Cephasites, their Appollites, just as today we have our ____ ites (you can fill in the blank based on your favorite theologian or preacher). Then there was the Christ-party, the “Christites.” I imagine they were the most troublesome of them all. They were “above” such worldly and fleshly cliquishness.

I’m glad to be associated with a local group of Jesus-followers at The Hill who are glad to be known as “brothers and sisters”!

9:43 AM This has got to be thequote of the day, the week, the month:

I, henceforth, REPENT of any involvement I have had in speaking harshly (or inappropriately) against any one translation or another and or against any particular Bible publishing company and its marketing strategies, or against particular people or persons who promote one translation philosophy over or against another.  

Doing so, I feel has cause me to loose focus on what really matters: To know God (and being known by him), and to make him known.  This can adequately be accomplished with any one English translation of the Bible or another and not necessarily one specific English translation or another necessarily. 

9:38 AM David Rausch, a church history professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, has written a disturbing book calledA Legacy of Hatred: Why Christians Must Not Forget the Holocaust. Rausch concludes that the church failed the Jews during the holocaust by not doing all it was possible to do on their behalf. Rausch cites the words of a delegate to the 1950 Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany: “In every train which carried Jews to their death-camp in the East, at least one Christian should have been a voluntary passenger.” In 1945, Martin Niemöller (photo) declared, “If we had been ready to go with Him to death, the number of victims might well have been only some ten thousand.” In 1946 he asserted, “Christianity in Germany bears a greater responsibility before God than the National Socialists, the SS and the Gestapo.”

The German theologian Christoph Blumhardt once said, “First the human being must become a Christian. Then the Christian must become a human being. And this second conversion is sometimes missing.” His point? We are called by God not only to live in Christ but to live in the world. After World War II the German Kirchentag called the church to be the church where it was. The evangelical academies, like the ones at Bad Boll or Bad Liebenzell, called tradesmen and businessmen together to recapture their Christian citizenship and put it to work in their vocations.

I pray that all of my students catch a glimpse of this vision of the kingdom. The church must understand that it is not a church to be served but a work force to be deployed. We cannot shun the hard places or the difficult task. We must even risk death if necessary for the sake of the Gospel.

Are you willing to do that? Am I?

Sunday, September 27

8:20 PM Wanna come with me as I water one of our herds? This group of Angus is in what we call the “ripple field.” Here’s their water trough. All we have to do is turn on the spigot.

Of course, we need to take the dogs with us. But for now we’ll keep them out of the pasture. Angus mamas can be real protective of their calves, and rambunctious little Chloe and Daisy might get themselves into a heap of trouble without even realizing it.

Here the dogs have started a scrum. Dayda just got the worst of it, as everyone piles on.

I see that Daisy has found a cow horn to chew on. Never know what yummy objects you’ll find in our pastures!

 I also never met a dog that didn’t enjoy a tummy rub. Dadya is in third heaven.

Well, I see that the tub is full. Thanks aplenty for your help. I enjoyed your company!

5:18 PM Americans can be so kind to their neighbors. We saw proof of this during the Muslim day of prayer on Capitol Hill. Here’s a sampling:

“Gee, I wonder if Obama will be there to greet his brothers, and show his true colours to the Americian people? Good place for a bomb if any time. Sorry, but if you don’t get them, they’ll get us. Let’s face it this is what they are aiming for.”

You can read more blatherhere.

Friends, mercy surpasses judgment. This truth seems to have been forgotten by the pitiless line of preachers excoriating homosexuals these days and calling down fire from heaven on Muslims. God’s justice is part of His love. I maintain that we must make a choice — a conscious decision — to love others, even our enemies, and do good to those who hate and persecute us. When I asked Tesfaye (photo) what he was doing to reach the men in his village who had beheaded his 8-year old daughter and threw her decapitated body down the village well, he stated simply, “We do two things. First, we live holy lives. We don’t lie, cheat, or commit adultery. Secondly, we love and forgive our enemies.”

That attitude strikes me as centrally important. As the problems of evil, suffering, and hatred proliferate everywhere, we find ourselves faced with a choice. We must vigorously reject our nasty habit of getting back and getting even or, still worse, praying imprecatory Psalms on lost people. Naked and poor, they desperately need the Gospel. And faith invites us to risk everything to tell them about the Savior.

So where do we go from here? The fields are white unto harvest, and you’ve been drafted. You can bless or curse. I would suggest that you ask God to bring to mind a handful of people who are prime candidates for salvation. Then serve them. I cannot begin to tell you how critically important it is for the sake of the Gospel to discover that we are servants. Are you serving? Are you cultivating relationships with those who are vastly different from you? Jesus set the example. It’s service with no strings attached. Service with no “holier-than-thou” baggage. It’s service motivated by one thing and only one thing: love.

Love? Sorry, we’re too busy hating.

4:38 PM Rumor has it that the bigger the church, the better. That noses and nickels matter most. It’s a rumor, folks. You’ll be delighted to know that God uses churches of all sizes and shapes — big and small. Today we met with a fascinating, radiant Christian community called Messiah Baptist Church. This small church is breaking down Everest-sized barriers in the community by simply being the hands and feet of Jesus to their neighbors. Wow! Folks, isn’t it about time we got back to the Bible’s way of moving people toward Christ?

But there I go preaching again. The real point of this post is to say how much Becky and I enjoyed our time at Messiah this morning. As always. Becky was phenomenal as she presented what the Lord Jesus is doing in Burji, Gondar, and Alaba. Afterwards we had a pow-wow with anyone interested in possibly coming with us next July. Would you believe that about half of the adults in the congregation attended? Just talking with them fired me up about reaching the lost and sacrificing my time and talents for the Muslims, the animists, and the Orthodox of Ethiopia.

Our being at Messiah today was no accident. I firmly sense in my spirit that the time has come for them to send a team along with us. I sense in this congregation the glory of God. The glory of God is not something to mess around with. To replace it with a lesser glory is nothing but idolatry. Here is, I sense, a group of simple followers of Jesus who are heaven-bent on reaching the community around them — and the world — with the love of Christ. We’re co-laborers for God. As iron sharpens iron, I would love to spend time in Ethiopia with some of the people of Messiah.

So we’ll see whom the Lord appoints to come with us. Meanwhile, if you’re a redemptive person, thank the Lord for giving you that desire. All of us are commissioned by Jesus to prepare webs of relationships whereby others come to know Him. This next week would be a good time for me to reach out to lost scholars, lost students, gas station attendants — whomever! — with a smile and maybe (as the Lord opens the door) with a loving word about Jesus. Wow, do I love the Gospel. Like a good steak, let it sizzle, hiss, and spit!

P.S. You thought you’d get away without me showing some pix, did you? Think again!

8:24 AM Our focus this morning at Messiah will be on Alaba, which is a wonderful region of Ethiopia that is 99 percent Muslim. We affectionately call it “Dusty Alaba.”

The region is dry and hot. Typhus and typhoid are endemic. At any given time one third of the population suffers from malaria. For our July 2010 trip we are wanting to do simple Bible teaching both to children and adults. How easy it is for us to fall into the snare of placing men’s words above God’s Word. We who were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son go about preferring the example of others to the Perfect Model. Our Lord was careful again and again to stress all-out devotion to Him. We are complete only in Him. The simpler our faith, the better.

I am especially eager for someone to come who can teach the people what a healthy New Testament church looks like. This will include, of course, teaching about suffering. While the modern church seeks medals, the early Christians wore scars. Being true to God did not put them at the top of the ladder but at the bottom rung. This is true today in Alaba.

So the question is, “Who will go with us?” We can take up to 4 people to Alaba. I am eager to see who, if anyone, the Lord Jesus has chosen from Messiah to make the trip of a lifetime. Stay tuned….

7:48 AM Becky reports “All systems go.” MBC, here we come!

7:23 AM “The reason there are so many prima donnas in the pulpit is that we have given the messenger more honor than the message. We need someone to be for us what we are not for ourselves.” Lloyd Ogilvie.

7:17 AM Do I detect a typo in the ETS annual meeting program? On Tuesday at 10:10 am, Myron Kauk of Liberty University is scheduled to read a paper called “Rehab: A Case in Old Testament Ethics.” Just wondering…. 

Saturday, September 26

8:06 PM Two items of praise:

1) When our electricity blinked a couple of hours ago, I lost everything on my blog in Front Page. It was gone! Thanks to the Lord’s help I was able to figure out how to get it back from the web. But it took me two hours!

2) We haven’t heard from Oshe yet but my heart is at peace about the vehicle. It’s such a relief to know that the whole work of missions is God’s task, and not ours. Sometimes ministry is very puzzling, and we try to anticipate what God will do. But God is the supreme fisherman, and He knows how to go about making disciples. It is not our job to tell Him what to do. It is our job to be obedient servants, nothing more. I am a shameless advocate of praying about a matter and then leaving it in God’s hands. Then, when God directs you to do something, do it. It will be your privilege to see His good hand at work in you, a weak vessel.

All praise to Jesus!  

5:50 PM Right now Bec is cooking liver and onions for supper. With mashed potatoes. Been waiting all day for this treat.

3:24 PM Sure is nice to have Becky up and walking again and doing normal kinds of things. I even hear the bread maker going in the kitchen. God has been soooooooo good to us!

3:22 PM The Synoptic Problem keeps swimming around in my head like hungry koi. History declares that there is an answer to it. It agrees that Matthew was our earliest Gospel, and that it was intended for a largely Jewish-Christian audience.

“Oh,” you say, “there you go again, Dave, dragging the church fathers into it. I can’t believe what they say!”

Let’s be ruthlessly honest. How many Markan priorists have carefully, thoroughly, and objectively examined the external evidence in detail? If they have, I have rarely seen it discussed in their books. That’s why it seems to me highly appropriate that the church fathers be taken into consideration. We snap our fingers at history and tell it to take a hike. Little wonder the Synoptic Problem is considered insolvable.

Just my opinion, but I believe the academy has been stuck and stuffy for too long. The evidence must be faced. It took me a week of translating the Greek and Latin fathers in an abbey in West London before I realized how convincing their testimony was. I suppose it’s necessary to add that in my own teaching I expose my students to the leading options today, including the Oxford (Two Source), Griesbach (Two Gospel), Farrer, and Independence Hypotheses, then ask them to make up their own minds.

It was my eagerness to see that people were given an exposure to the various solutions that prompted me to organize a conference on our campus back in 2000, the papers from which may be foundhere. I don’t claim for a moment that I am the only one who sees the heart of the problem. I used to puzzle about the Synoptic Problem as much as the next person. Then I read the fathers, and they left no doubt in my skeptical mind that they got it right and we got it wrong.

My simple question, fellow bloggers, is this: Shall we not fail miserably as New Testament scholars if we fail to come to grips with evidence that God Himself has generously given us? If you want to see a contemporary response to the Synoptic Problem that takes seriously the evidence of the fathers, with fresh translations from the Greek and Latin, I might point you toWhy Four Gospels? In writing it, I owed a great deal to Dom Bernard Orchard, whose views I merely tried to summarize. It is a simple book in which we have tried to paint the main features of the landscape with a broad brush. If you like it, great. If you don’t, tell me why. I hope to revise it next year, adding a chapter addressing the reaction to what we call the “Fourfold Gospel Hypothesis.”

Dismounting my hobby horse now….  

2:45 PM I just LOVE Becky’s paraphrase of Jesus’ Great Commission: “Take the message I’ve given you to every person in the world. Teach them to follow Me.” You can read that, and much more, at the Bethel Hill blog, which Becky just updated.

12:05 PM A follow-up to the essay I published earlier today:

Die Zeit Online is reporting today about thelack of priests in the Catholic Church in Germany. More than half of parish posts have yet to be filled. There is, of course, no hint among the earliest records that the early church recognized “priests” as a special class within the church. Not to put too fine an edge on it, the early church was a highly participatory body devoted to every-member ministry. This, of course, is the exception rather than the rule today, even in our Protestant churches. If we are to see a widespread explosion of participation by church members there has to be a revolution in our thinking about the priesthood.

11:44 AM Mark Goodacre continues his excelling blogging on theSynoptic Problem.

11:41 AM Despite his cheerful appearance, Dr. Jim appears to begetting very worried. And well he should.

Attack lambs of the world, unite!

11:30 AM One of my Greek students just sent me this wonderful testimony:

Learning Greek has been like going jogging for me.  When I started taking Greek back in January, I weighed 256 lbs and couldn’t run 30 feet or climb a flight of stairs without having a mild heart attack.  I did not like to run because I could not run.  Now that I’m 199 lbs and can lick two, three, or four miles and recover in just five or six minutes, I really enjoy running.  In fact, I bought new running shoes last night that will only be used for running — and I’ve already put two miles on them this morning!  So it is with Greek — now that I know just a smidgen, I’m eager to learn more, and studying is not near the drudgery that it once was.  Once I could jog a little, I wanted to jog more.  Once I learned a little Greek, though difficult at first, it is much easier and more enjoyable to learn new material.

I wrote back:

Great analogy. Greek, though, is more like a marathon. Students who got A’s in their classes no longer can read a single sentence of the language. How sad. I pray it doesn’t happen to you. The key? Stay in the text. Read a little bit every day. You’d be surprised at what you will see in even “familiar” passages. May God help us all to be faithful to use what we’ve worked so hard to acquire by His grace!

Will you stay in the race or drop out?

11:12 AM It’s official now. Iran is a phantasmagoria of evil, the central player in the world’s struggle between civilization and chaos. The American public must not, under any circumstances, ask why. Of course, the “discovery” at Qom is just the incendiary pretext needed to settle old scores and forge an American Empire in the Middle East. Maybe somebody should point out the fallaciousness of such thinking. Oh wait —somebody already has.

11:08 AM It’s a gloomy, drizzly day in southern Virginia. Still, I think Becky’s garden looks beautiful. Wouldn’t you agree?

9:36 AM No word from Oshe yet. I’m praying fervently.

9:30 AM New Testament Greek students! Check out thislist of Greek resources at Brian Fulthorp’s blog. Of course, there’s no point in accumulating resources unless you actually use them.

9:18 AM The Better Bibles Blog notes how translators do not alwaysget the math right. The post reminded me of the controversy that swirled around a verse in Acts several years ago (20:9):

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

Continental scholars argued that Eutychus fell some 40 feet, while Americans insisted that he must have fallen only 30 feet or so. Wikipediaexplains:

In most of continental Europe, as well as the British Isles and much of theCommonwealth and Latin America, the floor at the ground level is the ground floor and the floor above is the first floor….

In North American usage … the floor at the ground level is usually, but not always, the first floor and the floor above is the second floor….

Either way, Eutychus was dead, so this tempest in a teapot soon faded from memory. As the Wikipedia entry notes:

It is obvious that this can lead to some confusion, but little else can be done other than being aware of this issue.

P.S. When I was studying in Basel, Becky and I lived in a tiny one-room apartment on what the Swiss called the parterre. You might call it a cross between the basement and the ground floor. Of course, no Swiss would ever be caught living in such humble circumstances, so most of the time the parterre was rented out to foreigners. The stigma associated with our dwelling place never bothered us. We were happy just to be in Basel.

8:34 AM I’ve just published an essay on the Lord’s Supper. It’s calledA First Small Step. Is your church ready to take it?

8:06 AM Are two “new covenants” in view in Hebrews 7-10? You can get Rod Decker’s takehere (.pdf).

7:56 AM Henry Stimson, the diplomat of the World War II era, once said, “The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him.” That saying gnawed at me this morning as I read Acts 14:23:

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Presumably Paul felt that the young churches in Asia which he had planted only a few weeks earlier could stand on their own, apart from his presence and leadership. In my mind, there’s something that doesn’t compute about appointing men as leaders who had been Christians for less than 3 or 4 months. Could it be that Paul believed in the power of the Holy Spirit? Could it be that he saw in these men a maturity that the people could not help but respect? Ronald Reagan had no foreign-policy experience when he became president, yet he had more than a little to do with ending the Cold War. Likewise, Paul took an extraordinary step when he refused to settle down as his convert’s “pastor.” The fact is that they already had a “Senior Pastor,” and their elders could rely upon Him for direction.

In a week I’ll be sending my Greek students home with their first exam. When they return to class they will grade their own exams. Are they trustworthy? “The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him.”

Friday, September 25

10:06 PM I had a craving for pancakes this evening. So Becky and I had some. It was a joint effort. Becky located the batter (hey, I just live here), and I cooked.

Afterwards we sat around doing this and that, our faithful furry friends keeping us company. With Nate and Jess out of town we’re keeping Sheppie, who in this photo appears as snug as a bug in a rug.

Thus another day at Rosewood comes to an end. Sleep tight everyone.

8:23 PM Just heard from Nate. He and Jessie attended a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery today, then drove to her mom and dad’s home in Maryland. They’ve arrived safety and everyone is doting on Nolan, something I never do, of course. We always miss the Blacks when they’re traveling. Have a great time you guys, and try not to miss us too much.

7:06 PM This weekend I’m reading a great book in German. It’s called Englisch für Fortgeschrittene (English for the Advanced). What a superb way to learn a foreign language — study it backwards! I do something similar with my Greek students. Each quiz and exam I offer has an extra credit section that requires English-Greek translation. I am convinced that the ability to exegete the New Testament in Greek is dependent upon our ability to read, and to a degree to think, in the language.

6:28 PM American Christians continue to espouse the orthodoxy of freedom and justice for all even as we breathe fire and brimstone against Muslims who want topray at the nation’s capitol. We are getting good at holding opposing ideas. It was F. Scott Fitzgerald who said that the “test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposite ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” Cozy up to Lady Liberty while slamming Islam. What first-rate minds we have.

Might I suggest that God doesn’t ask us to back an unbeliever into a corner to mash him or her with our mental machinery? He’s not asking us to back up our Gospel dump trucks and pull the lever. There are any number of things we can do to get people to Calvary, but, last time I looked, name calling and protests weren’t included. 

3:30 PM In theology class recently we discussed the seventeenth chapter of John’s Gospel. Let me outline what I said. (Much of what we discussed was based on an essay I wrote several years ago for a somewhat obscure journal called the Criswell Theological Review. The essay is titled “Structure and Style in John 17.” If you would like a copy, let me know.)

The church consists of people who know God personally through Jesus Christ. These people come from many different cultures and backgrounds. There are as diverse as diverse can be. Yet they are all one, united in the very same way that Jesus is united with His Father. What does this unity look like? This is a question to which scholars have given many different answers. What is absolutely certain is that unity does not mean uniformity. It has nothing whatsoever to do with bland sameness. It involves a unity of spirit, an identity of purpose, and a commitment to brotherly love. One evangelical scholar argues that the church is like a huge army marching under different regimental banners. It is not supremely important what regiment we belong to. What matters is that we all follow the commanding officer.

I resonate with this analogy. For many years now I have reenacted the American Civil War. Each regiment has its own customs, flags, esprit, and idiosyncrasies. Yet despite the fact that the army marches under many different flags, each regiment is expected to obey the commanding officer and work together as a unit.

As followers of Christ, we must never forget that Jesus came into the world to inaugurate the kingdom of God. In this kingdom, national and tribal allegiances are unimportant. They are superseded by our loyalty to our Commander-in-Chief. If, by a miracle, unity ever became a “first order” category in our Bible-believing, evangelical churches, evangelism might become our one overmastering passion. I am told that as a Baptist I must fight for Baptist distinctives. Some would go further. They would say that I am not to eat the Lord’s Supper with those who hold to “wrong doctrine” — pedobaptism, for example. How avidly we cling to our distinctives! But our supreme aim can NEVER be to exalt our own regiment. The Commander asks us to follow Him. And if we make that our aim, surely we will realize that the things that unite us in the kingdom are much more important than the things that divide us.

In a word, evangelicals are to be a people who are united for the Gospel. The kingdom of God transcends every manmade barrier we can erect — race, education, gender, color, background, nationality. Think of the leadership of the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1). They had a Cypriot (Barnabas), a dark-skinned man (Simeon “the black”), a North African (Lucius from Cyrene), an aristocrat (Manaen, a member of the Herodian family), and a Jew (Saul of Tarsus). What made their joint leadership possible? I dare say that the “fellowship of the Spirit” (Phil. 2:1) was more important to them than their obvious differences. That humble attitude paid handsomely. The congregation at Antioch became a missionary sending church, as every local church should be.

I believe that most churches today could do a great deal more to encourage this outlook. We can hold city-wide meetings with other congregations, or we can combine services with the church next door, or we can come together for prayer meetings. Perhaps this would help us catch a glimpse of the true catholicity of the church. It is necessary to emphasize that we must depend completely on the Holy Spirit if we are to achieve such unity. The Spirit was given to us, not to make us comfortable, but to make us missionaries. It was the Spirit who drove Paul and the other early missionaries to “struggle together in one soul for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:28). It is He who dismantles our pride and enables the lovely fruit of the Spirit to take root in our lives. This, I believe, is what Jesus prayed for in John 17 — a church whose fellowship was real and vibrant, and a church devoted to evangelism.

When the Spirit is freely welcomed among us again, who knows what the results might be?

P.S. I should note that I do not reenact the Civil War because I seek to glorify that war or any war for that matter. Quite the opposite. I seek to educate the public about what life was like in the encampments of the period.

I am also privileged to preach to many reenactors during our period worship services on Sunday mornings. The reenacting community is a largely unreached mission field, full of people who are seeking peace of mind and forgiveness of sin. What a joy to be able to tell them about the Savior.

2:14 PM Thankful that Becky continues to do well today. None of evil’s ramifications change ultimate reality, of course. God is not just “out there.” “He is,” as Francis Schaeffer used to put it, “there, and He has spoken.” He has entered our pain and suffering. He understands.

2:10 PM My Romanian grandmother lived in Campbell, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown. I recall visiting her several times when I was growing up in Hawaii. She ran a general store on the first floor and lived upstairs. A notice stood by her doorbell:

Store Below. Residence Above.

This has become my perspective on life. I believe we cannot make the world our focus. And we dare not, as Christians, be bound by prejudices based on nationalism. The temptation to political activism, thinking we can “reclaim America,” is almost irresistible today.

The church is in constant danger of degenerating into a political action group. Alas, many Christians cannot see this. I am assaulted daily with emails from evangelical organizations whose one purpose is to defend “Christian America.” But our allegiance can never be to any manmade cause, and never to an earthly kingdom.

This may sound trite, but it isn’t.

10:58 AM One of the greatest challenges we face in Ethiopia has to do with leadership training.

1) Most of the “ministry” in Ethiopia is done by ordained clergy who are seminary trained and are paid for their ministry. Often the people perceive them to be the ministers of the church. Becky and I are committed to involving more of the Body in ministry. And we are training the leaders of the local churches to do their best to equip others (2 Tim. 2:2).

2) The resident seminaries in Ethiopia are usually geared to training academically superior leaders who are required to dislocate themselves from their homes and communities for at least 3 years. This model of education, as I have often said, is beset with 3 problems: extraction, expense, and elitism. Extracting leaders from their communities is very expensive and often leads to a sense of elitism among the graduates. We prefer to train leaders in their home environments. We do not believe that servants-in-training need to be uprooted from their homes. Nor do we believe that theological education need involve formal schooling; indeed, traditional theological education is, we are sadly discovering, often a disadvantage.

3) We believe that the best leadership development occurs in local churches. Students should be living in their homes, serving in their churches, and active in their communities as they exercise teaching, preaching, administrative, and evangelistic functions. Again, our experience has shown that when we extract students from their culture, many of them are unwilling or unable to return to the towns from which they came.

4) What should be the curriculum of leadership training? We believe that the best textbook is the Bible itself. Hence the scholar-teachers who come with us to Ethiopia do verse-by-verse exposition of a book of the Bible with a constant focus on practical ministry.

I suppose our convictions might be summarized as follows.

• All believers are called to be ministers in building the kingdom of God.

• Spiritual leaders have the responsibility to equip all members of the Body to serve.

• Theological education is best accomplished on site rather than in faraway seminaries. 

• Theological education finds its fulfillment within the framework of the local church.

• The proper end of all theological training is ministry, not degrees or ordination.

• The aim of teaching is not to impart knowledge but to produce obedient disciples.

• If a man is seminary-trained but not living in a manner that is obedient to the commands of the Lord Jesus, he is not qualified to lead.

Below: Kevin Brown of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro, NC, teaching the book of Ephesians to church elders in Alaba.

10:32 AM “I believe that elders demonstrate their maturity and Christlikeness most when they are not seen and not heard but are instead serving in obscurity by leading, teaching, shepherding, and overseeing in ways that demonstrate the humility and gentleness of the Spirit of Christ.” Alan Knox.

9:55 AM Becky’s series on her cancer journey continues with an essay calledPain.

9:52 AM Good news. Oshe and Daniel have arrived in Addis and are now looking at the vehicle. Is this the right one for the Galana clinic? The Lord knows.

9:43 AM What a relief. Our president strides rather than struts onto the stage of history. Say what you will about Mr. Obama, the man exudes quiet confidence.

W. had a swagger, but O. is more like Reagan, a master at reassuring the American people that all will be well in the end. I’m thankful for a statesman who, well, acts statesmanlike. I’m a reluctant fan of the president — policy issues aside, of course. But I’m willing to give credit where credit is due. The man has a feel for capturing the fears and hopes of the American public. That’s why, for me, it’s tragic beyond words that Mr. Obama doesn’t seem to realize that we can’t achieve security in Afghanistan even if we beef up our forces there. On the other hand, here is a president who was bold enough to address head-on the blame-America-first attitude that prevails in the UN.

Like him or not, whether he is right or wrong, at least we can be thankful that the president’s not cocky.

9:36 AM I am stupefied as I read Marcus Borg’s Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. For instance, on p. 66 he writes:

We do not know if Jesus in fact held a “last supper” with his disciples at which elements of the meal (bread and wine) were invested with special significance. The stories of the last supper in the gospels may be the product of the early communities’ embryonic ritualization of the meal tradition rather than a historical recollection of the last night of Jesus’ life. There seems, in this instance, no way of moving beyond “not knowing.”

What do you think? Can we move beyond “not knowing”? Jesus predicted His own resurrection. Did it take place? The evidence is overwhelming that it did. Read Morison’s Who Moved the Stone? or Anderson’s The Evidence for the Resurrection or Ramsey’s The Resurrection of Christ for thoughtful responses to the scholars’ skepticism. We are told by some that true Christianity is unrecoverable from the extant documents. This charge merits careful attention. But I have no intention of sacrificing my intellect on the altar of agnosticism.  

9:22 AM Question for you, dear readers. Why do those who talk so long and loud in favor of servant leadership have so little to say about shared leadership? Why does one man dominate the pulpit in most of our churches? Why, in fact, are there pulpits in the first place? The Brethren of yesteryear found it more conducive for spiritual growth to have simple buildings with no elevated platforms, no pulpits, and no protestant priests. I know of no church law that would prevent the eldership from working properly together and ensuring that every “apt-to-teach” elder has an opportunity to instruct the congregation. I know that this will go against the weight of tradition, but just think of the benefits. No longer will your congregation be known as “Pastor _______’s church.” And no longer will there be the one-man isolated “minister.” Why shouldn’t we form leadership teams within our churches that rotate the ministry of teaching? I know of no other reason than inertia.

Thursday, September 24

9:49 PM Do you remember the theme from Dragnet? Duh-da-da-duh. Duh-da-da-duh-duuuuuh!

Well, it seems that I’m going to be arrested in a few minutes. The charge? Kidnapping. I took Becky out to our local Chinese restaurant this evening. I escorted her out our front door, to the car, and all the way to the town of Clarksville. Right now she is completely free of pain, and her stamina has greatly improved. I’m super glad. When I asked her what she wanted me to cook for supper tonight, she said, “Do you think we could go out for dinner?” Music to my ears. So coppers — stay away. The kidnappee flew the coop of her own free will.

Tonight I’m feeling like the Lord has blessed me so much I don’t what to be thankful for. All I can think of saying is, “Thank you, God.” Becky’s ambulatory, her pain has subsided, and she is up and about. But she remains in a high risk period until her next chemo, so we’re trying to be careful with her activities. But on the whole — BECKY IS A NEW PERSON TONIGHT. Thank you all again for the generous outpouring of love and prayers. I am very grateful.

2:55 PM Heard on the Diane Rehm Show today:

You can only see as far as your own headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

 

2:23 PM Had my annual physical today. Doc says I’m as fit as a fiddle. I decided to get the flu shot in light of all the illness on campus. I can’t afford to get sick with Becky being so susceptible to viruses.

7:36 AM Here’s an idea whose time has most certainly come:holding Greek class at Starbucks.

7:32 AM Newsflash! Multitaskers are lousy at just about everything they do.Here’s the scoop.

7:25 AM Did Texas execute an innocent man? ReadTrial by Fire. Having been a volunteer fire fighter for 4 years, I found this story quite disturbing.

7:21 AM Three great reasons forwriters to blog. When are you going to start?

7:15 AM Dallas now boasts a German International School. I think the Big D must have everything.

7:12 AM The best books onBarth. To state the obvious: I’m an avid reader of Barth (usually in German) because I love his exegesis of specific texts, not because I always agree with him.

Oh, one more thought. I think I was the only non-pipe-smoking doctoral student in Basel. It was as if one couldn’t think about the Word without there being smoke (incense ascending on high?) in the room. Cough, cough….

7:08 AM I am interested in the response to General McChrystal’s advice to the president. One essay that grabbed my attention came from AlterNet. It’s calledWhy President Obama Can’t Let Himself Be Blackmailed by His Generals. It seems clear that the generals are eager to begin striking targets in Pakistan with more than just drones. But wars are messy businesses, and we need another invasion and occupation like we need a hole in the head.

7:00 AM In the past few years Frank Schaeffer, son of the late apologist Francis Schaeffer, has spent a great deal of time and effort trying to discredit the religious right, a movement in which he was raised.

Schaeffer’s diagnosis, however, looks feeble when he says that the answer is to bypass the “lunatic fringe” and get on with life, as he does inthis interview with Rachel Maddow. Schaeffer spends a great deal of time talking about the right’s ties to fundamentalism and its obsession with the Last Days – surely an almost perfect illustration of the genetic fallacy. Incidentally, I happen to be a dispensationalist when it comes to eschatology, but I am nevertheless united with people like Frank in their dissatisfaction with traditional applications of this doctrine. However, evangelicalism cannot be separated from its other aspect – faith in Jesus Christ as the point of rupture with all other religions, including the religion of liberalism. This has been made abundantly clear by Ellul and Eller in their writings about Christian anarchy. If you wish to dismantle evangelicalism I suppose you eventually will have to abandon its view of Scripture and its emphasis upon substitutionary atonement.

Wednesday, September 23

8:57 PM Almost forgot: A huge “Kamsahamnida” and “Ευχαριστώ!”to my grader (who is from Korea) for bringing me sushi and kimchi for lunch today. What a thoughtful surprise!

(By the way, one thing my graders never do for me isgrade.)

8:46 PM Grateful to Allan Bevere for taking time toreview The Jesus Paradigm.

8:32 PM Appreciate Joel and Kimberly for bringing Becky some bananas and peaches. She loves fresh fruit!

8:25 PM Prayer alert! We may have found a vehicle for the Galana clinic. Two elders from Soyama are on their way to Addis to check it out tomorrow. It is similar to the one we purchased for the church in Alaba several years ago (photo). If it meets our criteria, then the clinic will have its very own ambulance. Please pray for brothers Oshe and Daniel, that the Lord will grant them a special measure of spiritual wisdom in the days ahead. 

8:20 PM A thoughtful reader sent along the words to William Cowper’s “Grace and Providence.” This verse hit me squarely between the eyes:

Either his hand preserves from pain,
Or, if I feel it, heals again;
From Satan’s malice shields my breast,
Or overrules it for the best.

Amen and amen!

8:16 PM In theology class today we talked about Galatians and the law. Robert Cole did a fantastic job as our guest lecturer (thanks, Bob!).

How do we keep God’s law? The only solution is to abandon ourselves to His adequacy, submit ourselves to His program, and trust Him implicitly for enablement. The Spirit of Almighty God is our only hope, and we must willingly submit to His agenda, thanking Him ahead of time for His enabling grace. Without God-enabled obedience we will never penetrate the non-Christian world with Christ’s love. Living a life of scandalous cross-love is a far better alternative than neurotic Christian activism, which is often merely an escape mechanism that makes us feel “powerful” when we are not. Need I add that we are not called to spout off about the Gospel from a respectful distance and then leave, all the while looking down on the very people we’re ostensibly seeking to win? If we are to serve Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, we must leave behind our power ties and bank rolls, otherwise we will remain detached from the unsaved or lord it over them.

7:55 PM Had a great supper with Bec. She requested chicken and mashed potatoes, with a side salad. My cooking actually turned out to be not too bad tonight. Right now she’s asleep. I’m praying she has a good night’s rest.

6:45 PM Greetings, bloggers and bloggerettes! I just got back from campus. Here’s what’s on my mind.

First of all, I’m greatly relieved that Becky is doing better and that her pain is under control. There are, I’m sure, many factors behind this, not least being the prayers of God’s people and the fact that we are learning to manage her illness through medicine and diet. This cancer business has been a high learning curve for us, but as we live day to day we’re discovering that the best way to confront a scientific age is with an ancient book. Let’s face it, illness is always a return to reality about yourself. Plugging in where God has decided to put us is what it’s all about. Unfortunately, it’s often a long, hard road from pain to peace. But there are some road signs along the way. Here are a few principles I’m beginning to adopt relative to our fight with cancer:

• It’s okay to be afraid

• The gift of friendship is powerful

• The process is costly in both time and resources

• Stay involved in other people’s lives

• Let others be a source of comfort and help

• Pray hard, believing that God works in the hearts of needy people

• Balance rest with work

• Expect unsolicited advice

• Follow your own conscience

• Keep in step with the Spirit

I don’t propose to claim that I’m doing all of things perfectly. Hardly. But I believe with all my heart that it’s about attitude. The ball is in our court. Do we trust God? Are we willing to give ourselves over to Him in every department of our lives? That is the very heart of the Christian life.

As time goes on I’m sure I’ll get better at handling this situation. Becky and I have had too many years together to doubt the reality of our love for each other or the strength of our relationship. Do you remember Pilgrim’s Progress and how Christian had strayed off the King’s Highway and got himself imprisoned by Giant Despair in Doubting Castle? He was about to give up all hope of ever getting out when he remembered that he had on him the key that would open the lock, the key called “Promise.”

This is my advice to us, to you, to anyone who may be in the dungeon of despair today:

Hold fast to the promises of God!

Gratia et pax,

Dave

Monday, September 21

10:06 PM So very thankful for an excellent Greek class tonight and that Becky is doing well, even though she is barely ambulatory and must use a wheel chair to navigate around the house. Thankful also that Nate and Jess live on our farm and are eager to help us. I could not manage the situation without their assistance. Right now I anticipate going into campus tomorrow, so if you don’t hear from me before Wednesday evening you’ll know why. I still use Front Page and am unable to upload to my website from a computer other than what I have at home. Please know that Becky and I love you sincerely and deeply appreciate all of your care and your prayers.

I could not make it through a single day without Jesus.

5:50 PM Becky seems to be doing better. I’m going to go ahead and tutor German and teach Greek tonight, but I will have the cell phone with me just in case. Man do I love that woman.

3:20 PM It just struck me: A feature that was notably absent from Professor Cox’s interview was mention of the Holy Spirit. He properly called into question our over-reliance on traditional interpretations of Scripture, our addiction to unbreakable “rules,” our need to be thinking men and women. All fine and good. But it seems to me that when the New Testament calls on us to live out our Christian lives, it always emphasizes the indispensable role of the Spirit of Jesus, who enables us to work out our allegiance to Christ in the complexities of modern life. This leads me to add that, in the New Testament ethic, we are not called to obey an external code but to please a Person. Thank goodness, this emphasis is not lost in our universities today. I know of many brilliant university students, followers of Jesus all, who daily depend on the Holy Spirit of God. It is He who first helps us to want to follow the Lord in obedience, and it is He who makes that possible. Praise God for this cadre of believing students!

3:04 PM Just engaged in one of my favorite avocations — walking the dogs. We checked the mail and I admired the contrails at 30,000 feet. Somewhere in the stratosphere life goes on as usual. Or does it? I wonder how many tales of woe or intrigue could be told by the passengers now looking down upon my farm?

2:14 PM Wheaton College is seeking to fill theArthur F. Holmes Chair in Faith and Learning. As an aside: I read Holmes’The Idea of a Christian College — a penetrating critique of modernism — during my first year of teaching at Biola in 1976, just after it had been published. I hope this book still finds its way into the hands of students and teachers.

1:54 PM “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed — and hence clamorous to be led to safety — by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” H. L. Mencken.

1:12 PM The Diane Rehm Show today featured an interview with Harvey Cox, who recently retired from Harvard. He charges evangelical Christianity with being right-wing, pro-Republican, and doctrinaristic. There is, of course, some truth to his charge. I found the interview quite enlightening, especially to hear his and the listeners’ comments about evangelicalism. It is perhaps one of the greatest ironies of history that the vagaries ofOrthodoxy should have laid the foundation for the subjective “spiritualism” espoused by the likes of Professor Cox.

By the way, of the many examples he used to prove conservatism wrong, I thought the most interesting was his claim that pederasty (and not homosexuality) is in view in Paul’s list of sins. Mark Goodacre made a similar claim in his recent online office hours. Most colleagues of mine would argue to the contrary, correctly so in my view. Still, the points that Cox makes about the disease of “religion” are well taken. And he is dead on when he argues that interest in spirituality is on the rise in America.

Is Christ the radical still the solution? I certainly believe that He is, and indeed it is my conviction that the Christian faith is the very antithesis of “religion.” Our mollycoddled society, as much as it may claim to long for spiritual reality, has failed to confront the radical claims of Jesus, and therein lies our problem.

1:02 PM A friendly reminder to my Bethel Hill Greek students: The 4-hour rule is still in effect. If you haven’t put in at least 4 hours of study this past week, you are free to skip class tonight. How’s that for putting it positively?

8:46 AM There is something bizarre about watching the attacks on Jimmy Carter. Surround him, throw Lilliputian nets on him, do anything to muzzle Carter, we cry. The name of the game is character assassination. The bossy “Republican is good, Democrat is bad” doctrine was cooked up during the Reagan years. For an illusion, it’s remarkably persistent.

 

8:06 AM Want to study abroad? Here’s an opening inIraq.

7:48 AM Josh, my advice isno.

7:23 AM It’s always good to rejoice with those who rejoice, and I share my colleague Alvin Reid’s enthusiasm over the release of his latest book on October 1. It’s called Evangelism Handbook: Biblical, Spiritual, Intentional, Missional. I couldn’t be more excited for you, Alvin.

7:02 AM Yesterday I took Becky to the UNC Emergency Room. It took them 6 hours to get her pain under control. Thankfully she passed a restful night under heavy sedation.

The fact is, I can’t control what’s going on. And that means trusting God and taking one day at a time. My goal is to be as totally trustworthy to Becky as I possibly can be. She has a very nasty disease, but her treatment is proving to be just as nasty. At the same time, there’s so much good, God stuff going on. Just having good medical care is a huge blessing. Being at the ER yesterday made me realize again how grateful I need to be for pain medication. When asked to rate her discomfort on a scale of 1 to 10, she replied, “It’s a 12.” That’s exactly how I felt when Becky brought me to this same ER with my malaria. Job had to grin and bear it. At least we have morphine.

Paul said, “For though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day.” What a splendid and responsible approach to the problem of suffering! The cross reminds us that God is no stranger to pain. Like a father agonizing over a sick child, He suffers in and with all the suffering of humanity. And there’s another plus. God uses pain to develop our character. This is precisely what He is doing right now in my prayer life. I have never prayed harder or more frequently.

Suffering has reminded me that trusting Christ lies at the heart of the Christian faith. When Jesus rose triumphantly from that cold tomb, He had me and Becky in mind. And He remembers us still.

Sunday, September 20

9:32 AM I must leave for church. Becky insists that I go without her. Jessie will stay with her. I’m asking everyone who reads this blog to offer a prayer for her. She feels as if she’s been run over by a truck. Indeed she has. Some say the first week after chemo is the hardest. Others say the second. I can’t imagine it getting any harder than this. May God show His great mercy toward us. Surely, we are not waiting upon the Lord in vain.

9:12 AM I will be presenting the work in Ethiopia by myself this morning. Becky is simply not strong enough to go anywhere or do anything. I will do my best in her absence. My message will be this: To follow Jesus is costly. It will demand involvement and sacrifice. Our trips to Ethiopia are not vacations. All we can offer, as with Garibaldi and Churchill, is blood, sweat, and tears.

It is worth reflecting that many Christians have never arrived at this point of commitment. For them Christianity is a faith to be admired or else merely a subject to be studied objectively and historically — nothing more. I met many such people during my studies in Basel, Switzerland. Many of the theology students there had come from the most prestigious American universities. For them the New Testament was nothing more than an analyzable datum of linguistic and historical investigation. For all their audacious ideas, they had no courage to follow the teachings of the One they claimed to have studied so thoroughly. What is true of university students is no less true of the modern church-goer. It really boils down to courage. Do we have the guts to give ourselves to something as costly as genuine Christianity? For discipleship is often dangerous. It can mean ostracism and possibly even severe persecution. It is easier to avoid such risks by sitting in the ranks of the “scholars” than to have the moral courage to to do anything different from the crowd.

The Ethiopian believers rejoice in their sufferings for Christ. Such is the toughness of their faith. We say, “For me to live is me.” They say, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” They say, “Lord, you’re sovereign. Our safety and protection is in you. If you choose to glorify yourself through our death, praise God — for me to die is gain. If you choose to deliver us from death, praise God — for me to live is Christ.” Their courage, their biblical realism, stands as a scathing condemnation of anyone who claims to know the historical Jesus yet who refuses to obey His truth claims. It is much easier, must more comfortable, to simply run away. Friend, you can run but you cannot hide. The Jesus you so “objectively” study and teach and write books about will not be mocked. Whatever escape route from Jesus you choose, it will not work. The God of truth, the God you are seeking to avoid, will not allow you to live a lie forever. One day all of our falsehoods will be stripped away, mine as well as yours, and we will stand naked before this Jesus who will either be our Savior or our Judge.

And so with Pilate I ask, “What will you do with Jesus?” Do you know Him or just know about Him? You will never know Him until you yield, not just your mind, but your will to Him. I pray that you will do so today.

8:11 AM “Solutions.” It is a human tendency to look for solutions everywhere for our problems. But all too often the solutions are themselves the problem.

Every one of us believes we have the secret of a just society, or the solution to the health care crisis. At times we even end up wanting to force our solutions on people — insisting, for instance, that parents home educate their children or that their daughters wear only dresses. Of course, we know better than other parents how to raise their kids!

Believing that Mr. Obama has the “solutions” to our problems is one of the main reasons he’s in the White House today instead of his Republican opponent. But I doubt that society will be any better off because Mr. Obama is president. The lust after solutions is a fatal disease. Once a president has the “solution” to a problem it is only a matter of time before the same problem is reincarnated in another form. Even Christians behave as if the God whom they claim to know and revere has no solutions outside of their own dogmas and platforms. The enormous institutional machinery of our denominations bears eloquent witness to that fact.

It is salutary to remember that the earliest Christians had no use for manmade “solutions” or canned programs. The center of their vision for societal renewal was Jesus Christ. He was the risen Lord. They realized that His kingdom was not of this world. How wise they were! Far from becoming the new political zealots of their day, they penetrated society with the life-changing message that had burned into their souls. That message so gripped the Barnabases and Phillips and Pauls among them that they were consumed with passion to spread it far and wide.

Such was the allegiance to Jesus that they seemed to have. They have shown us the way.

8:07 AM Remember your first jump off the high dive? Then you’ll be able to identify with Mr. Bean goes to the swimming pool. But be forewarned: It’s side-splitting.

Saturday, September 19

9:42 PM I quite agree withHenry Neufeld that it is sometimes necessary to remove the laurel wreaths around our heads and replace them with paper bags. Our convictions on rightness and wrongness are often ridiculously absurd. Thus, those who urged America to war with moral certitude are now subject to questions about their own standards of morality. Bye-bye neo-imperial swagger. Can New Testament scholars act in the same way? You betcha. Imperial flair is ubiquitous. But Henry makes a good point:

What’s even more dangerous is that once we have made that “concept idol” we become less and less capable of hearing the very proper challenges to our idol and the pedestal on which we have placed it. We hear the challenges to the idols of others. Egalitarians, such as myself, can quite clearly see the dangers of patriarchy and hear clearly when its place on the pedestal is challenged. “Tear down that idol!” we shout!

But have we made our own idols? Too often we have.

Which is one reason I’m no longer a cheerleader for home education. Or elder-led congregationalism. Yes, I hold to these positions, and I espouse them from time to time, sometimes strongly. But I don’t consider it my job to become a fulltime apologist for anything other than the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Yeshua ha-Mashiach. If anyone tells you that something trumps Jesus, you can bet the farm that he or she is self-deceiving and even self-defeating.

7:28 PM I continue to be grateful for your prayers for my wife. Becky has had a rough day. Will tomorrow be more of the same? We pray not but leave that in His hands. I cooked her some Chinese food for supper (her request), and we are trying to carry on as normally as possible. God willing we will both be at The Hill tomorrow morning to give an Ethiopia update during the morning service. We are ready to speak of Jesus wherever and whenever the Lord might open the door. In the meantime God continues to bless and encourage us by your loving prayers and emails.

Thank you.

5:20 PM I see that the next meeting of the Society for New Testament Studies will be inBerlin, a city I have never visited. I’ll have to give attending some prayerful thought. I’d really like to see the Marienkirche, the Reichstag (photo), and the Brandenburg Gate. I already have a piece of The Wall.

4:08 PM This card came in today’s mail:

You were remembered in prayer by the members of ______ Baptist Church on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Message:

Becky & Dave, we lifted your names to our Heavenly Father tonight. We will continue to pray for you both as you go through this trial! We love you.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you” (Colossians 1:9a, NIV).

Although our trials this year have perhaps been more than during any previous year, and although we have often been reduced to weakness and pain, we have lacked nothing. I am sure it is because of the prayers of God’s people. Oh the beauty of the Body of Christ! Oh how awful not to know the Lord Jesus personally!

3:40 PM To jump into the blogging fray for a moment. I encourage all of my doctoral students to blog. And several of them do. But I also tell them that the least important thing they will ever write is their doctoral dissertation, let alone a blog post of theirs. At best, a dissertation is just the first publication in what should become a lifetime of scholarship. My blogging hasn’t kept me from writing books, nor should it. Nor do I list my blog or my web essays on my CV.

Just my two lepta.

2:26 PM Just watched Mark Goodacre’s “office hours” over at the Duke website. Even T. C. atNew Leaven got a question in! I’m ashamed to say that I have never met Mark in person even though we teach at neighboring institutions and he’s just pocos minutos away. I see that my esteemed colleague is just as opinionated as I am about the issues raised in the discussion. It will also become obvious to any viewer that Duke is not SEBTS, which is not, of course, a bad thing. At any rate, well done, Mark. My favorite quote of yours: “I think the most important thing to do is not just to read the New Testament. New Testament scholars actually spend far more time reading texts that aren’t in the New Testament, and reading lots of things to get the historical context right. You have to read widely in ancient literature….”

1:10 PM It’s happened again! I got yet another email addressing me as “brother.” Not since Captain Binghamton ordered the crew of PT-73 to jump off a dock have I been so surprised.

12:54 PM In an earlier post today I mentioned “Durham.” I failed to note that the city I had in mind is the one in North Carolina and not in the UK. I recall Keith Elliott of Leeds once visiting our ranch in North Carolina. We drove to the county seat of Oxford to do some shopping, and Keith bought a postcard for his lovely wife. He thought she would get a big kick out of it. It said, “Greetings from Oxford.” Of course, it looked nothing like the following:

12:30 PM NPR’s Scott Simon had anexcellent interview today with Byron Dorgan, Democratic Senator from North Dakota. Sen. Dorgan seems a wily expert in the politics of the bazaar. Most enjoyable was the tone of civility between Simon and his interviewee.

I heard the interview while driving to South Boston (“our fair city”) to get Becky some gauze masks to wear in public. Tomorrow we’ll be in a very public place (at church), and I’m asking those who are fighting colds or who have come into contact with anyone who is to please consider keeping a little distance from her. One of the gravest risks Becky faces during her treatments is that of infection. I know this will be very difficult to do — Becky is oh so huggable!

9:56 AM Over at Newsweek, Seth Coulter-Walls takes on Ralph Nader’s new bookOnly the Super-Rich Can Save Us! He notes:

But when it comes to art that has swayed power brokers instead of voters, the free-market fundamentalism of Ayn Rand tilts the balance rightward.

The mention of Ayn (think “wine”) Rand conjures up a recent memory. When Becky and I celebrated our anniversary at the famous Berry Hill plantation (see below), we were reminded that the property had recently been owned and operated by a brand new school (“Founders College”) that promoted the objectivism of one Ayn Rand.

Embarrassingly, the school went belly up after only a year of operation (12 students originally enrolled, two of them online, and 7 of them had dropped out by the end of the first semester). At a moment when Americans were hungry for more government spending and financial assistance from Big Brother, I guess students were convinced that free-market fundamentalism was simply a smoky illusion. 

I remember all the hooplala when the college was established, living as I do only about 20 minutes away. The county fathers thought it would save the local economy. But the college had trouble attracting faculty, let alone students. One problem: Teachers were onshort term contracts, and word had it that renewal depended on student evaluations. Lousy profs would be gone before they knew it. Personally I thought this sort of consumerism was a good idea. All too many “teachers” can do everything but teach. I imagine the administration thought it could exorcise all the ghosts of the sixties and seventies and the gross evils of tenure. They turned out to be wrong.

9:17 AM In a poignant echo of the Sermon on the Hillside, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, who lives with his family at Rutba House in Durham, wonders if Christians should have analternative investment plan to what the world offers. His manner is modest, but his ideas are confrontational. At least they are to this middle-class Christian. It would be awful to arrive at The Seat and be told I wasted my money on ephemeral things.

9:03 AM A big “congratulations” to Alan Knox. Hispaper on 1 Corinthians has just been accepted by the editors ofFilología Neotestamentaria. That is a tremendous accomplishment for a doctoral student. Why not let brother Alan know how pleased you are?

And if you are a doctoral student, why not send your best work to one of the journals? The worst they can do is say no.

8:44 AM Must the TV be ubiquitous? It’s in every room in the hospital. It’s in every restaurant. In the Red Robin we visited it’s even in the men’s room. I’m not well suited to being a polemicist, but I’m about to get mal de mer over this TV business.

8:44 AM Dr. Jim is ahead again,way ahead. That’s good for biblioblogging. Jim is more dazzling, wise, and witty than his competitors. Here’s hoping that some of his effervescence will rub off on the rest of us mortals.

8:34 AM Our adventurism in the Middle East continues, without perhaps the noir and bullying tone of the Bush years. But continue it does. Clinton says that time is running out for Iran, even as a new report shows that the country is nuke free. Gordon Prather seems visibly relieved in his essayWhy No Dancing in the Streets? Of course, we reply “Americans can never back down!” We forget that this is just what Reagan did when he pulled out of Lebanon. We also forget that he won the Cold War without firing a shot. I don’t mind us championing freedom. But must we do so at the point of a bayonet?

8:13 AM Another word for “church“?

8:07 AM An “off-campus” student of mine sent me an interesting email.

I hope I can ask you some questions even though I am only your student through your text books.  The first of these questions concerns the use of bible software.  Do you think that a program like gramcord is worth the money spent on it for inductive learning, such as when I come across a bizarre syntactical construction?  It would seem that with gramcord I could look up the same construction in all of its appearances and discover how it functions in multiple contexts.  And if bible software is worth while, what do you think is the best choice?  I use e-sword just because it is free, but I know that the majority text it uses is out of date, and it does not have the same grammar tools as would logos or gramcord.

The other two questions revolve around learning Greek and doing exegesis the old fashioned way.  Do you think my time would be well spent if I began to read non-Christian hellenistic documents in Greek?  The other is a sort of cheap shot question because it may be designed on my part to avoid learning two different methods of exegesis.  I’ve been reading a lot of Ben Witherington’s commentaries lately, and I find that his form of rhetorical criticism is incredibly helpful, finding the exordium, narratio, propositio, probatio/refutatio, and peroratio seems to natural in documents written in a time when such structure was conventional.  Do you think that it can yield exegetical fruit or is it better to stick with discourse analysis?

P.S. I got a copy of Robertson’s Grammar following the advice in the Epilogue of “It’s Still Greek to Me,” that book is huge.

I replied as follows:

Good Morning, ______. To answer your questions:

1. Tools such as Gramcord are very useful indeed. They can, however, become crutches, excuses not to read the text itself. I much prefer to saturate myself in reading the text so that I might derive my sense of “Pauline style” (for example) from reading rather than from mere researching. Does that make any sense?

2. I would strongly encourage you to begin reading non-biblical Hellenistic writings. And I do believe that rhetorical analysis can help us to better understand the NT writings. I have, in fact, employed such methods frequently in my published articles. Perhaps you would like to see a couple of them? If so I will send them to you gratis, if you will provide me with your snail mail address.

Glad you’re enjoying Robertson’s Weightlifting 300 textbook!

Cheers!

By the way, I’m told that A. T. Robertson (photo), author of what we affectionately call the “Big Grammar,” insisted on teaching at least one section of beginning Greek every semester at Southern seminary. Imagine being in that class!

8:01 AM Just received an email from a student that began, “Hey brother Dave!” That is music to my ears. I know people think I’m crazy, but I do tend to take Matthew 23 literally. I’m not in the least advocating disrespect for teachers. I am merely seeking to separate biblical teaching from long-established custom. The principle is that Christianity knows of no special titles in Christ’s Body. All Christians are equally “ministers.” But we must see ministry not in terms of status but in terms of activity.

It is very natural for students to address their professors as “Doctor.” Personally I have little use for the title.

Friday, September 18

8:54 PM Thankful that Nate, Jess, and Nolan could join us for supper tonight. I don’t deserve such a wonderful family, but I sure do appreciate them. 

Becky has gone off to bed. I’m trusting she will have a restful night and a relaxing day tomorrow. We are scheduled to speak in our home church on Sunday. That is always a taxing responsibility, even when one is 100 percent fit physically. Becky wants to be there. I want her to be there. But the Lord knows what is best for us.

6:48 PM Our daughter Liz put together a video for Becky, using pix of our family, both here and in Ethiopia. You might enjoy watching it. It’s calledHe will do great things! Thank you, Liz, for this beautiful labor of love.

1:55 PM We just returned home after a successful treatment, thankful for the superb doctors and nurses God has blessed us with at UNC. Becky went through the chemo with flying colors. And this morning her blood counts looked great. It’s been a good first step on a long journey. Praise the Lord!

Both of us are exhausted, so it’s time for a long nap. God bless you for praying for us.

Thursday, September 17

5:36 AM Off to UNC Hospital. Bec will have her first chemo today. Hope to be back home tomorrow. In the meantime, you can check out Becky’s latest essay: In Pursuit of Health. God bless all of you, and thank you for your love and prayers.

5:31 AM Some of the greatest books on the New Testament church are written by an Anglican named Michael Green. We discussed the first chapter of his bookFreed to Serve in class yesterday. Green mentions 14 ways in which the church of today and the church of the New Testament only faintly resemble each other. In our post-evangelical society, I believe they are worth pondering anew:

1) In the New Testament, ministry had to be received before it was exercised.

2) In the New Testament, all Christians were called to ministry, not some.

3) In the New Testament, ministry was a function, not a status.

4) In the New Testament, ministry was something corporate and shared.

5) In the New Testament, authorisation followed ministry rather than preceded it.

6) In New Testament days, character, not intellect, was the most important condition.

7) In the New Testament, they selected their leadership from men of experience.

8) In the New Testament, men were trained on the job as apprentices, not in a college.

9) In the New Testament, leaders were of two kinds, local and circulating.

10) In New Testament days, local ministry consisted of people called to serve and lead in their own locality.

11) In New Testament days, leaders were normally not paid.

12) In the New Testament, the leaders saws theirs as an enabling ministry.

13) In the New Testament, doctrine was important.

14) In the New Testament, ministry was seen in terms of people, not buildings.

Strong words. We could not ask for a clearer statement of what is wrong with our churches today. Why are we so reluctant to take a fresh look at Acts? And why are we so unwilling to practice what we know to be biblical?

Therein lies the conundrum.

Wednesday, September 16

6:35 PM Quote of the day (Allan Bevere):

As Christians, instead of identifying ourselves as primarily kingdom citizens, we see ourselves first and foremost as Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or liberals. The Sermon on the Mount gets eclipsed by the political platforms of the DNC and the RNC. We like to say that we transcend such earthly contrived political conventions, but we can point to very little evidence to show that this is indeed the case.

ReadOn Why the Church in America Cannot Speak Truth to Power. I should note that Allan and I will be serving as the editors of the newAreopagus Critical Christian Issues Series, published by Energion. The series will make a quantum leap in biblical scholarship. (Just kidding.) I look forward to collaborating with Allan. It will be fascinating to see what manuscripts we receive in the coming months.

6:27 PM I received this note from Duke University:

Mark Goodacre at NT Blog has agreed to hold live, online “office hours” this Friday, Sept. 18, at noon EDT on Duke’s Ustream page:http://www.ustream.tv/dukeuniversity. Professor Goodacre will be giving his take on “the New Testament in the news” — and responding to questions from anyone who submits them online.

To submit a question, in advance or during the webcast, emaillive@duke.edu , tweet with the tag #dukelive, or post a comment on this Facebook page —http://apps.facebook.com/dukeuniversitylive/.

Sounds like an excellent event. I wish Mark well.

6:25 PM Nick Norelli reviews Don Carson’s excellent bookExegetical Fallacies. Carson is a master at covering a wide range of subjects and putting them on a shelf that most of us can reach and benefit from. We are all human and susceptible to committing the sort of fallacies that Carson exposes.

6:21 PM Jon Glass continues his series onStudying the Scriptures.

6:18 PM Daniel Shultz writes a provocative piece over at Religion Dispatches called New Poll Shows Religious Right and Left Look Very Different. He writes:

More not-shockers: conservative activists are focused like laser beams on abortion and homosexuality, while progressives are interested in poverty, health care, the environment, the economy in general, and ending the war in Iraq. Conservatives love them some individualistic ethics and free-market economics, progressives want to see structural reform.

In my view, the real evil of politics is not what do (or fail to do). The real evil lies in what we are – that is, in our twisted self-centeredness and hubris. I wrote Christian Archy out of the conviction that Jesus Christ holds the key to the intractable problem of the proper and responsible use of freedom. He was the freest man who ever lived, yet no one served others with greater passion and compassion. I conclude the book with these words:

This may be the nub of the matter for many of us: our traditional patterns of religious and political scalp-hunting are the very things that prevent the Holy Spirit from penetrating the stubborn patterns of our lives. And the more sincere and humble the activist is, the firmer is his or her hold on other people – and therefore the more dangerous. We are so accustomed to the church having its ethics commissions and public policy boards that we find it practically impossible to imagine the church without them. It is well to remember that neither Paul nor any of the other apostles ever challenged the political status quo. They never saw and never imagined a church with people rushing on their feet to keep the political machinery going. The church can overcome this false allegiance only by returning to the basic doctrine of Christ’s incarnation and his utter devotion to the kingdom of God.

Once again, we can put the point in terms of Christian Archy. The kingdom of God belongs not to the powerful and religious but to the poor and childlike humble. The test is simple: How much do you really serve the world without religious and political machinations? It is only when we become active in obedience to the Suffering Servant that the ministry of reconciliation (1 Cor. 5:17) is seen in its true meaning and has its full freedom of operation.

The Christian movement only began to catch on when Jesus was crucified. His cross became the symbol of the new movement. The symbol of death became a badge of honor. The same thing can happen today.

6:12 PM The BBC reports onBaptist battles in River Jordan. I know I’m laying my head on the block for saying it, but is there anything more ridiculous than followers of Jesus waiting to be baptized until they can afford a trip to the Holy Land? Baptism is a hugely important thing and, if I recall, it was Jesus’ first command to His followers. Surely it is very strange that anyone should think that baptism could become a fashion statement – “Look at me! I was baptized where Jesus was baptized!” Needless to say, in New Testament times you got wet as soon as possible. Baptism was, if you will, a public “pledge of allegiance” to Jesus Christ. It marked the beginning of your discipleship pilgrimage. And the order is clear: first baptism, then instruction (“baptizing…teaching,” Matt. 28:19). Many complain that western Christianity has become nothing more than a cultural fad. I think this charge has a great deal of substance behind it. 

6:02 PM Recently one of our evangelists in Ethiopia received a severe beating from the opponents of Jesus. My mind went to a statement of Brother Yun (Back to Jerusalem, p. 69) as he commented on the persecution in China: 

Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power.

I believe it was Vance Havner who once said: “We do not have to live. We have only to be faithful.” Think of Stephen kneeling before his persecutors with cheerful countenance, or of Peter sleeping soundly between his guards the night before his execution. As always, the blood of the martyrs is seed.

Tuesday, September 15

6:33 AM Becky bought several wigs yesterday. I haven’t seen them yet but I’m sure they’re beautiful. After all, they have the imprimatur of Jessie and Liz.

6:27 AM Below are some pix of yesterday’s haying. They will probably bore you silly. People either like farming or they don’t. When you come down to it, farming is just plain hard work. How can anyone say otherwise? But to those who love farming, there’s nothing like it.

As I go back over my life, carefully reading it in the light of the Bible, I see that my faith in God has never disappointed me. He has led me as One in whom I can place my total trust. And it is He who placed me here at Rosewood. Of course, He has a huge sense of humor. Only God would have placed me on a farm —  the ultimate beach bum, raised in laid-back Hawaii with nary a farm animal or blade of hay. Farming is like a meta-language to me. I understand it quite well though sometimes it sounds like rambling — “bush hog,” for example, or “baler twine.” What an odd reversal: Greek prof mucks manure. Perhaps scholars know better than most people that reality is a fragile, provisional thing.

Despite our restlessness, however, God builds us a world that makes sense, with meanings, limitations, imperatives — all of these congruent with reality. So I do not take my reality lightly. I’m aware of the limitations of farming, the tremendous ebb and flow of crop values, the illusory promise of happiness. Amid all the limitations of my chosen lifestyle I have come to a realization: I am a pilgrim and exile on this earth, eager to pick up stakes and abandon everything. I enjoy my farm but I don’t worship it. I must, however, be a wise steward of what is entrusted to me, until that day when I enter my true Home, with which nothing on this earth can compare.

But enough philosophizing. Here are the photos. I raked while Nate baled. We sold most of the hay in the field (customers came and picked up their own bales). A couple of trailer loads ended up in our barns to be sold this winter.

Monday, September 14

10:16 AM Had a discussion recently with a student about patriarchy. I shared with him my concern that sometimes even biblically correct positions can be reduced to a dogmatic narrowness, formalism, and fundamentalism. And this of necessity leads to a kind of fascism. Sadly many Christians gravitate to such black-and-white thinking, glad to find someone who can tell them what to do, someone who will “protect” them from society. Patriarchy-ism is becoming a beacon of authority precisely because it speaks to our insecurities in a time of incoherence. But is that not a danger of any of our “movements,” including agrarianism? This, at least, is what I argue in my forthcomingChristian Archy.

9:56 AM Family news: Becky begins chemo this Thursday at UNC. It will be an overnight stay. Right now she and her daughters Liz and Jess have gone wig shopping down in Durham. I asked her to get me one while she’s at it.

In the meantime Matt is helping the boys with their homework. Micah’s working on spelling his name; Caleb and Isaac are sloshing through addition.

Nolan loves his Papa B, and Papa B loves Nolan!

8:57 AM This morning I deleted from my Favorites perhaps the leading libertarian website on the Internet. The libertarian position is a dismal platitude without a single hope. I must break off and leave it behind so that I can hear the strange Word of God. It is my view that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely essential. This implies that it is not enough to invoke the name of Christ when defending one’s anti-imperialistic or anti-war views and fail to invoke his name as Savior and Lord. Everything in libertarianism is directed to the rights of free citizens. But America is not my commonwealth. I am a citizen of heaven, and its King must receive the preeminence He is due.

8:32 AM Our passage this week in Greek syntax is Phil. 1:12-26. I’m impressed with several truths:

1) The church at Philippi deeply cared about Paul. They had inquired about his health and prospects (1:26). They had also been anxious about the condition of Epaphroditus (2:25-30). A missionary church is a caring church.

2) Paul shows how his circumstances had resulted in the advancement of the Gospel. His imprisonment had given him access to high government officials to whom he had become a friend and counselor. It had also emboldened timid Roman Christians. A missionary church puts the Gospel above every convenience and comfort and does not neglect to befriend public figures.

3) For Paul, living meant Christ and dying meant gain because he simply got more of Christ.A missionary church is at peace whether or not its members continue in life or are taken in death.

4) Certain ones in Rome had preached Christ because of their envy of Paul and through motives of crass partisanship. Paul says, “If Christ is being proclaimed, I am happy!” A missionary church rejoices that in every way, in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.

Paul’s Lord was the original revolutionary. Following Him involves a complete reorientation of life. We are called to be upsetters, people who turn the world upside down for Christ. To love Christ, to share Christ, to die for Christ if necessary — that is our only purpose in life, as it was Paul’s.

7:48 AM “Nate’s got a bad case of hay fever.” Thus spoke Jessie yesterday. She meant “Nate’s got haying fever.” It’s an incurable disease around here. Haying is some of the hardest yet most enjoyable work we do on the farm. Much of today will be spent in raking and baling. Can’t wait for the festivities to begin. But the heavy dew has to dry first.

6:55 AM It is a pleasant feature of the modern world that I can send an email to Ethiopia and receive a reply the same day, provided the electricity is working. Our ministry has been hampered this past year by the lack of hydro-electric power in the country. Things seem to be better in the north (Gondar) than in the south (Burji). There is no reason to believe that the situation will improve much in the near future. Still, we are spoiled in comparison to our forefathers’ generation of missionaries who had to rely upon snail mail and communications that often took months to be completed. 

6:43 AM David Gushee says we shouldget out of Afghanistan. I believe his essay merits attention and self-examination. Even if might is the only thing that can destroy al-Qaeda, its support base can be eroded by pursuing policies that Arabs and Muslims see as unjust. I am glad to see a leading Baptist theologian and ethicist enter the moral arena in a serious way, going beyond truisms and recognizing the obligation that accrue to us as Christians. Meanwhile the U.S. is like the proverbial dinosaur in the tar pit, while fear and distrust of America increases globally.

Sunday, September 13

7:28 PM The doggies said, “Let’s go for a walk, Daddy,” so off we went. A perfect idea on such a perfect evening!

6:32 PM David May is a man after my own heart: a professor of New Testament and a missionary to Myanmar. Check out his excellent bloghere.

6:10 PM Becky and I had the privilege today of being with the brethren at Cresset Baptist in Durham. Let me start by thanking everyone involved in making our visit a reality, including Jon and Matthea Glass. What a joy to work side-by-side with you in the Gospel. Thank you so much for the sacrifice and investment you’ve already made in the church in Africa.

Cresset, your pastor rocks. I love that man. And Matthea — you are just as much a fulltime missionary as Jon is. And what can I say about those who turned out for our meeting after church?

Nine of you signed up to commit our 2010 trip to prayer. To be honest, I’m excited about the future of the work in Ethiopia. Our meeting today has me pumped up for our gathering in two Sundays at Messiah Baptist in the Forest of Wake. I can’t wait for Ethiopia 2010 to begin! My prayer is that God’s Spirit moves in hearts in such a way that we will never be the same as a result of our partnership in the Gospel.

Meanwhile, if you’re new to DBO, I invite you to check out ourEthiopia Files. Surf around a bit — or actually a lot. God is doing some big things in the Horn of Africa through little people like Becky and me and our other team members. It’s amazing what God can do through weak but yielded vessels. On Sundays there’s so much to distract us, including football. Let’s get distracted by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His love for the nations!

7:52 AM Happy Grandparents Day to Becky and me!!

7:17 AM There’s a new book out on “Ephesians,” I see. I’d love to read it but I can’t afford it. At any rate, I put “Ephesians” in quotes because the majority of New Testament scholars have concluded that the book was an encyclical epistle. That is, it was not first sent to the Ephesians but to a group of churches in Asia Minor. I disagree with this prevalent view. If you’re curious as to my reasons, they may be found in an essay calledThe Peculiarities of Ephesians and the Ephesian Address (.pdf). And yes, I defend the originality of the words en Epheso in 1:1, even though the “earliest and best” manuscripts omit them.

7:17 AM I love my pastors. I’ll miss them today because I will be at another gathering. They are laymen before they are “ministers.” They remain laymen while they are ministering. Their job is not to do something for me but to help me do something for myself. The ministry of the Word is not the right to speak exclusively for God but the duty of seeing that the Word has free reign among the people.

Leader, do you recognize that your primary calling today at church is as a member of the Body?

6:59 AM Well, Nate cut yesterday, so it looks we’ll be picking up hay Monday or Tuesday. Chris, Woody, Lendon — you guys up to it? 

6:56 AM Right now I’m reading through the book of Acts in preparation for Wednesday’s theology class. I believe Acts 2 contains incipient but permanent principles of organization and life for the church. The church is not yet fully organized, but what we do see is a fully functioning corporate Christian community. And what a community it is! It operated under the control of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of the kingdom was central in its teaching. What is striking is that the early church was always in action. The work of the kingdom was beginning. One manifestation of their new life is seen in their frequent celebration of the Lord’s Meal to commemorate His death and soon return. Common meals were served in their homes, and many outsiders were irresistibly drawn to the new Christian community. Liberality and fraternity were everywhere. The church was a new society, a new humanity, not an evolution.

O how I love this church! How I look forward to talking about it in class. May we learn to forget our unhappy partisan divisions and miserable jealousies. May the Holy Spirit stamp His love on the hearts, personalities, emotional natures, intellects, wills, and entire conduct of God’s people.

Evangelicals, we can do together what we cannot do apart, and I for one am willing to work with you in extending Jesus’ loving rule into a broken world.

6:48 AM Just added to my favorites: NT/History Blog. Excellent site!

Saturday, September 12

9:38 PM Almost forgot. Ed was kind enough to read a draft ofChristian Archy and found several typos I had missed. Thank you brother. My word, I hate typos!

9:02 PM Just spent a hugely enjoyable evening with Ed, Dolores, and Leanna Johnson. Ed has been to Ethiopia 3 times with us. Dolores and Leanna cooked the most delicious lasagna and Becky provided the freshly baked bread and salad. She also set a very lovely table.

Thanks for the visit, Johnsons. You mean a lot to us and to the kingdom. We love you guys!

1:06 PM A seminary in Sri Lanka is seeking a visiting professor of hermeneutics or synoptics. Gohere for more information.

1:02 PM The Theologisches Seminar Elstal is holding a conference onGerechtigkeit und “Gute Werke” Nov. 19-21. Among the questions to be discussed are:

Sind die guten Werke notwendige Voraussetzung oder Folgeerscheinung einer glaubwürdigen Verkündigung? Ist der politisch-diakonische Einsatz für Gerechtigkeit in der Welt eine unerlässliche Bedingung für die Glaubwürdigkeit der Glaubenden oder nicht?

While you’re at the TSE site, you might try out theirBibelquiz. You can even tell them how difficult you want it to be!

12:30 PM Just finished mowing the yard in perfect 75 degree weather. Reminded me of Hawaii, where the air temp and the water temp both averaged about 75. Fabulous.

11:02 AM As the economy continues to sour, there’s an upside for missionary organizations, as this report from Christianity Today shows:The Not-for-Profit Surge. One example:

In January, ecfa member organization Prison Fellowship laid off 40 people as part of a 12 percent budget reduction. While no more large staff cuts are anticipated, president Mark Earley says he expects another expenditures decrease in the next fiscal year. In an “urgent prayer and budget request” e-mail appeal in March, Earley told partners that the nonprofit faced a $2.8 million deficit in donations. “We know that if we do not make up this shortfall,” Earley wrote, “we will be forced to make even more cuts.”

“The positive in this is thatit’s causing us to be more focused on our mission in a very clear way, and to invest our resources more pointedly in the core aspects of that mission,” Earley told CT.

Here’s another:

Another organization that’s retooling is Greater Europe Mission (GEM), headquartered in Monument, Colorado. Chief executive Henry Deneen says that in February 2009, GEM reduced its budget and cut personnel as part of a strategy shift. The new approach involves more direct contact with congregations through personal visits.

Ah, missions both streamlining and returning to the local church — music to my ears!

10:34 AM Speaking of conferences, Kar Yong reports on the recently heldIntentional Disciple Making Conference in Singapore.

10:27 AM Check out Gordon-Conwell’s upcoming conference:Renewing the Evangelical Mission. Speakers include Os Guinness, Michael Horton, Bruce McCormack, Mark Noll, J. I. Packer, Cornelius Plantinga, Tite Tienou, Kevin Vanhoozer, Miroslav Volf and Lauren Winner. Dates are Oct. 13-15.

9:38 AM Quote of the day:

Basically, I am firmly committed to age-integration but don’t think that every single ministry of the church has to be completely age-integrated. I do not think my views are the only option, though I am passionate about them for what I believe to be good, Biblical reasons.

ReadA Call for Balance in Age-Integration.

9:30 AM Looking forward to being at Cresset Baptist Church in Durham tomorrow. We’ll give an update on Ethiopia. After the service we’ll be meeting with anyone from Cresset who is interested in going with us on our next trip. We intend never to enlarge the field of laborers without much prayer and seeking of God’s wisdom.

9:22 AM The Body of Christ exists for one purpose — to do what Christ did with His body. He gave it for the world.

8:55 AM A beautiful morning for gardening. I roto-tilled while Becky transplanted her Swiss Chard. Love it!

7:46 AM Almost everywhere I go someone says, “Because of 9/11 we had to invade Iraq.” I disagree. Under our former president we pursued a policy that killed or maimed thousands, created millions of refugees, and destabilized a volatile region. Ultimately I am convinced that the Iraq War will go down as the greatest foreign policy disaster in American history. What right does the U. S. Constitution give us to “change the world”? America is not a redeemer nation. That Americans are God’s Chosen People is a myth, and I will have no part in our millennial mission to democratize the world. Christ’s message is not a call to arms but a call to care, and I would gladly give my life to share the Gospel with bin Laden or any other Muslim for that matter. I do not believe in America. I believe in another kingdom, one led by a King who said, “If you pick up the sword, you will die by the sword.” In an age of omnipresent war, I pray that Christians will have enough courage to love our enemies.

A poor frightened world trembles from one bomb attack to another. But there is a balm in Gilead and there is a Physician available. And the way for men and women to avoid God’s judgment is to hide in the forgiveness of a Savior who sat around a table with a Zealot revolutionary and a Roman tax collector and loved them both.

7:34 AM Yesterday I took Becky to the Berry Hill Plantation in Halifax County for a Swedish massage and prime rib dinner. I think she was completely surprised. It was a very pleasant evening for us. We walked down memory lane and reflected on the Lord’s goodness to us.

The plantation home is one of the few Greek revival houses still standing in the area. The original plantation comprised over 100,000 acres. 

The portico reminded me a lot of Robert and Mary Lee’s home, Arlington House, except that these columns are fluted.

We dined in the intimate setting of the Carrington Restaurant overlooking the vast expanse of the plantation. Both the food and the service were outstanding.

This horseshoe stairway is very rare, even in ante-bellum homes.

I enjoyed playing this 1844 piano. I’m afraid it was probably last tuned in that year too.

Afterwards we came home and watched some Wagon Train, filled with happy thoughts about the miracle of marriage. I still can’t get over the fact that Bec has put up with a dunderhead like me for all these years. We treasure each and every day the Lord Jesus gives us to serve Him together. 

7:12 AM The weather outlook looks great for the next few days. To cut or not to cut hay? That is the question.

Friday, September 11

2:06 PM Thankful today that “God’s riches in glory” are not affected by who is in the White House or by a fall in share prices.

10:38 AM You can read the Bethel Hill Baptist Church vision statementhere. I think it’s phenomenal.

10:28 AM Speaking ofSeptember 11….

10:26 AM Had the joy of helping Nathan with a load of organically grown hay today.

These bales will feed goats in Timberlake, NC.

10:12 AM Here’s a word I love: unity. We’ve spoken about it a lot in our classes this semester, as well we ought to. This word has not always been important to me. But my own experience and involvement with believers across the globe have led me to a deep conviction that followers of Jesus can and must work together for the Gospel.

In Ethiopia Becky and I work with a broad variety of churches. The spectrum of denominations is amazing: Pentecostals and Lutherans, Baptists and Mennonites. The need of Ethiopia drives us together. The realization that only 18 percent of Ethiopians are born again believers presses us to pray. We need Jesus. We need the Holy Spirit. We need wisdom and faith, healing and hope. And we need each other. The words “fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor. 13:13) have a fresh impact.

In Acts 2, Pentecost began when the disciples had come together in one heart and mind. The power of Pentecost is still available today. Pray with me that God would unite us around the Good News so that the kingdom of God may be advanced exponentially. Surely this is more important than defending our view of the ordo salutis or trying to become the number one biblioblogger on the web.

Holy Father,

As I look around me I see division at every hand. Your first and overriding command to us is that we love one another. You have told us to go out into the world — not in the context of dissension within the ranks of those who go.

Lord, I’m tired of facts and statistics, charts and graphs, debates about Bible translations. Teach me that unity means submission, sometimes swallowing my opinions. I desire — through prayer, in cooperation, with tears if necessary — to work with other believers for the sake of the Gospel.

Teach your church that we are truly members of each other. Help us to break down the  barriers of pain and, by your grace, fight our way to each other.

I pray this in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Below: Some of the elders of the Alaba church and the Burji church. Becky and I work exclusively through the local churches in Ethiopia and with their leaders. Our goal is to connect congregations in America with congregations in Ethiopia, since the locus of ministry in the New Testament is the local church.

8:02 AM Adam Darnell is quitting seminary.Here’s why.

7:48 AM 33 years ago today I married Becky.

I’ve got a few surprises planned for her today. You know, a bit of pampering. In the meantime:

I LOVE YOU!

7:30 AM All of you who read this blog regularly know that I have an incurable addition to World War II escape stories. I’m not sure why, except perhaps because I respect the heroism and sacrifice of those allied airmen whose ordeal in captivity often make my own problems look like flea bites. While Hitler had his head in the clouds at the Berghof, these men — many of them at least — were plotting escape. I am especially interested in reading about their character — did they see themselves as victims of circumstances, as men who had “given up,” as fated to live and die in a faraway place?

Last night I was reading my latest foray into the art and science of escape,The Last Escape: The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Europe 1944-1945. The authors were discussing “Dixie” Dean, who was in charge of the prisoners at Stalag Luft VI. What made him such a good leader? they wanted to know. How was he able to maintain control over a group of prisoners that could be undisciplined to the point of anarchy?

The authors pointed out an interesting irony: an officer who was good at leading fighting men into battle was often unsuitable for leadership in a prisoner-of-war camp. A successful camp leader had to

inspire confidence by showing that he was completely unselfish about food and personal comfort. He had to ensure that everyone in the camp always received a fair share of everything, taking a firm line with those, of no matter what rank, who tried to get more than their share. He had to be indefatigable in negotiating with the enemy to improve conditions and to protect inmates from ill-treatment. He had to bear hunger, cold and other discomforts cheerfully, and by his example maintain the morale of his fellow prisoners.

When I read this description on the ideal camp leader I thought immediately of Heb. 13:7, where leaders are mentioned not so much for their titles or authority as for their faith and selfless conduct. Believers are to carefully observe their Christianity and follow their example. Such leaders will certainly “inspire confidence” because of their unselfishness. They will be keen to ensure that their followers are given fair treatment and are protected from injustices. They will gladly bear discomforts and will show no partiality.

I am glad to say that the spiritual leaders in my church are men who inspire such confidence by their Christ-likeness. Titles mean nothing to them (e.g., “Senior Pastor”). They lead by feeding the flock a healthy diet, by building consensus (“it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”), by working hard and going out in front with courage and admonishing us to follow Jesus with all of our being (see 1 Thess. 5:12-13). It is a joy to follow their example and their leadership, an honor to be associated with them, a pleasure to “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.”

7:15 AM Publishers Weekly interviewsGraham Salisbury, author of the recently released children’s book,Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet, a story set on Kailua beach in Hawaii. Graham grew up in Kailua (as I did) and attended Kailua Elementary School (as I did). In fact, Coconut is Graham — and maybe a little bit of me as well.

7:10 AM Josh Mann recommends11 great books on New Testament Greek. Superb list, Josh!

7:07 AM Check outthese photos of cheetah cubs with their mother at one of my erstwhile haunts, the Basel Zoo.

7:01 AM Quote of the day (brother Zach):

Not only does Paul give instructions on labor through his words. His own life served as an example to the Thessalonian church as to what it meant to work hard. His example still stands for readers today. To get a full appreciation for this fact, one ought to survey all of Paul’s epistles as well as the book of Acts to see just how disciplined Paul was willing to be for the sake of the Gospel. Yet even in this passage, Paul gives a quick statement that is to the point about his example—he worked night and day so as not to be a burden on anyone else. The implication here is being a financial burden as he reminds the Thessalonians that he and his associates did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it.

Thursday, September 10

7:45 PM Nolan just gets more and more photogenic. Need proof? We love you, Nolie Polie!

7:40 PM Is there anything more ingenious or more functional than a spider web, like this one I found in our woodshed today? Amazing. Reminds me of the beauty of language.

7:33 PM Thankful for Becky, who made the most delicious Chicken Alfredo for supper tonight, along with home grown green beans and a fruit compote. Wow.

6:54 PM To all of our friends and family in Ethiopia:Happy New Year! Becky and I celebrate with you.

4:06 PM I’m a firm believer in English Bible translations. But if you want to make Bible study come alive, try paraphrasing the passage you’re studying in your own words. Rewriting the text, after carefully studying it, will stimulate your thinking and clarify your teaching points. For example, earlier today I referenced Paul’s visit to Athens. In Acts 17:16 we read that when Paul saw the idolatry in the city “his spirit was provoked within him” (NASB). Compare that with Phillip’s rendering: “his soul was exasperated.” Now try rewriting Paul’s statement in your own words. Then compare your rendering with various translations and paraphrases. The following will help you:

NIV: he was greatly distressed

NLT: he was deeply troubled

HCSB: his spirit was troubled within him

NET: his spirit was greatly upset

ISV: his spirit was tried to its depths

The idea is to think about what you’re reading and not merely parrot whatever translation you happen to be accustomed to. I’ve learned that when I paraphrase a passage of Scripture (having studied it first in the Greek) I am better able to see how every word contributes to its meaning. That’s why I’ve produced my own paraphrases of the books of Philippians and 1 Thessalonians — the two letters I use most often when teaching Greek syntax to my students. I tell you, producing your own paraphrase of the text will put your mind in gear like nothing else will.

P.S. Many modern commentaries on the New Testament are now requiring their authors to provide their own rendering of the Greek. That’s encouraging. Again, it’s a lot of work, but the results, I think, are well worth the effort.

1:14 PM Special notice! The DBO Secret Intelligence Service warns that reading the following post may lead to radical activism in your church: Discovering Participatory Church Meetings.

1:06 PM Once again, Henry Neufeld had wielded his analytical knife with excellent effect:Living Romans 12. Well said, Henry.

11:58 AM Credit where credit is due. Becky and I went to the DMV in South Boston today to get her “chariot of fire” registered. The service was both pleasant and efficient. No waiting in line either. A tip of my kepi to the fine people who work there.

P.S. We splurged and got Bec a personalized license plate. It reads:

ITIZWEL

10:12 AM Nate and I spread manure this morning in the rain. Got soaked. Got filthy dirty. And loved every minute of it.

7:56 AM They do exist!Baptist theologians, that is.

7:38 AM Do you have the “Athens Perspective”? Here’s what I mean. When I first visited Greece in 1981, I couldn’t wait to see the archeological treasures of its great capital. The Areopagus, the Acropolis, the Parthenon — I felt like I had gone to heaven so enraptured was I with all these wonderful sites. But when Paul and his adventurous missionary company visited the city on his second missionary journey, all he saw were spiritual needs. Paul would never have considered himself a “radical,” yet he was one of the most radical men who ever lived. “Radical,” of course, means going to the root, and Paul plunged through all the layers of history, philosophy, and architecture to the root of mankind’s need.

Yesterday Alvin Reid told the story of how he and his son once toured the great cities of Europe. He set as his personal goal to share the love of Jesus with at least one person every day on the trip. I can just see Alvin talking about Jesus in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, striking up a conversation and then moving beyond the distracting loyalties to the core of man’s emptiness.

There is a radical reformation taking place in our day. Many of us are a part of it. We are tired of debating the virtues of the NIV over the ESV (or vice versa). We are tired of You Tubes criticizing a certain pastor because of the way he pronounces “logos.” It’s time to get back to the essentials, to dare to put the Gospel first and to allow the Lordship of Christ to unsettle our morose self-centeredness.

What happened to Paul in Athens is happening in my own heart. God is beginning to remove any interest in my heart to see the “great sights” of this world. I want to look at the world as God sees it and evaluate everything in life from an eternal perspective. I’m thankful to be part of a missional revolution — a reordering of priorities in the Body of Christ, a rethinking of presuppositions, a recommitment to conserve the essence of life as Jesus taught us to live it.

The Athens Perspective: You either have it or you don’t. We are to be the essentialists of our day. In fact, if all we see when we visit Athens are great buildings, there’s something dreadfully wrong.

6:53 AM I recall how one year, when we still lived in California, Becky and I dined at Sir Winston’s Restaurant aboard the Queen Mary, which is permanently docked in Long Beach Harbor. It’s sad to contemplate such a great ocean liner in moth balls, good for little more than weddings and parties. The book of Acts, which will be the focus of next week’s theology class, is the story of a church on the go. The same quality of church can be born in Nelson, Virginia, and in your town or city. The mark of a “moving” church is that it exists for others. Vitality, vibrancy, urgency, and involvement complement each other. Both our beliefs and our style of life testify to the life-changing power of Jesus. The church in America needs to rediscover the power of the Gospel. Unless the quality of our lives is a contrast to the dull drabness of the world, our churches deserve to be docked forever like the Queen Mary.

Wednesday, September 9

7:52 PM Today in our New Testament Theology class Alvin Reid spoke on evangelism as he superbly guided us through the first two chapters of 1 Thessalonians. I invited Alvin to lecture because I know of few men who are more committed to firing up the current generation of students to become powerful prayer warriors and passionate lovers of the lost.

How Paul cared for those saints in Thessalonica! I can only imagine the joy in his heart as he wrote to his converts. Paul wanted them to lead a movement that would destroy the superstitions, cults, and materialism of Thessalonica through Jesus’ scandalous love. That can happen to all of us for our city, our family, our place of work — if we are willing to put the Gospel first. Taking Paul’s missionary work among the Thessalonians as an example, Alvin listed 7 bullet points that should characterize our evangelistic efforts today:

• Evangelism must be centered on the Gospel.

• Evangelism must be proclaimed in word.

• Evangelism depends on the power of God.

• Everything must be done with the Holy Spirit and with conviction.

• We must embrace the idea of becoming missional.

• Our witness must grow out of our character.

• This kind of evangelism becomes viral; it spreads like a good disease.

Here are some of the great quotes I jotted down as Alvin spoke:

“The early church was not about digging holes to build buildings.”

“Go to the nations unless God stops you. Then go to the cities. But always go where God leads you.”

“Paul was Gospel-centered.”

“It’s amazing how often joy and suffering come together in the Holy Spirit.”

“It will take conviction to serve God in our culture.”

“Paul never spells out a 1-2-3, how-to-do-it evangelism.”

“We do more than proclaim the Gospel with words. We share our own lives.”

I want to express my profound appreciation to Alvin, a beloved colleague, who has been unceasing in his faithful encouragement of me and my work at SEBTS. His life and example have deepened the sound of the drum beat of the Holy Spirit in my own experience. I truly believe a new day has dawned in Southern Baptist life. The early believers in the book of Acts knew they were called, appointed, and set apart to the work of the Gospel. And so are we!

6:56 PM Did I mention that Becky served up guacamole with supper? Does anything taste better than guacamole? Guacamole will be in heaven. Trust me.

6:25 PM Right now Becky’s in the kitchen cooking enchiladas. My mouth is drooling all over the keyboard.

5:58 PM From God Didn’t Say That comes this delightful post aboutPizza With Fungus.

A pizzeria in Eilat, Israel, offers plain pizza and “pizza with fungus,” according to the large English menu at the restaurant.

That brings back memories. In 1978 Bec and I were in Schönberger Strand in northern Germany when we ordered (in German, naturally) a “pepperoni” pizza. Eventually the waiter brought us a pizza alright – covered with red peppers!

There are many such “false friends” (faux ami) in language – another classic example being the word “Gift” in German, which originally meant “gift” but (through a process called pejoration) came to mean “poison.”

Languages – what fun!

5:53 PM (Warning: I’m about to vent.)

Today I went over to Belief Net to read what Scot McKnight had to say aboutBible translations and was so assaulted by flash ads and pop-ups that I will never visit that site again. Niemals! Too bad Scot gave up his fantastic Jesus Creed blog site.

5:45 PM Let’s not be afraid of change. That’s the thought that came to my mind as I listened to a report on NPR yesterday. Seems the Samoans will have to drive on the left side of the road from now on – in imitation of their neighbors in Australia and New Zealand. The good citizens of Samoa were given a day off to practice, and all the bars in the country were closed for three days!

Change is a healthy, normal process. But a process it is. And occasionally it’s downright messy. In the church, maturity is a similar process. As we absorb biblical truth, the indwelling Holy Spirit begins to allow that truth to pervade our thinking in such a way that we start to change our behavior in ways that sometimes surprise us. Ten years ago neither Becky nor I were very involved personally in missions. Now we can’t wait to get to Ethiopia twice a year. Neither of us gave our TV habits much thought. Today we watch no television, and we don’t miss it a bit. Ten years ago we had no idea we’d be farming fulltime in southern Virginia. The truth is, life is full of changes. Right now Becky and I are changing our eating habits. We know we can eat healthier and that good nutrition can help Becky with her illness. No, we do not believe in a “miracle” diet. Neither do we believe what one author has said: “It is your birthright to live healthy, right up until the day you die!” Nonsense! Let’s see, one minute you’re healthy, and the next you’re dead? Still, it makes good sense for us to eat proper foods and to get the best nutrition out of what we do put into our mouths. And that’s how we must operate in the Body of Christ. As we ingest the solid meat of the Word of God, we begin to realize that we can never settle into a smug and comfortable acceptance of low living. Perfection is our goal (Phil. 3:16), and we move on toward it. Amen?

5:34 PM Quote of the day (Mark Stevens):

Whether it is the Archeology Bible, Patriot Bible, a Celebrity Bible or the Poverty and Justice Bible, when Scripture is used in a manner that sees it subservient to the pragmatic agenda we have misused Scripture and have become unfaithful to its claim to be God’s Word and in doing so we have claimed it as our own word to say what we wish to promote.

5:30 PM Here’s aneat comparison of John 18:4 in several different translations:

ESV/NASB/RSV: “Whom do you seek?”

NRSV: “Whom are you looking for?”

I recall discussing this very verse when the ISV Committee on Translation met. We considered three possible renderings: “For whom are you looking?” “Whom are you looking for?” And “Who are you looking for?” We all felt that the latter was the most natural rendering of the Greek, even though it broke two so-called “rules” of English grammar. We tried (and often failed to succeed, I’m sure) in the ISV to balance naturalness and referential accuracy. Incidentally, Wayne Leman has a great discussion ofNaturalness in English Bible Versions using 23 examples. And while we’re on the subject, I loved reading the comments of Loren Bliese inthis interview about his translation work in Ethiopia.

5:23 PM Over at Jack of All Trades, Bitsy Griffin reviews Max Lucado’sFearless. Of all the quotes in her review, this one stood out to me (for obvious reasons):

Real courage embraces the twin realities of current difficulty and ultimate triumph.

Despite the challenges Becky and I face with her illness, the good news is that we can know Jesus better every day, we can experience increasingly the power of His resurrection, we can enter more and more into the fellowship of His sufferings, we can keep on going, though never arriving in this life.

I’m glad I stumbled upon Bitsy’s review and this Lucado quote. God is so good to me.

5:18 PM All this week I’m working on reviewing my French. I’m reading a great book calledMessages pour notre temps by Alfred Kuen. It’s essentially a commentary on the General Epistles. I’m also listening to mp3s of De Gaulle, Sarkozy, and others atthis site.

5:14 PM My hobby horse was galloping when I read Perry Noble’s16 signs that a leader lost his mind.

5:10 PM I appreciated this essay onSpirit Led Leadership.

5:01 PM Ever since I “outed”Jon Glass for tweeting during Greek class I’ve been interested to see what people are saying about Twitter. Leonard Sweet’sHow Twitter has helped me be a better disciple was especially enjoyable. On the other hand…get ready to laugh if you and yours are hugeTwitter fans.

Tuesday, September 8

5:04 AM Was Dr. Seuss the original “blogg-er”?

Off to school!

Monday, September 7

10:25 PM While I was teaching Greek this evening Becky was interviewing three very precious saints at Bethel Hill. You can look for her interviews on the BHBC blog in the very near future. In class there was an air of great excitement as we began to translate directly from the Greek New Testament for the very first time. No more of my silly “See Jane. See Jane run” sentences. This was a historic evening in Greek for another reason too. For the first time in human history (to my knowledge) someone tweeted during Greek class. The recalcitrant reprobate shall go unnamed, but he blogshere.

Off to bed, then early to rise. I’ve got classes for the next two days.

5:28 PM Over at the New Testament Gateway we findFurther additions to textual criticism: books and articles. I note with pleasure the inclusion of F. F. Bruce’sTextual Problems in the Epistle to the Hebrews (.pdf), which appeared in the Greenlee Festschrift.

2:22 PM Just came indoors to make lunch and get some writing done. The good news is that the fence is finished. Here’s Nathan hard at work. I have a saying: “I love work. I can watch it all day.” Especially when it’s my son doing the work.

Alas, Nate is not just a builder; he is a master craftsman, an artisan of the old school. Need proof?

Did I tell you we also needed to spread manure today? O the joys of farm life. Again, Nate is our featured star. I give him a perfect 10 for form.

Not that I only watch and take pictures, mind you. I am quite the trash can empty-er.

Oh, we picked up a hitchhiker on the way back to Bradford Hall. Hope she can find her way home.

And here’s the final product. Not bad for a couple of hillbillies, eh? The doggies are already enjoying their new and improved run.

You may not be impressed, but Nolan is speechless.

Well, the rain just started. Isn’t the Lord’s timing perfect?

10:51 AM Enjoying a quick break from fencing. The weather is ideal for working outdoors: right now it’s a comfortable 69 degrees. Bec and Jess have gone off to Sam’s Club and Whole Foods. We’re planning on some pretty significant dietary improvements around here.

7:50 AM Speaking of work, my schedule for today includes working on the fence, spreading manure, making a trash run, tutoring German, teaching Greek, and prepping for my seminary classes. Did I mention blogging?

7:44 AM A thought about Labor Day: One of the current social fads is what we might call “post-church Christianity.” People are dropping out of church, especially young people who may have been converted in non-traditional settings. I must confess that much of what we see in the Body of Christ is indeed very unattractive: anachronisms, inconsistencies, hypocrisies. But I cannot agree that the solution is dropping out. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are obligated as believers to “stir one another up to love and good works.” How can refusing to meet with other Christians allow us to obey this command? Each Christian is a building block in the temple of the church. Each is necessary for the Body to grow. Each has a part to play. Sadly, the word “work” has become a four-letter word in many of our churches. There are too many shirkers and not enough workers. Even Jesus said the laborers are few.

If you are a dropout from church (for whatever reason, and you may have some VERY good reasons!), my simple advice to you is this: Get to work. Jesus said, “I will build My church,” and He had all of us in mind as His workers!

7:22 AM Quote of the day (Narrow Gate):

I heard a story the other day of sibling familiarity that really outdoes any of my own shameful antics when I was growing up. An elder sister put her brother into the washing machine! An outraged mother found and rescued the little guy a while later.

We can do the same thing with Jesus. We can shove him into the washing machine. That is, we become too familiar with him and the gospel. We hear it regularly, we believe it and have been recipients of its power – but we take it for granted. We have ceased to be amazed by it, and it simply seems to wash over us these days.

7:19 AM Potential Ph.D. students in New Testament need to readthis post by Nijay Gupta. It focuses, of course, on scholarship in the UK. And it rightly emphasizes the importance of knowing everything you can about your potential doctoral mentor. May I add two words?

1) Do not consider studying with someone you have never met in person. Chemistry is a huge part of the equation in my opinion.

2) Please do not rule out taking a doctorate on the continent. This will require that you speak another language fluently, but that is not a bad thing for someone preparing for a lifetime of scholarly research and writing. Americans are no longer flocking to Germany or Switzerland as they once did, but opportunities still abound.

7:12 AM Over at Primal Subversion, Sean takes another look at thefirst imperative in the book of Philippians and asks whether its political connotations have been duly noted. For what it’s worth, Sean, we rendered it “Live as good citizens” in the ISV. And I quite agree that Paul has our counter-citizenship in mind (he otherwise uses the terms “live” or “walk” for Christian behavior). Could anything have greater significance to a Roman living in the colony of Philippi than to “live as a good citizen”?

I remember when we moved from Southern California to the tobacco fields of Granville County, NC, 11 years ago to teach at SEBTS. The nearest hamlet to our ranch had only two buildings in it: the Baptist church and the volunteer fire department. I joined both — as all “good citizens” of the community did. The Bible teaches quite plainly that we are to be in the world but not of the world, and I did what I could to identify with my neighbors in order to reach them for Jesus. Society is not a burdensome appendage to the Christian religion; it is where our faith is to be lived out. The Philippians may be “saints” in union with Christ Jesus (1:1), but they also reside in Philippi, and none of them could advance the kingdom of God by standing aloof from their counterparts in the world.

Sunday, September 6

4:28 PM Congratulations to Biblical Archaeology Review on publishing its200th issue. Be sure to read theeditor’s remarks. Very nice retrospective indeed. For years Hershel had me write a column called “Greek for Bible Readers” in BAR’s sister publication, Bible Review, which of course is now defunct. (Kudos to Logos Bible Software for publishing itsarchives.) So, a thank you to Hershel and his staff for bringing to the attention of simple folks like me important issues in archeology.

2:54 PM Laura thinks it may be time to redirect the discussion of doctrinal differences in her essayIs there a place for doctrinal clustering? Amazingly the discussion thread is silent.

A Christian was once asked, “Don’t you belong to the Methodist Church?” “No,” he replied. “I am a member of a Methodist Church, but I belong to Christ.”

2:30 PM Arthur Sido, in an excellent post called Why do we have seminaries?, asks, “Is the ‘Young man feels called to serve the church, young man goes to seminary, young man gets hired as a pastor’ model really healthy for the church?” The question is a vitally important one. In his typically breathless style, Arthur runs one idea into another with bewildering speed. (That is not a put down; the apostle Paul did the same thing.) But even if you have to read Arthur’s post more than once to get his message (as I did), please do so. I can promise you that it won’t interfere with your sanctification!

1:54 PM One of my favorite bloggers is back at it. Good to see you writing again, James. And for those of you who are bit rusty and need to update your blog, take heart: God is still in the business of jumpstarting our efforts.

1:40 PM Had a double whammy at church today. First, brother Chris began a series on prayer in Sunday School. Second, brother Jason started to teach through the Acts (without wielding the “ax,” I might add). Quotes I jotted down:

“There is nothing more vital to your Christian life than prayer” (Chris).

“We need to be looking to the Scriptures so that we might understand God’s plan for today” (Jason).

Also, I’ve got to give brother Joel a lot of credit for always setting the tone so well for our gatherings by emphasizing mutual edification. Thank you, Joel! Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another,” and when we link this with his following words we see that for disciples today this means sacrificing ourselves on behalf of others. Surely that should make love our constant priority. All I can say is that God is up to something huge at Bethel Hill and Bec and I are glad to be a part of it. I think of a Michelangelo working on a huge piece of rock.

When asked what he was doing he would say, “I am releasing the angel that is imprisoned in this marble.” What a transformation occurs when the Master’s hand is at work! Becky and I can’t wait to see where all of this leads us. It is a miracle beyond comprehending how God can take useless, inanimate pieces of human rock and transform them into what Peter calls “living stones.” Praise God Almighty!

8:12 AM Kevin Skull recommends that we readThe Romans Debate. I concur. Perhaps the main question is whether or not Romans is an occasional document — that is, whether Paul wrote it to respond to actual problems in the church. I think he most certainly did, and the issue was one that dogged the early church: division. This is true of our modern churches as well. The “household of God” includes in its earthly membership all Christians of all ages, all levels of education, all nationalities, all social strata, all tribes, etc. The list is endless, and the need for unity obvious. Regardless of our race, color, age, or denomination, we are bound to each other in a fellowship that goes far beyond our stylish theological preferences and personal convictions. Such is the message of Romans (see chs. 14-15) — Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians form ONE body in Christ. And we are to work together for the Gospel!

7:52 AM Just received this email:

Dr. Black,

You know how quotes get lodged in your brain? Something you wrote over two years ago has been stuck in my head all this time, and I’ve not been able to shake it. The shame is that I haven’t done anything about it either.  You wrote

Do you have to be published to be considered a scholar? For what it’s worth, here are my two lepta. To be a scholar is to be a thinker. To be a thinker is to be a researcher. To be a researcher is to be a writer. And whatever you think is worth writing is worth having somebody other than yourself read. Does that make any sense? So to answer the question: To me an unpublished scholar is an oxymoron.

~ David Alan Black,personal blog, August 2007, 10:44am

What advice do you have to someone who just doesn’t know where to start writing? A blank sheet of paper (or new Word document) can look very intimidating.

This was my response:

It’s called a BLOG. Start yours today 🙂

7:25 AM Andy Metzger, self-avowed mixed-up Mid-Westerner Yankee (his friends know better), knocks the ball out of the park withthis one. Here’s my favorite quote from Andy’s outstanding piece:

I’m convinced that our love will ultimately trump any argument. And as followers of Jesus, this is how we are to be known. It’s not by how many articles we’ve published. Nor how many degrees we’ve earned. Nor where we’ve attended school. Nor how many members join our church. Nor how many multi-site campuses we’ve started. We can do innumerable activities “for the Lord”, but if they are done without love, they are all for nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3). We must continually analyze our lives and our participation within the community and ask, “How am I demonstrating this love?”

7:22 AM I want to remind everyone that my guest lecturer in Wednesday’s theology class is my colleague Alvin Reid, who is also the featured speaker at this month’sStudent Ministry Summit. His lecture on 1 Thessalonians begins at 2:00 in Adams 211. I hope he brings his snake. I really do. Please, Alvin?

7:17 AM Over at the Dallas Morning News, William McKenzie asks a very good question:Do we overvalue biological life? 

7:12 AM Phil Whitehead recently had fun at the British Library. I had fun reading hisreport.

7:08 AM Kudos to Peter Lopez forteaching the book of Hebrews in his home church. I’m praying for many more like him — “laypeople” who love the Word and have the guts to teach it, verse by verse. Bravo! 

7:03 AM Quote of the day (Arthur Sido):

If you are given the chance, preach the Word to the lost. If you want to invite them to the gathering of the church, that is great, but it is not a substitute for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Amen!

6:55 AM This is the sight that greeted me this morning while having my devotions on the front porch.

It is wonderful beyond words that, despite our weaknesses and failings, God’s mercies are new every morning. No Christian ought to doubt that! The passage I was reading, by the way, was 2 Thess. 3:8-13. Eugene Peterson renders this passage as follows:

Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.

Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.

“Don’t freeload. Pull your own weight. Don’t sit around on your hands. Work your fingers to the bone. Get to work immediately — no excuses, no arguments!”

Goodness! Sounds like your mother speaking, doesn’t it? In Christianity there is always the dual response of hearing and doing. “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.” May God give me open ears and obedient feet today — and forgive me for my sloth.

Saturday, September 5

7:20 PM Looking forward to a visit tomorrow from Becky’s sister Barbara and her husband from South Carolina.

7:06 PM Odds and ends: Nate and I spread manure…scavenged cedar posts at the local saw mill…worked on the backyard fence…Liz and the boys dropped off a new rooster…I cooked creamed tuna and rice for everyone…Nate is bush hogging…Becky is in bed…I’m finishing my book on Custer. Thankful for a good day. A couple of pix: 

10:45 AM Henry Drummond: “Don’t touch Christianity unless you are willing to seek the Kingdom of Heaven first. I promise you a miserable existence if you seek it second” (Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 3, p. 323).

10:34 AM Another thought on Bible translations. I don’t care whether someone uses the KJV, NIV, or any other version. We honor God when we place His Word above every other word. The tragedy is that we prefer crackers and cheese when God’s table is loaded with blessing.

10:22 AM Thanking God today that when the outlook is darkest the uplook is brightest.

9:58 AM Allan Bevere treats us toThe Reformation Polka. 

9:22 AM Bec and I spent the morning sipping coffee on the front porch and talking about Ethiopia. We leave Oct. 1 for Dallas to speak in several churches there as well as in Houston. We’ve also been invited to spend a day at Houston Baptist University meeting with theM.A. in Biblical Languages students and giving an Ethiopia presentation. What an honor. This month we’ll be atCresset Baptist Church in Durham and Messiah Baptist Church in Wake Forest giving updates and doing some preparation for next July’s trip to Ethiopia. The orientations for that trip will begin very soon. The season for doing missions never ends. I have prayed with increased earnestness that the Lord will provide us with the wisdom and strength we need for the tasks at hand. I cannot describe the joy I have in God when I work side by side with my wife for the kingdom. We are resolved to continue this course until He says stop.

9:08 AM Becky’s Mercury Villager has been a great minivan but it’s got over 235,000 miles on it. Becky needed a newer car for all the driving we’ll be doing back and forth to UNC. Jessie found the perfect car for us on Craig’s List, and yesterday Bec and I drove out to Hampton to get it. It’s got only 29,000 miles on it. Not bad for a 2006 Honda Odyssey. Note the color. Becky’s always wanted a red car, and we were happy to indulge her. She deserves it.

8:32 AM I’ve been wondering what the Better Bibles Blog would write about the NIV controversy. Well, their last 4 entries answer that question. I suspect the brouhaha is only just beginning.

UPDATE: Alan Knox chimes in on Bible translationshere.

8:08 AM What’s the purpose of a seminary? Some go in for knowledge and specialize in theology. Some major on religious activity and social concern. Some specialize in feeling, experience. Ideally the head, the hand, and the heart should coexist happily together. There is only one way to do this. What we know intellectually we must obey volitionally if we are to be sound emotionally. I think all of us at SEBTS are working hard to achieve such balance. I know we fall short. But when I read something like this I am greatly encouraged. If you decide to study with us you should know that you will be challenged to honor God with your time and money, not just your mind. We don’t need more knowledge. We need wisdom. We need guidance, and Jesus is the Way. In other words, we need to get on with the large, positive, grand concern for which God called us. My constant prayer is that our nation’s seminaries would grow more and more to be institutions that are synchronized with God’s own heart. Let our burdens reflect His burdens. Let our priorities be His. Amen?

6:57 AM Jesus repeatedly emphasized that following Him meant radically changing our priorities. What did He mean when He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God”? Here are some ideas:

1) Seek first the kingdom of God vocationally. Ask tough questions about your employment. Are you where God wants you to be? If so, are you using your occupation to advance God’s kingdom?

2) Seek first the kingdom of God maritally. Have aGreat Commission Marriage. Put the kingdom first in your married and family life.

3) Seek first the kingdom of God geographically. The issue of where we live has everything to do with the kingdom. Let’s be open to God’s guidance. Unlike our secular counterparts, we can no longer select a place to live based merely on comfort, affordability, good schools, etc.

4) Seek first the kingdom of God ecclesiologically. I strongly urge you to find a church home that shares your urgency for the kingdom and global missions. Traditional wisdom dictates that we are to seek a church on the basis of buildings, programs, convenience, and, regrettably, personalities. As a result, church life becomes inwardly-focused, and we fail to become the presence of the kingdom in society. Recently Becky and I joined a church in Roxboro, NC. We did so largely because of its clear and consistent vision to be a part of the kingdom initiative of God. It seeks to manifest the values of Jesus’ upside-kingdom. It gives high priority to missions. Our goal is to strive as authentically as  possible to incarnate the life and teachings of Jesus in our corporate and individual lives.

5) Seek first the kingdom of God financially. Jesus calls us to avoid the rat race of consumerism and materialism. Let’s reexamine our lifestyles to see how we can free up dollars for the kingdom.

6) Seek first the kingdom of God physically. Obesity and self-indulgence characterize many American evangelicals. It never occurs to us that avoiding overeating is a way to serve the kingdom. As disciples we are called to set aside physical comfort and devote our bodies to God as living sacrifices. I struggle constantly to keep my weight under control. But I must maintain good physical condition if I am to be able to walk long distances in Ethiopia.

7) Seek first the kingdom of God ministerially. Every believer is a fulltime “minister.” Churches can do much more to utilize qualified volunteers who essentially pay themselves to serve. We must change the emphasis in our churches from hiring professional staff to equipping “laypeople” to be the church.

8) Seek first the kingdom of God institutionally. Let’s ask, “How can we use our corporate resources most effectively and sacrificially for the kingdom?” Take our church buildings. Surely we can do a better job in constructing and utilizing church properties so as to channel more resources into missions and service to the needy. I once read of a congregation of 4,000 in Oregon that, instead of building a new sanctuary, established a separate corporation to build a self-supporting convention hall that the church uses free of charge. Another example: Missionary organizations can separate overhead costs from money raised for missionaries. In other words, money contributed to missionary causes would go entirely to these causes, while all overhead costs (including salaries for executives) would be raised separately.

9) Seek first the kingdom of God intellectually. Has Christ’s lordship had any effect on your thought life? What you read? Your attitudes? Sometimes it is easier to read books about the Scriptures than to read the Scriptures themselves. What makes us think that commentaries or websites are more important than the Word of God? We neglect the Bible to our own peril. I often remind my students that 99 percent of what I know about God and the Christian life I learned from reading my Bible rather than books about the Bible. God does not ask us to forego reading books by human authors (goodness, I’ve written my share of them), but His lordship is not visible in our lives until we prioritize His Word.

These are some practical ways by which we can seek first the kingdom of God. I’m sure many others could be mentioned. Seeking first the kingdom of God means that our time, our money, our very selves are available to God, to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to the world. It’s not a matter of simply attending church or participating in endless rounds of programs. It’s about changing the world by becoming what Jesus intended the church to be: a servant to the world. “The church is only the church when it exists for others,” said Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Christ calls us to pour our lives into the needy world that surrounds us. He promises us that as we do this, we will find that His yoke of service is easy and His burden is light. If you live this way, you will find His promise — as Becky and I have — to be true.

6:45 AM Yesterday at Bradford Hall we had a wonderful family reunion. Of the canine variety, that is. Jon and Matthea Glass, along with Catherine, Carter, and Caleb, brought their puppy Galana to visit with her parents (Sheppie and Sheba) and sister (Dayda).  Galana felt right at home; in fact she ruled the roost (sorry for mixing metaphors). Here’s the happy family (clockwise from left): Dayda, Sheba, Galana, Jon, Catherine, Matthea, Carter, Sheppie, and Caleb.

We took a walk to visit the cows then had lunch together. I tell you, it was more fun than flubber.

Friday, September 4

7:45 AM Nate and Jess eventually want to get an outdoor pool for their kids. Guys, I’ve got the perfect idea.

6:55 AM Christianity Today takes a look at the relationship between development work and evangelism in this post calledA Unifying Vocation. The essay raises more questions than it answers in my opinion. Far too often Becky and I have seen well-meaning evangelical organizations in Ethiopia sign agreements with the government that permit them to build schools, construct hospitals, and dig wells — as long as they do NOT engage in any form of evangelization. To us this form of missions is completely unacceptable. The Great Commission tells us that we are to be witnesses for Christ, to build His kingdom, to be activists in the cause of missions, right up to the return of Jesus. Like so many other things in life, there is a “being” and “doing” side to witnessing. These are meant to work in unconscious harmony with each other. But the emphasis on boldness in the Book of Acts should remind us that our main purpose is to be faithful witnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not just to be do-gooders. How tragic to see a village well that has been constructed by God’s people but that has absolutely no Gospel witness! Incidentally, this is one reason why Becky wrote about this subject in her essayThe Role of Humanitarian Aid in Building the Kingdom. Sadly, I believe that off-balanced ideas about development work are actually hindering the cause of Christ in Ethiopia rather than helping it.

Below: Evangelist Solomon preaching at the Galana Clinic. The spiritual ministry is central to the work of God in this health center in Southern Ethiopia. By the way, this picture reveals something of the balance we seek to achieve in our mission work. People are sitting comfortably in a “waiting shelter” that we constructed to keep them from waiting in the sun. Solomon works fulltime to see that all the patients are exposed to the Gospel message through open air preaching, visitation, flannel graph presentations, etc.

6:43 AM Theological German has posted a wonderful quote from Karl Barth aboutprophecy.

6:25 AM Last night Nate and I listened to an old recording of Marcel Dupré playing a piece he himself composed for organ: Cortege et Litanie. It is quite unlike any other recording of that piece we’ve heard. It raised in my mind an interesting question for which I have no answer: Are subsequent performers under any obligation to perform a piece exactly as the composer himself played it? In other words, is there a modicum of “faithfulness to authorial intent” that comes into play — we might call it an “ethic of fidelity”? My intuition says yes, that we have no right to take any liberties with the tempo, volume, etc. just as we have no choice but to follow the notes as written.

If, for the sake of argument, there does exist an ethic of fidelity when it comes to artistry, then what does that say for our English Bible translations that ignore, say, the rhetorical level of language and completely overlook the significant rhetorical devices (assonance, paronomasia, chiasmus, etc.) used by the original author? A good example is the alliteration with which the Epistle to the Hebrews begins involving the letter pi. Or take the Cretan poet that Paul cites in Titus. “Liars ever, men of Crete, savage brutes that live to eat.” This rendering is at least an attempt to reflect the original poetry. This is quite a conundrum for me, but it’s too early to think about it.

Thursday, September 3

8:45 PM Nolan just stopped by. How do you like his farmer’s overalls?

8:22 PM A huge shout out and thank you to the Collie and Evans families for fixin’ supper for Becky and me this evening. It was delicious. Right now I’m saddling up to read a new book on the life of cavalry general George Armstrong Custer.

2:35 PM I wanted to take a minute and recommend to you some good websites.

I believe the most exciting pilgrimage the people of God can embark on is to keep adjusting and readjusting our lives to Christ. If a church is centered on anything — or anyone — else, it is off balance. We ought to be scared to death of doing this. This readjustment is a process, not a single step. It takes constant attention and a whole lifetime to live and experience.

Are you ready for some new, old, revolutionary ideas for your church? These websites will help you. The great danger most of our churches face is not that we don’t do anything. We do plenty. The problem is that we don’t do the essential things. I hope you will take time to peruse these sites. May they help you to chase harder after God than you’ve ever done before.

• Site 1

• Site 2

• Site 3

2:20 PM Ain’t they sweeeeet? 

2:12 PM Today we received this phenomenal email from Ethiopia. It’s a follow-up report about one of our evangelists who was beaten a few days ago. Rejoice with us!

Dear Mama B,

Thank you so very much for your prayers, quick and enthusiastic response to our evangelist “________”. Thank you also for informing others to pray for the evangelists.

Yesterday we had been to “_______” to visit, encourage and comfort the evangelists; to your surprise it was we not they are encouraged. They are very strong, healthy and enthusiastic for the gospel. ______ said that “it is nothing as compared to the work of Jesus”. He is too strong and healthy; he never wants to stay on a bed even for a day.

Now he is working as usual and as if nothing has happened to him…. I have also told your message to them; you never imagine how much it encourages them. Their face shines too much and told me to write you to take the situation as very simple.

10:25 AM Pastoral ministry is highly demanding. I constantly realize, however, that the burdens we assume are often self-imposed. Trying to move toward a more biblical view of work and ministry can be overwhelming. How biblically ignorant I can still be! It’s particularly hard when people’s expectations get in the way. So there is much room to rethink the wineskins.

What does Paul say about work and ministry? That’s the assignment for next week in our New Testament Theology class. As always, I’m doing the assignment myself. Here are the verses I’ve gathered for my own inductive study. I think they’ll help me get the big picture. I have already written them out in Greek but I’ll list them for you in English:

• 1 Thess. 2:9: Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.

• 1 Thess. 4:11-12: Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business andworking with your hands, just as we instructed you before.Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

• 1 Thess. 5:12-13: Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work.They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

• 1 Cor. 15:10: But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

• 2 Cor. 6:5: We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

• 2 Cor. 11:27: I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

• Eph. 4:28: If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

• 1 Cor. 9:1-8: Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle. This is my answer to those who question my authority. Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? Don’t we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

• 1 Tim. 5:17-18: Elders who do their work well should be considered worthy of double honor, especiallythose who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

• Acts 20:33-35: “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Wow! This is very convicting to me. It seems that the Gospel fares better against outright opposition than against our frivolous and slothful lifestyles. A Paul slaving away night and day to support himself while doing ministry is a laughingstock. I am all for unity but today “togetherness” seems mired up in “conformity.” Is the status quo worth maintaining when it comes to our work ethic? That’s the question we’ll be asking next Wednesday. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will guide our discussion.

10:12 AM Paul had healed many people in his ministry but he left Trophimus ill in Miletus. Frankly I am a bit relieved to read that. I am encouraged by the fact that Paul does not have one unbroken record of success. It reminds me that God is absolutely sovereign when it comes to physical healing. There is always an element we can’t explain that must be left in the hands of God. Right now I must make room for a Miletus in my path.

Which brings me to Becky. Her oncologists are aware that her cancer is a very fast growing type and that it has already begun traveling through her body. They have therefore suggested a very aggressive approach to chemotherapy. They’ve scheduled Becky’s first treatment for Thursday, Sept. 18 at UNC. She will stay overnight (and possibly longer) for observation. I will of course stay with her the whole time.

I wonder: Was Trophimus ever healed? We don’t know. But he could have recovered later. I hope he did. Perhaps Becky will also. That too is up to our sovereign God, not us.

So we pray. Becky’s healing. Strength and courage. The work in Ethiopia in our absence. Faith, hope, love.

Wednesday, September 2

7:40 PM Next week in New Testament Theology our guest lecturer will be my colleague Alvin Reid. Alvin has a fantastic Great Commission website. His goal is to see God do something big in the hearts and souls of students across this nation and around the world. His speaking schedule leaves me breathless. The students he reaches are, I believe, going to become an army of on-fire teenagers who will set the pace for revival and transform their culture by reaching every teenager they know with the timeless message of the Gospel. What’s really great is that I get to have him in my class next week. In the meantime, check out Alvin’s latest essay called A Great Commission Seminary. As Alvin notes, SEBTS is certainly not the only seminary with its arms around the world, but it’s the place where God has called us to teach. Speaking personally, I can think of no greater honor. 

6:58 PM Recent openings in biblical studies:

• Professor of Missions and Global Christianity (Baylor).

• Professor of Theology (Baylor)

• Bible (Moody)

• Old Testament (Cedarville)

• Theology (Cedarville)

• Religious Studies (Westminster College)

6:55 PM Coming soon to DBO: Essays en Español.

6:47 PM A reminder: My beginning grammar is available in electronic formfrom Logos Bible Software. I’m not surprised that Greg Heiser of Logos fame is using the electronic edition in his upcoming class, “Greek with Heiser.” Go Greg! Now, when are the rest of you scholars out there going to offer a Greek class in your church?

6:42 PM You simply must listen to my beloved president Danny Akin’smessage in chapel yesterday on the life of James Fraser, former missionary to China. (Notice I said “must.” My clout is derived from the authority vested in me as a manure-mucking farm boy from Nelson, Virginia.) Fraser died in China from malaria at the age of 52 just before the birth of his third child. As Danny said, most in the chapel audience probably never heard the “James Fraser” before. However, when I was a student at Biola in the early 70s, Geraldine Taylor’s biography of Fraser,Behind the Ranges, was required reading in all of the missions classes there. If you are looking for a missionary biography that is profound in depth and prophetic in element, this is the book.

Corrie ten Boom once said, “The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.” Our enemy, as Fraser so clearly understood, is our prayerlessness and lack of faith. Satan operates in the realm of the heart, the will, the conscience, and the desire. But God has promised that the devil’s attacks can be turned back. It was through prayer that James Fraser conquered his doubts, his fears, and even his severe bouts with depression. He saw his first converts only after 5 long years of prayer. Today the Lisu church numbers over 100,000. Christ’s love compelled him – left him no choice, really – and today that same love is the inextinguishable fuel that sends Becky and me to Ethiopia and countless other Christians to serve Him all over the world. Fraser looked with Spirit-inspired eyes into the heart of God, and Christ’s love propelled him forward. May that same God and that same Jesus do the same for each of us today.

By the way, would you please join me in praying for President Akin as he has surgery on Friday?

6:36 PM “The Battle for the Gospel” is the title of Scot McKnight’s upcoming lecture series at Ashland Theological Seminary. The dates are October 26-27. For a .pdf of the event, gohere.

6:31 PM Speaking of internet video,You Tube features Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. As a trumpet player I am amazed at the difficulty of this piece. But the NYP disappoints not. The trumpets sound so epic. I never cease to be amazed how Copland can weave such beautiful musical tapestries using so few notes. The piece ends with chord changes that are completely unpredictable. The piece is simply shocking in its beauty.

6:26 PM Teaching from the book of Hebrews? ThisYou Tube would make a great intro.

6:22 PM Special thanks to my colleague Andreas Köstenberger for lecturing in our New Testament Theology class today on the Gospel of John, which one scholar has gone so far as to call the “Maverick Gospel.” It was an excellent survey of the issues as well as the big picture. For more on Andreas’s current writing activities, see the recent interview atBroadcast Depth.

6:16 PM I encourage you to check out the latest issue of theMcMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry. Lots of good stuff here, including an essay titled “Who Is the ‘Woman’ in 1 Timothy 2?’, which concludes that the best translation of gune in this controversial passage is “wife,” and another article called “Losing Christianity: A New Testament Scholar’s Fall from Faith,” which argues that Bart Ehrman’s recent books are more an apology for his de-conversion than the presentation of any useful information.

6:12 PM Kary Oberbrunner talks about the inevitability of change in his essayOne Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Being Progressive in a Stagnant Church. I think he makes some excellent points. Too often we live as though imperfection were the standard, whereas God says, “Let us continue to be carried along to maturity” (so the Greek of Heb. 6:1). We can’t expect anything of ourselves, but we can expect everything of God. I don’t think He’s very happy when we settle for a smug and comfortable acceptance of substandard living.

6:06 PM My former colleague at Talbot School of Theology, Mike Wilkins (professor of New Testament), returned to Vietnam after 40 years. You can read his moving testimonyhere. Mike writes:

When we are 19 our entire life stretches out before us. We can’t see too far into our future and know what impact the events of our youth will have upon our later life. My recent return to Vietnam was a blessing as I was able to look back and see clearly how God has been at work in my life in the last 40 years, helping me to recover from the trauma of war and leading me into the unimaginable blessing of being a Christian professor at this wonderful place called Biola University. And hopefully I can be a testimony to young men and women returning from their own traumas of war and help them follow the lead of Jesus to recovery in their lives.

Man there’s a lot of wisdom here. Mike’s testimony reminds me that great soldiers are developed in battle, not in swivel chairs and comfortable offices. It took the grindstone of Vietnam to sharpen an axe. I encourage all of us to remember that the world, not the church, is our proving ground.

6:02 PM A student sends along this fantastic poem on the upside-down kingdom of Jesus. It’s called The Valley of Vision.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

6:00 PM Just back from school. It’s great to see so much activity on campus. It’s as if a God-sized defibrillator jolted us back into life. The summer was very quiet, but all that has changed. Welcome back students. Let’s make a difference for the kingdom!

By the way, my secretary sent this “edible bouquet” home with me for Becky. Isn’t it gorgeous? Thank you, Miss Phyllis, for your thoughtfulness. Becky loves it!

Tuesday, September 1

6:55 AM Off to school. Let’s see if I can remember this time to take my home cooked meals with me to campus. Last week I forgot them and subsisted on canned soups for two days.

6:51 AM The latest issue ofNew Testament Studies promises to be well worth reading.  For an overview, go toMichael Whitenton’s blog. And heartiest congratulations, Michael, on your first article in NTS!

6:46 AM From the Kyria blog comes this essay onJesus-Style Service. Like the author, I too am tempted to cry out, “I’m not your servant!” But that’s exactly what I am in Christ. I exist to serve my students, not them me. I exist to serve Becky, not her me. I exist to serve the world, not it me. No Christian has the luxury of saying, “I am happy to be a son, a saint, a sinner saved by grace — but I would rather not be a servant.” We do not have that option. God please help my students to become more like Jesus not because of what I say but because of how I live!

6:36 AM Almost forgot to mention a huge blessing. Last night as I drove home from Greek class at The Hill it was my joy to listen to a live performance by the North Carolina Symphony of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring on WUNC. I wanted to cry, dance, and shout praises to God all at the same time. Never have I resonated more with a piece of classical music, which rightly earned for the composer a Pulitzer Prize. I could visualize the young family as they built their home in the 1800s and passed through the seasons of life. My own life seemed to pass before my eyes — its good days and bad, its blessings and challenges, its pleasures and suffering. Appalachian Spring is hauntingly beautiful and uplifting, especially when played so passionately. A loud “bravo,” then, to the NC Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Grant Llewellyn, for a magnificent job marred only by the incessant coughing of one or two people in the audience.

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September 2008 Blog Archives

Friday, September 26

10:15 AM The starting gate has opened. Pray that I run well and finish well. Auf Wiedersehen! 

10:03 AM Becky has just published our latestneeds list for Ethiopia. If possible, we would like to have these items by October 31st. They are needed for our November trip. We want each of our 12 team members’ suitcases stuffed to the gills! The list includes:

For evangelists:

Food for 4-day Bible Conference in Burji, for 60 rural leaders & evangelists: $1800

Love gift salary supplements: $100/evangelist family (this will buy 1 sack of grain)

Protein bars: 86-cent Zone bars at Wal-Mart are excellent

Bible story cloths(tells Creation-to-Ascension in pictures on a cloth, 45 cloths): $485

Food for 1-week Training session of our 10 under-cover evangelists in Gondar: $900

(Below: An Ethiopian evangelist. Protein bars help nutritionally.)

For clinic:

Small gifts for the Chaplain’s Box, which he will use when he visits patients in their homes (bars of soap, ladies scarfs, Bible picture books, small notebooks, any size socks, children’s T-shirts, men’s dress shirts, ladies’ dresses/blouses/skirts, sweaters, Vaseline, alcohol hand gel, wash clothes, teething biscuits, hair things, needle/thread kits, etc…small, practical things)

Medical supplies (naproxyn, ibuprofen, aspirin, tylenol, alcohol hand cleanser, Jergen’s Ultra-healing hand lotion, bandaids, antibiotic ointment, multivitamins, anbesol, Immodium AD, antihistamines/decongestants, eye moisturizers, ear wax removal drops,  children & infants’ Tylenol, 2-4” strips of cotton fabric for dressings with large safety pins, Citracal with Mg & Vit D, Midol, powdered electrolyte drinks/Gateraide/pedialyte, Zantac 150mg, heavy plastic/vinyl sheeting, flat bed sheets with pillow case, KY lubricant gel, hydrocortisone cream, benedryl gel, tape measurer, various splints, towels & wash clothes)

For Chaplain teaching aid: poster boards, colored markers, picture Bible story books, small fold-up table for children, simple Bible story coloring pictures or dot-to-dot, flannelgraph set ($100)

(Below: A nurse at the Galana clinic. Many supplies are still needed.)

For rural people & churches:

Food sacks for widow & orphans: $1500…we will buy the food in the capital

Seeds for farmers: $700…we are taking the seed with us

Wash basins & soap: $1500…we will buy these at the large market in the capital

Food for Christians (Muslim communities are withholding food aid to Christians): $3,000

Eyeglasses (non-prescription, strengths 1.00, 1.25, 1.50 & 1.75 only at this time)

Funds for loudspeaker & solar power at 3 churches: $1,000/church

(Below: A village elder receiving a pair of reading glasses.)

Thank you for your help. We love you!

7:51 AM If you read just one essay about the so-called bank bailout, readthis. Then go out and rent the movie Titanic, while you can still afford it.

7:37 AM Greek students! A heads-up on my spring schedule. I’ve been asked to teach 3 classes: Greek Syntax and Exegesis (i.e., third semester Greek) on Tuesday at 12:30; Greek II (i.e., second semester Greek) on Tuesday at 6:30; and Intermediate Greek (i.e., fourth semester Greek) on Wednesday at 12:30. All classes meet for 3 hours. In addition, I’ll be teaching Greek I during our January-term.

6:58 AM Got up early this morning to pray about my trip. Much of the work already calls for thanksgiving. But because the Father delights in the petitions of His children, He allows us to make our requests of Him as well. The Lord has laid on me many responsibilities during this trip, but none too hard for Him, for He is a kind Master. I think I’m caught up on answering all my emails before I leave this morning. If you do need to write to me while I’m gone, I’ll do my best to answer, though it might be best to wait until after I return on Oct. 13.

In other news, we’ve decided to keep Dayda. She has conquered our hearts. Now we have 4 Shelties. Nate and Jess have Sheppie and Sadie. Bec and I have Sheba and Dayda. Should keep us young.

Last night Jessica got her prize: Chinese food (with my secret ingredient, of course). I think everyone enjoyed it. As Becky said to Jessie, “We ought to let you win more often.”

Thursday, September 25

1:45 PM Quote of the day:

In so-called Christianity we have made Christmas into a great festival. This is quite false, and it was not at all so in the Early Church. We mistake childishness for Christianity — what with all our sickly sentimentality, our candy canes, and our manger scenes. Instead of remaining conscious of being in conflict that marks a life of true faith, we Christians have made ourselves a home and settled down in a comfortable and cozy existence. No wonder Christmas has become little more than a beautiful holiday.

The source is Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations, p. 229. Elsewhere I’vewritten:

I couldn’t help but notice the irony. Here we spend a month of frenetic activity in elaborate preparations adorning our humble church sanctuary in candles and greens, in the lighting of the Advent Candle, in the reading of the Christmas story, in decorating trees and tables, in canceling Bible Study so that we can rehearse our Christmas play. Yet how often does our congregation celebrate the Lord’s Supper, the one memorial that Jesus Himself commanded us to observe?

Becky and I spend every Dec. 25th serving the church in Ethiopia, which is just another day in that culture, and we don’t miss the holiday one bit.

9:52 AM Since moving to the rural South 10 years ago I have become amazed at how acceptable divorce is, even among evangelical Christians. The “sanctity of marriage” line is usually applied only to the issue of gay marriage. But if evangelicals want to outlaw gay marriage, why shouldn’t we want to outlaw divorce and remarriage? Clearly the latter is more socially prevalent and harmful than the former. This is one reason I oppose the idea of a Federal Marriage Amendment. It is simply not the place of the federal government to tell us what is or is not legitimate marriage. Again, I agree withRon Paul:

Ironically, liberal social engineers who wish to use federal government power to redefine marriage will be able to point to the constitutional marriage amendment as proof that the definition of marriage is indeed a federal matter! I am unwilling either to cede to federal courts the authority to redefine marriage, or to deny a state’s ability to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. Instead, I believe it is time for Congress and state legislatures to reassert their authority by refusing to enforce judicial usurpations of power.

Where I live, Baptist deacons who are in their second or even their third marriages are AOK. I have come to learn that the nation’s highest divorce rate is in the “Christian” South (see David Crary, “Bible Belt Leads U.S. Divorces,” AP, Nov. 12, 1999). I think Greg Boyd (Myth, pp. 137-38) hits the nail on the head:

We evangelicals may be divorced and remarried several times; we may be as greedy and as unconcerned about the poor and as gluttonous as others in our culture; we may be as prone to gossip and slander and as blindly prejudiced as others in our culture; we may be more self-righteous and as rude as others in our culture — we may even lack love more than others in the culture. These sins are among the most frequently mentioned sins in the Bible. But at least we’re not gay!

Yes, gay marriage is wrong. It is immoral. It is sin. But no less is our judgmentalism and hypocrisy.

8:47 AM Congressman Ron Paul opposes thefederal bailout package. I’ve emailed my congressman and senator. Have you?

7:54 AM I have a confession to make. I have really become attached to little Dayda. This is our last puppy to be sold. I’m advertising everywhere I can, but secretly I’m hoping she won’t be sold and we’ll get to keep her. After all Sheba needs a playmate, don’t you think? It’s neat to watch her romp and play. She certainly has her mother’s spunk. She looks just like her father, which must be one reason I like her so much. Dayda thus has a very good pedigree; certainly I wish mine were as good. At this point her fate is known only to God. But she sure is a cutie pie.

7:46 AM Kurt Vonnegut remembers the day when the U.S. executed 100,000 German non-combatants:

“We hit every blessed church, hospital, school, museum, theatre, your university, the zoo, and every apartment building in town, but we honestly weren’t trying hard to do it. C’est la guerre. So sorry. Besides, saturation bombing is all the rage these days, you know.”

If I may be permitted to quote from my forthcoming book:

Today the nation-state has become the most murderous and destructive force the world has ever known. Not just the horrific actions of totalitarian governments but the unlawful actions of legitimate governments cry out for redress. The church has become so domesticated, so “acculturated,” that it willingly tolerates the straightjacket of authoritarian theologies. It has forgotten the words of Jesus that His kingdom is not of this world, that His followers do not have to fight to advance His cause, and that His kingly authority comes from elsewhere.

Please read Vonnegut’s essay.

7:22 AM Just one more day and I will board an airplane again. If the Lord wills, I’ll be back in 18 days. I am pretty excited about this trip. I often regret that in High School I felt history and geography to be worthless subjects, along with English. “Why should I study English?”, I once asked my teacher. “I’m not planning on going to England.” I majored in surfing during my High School years. I was mighty proud of that fact then but am mighty ashamed of it now. Now I cannot get enough of history. The country to which I am going has recently come out of chaos and has witnessed the sunrise of prosperity. Humanism is firmly entrenched, and the people are ripe for Good News. I’m anxious to give my little talks and to meet the people. I got my passport out of our safe deposit box yesterday, and this morning I’m picking up some odds and ends from the store for the trip as well as putting a few finishing touches on my lectures. From what I have been told, I will be speaking a total of 55 hours in 2 weeks. O well. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Wednesday, September 24

7:16 PM For supper tonight Becky made the most delicious curry chicken broccoli dish. And guess who joined us?

Right now the newlyweds are off moving the cattle hither and the goats thither, but we’ve invited them to return “yon” to enjoy some ice cream once it gets dark.

4:56 PM What fun! 

Jessie won the “guess how many bales we’ll get today” game. Her prize? She asked for Chinese food prepared by you know who.

4:35 PM Chuck thanks Ron Paul. 

2:21 PM The MacArthur Fellows Program has just announced its2008 Fellows. Here are the criteria for selection:

The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. There are three criteria for selection of Fellows: exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work.

If I may, I’d like to nominate Nathan for this honor for delivering high-quality care to a diverse, underserved community in rural Virginia, for opening avenues into the mysteries of canine care and goat husbandry, for exploring the circumstances that lead to economic cooperation in the post-bellum South, and for illuminating the intellectual and emotional life of ancient earth dwellers (aka the owners of Rosewood Farm).

I hope he wins.

11:23 AM Greg Boyd is a prolific author and a big-picture thinker. I just reread hisThe Myth of a Christian Nation.

I could quibble about this or that but I won’t. The book clearly shows how Pax Americana has lapsed into an idolatrous Americanism. The author shows how Jesus’ kingdom is, well, Jesus’ kingdom — a new way of living and a new set of values, a new community that transcends national boundaries. This is exactly what I find wherever I travel on this tired old planet. I love Greg’s book and highly recommend it. I even quote from it in my new book on kingdom living, even though I completely disagree with some of Greg’s other writings. I think the book offers an important correction to the evangelical church in America, if only we would stop criticizing him long enough to listen to what he has to say.

What does this mean for me personally? It means that it is not enough for me to question the just war tradition or to condemn the Constantinian compromise in the abstract. Nor is it enough for me to rail against the Christ-washed militarism being offered in His name by our politicians. Nor can I merely exegete Jesus’ mandate in the Sermon on the Mount disinterestedly. The only responsible Christian ethic is for me to become an active participant in service and sacrifice for the sake of the Prince of Peace. I must discover what it means to rid myself completely of the baggage of self-will and plunge into the tranquil sea of God’s will, where alone I will find joy. At the very least, this means for me:

• rejecting the mindset of Western imperialism

• refusing to support the notion that Christian missions benefits from the spread of empire

• preaching the cross instead of the protection of the sword

• placing love of enemy at the heart of the Gospel rather than at its periphery

• affirming an allegiance to Christ that transcends national boundaries or roles

• bearing witness of sacrificial service in the name of Christ

• helping to move peace toward the center of the church’s witness in the world

• living a life of radical discipleship

• engaging in polite dialog with just war theorists and Christian advocates of war

• sharing the biblical basis of peacemaking to persons genuinely seeking to know more about it

• being committed to a ministry of reconciliation

• being willing to suffer in the spirit of the cross and to undergo a literal baptism unto death if need be

• focusing on the cross as the center of my faith and life

• manifesting the firstfruits of the kingdom of peace in mutual aid and love with the community of faith

• repudiating any coercion or manipulation of faith by the state

• praying constantly that God would move to ameliorate the hatred and pride that provide the occasion for war

• struggling to perfect my life by the Holy Spirit in the confidence that the Lord is at work

• being nonconformist yet involved in attempts at reconciliation worldwide

• preaching the Gospel persuasively and powerfully in deed as well as in word

In the end, while I cannot say that I am a peace church pacifist, this is irrelevant since pacifism or, better, peace-making, unlike the just war tradition, is not as much a dogma to be believed as a lifestyle to be practiced. May God help me to do it with courage and wisdom.

11:03 AM Here are a few more pix from my trip to Ethiopia last June. My approach to missions is very simple. All I try to do is to walk through the doors the Lord Jesus opens for me. I was flabbergasted when asked to speak to a group of prisoners in northern Ethiopia. Here they listen intensely to an old faranji tell them that Jesus loves them.

In the same town I was asked to teach a small class of church leaders in a Bible School. Here I’m teaching on missions from Matthew 9 and how Jesus went to where the people were rather than expecting them to come to Him. This fall I’ll be taking some Bible study tools to help the school establish a small lending library for their students. What a privilege!

This is a small and severely persecuted congregation in a region famous for its opposition to Christianity. I am always asked to bring a brief word of encouragement. Like Paul’s “encouraging word” in Acts 14:22, I have to remind them that “it is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” I think just being there helps, though.

This former Muslim donated his land for a church meeting hall. We hadn’t seen each other in over a year. It was a sweet reunion.

What special doors has the Lord Jesus opened for you today? Whether across the street or across the world, let’s be going and doing, not just speaking and writing!

7:48 AM The puppies are now weaned. Sheba has made that crystal clear, and in no uncertain terms. I think they’ve gotten the message. Amazing. Dogs have been doing this for millennia, but it’s all new for us. What an education.

7:34 AM Lionel’s latestremix is a winner. Allow me, as a public speaker (“preacher” in Baptist circles), to offer 3 suggestions:

1) Get out from behind the pulpit. Of course, you will be seated among the people before speaking anyway. Can you see Jesus or Paul behind a podium?

2) Speak without notes. Be conversational. Be yourself. Know your stuff. Speak from the reservoir of Bible knowledge (and experience) instead of from the canteen of Saturday night.

3) Walk among the people as you speak. You are in fact one of them anyhow. Leaders, by definition, are sheep too. Just shepherding sheep.

Lionel’s post, of course, is about more than just pulpits and platforms. But little things matter, even church architecture and physical ambiance.

7:25 AM Unbelievably, Bernanke has asked Germany to join in his bailout of the U.S. banking industry. Their answer was “Nein“:

Der Wirtschaftsweise Peter Bofinger forderte, nach dem US-Vorbild ein staatliches Hilfspaket für deutsche Geldinstitute aufzulegen. In der Politik kassierte er dafür scharfe Kritik. “Deutschland darf auch deutschen Banken keine faulen Kredite abkaufen”, sagte CSU-Landesgruppenchef Peter Ramsauer. Das geplante US-Paket sei eine noch nie erlebte “Sozialisierung von Verlusten”. Bundesfinanzminister Peer Steinbrück (SPD) betonte am Dienstag, für ein Rettungspaket bestehe in Deutschland nicht die Notwendigkeit.

7:18 AM ABrief Tutorial to Understanding the Greek Genitive Case.

7:15 AM Gohere to download The Simple/House Church Revolution by Roger Thoman.

7:06 AM Ron Paul has proven to be clairvoyant, not only about the war but also about the failing economy. Read hisessays and you’ll see what I mean. For his efforts he has been called an alarmist and isolationist, but what he foretold has actually happened. No one is less indifferent to the relentless march of men and machines in the Middle East than Ron Paul. That’s whyPaul’s endorsement of Chuck Baldwin is significant.

That Chuck has acknowledged qualities of leadership no one can deny, and no one would work harder, I’m convinced, to bring America out from under the shadow of the awful catastrophe than he. The issue, politically speaking, is what is best for America — and what is most constitutional. I believe that big issues are at stake in our nation — issues that I’m afraid are neither perceived nor understood by many Americans, including certain candidates for public office. America exacts its will by force and thereby denies the validity of the democratic principles on which our government and our way of life depend. Our civil liberties and the economic order on which our nation rests are in great peril, but we can still gain a great objective — not by hate and brutality and bloodshed, not by a quickening nationalistic feeling and anti-Muslim fervor, all in the name of Americanism — but by tolerance and civil liberty. Politically speaking, I reiterate my hope that Americans will see fit to insist that our government be a government of laws. And spiritually speaking, I reiterate my hope that all true Jesus-followers, whether Republican or Democrat or neither, will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and, through scandalous love, show a lost world what that kingdom really looks like.

Tuesday, September 23

7:48 PM Just had a wonderful supper of curry chicken and peaches, rice, and green beans. Thanks a million, honey. The day at the office went well but all too quickly. I want to especially thank my secretary for making Kona Coffee for me (Mahalo!) and Surur (from Ethiopia) for checking our Amharic CDs (Amasagenalo!). Right now Becky is working on another Ethiopia project, Nate and Jessie are off to an SCV meeting down in Oxford, and I’m relaxing. Will need a good sleep tonight: we hope to bale hay tomorrow before Thursday’s rains begin.

One more puppy sold today. One left. I wonder: How does this make Sheba feel?

7:40 AM Today, Lord willing, I will again be behind my familiar desk in the Forest of Wake. I am in the throes of putting the final touches on the first of 3 sabbatical trips that begins this Friday. I am anxious to get going. It will be good to get back to places I’ve been before, nurture friendships once established, and form new friendships that will require nurturing in the future. I expect convivial company — a colleague will be meeting up with me halfway through the trip — and I also anticipate a great time of teaching and learning. Where I am going the weather, I am told, is quite lovely now, neither too hot nor too cold. I will of course miss the farm and its residents, where life will continue as idyllic and active as ever. I’ll take several writing pads with me: there are always a few tranquil moments for reflection in an airport or flying at 36,000 feet. Who knows how didactic I’ll be when I get back! I’m also taking oodles of books as gifts for various people. Even if no one reads them, they make excellent book ends.

Just glanced at the news this morning. The democracies of the Old and New Worlds are crumbling before our eyes. The jawing about politics is truly humiliating for a nation presumably composed of intelligent human beings. The hoopla is simply another sign of the tenacity of mankind to cling to inherited ideas without thinking through the issues. If I may indulge in some guess work, I would guess that the U.S. is determined to make at least two more nations love democracy at the point of a bayonet. Be prepared for $10.00 gasoline and the quick depletion of our standard of living. I was intensely disappointed this weekend that so few people I met in Rocky Mount were aware of the Constitution Part and its presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin. If you want to be informed, you really must become at least familiar with the party’s platform. I don’t find either of the major parties particularly to my liking and so I am not averse to linking toChuck’s essays with a tacit cheer.

Finally, an anecdote from Podunk. In the midst of our farming community there’s a rural tire store. On a visit there yesterday I had a long talk with Ray. Ray is an elderly, dignified Southern gentleman who lives next door to the tire shop. As an 18-year old Ray was sent to Europe to fight the Germans. His story has left me spellbound. He entered Europe in southern France in 1944 on a troop ship, then was sent by train (in a cattle car) to the front in northern France. He saw his first day of combat on Jan. 1, 1945, when his division was attacked by an S.S. outfit. Seriously wounded by a mortar blast, Ray barely got out of the scrap alive. “If anyone says they weren’t scared, they’re lying,” he told me. The enemy was only 50 yards away. “Thankfully the Germans were as bad shots as we were.” Ray spent the next 11 months of his life in hospitals. Doctors were able to save his leg, and today he walks with only a slight limp and a cane. I admire the courage of soldiers like Ray who do their duty even though scared to death.

May God give me the same courage as I seek to serve my King and expand His kingdom on the spiritual battlefields of this world.

Monday, September 22

1:12 PM Life on a farm is like being in a 3-ring circus: you’re excited but also exasperated because you can’t see everything at once. At noon I went outside and saw Nathan mowing one of our fields. A rare north wind makes it perfect weather for cutting and drying hay, so it looks like I might be home for baling after all! Most people around here gave up square baling years ago because it’s so labor intensive. That’s one of the reasons we enjoy it so much. To be sure I like brain work infinitely better, but I am resolutely returning to the soil and the simple and pleasant physical amenities of life on a farm. It seems just yesterday that we purchased Rosewood, built Bradford Hall, and fenced in the pastures. But we’ve actually been here now 7 years. Anyway it’s a good place to restore order and quiet out of the chaos in the world. Seems I’m either in a foreign or a “furin” land.

A boy and his dog.  

Back to work.  

11:02 AM In other news, I have at last determined that it’s about time for me to wade through the enormous pile of essays on my site and make this ship a little tighter. I’ll be pruning and preening, and anything illegible is likely to be dumped unceremoniously overboard. Meanwhile I’ve been perusing the news sites and reading some wonderful exposés of our political leadership, or lack thereof. One in particular — byDe Koster  — is most entertaining. The remarkable thing to me is that anyone should be so argumentative about such surfacy issues when our national malady is much more horrible. The farm always brings me back to earth. I’m cheered by the green pastures I see everywhere and by the knowledge that they will have to be cut, raked, and baled — though in leaving the States I might still miss out on all the fun. Despite the harrowing news from afar I still find foreign travel interesting, especially when my platter is full (as it will be on this trip).

O, Chuluse said goodbye to the Puppy Palace this weekend and went to her new home. Today Galana goes to hers. And life goes on.  

10:43 AM This is one of the most beautiful fall days I’ve witnessed — the new season is being ushered in gloriously. The grass is still damp, and the sun shines brightly in clear skies.

If you notice any incongruities in today’s blog entries, attribute them to the howling mass of happy memories that are infesting my mind after spending a delightful weekend in Rocky Mount among our good friends the Meggs and the Enquists. Saturday morning we actually started out with a brief visit to Matt, Liz, and the boys in Charlotte Court House. It seems you can almost watch the boys grow several inches every day. Mat and Liz are such a joy to be around that it was difficult to drag ourselves away, but we had a wedding reception to attend, and a hugely important one at that. Justin and Alicia Enquist were married a month ago in Nebraska (the bride’s home), but they were kind enough to hold a gala at the Enquist farm on Saturday for anyone who couldn’t attend the real deal, the reception including a video of the service and some wedding cake. Here’s the delightful couple with Justin’s grandfather.

I am thankful that Justin found such a congenial helpmate. I think I’ve mentioned before the congregation that meets in the Enguists’ barn, and a good group was on hand yesterday to hear us talk about the kingdom and how it’s expanding in Ethiopia, and expanding in the “unlikeliest” places and ways. (Unlikely only to us.) Altogether Becky and I had an awfully good time and wish the Enguists would hold a reception every month.

In case it’s a slow Monday for you, here are a few more pix from our weekend, beginning with Caleb and Isaac:

Not to forget Micah. 

I had to capture this billboard on the drive to Rocky Mount. Irony, perhaps? 

Our welcome at the Meggs. 

Nathan leading a chorus after the reception. He restored and donated this old reed organ to the church. 

Two friends.

Two more friends. 

Chores always come before…. 

…more chores.

Then it’s play time. 

Heading south. 

The gathering place. 

My helper at the Ethiopia display table.

The Megg Family Singers and Players. 

An adoptee from Ethiopia. In Christ there is no east or west. 

Saturday, September 20

8:18 AM A prayer for Burji:

Father, in the frenzy of our modern lives, keep before us the truth that your Body is one. Help us to faithfully pray for your people who are suffering because of war and famine. For all who are affected by the Burji-Guji conflict, we pray for the peace that only your Son can give. The reason? To bring you glory and to expand your kingdom on earth. AMEN.

8:11 AM While people debate how we should vote or who is the most “qualified” to be president, the issue is far deeper than that. We have Christianized our culture, and the American flag has replaced the cross.

If you don’t believe me, just ask your church leaders to remove the U.S. flag from your sanctuary. Something I’m afraid has gotten buried beneath the rubble of our fallen Towers of Babel. We overemphasize the kingdom of this world and forget about the kingdom that Jesus is building in the world through scandalous love. There is only one solution to the problems facing our homes and our society. If you’re interested in learning about it, read The Kingdom Manifesto by Jesus Christ (otherwise known as the Gospel of Matthew). If you have any time left over, you can also read books like Vernard Eller’s Christian Anarchy, whose comment on p. xii is, I think, relevant:

A prime characteristic of worldly politics is its inevitable framing of itself as an “adversarial contest.” There has to be a battle. One party, ideology, cause, group, lobby, or power bloc which has designated itself as “the Good, the True, and the Beautiful” sets out to overbear, overwhelm, overcome, overpower, or otherwise impose itself on whatever opposing parties think they deserve the title.

He adds that it is “a power contest among the morally pretentious.” For the man or woman debating politics today there is a simple solution: a daily audience with the King, and working with Him to expand His kingdom worldwide.

Friday, September 19

6:50 PM Odds and ends: Nate and Jess left for Rocky Mount, VA, this afternoon to attend a wedding reception tomorrow for some very good friends of ours; Bec and I will join them there tomorrow… At the same location a church fellowship meets in the family barn, and Becky and I will have the privilege of speaking there on Sunday, doing (as usual) an Ethiopia presentation… I really look forward to seeing again my former horse Traveler (pictured), whom I gave to this family because I was unable to ride him every day and they’ve got plenty of riders… The weather here is absolutely perfect for a jaunt to the west, with daytime temps in the mid-70s and clear skies.

Right now I’m fixin’ to read my escape book, along with munchin’ on some chips and salsa — am I in heaven or what?

3:23 PM Here’s a brief Burji update, and I’m afraid the news is not very good. Today Becky spoke with Oshe in Soyama. He reports that passions are again splitting apart society, with 5 dead and several wounded. The hardness of hate and intemperance has again reared its ugly head. Please join us in praying for the Burji-Guji fighting that is taking place even as I type. A well-drilling team was scheduled to begin their work on Tuesday but had to cancel because of the warring. Pray that at least a semblance of peace may return to the area. We know this cannot happen unless God intervenes. May I emphasize again that we are not asking you to do something that Becky and I are not also doing ourselves. Today, let us join our hearts together in prayer for a region in distress.

11:49 AM N. and J. are back, and no sooner do they return than they are at their chores again. I captured this shot a few minutes ago while they were spreading horse manure on one of our pastures. Something in me admires that. Something in me wants to know it is still possible to generate that kind of simplicity and togetherness among today’s young married couples. I can tell you one thing. Whenever Nate and Jess are away, they are sorely missed. And when I leave next Saturday for a 17-day trip abroad I’ll leave a huge chunk of me in the fields and pastures and parlors of Rosewood Farm, Virginia, a tiny strip of land where life never gets stale, bored, or numb. It is never a tired, boresome place where people lose their drive and desire to do their work well, even if it’s something as simple as spreading muck on a field. Of course, we’d have much poorer grass if we didn’t, but it makes it a lot easier when you have teammates who complement your own strengths.

Nate and Jess decided to keep this small strip of okra from the blades of the bush hog. Becky and I are up to our ears in the stuff.

11:42 AM Teaching basic hygiene is at the top of our list of workshops for our upcoming team trip to Ethiopia in November. But there will be a “buy in.” Before we’ll give out wash basins and soap (one per family) you’ll have to earn them by memorizing 1 John 1:5-9 (Becky’s holding copies of these verses). You see, our goal is to teach the people about the spiritual cleansing available through the blood of Jesus every bit as much as the need for physically clean hands.

Here’s what the passage looks like in Amharic. Before you receive your wash basin and your bar of soap you’ll also have to recite this passage word perfect to a church leader. Then you’ll have to recite a “catechism” we are putting together that teaches basic principles of hygiene, e.g.,Q: “When should you wash your hands?”; A: “Before you eat, cook, or serve other people food.” Becky thought all this up. Her ingenuity never ceases to amaze me.

10:12 AM Becky put together this list of medical equipment needed for the Galana Clinic in rural Ethiopia.

If possible, we need this equipment by Oct. 5, 2008 for shipment to Ethiopia on Oct. 7, 2008. If you have any questions, please contact Becky at 434-374-0492, or write us atdblack@sebts.edu. Thank you so much. Blessings, Dave

• Blood pressure apparatus, adult & child, manual or digital

• Thermometers, digital; prefer centigrade

• Fetal doplar, with gel & rechargeable batteries

• Assorted procedure equipments…hemostats, scissors, retractors, forceps, suture sets, needle holders, etc.

• Microscope, lighted

• Sterile drapes & gowns, PPE equipment

• IV Control Pump that uses plain tubing (no cassette)

• Splints, various sizes, assorted (finger, limb, neck, abduction)

• Adult & infant scales (for weights), manual preferred, kilogram if possible

• Otoscope & Laryngescope, with rechargeable batteries

• Eye/vision chart; Reflex hammer

• Pulse Oximeter

• Urine test strips, pregnancy test strips

• Reference books (English OK, with lots of pictures)

• Vaginal speculum; D&C set of metal instruments

• Ambu bags, adult & child, with one-way value protection

• Simple bed with manual crank..only need the frame, can take apart & reassemble there

• Privacy screen, collapsible

• Vacuum/suction machine, free-standing (like old Gomco), with re-usable containers

• Manual Vacuum Aspirations set (for incomplete abortion cases)

• EKG machine; Ultrasound machine; Simple X-ray machine; Defibrillator

• Any lab equipment for basic lab (CBC, chemistries, cultures)

For a printable version of this list, click here. Related: Thinking of Christmas?

9:45 AM Things of current interest to me:

1) The use of high tech gadgets in kingdom work. Can you imagine the apostle Paul having a mobile phone and a computer at his fingertips? God is opening unbelievably wide doors through technology, and the first ones through are the winners. Last year DBO had over 7 million hits and 5 million page views, and I am nothing but an ordinary Christian who spends 10 dollars a month and 1 hour a day to achieve worldwide connectivity. This is why I always encourage my students (and anyone else who will listen to me) to take advantage of the communication methods and tools available today. None of us has an excuse for inactivity.

(Here I’m talking with Becky in a restaurant in Addis Ababa. She was in Virginia. During my 4-week trip last June we spoke only once by cell phone, but what a delight it was. I would be seeing her in person the next day.)

(Otherwise we communicated by the marvel called email. Whenever there was electricity, that is, which was only every other day.)

2) The resources available to do God’s work. It is clear, from what I’ve already seen in only 5 years of working in Ethiopia, that the task of world evangelization needs both vision and provision. It is so obvious to me that we must pay more than lip service to prayer. The Holy Spirit is the CEO of world missions operations, and our job as His employees is to wait upon God in prayer, and then the Lord, through the church, will send out His missionary teams to do the work (see Acts 13). Prayer is not peripheral to the church but its core, its very heart, and the worldwide missionary movement will be no stronger than the support it receives through prayer. Someone once said that prayer needs no passport or visa, that “closed” nations are non-existent when it comes to intercession. How right! I have noticed a tendency for men to over-organize their programs and projects. But the more we take control, the more the Holy Spirit recedes. I know that extremism is to be avoided, but I am frankly tired of talk about this method or that program. What is needed is a saturation in the Word of God and prayer, unity among believers, and the daily understanding and wisdom that come ONLY from above.

(If these faces look a bit somber it’s because we had just spent an hour in concerted prayer for the ever-warring Gujis. I was being sent there the next day, and the elders of the Burji town church were concerned for my safety. To a man they volunteered to accompany me, even if it should cost them their life, but the Burji district elders felt that the Burjis should stay at home as I trekked among the Gujis. Eventually my son Worku [who is standing just in front of me] was permitted to accompany me. We spent many tears that night as we prayed together, not knowing whether we would see each other’s faces again.)

3) Loyalty. Not to manmade organizations (though that sometimes has its place) but to the one Head of the church. Not to -isms of any kind (Calvinism, Arminianism) or to ideal-ism itself. But simply to the Person of Jesus Christ. Can I get an Amen?

4) Relationships. The really big mistakes we make that cause grief to the Body of Christ are usually the result of forgetting the importance of compassion, grace, and love. This is one of the marks of Christian maturity to which I strive but often fall so short. My experience has shown me that God uses all kinds of people in His kingdom work — from zit-faced teenagers to well-preened Baptist preachers. My vision is that one day the work of missions will be tied not only to “missionaries” but to every one of us common everyday believers, partnering with each other in small and large ways. Only a tiny percentage of the Lord’s people have experienced the “fellowship in the Gospel” (Phil. 1:5) that is at the heart of cross-cultural missions. Friend, there will be no “Acts 13 Breakthrough” in our churches until we understand that all of us are missionaries and that every place we go is our mission field.

(Now this is fellowship in the Gospel. I am visiting with the church elders in the Deda village church in Alaba. All former Muslims, they are now serving a congregation that has grown from 100 three years ago to a church with over 400. Almost everyone is under 30, even the “elders.” My son David is translating for me from Alabinya into English.)

5) Finally, the Lord has placed it upon my heart today to say thank you to Brother Lionel for reminding us thatwe are all Barnabases, or should be. What I personally find so interesting is that Barnabas’s partnership with Paul did not hit its full stride until they began traveling the world together engaged in kingdom work and church planting. Paul loved to call his fellow missionists his “fellow workers” or “fellow soldiers.” They shared the labor and they shared the danger. I’ve found it extremely helpful to visit certain websites on a regular basis, websites that provide a “Barnabas touch” if you will, a growth point, a resource for real change (sorry, Mr. Obama, but I’m not talking about you). I rarely leave an encounter with these sites that I do not feel lifted up, challenged, and more aware of my foibles and potentialities. Lionel, your site is one of these, and I want to thank you for investing (yes, it IS a huge investment of time and effort) yourself in the lives of others.

(Everywhere I go in Ethiopia I meet Barnabases, like Desalyn and David. Here we are goofing off after a long day of traveling to the rural villages.)

(I was so tired it finally took three of them to get me up. Dimessie joins in the fun. Dimessie, by the way, owns a bus and volunteers his services to us whenever we bring a team to Ethiopia. He is an awesome Barnabas to us all.) 

(On a more serious note, in June I was able to fellowship again with Zemete of Alaba, whom we earlier had brought up to Addis for fistula surgery.)

(It was successful, praise God. Today Zemete looks like a million dollars. All of these are my precious brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, and we enjoy “Barnabasing” each other!)

Thursday, September 18

6:06 PM Becky is smelling up the kitchen in a marvelously appetizing way. She’s making her famous stuffed peppers, though she just told me she’s using a new ingredient. But it’s NOT a “secret” ingredient, she assures me. That’s a relief. All we need in this family of ours is another chef who uses a secret ingredient.

This has been a leisurely day and gives an opportunity to think back over the week thus far and to recount some items of interest that may have been omitted or at least to emphasize some already mentioned. We have not heard anything definite about the well drilling rig that was sent down to Burji, but we pray that it has arrived safely and that the good work had begun. Amoebic dysentery is running rampant all over Ethiopia and the best solution is to provide clean drinking water to its population. I recall going into the villages of Burji on many occasions and hearing the elders (many of them Muslim) pleading for fresh well water, and I hate to see people suffer if it is in my power to do something about it. The wells will all be placed on church property but the water will be available to all, as will the Living Water whose love will be shared with everyone who comes to draw.

Reading the news, I see that the idolization of the state continues apace on our own shores. It reminds me of the passage in Three Years with Eisenhower when Capt. Butcher first visits Chequers, the famous home of Winston Churchill. The first thing he noticed over the entrance were the words Pro Patria Omnia, and inside the great hall was a reproduction in red, white, and blue of a Longfellow verse sent to the PM by President Roosevelt that said, “Sail on, O Ship of State! Sail on, O Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging on thy fate!” This of course is nothing but unvarnished hogwash and nationalism of the worst kind. “Everything for the Fatherland” might well be the motto of many a Christian denomination today in the United States.

Meanwhile I am ordering several Haven of Rest Quartet music CDs today from their offices in Costa Mesa, CA. I am very excited to have found this music. I don’t know of any group that harmonizes so well unless it’s the Vocal Majority out of Dallas, TX.

10:58 AM Calling all Ph.D. students. So you’ve had your orals in German, have you? But can you read and understand the language? Here’s some simple prose from Kafka. Translate it, or as much of it as you can. Then check your translationhere.

Liebster Vater,

Du hast mich letzthin einmal gefragt, warum ich behaupte, ich hätte Furcht vor Dir.  Ich wusste Dir, wie gewöhnlich, nichts zu antworten, zum Teil eben aus der Furcht, die ich vor Dir habe, zum Teil deshalb, weil zur Begründung dieser Furcht zu viele Einzelheiten gehören, als dass ich sie im Reden halbwegs zusammenhalten könnte.  Und wenn ich hier versuche, Dir schriftlich zu antworten, so wird es doch nur sehr unvollständig sein, weil auch im Schreiben die Furcht und ihre Folgen mich Dir gegenüber behindern und weil die Grösse des Stoffs über mein Gedächtnis und meinen Verstand weit hinausgeht.

Did you pass the test? Remember: Use it or lose it!

9:37 AM Jonathan Glass asks,What is the Church? 

9:16 AM Aussie John thinks thatJesus Christ actually ought to be preeminent in ALL things. He’s right of course. And that includes our attitudes toward those in the Body with whom we might disagree. I recall the famous yarn about Mama and Papa Skunk and their nine children, which ends with Papa alluding to a new and terrible odor wafting into their nostrils, and adding, “I don’t know what it is, Mama Skunk and dear children, but whatever it is we must get some of it.” So let us argue and debate, but let us avoid being skunks, if at all possible. (Yes, I’m preaching to myself too!)

8:38 AM Here’s areminder that both giving AND receiving are acts of love.

Many times Christians are very happy about giving, but they are reluctant to receive. We feel that receiving makes us weak or incapable. Instead, receiving is an act of love, just like giving is an act of love. If we do not learn how to receive, then we do not understand love.

I didn’t realize until I consulted the Greek years ago that both giving and receiving are themselves gifts of God. See James 1:17: “Every good act of giving, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there’s no variation or shadow of turning.” The difference is between two Greek words for gift: dosis and dorema, the first referring here to the act of giving (or, we might say, the propensity to be generous), the second referring to the actual gift itself. We can claim credit for neither, James says, for both the impulse to give as well as the object we actually give away have their origin in God Himself. I have thought about this truth whenever I reflect on the brethren with whom we serve in Ethiopia. None is “paid” to do it. All give away freely their time and resources. But all would agree, I think, that they receive as much as they give, perhaps even more, in the way of blessings.

By the way, I kinda like Greek, don’t you? It affords pleasant opportunities for hashing out things on a wee bit of a deeper basis.

8:24 AM To go back to another incident described in the book My Three Years with Eisenhower, here’s something for any student who one day will sit in an oral exam. On the eve of D-Day, the weatherman who had spoken for all the weather services, James Stagg (pictured), after giving a rather doleful report, was asked by the Supreme Commander, “What will the weather be on D-Day in the Channel and over the French coast?” He hesitated for two minutes and finally said, slowly and soberly, “To answer that question would make my a guesser, not a meteorologist.” I tell my doctoral students that if they don’t know the answer to a question an examiner throws at them, just say, “I don’t know.” It’s perfectly alright to do that. Just don’t do it too often or you will find yourself in a fairly big pickle. 

8:12 AM Forget quote of the day. This has got to be the quote of the year:

Many of you are afraid of the Holy Spirit. You don’t know what to do with Him, so the trinity is Father, Son and Holy Bible. You are so reactionary to pentecostalism that you do not have a robust theology of the Holy Spirit.

Source:Mark Driscoll.

Wednesday, September 17

8:49 PM This has been a peculiarly exciting day. Becky went to my office in Wake Forest and met with one of my students, who happens to be an Ethiopian who emigrated to the States during the Derg (Marxist rule). He was willing to help Becky edit her Amharic music video. So Becky got to enjoy the campus today while I completed writing two lectures: “The Anabaptists and U.S. Foreign Policy,” and “American Evangelicalism, the Just War Tradition, and Iran,” both of which I plan to give during my travels. Becky having worked hard all day, I volunteered to cook our supper (Chinese, of course, with my secret ingredient). Becky works diligently on all things Ethiopian and handles most of our correspondence, always humming a tune or smiling while she works. Frankly I am a bit jealous of her fortitude and stamina, since she puts the Energizer Bunny to shame, and always has. Tonight we celebrated the good day the Lord gave us with some ice cream and watched Pride and Prejudice, the world’s greatest movie. (Becky is a lot like Jane, always thinking the best of people.) We both have a steady grind of jobs to do between now and our departure for Africa (where we’ll be for 6 weeks), so we try to make time for some diversion and relaxation. Sometimes we just sit on the porch and look at the goats or the puppies. I am very pleased at the way our trip is coming together, especially the way the Lord is tying up loose ends before they unravel. In Houston I had run into an essay saying that Mrs. Palin thought her campaign was the will of God for the nation, ditto for our “righteous” cause in the Middle East, but I no longer feel surprise or dismay about what politicians say anymore and am content to concentrate my efforts on a kingdom of another sort. Today one seems either to look upon the GOP with disdain or else with blind affection, but it is not upon the American election that the future history of the world rests, thank God. Mindless Armageddonism is the one and only practical irritation I find in the political scene. At any rate, got in a good day’s work today, the both of us, and even enjoyed some ice cream to boot.

1:47 PM Exactly two weeks ago we were visiting with our dear friends at Northeast Houston Baptist Church, where Nathan Lino, a former student of mine, shepherds. Since then the city has experienced the fury of Hurricane Ike. Nathan just posted a well-written, biblical response to the events of the past week. Clickhere to read it.

10:47 AM Just finished reading an interesting book. Jessie loaned it to me from her bookstore. It’s called My Three Years With Eisenhower, by Harry Butcher, Ike’s Naval Aide. On page 806 he recounts an interview that General “Beetle” Smith had given to the American Press at the end of the war. Part of it reads:

[Ike’s] original directive, given to him as Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies, told him to strike the heart of Germany. I think some of you who have heard me before have heard me say that when we examined this directive and examined our problem we decided that Germany had two hearts — one, Berlin; the other, the Ruhr — and that we had selected as our target the Ruhr, which was the industrial heart of Germany.

As we develop the right way of thinking and acting about the church, the Body of Christ, I think we need to be aware that there are two “hearts” of the problem, one being ecclesiological to be sure, the other, however, being perhaps of even greater consequence — a soteriological heart. The ecclesiological problem is one of determining how the Head of the Body has designed His Body to operate and function. Every committed disciple of Jesus should be involved in rethinking the nature and structure of the church. We need to understand biblical ecclesiology and its implications for living radically for Jesus in a fallen world. We need an all-encompassing strategy (the Jesus Creed) that makes use of all the weapons and gifts the Holy Spirit has given His church. How sad it is that so many Christians are ignorant of even the most basic principles of Spirit-filled Body Life, every-member ministry, the priesthood of all believers, and sacrificial, costly service in the name of Jesus. But that’ s not the only hurdle we face. There is the Ruhr, not just Berlin, to be dealt with. This is why the Anabaptists emphasized again and again the necessary link between the new birth and the life of the newborn Christian. Regeneration is more than a positional truth. It is more than the forgiveness of sins. It is a quest for obedience and self-sacrifice and thus the very opposite of Protestant scholastism. This kind of radical discipleship as taught by Jesus and modeled for us by the early church is, I am convinced, the great need of the hour. And so the issue is not merely ecclesiological; it is also soteriological. It’s not merely a matter of understanding. For many, it is a lordship issue, and perhaps for some it is even a salvation issue.

As I write these words I have just celebrated my 32nd wedding anniversary. Every issue a married couple ever faces is not only a marital issue, though it is of course that. I would dare say that most “marital” issues in our lives are also, at the core in fact, spiritual issues. It’s like the skyscraper that had just been completed when they discovered a crack on the 72nd story. They called the building’s engineers, who immediately took the elevator to the third sub-basement, where they found the problem. Sometimes it’s easy to look at the cracks on the 72nd story and fail to see the much deeper problem. 

10:22 AM Becky’s roast last night was phenomenal. It even looked pretty.

9:35 AM This has got to be the quote of the day (Alan Knox):

Let me start my stating that I teach in a college part time. When I finish my PhD – hopefully within the next calendar year – I hope to find a job teaching full time. I am not against education. I believe that education can be good, helpful, and important. However, education is not the same as discipleship, nor is education the same as spiritual maturity. And, I think that modernity has equated (or misunderstood) education for spiritual maturity to the detriment of the church.

Readmore. I would say that the purpose of a formal education is far different from what it is commonly assumed to be. The goal should be to get us out of our comfort zones, equip us with tools for personal and individual study, wean us from the experts (whose work we appreciate but do not rely upon), and call us to use all of our knowledge in humble service to Jesus Christ. Our education is thus delivered up into holy Hands. This desacralization of the educational process must begin with the teacher’s own example, who totally rejects the idea that a formal education is necessary for wisdom and godliness. Some people misunderstand the goal of an education and place a higher value on it than they should (they usually display their diplomas in prominent places for all to see how edu-ma-cated they are). There’s one other emphasis we often miss as well: I believe, am convinced in fact, that we must always be about the Father’s business and use all of our knowledge to advance Jesus’ kingdom on earth. Michael Griffiths, looking back to the early church in his book A Task Unfinished, writes, “The disciples of Jesus were all disciples, and all were expected to be equally committed to the Teacher’s cause, and equally concerned to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.” It is beyond me how one can call oneself a “New Testament scholar” and not be radically involved in missions and evangelism on a fulltime basis. In the earliest years of my Christian life I was not smart enough to understand fully the dynamics of what was happening, but I was quite certain that the people around me were asking me for more than all the head knowledge I had accrued through the years. I discovered that I was called to be a servant to the broken and the hurting about me as much as I was called upon to disseminate information about Greek or New Testament. I think that’s all Alan is saying, and he’s not only saying it but, as far as I can tell, he is actually living it.

I have memories of being caught up in the grandeur of the famous University of Basel, its historic halls, its world-class faculty, its magnificent library. At the same time I shall never forget a man who modeled for me the goal I have been describing — my Doktorvater, whose balance between humanitas and pietas was awesome and unique. I discovered a brutal truth about myself, and that was that I had a major imbalance, but thankfully one that could be corrected by the Master Teacher and Discipler Himself.

Life is about people, period. If a formal education can help us better serve others, then go for it. But once you have graduated, you will quickly realize how fleeting and ephemeral all your book-learning is.

Below: Two of my sons (Biruk and David) have just greeted me at the Bole airport in Addis Ababa. In Ethiopian culture, men embrace, hold hands, and display affection. I love it.

Here I’m greeting my barber in the Muslim city of Alaba. Each year we can’t wait to see each other again.

Posing with a gradate after I had spoken in the commencement service of the Evangelical Theological College in Addis.

On my first trip to Alaba I met Tesfai, whose 8 year-old daughter had just been beheaded by the enemies of Jesus. We must have hugged for 10 minutes without saying a word. What can you say at a time like that? 

Here are our “Burji boys,” Worku and Burje. The latter’s father was killed while evangelizing the Gujis. Relationships are very complicated things in life, especially when you are dealing with vastly different cultures, but for some reason God has blessed Becky and me with deep and long-lasting friendships with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters.

Tuesday, September 16

4:27 PM I am exceedingly pleased with the way my lectures are coming together for my Central Asia trip, which begins on the twenty-seventh of this month. It looks like I’ll be speaking in several different venues including seminaries, graduate schools, and universities. I’ve been requested to prepare talks on a number of different subjects, including The Importance of the Ancient Versions in New Testament Textual Criticism, The Text of the New Testament: Is It Reliable?; How We Got Our Bible: The History of the Transmission of the New Testament Text; Modern Advances in the Study of New Testament Greek; How Linguists Help Us to Understand Our Bibles; The Purpose of a Seminary; and Why Four Gospels? There also seems to be a great deal of public interest in the war, so I have prepared several lectures dealing with that topic as warnings against what in my view is the deliberate and dangerous conflation of Christ and America.

In other news, Nate and Jess have just left to visit with her folks in Franklin, VA, about a two-hour drive to the east along Route 58, the world’s greatest speed trap. Thankfully the rain storm we’ve been experiencing all day is traveling ahead of them in an eastward direction. So it’s back to farm chores for you know who, including chicken care and keeping Sheppie and Sadie in step.

I’ve been receiving emails from believers who live abroad asking for gratis copies of some of my books. My gut feeling is to trust that the emails (and their senders) are legit and to supply their requests, though I may send them used copies.

One of my biggest projects today was to follow up on a large book order I placed with Amazon. Most of these volumes we’ll be donating to the new nursing and pharmacy school that the Patriarch of Ethiopia, Abune Paulos, has recently opened. I promised to help if I could. Books include some pretty hefty works: Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, Katzung and Trevor’s Pharmacology, A Textbook of Pharmacognoscy, Pharmaceutical Practice, Physiology of the Human Body, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Traditional Medicine and Health Care Coverage, Health Assessment in Nursing Practice, etc. About 15 volumes in all. I have no idea what they teach, as I am a complete ignoramus in all things scientific.

The pups continue to provide us with unalloyed entertainment, especially little Miss Chuluse, who is always in the middle of any scrum and who delights in “attacking” her mama. Sheba bears it with perfect equanimity, though she is hardly loath to wrap her jaws playfully about Chuluse’s neck as a reminder of “who’s on top.” It’ll be a sad day when all the pups are gone, but then again I know they will bring unspeakable joy to their new families. I just placed an ad for our last two pups (both females) in our local South Boston paper, which will supplement the ads we’ve run in the Durham and Raleigh papers. I’ve been very pleased with the families who have already “adopted” the other puppies. They have no idea what they’re in for.

I’m really looking forward to supper tonight. Becky’s had a roast slow-cooking all day in the crock pot, and I can hardly concentrate on my work, the smell is so good.

Nate snapped this fantastic pic before running out the door. 

11:32 AM Miss Jessie has just updated her online bookstore. Gohere if you’d like to see her titles.

11:17 AM We’ve received wonderful news from Ethiopia. A well-drilling rig is right now on its way to Burji. This is an answer to the prayers of the saints, but we can’t stop praying now. The next few weeks will be crucial. The church elders in Burji will be working closely with the well team to discern the best sites to begin drilling. Eventually our goal is to have fresh well water at each of the church sites in the Burji district.

Last night’s meeting was excellent. It lasted 3 hours. Jamie opened with prayer, then several shared from 2 Corinthians 6-9 the missionary principles they had gleaned from the life of Paul. All of us were impressed with the commitment Paul had to see that there was “equality” between the churches: rich and poor. Ethiopia is desperate for assistance in so many areas. Deforestation is a major concern, as is soil erosion. Land holdings tend to be very small, so farmers can’t allow the land to fallow. This leads to low productivity. Ten percent of babies die at or shortly after childbirth. There are only 119 hospitals in the entire country (with a population of 75 million). Ethiopia has only one medical doctor per 100,000 people (the U.S. boasts 550 per 100,000). The current average life expectancy is only 45 years (in the U.S. it is 77). Female circumcision is still widely practiced. The main health problems are poor sanitation and malnutrition. Our team is thus very excited about the prospect of seeing the villages in Burji have clean water. This fall we’ll also be teaching basic principles of hygiene and soil management, again under the leadership of the local church elders.

I know I’m sounding like a violin with one string, but the Lord’s rich blessing rests on this little work of ours in such an obvious way that I can’t help but praise Him for all He is doing. Our team is really fantastic. Money means nothing to us unless it can be used for the Lord’s service. As the Lord Jesus has encouraged us in our faith, so we go to Ethiopia with the desire that the faith of other children of God might be strengthen and encouraged. Our hope is in God, and He will provide for the needs of His church. He has done so already in miraculous ways, but we must remain faithful in prayer and yieldedness or His blessings will cease. We must continue to commit EVERYTHING to God in prayer.

If you took yesterday’s quiz, you can check the answers below (correct answers are in red).

 

Monday, September 15

3:35 PM I’ve decided to give the following quiz over Ethiopia tonight. Care to try your hand at it? Answers tomorrow. 

What Do You Know About Ethiopia?

1. Ancient Ethiopia was known as:

a) Edom

b) Arabia

c) Abyssinia

2. The word “Ethiopia” comes from which language?

a) Syriac

b) Greek

c) Arabic

3. What object is said to rest in Axum, Ethiopia?

a) The ark of the covenant

b) Noah’s ark

c) The arch of Titus

4. Ethiopia was colonized by which European power?

a) England

b) France

c) Italy

d) None of the above

5. The Battle of Adwa in 1896 was

a) an Ethiopian victory

b) an Italian victory

c) a draw

6. Emperor Haile Selassie ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to

a) 1945

b) 1950

c) 1974

7. The Marxists ruled Ethiopia from 1976 to

a) 1980

b) 1985

c) 1991

8. Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is

a) about 1,000 years old

b) about 500 years old

c) about 100 years old

9. The current Prime Minister of Ethiopia is

a) Sinteyu

b) Hossein

c) Meles

10. Ethiopia is the ____________ largest land mass in Africa.

a) first

b) second

c) third

11. Ethiopia is twice the size of which U.S. state?

a) Vermont

b) California

c) Texas

12. Ethiopia has how many different ethnic groups?

a) 15

b) 83

c) 154

13. Ethiopia is the birthplace of

a) sugar

b) coffee

c) tea

14. Ethiopia is primarily

a) mountainous

b) lowlands

c) rain forest

15. In Ethiopia, Protestants comprise about what percentage of the population?

a) 5

b) 25

c) 55

16. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is strongest in ____________ Ethiopia.

a) northern

b) central

c) southern

17. How many months does Ethiopia have?

a) 11

b) 12

c) 13

18. In Ethiopia, the ninth hour is

a) 9 o’clock

b) 3 o’clock

c) 12 o’clock

19. The currency in Ethiopia is called the

a) lira

b) drachma

c) birr

20. Which nation does not border Ethiopia?

a) Sudan

b) Djibouti

c) Egypt

3:04 PM The day continues very hot and humid, not the best of weather to be working outdoors, but I’m glad to report that the gardens are finally d-c’d. Right now I’m working on my lessons for tonight’s Burji team orientation, my job being to cover Ethiopian history, language, culture, religion, and geography — in one fell swoop. But we feel that it’s necessary for the entire team to have at least an inkling of how this unique and ancient civilization works, even if we can hardly understand it ourselves to any degree or in any depth. My advice to anyone who wants to see what life was like in Jesus’ day is to forget modern Israel and to travel to Ethiopia instead, where everyone goes by their first and father’s name, where the ninth hour is three o’clock, where you greet another person with “Salaam” and a holy kiss, where the early rains precede the latter rains, where women dress in long robes and head coverings, where noise and filth and herds and children rule. I get a big chuckle when we show the Jesus Film in a village in Ethiopia and notice that the movie and the village are one and the same — no electricity, no running water, a completely agrarian economy, children everywhere. Religion, of course, is ubiquitous as well, about 5 percent of it being of the Protestant/evangelical persuasion and an often persecuted minority at that. I will also discuss Amharic words and phrases tonight, basic greetings and customs, and how to handle beggars and the teeming throngs of children all saying “You, You, You” at once.

So there’s a lot to be done, and so little time in which to do it. At the conclusion of tonight’s session we’ll break up into groups of men and women to discuss problems and issues particular to gender. We’ll also collect everyone’s airfare — the point of no return, shall we say?

8:41 AM Yesterday was one of those perfect days that seemed uniquely blessed from beginning to end. Becky and I topped it off with a delicious dinner at the Mexican restaurant in the grand city of South Boston, where we had gone to do some shopping for Ethiopia. I tried a new dish — a volcanito, smothered in cheese sauce. Neither of us could finish our meals, so we know what we’ll be having for lunch today. My hope for today is to finish dismembering what’s left of our side vegetable garden in anticipation of some much-needed rain this afternoon.

But back to yesterday. We left the house at 9 in the morning and didn’t return home until after 7:00 pm. It was a very full day. Our Sunday School class at Bethel Hill had an excellent discussion of the book of Titus, and our 11:00 service was a rich study of 1 Timothy 3. What is remarkable to me, I suppose, about the list of character traits of a godly leader is how unremarkable it is. Every Christian man should be able to point to the list and say, “These are my standards, even if I fall short in some aspects.” To take only one requirement: “an able teacher.” This, of course, could also be rendered “teachable,” because you cannot be a good teacher unless you are teachable and willing to learn from others, especially the Word itself. Here I myself fall seriously short, and every year that I teach I am always convinced I can do a much better job of it.

After the service we drove a long and circuitous route to Bethany Baptist Church, which, while not exactly situated in Podunk, NC, must surely border it. I always feel right at home in these country churches. The ladies of the church had prepared a simple luncheon consisting of sandwiches, chips, fruit compote, and dessert. I noted there was no fried chicken and for a while wondered if we really were in a Baptist church.

Brother Matt who so ably serves the Body there led us off with a welcome, then Becky brought the group up to date on her recent phone conversation with Oshe in Burji.

Anecdotes were shared, prayer guides distributed, and then we divided into three groups of about 10 each for concerted intercession.

The Lord brought out a VERY good group of Jesus-followers to pray together. I felt the meeting was a huge and unquestioned success, and my thanks goes to Brother Jon of Cavel Baptist Church for allowing the Lord to use him to suggest we hold these prayer meetings. Three more to go before the team departs for the Horn of Africa, after which time we will see the fruit of the prayers of God’s people.

Here’s a pic I really like, showing the four “shepherding sheep” (or you might call them “sheep who shepherd sheep”) of our Burji Coalition: from left to right are Jon of Cavel BC, Ben of North Roxboro BC, Matt of Bethany BC, and Jason of Bethel Hill BC. You will not find 4 more humble, Jesus-driven, or missions-minded shepherds I believe. It is a huge blessing for Becky and me to work alongside them and their congregations to expand the kingdom in Ethiopia.

Sunday, September 14

8:26 AM Feeling much better today. Back on 8 cylinders. Yesterday I asked Becky, “Honey, do you think I’m getting old?” Her response was, “Not unless I am.” I can’t ever see Becky getting old or slowing down, so that settles it.

If you can’t attend our 1:30 prayer meeting today at Bethany Baptist Church, you can still join us in praying for the work in Burji. Below is the prayer guide we’ll be distributing. In persevering yet submissive prayer, let us make our requests known unto God. I have no idea how many people will show up for the prayer meeting. It may be ten or a hundred. God knows. I hope to have a report and pix later today.

1.Clinic Construction…has begun; pray for good work at good cost; pray for safety & Christian testimony.   

2.Clinic Operations…have begun; pray for organization as they establish a routine; pray for protection & that the Lord will establish a good reputation in the community. 

3.Hiring a Lab Tech…we are waiting for God to send a Christian lab tech; currently we are borrowing a student on vacation for lab services; please pray for this need.

4.Equipment Shipment …we are sending the solar & medical equipment by freight; pray for good preparations & a safe shipment; also pray for no customs fee. 

5.Team preparations… continue to pray for the 12 people going in November to Burji; preparations for Ethiopia must be done in the midst of otherwise busy lives; pray for God’s special blessing & provision in family, work, ministry & financial arrangements. 

6.Ministry Assists… pray for funding & arrangements for things like seeds, wash basins, food, Bibles, etc. that we will use in our ministry in Nov. 

7.Guji Conflict… currently things are “fearful but peaceful”; no active warring, but much tension; pray for continued peace. 

8.Wells…we are talking with an Ethiopian business about drilling wells for the rural Burji churches; pray for good communication & God’s will to be clear.

Saturday, September 13

7:20 PM Sheba’s been doing a bit of growling lately. She’s been a wee bit snappy even. Baring her fangs, too. Not at me, but at her pups. You see, she’s begun weaning them from milk to solid food.  It’s quite something to watch. She even traipses off into the back 40 and comes up with the likes of these bones.

They’re not for her. The bones go straight into the puppy house. (I remove them, of course; the puppies have plenty of healthy dog food.) It’s as if Sheba is providing an object lesson that many Christians could learn: milk-dependency can and should be replaced by meat-enjoyment.

How can we move from milk to meat? We must wean ourselves from the experts and the professionals, from secondhand sources. We must read the Word for ourselves, savoring it, chewing it over and over again. I’m not suggesting that commentaries and grammars are not necessary or helpful. The Lord knows I’ve written enough of them myself! But the truth is (1 John 2:20, 27) that God does give Christians a spiritual understanding of His Word. The same Jesus who “opened the Scriptures” (Luke 24:32) to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus can open our eyes today. It is absolutely electrifying for me to read the Scriptures and come away realizing that God has spoken through its pages. Sadly, many believers have never discovered in any depth what the Bible has to say about anything. They are much more apt to quote what Dr. So-and-So says than to offer a conviction of their own. The writer to the Hebrews refers to this problem in 5:11-14. His readers should have been teachers — meat eaters, not milk drinkers. Throughout the epistle he reminds us that all believers, as priests, can enter into God’s presence without an intermediary other than Christ (Heb. 10:19-22). Whatever barriers once stood between the believer and God were torn away by the death of Christ.

Teacher, teach thyself! Parents, set the example. Children imitate what they see us do. Students, if you learn just one radical thing this semester, learn this: nothing and no one can replace the Word of God.

6:56 PM What a day it’s been. I spent most of it in bed with a horrible sinus headache. Couldn’t sleep until Becky applied a hot compress to my forehead, then I went right off. Now I’m up to par again but running on only 6 out of 8 cylinders.

Today we sold our third puppy. Only two left. Chuluse is the smallest and sprightliest of them all. She has more spunk than the rest combined. She’s going to a good home in Roxboro, NC. Glad to see it.

Becky spent the day prepping for our prayer meeting tomorrow and our next training session for our Burji team on Monday night. She also spoke with a leader in Burji today by phone, who reports that things are currently quiet between the Burjis and the Gujis (thank God), that the clinic refurbishing has begun, and that all systems are Go for our visit in November. This is VERY good news, for which I am exceedingly grateful. 

This afternoon I helped Nathan unload some new windows he and Jessie purchased today in Oxford at the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store. They got a great deal on the windows. While in Oxford they sauntered through the public library’s annual book sale, and Jessie managed to pick out some excellent tomes for her online bookstore. Good for her.

Friday, September 12

6:24 PM So what have we been up to all day?

1) This is how far I got in the backyard garden. I left the green pepper plants alone. In the much larger side garden I was also able to make some progress before I ran out of gas. The weather was pleasant enough — in the mid-70s.

2) “Jesus Is Lord” (Yesus Getano) is the title of this video that Becky spent all day yesterday and today editing (in Amharic, of all things). We’ll show it as a preview to the Jesus Film in the villages of Ethiopia.

3) Nate moved the goats to the horse pasture next to our house. Is there anything more peaceful than watching animals graze? I never tire of the view.

Right now Becky has started supper (beef stroganoff), while I’m writing an essay. By the way, our prayers are with our friends in the Houston area.

11:15 AM My project du jour: Discontinue the backyard and side gardens. I’m working in 2-hour shifts. That’s all my poor old body can handle. The good news is that the Lord Jesus blessed us with a bumper harvest of veggies this summer, plenty to last us the whole winter and beyond. “Praise ye the Lord…, who giveth food to the hungry” (Ps. 146:1, 7).

Thursday, September 11

8:11 PM Bec and I just got back from dinner in Clarksville. Great time. Stopped by Nate and Jessie’s when we got back to the farm. They’d been in Oxford all day salvaging lumber and tin. They got quite a trailer load. And guest what? They have a new puppy! Her name is Sadie. She’s a tricolor Sheltie. Quite spunky too, just like Sheppie. Looks like they’ll make a great couple. Maybe Jess will post a photo of Sadie over at her blog.

What a nice way to top off a great day. 

3:52 PM Liz and the boys just stopped by. What a wonderful anniversary surprise. We love these boys to pieces!

2:38 PM This Sunday begins the first of 4 community-wide prayer meetings for Ethiopia in the greater Roxboro, NC, area. If you can join us, please do. We’ll meet at Bethany Baptist Church at 1:00 for lunch and 1:30 for prayer. Here’s the address and contact information:

245 Bethany Church Rd
Rougemont, NC 27572
(336) 364-3606

2:06 PM Today I sent my publisher the preface to the third edition ofLearn to Read New Testament Greek. It was very brief. I’ve actually made very few changes in the book. About a year ago I solicited (and received) feedback from both teachers and students, who all seemed to agree that they pretty much liked the book “as is.” I thus felt that radical changes were inadvisable. Hence this third edition retains both the simplicity and conciseness of the first two editions. Changes include undated bibliographies, reworded (and hopefully improved) explanations in several places, and the addition of page numbers indicating where each word in the vocabulary first occurs in the grammar. I sincerely hope that the new edition will prove to be as useful as its predecessors.

I plan to take the page proofs with me during my sabbatical travels.

11:05 AM John Stott has a superb comment in his book The Message of Galatians. As Americans commemorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001, I think Stott’s remarks are apropos. He writes:

There is a great need in the church today for a biblical, Christian philosophy of history. Most of us are short-sighted and narrow-minded. We are so pre-occupied with current affairs in the twentieth century that neither the past nor the future has any great interest for us. We cannot see the wood for the trees. We need to step back and try to take in the whole counsel of God, his everlasting purpose to redeem a people for himself through Jesus Christ. Our philosophy of history must make room not only for the centuries after Christ, but for the centuries before him, not only for Abraham and Moses but for Adam, through whom sin and judgment entered the world, and for Christ, through whom salvation has come. If we include the beginning of history, we must include its consummation also, when Christ returns in power and great glory, to take his power and reign.

Today we can rejoice in the knowledge that history is “his-story,” and that all things are prepared, planned, and purposeful. Life’s circumstances are not accidents, and never the result of blind fate. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, the beginning and end of history, and on the kingdom He is even now establishing amidst the rubble of humanity. God is at work in the evil world around us, and we find our security not in earthly circumstances but in our Creator and Savior. And let’s renew our efforts to get His Gospel to the four corners before it’s too late.

10:15 AM Paul Stevens on pastoral leadership (Liberating the Laity):

Their major function is not to run the church but to get every member of the body to relate to the Head for himself or herself. The goal of equipping is not to make people dependent on the leaders but dependent on the Head. This is the highest possible calling. It requires the strongest possible leadership in the church to lead people in such a way that they do not become dependent on the human leaders.

Amen.

7:25 AM Notes in the margin:

1) Happy New Year to all of our friends and loved ones in Ethiopia, which still retains the Julian calendar.

2) Alan Knox gave two outstanding lectures on the church in my New Testament class last semester. Go here to listen to them.

3) Our puppies keep growing and growing. We’ve sold two of them. Three left. What inexpressible delight to watch them romp.

4) Today Becky and I celebrate 32 wonderful years of marriage. We have been blessed and have found satisfaction in our married life, working together in joyful obedience to the Lord. May His holy name be praised!

5) In 17 days I leave for Central Asia. I expect great things from God and depend totally upon Him. I seek only to walk through every door He opens.

Wednesday, September 10

10:22 AM The New Testament is chock full, literally from beginning to end, of stories of how believers worked together to advance Christ’s kingdom. And what does this kingdom look like? Just like Jesus. The kingdom is simply average folk like you and me who have jobs and heartaches and back pains, working together for the sake of the Gospel. That’s exactly what Becky and I saw and experienced this past week as we traveled to the Lone Star State. Think of it as as heaven on wheels. Jesus the hub, believers from different congregations the spokes, and the kingdom the axle. Care to take a brief tour?

On Saturday, Aug. 30, we flew from RDU to Dallas via Reagan airport in Washington, DC. I suppose many people think the picture below represents a great deal of “power.” I don’t happen to share that opinion. Jesus said, “All power has been given unto Me.” And by “all,” I think He meant “all.”

 

At any rate, upon our arrival at RDU we rushed from the airport to the home of Chris Clayton in McKinney, just north of Plano. Chris has been a long-time email pen-pal, but this was our first time to meet him and his family. 

I think meeting in living rooms to have “church” has got to be one of the most pleasant experiences of life. Chris had invited several of his friends to hear us share about the glory of the Lord in Ethiopia. A special surprise for for me was the kimchi a Korean had brought for supper. Delicious. I’m sure kimchi will be in heaven.

The next morning the Ethiopia Express rolled into Grace Bible Church in Dallas, where Becky and I were married 32 years ago tomorrow. We set up our display table in the foyer and chatted between services. I must say, we looked every part the “missionary.” Too bad we had no pith helmets. 

We spoke twice at Grace, first in the youth Sunday School opening…

…and then in Brother Don King’s Bible class. Young and old alike seemed interested in the Lord’s work in Africa.

In the evening we moved on to First Baptist Church Murphy, where Becky’s parents attend on Sunday evenings. To start things off, Mrs. Lapsley graced us with a wonderful flute solo. 

I had spoken here several months ago while on a trip to Dallas, but this was Becky’s first time to meet these special folk.

Brother Lionel Woods and his family drove 45 minutes to meet up with us in Murphy. What a pleasure meeting this couple and their young son (and one more on the way!). Lionel, as the whole universe must know by now, has an excellent blog called A Better Covenant. 

When in Dallas we always stay with Becky’s mom and dad, Brad and Betty Lapsley, erstwhile missionaries to Ethiopia. I think that Becky, a fifth generation Texan, is always happy to be back in the Big D. Me? I’m happy to be back in Mr. Lapsley’s library. This trip I borrowed two of his books on the Civil War, one called Robert E. Lee in Texas, the other a biography of Jeb Stuart (who also spent his prewar years in Texas). Here’s a shot of the Lapsleys next to the rose bush Mrs. Lapsley planted some 46 years ago in Burji, Ethiopia. Very special indeed, and a nice reminder of “old times.” 

One of our first items of family “business” was to present Becky’s mom with her quilt. You’ll recall that Becky sewed it on the new machine her mom gave her. To say that Mrs. Lapsley was surprised would be the understatement of the year. Here she opens her gift as we awaited our injera and wat in a Dallas Ethiopian restaurant.

Funny thing, everywhere Becky and her mom go people think they’re twins. There is a very close resemblance, I do believe. I can also tell you this: They both have huge hearts.  

A special moment between mother and daughter, captured on film by one grateful son-in-law and husband. This was truly a highlight of our trip. But it only got better. 

On Tuesday morning we picked up our rental car and began the journey to Houston. Interstate 45 was a parking lot (refugees from the hurricane were flooding back to Houston from Dallas) so we took side roads southward, stopping at as many historical markers as we could. 

On the way we met up with Ray and Lauralee Lindholm, who spend several months each year in Ethiopia. Like us, they are self-supported and use their means to come alongside the churches in Ethiopia and lend a helping hand. Their ministry is called Heart for Ethiopia. We spent several hours together rejoicing over the great miracles the Lord is doing in that part of the world. 

On Wednesday morning in Houston we had a fruitful meeting with the missions pastor of the Second Baptist Church and then visited the HQ of a Christian ministry that drills wells all over the world.

We are VERY excited about the prospect of working with Living Water to provide potable water to the Galana clinic and at several other sites in Ethiopia. Here we are trying to find Burji on Google Earth. 

Ever heard of Luby’s Cafeteria? It’s a Texas chain, and one Becky and her family visited every Sunday after church while she lived in Dallas. For old-times’ sake we just had to stop and order a chicken-fried steak for Becky.

On Wednesday evening we were invited to speak at this church in Humble, Texas. (No, that is not a typo — there is actually a city named Humble in Texas). 

Pastor Nathan Lino and his wife were in my Greek class at SEBTS many years ago, and it was great to see them again. Missions is not an afterthought at Northeast Houston — it’s their passion! 

I was glad to see so many youth come out to the presentation. One of our main focuses in our talks has been the Galana clinic, for which NEHBC is taking up a special offering this month. (Remember, through Sept. 19 you can make an online contribution by going to the church’swebsite.) 

From Northeast Houston we traveled to Northwest Houston as guests of Tom and Diane McMinn on their 450-acre cattle ranch. Felt right at home, too.

Tom is an elder atHempstead Bible Fellowship and had graciously invited us to speak at their Sunday morning service. What a delightful, Spirit-filled, missions-minded couple!

On Friday evening we met in their living room to bring their missions committee (and other invited guests) up to speed on the Lord’s work in Ethiopia. Yes, the tricolor hat in the foreground is Ethiopian. The young lady had spent a week in Addis Ababa this summer!

When Tom and Diane’s granddaughter Kate heard about our eyeglass ministry she couldn’t wait to start sewing cases. By Sunday morning she had sewn dozens of them. Way to go, Miss Kate!

On Sunday I taught from the Bible and Becky showed our pix. Many items were donated for Ethiopia, including protein bars, eyeglasses and cases, and even two sets of crutches for the clinic. Wonderful.

Then it was back to Dallas, where Mrs. Lapsley had found a suitable place to hang her new quilt. 

What was our message on this trip? That Becky and I are just like you. We are not “professional” missionaries. We’re just everyday people who work for a living like you do and who use the Lord’s provisions to further his kingdom around the world. Repeatedly we pray that God would show us what is the BEST use of our time, our energy, our resources as a married couple. And it is truly exciting to see how God has laid the same vision on the hearts of His people all over the United States. Nothing is too hard for the Lord! That’s why Becky and I do not do “fund raising.” The work is the Lord’s, and He will provide for His work. Our job and our joy is simply to share with others the glory of the Lord’s work in Ethiopia so that they might join us in praising Him. There is one Lord, one church, one authority, one Spirit, one throne, one kingdom. If we live for anything else — home-education, elder-led congregationalism, age-integrated philosophy of ministry, full quivers, you name it — we have failed Him. Let us live as stewards and not as owners. Let us have Great Commission families, Great Commission marriages, Great Commission churches, Great Commission seminaries. Let us rely completely on God’s almighty power, His unchangeable love, and His infinite wisdom. Let’s surrender our hearts afresh to Him for His blessed service. Maybe we could follow the example of one lady andgive money to the Lord’s work in the name of our relatives at Christmas. It doesn’t have to be for Ethiopia either. As God lays a need upon your heart, obey Him. Walk through the doors He opens. Get your hands dirty washing others’ feet. This is what the kingdom looks like. And it is beautiful to behold. Amen?

Tuesday, September 9

6:42 AM We’re back! And what a great trip it was. The Lord exceeded our expectations in every way. Full report tomorrow. Right now I’m off to school, then tonight I lecture in Raleigh. Hope to talk to you soon.

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Saturday, September 29

5:43 PM I want to thank all of my students who made the long trek from Wake Forest to be with us today. You honored us with your presence, and we enjoyed meeting you and your families. Nathan took a big group on a tour of his part of the farm, but I couldn’t walk that far so I was unable to get any photos of their jaunt. I didn’t have to go far to get a picture of the ducks, however.

At mealtime we divided up into about 8 different groups, including the one shown here in the formal dining room.

Somehow I ended up at the table with the Koreans and Cambodians. Winder how that happened (heehee)? 

No Greek Scrabble this year, though this interesting board game had my rapt attention.

A special blessing was meeting this family from the Caribbean.

If any of you missed today’s event, don’t worry. We’ll do it again next semester.

Friday, September 28

9:03 PM Just back from enjoying ice cream on the front porch and watching the full moon rise in the eastern sky.

8:45 PM As promised, I’ve posted the answers to yesterday’s New Testament quiz below (scroll down to see them). How did you do?

6:12 PM Check out these thoughtful blog posts on The Wright Paul and J. Muddiman on the Authorship of Ephesians. Although I wrote my Basel dissertation on Paul, I am by no means a Pauline scholar. I did have to face an important question, however, when I began my writing: whether or not to include in my research the so-called deutero-Pauline epistles. In the end I included the Pastoral Epistles as Pauline because that’s where the evidence led me. In fact, in my Doktor Vater’s written evaluation of my dissertation before it was published Bo Reicke went out of his way to commend my work, not for espousing Pauline authorship necessarily, but for espousing Pauline authorship only after a through examination of the evidence pro et contra. My advice to all New Testament doctoral students who are enrolled in a major university: do not compromise your convictions in order to have your work accepted. Don’t be like the student who once told me that the only reason he espoused Markan priority in his dissertation was so that he could graduate and get a doctorate!

5:44 PM Our work is almost done. Becky is now processing the last of our tomatoes. While we were in the kitchen just now we tried to figure out how many Student Days we’ve had. We began when we bought our first home in La Mirada, CA, back in 1982. Since we have two events a year (one per semester) that figures out to be about 50 Student Days. When we lived near Oxford we would average 150-175 people. Out here in Virginia the number is about half that size. The numbers don’t matter to us. I just enjoy getting to meet my students’ families — not to mention tasting the delicious food they bring. I see one student is bringing a Korean main dish and another student is preparing a Cambodian dessert. Becky will be serving up some Ethiopian food. Now how about some Hawaiian poi and lau laus!

1:23 PM Almost forgot. Here’s a fantastic quote I heard on the BBC while driving to work early Tuesday morning. “We read because it makes life more enjoyable. Or at least more tolerable.” I couldn’t have said it better. 

1:10 PM We’re having a blast with our work. Everyone has a list of things to do. I’m about 2/3rds of the way finished with mine. Nate’s gone off to Oxford for another load of horse manure. Becky is cleaning off the porch chairs. The weather is absolutely perfect for working outdoors. The only problem is the dryness. In fact, this morning one of our calves walked right across a dried-up corner of the pond and “escaped.” He was coaxed back into the pasture by some oats Nate had handy. Always something interesting happening on a farm.

7:33 AM I’m sitting here at the computer looking out at a beautiful sunrise and meditating on the just-as-beautiful teaching of 1 Corinthians chapter 1. That’s where I found myself in my morning devotionals. The chapter is all about worldly wisdom, what we might call education. I love teaching. I love educating young people. But I believe it’s a blunder of the first magnitude to think that education has any inherent value. We saw how puerile and pedantic education can be this week in New York City, when the president of a great nation and the president of a great American university both made fools of themselves, one through ignorance, and the other through arrogance. Both should have kept their mouths shut. The ancient Greeks called this hubris, and they said that hubris always leads to a nemesis. That’s true on a national scale as well as on a personal one. Education can easily to lead a nemesis. Education is like the tree in the Garden of Eden. What more could man want? It was good, pleasant, even useful, offering aesthetic pleasure and intellectual stimulation. What could be better? Yet we all know the outcome. The same can sadly be said for education. Whereas educational status divides the world and society, in the church the opposite is true. In Christ there is no Greek or Scythian, no scholar or barbarian. Christianity is a patently revolutionary and retrogressive force, while the opposite is the driving force behind modernism. If the church in America remains static, it is because it has lost the basic meaning of the Christian life, which is to serve rather than be served and to give rather than to get. This service is both horizontal (among men) and vertical (of men to God) but either way it occurs only by sacrifice and lowliness of mind (tapeinophrosune). Wherever we find the worship of worldly knowledge and power — and this is a common problem today in evangelicalism — the church should be ready to expose it, attack it, and root it out. If the church remains silent, then all we have are Christians playing Christianity. Paul says, “You think you’re wise? God will destroy your wisdom! You think you have understanding? God will set it aside! What really pleases God is the foolishness of preaching that saves those who believe.” He adds, “God has made foolish the wisdom of the world.” The term “make foolish” in Greek (moraino) can also be translated “make tasteless.” There comes a point in your life when you just can’t stomach worldly education any more. The degrees mean nothing any longer. The status means nothing any longer. Knowledge per se means nothing any longer. What matters is this: putting whatever God-given knowledge you have into practice in ways that help and serve and bless other people and glorify God. Do I live up to this ideal? Hardly. Barely. But it’s my goal!

Thursday, September 27

6:12 PM Nathan and I have just decided to take Becky out for dinner tonight. She’s worked very hard today preparing the slide show for this Sunday’s Ethiopia presentation. She’s also been hard at work in her beautiful garden. It is such a blessing to go into the back yard and see her roses and salad greens. Here’s a couple of pix. Enjoy.

The roses:

The greens:

2:16 PM While waiting for my heel to be x-rayed today I noticed a bilingual sign on the office wall. I always enjoy seeing how English is translated into another language. Here’s a sampling. The English was (16 words):

Please notify staff immediately if you have a fever with rash, cough or shortness of breath.

Below it was the Spanish translation (22 words):

Por favor notifique al personal immediamente si usted tiene fiebre asociada con erupción de la piél, tos o le fulta la respiración.

Once again, the receptor language required more words than the source language to get the same point across. Note “with rash”(2 words) becomes “asociada con erupción de la piél” (6 words). Another reminder to me that (1) God did a good job when He messed things up and Babel and created the world’s tongues, and (2) to know another language you must learn its idioms.

1:55 PM A few minutes ago I had a nice talk with one of the elders over at Grace Community Church of Magnolia, TX. They are intentional about becoming a New Testament church in many ways. I think you’ll find their website informative and helpful.

1:23 PM The religion editor of the Wall Street Journal just interviewed me about a piece she’s doing on tithing according to the New Testament. She had already spoken with one of our Ph.D. students, David Croteau, who now teaches at Liberty University and whose dissertation covered the topic from A to Z. For my opinion, I referred her to this piece.

12:45 PM I just got back from my annual physical. They took blood and gave me a cortisone shot for my sore heel. Other than that, I have no complaints whatsoever, thank the Lord. My goal health-wise is to remain physically fit and slim and trim. At 6 feet 4 inches, I try to stay under 225 pounds. Last year’s chart showed my weight as 223. Today I weighed in at 213. I feel great except for my foot. Since I have to stay off my feet, today’s goals are to work on my grammar revision and prepare for Sunday’s talk on missions at Mount Tirzah Baptist Church in Charlotte Court House.

7:44 AM Here’s a little brain teaser I gave my New Testament students yesterday in class to test them on their reading. (One thing you should know about the test: it was purely for fun. It’s a way for me to assess how well they’re doing. But I would never give a quiz like this for a grade. It’s way too picky.) If you want to try your hand at it, have at it. If you can get at least 25 out of 30 correct you’re doing great. The topics are taken from the book Tommy Lea and I co-wrote called The New Testament. I’ll publish the answers tomorrow.

• Place these ruling groups in their correct chronological order: Persia, Greece, Babylon, Rome, and the Maccabees. Babylon, Persia, Greece, Maccabees, and Rome

• Which king of Babylon ended Jewish independence? Nebuchadnezzar

• The “Great Synagogue” of the Persian period later developed into the _______________ of NT times. Sanhedrin

• Which Greek philosopher tutored Alexander the Great? Aristotle

• The Seleucids of Syria made what city their capital? Antioch

• Jewish tradition taught that the LXX was the work of how many Jewish scholars? 72

• “Epiphanes” means ____________________. Manifestation of God

• Tradition suggests that Peter and Paul were martyred during the reign of which Roman emperor? Nero

• Which of the Herods did Jesus call “that fox”? Antipas

• Jews living outside of Palestine were known as the ___________. Diaspora

• Galilee had a majority of Gentiles.  T  F True

• In the NT era, the minimum age for marriage for young men was ________. 13

• A Roman infantry legion consisted of about ____________ men. 6,000

• A _____________ was the leader of 100 soldiers. Centurion

• The term “Apocrypha” literally means “_____________ books.” Hidden

• The Dead Sea Scrolls were probably produced by a Jewish sect called the _____________. Essenes

• Nicodemus was a Sadducee.  T  F False (Pharisee)

• The three criteria of canonicity were orthodoxy, apostolicity, and _________________. Universality

• Significant textual variants in the NT number around ____________. 2,000

• Coptic was the language of ancient _____________. Egypt

• The three major NT texttypes are the Byzantine, Western, and _____________. Alexandrian

• John’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ Galilean ministry.  T  F False (Judean)

• The Decapolis lay west of the Jordan River.  T  F False (East)

• The term ipsissima verba refers to the actual ____________ of Jesus. Words

• The Gospel of Matthew is arranged around how many blocks of teaching? 5

• Luke was known as “stump-fingered.”  T  F False (Mark)

• Which Gospel has a unique interest in the outcasts of society? Luke

• John probably wrote his Gospel in what city? Ephesus

• Why might a scribe have wanted to omit John 7:53-8:11? It made Jesus look too indulgent toward adultery

• John may have written his Gospel in part to counter the influence of a group of devotees to whom?  John the Baptist

7:40 AM We’re busy this week getting the farm into shape for Saturday’s Student Day. Not that our farm ever looks pristine. God has never really giving us the desire to have the “perfect” homestead. We’ll mow at bit here and edge a bit there. We’ll spiffy up the house too. But the fact is that Rosewood is a work in progress. The climate, by the way, promises to be perfect fall weather with bright, sunny skies and a high of 79. This will be our first Student Day without a horse on the farm. I thought of this as I drove home yesterday and passed by some of the fields I used to ride in with Cody and Traveler, some near Oxford and some closer to home here in Virginia. You know what I miss most about riding? The companionship. And my horses were great companions. Both had tremendous courage, stamina, and soundness, even though Trav had much greater jumping ability. Both had “presence” and lots of intelligence. Both were also very excitable in temperament as is common in hot-blooded breeds (Arabians and Thoroughbreds). But on the whole they were completely ride-able if you knew what you were doing. And their smell? Boy, do I miss their smell. There is no other scent in the whole world like a horse’s scent. Pure, primordial sweat and grit. If my horses had any weaknesses they were due to their rider’s shortcomings. I never had to pull at their mouths with the bit and bridle. I recall that Cody was so intelligent and eager to please that when I gave a confusing aid he would offer all sorts of movement in the hope of producing the desired effect. All horses are loving, gentle animals by nature, spoiled only by bad treatment or careless training. I tried never to ask too much of my horses and I always tried to make our rides interesting and happy times. And they were just that. I’m very, very sorry that my students will not have the chance to meet Cody and Traveler.

Owning and riding horses is such a rewarding and fascinating process that it’s been difficult for an avid equestrian like myself to give it up, but, as Solomon said, there’s a time for everything under heaven. And there are still all the cows, goats, and chickens to enjoy.

7:34 AM Thursday shout out to one of my Ph.D. students and his wife, and a big “Happy Birthday” to their newborn baby girl with the beautiful name, Lydia Damaris.

7:30 AM I promised you pix of my student graders for the year, and here they are. You will never meet friendlier or more joyful people. Caxton works in the seminary IT department and hails from Kenya. Being the bumbling idiot I am when it comes to pooters, I’m sure glad to have him on my team.

Dae (also known as David) is my secret supplier of Kimchi. Korean cuisine is my absolute favorite food in the entire world, not that that had anything to do with my picking Dae to be my assistant (*cough, cough*).

With guys like these around to keep me on my toes how can I go wrong? Thanks to both of you for being willing to work with an eccentric professor on his goofy projects. One thing’s for sure: you’ll never be bored.

Wednesday, September 26

6:20 PM I want to thank my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, as publicly as I possibly can, for giving me and my students such a great learning experience these past two days. I am so prayerful that God would shake more and more of us out of our apathy and move us into a deeper understanding that obedience is the greatest expression of our love for Jesus. He has been showing us that the New Testament Gospels are all focused on the most incredible life ever lived. It’s almost a process of osmosis: by looking at Jesus – how He lived and talked and acted – we become more like Him. In our day Jesus is still very much at work sending forth humble disciples into the entire world to love on people and tell them there is Good News in the midst of all the depressing news we read every day. I see this when some of my students move to downtown Raleigh to plant a city church, or when they travel home for a funeral and come back to class glowing about the people that received Christ as a result of the death of their loved one, or when they open their homes to travelers and provide food and shelter for them, or when they place their testimony over their books by staying home with their wives when they “should” be in class. Tuesday was our weekly seminar in Greek linguistics and all we did was read the book of 3 John and map out its teaching about hospitality (a theme I like to talk about). We were left with a question: Do we want to become like Gaius, Diotrephes, or Demetrius – that is, people who don’t merely talk about truthing the Gospel but who live it out by opening their hearts and homes to people who are different from them (like Gaius); or people who could really care less about comfort and ease and security and are willing to get the Gospel out (like Demetrius); or else people who put advancing their own work above the work of the Gospel and who need to “in charge” (like Diotrephes)? We’ve got to decide to imitate the good and not the bad (v. 11) – and in context the “good” is simply a radical commitment to help other believers with their practical needs. I jotted this down in my Greek New Testament: “Truth without love is legalism; love without truth is libertarianism.” This has been my hope and prayer for me and my students – that we might speak the truth with a tear in our eyes, with a lump in our throat, but without a hole in our heads. And one of the best ways we can represent God’s rule on earth, says John, is by supporting fellow missionaries. That’s why I almost wept when we received an email from a family who is adopting one of our missionaries to Gondar at the tune of 50 dollars a month. Their email said: “[We] would like to adopt one of these young men. It will be a wonderful way for us to teach our children to love someone whom they haven’t met…and one day if it is the Lord’s will it could be possible that they might even meet in person. So sign us up for $50/month starting now! It would not surprise me if someone in our church also wanted to be involved, but we will see how the Lord leads. Thank you for your ministry to these wonderful people, and for allowing us to share in it! God has been so faithful to us, it is our prayer that we will be faithful to other believers who are burdened in ways that we may never be. We love you so very much!” I know this ministry will inch forward through the prayers and sacrifice of people like this family. Yesterday I spoke with a friend who has a passion to help the church in Ukraine. He travels there at least once a year. It was he who invited me to minister in Ukraine this past June. What a blessed time that was! I have another friend in Dallas who wants to go with me to China to minister next spring. I’ve been emailing a graduate of our seminary who works in a dangerous part of the world. He’s asked me to visit him, and I’m going to. None of these people counts his life dear unto himself (Acts 20:24). I want to echo that commitment. Not that life is not dear. Life is the most priceless possession we have. But here’s the rub: We can throw it away for temporary pleasure and spend it selfishly (like the drug addicts my wife sees all the time in the ICU), or we can count it as His and not ours and “lose what we cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose.” Life is like the corn seeds we plant every summer on the farm: to plant them is to recognize their value; to keep them is to destroy their value. The “planted” Christian does not count his life dear unto himself but unto God. The Big Question, then: Am I willing to throw my life away recklessly for the Gospel? I want to again publicly thank God for the students I see every day who are willing to do just that in a myriad of ways from traveling abroad for the Gospel or just opening their homes to strangers. They are a blessing to be around.

Tuesday, September 25

4:00 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Are You Intentional About Witnessing? 

Monday, September 24

5:19 PM Quick farm update: We’re almost finished cleaning our reenacting clothes, airing out all the tentage, and repacking all of our supplies. It literally takes a whole day to  “recover” from a weekend event. Earlier Nate and I made a hospital visit, while Becky worked on clothes and dishes. Right now Nathan is swapping out trailers, which means we’ll be spreading more manure this afternoon. If the Lord should provide us with a little more rain we might be able to get another cutting of hay this year. If not, we’ll let the animals graze down what’s left of the grass in the pastures. Finally, although not directly related to our farm, I did want to mention the doors Nathan hand crafted for an old church building down in Stovall, NC. He installed them last week.

Here’s a close-up view. As you can see, Nathan is not your ordinary carpenter. He’s a craftsman, an artisan if you like. That’s just the way God made him. And here’s a nice serendipity: I get to see these doors every time I drive down Hwy 15 to Oxford.

10:40 AM A big Monday morning shout out and “thank you” to the Zachary family of Snow Camp, NC, for hosting a great reenactment on their farm this weekend. We were joined by two close friends of ours who slept in Becky’s tent and dressed the part to the hilt.

Here Nathan plays his 1860s pump organ at the period wedding of the captain of the 1st Kentucky infantry regiment.

A Civil War reenactment is first and foremost living history. We try to make the encampments look as authentic as possible, and that includes our equipment. Here I’m explaining to a group of school children the mechanics of the Enfield rifle. It’s an authentic reproduction of the real thing in every respect.

The show battles are real crowd pleasers, and I especially enjoy watching the cavalry demonstrations. Here the Federal Calvary prepares to attack their Confederate counterparts as the Battle of Zachary Hill gets underway on Saturday. During a two-day event like this one, each side gets to win one battle and lose the other.

On Sunday I taught the Word to a large crowd of reenactors and guests. During reenactments I find my greatest satisfaction in seeing people encouraged to follow the cross of Christ (rather than any human standard or flag) with their whole heart. The reenacting community is a huge mission field and one that is best penetrated by establishing loving and caring relationships. That’s true of every mission field, isn’t it?

If you’ve never considered reenacting as an outreach for the Gospel, I would encourage you to do so. There’s even an organization called Reenactors Mission for Jesus Christ that distributes period New Testaments and is intentional about ministering in the name of Jesus. I think you would enjoy the encampments, the battle scenarios, the camaraderie, and meeting and greeting the public. Besides, where else can you wear wool uniforms in 95 degree weather?

Sunday, September 23

7:12 PM We just got back, unpacked, and took our showers. The reenactment was a splendid success. At least a nine out of ten. It is also very hard work, so tonight we’re gelling. I’m reading my WW II escape story (Mission Escape), and Becky’s watching Pride and Prejudice.

Friday, September 21

9:05 AM The rain is falling intermittently. I thank God for every drop. 

Thursday, September 20

11:58 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Me and My Ducks.

7:56 AM From the left comes this unbelievable video piece on McCain versus McCain.  Call me paranoid, but I find it one chilling video.

7:52 AM Michelson Borges reviews the Spanish edition of the Da Vinci Code. His conclusion:

Pretender que los llamados “evangelios” apócrifos tengan el mismo peso y confiabilidad que los Evangelios canónicos es desconocer la historia bíblica. Además de que los apócrifos gnósticos fueron escritos después de los cuatro evangelios, Mateo, Marcos, Lucas y Juan son los únicos relatos que se escribieron por testigos oculares de la vida de Jesús, o corroborados por ellos.

7:45 AM I was touched by this story about how the Veterans Administration’s suicide prevention hotline is flooded with calls.

7:42 AM I just chose my two student graders for the semester. They are Caxton Mburu from Kenya, and Dae Hyoun Yoo from South Korea. Pictures shortly.

7:40 AM Just in case you’ve been caught up in the Britney and O.J. narcosis: Big Brother now wants in the barn. This is getting crazy.

Naturally, Ron Paul opposes such nonsense — and is willing to say so.  

7:37 AM God bless Virginia Senator Jim Webb for supporting the troops.

7:32 AM We’re watching the weather closely, tracking the storm that’s hugging the coast of South Carolina. I’ll be glad to see it dump some rain on the eastern Piedmont even though we’ll be sleeping in tents over the weekend. We have reenacted in rain and even snow, and always leave the event saying to ourselves, “That’s nothing compared to what the men we are trying to represent went through during 4 arduous years.” The toughest experience we’ve had weather-wise while reenacting was probably the event at New Market in the Shenandoah Valley a few years ago. We called it “Mud Market.” It rained practically the whole time we were there. On top of everything else, our camps were located beside the Interstate. We fought without sleep and in the middle of a huge rainstorm. However, the original battle took place in the rain, so we had no complaints. Sure makes you glad to get a warm shower when you get back home though.

7:26 AM Only 11 more days till Student Day here at the farm.

7:22 AM Before I forget, if you live in or near Sebring, Florida, Becky and I will be giving an Ethiopia presentation at the SIM retirement home on Friday, Nov. 16, at 7:00 pm. Video clips, slides, the whole shebang. I’m sure you’d be welcome to attend as a guest of ours. Please email me if you plan on attending.

7:18 AM I had an interesting discussion the other day with a student. He wanted to know if I could recommend the “best” English translation of the Bible. I joked, “Your own.” What I meant was that each of us must translate the Scriptures into our own experience. The best translations of the Word of God are those not bound in leather but in human flesh. That’s what I want my life to be: a translation of God’s Word into a living epistle known and read of all men. Alas, many translations are parodies of the text. Others are private versions, not translations of the original. For example, the Bible teaches that the love of God carries with it hatred of the world. “You that love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). We lack a healthy hatred of hubris today because we have an improper sense of the holiness of God. We do not regard arrogance as the awful thing that cost God His Son and the Son His Life. Never has the Adversary scored a greater triumph than in leading so much of the church to tolerate what God condemns and put up with what God would put out, both in our individual lives and in our national life. I ask myself: What kind of a translation am I? And where could I use an “update”? I’m pointing three fingers at myself, folks!

7:12 AM Becky and I just celebrated our thirty-first wedding anniversary. It would take me a lot of pages to say everything I want to say about her, but I can’t thank God enough for Becky. I’m amazed at how much God has revealed of Himself to me through her. I know I will never be all that God intends for me to be, but if you see any grace or gentleness or love in my life it’s due to the way God has used Becky in my world. I know of no one who is more Spirit-filled, loving, genuinely caring, or capable than Becky. She has taught me how to love God, make my family my priority, and be on fire for missions. It is because of her that the rough edges in my life have slowly begun to be chiseled away. She’s helped me take risks, overcome obstacles, and set goals that leave me breathless. When I have knots in my life, she is there to help me get God’s perspective on things. When the fervency isn’t there she loves my anyway. In her I have a sanctuary, a safe place where I can be myself. I could go on and on. Thank you God for giving me such an incredible wife! Thank you for showing me who You are through her! And thank you, darling, for being my special friend teammate in life! I love you!

7:08 AM Reenactors are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. This weekend I have the privilege of preaching to many of them at the period church service during our reenactment in North Carolina. I’m praying for a harvest of souls. I’m praying that believers will be challenged to give their hearts to missions. I’m praying for those who have hit rock bottom in life. I’m praying that they’ll see light in their darkness. We don’t “play church” at reenactments. This is the real deal. We’re here to do serious business with our great God.

7:00 AM Well, you learn something new every day. Yesterday a student whom I had never met before walked into my office and introduced himself. He’s an avid surfer and had heard that I was from Hawaii. When I told him I used to surf, on average, about 365 days a year, he knew he had found a kindred spirit. We had a great time trading surfing stories. What did I learn from him? That New Jersey has the best surf on the East Coast (see photo below). That the island of Eleuthera in the Caribbean has perfect 10-foot waves that no one knows about. That there’s a big need for surfing evangelism here in North Carolina, and, in fact, this student wants to organize a surfing/missions club here on campus. I, of course, said I would volunteer to be the faculty advisor if it ever comes to pass. Surfers are a unique breed and a definite subculture in America. I only wish that North Carolina had more consistent surf for their sake.

Wednesday, September 19

8:19 PM Wednesday greeting to a great student of mine with whom I met yesterday for our first mentoring session of the year. We had a wonderful time of fellowship in the Lord. I sensed in him a soul athirst for God as the hart pants after the water brook. I’m glad God pours out water upon the thirsty. And in this shallow and superficial day, I’m especially glad to know that so many of my students are willing to “lose what they cannot keep to gain what they cannot lose.” May God increase their tribe.

8:12 PM My two days on campus were wonderful in all respects. Excellent spirit in all classes. Haven’t lost any Greek students to attrition – yet. Covered exegesis in New Testament. Still feel like a kid in a candy store every time I teach.

Tuesday, September 18

4:22 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Is Yet Another War Justified?

4:18 AM Last week the seminary’s International Office kindly provided me with the names and nationalities of all of our international students. I requested this information because I normally choose foreign students to be my graders (personal assistants), and this semester is no exception. My secretary was gracious enough to break down the list according to nationalities. Here are the nations represented at SEBTS, starting with the country that has the most students here: South Korea, Uganda, Tanzania, Canada, South Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, and Romania. Tied for next place are Brazil, Ecuador, China, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, Russia, St. Vincent, Spain, Taiwan, and Ukraine. In all, we have 58 international students. This is a great start, but I’d like to see many more international students here. I really miss the ethnic diversity we had in Southern California at Talbot and at Golden Gate’s Brea campus.

4:12 AM You are cordially invited to come out this weekend to a reenactment of the Battle of Zachary Hill in nearby Alamance County, NC. The address is 8380 Old Switchboard Road, Snow Camp, NC, 27349. Google for directions, then follow the well-placed signs. The camps open to the public at 9:00 am on Saturday and Sunday, and the show battles are scheduled for 2:30 pm on Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sunday. Admission is $5.00 for adults (children under 12 are free). There will be period speakers, live period music, tours of the Confederate and Federal camps, a medical field hospital, a period wedding on Saturday at 11:00 am, and a church service on Sunday morning at 10:00 am (yours truly will be speaking). Nathan will be serving as the brigade bugler. If you do stop by, be sure to say hey. Just look for Becky Lynn in her beautiful hoop skirt and dress.

Monday, September 17

2:46 PM Today we “slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the base of the roof.” Okay, so only Nathan slipped the bonds.

 I stirred the paint.

But at least the roof’s done.

Right now Nate is fixing to go to Carolina to install some church doors he’s built, while I’m gonna try and some writing done. We’re also prepping for the main event of the week, when Becky has her new kitchen counters installed on Wednesday. Nathan has to disassemble the old counters then, once the new ones have been installed, reconnect all the appliances. Big job, little time, as we have to leave on Friday for our next Civil War reenactment.

9:03 AM Right now we’re waiting for the dew to dry on the barn roof. Yep, it’s painting day, and I’m getting that much closer to showing you the before and after photos of the hay barn. Can’t wait….

8:56 AM Speaking of Gondar, our son Bereket returns to school there today, having spent the past few months in Addis Ababa in the care of his eye specialist. Bereket still cannot read, and the doctors in Addis have done all they can do. We asked his lead doctor to send us a detailed referral. Becky has passed it on to the Duke Eye Center in nearby Durham, NC, whose staff includes some of the world’s leading eye specialists. We are hoping against hope that perhaps they can do something for Bereket’s astigmatism, perhaps even Lasik surgery (which cannot be done in Ethiopia). We expect to hear from Duke this week or next. If they would like to examine him, then Becky and I will bring Bereket here for another possible operation. Bereket has become a huge blessing in our lives. Last Saturday night we heard testimony after testimony of his servant’s heart. Bereket has already led his sister to Christ. His mother, we hope, is not far behind. He exudes the love of Jesus. What fun it would be if he could visit America and share his story with others. If he does come I can’t wait to take him to campus. So, even though I know you are extremely busy, I’d request that you shoot up a quick prayer for this young man, that he would continue to grow strong in the Lord, that he would apply himself in school, and that Duke might be favorably disposed to seeing him (if that be God’s will).

8:24 AM I had a huge problem this morning. It seems that no matter where I turn in my Greek New Testament I always keep coming back to the book of Acts. I set out to read 1 Corinthians this morning and ended up reading about Paul’s missionary journeys instead. Here’s what I find so fascinating about that account. It seems that God has led Becky and me to begin a new work in North Gondar in the same way that He led Paul to begin a new work in Europe. I’m reminded of how God’s Spirit led Paul and Silas to Troas on the coast of the Aegean Sea, which was the jumping off point to Macedonia (in what we now call Europe). The “man from Macedonia” we suspect was none other than doctor Luke, who appealed to Paul to “come over and help us.” Becky and I have also had our Macedonian call, and that from several “Lukes” in Gondar. We also have our Pauls and Timothys, men selected by the local churches in Gondar to “preach the kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31). God’s living presence in them is their direction and power, and obedience is their motivation. I cannot thank God enough for these evangelists. Acts says, “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, then [and only then] shall you be My witnesses….” If the Spirit of God is within us, we must speak about Jesus because the Spirit Himself, in effect, is witnessing to Himself. I therefore cannot imagine a church community or a seminary community that isn’t intentionally evangelistic. Where you have evangelism, there you have the Holy Spirit. Where you do not have evangelism, there you do not have the Holy Spirit. Our part is simply to surrender in obedience to God’s will. This is the reason why I teach Greek — not “a” reason but “the” reason: to equip my students to be Scripturally-wise, Spirit-filled men and women who will serve Jesus with all their hearts and so fulfill the Great Commission. If they study with me and lack a concern about others or become indifferent to the idolatry all around them, then I have failed as a teacher. If, on the other hand, they leave my classes with a greater desire to serve others in love and win others to loyalty to Christ, then God has accomplished His purposes in their education. And if they feel this way about the lost it’s because God feels this way.

The work in North Gondar has begun. It is as barren and yet as fertile a mission field as Macedonia was when Paul got there. I’m excited to see what God will do as our evangelists visit the Philippis and Bereas and Thessalonicas and Athens of Northern Ethiopia.

Sunday, September 16

7:19 PM What a great time we had Saturday night as Becky hosted our Ethiopia team members and their spouses at Bradford Hall. The beautifully bedecked table had more food that anyone could eat. Afterwards we adjourned to the Lee Room to watch slides and videos of Ethiopia. What happy memories! Then back to the formal dining room for dessert and coffee, reading letters from Ethiopia, and a long season of prayer for our African brothers and sisters. The purpose of our mission to Ethiopia last June was the same as what you will find in the book of Acts: contacting, cultivating, and conserving. The early church never relaxed their efforts in this regard. For me, the experience of the earliest Christians provides both the motivation and pattern for my approach to missions. Contact, cultivate, and conserve. What’s amazing is that the churches in Burji and Alaba that began as missions have themselves become missions-minded and are sending out evangelists and missionaries all over Ethiopia to contact people, cultivate relationships with them, and conserve those who choose to follow Jesus. Evangelism is a wonderful spiral. And the result? “The churches were strengthened in their faith” (Acts 16:5). Our common faith — the faith shared between Bethel Hill Baptist Church and Union Chapel Baptist Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church and the churches in Burji and Alaba — has created a dimension of love that draws us together. We share the lives, concerns, hopes, and interests of each other. And it really never ends. Just as Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the brethren in every city where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord and see how they are doing,” so our team members are eager to return to their sister congregations and continue the good work. The thrill of missions begins again.

These photos are self-explanatory. I must, however, call your attention to a very special young lady from the seminary who spent the entire day helping Becky in food preparation, table decoration, and serving. Throughout the evening she modeled for us the sweet servant spirit of her Lord. The evening would have been impossible without her. We can’t thank you enough, Miss Rachael.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:21 PM Fall has arrived! The temperature today is 76 degrees, the sky is blue with a tinge of clouds, the air is brisk. We have had an absolutely perfect day so far, beginning with a morning walk to visit our animals. Everyone was frisky and happy.

Mary was happy to see me and even happier because I had some granola to feed her. It looks like she’s been widowed; we haven’t seen Dick for weeks.

We sang again at the nursing facility in Clarksville, “our fair city.” I’m sorry, but I can’t refer to it as a nursing “home” any longer. The loneliness is unbelievable. To many of the residents we are their only family.

Here Miss Davis, who can’t leave her room, helps us sing “Amazing Grace” and “When We All Get to Heaven.”

Our Sunday School class today was in the book of Daniel. We went verse-by-verse, even though the Lifeway quarterly likes (inanely) to skip verses. We also had a wonderful baptismal service accompanied by lots of hymn singing. Nathan said over lunch, “You could go to any large church and you wouldn’t be able to match the fellowship and music we have at Averett.” He’s right.

This afternoon Becky is canning more tomatoes, Nathan is picking more okra, and I’m (ahem) napping.

8:49 AM Hey there. Nathan here. Dad has asked me to give some narrative to follow these pictures. For a while now I have been accumulating pictures of old houses in our area. Some are from old government records, some from newspaper clippings, some from historical websites, and some are photos we’ve taken on our ramblings around.  Some of these houses are no longer standing, while some have been restored. The South is full of beautiful old houses falling down, and I’m afraid that we as a culture will not learn to appreciate them until most are already gone. I am trying to get pictures of any that I see so that at least they will still be remembered in the future. 

On our road alone, which is about 5 miles long, there were 10 vacant and un-maintained houses in the condition of those pictured below, when we moved here 6 years ago. All were “fixable” at that time. Of those 10, one has been fixed up, one has been burned down, one has collapsed due to neglect, one has been torn down, and the rest are decaying steadily. Many of these are owned by people who inherited the property and have built themselves a new house near the old one and have left “the home place” to fall apart. Also on our road are 6 old houses that are lived in and maintained. Some are still in the original families, while others like mine have been bought by people that love old houses and intend to keep them up. As I pass the ones that are falling down I wish those owners would realize the historical nature of them and be willing to fix them or at least sell them to someone who would. Many old houses in our area I have tried to purchase in order to restore, or tear down to salvage the materials, but few owners are willing to consider it. 

The first two photos that dad picked out of my file are actually from Hale County, Alabama, the county where our ancestors migrated to in the 1820s. Our ancestor, Gen. Patrick May, built his house in 1828 south of Greensboro AL, and called it Brick Spring. It is still standing and maintained, though not in the family anymore. These houses pictured below are not connected to our people. I just happened to have old pictures of them in my file, and both are still standing.

Greek revival (1850s) at its best!

Now on to Virginia. The house below was very early Federal style (1780-1800) with a central hall and four rooms on each floor. Note the Federal style cornice and the round arched detail over the lower windows. Unfortunately this house is now gone.

Here’s a simple farmhouse, hall/parlor plan (no central hall, just two rooms with the stairs in one room). Early 1800s.

A little known style was the “tripartite,” common only for a few years right around the turn of the 19th century.  The central two story section had a stair hall across the front, with a room or two behind it, and one story wings opening off the hall. Very few tripartite houses are left.

Here’s another Tripartite dwelling, this time in North Carolina, which an organization called “Preservation North Carolina” is trying to find someone willing to move to a new location to be restored in order to avoid its upcoming demolition. A later addition in the rear has messed up the beautiful symmetry on the right side.

The old house below, called “Belle Mont,” is a good example of the “Georgian” style, the name coming from the period during the reigns of the “Georges” in England, although because the colonies were slow to adopt new styles Georgian architecture in Virginia was common until the 1830s. This house was built around 1790, and also shows a few “modern” touches in the Federal style (just coming popular) fanlight over the front door and the rounded gable attic vent. This house stood in neighboring Halifax County, VA, and the owners of the property built a new brick ranch house nearby in the 70s and allowed the old house to fall down. Nothing is left of Belle Mont.

An interesting story accompanies these two next pictures, taken from an old newspaper article. This Federal style house was built about 20 miles west of us, and originally contained two stories and attic rooms. It was built in the Side-Hall plan, where the stair hall was on the side of the house and two rooms back to back on the other end (where the chimneys are). In the mid 1930s it caught fire, like most old houses did in the days of wood cooking and heating. Sparks from the chimney caught the old split-wood shingle roof on fire. Some neighborhood men hauled water onto the roof to put out the flames, while others beat the flames with rags. According to word of mouth tradition, even an old crippled man got into the action, shooting patches of burning shingles off of the roof with his shotgun whenever new spots of fire appeared on other places of the roof. The fire was put out, but not without destroying the roof and much of the second story. The owner, being a resourceful yet impoverished farmer, decided not to rebuild the second story, but instead removed the damaged portion and built a new roof structure. 

Below: The same house after the roof was lowered. Notice that when they rebuilt the roof they even replaced the dentil molding blocks across the cornice of the front of the house! This house is still standing and well preserved by its present owners, who tell anyone who’ll listen of the strange story of the 200 year old house that shrunk.

During the mid 1800s the Greek Revival style became popular, and most houses during this time carried the style to its fullest. Note the low hipped roof and the gabled portico.  Also the porch posts are well done in the Ionic order.

Here’s another Greek Revival house from Halifax County, VA, this time done in brick and two rooms deep with the chimneys central to the house. Also 1840-1850s.

Hope you’ve enjoyed a brief tour of history in our neck of the woods. Don’t get so busy in your running-arounds that you fail to notice the signs of history about you. Along with the loss of the old home places are the loss of memories of childbirths, death wakes, family gatherings, and reminders of a time when family was more important than occupation, time more than money, children more than careers, quality craftsmanship more than efficiency, and a time when the next county was a “right far” away. Have we really convinced ourselves that our generation is better off? 

Friday, September 14

7:00 PM I shot this picture at exactly 7:00 pm. Yes, that’s rain out there and, yes, those are water puddles in the foreground. Thank you Lord! 

5:40 PM Pat Buchanan says we should stop the next war. And Chuck Baldwin knows the man to do it.

5:06 PM I didn’t know that Ron Paul attends a Baptist Church in Lakewood, Texas. I accessed this information at One Vote Under God. To the web developers: I appreciate your efforts, but why no category on “just war,” a religious issue if ever there was one?

4:30 PM A member of the Bethel Hill Ethiopia team sent us this BBC link about an amazing photography display that opened at London’s Photographers’ Gallery yesterday. It’s called From Emperor to Military Dictator: Shemelis Desta’s Ethiopian Archive 1963-1982. Here’s a sample:

Tomorrow evening, by the way, Becky and I are hosting a dinner at Bradford Hall for all of our team members from this summer’s trip. You should see her menu. It even includes Doro Wat. Food doesn’t get any better than that.

3:36 PM I’m taking a short break from work and I see that Alan Knox has yet another great thread going, this time on the use of one loaf in our communion services. He links to David Roger’s thread here. I think this is blogging at its very best. Before I get back to vacuuming the carpets, I’d like to add one thing to the discussion, and it doesn’t even have to do with the main thrust of either blog post. The text of 1 Cor. 10:17 states (my translation), “Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.” My point is this: the one loaf of bread does not merely symbolize the unity of all believers. Paul teaches that in some way it also produces it. This is the plain meaning of his words: “Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body….” Notice that he does not say, “Because we who are many are one, there is one loaf of bread.” He says precisely the opposite. Thus, the single loaf does not merely represent “an important spiritual truth” (as David puts it). In some way it also produces that reality. How? I’m not sure. Nor is it something to divide a church over. But I would ask: Why don’t we use a single loaf of bread during our communion services? Could it not be a real boost to unity? You say your congregation is too large for that. Yes, perhaps your congregation IS too large! The earliest believers broke bread “from house to house.” Well-padded sanctuaries such as we have today simply did not exist back then. Churches were extended “households,” and the Lord’s Supper was probably accompanied by a full family meal. It was, as someone has said, the Lord’s “Supper,” not the Lord’s “Snack.” During the meal each believer partook of the one cup (not “cups”) and the one loaf (not “loaves” or “wafers”) in honor and remembrance of their absent but soon-coming Lord. Thus Paul writes: “Consider what I’m saying. Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the loaf of bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” How, then, can we implement this in our churches? In a traditional setting it will not be easy, since the Lord’s Supper may well be observed only infrequently (rather than weekly, as seems to have been the case in the early church, Acts 20:7) and in a very traditional manner (with small cups of juice and broken pieces of crackers). Nor is it a matter, as we have said, upon which to base church fellowship. In this, as in many other areas of my life, I am painfully aware that my reach exceeds my grasp. But those who would be true to the Scriptures must learn to seek renewal wherever it is needed, just as they must learn to cooperate with churches who disagree on secondary matters in a joint commitment to get the Gospel out.

One last note. In Basel, where my wife and I attended the local Baptist church, the Lord’s Supper always consisted of a single loaf of bread and a single cup of grape juice. One passed the cup from person to person while wiping it with a handkerchief. It was a marvelous blessing to be involved in such a communion service. But what made the Lord’s Supper most meaningful was the fact that our little congregation of 35 believers was, in reality, a very close-knit Body in Christ. Baptists in Switzerland tend to be like that because they are often considered to be cults by the general public.

11:55 AM Over at Travel Light Tim Patterson has an excellent discussion in response to my essay A Twenty-First Century Church. I always enjoy what missiologists have to say about the church. On one point at least I totally agree with brother Tim: the church must always penetrate society rather than withdraw from it. This does not mean that short-term withdrawal due to certain circumstances might not be made from time to time (as we saw recently with the Korean hostages in Afghanistan). But the church must never cease being missional, for we are not asked to wring our hands about the evils in the world but to call men and women to repentance that God might redeem it. We dare not abandon this conviction; we dare not give up our witness. No matter how great the opposition, the church can be the church only when believers freely and openly and consciously decide to participate in the work of making disciples of all nations. God bless you, Tim, for all you are doing to make this a reality at Smyrna.

11:45 AM Our intelligence corps spends billions of dollars in tracking and location and still we can’t find Osama, possibly the tallest man in the Arab world. And the big debate on air seems to be whether his beard is real or fake. I want you to know that I have no official position on this matter.

11:24 AM I just got back from running errands for Becky to the pharmacy, grocery store, and bank. I’m not trying to rub it in, you city folk, but there ain’t nothin’ like country living. Everywhere I went I was cordially greeted both coming and going (“Hi. How are you today? Can I help you? Thanks for shopping here. Come back and see us again.”) At Food Lion I was practically assaulted with people trying to help me (I did look desperate trying to find the cream cheese and the pie crusts). The assistant manager even came to my rescue (unasked for). (He happens to be my neighbor and a deacon at my church.) In the parking lot a young teenager was collecting carts and walked up to me to help me load groceries. He was as affable as affable can get and a delight to talk with (“Looks like rain today.” “Yeah, we could sure use some.” “You have a good day now.” “You too.”) He wouldn’t let me take my cart to the drop off. It was his joy to take care of that for me. People are in a big hurry out here in rural America — to be helpful and friendly.

8:55 AM John Piper assesses the state of the church in China. I’m told that the house churches in China number in the thousands and that mini-Bible schools are sprouting up all over. And I like this quote (found in this essay):

China’s network of house churches may turn out to be the leaven of democracy, like the radical Puritans of England who became the Congregationalists of New England. Freedom of worship is the first precondition for democracy, for it makes possible freedom of conscience. The fearless evangelists at the grassroots of China will, in the fullness of time, do more to bring US-style democracy to the world than all the nation-building bluster of President George W Bush and his advisers.

Once again, China is proving that an indigenous church always thrives under persecution, just as the Ethiopian church did during Marxist rule (1976-1991).  

8:47 AM This says it all (Pandita Ramabai, Indian Christian and “Mother of Modern India,” 1858-1922):

The only thing that must be done by me is to tell people of Him, and of His love for sinners, and His great power to save them.

I can’t think of a worthier goal for a New Testament professor, or for any Christian for that matter, can you?  

8:41 AM A belated “Happy New Year” to all our friends and loved ones in Ethiopia. Welcome to the new millennium.

8:35 AM Exciting day today. I think I’ve recovered from my cold, at least to the point where I can make myself useful around the farm again. I’ve really been praying about my upcoming mission trips and getting very eager to travel again. My brain is aching from all the information it’s had to digest about the countries I’ll be visiting. I’ve also been reading a lot of missionary bios and getting to see their heart for these nations. Whenever I think of these intrepid witnesses for Christ, I visualize in my mind’s eye the brave young man standing in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square. Obviously God gives His people supernatural strength to face any and all obstacles when they are encountered. As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God had not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

Thursday, September 13

7:48 PM I just stumbled across this great quote. It made my day.

Has the modern State become a religion? I think so, the modern nation state demands absolute allegiance and seeks to usurp the church by creating a new liturgy. At one time people’s everyday life was centered around the church and the community. In the modern world however people are more likely to be able to recite a Brittany Spears song, or quote a movie than they are to quote the Bible or some other piece of classic literature. The church needs to realize that globalization and the modern global free market has created its own liturgy (pledge of allegiance, star spangled banner, pop music), created its own mythich heroes (the modern soldier), and replaced the coming of God with an Immanence, that replaces the coming of God with a global market economy that will solve the world problems. I do not care how postmodern we are, the idea of utopia is still here, and it is on display in the rhetoric of empire, with its statements that it is going to overcome evil in the world. With all due respect to the modern nation state only the One-Who-Is-Yet-To-Come can put an end to that. His name is Christ.

6:53 PM The editors over at Two Institutions have just published part two of their series, Is Student Ministry Biblical? Coincidentally, it was just yesterday in our Jesus and the Gospels class that we discussed Jesus and the age 12 transition. And this is funny. I brought a video clip of the movie “The Man from Snowy River” to show to the class but a VCR was nowhere to be found on the entire campus. Shows how old I’m getting I guess. Thankfully a student saw my distress, went to his dorm to grab his VCR, hooked it up to a TV set, and everything went smoothly after that. The point the movie makes is a subtle one: if we don’t provide our youth with rites of passage, they’ll manage to come up with their own self-defined (and often dangerous) ones.

So three cheers for parents and youth workers who raise the crown high over our young people’s heads and grow them up into it. And thanks to that student of mine (I forgot to get his name!) for the loan of his VCR.

6:44 PM I see that our farm manager (aka “da boss”) has moved the goats and the big cows into the horse pasture. I missed seeing everyone when they were in the back pastures. These are the parts of the farm we finished fencing in this year — two 40 acre sections of woods and fields. So for now we get to hear the baa-ing and moo-ing up close and personal. I love watching these guys, especially the cows. Four of them will be in the freezer come November.

And here’s some good news: we’re expecting an inch of rain tomorrow. A storm system seems to be moving in from Texas. You can’t believe how wonderful that would be. We haven’t had a good rain in 3 months. Rain this week is vital if the remaining crops in our county are to survive.

11:18 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Who Is Head of Your Church?

7:55 AM Interested in moving to Southern California? Simpson University in Redding announces an opening in New Testament, while Azusa Pacific needs a theology professor.

7:52 AM Congrats to Dana and Matthew McDill! Got a name yet? If not, here’s some helpful advice:

7:49 AM Greek students, check out these mosaics from Caesarea and practice your Greek at the same time.

7:46 AM I can say a hearty “Amen” to this:

Many times, I have clarified my own thoughts by writing. Writing helps me learn, and it helps me think. Writing is valuable, despite a lack of readership.

Read Presuppositions for Blogging (and Writing). I reminded my doctoral students on Tuesday that anything worth writing is worth reading (i.e., worth publishing) – or ought to be. I then gave them an example of a journal article I had published in JETS while still a doctoral student at Basel. It is my hope that all of my students will publish their seminar papers and eventually their dissertations so that the rest of us can benefit from their labors. Why else go to all the trouble? 

7:40 AM Chip Bayer, who blogs over at Thideology, sent along a link to his latest online film: Gott Mit Uns. It takes a hard look at the dangers of statism as seen in the light of German nationalism. As I wrote to Chip, I think a new Barmen Declaration, U.S. style, may well be required today:

Thus, as regrettable and tragic as the lack of personal evangelism is today, an equally serious failing is the identification of Christianity with American nationalism. I say it is equally serious for the very simple reason that Americanism is idolatry, and a very dangerous form of idolatry at that. For in embracing nationalism, Americanism identifies Christianity with the American way of life in a way that actually hinders personal evangelism. After all, a person can argue, I am a church member, I have been baptized, I am a political conservative, hence I must be going to heaven. It is because of this way of thinking that we literally have millions of Americans going to hell thinking they are going to heaven.

Someday I’ll tell the story of Paul Mittmann, the former Wehrmacht soldier who taught me how to speak German when I was living in Southern California and he was pastoring a Lutheran Brethren church in Anaheim. It’s an unforgettable testimony to the goodness and grace of God in Nazi Germany. Like the Germans in the 1930s, we’re cheering those who would lead us into empire and enslave us “for our own good.” If you really care about this nation of ours you should read the U.S. Constitution and support only those politicians who will keep their promise to abide by it. Meanwhile, I can’t pass up an opportunity to call your attention to this discussion between arch-neocon Bill O’Reilly and Ron Paul about the next preemptive strike in the Middle East (i.e., Iran). I love Paul. He clings to his old-fashioned ideas about truth, justice, and the Constitution. The result is ridicule by the likes of O’Reilly. Jacob tries to get rich in Shechem and Dinah goes out to see the daughters of the land, but everyone resents the prophet who calls on Christians to keep themselves from idols. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: There can be no peace in the Middle East as long as Americans maintain a truce with what God says we should destroy, beginning with our national hubris. Let me also make it clear that I do not believe that politics is the solution to America’s woes. Recently I heard someone say, “Ron Paul is America’s only hope.” Hogwash. If you believe that, you’ve put the cart before the horse, as Eric Carpenter has just reminded us.

7:32 AM In an email from the Bluegrass State, Kim pointed me to this review of Robert Epstein’s The Case Against Adolescence.

7:30 AM Man, does this teacher get it right:

I love to study, read, reflect and study some more. I loved learning the Greek language in seminary. I enjoyed studying the Arian controversy in the early church and the debates among the Patristic Fathers (the what and the who?). I become fixated in the details of the narrative when I study the Civil Rights Movement, or the Bay of Pigs Invasion. I love to learn and drink deeply from good books.

But here’s what I’m slowly learning, the older I get. The Bible isn’t so much interested in being examined as it is interested in being enacted. The students I teach and serve at Rochester College are teaching me this. Most of them don’t know the first thing about the New Testament when they come to my class. They are brilliant by the end of the semester, but that’s because they have a great teacher!

These students can’t explain the synoptic problem, the messianic secret of Mark, or the authorship debates regarding the Gospel of John. They don’t know the Council of Nicea from the latest hot video on MTV. But many of them get it. They understand that Scripture wants to be lived out more than it wants to be litigated by reason and analysis. They understand that God desires for his children to perform the text, not live in years and years of pondering.

Read Drunk on Jesus.

7:21 AM I get 7 years younger every time I make a trip to Ethiopia. Here’s why.

Tuesday, September 11

5:03 AM The latest addition to our home page is called The Suffering Church.

Monday, September 10

6:49 PM We made excellent headway on the barn today despite the fact that both Nathan and I are fighting head colds. We’re pumping the Echinacea and Vitamin C and drinking lots of fluids. Tomorrow I teach again on campus so I can’t let up now. At any rate, we nailed up the front siding today, so really the only things left to do are to install the windows and build the upstairs doors. Then we still have to finish painting the roof of course. I cannot wait for the day when I can post the before-and-after pictures of the barn. Other than building Bradford Hall this has been, by far, the most ambitious and enjoyable project Nate and I have worked on together. And, unlike most of our other outbuildings, I think this barn will actually be used to store what we built it to store: horse quality square bales. The operative words being “I think.”

7:32 AM I have preached the world over in churches large and small. And I can tell you: I prefer smaller churches. The Free Churches of the 16th Century believed that congregations should be small enough so that every believer knew all of the others. The Confession of 1611 of the English General Baptists said in its 16th article that “a Church ought not to consist of such a multitude as cannot have particular knowledge one of another.” Why, then, do we magnify large churches so often? “Our speaker today led his church to grow from 300 to 3,000 in just 5 years!” Well enough. But periodic subdivision might be a healthier approach as growth occurs.

7:24 AM Here are a few pix from yesterday’s service at Bethel Hill Baptist Church in Roxboro, NC:

Here Becky wears the Ethiopian dress that our son David in Alaba bought for her. Beautiful.

The team smiles for the camera just before beginning their presentation. From left to right: Cindi, Stacy, Jason H., Mary, Sherree, Danny, and Ed. Becky and I felt like we were parents watching our children getting ready to go on stage!

The service began with Jason E. baptizing a happy young man. Can you think of a better way to begin a service on missions?

Jason E. told the story of how Bethel Hill got involved with Burji, Ethiopia. During a revival service I had been invited to speak, and one of the evenings was devoted to “Jesus, Master Missionary” (Matt. 9:35-39). We shared slides of Ethiopia, and the church was moved to get personally involved.

Miss Mary (aka the Queen of Ethiopia), 80 years young, stole everyone’s hearts (as always). She told a story on Becky that I won’t repeat here except to say it was a howler.

My favorite picture. It says “Sister Churches”… “Bethel Hill Baptist Church, Roxboro, NC” … “The Soyama Town Church, Burji, Ethiopia.” That’s a God thing, folks.

The good work doesn’t end here. The Bethel Hill team presented four goals to the congregation for prayer: 1) help build a resource center for the church in Soyama, 2) help support the rural medical center, 3) establish a Soyama Christian School, and 4) raise funds for Bibles. The team is eager to return to their sister congregation. It was sweet for Becky and me to witness the deep relationship God has established between these two churches. God alone gets all the credit.

7:12 AM Yesterday evening I walked down to Nathan’s farm with the Shelties. I didn’t know we’d be in for an adventure. Call it “Dogs Meet Cats” or, rather, “Cats Run for Their Lives from Dogs.” Thankfully, Cats ducked under the house in the nick of time. I don’t know why it is, but let dogs find a living creature smaller than they are and they have got to chase it. So Nate and I sat on a bench and watched this pas-de-deux of nature, as Cats peeked out from under the house while Dogs barked, or while one Cat snuck out from the other side of the house and made a beeline for the corn crib. I never had to come to Cats’ rescue, though I would have done so gladly. As I walked the puppies back to Bradford Hall I thought to myself: both Cats just cashed in one of their nine lives.

Sunday, September 9

7:54 AM If Acts 29 were ever to be written, my guess is it would include the members of the Bethel Hill Ethiopia Team…

Danny:

Jason H.:

Mary:

Jason E.:

Stacy:

Sherree:

Cindi:

…and Ed:

Do you know what the last word in the Book of Acts is in the Greek? “Unhindered.” Wow. Luke tells us how the Gospel was triumphant from Jerusalem to Rome: nothing could hinder it. The Spirit likewise today continues to break down barriers to the spread of the Gospel: race, gender, physical infirmities, fear. I’m telling you, each of these men and women, in going to Ethiopia last June, with the constant aid of the Holy Spirit, is a testimony to the power and grace of God. This morning Becky and I have the joy and honor at being with them and their sending congregation to say “praise the Lord” for what He did in and through this incredible group of humble yet radical believers as they give their follow-up report. They are a marvelous testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus, who continues His work today through the Holy Spirit to the far corners of the earth. The faith of the Ethiopian church in Burji was greatly strengthened and encouraged through their tireless efforts and through the prayers of the entire congregation. So too today, by the enablement of the Spirit, may we all be obedient witnesses as the Gospel message is taken to the whole world.

We thank God for you, Bethel Hill team!! (Yes, you get TWO exclamation points.)

Saturday, September 8

5:49 PM I just spent 5 hours with Nathan driving to Roanoke Rapids, NC, to look at a pickup truck Nate was thinking about buying. He decided to pass on it. That was fine with me. The time was still well spent in terms of fellowshiping and sightseeing along the way (yep, we saw several antebellum homes). Right now I’m fixing Chinese for supper (with my special ingredient PLUS a very special ingredient given to us by some very special friends). Earlier today we made some more progress on the hay mansion. Nate says it’s finally looking like a barn. I’d really like to have it completed before I leave on my next mission trip.

8:11 AM A reminder to all my Greek students: studies show that language aptitude and achievement overlap with each other by as much as 35 percent. This means that for some of you, learning Greek will come more easily than others. One person might master the material in an hour and the next person might need 3 or 4 hours to learn the very same material. In my personal experience, language learning has never come easy. I have had to work hard to acquire a good working knowledge of, say, German. The lesson? Try not to compare yourself to anyone else in the class. God knows your linguistic strengths — and your limitations. But I still believe that mastery of Greek is possible for anyone who will take the time and make the effort to study. Motivation and self-discipline can do much to overcome a low language aptitude.

One last reminder: do not fall behind in our class. If you get behind on even one lesson it is almost impossible to play catch up. Again, I speak from personal experience.

7:49 AM Over at the Power of Change, Reid Monaghan reminds us that the Gospel is not just the ABCs of our faith but the A-Z. This is one reason I love teaching the “Jesus and the Gospels” course. We never outgrow our need for the Gospel, do we?

7:35 AM The latest addition to our home page is called A Word to My Ph.D. Students.

7:26 AM I dragged myself into bed at about 7:00 o’clock last night. I’m not usually this tired. It may have been the onset of a head cold. But this morning I awoke refreshed and raring to go again after 11 hours of sleep. I read the Psalter and spent a few precious moments with my Lord Jesus. Then I looked outside and this is what I saw.

And do you know what I was reading this morning? “Even when I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me live to tell the people of this age what your strength has accomplished, to tell about your power to all who will come. Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God. You have done great things. O God, who is like you?” (Psa. 71:18-19).

All I could say was Amen.

Friday, September 7

7:14 PM Coming tomorrow: “A Word to My Ph.D. Students.”

7:11 PM Here’s something funny. Today we were looking at an ad for some property for sale near us and decided to call the number on the flyer. A recorded message described the acreage as “prime woodland with 2 year-old pines.” In other words, “Cutover”!

2:36 PM We’ve been working on the barn. But it’s been hot. Real hot. Especially upstairs in the barn. There’s very little air circulating, so we figured the better part of wisdom is to come indoors for a while.

Meanwhile I have some great news. Our evangelists to North Gondar have begun their ministries, moving out into the communities and establishing their homes and relationships. We had several scriptural requirements for our evangelists, not least that they be free of the love of money, ease, and power. We’ve also insisted that anyone training them must take the public bus from Addis to Gondar and must sleep in private homes rather than in expensive hotels. The Bible teaches that the Christian life is more seriously threatened by wealth than possibly anything else. It also teaches that Christian living is possible either in prosperity or poverty. The challenge is remaining faithful to Christ in joy or sorrow, riches or poverty, honor or humiliation. Like the apostle Paul, we must be content in every circumstance. Paul put prosperity and poverty on the same level. Paul’s “I have learned…” is the very reverse of resignation. In Christ, life is fulfilling and meaningful regardless of external circumstances. But here’s the rub. Even as I expect our evangelists to be indifferent to their social conditions, I must constantly ask myself whether I can live in all conditions without wanting to change them to meet my comfort levels. This is never possible except through the strength of Christ. Yet I believe this attitude of contentment is completely decisive in relation to our situation in society, whether we live in affluent America or impoverished Africa. How can I expect the Gondar evangelists to accept difficult living conditions if I myself am not willing to do the same, if I am not able or willing to travel to uncomfortable and even dangerous parts of the world for the sake of Christ, if I am not able to put aside my sad scholarship for something much greater — relationships? So even as I pray for the evangelists as they begin their work, I pray for myself — that I would be as sacrificial in my outlook as they are.

8:22 AM For those of you who missed the latest greatest GOP debate, here’s a good roundup. My favorite line in the comments section (despite the overuse of exclamation points): “Why is Ron Paul a Republican? He actually makes sense!!!!”

7:59 AM The latest addition to our home page is called The Synoptic Problem: Why Are the Fathers Ignored?

7:55 AM I see that I’m not the only non-Anabaptist who appreciates the work of the Anabaptists.

7:51 AM Yesterday I linked to a review of one of Karl Barth’s books. What is my opinion of the work of Barth? In a nutshell, it is this: Barth may be often wrong, but he is never platitudinous or dull. Much can be learned from his acute and informed expositions. Even more can be gained from critical interaction with his brilliant discussions. For example, if you have never read his Church Dogmatics, you are missing a very stimulating work. Above all, I appreciate Barth’s unflagging stance against German statism during World War II while most of the other prominent New Testament scholars were bending the knee before their Leader (while misquoting Romans 13).

7:46 AM Aussie John has joined the discussion about the (public) confession of sins. An absolutely superb read.

7:40 AM Reading Arthur Conan Doyle is such a delight for me because I’m always being exposed to English words I don’t know. Last night I encountered two such lexemes: “crenulated” and “mullioned.” These words occurred in Doyle’s wonderful description of Baskerville Hall in Devonshire, just before Sir Henry is greeted by the butler and his wife.

Incidentally, the entire Hound of the Baskervilles can be read online here.  

7:32 AM While living in Southern California I was privileged to study dressage with one of Germany’s most accomplished riders. Dressage is a French word referring to the “dressing” or “training” of one’s horse. The ancients used it for preparing their steeds for battle. In this cute essay, Winnie the Pooh is critiqued on his dressage form. The one thing I like about Pooh’s technique is his smile. Dressage takes a great deal of effort, but there’s no sense in working that hard without enjoying it. I can remember hooting and hollering when I was taking Traveler cross-country riding, so fast were we going and so thrilling was the experience. I recall doing the same thing on 25-foot waves in Hawaii. I guess I feel the same way in the classroom today. I never dread walking into a class full of students eager to learn. I haven’t yet hollered though.

Thursday, September 6

10:49 AM The number of evangelicals converting in Eastern Orthodoxy continues to grow rapidly. The reasons are discussed here. Interestingly, many of the converts are former Baptists.

10:44 AM James Tucker writes to tell me that he has completed a set of vocabulary cards based on Bruce Metzger’s Lexical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek. This is a real labor of love on your part, James. Many thanks indeed.

10:37 AM You can read about a 6 foot 4 inch long zucchini and other record holders here.

 

10:32 AM Wyman Richardson reviews Karl Barth’s Dogmatics in Outline.

10:30 AM Richard Mouw is rethinking his “theology of hugging.” Glad he is. In Ethiopia hugging is as natural as handshaking is in America. Usually you have to hug three times for your hug to be proper. Sometimes you kiss the person’s cheek while you’re at it. When I greet Muslim men I usually hug them and then kiss their right hand three times. They always return the favor. Men are much more demonstrative in Ethiopia than in the States, without any sexual connotations at all.

10:24 AM Students, if you still need to buy books this semester, here’s a website that compares merchant sites such as Amazon, EBay, Barnes and Nobles as well as some used book stores. For example, here’s the lowdown on my beginning Greek grammar. Prices range from $15.19 to a whopping $38.64. (I almost used an exclamation mark at the end of that last sentence.)

10:19 AM Greek students, when I had just completed my third week of beginning Greek in college, this is how I felt:

No kidding. The result was a quick trip over to the registrar’s office to drop the course. If this is how you look after studying Greek for three weeks, please call me or write me. I’ll help you get over the hurdles. I know you can make it.

10:15 AM How does your seminary stack up with other seminaries in the U.S.? You can find out here. Of course, as far as my father-in-law, who’s a DTS grad, is concerned, there’s only one seminary.

10:12 AM Did you know that South Korea, which is about 30 percent Christian, is the second-largest source of missionaries, after the United States, with almost 17,000 in 170 countries? I thank God for each of them. Let’s pray for the returned hostages as they recover from their ordeal and readapt to home life.

10:05 AM Our postman is not a pastor but he is a wonderful Christian. In Podunksville you can get into a wonderfully long conversation with your mail carrier. No one is in a hurry out here in the country, and that’s just the way we like it.

9:58 AM In praise of Wikipedia.

9:55 AM A pastor (Chuck Baldwin) interviews a strict constitutionalist (Ron Paul). The interview is about 30 minutes long. Listen and learn why there’s such a huge groundswell of support for Paul and how he differs from the rest of the pack. I earlier said that Paul doesn’t stand a chance to win the Republican nomination. Well, I eat my words. Today he’s got a chance – if the neocons split over Romney, Giuliani, and McCain. One thing is sure: Paul is the only constitutionalist when it comes to the Iraq War.

Added note: If you are a public speaker, watch this video of a Ron Paul stump speech and notice how effective he is with his audience. Note especially the absence of any notes.

9:47 AM Nice note from a fellow farmer:

Hi Dave,

I enjoyed your posting on farm life yesterday.  It came at the right moment.  I have been feeling overwhelmed here on our farm trying to get things cleaned up and moved around…. I felt much better when I came home and then I read your post and it made me laugh at how easy it is to put our focus on our to-do list and to miss the blessings of the Lord.  Have a great day.

Amen to that.

9:36 AM Do you like to use exclamation points in your blogging and emails? I don’t know about you, but I have to think that an exclamation point can actually trivialize the emphatic point one is trying to make. I always think twice about ending a sentence with one, and I never use two or more in one place. Common sense says: When everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized. It’s like the boy who cried wolf one too many times. One author suggests that we use the exclamation point no more than two or three times per 100,000 words. Sounds good to me. I notice that the ISV breaks this “rule” in numerous places: “Look! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” (Matt. 12:2). Were the Pharisees really that excited? This is an area that cries out for reexamination when our committee meets again. Meanwhile, I try to tell myself constantly: “Dave, avoid the gratuitous use of exclamation points!”

9:25 AM Nice little serendipity: We had Kona Coffee yesterday in our lounge at school. Delicious. I’d say it easily beats Colombian brands any day. Kona coffee is cultivated on the volcanic slopes of what is known as the Kona coffee belt on the Big Island of Hawaii. I had plenty of friends in Kailua who would go there every summer to work during the coffee harvest. I never went myself – too busy surfing at Waikiki and Ala Moana, I guess.

9:20 AM Check out David Regier’s blog for some good thoughts about 1 John 1:9 – what it means, and what it doesn’t. How true – our spiritual passion is affected by the conditions in and around us. I thank God for those people in my life (including bloggers I know only via the web) whose company invigorates me, and when I watch their lives I am full of new resolve to confess my sins and shortcomings (sometimes to others and not only to God). I have found it extremely helpful, as David points out, to remember that my actions and thoughts are never purely private matters but effect the people all around me, for good or for ill. I too am growing in my ability to be transparent with my fellow Christians. For people in whom the Holy Spirit is working, living without personal integrity and spiritual community is simply intolerable.

9:12 AM I had to smile when I saw that Alan Knox and his fellow elders once brought a series of messages at Messiah Baptist Church on Paul’s “personal epistles.” We, of course, know these letters as “pastoral epistles.” Paul’s letters to Timothy have a peculiar character, being addressed to a person deputed by the apostle Paul to act in his name and to care for the church in Ephesus in his absence. Their application to pastoral ministry today is no less direct because of this fact, for these letters instruct us not only with regard to proper behavior in the church but also with respect to the conduct in which Timothy is charged to lead the Ephesian believers. Nevertheless, to confound the injunctions given to Timothy with the directions Paul gives elsewhere about pastoral ministry (e.g., Eph. 4:11ff.) would be to cast confusion on ministry in its original sense. Two elements are decisive. The first is that the term “pastor” never appears in either of these letters. Of even greater significance is the fact that Timothy was no more than Paul’s temporary personal representative in Ephesus and was definitely not the “pastor” of the congregation. Paul’s emissary was to minister to the believers in Ephesus but not in the capacity of an elder. Indeed, the Ephesian congregation already had elders. On his last journey to Jerusalem Pail had, in fact, sent for the elders of Ephesus to meet him at Miletus (Acts 20:17). Paul wrote 1-2 Timothy in order to instruct young Timothy on how the church should function and how God’s people should interact in it – specifically how godly leadership can be recognized and developed and how false teaching can be avoided. Timothy’s task was to provide consistent teaching and to model integrity as a leader. He was to “preach the Word” and “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:2, 5), which was Paul’s own mission – preaching the Good News to the Gentiles. In addition, Timothy was to commit what he had learned from Paul to faithful disciples who would be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2). Paul’s hope was that the entire congregation in Ephesus – every man and every woman – would apply the Word of God in their lives in four distinct ways so that they would be “complete, thoroughly equipped for very good work” (2 Tim. 3:17). Such completion (or maturity) would issue from (1) doctrine (studying the great truths of Christianity), (2) reproof (gently challenging each other with those truths), (3) correction (being guided by the Scriptures to take corrective courses of action wherever necessary), and (4) instruction in righteousness (being trained by that truth to live out the Christian life in daily practice). Intolerable confusion arises, then, when we speak of these letters as “pastoral epistles,” for the term suggests that Timothy was the church’s pastor. This is an exegetical trap into which many well-meaning expositors have fallen. Hermeneutical freedom cannot be just an investigation of the meaning of the biblical text by an inner deciphering of the text. It has to be a discovery of the meaning in the context in which the text was originally written. This means that we can no longer do today what scholars and expositors have done for so long – apprehend the meaning of these letters divorced from their historical setting. In my classes I must plead constantly for this kind of contextual interpretation. Indeed, one of the things that disturbs me most about current exposition is its almost complete subjection to modern cultural background and its willingness to apply the text without first interpreting it. I find not the slightest indication in these letters that Paul intended his statements to Timothy to apply to modern concepts of a professional pastorate. I think it’s a great pity that 1-2 Timothy were ever called “pastoral epistles” in the first place. They are in the most literal sense occasional documents written to meet an immediate situation. They are not treatises that Paul sat down to write in the quietness of his study. It is precisely because these letters were written to meet a threatening danger of false teaching that they still throb with life today. But to say that Timothy was the pastor of the church at Ephesus or that Paul’s injunctions to him are descriptions of pastoral ministry is to go far beyond the evidence contained in the letters themselves.

Wednesday, September 5

6:44 PM I arrived back home from the seminary a few minutes ago, weary from the ministry of teaching and the travel, but grateful to God and looking forward to working on the farm the rest of the week. I am such a klutz when it comes to manual labor that sometimes I think I should be arrested for impersonating a farmer. But that’s okay. I’m really working to establish the farm for future generations.

Tuesday, September 4

4:12 AM I am very excited about tomorrow’s New Testament class. The subject? The synoptic problem. Among other things we’ll be tackling the alleged “errors” in Mark’s Gospel that were “corrected” by Matthew and Luke. This position was argued by Robert Stein in his book The Synoptic Problem. We’ll also talk about the linguistic argument for Markan priority, which Scot McKnight and others consider to be the strongest proof for the Oxford Hypothesis (i.e., that Mark is our earliest Gospel). I sought to rebut Stein’s views in an essay in Filologia Neotestamentaria, and Scot and I had a cordial debate over the linguistic argument at an annual SBL meeting several years ago. (I followed that up with an essay on Markan style in my Linguistics and New Testament Interpretation.) Most of our class time, however, will be spent in examining afresh the statements of the early church fathers about the historical origins of the Gospels (or the “Fourfold Gospel”). I’ll be sharing with the class my fresh translations of the Greek and Latin fathers that I produced during a weeklong stay at a Benedictine Abbey in London while using their excellent patristics library. Below is a chart of one of the theories I will present in class. It is perhaps the consensus opinio today among New Testament teachers, though I strongly disagree with it. Our class should be loads of fun.

4:04 AM I learned something new yesterday. Nathan was telling me about his SCV meeting in Oxford last week, where the speaker was from Butner, NC. He reported on a project to build a monument to the American GIs who passed through Camp Butner on their way to the European Theatre. He also said that the camp held several thousand German and Italian POWs during the war. I didn’t know there were so many, or that Italians were also put behind barbed wire. The German prisoners were let out every day on parole to work in the tobacco fields of Granville County. One of them even painted family portraits, while another built violins and banjos. And get this. The German POWs held a 50th anniversary reunion at Camp Butner in 1995, and over a hundred former prisoners were in attendance, along with their families. That’s amazing. I wish I could have been there. World War II history right here in the Piedmont.

Monday, September 3

3:48 PM Well, I trust you’re having a good Labor Day. Labor is the operative word around here. Becky’s working at the hospital, and Nate and I have been working on the barn. Calls for hay are coming in from far and near. Here’s the load of 50 bales we’ll be delivering to Oxford today.

Meanwhile, Nate just grained the calves. They’re doing fine despite the hot and dry weather. Their older brothers are all in the back 40 enjoying the grass and foliage along with the goats. Before you know it, it’ll be time to process several more steers.

Right now we’re stopping to get something to eat, then I’ll do some writing while Nate drives down to Carolina to swap out our manure trailers. Life on the farm never stops, holiday or not. One gets used to the pace of life, though. In fact, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t have something to do on the farm every day. Over 90 percent of American farms are still owned and operated by families or individuals. There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by fields bustling with the sights and sounds of farm life and nature. Farming has taught me discipline, the pleasure of hard physical work, and the appreciation of what we so commonly find in our grocery stores. I especially enjoy talking to the Lord of All Creation during my daily amblings on our many farm paths. There are trials and tribulations too, but they are vastly outweighed by the blessings. So, on this Labor Day I’m thankful for the health and strength to be able to labor!

8:38 AM Over at Splanknois tou Christou, Matthew Rondeau has begun a series on Roman Catholicism. Here’s his motivation:

I am hearing of more and more protestants who are joining the Roman Catholic Church. As I think about this trend, I am intrigued as to what the impetus might be behind such a move.

His latest essay focuses on the Eucharist.

8:33 AM I ran into a new student at the seminary last week. He was a delight to meet and speak with. Come to find out he blogs over at The Metaphysical Club. Take a peek when you have a minute, especially if you enjoy epistemology.

8:04 AM Seen on the SWBTS campus:

7:51 AM Right now I’m flying high. I just got a phone call from one of our Ethiopian sons. Bereket sounded so good. He still has not been fitted with reading glasses but that won’t slow him down one bit. He called to tell us that he will return to Gondar tomorrow to begin school.

Here’s a picture of Bereket’s beautiful home in the countryside. We visited there in 2005. Bereket was a brand new believer at the time.

Here Becky greets Ashageru, Bereket’s sister. She is beginning the 11th grade this year in Gondar. Ashageru was not a believer when I took this picture, but she is now a vibrant Christian.

Bereket’s mother, Enquahonech, is making injera in this photo. Injera, a pancake-like bread, is the national dish. She also cooked for us a simple vegetable wat (stew) that was absolutely delicious.

After our meal we showed the Jesus Film on our laptop. We have found there is nothing like visiting people in their homes to open up a relationship in which to share with them the love of Jesus. Evangelism is both show and tell.

I am lonely for Bereket and our other children in Ethiopia. There is not a day that goes by that I do not pray by name for these three people. God must love me very much to have given me such precious gifts. I sure don’t deserve it, but I sure do appreciate it.

7:22 AM Help wanted: Senior Pastor.

7:20 AM Alan Knox asks some good questions about theology — the discipline itself, that is. I know one thing: I could never teach systematic theology. I’d get too bogged down in exegeting specific texts. The best I could do in the classroom would be to teach biblical theology. Even then, as Alan notes, if the study of the text itself doesn’t make any difference in our lives, why should we bother teaching it? Why, he asks, should we study the deep theology of Romans 1-11 if we fail to implement the injunctions of Romans 12-16? He’s right, though I would add one caveat: We will always know more than we do. That’s just a fact of life. The practice curve always tends to lag behind the knowledge curve. Think of two parallel lines, both on an upward plane (as in the image to the right). The lines will never touch. However, if the bottom line (the “practice” line) should ever start to sink while the top line (the “knowledge” line) continues to go upward, you know you’re in trouble. In teaching we call this staying “an hour ahead of the hounds.” A teacher is always expected to know more than his students, but if we’re honest, we know that some of our students could be teaching what we’re teaching given a year or two of instruction. In the Christian life, we all tend to lag behind in putting into practicing what we believe to be true. There is a dissonance that gnaws at us and, if we are not careful, it begins to sit well with us until we become indifferent and say, “I can never change in this area of my faith or practice, so why try?” The lesson? For me it is this: Be patient with yourself (as patient as God is with you), but never become complacent. And make sure that both lines are rising, not falling.

One last thought. I met an expat who is teaching theology in Ethiopia to a group of pastors in a Bible college. His textbook is the Bible. So, when he is teaching soteriology, for example, he teaches a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Romans, supplemented by other important texts. That’s it. No Grudem, no Erickson. Just Paul (or Peter, or John.) Now that’s the kind of “systematic theology” I can relate to.

Sunday, September 2

7:52 PM It’s 7:50 pm, and Becky is just now finishing her canning. If there is a harder worker somewhere out there, I don’t know who that person is. Nate finished pressure washer the back of the Hall, and I just finished mowing and edging. That means we’re all too tired to cook tonight, so off to the local Chinese eatery we go to “buffet” our bodies. Talk at you tomorrow.

2:39 PM Good afternoon, cyber friends! We have been having an absolutely wonderful day here in southern Virginia. Becky resumed canning tomatoes long before we went to church this morning. Then after our church meeting I picked two buckets full. Will it ever end?

As always, we thoroughly enjoyed being at our home church. I wanted you to see this picture I took during our Sunday School opening. Christopher leads us in singing. He’s got a powerful voice and sings absolutely on pitch. “A little child shall lead them.” He does a great job. The book we are holding in our hands, by the way, is called a hymnal. Remember those?

After the morning service a few of us guys got together by the piano and sang our hearts out unto the Lord. Spontaneous. Extemporaneous. Bapticostal. I don’t know what to call it, except loads of fun. If you don’t enjoy country Gospel music, folks, you had better learn to like it now. It’ll be the music of heaven.

Meanwhile, Becky and I are looking forward to a busy month, full of happy events. The team from Bethel Hill Baptist Church is giving their Ethiopia report; Becky’s hosting the team members for dinner here at Bradford Hall; we’re speaking on Ethiopia at Mount Tirzah Baptist Church in Charlotte Courthouse; our congregation is hosting a four-church singspiration; Student Day is on the 29th; we’ll be back at Meadowview Nursing Home; and last but not least, Becky and I will be celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary. For that I think she deserves at least the Noble Peace Prize, Sainthood, and probably a Purple Heart. I’ll be gearing up for my next mission trip and wrapping up a very important book project and sending if off to the publishers. On the farm we’ll be completing the hay barn and getting the farm ready for the winter months. In class we’ll be covering many important topics including the Synoptic Problem and Jesus’ age 12 and 30 transitions, as well as tackling the Greek noun and adjectival systems. Fall weather will return and hunters will be gearing up for dear season. (Yesterday it already sounded like World War III around here; dove season had begun.) Life will go on, and we’ll continue to praise the Lord, on bright and cloudy days, in sickness or in health, for the love He allows us to share with one another and the work He’s given us to do both here and around the world.

Saturday, September 1

5:25 PM Two items from the “Believe It Or Not!” file:

1) We actually purchased this lumber. As in “paid for.” Believe it or not! We got it from a friend who runs the local saw mill. It was a steal, too. All this for only $75 dollars. One man’s scrap pile is another man’s barn siding.

2) We pounded several hundred nails today and Mr. Klutz didn’t hit his thumb once. Not one time. Believe it or not! Here’s the framing and siding we’ve started on the upstairs of the barn.

The next step is to install the windows, which we salvaged from a house that was being demolished. One of these years we’ll actually finish this job. I’m thinking we’ll have to have another dedication service like the one we had for Bradford Hall, which only took us three years to build!

7:50 AM The latest addition to our home page is called A Twenty-First Century Church.

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Friday, September 29  

6:10 AMI leave for the airport in 20 minutes. So what has the Lord Jesus put on my heart to share in Romania? These truths:

1) The church has a head. He is Jesus Christ. None other. Not you or me. Not your “senior pastor.” All authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth.

2) The Holy Spirit has sovereignly placed each member in the Body of Christ.

3) Every member of the Body has a special gift. All members of the Body (male and female) are to exercise their gifts, and all gifts are to be exercised for the glory of the Head and for the witness and ministry of the Body (evangelism and edification).

4) Elders (undershepherds) are gifted to help the members discover and use their gifts. The biblical pattern is for a plurality of co-equal male elders who have been raised up from among those whom they serve.

5) Together these ministers — leaders and led alike — comprise the sum total of the activity of the Body. All members of the Body are “ministers.”

6) For the Body to function properly, there must be a system of fellowship that permits intimate relationships to develop. This cannot take place during a depersonalized meeting. In the early church the Agape meal offered this type of fellowship.

7) Each member of Christ’s Body has a solemn responsibility to serve the other members. The gifts of the Holy Spirit require us to live interdependently, serving together in the corporate life of the Body.

These wonderful truths will form the skeleton for my little talks next week. For most of us it will involve erasing the blackboard of personal plans and strategies and handing the chalk over to the Lord Jesus Christ. I intend to flesh out these truths by addressing many other issues as well. But mostly we will try to stick with exegeting specific passages of Scripture, letting the chips fall where they may. Of course, I do not claim a special knowledge in any of these areas. I’m simply a hungry beggar who has found bread and is anxious to share it with other hungry beggars. I am told that Romanian church leaders are just as caught up by status anxiety and bleeding ulcers as are Americans. I want to see them become more God-dependent, stripped of outward evidences of “success.” Effective service for Christ is more a matter of attitude than aptitude. If you’ve got the disease of carnality people know it. They can see through our positions, power, and possessions. Only a broken container let’s the radiance of the treasure inside penetrate the darkness. Peter had this exactly in mind when he wrote (1 Pet. 4:8-11):

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

I suppose many hundreds if not thousands of Americans have gone to Romania on short-term mission trips. I am humbled to think that it is now my turn. I am grateful to all those who made this trip possible: to God who does all things well, to Radu Gheorghita who invited me to lecture, to Nathan (in whom I am well pleased) who is watching the farm while I’m gone, and especially to my wife Becky who wholeheartedly supports me going. Thank you, darling. I will miss having you with me. I love you.

Thursday, September 28  

8:20 PMThe biggest storm of the year has just passed. We started baling about 4:00 pm as the dark clouds were gathering in the west.

By the time we got our last trailer load to the horse barn the first rain drops had begun falling.

And just as we unloaded the last bale God opened the spigot of heaven and the rain started in earnest. 

This has happened time and again, when the Lord Jesus held off the rain until we completed our work. That’s just like Him, isn’t it? Today we got up 255 bales. Each one of them will come in handy when winter begins.  

12:12 PMJust checked the weather in Romania. It calls for sunshine and highs in the mid-70s next week, lows around 60. Sounds ideal to me. In the background I hear Becky scurrying about ironing my shirts and packing my suitcase. Thank God for her gift of organization! I miss her already.

11:51 AMWell, Radu has sent me our Romanian itinerary. It’s a very busy schedule, which is the way I like it. I leave Raleigh-Durham tomorrow morning at 10:30 and arrive in Budapest at 9:00 am on Saturday, where I will be greeted by Radu’s brother-in-law at the airport. While waiting for Radu’s flight to arrive later in the day we will take a brief tour of beautiful Budapest (below).

On Saturday evening we’ll drive to Oradea in Romania (below). On Sunday, Radu will preach at the Providenta Baptist Church in the morning and I will speak there in the evening.

Sunday morning I have been invited to speak at the Tulca Baptist Church. Radu describes Tulca (below) as “a quintessential village church, in a farm land — especially chosen to match your interest in farm life.” I wonder if anybody goes horseback riding?

On Monday and Tuesday the colloquium meets in Oradea. I will be teaching in the morning and the afternoon for about 6 hours each day. On Wednesday we travel to Cluj (below). My maternal grandparents, George and Rachel Arsu, left Cluj in the early 1900s to emigrate to America with their 10 children. While in Cluj we will do some sightseeing and meet with the chancellor of the state university. We’ll also enjoy lunch with several of the theology students there and visit the Reformed Theological Institute. The million dollar question: Will I find any Arsus in Cluj?

After leaving Cluj we will drive to Timisoara (below), where I am scheduled to speak at a meeting of the Areopagus (love that name!) on Jesus’ missionary method (which Becky and I try to emulate in Ethiopia). For more information on this fascinating organization, gohere.

After overnighting in Timisoara we drive to Alba Iulia (below) in Transylvania for a continuation of the colloquium on Thursday and Friday, again teaching about 6 hours daily. 

Finally, on Saturday we drive to the capital city of Bucharest (below) to visit the Baptist seminary and the Ruth Center for Gypsies. I will be speaking in churches both morning and evening on Sunday.

On Sunday evening I take the overnight train to Budapest for my flight home on Tuesday morning. Of course, all of this is pending the Lord’s sovereign leading. Anything can go wrong, and something probably will. Still, I feel like a child in a candy store. Later I’ll have an update on what I’ll be teaching.

7:30 AM Our fryers are enjoying their chicken mansion. We Baptists do indeed love ourfried chicken.

7:27 AM Romania is in the headlines. Along with Bulgaria it will be joining the EU. Two thousand years ago Romania was the last country to be incorporated into the Roman Empire (that’s why people there speak a Romance language), so it only makes sense to add it to the new European powerhouse.

7:24 AM This email came from a reader in Kentucky:

Hello, Dr. Black! Our children are fascinated with your ministry in Ethiopia (as are my husband and I!). Please do add us to your list for updates. Even though they are mere children, they are faithful prayer warriors. Please let us know how we can pray for you, Becky and those you serve in Ethiopia!

I’m happy to add their name to our mailing list. The prayers of God’s people mean everything to us.

7:20 AM Here’s the big question while I’m gone and my Greek students are taking their take-home exam: Who will earn the much-coveted 110 Award? The 10 extra points come from translating a sentence from English into Greek perfectly. The award is a free copy of one of my books. As far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier. Want a tip? Reread each lesson carefully, including the fine print.

7:17 AM Our good friends the Lindholms have just sent us some pictures of the dedication of the new Addis Kidan meeting hall in Addis Ababa. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all. When I spoke there a year ago they were meeting under a leaky tent.

7:15 AM Don’t you love Bill Cosby? Who else would have the nerve to tell young people to spend as much timepracticing algebra as they spend practicing sports? Greek students take note!

7:13 AM Darrell Dow pens thisworthwhile review of Pat Buchanan’s latest book.

7:10 AM New Testament scholar P. J. Williams clarifies the meaning “original text of the New Testament.” Well done, Pete.

7:05 AM In Greek yesterday we enjoyed the wonderful word play Paul used in Phil. 3:2-3. He calls his opponents the katatome (mutilation), while he and the Philippians are the peritome (circumcision) – a pun luminously retained in the KJV’s “concision” and “circumcision.” (Compare Thomas Hood’s, “They went and told the sexton and the sexton tolled the bell,” or “Grave men, near death.”) The enemies of the cross are those who “cut off.” But we “cut around.” Brilliant. Makes you think Paul may have had an acute case ofthis dreaded illness.

7:00 AM Michael Lundell offers some reasons to visitRomania.

Wednesday, September 27  

7:58 PMI arrived home to a wonderful supper prepared by my one and only — liver and onions, mashed potatoes, and green beans. It’s amazing to think that tonight I was eating beef from an animal I raised from a calf. I noticed that Nathan had mowed several of our hay fields while I was gone, so it looks like we’re baling tomorrow. The weather could not be more ideal for it too. After supper I visited Traveler in the big pasture. He knew I was coming long before he could see me. Animals are strange and wonderful in that way. You should have seen him running, as only a thoroughbred can do. The goats tagged along, though at a much slower pace. We’re up to 20 now, with more on the way (assuming that our billy Pharaoh has been earning his keep). Tomorrow is packing day. Jesus told His disciples to “travel light,” and I’ll try to follow that advice. I’m taking several copies of my books as gifts. I still can’t believe I’m going to Romania. I feel like a long lost son going home. I’ll write more tomorrow, but tonight’s popcorn and reading can’t wait any longer.

Tuesday, September 26  

6:25 AMA student asked me the other day where he could find an online German tutorial. Here’s agood place to start.

6:22 AMWe know some friends who just visited Oahu. They hiked up Diamond Head and snorkeled at Hanuama Bay. But they missed thebest place of all.

6:19 AMTibor Machan fled Hungary at the age of 14. Recently heassessed the political  situation in his home country. It doesn’t look good. But that’s what always happens when governments try to redistribute non-existent wealth. By the way, I will be driving from Budapest into Romania this Saturday.

6:16 AMA big thank you to the Home Group Library for mentioning Learn to Read New Testament Greek in theirblog. (I hope you enjoy the book as well, MissJessica.)

6:12 AMTwo questions:

1) Could this be theperfect blog?

2) Should New Testament Greek courses be required for pastors? (Of course [.pdf]!)

6:10 AMThis morning at 9:00 Becky and the wife of a local church pastor are launching a prayer meeting for missions. It will be held each week at Union Chapel Baptist Church. My good wishes and prayers are with them.

6:08 AMSevere persecution of Christians continues in parts of Ethiopia. Here’s the true story of one martyr (see photo) who was killed for refusing to deny Jesus. For other stories gohere.

6:05 AMHere’s more on well drilling in Ethiopia using manual drilling techniques. Note: Lake Langano is where Becky worked in a medical clinic on our second trip to Ethiopia.

6:03 AMYesterday we went to our local feed store to buy some chicken scratch and horse oats. While there I saw a poster announcing an upcoming horse show. Of the prohibited activities mentioned, this one figured prominently: “Absolutely no foal language.” I don’t think it was a pun.

6:00 AMBecky has begun sending out emails to those who have expressed an interest in the work the Lord Jesus is doing in Ethiopia. Yesterday she mailed out the following:

1)Recent Communications from Ethiopia

2)Financial Needs of Our Ethiopian Family

3) Current Prayer Requests

Here’s a sampling:

We are having communication challenges with the Burji church.  There are only 3 telephones in town, and only one internet access.  Recently the internet access (a government office) is being denied the church leaders, and phone connections simply are not going through.  So we are trying letter-writing, which takes about 6 weeks one way!  There is another internet access that is available, after driving about 4-5 hours, if you can find transportation.  Please pray for better communication, in whatever manner our Lord wishes to supply it.  And pray for contentment with whatever level He provides.  There are three primary issues we need to talk over with the Burji church: the Bible distribution, the Meeting Hall completion and the trip with others in summer 07.

The funds that we took last May are becoming exhausted, as we distribute additional funds for building churches in Alaba.  Inflation has sky-rocketed, so the previous estimates and strategies have been adjusted.  Pray for wisdom as we manage the funds in hand so that they will be stretched as far as possible.  God has His perfect timetable, and we must rest in His provision as it is supplied.

Kura is a blind boy in Burji.  He is about 18 years old and is dying from a brain tumor.  The tumor has spread to his spine & is causing tremendous pain in his body.  We have gotten him the strongest pain medicine available in Ethiopia; please pray that he will gain relief and will live in the grace of our Lord, despite the pain.  Pray also that this situation will work for the spiritual strengthening of his parents & siblings.

If you would like to be added to Becky’s email list, just send us a note.This will allow you to receive updates and urgent prayer requests as soon as Becky writes them. I will also post them eventually in our Ethiopia Files. And thanks again for your love and prayers for Ethiopia.

5:46 AMSome have asked for more details about my upcoming trip to Romania. Here are the five “Ws” of my adventure:

1)Who? I was invited to lecture in Romania by Professor Radu Gheorghita of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. Radu (see photo) is a native Romanian and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He will be my translator and guide. You can see that Romanians are tall, dark, and handsome. Considering the fact that I am only half Romanian, I missed out on the dark and handsome part.

2) What? I will be the speaker for the second annual Dumitru Cornilescu Colloquium, established largely for younger pastors and theology students in Romania. Last year’s inaugural lecturer was my friend Doug Moo of Wheaton College.

3) When? I will be gone from Sept. 29 to Oct. 10.

4) Where? The colloquium travels from city to city, beginning in Oradea in the northwest and ending up in the capital city of Bucharest in the southeast. I also have preaching engagements scheduled in both the cities and the countryside. Radu has promised me that we will get to Cluj, where I hope to make contact with my grandparents’ family.

5) Why? Many younger pastors and theologians in Romania are rethinking fundamental issues of church life, including the role of women in ministry, the place of sign gifts, and principles of leadership. I have been asked to give my views on these and other topics.

I hope to post a detailed itinerary before leaving on Friday. And yes, I will be taking my camera along.

Monday, September 25  

7:02 AMI leave for Romania in 5 days. I am also praying constantly about going to Iran. I realize that I can go only as God gives me an open door and a green light. The fact is, the only way I’ll know whether it’s the Lord’s will is by much, much prayer. Paul deeply desired to go to the people of Bithynia, but God called him to Macedonia instead (Acts 16). Apparently Macedonia was ready for the Gospel but Bithynia wasn’t. Or maybe it was just that God wanted Peter to evangelize Bithynia (see 1 Pet. 1:1). God had a plan for Bithynia, but Paul wasn’t part of it. Only by being intimately in touch with God did he know he should bypass Bithynia and go on to Macedonia. When it’s time, God will make a way for me to share His love in Iran if that’s His plan for me. Meanwhile, I must exercise patience. How I thank Him for those who model for me the evangelistic impact of a yielded, servant lifestyle!

6:55 AMHere’s one reason we’re looking intodrilling wells in Ethiopia:

More than 75 per cent of the population of Ethiopia lack access to safe drinking-water. More than 300 million people across Africa drink dirty water daily. Access to clean water would save women and girls walking an average six kilometres a day to fetch water, freeing more time for the family, for school and for productive work. Yet the rich world’s aid to the water sector has fallen by 25 per cent since 1996.

6:50 AMJeremy, Sarah, and Victor Enquist blessed us with a visit over the weekend. Jeremy’s father is an elder in a barn church that meets near Rocky Mount, VA, where I’ve had the pleasure of speaking several times.

They rested, chatted, took long walks on the farm, and met all the animals. Here’s Traveler welcoming young Master Enquist to Bradford Hall.  

Victor, you are exactly what your name means: a winner!  

Side note: Jeremy and Sarah have begun reenacting and are finding it a wonderful mission field and ministry opportunity. Their lives are a constant testimony to the love and goodness of the Lord. The Gospel is not something primarily preached on Sunday. It is the Good News that God’s forgiving power is available to overcome the engulfing power of sin. Evangelism is simply introducing this forgiving and restorative power into the webs of human relationships. I once read that over 80 percent of those who trust Christ and remain true to Him are led to the Lord by a friend, while over 70 percent of those who “accept Christ” and drop away are led to the Lord by a stranger. The difference is a lifestyle of personal involvement in the lives of others. Let’s forget the bumper stickers and gospel blimps and get back to the basics of loving and serving others in the name of Jesus.  

6:41 AMGood news! The carwash in Washington State was a “splashing” success:

We did it! We are tired, but it was fun! We raised $360.00 all together
from the carwash. Even more amazing to me is the faithfulness of the Lord with the weather. It was a beautiful 75 degrees out with clear skies after a week of rain and cold weather here.

Thank you for praying this event.

6:36 AMA word to my Greek students.

A basketball coach once posed this question: “You have two guys run down to first. They have equal times, but one has much better form. Which one do you choose?” Answer: You choose the one with the bad form. You can coach him to use good form and he will beat the other guy.

Remember, if you need a Greek coach, my door is always open.

Saturday, September 23  

10:08 AMThe “Carwash for Ethiopia” in Washington was postponed to today. I’m praying for the sunniest sunshine thus unsunny state has ever had.

7:31 AMThe latest addition to our home page is called Partners in the Gospel.

7:24 AMGod is at work among theOrthodox of Ethiopia.

7:22 AMMike Blyth reviewsIran: Desperate for God.

Friday, September 22  

2:19 PMBecky is busy preparing the house for weekend guests. Tonight’s supper menu? Romanian Stuffed Peppers. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

2:13 PMLord willing, one week from today I leave for Romania. I’ve waited a long time for this trip. Here are some facts about the country:

• Romania is located between Bulgaria and Ukraine

• It has cold winters with frequent snow and fog and sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

• The infant mortality rate is 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births

• The unemployment rate is 8.3-

• It has 1 million internet users

• Principle exports include textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels

• The capital city is Bucharest

My mother’s family came from Cluj. Will I find any Arsus there? Stay tuned….

Thursday, September 21  

7:45 PMNate just called from his farm. He’s bringing up popcorn while we do some reading. I’m finishing upMoonless Night by Jimmy James, a superb escape story from World War II.

7:33 PMGrowing up in Hawaii means you never wear shoes if you can avoid them. And today I’m paying a high price for my bare feet. I think I must have the flattest flat feet on the planet, and I was on them all day painting a porch. Right now they feel much better because I’ve been sitting down for a couple of hours. Becky was busy prepping for her meeting tonight so yours truly cooked Chinese food for supper, using (of course) my secret ingredient. For the meat I used some filet mignon from one of our cows. Tender and delicious. Right now I’m sitting here thinking about and praying for B. as she speaks.

7:57 AM The latest addition to our home page is calledGamblers for Christ.

7:55 AMA reader in Houston sent along this letter. It warmed my heart:

I was “introduced” to you via your book “Learn to Read New Testament Greek.”  I’m now about 18 months into learning Greek, mostly self taught with some help from a friend, and it has thoroughly changed my life. It’s really quite profound to me that (a) I’m actually able to do it (I had serious doubts when I started and it took a lot of encouragement from my friend who helped me), and (b) that learning the Greek makes such a huge difference in reading the Bible. 

I like to quip, “Greek is actually very easy. It’s us Greek professors who get in the way.” To all of you who are learning this wonderful language: May the Lord Jesus richly bless your efforts. And remember: If you drop me an email I will send you gratis a pronunciation CD and workbook.

7:51 AMTonight Becky will be speaking to the Women’s Missionary Union at Bethel Hill Baptist Church. Her topic? The women of Ethiopia. This is one my all-time favorite pictures of Becky. The Ethiopian is Ashageru, Bereket’s sister. She has also become our sister in the Lord, praise God.

7:46 AM This just in from Bill Welty, Executive Director of the ISV Foundation:

Because you’ve contacted us in the past about our Holy Bible: International Standard Version, we’re writing you to let you know that we’ve just released version 1.4.0 of the ISV. Our new release supersedes all previous releases. Please click here if you’d like to download your own free copy of the ISV in Microsoft DOC format (compatible with Microsoft Word and the open source OpenOffice) or in Adobe Acrobat’s PDF file format.

7:42 AM Thanks to all who wrote to me with their remedies for sinus headaches. Seems there are many out there.

7:40 AM The last few days have been eventful to say the least. I am gearing up for my trips to Romania, Ethiopia, Morocco, and (possibly) Iran to lecture in an Islamic seminary. Islam is in the news again in a big way. What strikes me is how painfully ignorant of Islam we are in the West, even though it is the world’s second largest religion. Yes, I include myself among the ignorati. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam has its origin in the Middle East. It represents belief in heaven, hell, and a day of judgment, and it venerates prophets from the Old and New Testaments including Abraham and Moses. Christian Arabs use the term Allah to refer to God the Father when they speak Arabic. And the list goes on and on. Often our idea of Muslims comes from the worst flying-carpet stereotypes. Asone writer has put it, “It is as if anything to do with Allah must be demonized in order for us to feel righteous and justified.” More importantly, we approach Islam with a double standard. We are quick to condemn violence when its source is Islamist but ignore the history of violence, slaughter, and imperialism in Christianity. Anti-Americanism is driven not only by the blind hatred of terrorists like Osama bin Laden but also by a broader frustration and anger with American foreign policy among many in Arab and Muslim societies. Many see our espousal of self-determination and human rights as disingenuous in light of our tough guy stance in the world. We use the danger of “Islamic fundamentalism” as an excuse for authoritarian responses and policies. Clearly the cancer of global terrorism will continue to plague the West until we address its political and economic causes, causes that have bred hatred and radicalism and recruits for the bin Ladens of the world. Meanwhile, what can I do? What can you do? Love Muslims. Love them wherever you find them. Invite them into your home. Share your lives with them. Speaking personally, I am committed to sharing the love of Jesus with every Muslim I meet, whether in Ethiopia or elsewhere. Yes, they are kidnapping Christians in Alaba and murdering their children. All the more reason to “hold forth the word of life” (Phil. 2:15), just as the bright light from a lantern dispels the surrounding darkness. If Jesus could bring His light into this poor world for the sake of an evil sinner like me, surely I can share that light with Muslims.

7:31 AM If you think about it, please remember in prayer our son Bereket, who goes back to school in Gondar this week. We are sending him to a private school where the classes are smaller (public schools in Ethiopia can have up to 100 students per class). God did not see fit to heal him to the point where he can use eye glasses, so reading will be a struggle for him. Revelation 21:4 says that one day the Lord “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Thank God, disease belongs to the “old order” that is passing away. Meanwhile, we all must struggle with our physical limitations, but I think it’s harder for young people. Someone once said that people are like tea bags. You never know how strong they are until you drop them in hot water. This will be a test of Bereket’s faith, so please say a prayer for him from time to time.

Tuesday, September 19  

6:59 AMI know it’s a bit dated, but I enjoyedthis interview with Morocco’s king. As you know, I’ll be lecturing at the University of Marrakech next March, Lord willing.  

6:55 AMSeems that several of my former students will be studying in Europe for their doctorates shortly, which makes me very happy. I look back on my own doctoral studies in Basel with nothing but sheer joy and satisfaction. My advice is to avoid the American ghetto as much as possible. Get to know the country and its people. That way you’ll get 2 “educations” for the price of one.

6:51 AMIn preparation for my trip to Romania I’m working on an essay called “The Lord’s Supper: Big Nibble Or Sibling Revelry?” Pray for me.

6:46 AMI love coral, even though it almost killed me while surfing the Banzai Pipeline while in my teens. The BBC has a new post on coral reefs and the surprising animals one finds among them. Clickhere to read it.

6:41 AMThis is a big day for me because we are expecting a major storm system to come through and when that happens I usually get a severe sinus headache. We’ll see if the medicine I’ve been taking prophylactically will work. If not, it’ll be back to grinning and bearing it.

6:37 AMIs this cool or what? In both first AND second year Greek this week we are studying adjectives, including how to use them emphatically. For example, Jesus didn’t say, “I am the good shepherd.” He said, “I am the shepherd, the good one,” implying that not all shepherds are good. We can do something similar in English when we say, “God Almighty will grant you life everlasting” instead of “Almighty God will grant you everlasting life.” Of course, in other languages (such as Spanish) the postpositioning of the adjective may have a different function. Ain’t languages fun?

6:32 AMMeetings do not get any better than the one we had last night. It was bathed in prayer and blessed with a spirit of yieldedness and anticipation. The most discussed topic? Bathroom facilities. Or lack thereof. Latrine pits were a new concept for most in attendance. Still, at the end of the meeting at least 8 people indicated a strong interest in going to Ethiopia with us next summer to visit their sister church. Becky also gave Pastor Jason some photos of the Soyama church for Bethel Hill’s new church directory. The excitement is mounting, folks. It gives you a great feeling knowing that God already knows the team members. May the Lord richly bless Bethel Hill Baptist Church and their sister congregation in Burji. It’s obvious that good things are happening in both places.

 

Monday, September 18  

5:10 PMIn 5 minutes we leave for Bethel Hill Baptist Church in Roxboro to meet with those interested in possibly going to Ethiopia with us next summer. It will be quite an extensive briefing. I am very excited. I am also a bit tired. This morning Nathan and I went to Carolina to buy a new wood stove for his farm house. It was a steal — only $100. Our trailer got a flat and it took us 3 hours before we found a tire store that could replace it. Then we wormed the goats, did some fence mending, and took a break. Tonight marks a new step in our ministry and we are praying that the Lord Jesus will guide us clearly as to His choices for our summer team.

7:45 AMThis week Becky and I are speaking on Ethiopia 5 times, including last night at Cavell Baptist Church in Roxboro (see photo). I really wish I could put into words what I feel about my partnering with Becky in this way. As she put it to me the other day, barely 2 years ago we had no real connection with Africa, and yet today we have 9 Ethiopian children and a ministry of providing eyeglasses, flannel graphs, vitamins, protein bars, Bibles, buildings, sponsorships for Bible school students, laptops, projectors, the Jesus Film, leadership training, mentoring, and more. The preparation for this winter’s trip has started with a rush, and I am constantly amazed at how the Lord directs not only us but others as well. What I am witnessing is something more than an organization or even a movement but a clear, quiet moving of God in His dear children. The joy that I am experiencing today reminds me of the reality of my days in the Jesus Movement in Hawaii when as a 16-year-old I gladly volunteered to serve the Lord in practical ways (such as building the First Baptist Church of Honolulu). Increasingly I see the world as my home, and doctrinal correctness as exceedingly practical. Why should the Holy Spirit’s leading today be any less real than it was in the first flush of my days as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Be assured that Becky and I appreciate your prayers and emails of encouragement, though one feels totally unworthy to receive any of these expressions of love.

Sunday, September 17  

6:47 AMMore pics: Becky and I missed the grand opening of the Chicken Palace on Friday, but I see that all 200 of our chicks arrived safely. Here they are enjoying the free all-you-can-eat buffet.

Nate repaired and painted a neighbor’s barn roof. Now it’s good to go for another 25 years.  

The Rondeau Family Singers and Players shared our supper table last night. Here Caleb and Isaac assist Becky with their considerable musical talent. 

Have a wonderful Lord’s Day. 

Saturday, September 16  

11:33 AMToday’s the day. I’m talking about the “Carwash for Ethiopia” the Heath family is holding in the great state of Washington. I’m praying for sunny weather.

9:25 AMWell, it was incredible. After 2 solid days of rain the Lord Jesus sent us perfect weather for our entire trip. First stop? The Natural Bridge. Thomas Jefferson once owned it (he bought it and 157 acres of land from King George for 2 dollars).

A mile-long hike took us to the Cedar Creek falls, which were very active because of the recent storm.

And here’s our secluded anniversary cottage in the hills just south of Lexington. We stayed upstairs in the oldest part of the house.

After a delicious supper at Ruby Tuesday’s, we watched the sun set over the Blue Ridge from our front porch.

On Friday we drove over to the Buffalo Springs Herb Farm. We were blown away by the beautiful grounds and buildings. Just look at that lawn. 

Always the historians, we decided to try and find the area where Becky’s family (the Lapsleys) once lived. And we did.

This is where Lapsley Run joins the James River. The Lapsleys didn’t stay long in the Shenandoah Valley. Some moved to Kentucky, others to Texas. Becky’s line ended up in the small town of Dallas. That was 5 generations ago.

On the way home we visited some good friends near Rocky Mount, VA. Their daughters couldn’t wait to give us their dolls to pass on to some Ethiopian children on our next trip.

               

All in all, a perfect commemoration of our wedding 30 years ago. Charles Sheldon, in his book In His Steps, puts it this way:

Shall not the same divine power of love that belongs to earth be lived and sung by the disciples of the Man of Sorrows and the Burden-bearer of sins? Yea, verily! And this man and woman shall walk hand in hand through this great desert of human woe in this city, strengthening each other, growing more lovely with the experience of the world’s sorrows, walking in His steps even closer yet because of their love for each other, bringing added blessing to thousands of wretched creatures because they are to have a home of their own to share with the homeless.

“For this cause,” said our Lord, “shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife.” As we begin another year together Becky and I desire to love Him with a deeper, truer service and devotion than ever before.

Thursday, September 14  

7:43 AM Small church shepherd Tony Sisk addresses the problem with our teenshere andhere. I’ll contribute to the debate by adding that only a return to biblical teaching on youth can solve the problem.

7:40 AM If you missed these links on the home church, you can log on to them with aclick.

7:35 AM FBC Family has published (.pdf) a review of an essay I wrote based on my bookWhy Four Gospels? You can read the reviewhere.

7:32 AMNow here’s a sensible statement:

“Transfer growth” is usually nothing more that a perpetual regiment of disgruntled church members who pass from church to church seeking to have their perceived or felt needs met. By the way, this is not true Christianity because mature church members are to be givers not takers.

ReadTransfer Growth vs. Real Growth. It would be a mercy if one time – just one time – American evangelicals en masse would exchange their needs-based kingdom-building for obedience-based discipleship.

7:31 AM Westmont College announces an opening inReligious Studies.

7:25 AM In 16 days I leave for Romania. My host and I have decided to treat the following four topics in symposia to be held throughout the country:

The Assembling of the Church (we meet to edify one another, not to evangelize or worship)

The Ministers of the Church (every-member a minister, priesthood of all believers, highly participatory meetings , etc.)

The Leaders of the Church (elders and deacons/deaconesses, plurality of non-hierarchical male elders, eschew honorific titles, no “senior pastor,” pastors are called to teach, not preach, etc.)

The Mission of the Church (committed to disciple-making through baptizing and teaching)

Don’t look for a mass revival to take place, but there may be a wick-trimming among the faithful as the Bridegroom draws near. Meanwhile I’m plugging away at trying to teach myself a few simple Romanian phrases. I must be having a mental block, however. I wish the country spoke German or French instead.

7:16 AM Whycorporate blogging is the wave of the future.

7:12 AM Baptist Bible College’s Rodney Decker has written a very helpfulsupplement (.pdf) to chapter 2 of my bookUsing New Testament Greek in Ministry. Thanks, Rod, for this labor of love.                                                                   

Wednesday, September 13  

7:39 PMI just got back from Wake Forest, weary and worn but elated at how well classes have gone thus far this semester. Right now I need to get unpacked and prepare for tomorrow’s trip.

Tuesday, September 12  

6:43 AMThe latest addition to our home page is called Truth and Love: Finding Our Balance.

6:40 AMDid you know thatblogging is good for your brain?

6:35 AMHere’s a good definition of “world Christian”:

World Christians are (in Corrie Ten Boom’s phrase) tramps for the Lord who have left their hiding places to roam the Gap with the Savior. They are heaven’s expatriates, camping where the Kingdom is best served. They are earth’s dispossessed, who’ve journeyed forth to give a dying world not only the gospel but their own souls as well. They are members of God’s global dispersion down through history and out through the nations, reaching the unreached and blessing the families of the earth.

Readmore.

6:32 AMBecky’s peas are on the rise!

6:29 AM“A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.”  G. K. Chesterton.

6:25 AMGreek students! Here’s an amazing list of tools that you can use whether you’re a beginner or an expert in the language.

6:22 AMJesus,spiritual carpenter.

6:13 AMHere’s the Reader’s Digest version of our anniversary day. Woke up and sipped coffee together on the front porch, then shared our gifts with each other. I cooked eggs-in-a-hole for breakfast. We worked on putting up our reenacting gear. Had a nice visit from some friends who brought us specialty coffees and Hershey Kisses. I did some writing while Becky baked my favorite pastries: cinnamon rolls and raisin bread. Later she cooked a superb anniversary supper. We capped off the evening watching Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy fall in love in Pride and Prejudice. God is good.

Monday, September 11  

8:38 AMToday Becky Lynn and I are commemorating 30 years of holy matrimony. Only the Lord could have brought together a fifth generation Texan and a surfer from Hawaii. We have much to celebrate and to be grateful for this day. I wroteRemembering September 11 several years ago as a reflection on our marriage.

8:30 AMA big Monday shout out to Al Boswell and his event staff for putting together a fabulous reenactment this weekend in Snow Camp, NC. We drove up on Friday and stayed until Sunday afternoon. The weather could not have been better for doing an outdoor living history. Here’s the scene that greeted us on Saturday morning in the Confederate encampment. We try to keep as period as possible, from the brogans we wear on our feet to our tentage.

Becky’s cooking is always stellar during these events. We fell in with the 1st Kentucky Regiment and Becky became camp cook. Here she is slicing some of the homemade bread she baked a day before. Our meals were sumptuous fares, and all cooked over an open fire. A big thank you to Becky for blessing us in this way.

In the photo below Nathan is playing period hymns on his 1850-era reed organ. This is not a reproduction and was undoubtedly played during the war. How anyone can operate the keyboard with his hands and pump the bellows with his feet at the same time is beyond me.

Organ lessons are always free and gladly dispensed, much to the delight of this young man and his father.

The two show battles we put on for the public were great fun, but to me the highlight of the weekend was the period church service held under the main tent on sutler row. Before the service Nathan gave an organ concert to an appreciative crowd of reenactors, including Generals Lee and Jackson (center).

I had the joy of sharing a simple message and was very ably assisted by fellow-reenactors Dennis Riddell (welcome and opening prayer), Jeremy Enquist (song leader), and Will Delaney (bagpipe solo). Thanks to all for their assistance.

Here’s a good shot of our worthy opponents just before battle on Saturday. The older gentleman (center of photo) took dead aim at me during the contest and down I went. The cry went up from the Federal ranks: “You killed Dr. Black!”

I’m often asked, “What rank are you? General? Colonel? Major?” The answer is that in 15 years of reenacting I have never aspired to a higher rank than the one I currently possess: private. I am the extension of a musket, nothing more and nothing less. But battles were won or lost because of the private soldier.

Reenacting is a wonderful hobby. It’s also an enormous mission field. Just like people everywhere, reenactors are not immune to the heartbreaks of life. My greatest desire is to see our dear friends experience the “full” reality of the Civil War, which for many (especially in the Southern armies) meant coming into a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the midst of the harsh realities of war. Truly,Christ was in the camp.

Friday, September 8  

7:46 AMJust added to our home page is our latest essay,The Problem of Wineskins.

7:35 AMA dear family in Texas emailed to say they would be in prayer as I preached at the reenactment this weekend. In my response I said:

Thank you for praying for me as I bring the message on Sunday. I do not “reenact” church; it’s the real deal. The reenacting community is a huge mission field, and I will be breaking with habit and bringing an evangelistic message. May the Lord be praised!

Thursday, September 7  

6:03 PM As I sit here on the front porch writing my latest web essay, here’s the view that greets me. Just thought I’d share it with you.

11:38 AM In 5 days we’ll be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. I got Becky’s present yesterday. Boy is it cool. I can’t wait to give it to her on Monday.

11:36 AM The latest exciting news on the Lord’s work in Ethiopia:

1) The pastor of a rural Virginia congregation that has adopted the Bedene church in Alaba told us that the teachers of their Sunday School classes for grades 1-3 are very interested in the Bible memory program we are doing there. They’ve asked for the passages that the Alaba believers are memorizing (Psalm 1, Psalm 23, etc.). These teachers want their own students to learn these passages as well, but they want to do more than that. They want to buy Bibles for the Alaba people. So they are having a contest. Each of the children in their classes is getting “sponsors” who promise to give a Bible ($4) for each passage the child memorizes. Each child can get as many sponsors as he or she can. Amazing! As Becky put it in a recent email: “This is truly a wonderful idea…everyone is winning!  The children are learning God’s word, the sponsors are encouraging and giving, and the Alaba believers are receiving Bibles! You know, we are expecting to have to pay about $8,000 for Bibles this Fall, between the Alaba and Burji churches, so this help is a BIG help!”

2) Several days ago we received a letter from a family in Washington state. They read about Ethiopia on our website. The Lord has given them a love for Ethiopia. They have sent us many eyeglasses, and now they are sending us protein bars and vitamins. This family has several young children, and the children are very involved: they choose the eyeglasses, they pray for Ethiopia, etc. Well, in this letter the mother wrote that their family is having a “Car Wash for Ethiopia.” They’ve made a large bulletin board with pictures and information so that the drivers can read about Alaba while their cars are being washed. The car wash will be on Saturday, September 16, and they have asked us to pray for good weather. We have written the church in Alaba reminding them to pray for this dear family as they perform this service of love. They are working for His people on the other side of the world!  

In an age of selfishness and hubris, this rural congregation and this family inspire and encourage me to live a more selfless life. This is my standard and longing. It is my goal in life. Thank you, dear friends, for modeling that for me.

9:34 AM In class this week I emphasized the importance of acquiring Bauer’s Greek lexicon. You can read Rodney Decker’s review of this standard workhere.

8:57 AM Here’s the very latest on The Battle of Zachary Hill this weekend. Note: The reenactment this year features the Hunley submarine, a must-see. In 2004 our reenacting unit had the privilege of marching in the funeral parade in Charleston for the burial of the Hunley crew.

8:54 AM Tony Sisk has a new blog called The Rambling Prophet, which I commend to your attention. Hislatest entry addresses the silliness of lumping all Muslims together as terrorists. Along the way you might note the fact that the fasting growing Muslim population in the West is right here in the United States. For a helpful overview of Islam, gohere.

8:51 AM The Internet continues to transform how the world’s information is indexed, searched, and accessed. That’s the thrust of this piece about Google’sNews Archive Search. This is good news for history buffs like me.

8:45 AM Here’s an interesting overview of thehistory of the Protestant church in Ethiopia. Becky and I have had the joy of working to some degree with each of the denominations mentioned in this essay. Our current work in Alaba and Burji is done in conjunction with the Kale Heywet church, which was founded by the missionaries of my in-laws’ generation.

8:42 AM Bryce (ofBlog of Bryce fame) has just published an excellent essay onpatriotism. Here’s a snippet:

As with any virtue, patriotism can be transformed into a vice when taken to the extreme. Nationalism is a common mistreatment of the virtue we are discussing. We need to have discernment, and we need to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). Let us discriminate between blind support and support of our country in that which we know furthers its ultimate good, with application of God’s law principles.

I must say, I think the younger generation is getting it.

8:37 AM Recent openings of note: Bethel University (Theology), Trinity International University (Christian Ministries), Baylor University (Reformation Studies), St. Olaf College (Religion), Elon University (Religious Studies), Fuller Seminary (New Testament), Wheaton College (Old Testament andTheology), and Simpson University (Old Testament).

8:33 AM WW III has started. Well, not really. It’s just dove season. And there’s plenty of shooting going on where I live. I have one request. Please don’t shoot at low-flying birds.

8:30 AM Now this was funny. Averett Baptist Church (our home congregation) recently introduced yellow squash and zucchini to Ethiopia, and it seems that the experiment is going well except for one “minor” detail. I’ll let a recent email from one of our sons tell the story:

The vegetables which you brought for Hajji Mohamed bore fruits. Even those Muslim people around them plant it in their garden. The fruits are yellow and green. It is happy, happy, happy. My Mom, the problem is we couldn’t know how can we eat. Can we eat the row or we must roast it? Please can you explain about it? The people are waiting your explanation about it.

Don’t worry: Becky wrote back explaining to him how people can harvest and eat their mysterious “fruits.”

8:24 AM Miss Lindsay of Houston has anice update on a young lady from Romania she met recently. If life is really that simple in that country, I think I’ll enjoy it tremendously. I for one am grateful for the less technocratic pace of rural living.

Tuesday, September 5  

6:17 AM Greek students! If you haven’t discovered it yet, Zack Hubert is your best friend. Here’swhy.  

6:15 AM Okay, so you’ve never been to a Civil War reenactment but have always wanted to see one. This weekend’s your golden opportunity. The Battle of Zachary Hill is a local, family-oriented event this coming Saturday and Sunday. For directions and a schedule of activities (including the times for the show battles and the period church service on Sunday), go to last’s year’s link. (I couldn’t find one for this year’s event yet.) Yours truly will be bringing the Sunday message.

6:12 AM Here’s a link to the words of one of my most loved hymns,Jesus, Priceless Treasure. My favorite stanza is the final one:

Hence, all thought of sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within;
Yea, whatever we here must bear,
Still in Thee lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless Treasure!

I was humming it to myself this morning so I thought, why not blog it?

6:10 AM Our Greek exegesis class will be going overthis essay today. I want to help everyone see how beautifully and wonderfully God made the epistle to the Philippians and how the theme (linguistic macrostructure) determined Paul’s choice of words, phrases, and clauses. All I can say is that my heart is filled with gratitude to God for allowing me the joy of teaching this wonderful letter in such a wonderful place.

6:07 AM To find out why clergy change jobs, gohere.

6:05 AM I just had to comment on the tragic sting ray attack that left a man dead yesterday. I’ve only been stung by a sting ray once and that was enough. It happened at San Onofre Beach in Southern California. The barb entered my left foot and the poison stayed in my system for hours. Nothing could lesson or control the pain I felt. Nothing. This may sound wimpy, but I never want to experience such suffering again.

6:00 AM So far, so good. We’ve gotten a huge trailer load of tin roofing, beaded board, doors, and even a mantle from the old farmhouse someone bought and is gutting. Only problem is: where to store it all? I can’t see us building another shed; we’ve got Nathan’s stone chimney to erect before winter arrives. But we are getting some good stuff. And the price is right: free.

Monday, September 4  

8:17 AM Miscellaneous notes: The weather is turning wet again so we may or may not be able to repair a barn roof at a farm about 20 minutes away from us…. This week we’re studying Phil. 1:12-26 in Greek exegesis, and I’ve got a hunch we’ll be spending a lot of time talking about the priority of the Gospel in all things. Paul’s “travel narrative” is much more than that: it shows what kind of a man Paul has turned out to be in prison, and that is a man who lives only for the sake of the Gospel. What happens to him is irrelevant. As long as the Gospel is being proclaimed, Paul rejoices. It’s odd to think of how many believers this very day are in prison because of their faith yet would be rather be there than free…. Today I should be receiving the final itinerary and speaking schedule for my trip to Romania that begins this later month. I might post it here so that you can be praying for Radu and me as we travel and teach. Romania has been in the news lately because of its attempts to legalize prostitution and its refusal to send troops to Lebanon…. This week in beginning Greek we have to get our students over the second of two hurdles, the concept of inflection in the Greek noun. We’ve already introduced the verb system, which is a lot like Spanish. Nouns are very similar to those in German, not that those who had high school German will remember much about that language. My philosophy: make no assumptions about previous language experience. At any rate, I wish all of my students a blessed week and I hope your professor isn’t too hard on you!

7:52 AM Bethel Hill Baptist Church has just set up a marvelouswebpage that highlights the work they are doing with their sister church in Burji, Ethiopia. Just another illustration of the “orthodoxy of community” that Francis Schaeffer spoke of so often — people caring for each other in every area of life, including financially. Increasingly I am convinced that this is the secret of living within a fallen and abnormal world.

7:46 AM “Muslims are the new Jews,” said Paul Silverstein, an anthropology professor at Reed College in Oregon who studies the intersection of race, immigration and Islam. “They’re the object of a series of stereotypes, caricatures and fears which are not based in a reality and are independent of a person’s experience with Muslims.”

Readmore. Thankfully, because Jesus is God His death has infinite value and can cover every spot, including our bigotry.

7:05 AM The latest addition to our home page is called The Joy of Volunteering.

6:58 AM I have been greatly blessed by Lane Keister’s series on the Beatitudes. His latest installment is calledMeekness, Not Weakness.

6:54 AM Over the weekend Nathan and I worked on farm equipment. He just purchased a new metal trailer and asked me to clean and paint it (along with two of his wheelbarrows), which I was happy to do.

You can’t believe how hard it is find anything other than wooden trailers these days, so locating this one was definitely of the Lord. We’ve got our sights on a corn crib that we want to move to our farm, and we just might be able to accomplish that without taking it apart if we use this trailer. We’ll see.

Meanwhile, we’re looking into buying a new sickle mover to cut our hayfields with. Here’s one “on loan” from a neighbor. It hasn’t been used in many years. If we can get it running again we can have it for a mere $100. Here’s Nate trying to loosen up the mower blade with some WD 40. If anyone can get it working again, he can.

Despite the recent rain and wind, the Lord allowed us to salvage some of our corn crop. I don’t know about you, but to me it’s not a farm without corn. Here’s a bucketful picked yesterday evening.

That’s it for now. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “As the Farm Turns.” 

6:47 AM Check out thisdog and horse show.

Saturday, September 2  

7:56 PM We just said a fond farewell to the staff of Olde Mount Vernon Baptist Church who blessed us with a visit today. They spent the day praying, planning, and preparing for the new church year. To visit their website gohere.

12:35 PM I’m sitting here getting some writing done on the computer. Right now I’m working on an essay dealing with finances and ministry — a topic that is close to my heart. In the background I hear laughter and dishes clanging while Becky does what she does best: entertaining our guests. Shortly I’ll be going to work (I actually did bus tables in Waikiki at a fancy restaurant, uniform and all.) Then it’s off to repair the back fence that was hit in two places by fallen trees, courtesy of Ernesto. Nate’s already chopped the trees down. You can’t beat that for efficiency.

12:26 PM Smart realtors have startedblogging. Blogging increases their visibility and market presence. I don’t know exactly how many people have begun reading my essays because of my blog, but the number is high. Go realtors!

12:17 PM Just snitched some of the Cream of Broccoli Soup (with B’s permission, of course). Wow!

9:25 AM I’m rushing around because in a few minutes we’ll welcome a group of elders to Bradford Hall for a retreat. Their goal is to seek the mind of the Lord Jesus; ours is to facilitate that through hospitality. It’s going to be a good day. For breakfast Becky Lynn will be serving Blueberry Cobbler and Coffee; for lunch Cajun Gumbo and Cream of Broccoli Soup with Cornbread and Toast; and for supper Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Tomatoes, and Key Lime Pie. My job? I’m the busboy. The weather is perfect. Currently the sky is cloudless, and the temperature is a comfortable 75.

9:15 AM A big Saturday shout out to the many new students I met this week. Welcome to North Carolina. I hope you enjoy your stay in Wake Forest.

Friday, September 1  

6:15 PM Who said Greek syntax wasn’tfun(ny)?

9:21 AM Nathan just snapped this cornfield photo: the work of Ernesto last night.  

8:46 AM The latest addition to our home page is called On the Road Again — and Needing Your Prayers.

8:42 AM Just a public thank you to the Creator for giving the parched fields of Mecklenburg County, VA, a long drink of water.

8:34 AM Greek students! If you are contemplating getting a Ph.D. in textual criticism you must readthis discussion.

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Friday, September 30

7:18 AM A hearty “Thank You” to our readers. DBO had 13,460 hits yesterday. Our blog still receives the greatest number of them. In addition, many of you have contributed graciously to the needs in Ethiopia. I will have a full report shortly.

These are wonderful blessings from the Lord. Truly, “Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above” (ISV).

7:11 AM Here’s a quote from one of the many essays my students will be reading next semester in our textual criticism class:

When I started this article, I expected the Byzantine text to come off as clearly and significantly inferior to the other text-types. I was wrong. While I believe additional tests are needed, I cannot help but suspect that Hort was in error, and the Byzantine text has independent value. This does not make me a believer in Byzantine priority, but I am tempted toward a “Sturzian” position, in which the Byzantine text becomes one of the constellation of text-types which must be examined to understand a reading.

Source.  

7:06 AM This is about the next best thing to actually visiting the ruins of ancient Corinth yourself.

7:01 AM Students who have asked me about the TNIV will find this essay by Vern Poythress illuminating. It includes a response to Craig Blomberg and Don Carson.

6:58 AM I’ve just made my reservations for the ETS meeting in Valley Forge this November. I will be staying at the Sheraton in King of Prussia. I would enjoy meeting any DBO readers who might be attending. If you would like to get together, send me an email and we will work out a meeting time and place.

6:47 AM A warm blogosphere welcome to Lee and Dawn Shelton, who have started their family blog. May the Lord Jesus richly bless you and your new child.

6:43 AM We once tried raising sheep here at the farm. Today I prefer reading about them to raising them – especially when the author is so talented.

6:41 AM I agree with das Bibel-Blog that the “Director’s Cut” is preferable to the 100-Minute Bible.

6:38 AM No one can have a more futile and ineffective witness for Christ than the man who does not act with Christian grace towards others in the same family. I must constantly remind myself that although I can “be myself” at home with my wife I must always be my “best” self. There is little use in my doing works outside the home if I am not living the life within the home. It’s the little things that matter – a kind word in the morning, a hug and kiss whenever I see her, seating her at the table, opening the car door. These may seem somewhat elementary, and of slight spiritual value, but they are important to let her know that I love her. Christian husbands should be the best husbands – thoughtful, kind, and considerate, as our Father in heaven is gracious to us.  Ray Stedman puts it so well:

No husband is playing his proper role in marriage until he learns to give himself up to his wife, to open his heart to her, to share his emotions and dreams, his thoughts and disappointments, his joys, to fully expose himself to his wife. And there is nothing that makes a woman happier than to know that she fully enters into her husband’s life. That fulfills her, and it fulfills him.

I am determined to do a better job of this, by God’s grace and in His power.

6:32 AM New Testament Textual Criticism is nothing new.

6:28 AM I’ve got a couple of extra copies of a CD with my colleague Maurice Robinson reading the Greek New Testament. If you are currently studying Greek and would like a gratis copy, let me know.

6:26 AM Personally I like Greek blog titles, but I’m not quite sure what to do with this one.

6:23 AM I happened to be teaching in India when Bombay officially became “Mumbai.” Yet I know of few people today – Indians included – who refer to it by its “proper” name. Here’s an interesting story on the importance of the naming (and renaming) of cities. “Tiberius” in the New Testament also comes to mind.

6:20 AM The Kruse Kronicle has a pithy essay on the so-called clergy/laity distinction. Here’s just one tasty nugget:

The primary locus for ministry is the congregation in dispersion throughout the community during the week. We have moved the locus to the gathered congregation.

Thursday, September 29

7:43 AM This is just an opinion, but I think Dr. Harry Sturz’s name (and bio) could be added to this site. It does include Farstad, after all. I’d even be willing to write the entry.

7:40 AM Note to my students in the Greek Exegesis of Mark: Take stock of this nifty tool. (Thanks, Stephen, for all the work you have put into this.)

7:34 AM Over at Ever Vigilant my good friend Lee Shelton takes us on a hard-hitting tour of popular culture and the American Empire and reminds us of some truths the ignorami have made obsolete. I say again: the only authentic response to our political morass is the Lordship of Christ.

7:30 AM Please join us in welcoming 3-day old Harry to Rosewood Farm. Nathan bought him at a dairy farm down in Carolina. He is being bottle-fed twice daily.

7:26 AM On the question of the legitimacy of using discourse analysis in New Testament studies, Matthew McDill has just posted a response to Robert Thomas. Go here for the .pdf file. I think you’ll find Matt’s analysis refreshing and illuminating.

7:22 AM We are praising the Lord that Lindsay and her family have returned safely to their home after the hurricane. This is terrific news.

7:20 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Lee’s Most Enduring Quality.

7:17 AM At Desiring God, John Piper addresses head-on the question of whether seeker-sensitive preachers minimize the Bible. “Bible,” of course, isn’t precisely the right word — after all, it is God who is being minimized.

7:13 AM Don’t forget the Jeb Stuart reenactment is coming up in Ararat, Virginia. We normally make this event but because of more pressing commitments we will have to miss it this year. The Stuart home place is a beautiful venue for a living history, and “Jeb” himself makes an appearance each year in public. Here’s a shot taken of yours truly and his belle at last year’s event:

Wednesday, September 28

6:56 AM Over at the Homeschooling Revolution Izzy tips us to a piece on the horrors of children riding school buses. If people want to remain blissfully ignorant of the dangers of our government schooling system they have that right, but if they’re unable or unwilling to confront the evidence I wish they’d spare serious folk all the teary-eyed sentimentalism. There’s a better way, and if, say, a single mom wanted to raise her own children at home (and teach them also) our churches should stand behind them 1000 percent, and that includes financially.

No Paid Full-Time Staff – We certainly believe there is freedom to have paid staff and biblical examples of the same (1 Tim 5:17-18). We have found that some modern churches elevate paid staff (which is not required by Scripture) as a priority over other commands of Scripture (such as caring for the fatherless & widows). Some modern churches tend to rely too heavily on paid staff to provide spiritual food to families rather than expecting men to both lead their families and participate in corporate praise & worship. Therefore we will refrain from paying elders or administrative staff for anything other than reimbursement of legitimate expenses and small stipends until we have firmly established the opposite patterns (caring well for fatherless and widows and men actively participating in corporate praise and worship).

6:20 AM I see the Friedrichs have been enjoying the free entertainment put on by nature. I can remember growing up in Hawaii. I can say that there was never a time when I was not consciously aware of the beauty of nature — Kailua Beach, the Pali mountains, the afternoon rain, the windward breeze. Here’s a sampler (this is also my screensaver on my home computer): sunrise over Lanikai and the Twin Islands.

These days I find my animals sufficiently entertaining that I haven’t watched TV in years. As one writer to DBO once put it, there’s a reason TV Guide calls it “programming.”

6:16 AM This may disgust you but I bet it won’t surprise you: The 100-Minute Bible.

6:14 AM The Gospel according to Warren.

6:12 AM The journal Novum Testamentum just published my review of N. Young’s Syntax Lists for Students of New Testament Greek (Cambridge: CUP, 2001).

6:10 AM It hardly seems possible that it was 6 months ago that I had to put down my favorite horse. Strange, hardly a day goes by when I do not think of him, even though I enjoy riding Traveler, my Thoroughbred. Cody will always have a special place in my heart as my first horse. Here he is about to give a ride to one of our many guests at Bradford Hall. He always seemed to know who was on his back — whether experienced or inexperienced — and would handle himself accordingly.

Today it’s just me and Trav, whom I ride every chance I get. Trav is our lean, mean running machine. He knows just one speed, which happens to be my favorite also.

6:06 AM I am never surprised to read about the moral bankruptcy of our universities — the most closed-minded and politically-correct places in the nation according to Allan Bloom. There are, of course, exceptions, but their appearance occurs so infrequently that they do nothing more than draw attention to the rule. In his latest essay at the Chalcedon Foundation Lee Duigon does a good job of exposing the degree to which the academic community tilts to the left. I found this to be true even in the refreshingly “liberal” atmosphere (I use the term in its original, positive sense) of the University of Basel in Switzerland, though even there all the teachers in the Practical Theology Department were avowed Marxists. Thankfully, in the Theology Department they were open to Bible-believing Christians — as long as they could write a defensible dissertation.

6:00 AM When I arrived home last evening my son met me with a wonderful surprise. He had fallen a HUGE pine tree and was barely able to haul it off in four giant pieces to the local sawmill. While there he was able to swap our monster pine for about 10 extra wide pieces of the most beautiful oak you have ever seen — perfect for furniture. It took us a long time to move all the pieces into one of our barns, but this wood is a treasure trove. Its ours because of the entrepreneurial spirit of Nate.

Currently I’m working up a web page for Nathan’s work. In addition to managing a 123-acre farm, he specializes in wood working, organ restoration, furniture making, interior remodeling, and restoring old homes. Here are a few samplers of his work, beginning with an old chair he restored.

He is almost finished repairing this beautiful piano we bought at auction a few years ago in Oxford, NC. 

And this is one of 5 fire place mantles he built for us here at Bradford Hall. I love the dental molding. We call this guest room the “Rose Room.” Much of the wood and all of the doors date back to the ante-bellum period.

Though I am a willing helper, Nathan did not get his abilities from his dad, who can’t even change a light bulb without explicit instructions. 

Tuesday, September 27

6:27 AM I suppose I can consider myself a card-carrying member of the New Testament scholarly guild yet I hold to the authenticity of the last twelve verses of Mark. What, then, am I to make of statements like this?

And of course, no textual scholar worth his or her muster believes these verses were original.

6:23 AM John Frame on a problem the Ethiopian church faces daily.

6:20 AM I continue to think that baptism will become more (not less) of a divisive issue in the years ahead. Is baptism (mode and recipients) part of the adiaphora? Ardel Canady thinks not. This is especially delicious:

The Scriptures are much too clear on this. Until shown otherwise on the basis of Scripture, I am convinced that Christian baptism is for believer’s alone, and no Presbyterian that I know would regard me, on this basis, to be weak in faith; they would, however, regard me as holding a false belief. They will have to work hard at convincing me that they are right and that I am wrong.

6:16 AM Could this happen here?

Now these early assumptions are being sharply revised. Under an authoritarian government determined to control information, China has grown a new version of the Internet. As former US President Bill Clinton noted recently, China’s Internet is very unlike the cauldron of dissenting voices that is the hallmark of the Internet familiar to Americans. Instead, it’s heavily filtered, monitored, censored, and most of all, focused on making money.

6:12 AM I once heard Hans Kung speak in Basel, much to the dismay of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. But Basel has always been known for its tolerance of dissenters. Even a guy from a no-name school like Talbot Seminary could get a doctorate there, you know. But challenging papal infallibility is going too far!

6:10 AM A warm welcome and shout out to Karl Hoffman and family who have begun a blog. Karl is a former student of mine who excelled (among other things) in his Greek studies. To read his church website, click here. If you love church buildings, don’t click here. Congratulations, Karl!

6:08 AM Here’s a very kind email I received yesterday:

You were missed! I was glad to hear it was just a modem problem and not an illness or some other problem. Have a wonderful week. God bless.  J. W.

6:06 AM The good folks at the American View website are really showing their stuff in the wake of the Sandra Day O’Conner retirement. Here’s a powerful piece by the one-and-only John Lofton. Reading it through my constitutional lens, I conclude that the establishment could care less about the document that matters so much to John and me — that scrap of paper called the United States Constitution. I fear the policies attributed to Ms. O’Conner have, in fact, an intellectual basis — one that’s deadly for our Republic.

6:04 AM The Online Parallel Bible is up and running.

6:00 AM If you ever get to London, a trip to the British Museum is a must. Here’s one reason why.

Monday, September 26

10:27 AM We just finished the new “old” horse barn. O, the joy of the “cycle of completion,” as my wife calls it. Before:

 

And after….

Here’s a shot I took today of our Sheltie Sheba when I went out to check on the animals. She is doing what she does best: standing guard over the goats. By the way, she is coming into heat (much to the interest of Mr. Shiloh) so we may be having little Shebas in a couple of months.  

I’m off to get rid of stones in our new pasture then help my son seed. I hope to get in a ride today before the rain.  

10:10 AM Just received this note from my friend Buddy Hanson of the Christian Policy Network:

Dave — Great stuff, as usual. Keep up the great work. For the Kingdom, Buddy

Buddy is doing a great job of calling our statesgods to account. The link above will take you to his website.

8:12 AM America’s warfare/welfare state represents human hubris at its “best,” so I’m not surprised to see this post by Chip Bayer about Nazi Germany’s crusade during WW II, claiming, of course, the blessing of the Almighty.

7:59 AM Update on Bereket: Our Ethiopian son Bereket continues to improve. He has met twice with his surgeon after his cornea transplant. His vision is gradually improving but he must remain in the capital for several more weeks as they monitor his condition. Spiritually he is growing like a newborn baby, hungering and thirsting after the pure milk of the Word of God. Even through suffering, God is accomplishing His purposes. Bereket is making it possible for God to reveal His sovereignty and healing power. He is transforming brother Bereket into a witness to Jesus’ deity, just as in John 9. God continues to work out His good purposes through our fallen world. To Him be all the praise and glory.

7:50 AM The last thing Ethiopia needs is another war with Eritrea, its neighbor to the north. Please join me in praying for peace in the Horn of Africa.

7:45 AM At Chalcedon, Lee Duigon brings us the latest on the current “divergence of views” between the German government and homeschoolers. This sentence, early on, caught my eye:

In Germany, persecution means fathers and mothers jailed for trying to homeschool their children, Christian children taken into custody by the state and placed in orphanages, and government officials telling “fundamentalists” to get out of Germany.

It is significant that our “allies” in France and Austria aren’t too thrilled about helping home scholars either.  

7:42 AM Now this is a first. A professor at one of my sister seminaries has notified me that he has requested the publisher of my book It’s Still Greek to Me to send him the electronic files so that he can convert the book into Braille for a blind student. Marvelous!

7:38 AM In an update at the Faith and Dominion site, our friend Stiles Watson writes about the history of the term “New World Order.” His reference to Winston Churchill is worth a link by itself.

7:29 AM You shouldn’t miss Lost In Grace‘s post on Calvinism and evangelism.

7:25 AM I think I may have just found my Internet twin.

7:20 AM At the Parenting with Purpose website, Mrs. Julie Austin has posted a wonderful essay about my wife Becky Lynn. Thank you, Julie. Your family is very special to all of us here at Bradford Hall.

7:18 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Election 2008.

7:12 AM I’m leading off today’s blog update with a Monday morning shout out to our friends at Norlina Baptist Church in Warren County, NC, where I preached a revival all last week. Pastor Doug is a former student of mine and he and his wife Janie are doing a great job loving and leading their people. I spoke on Jesus and the Age 12 and Age 30 Transitions and the horrors of adolescentism, but the real blessing was the high level of participation among their youth in the services.

This week is already shaping up to be a busy one. We are going to try to finish clearing our new hayfield (about 5 acres) today and have already begun sewing seed for grass. We are hoping for rain here in the Virginia Piedmont, which would be most welcome. This week I must also make my reservations for the ETS meeting in November at Valley Forge and purchase my plane tickets to Philly. This year I will be rooming with a good friend from Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania whom I got to know while doing some teaching at Grace Seminary, Richard Fairman.

Sunday, September 25

6:38 PM We’re back. Our modem died on Wednesday and we just replaced it. Updates shortly. It may take me a few days before I can respond to your emails.

Tuesday, September 20

6:59 AM My wife’s sister is a professional signer, and I’ve had some interesting conversations with her about the signs for this or that theological concept. Now Wycliffe is going to invest in a major project to bring the Scriptures to the deaf.

6:55 AM I have yet to visit China though I have taught in Korea on several occasions. Here’s an interesting report on the effect of China’s one-child policy after 25 years. It is possible that this intrusive government policy might be relaxed.

6:52 AM I haven’t mentioned this in a while, but an excellent list of online biblical scholars may be found here. Thank you again, Angus, for providing this service.

6:50 AM While teaching at Norlina Baptist Church this week I mentioned Sepphoris, Herod’s capital city located just a few miles north of Nazareth. It was here that Jesus and His brothers and father possibly worked as builders. Many asked for more information about this city, now excavated, and here’s as good a place to start as any.

Another resource is the book by Richard Batey called Jesus and the Forgotten City. Batey may have overstated his case, but if so, not by much.

6:45 AM I note with interest that Mark Goodacre is moving to Durham to teach in the Duke religion department. Dr. Goodacre is the author of The Case Against Q and other significant works on the synoptic problem, and I look forward to interacting with him in future on this topic. Perhaps it is time to have another symposium on our campus like the one we had in 2000, which resulted in this book. At any rate, a hearty welcome to the Tarheel State, Mark, and all best wishes in your new post.

6:40 AM I am looking forward to teaching an elective on New Testament Textual Criticism next spring. Meanwhile, here’s an exhaustive list of NT manuscripts to keep all of us busy (kepi tip: David Ritsema).

6:38 AM Just ordered:

Go here for more on the infamous Colditz Castle. The resilient and indomitable spirit of POWs during the Second World War is almost beyond belief.

Monday, September 19

8:17 AM The latest essay on our home page is called Patrick Henry Was Right.

8:11 AM The Society of Biblical Literature 2005 Annual Meeting program is now online.

8:10 AM A man and his wife were debating who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, “You should do it, because you get up first, and then we won’t have to wait so long to get our coffee.” The husband said, “You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, since that is your job.” The wife replied, “No, you should do it. After all, it says in the Bible that the man should brew the coffee.” He replies, “I don’t believe that. Show me.” So she fetches the Bible and opens to the New Testament. “See, it says HEBREWS.” 

8:05 AM Sold for more than 20 times its estimate:

7:36 AM Stewards or Owners? It is always dangerous to identify the Christian gospel with any social or political system. It is my judgment, for example, that capitalism can neither be defended nor condemned by the Scriptures. But if there is one thing the Bible clearly teaches it is that God is concerned with the affairs of humanity. Followers of Christ are to be salt and light in the world and servants to others (Matt. 5:13-16; Mark 10:43-44). Jesus Himself healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead. He taught that all people fall into the category of “neighbor” (Luke 10:29-37). Christianity means faith in Christ and service in the world. It is not an “either/or” but a “both/and.”

I live in a humanist, secular society that supports vast state-to-state foreign aid programs through compulsory wealth distribution. All this I oppose, for God’s word is clear that the family – and not government – is the primary agency of welfare, and the church has social obligations as well. Ws stand condemned in America for building great sanctuaries while failing to minister to the poor all around us. It is the church, not the civil government, which should provide for charity. Nowhere in the Scriptures can I find evidence that the state should undertake such charitable works.

I also live in a land of great wealth and unbridled hedonism. Have I escaped the snare of profligate consumerism? This is a question I ask myself often. The answer is to be found in one word: stewardship – the responsibility that each of us has to tend the garden God has given us. The New Testament teaching on this subject has helped me to understand my responsibility before God and the world. God has blessed me with the strength, abilities, and circumstances to earn an income. Whatever I have is not based on whether or not I deserved it.

I am challenged in this age of hedonism to live within my means – to live a “lifestyle of enough,” as someone once put it. I must act as a steward instead of as an owner. I must view my wealth as a gift to be received with gratitude and a responsibility to be exercised humbly. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,” said the Master (Matt. 6:19). His command stands in clear contradiction to the egoism, materialism, and greed of the Western church. Material blessings are not wrong in and of themselves. The point of Jesus’ warning is that it is wrong to lay up treasures for yourselves. This means, for example, that while Becky and I have legal “title” to our farm, we don’t “own” it. We are but stewards on behalf of the real Owner.

In recent years the Lord Jesus has led our family to place a high priority on sharing what we have with others through opening our home and through our financial support of various causes and individuals throughout the world. God has not called us to be poor, but He has called us to identify with the poor and, whenever possible, to provide for them. More than ever, we are realizing that the kingdom Jesus promised us is an alien kingdom – a kingdom “not of this world.” We are but aliens and strangers on earth who long for a better country.

Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Paul added that while money is not evil, “the love of money a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Our economic lives (not just our savings and investments but our possessions as well) must come under His kingdom dominion if we are to be His followers.

Sunday, September 18

8:53 AM Now here’s a guy who’s excited about Greek.

8:47 AM This post is just a long aside, but I can’t imagine a pastor or church leader not having a blog. 25 percent of Internet users read blogs daily, and that number is growing. If I’ve got something to say it may take years (literally) for my thoughts to get published in a journal article. The same message will have been read by a good many persons the very next day if I blog it. I used to write several journal articles a year but have since focused on blogging and writing essays for my site. I’m not saying that journals are a thing of the past; after all, I serve as an editor of Filologia Neotestamentaria in Cordova, Spain. But the longer I am in ministry, the more important it is to me to share what the Lord is doing in my life, and blogging is no doubt the quickest, easiest, and least expensive way to do that.

8:40 AM Big Sunday shout out to my good friend Voddie Baucham, “youth ministry specialist” (a little inside joke). Love ya, man!

8:35 AM “It’s called commitment”: My son posted this on another blog and I thought it was so good I’m reposting it here.

Last year at our local Associational meeting (Southern Baptist) we recognized a local pastor who has been at the same church for 50 years. And that church was a small (30) membership rural church. He stood and told those gathered there that the reason he had such success was that when he went there, he chose to become a part of that community and do his share. For the first 20 years he had a full time job in addition to his pastoring, before he became a full time paid pastor. Today’s pastors need to sink their roots into a community, and then the ministry opportunities will come as the Lord opens doors. Pastors today know that they have a job, and therefore are unwilling to invest their lives into that community. The people know that the pastor will only be there for a few years and don’t have the desire to build relationships with someone who is willing to leave when the pasture dries up. The church is a community, and the pastors ought to be a part of that community (which means they should have grown up there as well, preferably). That is the only way that pastors will stay; when their lives are completely devoted to the people there. It’s called commitment.

Way to go, Nate.

8:25 AM So you want a domain name in Greek?

8:20 AM Here’s a really neat overview of different approaches to discourse analysis, a field I have a deep interest in. Now if I could find the time to complete my discourse analysis of Romans….

8:13 AM To all who joined the blogging craze and whose sizzle turned to fizzle

Saturday, September 17

7:53 AM Rick Brannan compares the Complutensian Polyglot with the Erasmus Greek New Testament in this interesting blog post. The famous “Heavenly Witnesses” passage in 1 John 5:7-8 is also briefly discussed. Kudos, Rick, for some awesome graphics.

7:50 AM Metzger’s Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament can now be accessed online. This is an indispensable resource for all Greek students.

7:45 AM I don’t know how I missed this discussion by Wayne Lehman about Bible versions, including the one I had the privilege of working on. Thank you, Wayne, and keep up the good work at the Better Bibles Blog.

And speaking of Bibles….

7:38 AM The latest project here at Rosewood Farm is clearing land for a new pasture and for a small log cabin. Here’s the road leading to the clearing.

We’ll clear about three acres, pack it down, then seed it with alfalfa, red clover, orchard grass, and crown vetch. We are very grateful: The day before yesterday the Lord sent us a bit of rain — just enough to keep the dust down.

Oh, and here’s Frank, who greets me in the morning just in front of our front porch. There is no more pastoral scene, I think, than cattle grazing in a field.

7:26 AM G. Campbell Morgan on prayer:

Prayer is far more than uttering words. I can pray when I do not think I am praying. We can pray without any words at all. Prayer, in the last analysis, is the urge of the life towards God, and spiritual things; the setting of the mind upon things above, as Paul has it. Every detail of every day can be mastered by that urge.

7:20 AM This site brings together various bloggers who are associated with Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY.

7:16 AM Here’s a church that sings the Doxology in Hawaiian. (Greek students: Note the glottal stops we talked about the other day.)

“Ho’onani I ka Makua mau, ke keiki me ka ‘Uhane no, Ke Akua mau, ho’omaika’i pu, ko keia ao, ko kela ao. A-mene”

7:12 AM Curious about the history of Greek?

7:10 AM This year’s Evangelical Theological Society meeting in Valley Forge ought to be interesting. There’s a great need to clarify what “inerrancy” means, and this is the year to do it. If you would like more information, this essay will bring you up to speed. As an aside, I note that Bible Works will offer training to language profs during the conference.

7:08 AM On this Constitution Day I want to thank King Jesus for the nation He raised up and confess that He is still Lord, God, and our only hope of salvation. Like every nation, America is faced with a choice. We can either love and respect God’s Anointed and so experience His mercy and blessing, or we can refuse to submit and incur His wrath.

7:05 AM Tom Ascol says the pastor ought to be a theologian. I concur. Several of my Ph.D. students are, in fact, planning on a lifetime of pastoral ministry. I praise God for every one of them.

7:00 AM James Spurgeon has posted a great blog entry about cults, their leaders, and what happens to those who try to escape from their influence.

Friday, September 16

12:38 PM Tomorrow is Constitution Day. In honor of this occasion I offer several essays on my home page for your weekend reading.

11:48 AM Jeff Wright has an outstanding post on why pastors are leaving their churches. I plan on addressing this issue during my revivals this year.

11:43 AM Let’s see — we’ve got the Emergent Church, the Purpose-Driven Church, the Convergent Church, and now the Deliberate Church. To wit:

The thesis for the book is that the church should be built around the Gospel. Every aspect of “doing church” should have as its primary focus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From the children’s Sunday school to the announcements, to the pastoral prayer, to the songs selected to sing and the sermon, every act should point to the One for which we gather.

Would anybody out there like to tackle the Scripture-Driven Church and ask some hard questions, such as where is the “Sunday School” in the New Testament (this goes to the heart of the age-segregated philosophy) or the pastoral prayer, for that matter?

11:35 AM Is DBO a biblioblog? Yes and No. The answer is No if you are looking for a continuous platter of essays on the New Testament or Greek. Life is simply too varied for that. But the answer is Yes if you believe that all of life — missions trips, marriage, even managing a farm — is integrated with one’s understanding of the Scriptures. Maybe we could settle for “bioblog”?

11:27 AM This Sunday I’ll be speaking in the big city of Norlina, NC (pop. 1107). As you can tell, I like “big” cities. Looking forward to it, brother Doug!

10:58 AM Have I mentioned this helpful link to New Testament Greek resources?

10:55 AM Just noticed that Dallas Seminary is offering a nice discount on my beginning grammar. An even better bargain can be found here.

10:45 AM Etymologizing is alive and well. Just ask T. D. Jakes.

10:43 AM Several bloggers have recently called attention to this tool with which to supplement Technorati. I like what I see.

7:59 AM Who said it?

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up again and again.

7:55 AM Just met my first couple from New Orleans Seminary who are enrolling at SEBTS on a temporary basis. I wish them well.  

7:23 AM On Wednesday, President Bush took responsibility for the failures of the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government… And to the extent that the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong…

Bush also sacked the head of FEMA. I applaud the president.

7:20 AM Jeff Adams at his best:

Christians, don’t let this happen to you. Yes, be politically engaged. Organize, or join an organization that advocates for the Christian worldview. Stand on Christian principles and don’t compromise. Every time you compromise just a little, it gets easier to compromise a little more the next time. Before you know it, while declaring yourself a pro-life, constitutionalist Christian, you’ll find yourself voting for a pro-choice, big government politician that at best gives lip service to your faith….

Amen.

7:17 AM Now this is cool. Thanks, Jonathan.

7:15 AM The Guardian notes how satellites will help relief workers during future disasters.

7:12 AM OK, Carmon, it’s time for me to cough up my two cents. My favorite escape books are just that: Escape tomes that describe real getaways from German POW camps during the Second World War. In fact, I just bid on (and won) my first product on EBay — the Wooden Horse video, which recounts what has got to be the most remarkable escape that took place during the war. In the summer of 1943, Eric Williams began to dig a tunnel at Stalag Luft 3. Every day a wooden vaulting horse was carried out to the same spot around 30 metres from the warning wire. While their fellow prisoners exercised, Williams and two accomplices, Michael Codner and Oliver Philpot, dug from a trap door hidden beneath it. After 114 days of work, the three men escaped and eventually reached Britain.

I have read the book many times and will now get to see the movie for the first time.

7:08 AM Mark Goodacre writes:

On Biblaridion, Bryan mentions Dave Black Online, a site I have visited before but tend to forget to go back to because of its lack of RSS feed. But it’s nice to see a “Happy blogiversary” to me a couple of weeks ago (no permalink), especially as I’ll be headed in that direction (North Carolina) before long. So any chance of an RSS feed, Dave, and then I can read your blog every day, and add it to my blogroll?

I must be way behind in my cybernetics. I thought other people simply did what I do every morning: I go to my “Favorites” and click on my, well, favorite blogs. Some of them I check every day (you good folk know who you are); others might get a look-see on a weekly or monthly basis.

So, I have a question: would you visit DBO more regularly if I installed an RSS feed (whatever that is)? Advice wanted and needed! (FYI, since February of this year, when our new server went up, we have had 1,500,000 hits.)

7:03 AM I was reflecting on my recent posts on my Civil War (read: Confederate) heroes and musing why so many of my readers have responded so favorably to them. The average American has an abysmal understanding of the war at best, though many (like yours truly) have fallen down the C. W. History Hole, never to be able to climb out again. As a wee little boy playing war in the sands of Hawaii’s beaches with my friends, I well recall playing the boy in gray when all my pals wanted to be on the right (read: winning) side. Later a new equilibrium kicked in after I began to actually read the founding documents of our nation, including the all-but-forgotten Constitution and Bill of Rights. I’ve said it before; I’m saying it again: before one expresses an opinion about the Constitution one would do well to read it.

Just thought you might want some suggestions for your weekend reading….

7:00 AM Chip Bayer chimes in on the Pledge debate, a topic I have addressed once or twice myself, though in a purely cursory fashion. My feelings about the Pledge are complex. But I doubt if I could say it better than this:

And now, after years of pledging allegiance, the line between patriotism and nationalism has become so blurred as to be almost nonexistent. Anyone who questions the actions of the state is labeled “unpatriotic.” Even more egregious, Christians have come to regard this new “patriotism” and their faith in Christ as intertwined. Being a good Christian has become just one aspect of being a “patriot” and pledging allegiance to the flag, at the very least, brings with it an implied acceptance of anything the state does. After all, we’ve sworn allegiance to that state. It is known as civil religion.

By the way, Samuel Johnson once defined patriotism as the last refuge of a scoundrel. I would say if he means true patriotism, I must disagree; but if he means Americanism or nationalism he is spot on.

UPDATE: My good friend Lee Shelton adds some pertinent thoughts about how our “war on terror” appeals to a misguided sense of patriotism.

Thursday, September 15

6:58 AM All this week Becky has been cooking for me my favorite meals to celebrate our anniversary, beginning with a cheese omelet prepared over an open fire at the Zachary Farm reenactment (see below), and followed by such meals as spaghetti and stuffed peppers. I can’t wait to find out what she is preparing for tonight’s supper.

6:55 AM From the mailbag:

Dr. Black,

I wanted to send you an email to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I especially enjoyed your article this morning on Stonewall Jackson. When I was in High School (home school) I did a unit study on the life of Thomas Jackson and as a result I have a passion for all things related to him and the War of Northern Aggression. I enjoy very much your insight and commentary on such things.

May God richly bless you and Mrs. Black as you pursue your ministry. Keep it up!!

My warmest personal regards,

D. P.

6:43 AM Wish I were here this week. Dressage means the schooling of the horse and it results in the kind of beauty and poise one thinks of when one watches ballet or gymnastics. It is the backbone of all equestrian science. My dressage instructor in California was a German who taught me many practical skills about the art and science of riding that I in turn passed on to my faithful horses at home. It was especially important to learn to ride without one’s stirrups in order to gain the correct seat. The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is world famous for its master horsemen whom I have always tried to emulate.

6:40 AM As everybody knows, I am a fan of the Constitution Party, not least because of its unambiguous stand on aborticide. My own belief is that the equivocation seen in the Roberts hearing is ample evidence that the GOP is quite willing to compromise when it comes to pro-life issues. Contrast that with the views of, say, John Leone and Frank Creel and you can see why the CP is attracting former Republicans to its folds. As Frank notes:

These inescapable facts cropping out of America’s political and moral landscape—the total capitulation of the Democratic Party and the creeping capitulation of the Republican Party to the culture of death—are the main reasons I now call myself an Independent. I cannot be party to the parties of national moral suicide.

6:37 AM Here’s a neat glossary of linguistic terms. At the same time, it’s pretty clear to me that someone needs to standardize the nomenclature used by biblical linguists. Ph.D. dissertation, anyone?

6:30 AM Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament is now online.

Wednesday, September 14

6:58 AM The latest addition to our home page is called The Tenacity of a Stonewall.

6:50 AM The abandonment of a work ethic is a catastrophe far worse than the effects of any pandemic. Here’s an especially bright nugget on the joys of working from one of my all-time favorite Baptists — and a former chaplain in the Army of Northern Virginia to boot.

6:45 AM My good friend John Leone, constitutionalist and New Jersey cop, now has a blog. He offers some political analysis that I think you’ll find interesting whether or not you agree with all of it.

6:42 AM Those impatient for analysis of problematic texts regarding the role of women in church should do their own research. Meanwhile, here’s a good summary by Matthew McDill to get you started.

6:35 AM Our son donated this old reed organ to a fellowship of believers that meets in a barn. He completely restored it and it is now in perfect working condition.

Tuesday, September 13

6:42 AM Cancel all surgeries! Postpone all nervous breakdowns! Announcing our semi-annual:

 

Student Day

 

at Rosewood Farm. Students, please mark your calendars now for Saturday, October 15, 11:00 -5:00, lunch at 12:00 noon. Spouses and children are welcome. More details soon.

6:40 AM Many thanks to all the boys and girls (and a few adults as well) who submitted names for our baby goats. And the winners are…

Cocoa (left) and Cream Puff (right)

6:35 AM Jon Luker is blogging again over at Polemics. Much of what Jon says is intuitive and hardly polemical at all. I hope his site attracts a good deal of attention.

6:32 AM Yet our current federal government spends billions of our dollars on things like Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, Social Security and the like at a huge cost to the American taxpayer. The virtue of any of these programs is not at issue here. The only issue is that Congress, according to the Constitution, has no authority to do these things. The legacy of political liberty, as won by our founders, is all but gone. Fortunately for us, they left us another legacy. Read more.

6:29 AM A reader responds to this essay on General Lee’s height:

My Dear Dr. Black. I very much enjoyed your dissertation about General Lee’s height and stature. One of the more common questions I am asked as I portray Robert E. Lee is, “Aren’t you too tall for General Lee?”  To which I reply, “No, Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall are too short”. Your writing about the character and Christianity of General Lee are well taken and most accurate.

I am 6’2″ tall and given the larger stature of today’s people, I give a similar experience to meeting the original General. But as a friend teased me, “Don’t worry, you’ll grow into the part”.

I sincerely wish that more people would read your words. Thank you. I remain your most respectful servant, D. C.

By the way, my wife and I were just talking about my Lee uniform and whether we should have one custom made or just adapt an officer’s frock coat ourselves. Stay tuned….

Monday, September 12

8:29 AM On the lighter side:

On the more serious side….

8:27 AM Peter Head makes some interesting observations on singular readings in manuscripts of the Greek New Testament. I have a special interest in this subject since my own view would necessarily rule out singular readings as potentially original readings.

8:23 AM Here’s a site that features a nifty virtual tour of Jerusalem.

7:52 AM Mark Harrington offers some powerful observations on America’s real holocaust. He writes:

3000 Americans died on September 11, 2001 by the hands of foreign terrorists to which our nation rightly mourns. Unfortunately, few Americans realize that on the very next day (and everyday since) September 12, 2001 another four thousand Americans died at the hands of domestic terrorists (abortionists) and few if any noticed. Sadly, for these victims of terror there is no day of remembrance.

This is an issue that all principled Christians should expect to hear often; and Mark illuminates a context for our answer. You can read the entire article here.

7:49 AM I well recall my baptism at Kailua Beach in a public setting in 1960. Later our church built a baptistry. I thought, “Why would any church in Hawaii need a baptistry?” Apparently the baptistry controversy has not gone away. In the New Testament, baptism was considered the public profession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ — not walking an aisle, or signing a pledge card, or praying a prayer. How easy it would be restore that today if we were willing to give up some of our ephemeral comforts.

7:23 AM Monday morning shout-out to Al Boswell and his team for putting on a superb event this weekend at Zachary Farm in Alamance County, NC. It was one of the best reenactments I have ever participated in.

Here’s my beautiful Southern belle in the dress she sewed for the event. On Sunday morning, our anniversary, she pampered me with coffee in bed (well, in the tent at least).

Much to the delight of all, Nathan playing his reed organ during our period worship service. This organ was actually used during the war. It was built in 1851.

In attendance were Generals Lee and Jackson. Here we are singing their favorite hymns — How Firm a Foundation, and Show Pity, Lord (to the tune of the Doxology).

Since our own unit could not make the event, I had the privilege of falling in with the 21st North Carolina Regiment for battle. Thanks, Rollo and Shane. You guys are great.

What a hobby this is! Where else can a man run up and down hills wearing a wool uniform in 100 degree weather?

Friday, September 9

8:49 AM Before you believe the saw that nobody could predict the levees would be breached, read this incredible 5-part report from The Times-Picayune titled Washing Away. (Note that it was published back in June of 2002.)

8:34 AM The latest baby goat names: Jasmine and Jasper. If I missed yours, please send it along.

8:25 AM Just got a sneak preview of Becky’s new dress that she will be wearing this weekend. Wow — it is incredible. Makes me want to live in the 1860s all the time.

8:13 AM Now this is really good news.

For many years, readers have repeatedly asked me if I know of a church in this city or that city where they could hear the type of sermons that I regularly preach at Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. While I know of hundreds, even thousands, of churches that preach the Gospel, I know of very few that are not either totally disconnected from cultural and political issues or little more than lackeys for President Bush.

Furthermore, since virtually all of the national TV preachers are merely cheerleaders and lap dogs for President Bush in particular and the Republican Party in general, there is a great void and vacuum for independent, trenchant preaching. Accordingly, I would like to invite my readers to go to my web site where they can view and even download my sermons.

My video sermons can be viewed by using either a dial-up or high speed modem. They can also be downloaded and saved on one’s computer hard drive.

I am linking to this article because I have nothing but the greatest respect for Chuck Baldwin as a man, a pastor, and a leader of the Black Robe Regiment. I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Baldwin’s address when he accepted the vice-presidential nomination at the Constitution Party Convention in Valley Forge last year, and for many years I have followed his writings and have been listening to cassette messages that he was kind enough to send to Becky and me. I’ll go out on a limb and predict that many of you who have never heard this man before will be spurred on to become even more patriotic Americans than you are today.

8:05 AM If there is one thing I have learned during my years of marriage it is that marriage is a dual relationship. That is, the Lord does not tell me to do one thing and my wife another. The same Spirit is the One who speaks to both of us, for we are “one flesh.” Thus we can and should be united before the Lord in all our endeavors for Him. Of course, this will be much easier if the husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church. My marriage to Becky is many things, but above all it is a symbolic picture of the relationship between the Lord Jesus and His blood-bought Bride. He is the Head, and Becky and I together are to be submissive to Him. And what joy it is! So…

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart

For 29 years, on bright and cloudy days, you have brought me grace and beauty. I enjoy being a team with you. I cherish you with all my heart.

Below: The rose and the thorn on their big day at Grace Bible Church, Dallas, Texas, September 11, 1976. She is wearing a traditional Southern bridal gown, he a traditional Hawaiian outfit.  

7:55 AM This Saturday is Ethiopian New Year. Here’s a letter Becky wrote to our Ethiopian sons for this special day:

My dear sons,

From time to time I will share with you things that our Lord has impressed upon me over the years. This is because I am your mother and I care for you.  

The Ethiopian New Year is coming soon. (Did you know that the date of the New Year is also the date of our wedding anniversary? On Sept. 11 this year we will have been married 29 years. Much has happened in those 29 years!) As you think about the next year of the calendar, it is good to come before our Lord and recommit your life to Him, meditating on His purpose for you, and the life you have in Him.  In all the celebration, make time to be alone with Him for a long period of time. He is the author of Time, and He has given you life at this period of time in the universe.

On my refrigerator here at home, I have a little piece of paper. This paper is many years old. On it I have typed some thoughts that our Lord gave me about personal management. You see, the most important management skill you can gain is not people management, not family management, not church management, not school management, not time management; the most important management skill is personal management.  And personal management starts with correct thinking. The Evil One wants us to believe lies; if he can get us to think wrong things, then we will act is a weak, and often wrong, way. There are 3 truths about living on my paper:

1) Live with nothing to prove. This means that we do not have to prove that we are valuable; we don’t have to prove our worth to anyone, not even ourselves.  I (and you) have been created specially by Him for a purpose, for HIS purpose. The world has a definition of “success,” but this is not God’s definition. Our cultures say that we are successful and valuable if we are productive, if we are powerful, if we are gaining financial wealth. But God says that we are successful if we are living His purpose for us, and His purpose is very simple: to give back to Him, to draw closer to Him, to love Him, to worship Him, to reflect Him.  The more our lives reflect His Son, the more successful we are by His definition. All human desires operate by the Law of Diminishing Returns: whatever we can attain is guaranteed to bring decreasing satisfaction.  So let’s set our lives according to His Life. We are valuable because we were each created by Him, made especially by Him, to experience His success. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

2) Live with nothing to hide. This means that we cannot manage ourselves and live successfully if we are always worried about the hidden things in our lives. We can’t run a race while looking over our shoulder, worried that some fault, some sin, some negative about us will be discovered and disqualify us from His purpose.

There are two ways to live with nothing to hide. The first has to do with those things already passed; anything wrong in the past, no matter how terrible, can be covered by the blood of Calvary…all we have to do is bring it to the Cross. His blood is thicker than anything we have done, or are capable of doing. The Evil One wants us to remember and feel guilt; our Saviour wants us to remember and rejoice in His complete salvation.  We have a hymn in English that goes like this “Calvary covers it all…my past with its sin and shame…my guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there. And Calvary covers it all.” When we bring the past wrongs to Calvary then we do not have to live trying to hide them; they have been erased by His blood, and we are free from guilt.  

The second way we live with nothing to hide is to maintain utmost integrity. This means we cannot separate our private lives from our public lives. All parts of our life is an open book to God; there are no secret parts. So we should be careful to have the same standard of behavior or thought life both when we are by ourselves and no one is watching, as when we are in front of everyone doing ministry.

“Forgetting that which is behind, I press toward the mark….”

3) Live with nothing to lose. This means don’t hang onto past achievements, positions, things, relationships, etc. Don’t be afraid to let go of ANYTHING to follow His Son. Nothing is important compared to Him. We have a saying here “Let go, and let God”. All things are temporary; they will pass with the years. Let’s not allow ourselves to look to things or people for security. There is security only in one place and one person….the place is the center of His will, in complete obedience and humility before Him, and the person is Jesus Christ our Saviour, who holds us in the palm of His hand. Nothing can harm us, and nothing can help us, apart from His loving will.  “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him….” 

Know that you are loved this new year….by Him and by us!

With much, abundant love,

Mama B

Thursday, September 8

7:35 AM Here the latest names (in red) for our baby goats:

• Names for the brown and white kid (female): Hannah, S’More, Cookie, Cream Puff, Nestle Crunch, Clover, Vanilla Bean, Butterscotch, Jill

• Names for the brown kid (male): Brown, Cinnamon, Brownie, Cocoa, Ovaltine, Dusty, Hopscotch, Mocha, Chocolate, Carmel

7:23 AM Becky has written the following about our upcoming missions trip:

As the “secretary” of Bradford Hall, I want to give you an update on the preparations for our trip to Ethiopia. The reservations have been made: Dec 13 to Jan 17; the airfare is the same as last fall: cost is slightly less than $3,000. Dr. Black has posted the listing of project ministries that we have been appointed by Him. Many of you have written that you are praying with us; many have given us counsel and aid in areas (like computers!) where we are weak; many of you have sent funds or are gathering materials to send us.  Just as He has appointed us and burdened us with this work, He has also appointed and burdened many of you. And it fills us with praise to see the way He builds His Kingdom through the giftedness and appointments of the various members of His body. Where one is weak, another is strong.  No ministry, however small, is done in isolation. We are accountable to each other, under His appointment. So much is happening so quickly, and we want to share with you so you can praise Him with us!

There are now a little over 13 weeks before we leave. We are taking every opportunity we are given to share with Family what our Father is doing with brothers & sisters in Ethiopia. And He is doing for others what He has done for us…giving a heart of love and concern for Ethiopia.  It is so neat to see the interest, then love, then concern in people’s eyes as they hear about our loved ones in Alaba and Burji. The names of Bereket, Zemete, and Mohamed become real and familiar; tears are shed in companionship with the parents of murdered children.   Love is borne of Him in hearts prepared by Him.

In the last 2 weeks, computer experts have volunteered to help us refurbish any donated laptops. An ex-Muslim living nearby, who has a teaching ministry to Muslims around the world, is helping us get books about Islam on CD for Ethiopian pastors.  Many have sent us funds, so that now the Bibles for the children, the Diglots & Study Books for the youth, the flannelgraph and the flip charts have been funded. We have sent an email to confirm the Bibles and books will be ready for us to pick up upon our arrival, and we have ordered the flannelgraph; upon receipt, I will have about 3000 figures to cut out!  (Pray for my hands, that my RA won’t flare.) 

Our Lord showed us a Toshiba laptop special…for only $700 we got a Satellite laptop with One Note & Works, a printer and a carrying case!  (We ordered two and are trusting the money to be here by the time the VISA comes due.)  One will go to an evangelist in Alaba, and one to an evangelist in Burji; we will give a computer class when we visit.

Funds are coming in for eyeglasses, so I am starting to stop at every Dollar Tree I pass, to pick out the most sturdy pairs in a variety of strengths; I’d like to get some of these packaged in Ziploc bags with cleaning clothes and  into the mail to bypass Customs at the airport.  (Pray for safe transport.)

Two new needs have come to our attention, and we believe these are also His appointment for us. The first is a need for living expenses for a student named Solomon Abebe. Solomon was one of the best students in Dr. Black’s Greek class last summer.  He is the only believer in his family, and has suffered persecution for many years.  Last year he came to Bible College without funding assistance.  The College has given him a full tuition and books scholarship, but he needs $980 to cover his dorm room, food, medical and travel needs. If you can help, or know of someone who might help, let us know and we will send you more details, including his personal testimony.

The second additional need is coming from reports we’ve received from Alaba. As we’ve shared with you in times past, we gave a laptop to our son Nigussie. They have been using this laptop to show the Jesus Film in many villages in Alaba. Read for yourself recent emails we’ve received from Ahmed & Nigussie (underlining is mine):

Ahmed wrote:

                  Dear Mama B. and Papa B.

                  Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. Really I miss you!!

                  How your ministry and job are going. We have been praying, so that you will be fruitful in your ministry and every activity and always praise God about having such Godly family. I have learned many things from your Christ minded life. Especially I have seen Christ in your life. Really this is a good model for any one who wants to serve Jesus in his full heart. Your servant hood life makes impact in my life. I wish more blessings of God to you. Also I appreciate your parentally concern up on us which you have done while you were in Ethiopia and after Ethiopia. I received all pictures and wonderful gifts from Fasil. Until you buy the blanket, I do not have it, but now I have a wonderful blanket. May God bless you!!

                  The other gifts are also very wonderful. The neck tie with the picture of Jesus Cross which you have given me has been a wonderful tool to tell about Jesus Christ. Also the little Pillow which you (Mama) made is really wonderful. It is very interesting.

                 Mama .B and Papa B. This is the good news which I have done in Alaba and other places. First of all the children in Alaba are memorizing the verses. Some of them are almost finished it and longing your coming. In both No.1 and No.2 KH churches I have trained 35 Sunday school teachers with certificate. It was very good. As we discussed they need more Sunday school materials. Also I have told them you will train them in coming December. They are happy to see you.

                  Also I have preached in conference for more than 4000 people in Bonosha. It was very good. Nigussie and I have taught high school and college students about seven weeks. The other good news is we went my local area with Jesus film in that young church more than 400 people watched it and at that moment 38 Muslims converted. If it were big screen, it would have been better. Also my father entered the church for the first time and watched Jesus Film. After he watched the film he promised listening Christian songs and biblical messages in tapes. I am praying so that I may able to provide him a cassette player.

                  As my brothers told me after we came to Alaba many people (Muslims) came to watch it. If I had a camera you would have seen it. We gave them a promise that we would return to them again. I think for future time this Lap top will help us more in our ministry. As I realized the warm feeling of the people there, I am very much interested to continue the ministry and discussed with brothers to enhance the film show evangelistic mission around the Muslim areas. I hope you would have the opportunity to attend one of such meetings with them when you come.  Mammy, is it possible to get the other Lap Top for me, even the used one? If we can get it …Waw!

                 Those 38 converted and other believers have been learning discipleship series. Please pray about that young church, which is surrounded by Muslims. The church is called Dada KHC. If God wills you may visit next time. You will see the amazing things which God is working in that area. Also my father and mother are very willing to meet with you.

                  Please convey my warmest greetings to Lapsly and Nathan.

                  Sincerely your son, Ahmed

Nigussie wrote:

                  Regarding the JESUS’ film we have shown on the laptop, it was so amazing for us too. Even the number was more than 400 hundred. We have shown it  in the church. This puts in my heart that we need to have larger screen so that people would watch easily and clearly from distance. As you have said it is good to have satellite laptop. We would give its responsibility to the Church elders and full time ministers so that they handle and use it properly and we also follow up its usage. 

So we are asking our Lord to give us a portable screen and a battery-powered projector. Already a mechanic has told us about using car batteries for power!  A simple, light-weight projector & screen is about $1200-$1500.

Our Lord has been SO GOOD to us in all of this!  Even as we share with you this report and two new needs, we rejoice in His faithful provision of everything from strength to work, to direct communication thru email, to sharing opportunities, to the donation of funds and supplies, to the privilege of praising the One who is all in all!  May you lift His Name with us is our prayer!

For His Kingdom, by His grace,

BeckyLynn

Wednesday, September 7

6:59 AM The latest addition to our home page is called What Time Is It?

6:54 AM The other day a student asked me why the Greek question mark looked like an English semi-colon. Good question. The following explanation (though very densely worded) might help:

• 200 B.C.: The beginnings of the Greek system of punctuation. Aristophanes of Byzantium, librarian of the Museum at Alexandria, invents the critical signs, marks of quantity, accents, breathings, and so on, still employed in Greek texts.

• 8th c. A.D.: Charlemagne’s Anglo-Saxon adviser Alcuin introduces the Carolingian minuscule script in Latin documents (the forerunners of our lowercase letters), along with the first evidence for a new system of punctuation.

• 9th c.: The Greek punctuation system is supplemented by the Greek form of question mark (;).

• 12th c.: Alcuin’s system reaches its perfection. Stops in the form of points or commas are joined by the mark later known as punctus elevatus (:) and by the question mark (punctus interrogativus), of much the same shape as the modern one but inclined to the right. The source of these two new marks was apparently the system of musical notation used for Gregorian chant.

• 16th c.: The basic form of the question mark (?) was developed in sixteenth-century England. Typographic historians contend that the design for the question mark was derived from an abbreviation of the Latin word quaestio (=what). At first this symbol consisted of a capital ‘Q’ atop a lowercase ‘o’. Over time this early symbol simplified to the mark we use today.

• 17th c.: By the end of the century the various marks have received their modern names, and the exclamation mark, quotation marks, and the dash had been added to the system. Source.

6:42 AM The following names have been submitted for Lilly’s new babies. You have until Sunday night to send in your suggestions. The winning names will be announced on Monday.

• Names for the brown and white kid (female): Hannah, S’More, Cookie, Cream Puff, Nestle Crunch, Clover, Vanilla Bean

• Names for the brown kid (male): Brown, Cinnamon, Brownie, Cocoa (nominated twice), Ovaltine, Dusty

6:49 AM Every church faces major transitions from time to time, and these transitions can be opportunities to move toward reforming our principles and practices and conforming them more closely to the New Testament. It is interesting that I find so little written on this topic. Significantly, an essay at Founders offers some succinct but powerful observations of local church reformation.

6:45 AM I just noticed that over at Chafer Seminary they offered a course this summer in Linguistics for the Biblical Exegete. If I may put in my two drachma, I think courses like this are marvelous opportunities for students to see the relevance of linguistics for the study and application of Greek to teaching and preaching. It is simply amazing to see how Greek has such architectural precision, though this shouldn’t surprise us — God Himself designed the language.

6:42 AM Dayton College announces an opening in Greek.

Tuesday, September 6

6:59 AM Can it really be? Another “Dr. Black” (scroll down) who loves surfing as much as I do? Of course, surfing in Hawaii has become so territorial that I wouldn’t bother with it today. But back in the ’60s, when there were hardly any crowds, there was nothing to compare with it. So, for all my Jesus-freak friends out there with their Dewey Weber surfboards, here’s a pic of Mark Noll to celebrate the good old days:

6:48 AM Biblaridion has an interesting post on Greek handwriting. It’s of interest to me because I well remember a course I took in the subject at the University of Basel in the early ’80s. There were (I believe) a grand total of three of us in the class, but the reward for “enduring to the end” was the privilege of perusing Erasmus’s original 1516 Greek New Testament. I know I’ve told this story many times before, but I hope it is a reminder that sometimes the most difficult courses produce the most surprising results.

6:40 AM I want to thank all of you kind people who read DBO and especially those who write to us. The Lord Jesus has put in many of your hearts a desire to help the work of God in Ethiopia, where the needs are so real and the opportunities so great. I hate to be redundant, but Becky and I cannot thank you enough. It really, really means a lot to us.

There have been many developments in our plans to serve the Lord in Ethiopia. We have decided that our December-January trip will be devoted to helping those who are the neediest and the most neglected by mission organizations and missionaries. We will spend much of our time working with the suffering church in the largely Muslim province of Alaba, where believers are literally paying with their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ. We will visit far-flung villages to encourage the persecuted and to share the Great News with the lost. We will also devote our energies to assisting the churches in southern Ethiopia, particularly the towns and villages of the Burji district where Becky lived as a child.

In all of this, we are “letting the dead bury their own dead,” as our Lord said (Luke 9:60). We must all have clear priorities; this is what Jesus is telling us. The call of God should have priority over everything else in our lives. Those who follow Jesus must be like that Good Samaritan who knew how to love his neighbor. Remember, the “neighbor” was not someone the Samaritan knew. He was not even someone of the same race. A neighbor is simply someone who needs help. The Gospels everywhere emphasize God’s love for the “unnoticed” – the Gentiles, the shepherds, the poor, the Samaritans, the lepers, the tax-collectors and sinners. Jesus notices the unnoticed and bids us do the same.

Now, neither Becky nor I are professional evangelists. We work through no mission board. Neither of us has a degree in missiology. But in the New Testament, sharing the gospel was not only the task of the evangelists. Christians took personal responsibility for preaching the Word. We know, for example, that the church in Antioch was birthed and nurtured through individual households of believers sharing their faith. Becky and I are merely trying to use our Christian “household” in the same way. Evangelism belongs to the entire people of God.

Well, you can see that we have a number of exciting ministry opportunities ahead of us. I know I have already mentioned this, but if any of you would like to help the Ethiopian church, here is a list of needs to consider. Remember, Becky and I fund our own expenses. Thus every penny you send will go to the ministry you designate.

Meanwhile, please keep us in prayer, not only for Becky and me as we prepare to leave for Ethiopia, but also for our son who will have to manage a large farm in our absence.

Thank you. We love you.

Monday, September 5

1:59 PM This just in: Meles to retain power in Ethiopia.

1:57 PM With gas prices so high, this idea is making better and better sense to me. Let’s see, how long would it take me to get to Wake Forest?

Speaking of horses, this was a dopey thing to do.

10:32 AM It appears that all the faculty, staff, and students at New Orleans Baptist Seminary are safe and sound. We can thank God for His mercy on the seminary and pray for His enablement as the school gets back on its feet. Meanwhile, please let Becky and me know if you are aware of someone stranded in Southside Virginia/Central North Carolina who needs a place to stay.

9:53 AM Just a reminder: this weekend is the Alamance Civil War reenactment. If you live in central North Carolina and have never seen an 1860s encampment or a battle scenario, this is living history at its best. Hope to see you there.

9:30 AM Can you feel it? There’s a taste of fall in the air, and to help us welcome in the cooler weather Miss Lilly provided us with two new members of the Rosewood family on Saturday.

Would any of you boys and girls out there like to help Mrs. Black and me name our new babies? If so, have your mommy or daddy email us.

8:39 AM I have been reminding my students that just as it is necessary to exegete the Scriptures, so it is necessary to exegete the church fathers. Translations such as the Loeb Classical Series tend to be periphrastic and therefore unreliable. For this reason it  is always a good idea to produce one’s own translation from the original Latin or Greek. We must also pay careful attention to the literary context. If we don’t we are liable to reach some very faulty conclusions. A classic example is Origen’s famous statement on Hebrews: “But who wrote the epistle, in truth God knows.” How many times has this statement been cited to support an agnostic view of the authorship of Hebrews? “Well, even the great Origen had no earthly idea who authored the letter, so how can anyone today have any greater certainty?” This is, of course, false humility. As I have shown elsewhere, Origen consistently cited the letter as the apostle Paul’s. His statement was simply an admission that he did not know its penman (just as Paul authored Romans but Tertius wrote it). Why this misinterpretation is still perpetuated today escapes me, but it is living proof that few of us ever take the time to read let alone exegete the fathers.

Exegesis means that we work with the original languages (ad fontes!) and interpret the words of an author within his own context or it means nothing at all.

BTW, here’s a great resource for anyone interested in studying the church fathers.  

8:16 AM Muslims continue to aggressively evangelize Ethiopia. Their five-point plan is methodical and amply funded. The church of Jesus Christ needs to respond just as aggressively in love and forgiveness. My wife and I showed this slide yesterday during our talk at the Raleigh Chinese Christian Church. What do you say to a believer whose 8 year-old daughter has just been beheaded? A man who is so poor he cannot afford even to bury his precious offspring? I just hugged on him for about 10 minutes. Yet these persecuted Christians have forgiven their persecutors, and are remaining in their villages as testimonies to the love of Jesus for all men.

Becky and I were able to provide funds to transport his daughter’s body from the morgue to the cemetery, where her remains lie as a reminder of the grace of the One who loved us and gave Himself for us so that we might love Him and give ourselves for Him. 1 John 3:16-18 says it perfectly:

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

As I mentioned previously, we have been in much prayer about our upcoming trip. Becky and I have decided to spend two weeks this December among the suffering in Alaba (where this photo was taken), going from village to village with a cup of cold water and a word of encouragement. We can’t wait!

Sunday, September 4

7:39 AM Although I have a great deal on my mind and heart, I will not be blogging today out of respect for the suffering, and in honor of those who are so sacrificially helping them.

Saturday, September 3

7:08 PM I know you’ve heard it before, but I never tire of the view from my front porch. I took this photo three minutes ago. You can see that the pond is very low; in fact we haven’t had any significant precipitation in months and desperately need rain. The farms are hurting something bad, and here at Rosewood our main crop is horse quality hay. Still, the Lord Jesus knows what we need, and He gave us one good cutting this summer already, for which we thank Him.

5:41 PM Several students have asked me about the best computer-based Greek language tools. Here they are:

• BibleWorks (Hermeneutika): www.bibleworks.com
• Logos Scholar’s Library: www.logos.com
• Bible Windows: www.silvermnt.com
• GRAMCORD: www.GRAMCORD.org

5:10 PM Happy Blogiversary, Mark.

4:57 PM Here’s an entire website devoted to the study of the Pastoral Epistles. And here’s one that previews forthcoming commentaries on the books of the Bible.

3:52 PM Just take a look at the popular gospel tracts of this generation. There’s no hint of Hell, no mention of Judgment Day, no use of God’s law to bring the knowledge of personal sin and the gospel is presented as a means of happiness instead of righteousness. No wonder today’s ‘new’ gospel won’t stick. People are coming to Christ for the wrong reason. They’re not coming to escape the wrath to come. Acts 17:30,31 tells us that God calls us to repent “because” He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness. Read more.

3:45 PM Never stop praying.

9:45 AM Just received a special production report from the Austin egg farm on their “booty” from this morning. A picture is worth a thousand words, eh?

Well, gotta start somewhere….

9:10 AM BIG Saturday shout out to Nathan who is working on an old house in Rocky Mount. Here’s the front door he made before he scraped the paint off the windows. Ain’t it a beauty? Son, we miss you. Have a great time but hurry home!

Our good friends the Meggs have been giving food and shelter to Nathan during his sojourn, and the Mrs. always sends back homemade bread for Becky and me to enjoy. This is a real treat. Thanks so very much!

8:05 AM From a prayer of Thomas Aquinas:

You make eloquent the tongues of children.
Then instruct my speech and touch my lips with graciousness. Make me keen to understand, quick to learn, able to remember; make me delicate to interpret and ready to speak.

7:40 AM I know it sounds sappy, but I really do enjoy doing ministry with Becky. In Matthew 10 we read that Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. Why 2 X 2? Having a partner provides courage, companionship, confidence, and just plain strength. Becky and I bring different but complementary gifts to our task. Working together as a couple has provided both synergy and energy. When I am weak she is strong, and vice versa. We help each other when one is down or ill. Most importantly, we hold each other accountable and keep each other from straying from our goals. Believe me, it is no fun being away from my wife, as during those last four weeks in Ethiopia when Becky was home canning our veggies (poor me!).

So, my friends, let’s work together as teams whenever we can, even as husbands and wives if possible. What say ye?

7:30 AM From the “O, Well” File: Yesterday I received one of my royalty checks. The grand total? Eleven dollars and thirteen cents. O, well.

7:24 AM I am trying to finish my book Unleashing the Church and at the same study (and perhaps comment upon) the emerging church phenom, including the black church. If you think there is a book or essay out there that is a must read, please email me.

Friday, September 2

8:30 PM Well, I began today’s blog with a description of my morning routine, so why not end with a word about my evening one? We let the chickens out of the coop in the late evening to free range, eat bugs and grass, and otherwise get some exercise. I stay there with the dogs to protect them from the numerous predators (foxes, possums, snakes, etc.) that seem to love our farm. While the chickens are enjoying their freedom, I am collecting their eggs.

Here’s today’s booty. (By the way, this photo is dedicated to our fellow egg-lovers, the Austins.) 

7:48 PM Wow, today’s mailbag was full. I love getting your letters, especially when you overlook my many flaws! Here’s an example. It is a response to our essay Shining in the Darkness.

Dave, once again, great article except for the premillenial baggage!! I probablly couldn’t shine your shoes as far as knowing scripture, but I know that the scriptures you referred to are all related to the first century church persecution, including: the judgement on the apostate jewish people and the destruction of jerusalem!! Remember the metaphors come from Ezekiel and were not unfamiliar to the people of that time!!  But as far as judgement is concerned I totally agree with you!!!!!  But I would look to Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 for answers to explain things today, instead of a last days end times scenario!!  There is hope for improvement of the culture through obedience to God’s Commands which affects ALL Of the Culture around us!!!  Remember the condition of the culture is a reflection of the condition of the church and not the other way around!!!

Thanks again for your excellent and inspiring articles.

Here’s another one:

Hello and good morning (it’s 8 am here in sunny AZ)!    For what it’s worth, I noticed that the download time was long right after your server was down.  Before your server went down I never experienced a long download time, even with pictures, BIG, beautiful, glorious pictures….can you tell I’m a fan of the pictures you post? 🙂  I’d wait for hours to see your pictures.    Have a wonderful day. God Bless

See how kind people are to me? 

6:37 PM There’s a lot of practical wisdom in this essay by Mrs. Julie Austin of Parenting With Purpose. I would much rather stay here on the farm working (or riding my horse, for that matter) than travel. Yes, I enjoy preaching in various churches on the weekends and holding conferences out of state, and Becky and I would never think of giving up our missions trips to Ethiopia, but the days of our Wander-lust are definitely over. Nathan is the same way. There is just so much (healthy) work to do on the farm and there are so many ministry opportunities in our community that we actually have little time or energy to spend on less important things. Family meals, for example, are a non-negotiable at Rosewood Farm.

I used to think it strange that so many of our neighbors had never been out of the county, let alone out of the state. Now I understand them perfectly!

6:17 PM I want everyone out there to know that our babies are adjusting very nicely to being out in the pasture with the big girls. They romp and roam, cuddle and sleep, right along with the others. Of course, whenever they see daddy coming they still make a beeline to greet me (as in the picture below).

Snowball and Midnight, I want you to know how proud I am of you. You are growing up to be such fine goats. We are very happy to have you in our herd. I only wish your mommy were still here to enjoy you.

9:45 AM Over at LRC, Pat Buchanan asks (and answers) the question of the hour: Who Lost New Orleans?

9:26 AM Here’s one Texas wildflower who is doing what she can to help refugees from Louisiana. You are setting a great example for the rest of us, Lora.

9:20 AM This morning Becky Lynn and I will be prayerfully making our final plans for our trip to Ethiopia this winter and also booking our flights. Choices, choices, choices! It reminds me of what C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war with and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness.”

Words of wisdom indeed.

8:58 AM Young Caleb Hayden has written a thoughtful piece called Lifelong Obedience and Faithfulness from Youth. I hope that many young people will read it and then send Caleb an email response.

Thanks, also, Caleb, for your kind review.

8:21 AM The latest addition to our home page is called Shining in the Darkness. It is written in honor of all those Baptists (and others) who are sacrificing their time and energy to bring relief to the suffering. (By the way, my son has asked to be on the next disaster relief crew going from Southside Virginia.) God bless them all.

8:19 AM In light of the terrible disaster in the Gulf Coast states, I thought this beautiful poem, The Beacon of Hope, well worth contemplating.

The waves crashed hard against the ship,
the rocky shore loomed near,
the battered ship rocked to and fro,
the sailors shook with fear.

The storm grew worse as they drew near
the deadly shore of rock,
‘With such a storm as this,’ they thought,
‘we’ll never reach the dock.’

The sky was dark: the sun had set,
no moon was out that night.
Jagged streaks of lightening were
the only source of light.

Try as they might, they could not see
the light to lead them home.
Where, oh where was the lighthouse beam,
the sailors asked and moaned.

The captain tried to keep up hope,
for the light his eyes did strain,
but even he became discouraged,
when his watching was in vain.

‘Oh Lord, please help me now!’
he cried out in despair.
He knew that in his time of need
the Lord was always there.

As he called the words up to the sky,
the darkest clouds did part,
and there a single, shining star,
gave hope to the captain’s heart.

He knew the star was from the Lord,
given as a sign
that as the little star shone through,
the lighthouse beam would shine.

‘All will be well! We’ll reach the shore,’
the captain told his crew.
As he shouted out to them,
the lighthouse beam shone through.

Led by the beam, the captain turned
as towards the dock he steered,
and as they safely reached the port,
the sailors clapped and cheered.

The captain fell down on his knees,
with tears upon his face,
thanking the Lord with all his heart
for showing them His grace.

When with the raging, stormy seas
the captain could not cope,
the Lord was there to give to him
a beacon full of hope.

8:12 AM I do not support the America Red Cross nor will I send them a check for disaster relief. They have become far too politically correct (i.e., cowardly). Here’s but one example.

8:04 AM Our apologies for the long download time on our blog. I am working on reducing the number of pictures I post and also their size. However, I will still take advantage of the visual to complement the written word.

Meanwhile, I wish all of you a very happy Friday morning. What a wonderful, hectic, relaxing, fast-paced morning it has already been for us here at the farm. After a wonderful time of meditating on Psalm 91 (is it by Moses, like its immediate predecessor?), I sat on our front porch enjoying the most splendid view imaginable — the pond and pastures and horse and cows grazing and birds singing and a distant donkey braying and goats sleepily waking up to begin their daily routine. My wife woke up and joined me for a cup of coffee. We both commented on the beautiful sunrise; it reminded us of Hawaii. (I told her that when I was growing up I would already be at beach surfing at about this same time. The air would be cool, and one would actually go into the water to warm up.) Then we brought our babies, Snowball and Midnight, to the porch where I bottle fed them. After they romped a bit we each took one in our arms and sat in our rockers as our “kids” went back to sleep. Then I took them to be with the grown-ups in the big pasture, fed the pregnant ladies their morning oats, took some oats to my horse (followed by the cows and Rusty, our billy), fed and watered the chickens down at my son’s farm (he is currently restoring an old farmhouse elsewhere), took the doggies for their morning stretch, and finally sat down to update my blog.

Aaah, the life of a Greek prof. 

Thursday, September 1

6:24 AM Happy September to all! This month my wife and I will celebrate our anniversary on the 11th as well as participate in the first reenactment we’ve been to in months. If you stop by the blog on our A-Day you might just see a photo of the girl from Gambo and the boy from Kailua taken 29 years ago in Dallas, Texas.

6:20 AM It’s back.

6:17 AM J. I. Packer, an Anglican himself, once told the following limerick about clergy clothing:

To his bishop a rector once said/”May I take off my collar in bed?”/His bishop said, “No,/You may not do so,/You must wear it until you are dead.”

Which made this essay kind of funny.  

6:15 AM If you live in or near Cary, North Carolina, Becky and I will be sharing photos and a report of our Ethiopian ministry this coming Sunday at the Raleigh Chinese Christian Church at their 11:15 English service. Directions may be found at the church’s website.

6:12 AM Mentoring Men for the Ministry: Not too long ago I received an email that concluded with these cordial thoughts: “Since the Bible neither mentions the seminary, I shall look forward to hearing about your resignation.” Well, the writer certainly has a point! We must always be willing to reexamine everything we do by the Scriptures and must always be seeking to conform our lives and practices more closely to the Bible. That includes those of us who have been training pastors for 29 years!

In his book Call to Discipleship, Juan Carlos Ortiz puts it this way:

Now a club can change presidents each year by election. But a church should never change pastors, because it is a family, and the pastor should be the father. Whoever heard of a family that changed fathers every other year, or of a father who ran off and left his family to take on another larger family? The father should be training his sons to take over the business. Thus it stands to reason that any young man wanting to learn about the Kingdom would turn to his pastor for instruction. Instead he leaves the church to go to Bible School, because the church is failing in it commission.

I know of no seminary professor who would claim that the Bible School or seminary could ever train church leaders as effectively as a local church can. I would also note that not only have our churches failed in this function, but so have many of our seminaries. As long as we continue to imply that ministers are a special breed of sheep we are perpetuating the myth of the clergy-laity distinction. Let us recall that we are all ministers according to the New Testament, not just those who have seminary degrees.

If our local churches really grasped this concept, the role of Bible Colleges and seminaries would be forced to change dramatically. We teachers would see our role as a complement to the work of local assemblies, and our “job description” would involve being shepherds and mentors rather than mere disseminators of information. Jesus trained His disciples by modeling, as did Paul (Acts 20:4). Thus I have begun to take on more and more young apprentices at the seminary and have brought them under my wing in a mentorship relationship, in an effort to supplement the apprenticeship model we find in the New Testament. Rob, I welcome you to the fold, and I look forward to our regular meetings. You join several others with whom I have the privilege of fellowshipping regularly for Bible reading, discussion, and prayer. I’m looking forward to it!

6:05 AM Austin’s Parenting with Purpose is back with a bang, including a large selection of updates and new essays. Welcome back, John and Julie, and congratulations on your wedding anniversary!

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September 2004 Blog Archives

Thursday, September 30

12:33 PM This just in:

Dr. Black

Thought you would be interested in this article.  John
Eisenhower is not voting for Michael Peroutka, but he
is also not voting for George W. Bush.  I think he
articulates his reasons in a concise, well-thought out
manner.  Take care and I continue to enjoy your
outstanding website and I continue to spread the word
about Michael Peroutka and Chuck Baldwin.

Deo Vindice

Charles Porter

Mr. Porter is referring to this article by the son of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Thanks for sending this to me, Charles.

12:33 PM Farm Update: The horses seem to love their new pasture. Yesterday they spent most of their time frolicking and checking out every nook and cranny, though they seemed hesitant to enter the woods. They stood bug-eyed at the goats and cows grazing in the next pasture but were as eager as always to eat their daily oats. We’ll need to watch for any signs of colic in the next few days, but so far all seems well. What a joy to watch them from our dining room window each mealtime!

12:15 PM If you live near Laurel Hill, Virginia, you might consider attending the 14th annual Jeb Stuart Civil War reenactment this weekend. The Candlelight Tour is phenomenal, and there are mock battles daily. If you can make it, please look for the 30th North Carolina Troops and give Pvt. Black a holler. 

11:55 AM Iraq Update: Look who’s taking on Bush’s foreign policy follies now. (Hat tip: Charles Porter.)

8:40 AM Take a moment and read this excellent post on the American Revolution at Buried Treasure, then go to this essay for more support.

8:35 AM And Bush charges Kerry with flip-flopping?

8:25 AM Now there’s even a newscam to watch Helen blow her stack again. 

8:22 AM Gregg Harris has some great thoughts on the impact of opening our homes to strangers:

The potential for this strategy goes far beyond mere academics. What do you think would happen if more of us began to host missionaries in our homes? Our children might catch a vision for serving God in nations around the globe. Host an evangelist, and watch a passion for souls take root in your hearts. Host an author, and notice how your teens begin to dream of writing their first article or book. It is all the power of companionship working through hospitality.

Some conference organizers have asked me why I request to stay in the home of a family when I travel and speak for their state homeschool conferences. Why not just stay in a nice hotel? The reason is because by staying in homes I get to meet a lot of homeschooled adolescents and teens who, to be candid, are often in various stages of boredom with their homeschooling. I like to change that.

8:20 AM Catholic World News proffers a take on John Kerry’s “church“:

James Carroll, the former Catholic priest who is employed by the Boston Globe to write regular op-ed columns bashing the Catholic Church, has changed his target slightly. Now the “bad guys” are the Republicans who dare to question Kerry’s commitment to the Catholic faith.

Carroll instructs his readers that Kerry is free to dispute Church teachings on every crucial moral issue in the political realm, because Catholics are free to embrace the truth wherever they find it (except perhaps in the Republican platform).

Regarding sexual issues, Carroll continues, the Vatican doesn’t understand that “it is clear that the human race is undergoing a massive cultural mutation…” (I’m not making this up. I couldn’t.)

There’s personal testimony here, too. Carroll reveals: “I worship at the same Catholic church in Boston where John Kerry and his wife often attend Mass.”

Yup. You’re in the same church, all right. I wonder what church it is.

8:18 AM Pieter’s latest artwork. You ought to be working for the campaign, young man!

8:17 AM Not your typical Halloween parade. (Link: Covenant News.)

8:15 AM PBS’s story on third party candidates (which ran last night) is discussed by the show’s producer. As I don’t watch TV I missed the program, but someone wrote me to say he saw me on the show. Hope that won’t keep any of you from voting for Peroutka and Baldwin in November….

8:10 AM Latest Florida storm warning is a real doozy.

8:08 AM Blather bloggers get their moment of glory. 

8:05 AM This story was all the rage on the BBC yesterday – how Jack Straw, U.K. Foreign Secretary and rabid anti-Mugabe figure, gets suckered into an embarrassing handshake. The power of a gesture….

8:03 AM A fine read on our spiraling imperialism.

[T]his idea that if the United States withdrew, these terrorists would suddenly leave Iraq and start attacking the United States and other countries is specious. This is simply a retread of the rationalization used during the Vietnam War that “if we don’t fight them over there, we’ll have to fight them here.” Despite the U.S. withdrawal and the Communist victory nearly 30 years ago, the Vietnamese have yet to attack the United States. The Vietnamese stopped killing Americans when American forces got out of Vietnam. One can similarly assume that the Iraqis will stop killing Americans when American forces get out of Iraq.

7:03 AM The politics of warfare functioning at the expense of truth.

Wednesday, September 29

2:03 PM The following is taken from the church covenant  written by Elder (not “Pastor”) Shubael Sterns in 1754 at the founding of Grassy Creek Baptist Church, the mother church of my current congregation in Virginia. I was delighted when I first saw it. I’m sure you’ll notice (and I hope you’ll appreciate) the emphasis on the doctrines of grace:

Holding believers’ baptism; the laying on of hands; particular election of grace by the predestination of God in Christ; effectual calling by the Holy Ghost; free justification through God’s grace and truth; the final perseverance, or continuance of the saints in grace; the resurrection of these goodies [sic] after death, at that day which God has appointed to judge thee quick and the dead by Jesus Christ, by the power of God, and by the resurrection of Christ; and life everlasting. Amen.

1:45 PM Great day in the morning! Our steeds have finally made the trek from the Old North State to the land of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and (now) the Black clan. The general’s horses are now safely ensconced in their new pasture at Bradford Hall enjoying the orchard grass and getting to know their new surroundings. Many thanks to good friend Tommy Newcomb for his help in trailering. Hmm, is a ride in the making this afternoon before Bible study? Only your editor knows for sure!

8:23 AM Blogs for Peroutka, courtesy of Pieter Friedrich.

8:15 AM Yesterday I received this wonderful response to my essay on being a one-issue voter:

I like the part about using the mind. I really love the old Puritan
preachers and writer. They were intelligent and EDUCATED! Much more so
than our generation. As for that matter, people from the earlier
centuries or even into the early part of the 1900’s were much more
literate than this generation. And of course, we know why. Gubbermint
sckoolz.

I love your website and check it every morning first thing when I get
home from work. AND I’m voting for Peroutka. And I’ve gone through many, many arguments about “wasting my vote.” Fie on them all. At least my conscience will be clear, eh?

God bless you.

7:46 AM Baker Book House has been a great partner with me the last two decades in publishing five or six of my textbooks, and yesterday I received word that Rethinking New Testament Criticism is being released in India in what Baker is calling an English-language Indian edition for distribution in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Nepal (of all places!). That anyone in these countries should be “rethinking” let alone thinking about the subject of that book amazes (and pleases) me. I hope the book can be useful among the Christian populations in these foreign lands.

7:44 AM A pleasant good morning to you, DBO readers. I had a wonderful day yesterday at the seminary getting caught up on various and sundry projects that are easier to do there than at the farm. I especially enjoyed seeing so many of my colleagues and meeting Chris, a new student from Colorado who has made quite a sacrifice to be with us. May the Lord richly bless your time at Southeastern, dear brother!

Tuesday, September 28

7:56 AM One response to Carmon Friedrich’s latest blog entry:

It was a shock to come back after being gone from the States for a while and see the worship of Bush and the Republican party. Lord, help us to think Biblically.

Read Rock the Boat, Baby. You won’t be disappointed.

7:23 AM Charley Reese has a lot of common wisdom; I especially resonate with this statement in his latest essay:

Bush has no real compassion. That’s why he forbids ceremonies for returning dead. According to Ollie North, President Reagan was at the airport every time a dead American serviceman’s body came home. The British also formally greet their returning dead with honor and respect. Only in the United States does the government even forbid news organizations from greeting the dead.

A simple salute, Mr. President, would go a long to assuage the grief of those who lost a loved one overseas. 

7:15 AM Yesterday my son stumbled across an old Haven of Rest Quartet cassette tape that we’ve been listening to non-stop. The organist, Dean McNichols, was our church organist in California and has such a gentle touch on that magnificent instrument. But I especially appreciate the simple harmonies of the quartet as they sing such favorites as “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” and “Learning to Lean.” O that I could find more old recordings of the quartet!

Monday, September 27

3:33 PM Fisticuffs in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher? This can’t be true! When I visited there the placid priests were just happy to receive my bribe – er, offering.

3:05 PM Carmon Friedrich with a much-needed reminder about the importance of  dressing modestly.

2:10 PM Church Renewal Update: Here are some thoughts by Mary Pride on performance standards for your church’s programs, including “failure standards” and “success standards.” I especially like what she has to say about children’s programs:

Let me give you an example of a failure standard for a church’s Christian education program. The leaders could say something like this: “After two years in our Sunday school program, we expect that all of the students should be able to recite the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and Psalm 23 from memory. They should know the books of the Bible in order, and be able to locate any passage in 15 seconds or less. They should be able to give a concise summary of each Bible book, and score no less than 90 percent on the test of Bible knowledge we will give them at that time. If at least 90 percent of the students can’t meet that standard, our Sunday school program has failed, and we will need to pray about it, redesign it, and also reconsider our program for recruiting and training Sunday school teachers.” Can you get that, or anything like it, in writing from any modern church board anywhere?

12:50 PM One blogger writes:

I don’t think a Christian can reasonably vote for John Kerry. John Kerry has openly defied the Church and two thousand years of settled Church doctrine. In fact, there is no reason to believe him anything but a secularist with fairly open disdain for the faith once delivered to the Apostles.

So far, so good. Now comes this:

Bush is not perfect, but his imperfections are less certain and more open to dispute. Social issues do not cut against both candidates with equal force. All Christians are called to help the poor. How to do so is open to dispute. What is not open to dispute is that John Kerry will advance abortion, a form of murder, and the homosexual agenda.

Bush, of course, in equating Islam with Christianity or paying only lip-service to the pro-life cause or appointing sodomites to public office, is less open to our disapprobation. He adds (pardon all the “sics”):

Liberal evangelical [sic] may exist in the margins of the evangelical academic community or in half-way houses to main-stream church’s [sic] on their way out, but I do not seem [sic] them as numerically very significant. My bet is that eighty-percent of white evangelical [sic] will vote for Bush. It is hard to imagine much more unity on any issue (including sadly theology.)

Eighty percent? Sad, but true. We evangelicals love our numbers – and our “unity” – don’t we? He concludes:

Our founders said, “No King, but King Jesus!” Fair enough, but the King’s minister’s must act, even at risk of being sacked, or His rule will be wrongly limited.

Now I’m downright corn-fused. I wonder if he’s even heard that there’s a 100 percent pro-life candidate who actually believes “No King But King Jesus!”

12:30 PM Ah, the blessing of being a country redneck.

9:12 AM The bane of blind fealty to the state:

“Heavenly grace gave us the Fuehrer

We promise Hitler loyalty to the end…”

 

“He was our idol; he was a demi-god. I’ll tell you quite honestly: If someone had tried to shoot Hitler, then I would have leapt forward and died for him. And nowadays I know it was madness.”

Read more amazing quotes from the Hitler Youth. 

8:56 AM Language tests for citizenship? A great idea but impossible in hyper-tolerant America. Too bad we don’t have the courage of the Swiss. (Having studied, preached, and taught in German-speaking Switzerland, I can empathize with those foreigners who are learning German. But German isn’t that difficult to master. My wife was speaking it within three months of our arrival in Basel. The key was avoiding the “American ghetto” and forcing yourself to speak the language daily. As a Baptist, I call it the “immersion” technique of language learning, and it works.)

8:45 AM Interesting take in this morning’s Die Zeit: the outcome of the election hinges on Kerry’s ability to make the unconstitutional Iraq war a central theme.

Die erste Amtszeit von George W. Bush war begleitet von Enthüllungen und Skandalen. Trotzdem führt der Präsident deutlich in den Umfragen. Noch, sagt Seymour Hersh, Veteran des investigativen Journalismus. Jetzt kommt es darauf an, ob John Kerry den Krieg zum zentralen Thema macht.

7:55 AM Farm Update: Despite a finicky bailer, we got another 243 bales up over the weekend, thanks to the great weather the Lord blessed us with this summer. The fallout from Jeanne is hitting the Piedmont today and tomorrow so it looks like I’ll get to spend several hours working on my sabbatical project (but, alas, no riding). Of course, neither farming nor writing is more “spiritual” than the other. If we want to escape from the sacred-secular dichotomy this truth must condition our every thought. The knowledge that everything I have is God’s – my hay fields as well as my Greek grammars, not to mention the most important possession of all, my family – is what unifies my heart and should make everything in life sacred to me. 

7:38 AM And you thought WW II was over? 

7:24 AM A judge points out the fine mess ignoring the good old Constitution has gotten us into. Of course, most politicians are following the new, “living” Constitution to a “t.” So the question arises: Which Constitution are you following?

7:21 AM Which party puts God first?

7:20 AM It matters little that conservatives are having more children than liberals. It won’t make a whit of difference once they start reading Churchianity Today and Worldly Magazine.

7:18 AM Denver archbishop rips into Kerry for his pro-abortion stance. I guess it’s still OK to ignore the Republicrats. 

7:15 AM Please be sure to check out a new lane on the Internet Highway by DBO contributor Matt Gamel. A fun onramp, and some really nifty curves! (By the way, Matt, don’t get discouraged by small beginnings. The first month DBO was online we received a grand total of 33 hits. I’m not kidding. This month we surpassed the one and a half million mark. So hang in there and remember: Aller Anfang ist schwer.)

7:12 AM Heartiest congratulations to Grassy Creek Baptist Church (NC), which celebrated its 250th anniversary yesterday. My own congregation, Averett Baptist Church (VA), is a daughter church, as are many others in the Piedmont. One interesting anecdote. When Grassy Creek was founded, the church voted to require every man to attend Sunday services. If you missed a service, the next Sunday you were required to give an explanation. If your excuse was a lame one, the church could vote to censure you. After three censures, you were voted out of the congregation. My how things have changed!

7:10 AM And I thought Holy Laughter was silly.

7:08 AM Bad idea. A partial election, excluding the Sunni areas, will only embolden the insurgency and put our sons and daughters at even further risk.

7:05 AM If you’ve ever walked the controversial temple mount in Jerusalem, as I have, you know how old it is. The latest question? How much longer before it collapses.

Saturday, September 25

8:30 AM Do not read this blog unless you can put up with a Reformed-leaning Southern Baptist who is a misanthropic paleoconservative to boot. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

7:50 AM I see fellow bibliophile Carmon Friedrich is recommending a book by one of my favorite novelists, Helen MacInnes. Bravo! I might add to your list Agent in Place, Home Is the Hunter, and especially The Salzburg Connection.

7:30 AM Who Downing Street really wants to win.

Senior Labour MPs and ministers should also go public with their personal preferences for a John Kerry victory. This would help to reunite a Labour party bewildered by the closeness of Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush. But it would appeal to a much broader audience at home – British voters across the political spectrum prefer Mr Kerry to Mr Bush by a margin of five to one.

7:23 AM This might could work where I live.

7:20 AM Everything’s looking up for Allawi, right?

Speaking of freedom, democracy and murder, the latest reporting on our current favorite Prime Minister, Iyad “Little Saddam” Allawi, feature his pistol shots to the heads of captured Iraqi prisoners. I was concerned, before this, about Allawi’s newly established domestic intelligence bureaucracy, to keep Iraqis in line so they can all have a nice new democracy. I needn’t have worried, and you can bet George W. Bush isn’t.

What does it all mean? Like they say, you’re either with us or against us. I’ve seen enough, and I’ve chosen a side. And while I don’t support governmental safety laws on principle, like Bette Davis I must advise all Americans to fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.

7:18 AM Country profile: Ethiopia. And yes, I hope to learn a few phrases in Amharic before leaving.

7:15 AM Today’s the day, notes Little Geneva’s “world-famous raconteur and gadfly, renowned in poetry and legend”:

The Virginia League of the South wishes to invite you to our Ninth Annual State Meeting

September 25, 2004
10am-5pm
Best Western at Hunt Ridge
25 Willow Spring Rd
Lexington, Virginia
(540) 464-1500

Come all, free admission

This year our topic will be illegal immigration, its impact on Virginia and the rest of the South. Illegal immigration is drastically changing western Virginia. Harrisonburg’s public schools are now over 30- Hispanic. This number is increasing exponentially. As reported in the August 15, 2004, New York Times Magazine, “Hillbangers” have arrived in the Shenandoah Valley. “Hillbangers” are members of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a large street gang of El Salvadorans. An MS-13, 17-year-old female gang member was found murdered, gang style, in Shenandoah County, in July 2003. Local law enforcement agencies throughout the Valley have officers investigating alien gang activities.

Is immigration a force of nature or a political force? Can a world wide war on terrorism be fought with a border open to massive illegal immigration?

Come join the Virginia League of the South as we discuss these issues. Featured speakers will include a former INS Special Agent, an immigration control group director, and Dr. Michael Hill, President, League of the South. [And Harry Seabrook, world-famous raconteur and gadfly, renowned in poetry and legend, etc.]

For more information contact Randy Jamison at 276-326-6728 or e-mail at randyjamison@praize.com.

7:12 AM Giving riding a bad name. 

Friday, September 24

9:58 AM Am off to campus to check up on the Outlook situation and to meet with students. I still may not be receiving certain emails. You might hold off on sending me any mail for a day or two while we are resolving this issue. Best to all!

9:20 AM What Hitler’s voice really sounded like.

9:12 AM Yep, we get the point:

Reuters reports that President Bush “said on Thursday that he and Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi would ‘stay the course’ in Iraq.”

I’m a bit tired of hearing from the president that we’ll “stay the course” in Iraq, and not just because I oppose the war. Perhaps someone should check Bush for a concussion (one of the signs of which is repetitive questioning), or at least get him a thesaurus.

A sampling of his usage of the offending phrase follows:

“This nation will stay the course.”–Oct. 8th, 2003

“And we will stay the course.”–Oct. 27th, 2003

“I was able to assure them that we were going to stay the course.”–Nov. 27th, 2003

“…assured him that we would stay the course.”–Apr. 5th, 2004

“And, yet, we must stay the course.”–Apr. 13th, 2004

“We’re going to stay the course in Iraq.”–Apr. 16, 2004

“And we’ll stay the course.”–Apr. 20th, 2004

“We’re there to stay the course.”–June 1st, 2004

“We must stay the course.”–Aug. 13th, 2004

I think it’s safe to say “enough already, we get the point.”

9:07 AM I loved this essay:

Therefore we conclude that wisdom is correctly referred to in the female gender in the above verses. Again, observe the parallels between a godly wife and wisdom:

Both are valued above rubies, (3:15 & 31:10), and both are a crown unto a man (4:9 & 12:4).

9:03 AM Doug’s Phillip’s website has some excellent resources for those who believe that the church ought to unite families, not segregate them. All of these have driven me more and more in the last three years to study what the Scriptures have to say about the church, and I am amazed at what I find – so different from what is usually given in a course on “Christian Education in the Local Church.”

8:57 AM This essay by Jonathan Grubbs piggy-backs off our lead post on DBO today. Jon writes:

I used to be a very strong supporter of the Republican party, but over the years the GOP has abandoned the conservative principles it once held dear in efforts to reach out to the moderates and to appear to be a more “compassionate conservative” party. In doing this I feel they have compromised on too many conservative principles and have started to quickly drift towards the left. We have pro-choice Republicans, “Log Cabin” Republicans, Republicans who support big government, etc. Just as “moral relativism” has ruined the school system and worldview of so many Americans, so “conservative relativism” has ruined the Republican Party that started out as a small third-party in the 1850s.

Also, Jon has a blog I enjoy reading. 

8:55 AM Buried Treasure has a lengthy squib that’s well worth reading. Here’s a snippet from Carmon Friedrich’s wonderful prose:

I’m ranting about the silliness that passes for Christian literature not only because I think such tripe is harmful to the people it’s purported to “encourage in their faith” by teaching them unbiblical views about God, the universe and everything, but it also dishonors our Lord and distorts our witness by giving a picture of Christianity as substandard and a bad imitation of the world.

In his book Addicted to Mediocrity, the (old) Franky Schaeffer said, ala Wodehouse, “Whenever Christians, and evangelicals in particular, have attempted to “reach the world” through the media—TV, film, publishing and so on—the thinking public gets the firm idea that, like soup in a bad restaurant, Christians’ brains are better left unstirred.”

So what do we do, besides embarrassedly snicker, or wring our hands or rant?

I guess we keep trying. Let’s keep writing poems and stories and books, even if they aren’t top-notch. Just try to make them original! And true. And glorifying to God, even if you don’t mention someone praying the Sinner’s Prayer. Keep singing, keep playing and writing music. Keep painting. Keep producing those especially creative works called children and read lots of excellent books with them. I’m afraid you won’t find many in the CBD catalog.

8:30 AM Here’s what Republicans on the Hill are saying about Iraq:

So if you don’t want to hear a Democrat say that the situation in Iraq is deteriorating dangerously, listen to a Republican Senator instead. “The worst thing we can do is hold ourselves hostage to some grand illusion we’re winning,” said Chuck Hagel, a Republican from Nebraska. “Right now, we are not winning. Things are getting worse …. The fact is, we’re in deep trouble in Iraq.”

Read more. 

7:58 AM Here’s one for you. What gender is the noun “blog“?

7:35 AM Could this be describing you? 

Cut off their connection to the Web and people have moments of “withdrawal and feelings of loss, frustration, and disconnectedness” according to a report released Wednesday by Yahoo. Dubbed — and we’re not making this up — the Internet Deprivation Study, the Yahoo-sponsored research tried to get a group of consumers to give stay offline, then report back. Nearly half couldn’t take the Web-less world for more than two weeks, and the median time participants could go without logging on was a measly five days.

7:23 AM I want to get this on DVD. Though the story line doesn’t follow the book, Rathbone is superb.

7:15 AM This email warmed my heart:

I write to you as an encouragement that your writing speaks to my heart and encourages me that I am not alone.  Keep fighting the good fight.  When I read “our situation in America is so hopeless that only God can do something about it”, I thought “that is the conclusion that I came to some months ago”!!!  I too have read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship and share it with some others, but it doesn’t  resonate with them as it did me.  Dave, by His Grace we were called and by His Grace we shall carry on.  God bless you, brother.

Thank you for writing, dear friend. I do not want you to think we are discouraged. We are not. It is the opposite. I have found such personal joy and satisfaction  in watching the Holy Spirit do His work in the various aspects of our ministry. May the Lord bless you, and do pray for us.

Thursday, September 23

1:55 PM Sorry ol’ me. Been tearing down an old barn to get its tin and lumber. Am in a pitiful state. If I can hit my thumb with the hammer, I will. If I can step on a nail, I will. Feel like a total klutz:

klutz    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (klts)
n. Slang

1. A clumsy person.
2. A stupid person; a dolt.

---

[Yiddish klots, from Middle High German kloz, block, lump, from Old High German.]

---

klutzi·ness n.
klutzy adj.

O well, back to work….

1:52 PM Steve Bell’s latest:

1:50 PM Sure’n begorrah, bejibbers and bejabbers, between me forty coats and me fifty
pockets I do declare in front of all the saints, I just love them Irish farmers for stickin’ up for them fox hunters!

1:47 PM Sydney Blumenthal at his very best. The last line made me think of Chief Inspector Dreyfuss in The Pink Panther Strikes Again. (Make that former Chief Inspector….)

Bush’s campaign depends on the containment of any contrary perception of reality. He must evade, deny and suppress it. His true opponent is not his Democratic foe – called unpatriotic and the candidate of al-Qaida by the vice-president – but events. Bush’s latest vision is his shield against them. He invokes the power of positive thinking, as taught by Emile Coue, guru of autosuggestion in the giddy 1920s, who urged mental improvement through constant repetition: “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.”

8:45 AM Ooo, ooo, ooo, this is good stuff:

Little Davie Bahnsen makes his case against Peroutka. One only reads Davie for entertainment, not for serious thought, which makes him a natural fit with the CCL simpletons. The way he throws his support behind the anti-Christian anti-educational establishment is priceless. See if you can follow the reasoning of the Incrementalist. He says he hates the state of the schools, and Bush has thrown too much money at them, and he wants the federal government to get out of the business, “HOWEVER, the notion that this federalized education fiasco is to be abolished TOMORROW is contra-intelligent, and anti-Christian, to the core.” Yes, he used the word “anti-Christian.” And since the beast cannot be dismembered tomorrow, we need more of the same in the hope that someday we will get less of it. If you don’t follow me here, you are hopelessly irrelevant. Did you know that import tariffs are a violation of the Eighth Commandment? Try not to laugh! Davie calls Peroutka’s belief in the criminalization of drug possession “bizarre.” On abortion, Davie prefers a president who has demonstrated that he will speak against it on occasion to a candidate who vows to outlaw it on day one. “Nobody could outlaw it on day one!” pants Davie, and therefore Peroutka is “PATENTLY DISHONEST, and EXTREMELY DANGEROUS… As the brilliant Rod Martin of The Vanguard PAC commented… ‘Yeah, him and what army?’” Their buddy Candy Sandlin has called Peroutka “a national socialist.” Yes, that would be a Nazi. I’ve made a vow not to pick on retards, and I’m not going to break it yet. As I said, one reads this stuff purely for entertainment.

8:40 AM Twelve seats go to the far right in Saxony. Will the NDP be banned?

8:37 AM Whew. I feel a lot safer now that Cat Stevens has been denied entry back into the Land of the Free.

8:32 AM The latest from that kid out in California:

Since my article, George W. Bush – Heretic,” has continued to be very popular and has inspired much discussion in the blogosphere, I wanted to once again bring the piece to the attention of my readers.

With the election only weeks away, the topic is still very relevant. I ask that you pass the article on to your Christian friends and encourage them not to cast their vote for a man whose words and actions deny Christ.

If you still want more, go here, here, and here. 

8:30 AM Got a nice letter today from the editor of this blog. Check it out.

8:25 AM Truth: It’s always the first casualty of war. 

That was the wrong question, the Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Goodhart, told peers recently. The right question was: “Did that hard evidence exist?” If Downing Street had looked for it, the attorney general “would, in all probability, not have been able to advise that the invasion of Iraq was legal, and we would not have gone to war”, said Goodhart. But the leaked documents make clear that evidence, facts – indeed, the truth – was not Downing Street’s main concern.

8:15 AM We will be getting up an unprecedented fourth cutting of hay today. And the weather for working outdoors is magnificent, at least in our neck of the woods. Farming is difficult in the best of times, especially on the old body. Just as there are no perfect bodies, so there is no perfect communication between human beings. This perfection must await Jesus’ return. How thankful I am in my own problems and dealing with the problems of others in my work that it is possible on the basis of the finished work of Christ not to have to say falsely that all is well or to plunge into despair. All of these thoughts flooded my mind as I read the words of this beautiful hymn this morning:

O Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call;
My comfort by day and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all.

Where dost Thou, dear Shepherd, resort with Thy sheep
To feed them in pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in this wilderness rove?

He looks, and ten thousand of angels rejoice,
And myriads now wait for His word;
He speaks, and eternity, filled with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.

8:05 AM Yesterday the seminary email service had a major outage and I lost all of my emails (inbox and sent items!) from 9/22 back to 7/18. If you need to resend something, please do so.

7:55 AM The nasty sign that got Jon Roland in trouble with the law:

HONK!
IF YOU LOVE THE
CONSTITUTION
COMPLETED SEP. 17, 1787
http://www.constitution.org
 

7:45 AM I try to vary my horse’s routine whenever I ride, but yesterday was meant for cantering. After airing him out with a full gallop uphill, he performed a collected canter for about 15 minutes. It seemed tireless for him, but I was exhausted when we were done. It takes a lot to to be able to do little and achieve a lot. The less I do in terms of aids, the more comfortable I am and the more I get done. Just sit and let gravity do its work!

There is nothing like a good canter.

Wednesday, September 22

8:36 AM Jim Rudd’s comparison is mind-boggling:

“Terrorism’s Chilling Similarities”

Al Qaeda Beheads American
**Warning Graphic Video**
Download video Windows Media Audio/Video file)

Americans Behead Babies
**Warning Graphic Video**
“Go To this website and see baby scream bloody murder!” The Silent Scream
“See live abortions online” AbortionTV

Under the Bush administration over 1,000 Americans have been killed in Iraq. And under the Bush administration over 4,500 American babies are slaughtered each day. By shedding innocent blood G.W. Bush has defiled his office and abrogated his authority! He is a murderer! It is a monstrous lie perpetrated by devils suggesting this blood guilty man is “pro-life.” Instead of calling the murderer to repentance through Jesus Christ, it is a great shame upon Christians who suggest voting for the damned!

Murderers do “not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21). Murderers “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) President Bush is more of a murderer than the head of al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden. And “there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2:11) –Jim Rudd

8:33 AM Please take a moment and read this mother’s testimony to the faithfulness, mercy, and grace of God.

8:30 AM This is still one of the most despicable aspects of the war on terrorism.

8:20 AM Howard Dean on the coming national draft. I’ve often said that one of the most disturbing aspects of the New Right is its close relationship with evangelical Christianity, and you can be sure that the rank and file of our churches will be in the forefront of support for Bush’s latest threat to constitutional government, forgetting the difference between patriotism and nationalism.

Neo-patriots think that if you criticize U.S. foreign policy or the country’s obsession with security you are “unpatriotic.” True patriots believe that the exercise of critical judgment is absolutely necessary to any civilization that is to stand or forge ahead, and that it is both their right and duty to criticize their government. They concur with President Theodore Roosevelt: “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country.”

7:42 AM I’m sure from time to time you’ve had your morning devotions with your hymnal by your side. The weather has been so absolutely gorgeous these days that as I sat on my front porch watching the sun rise I grabbed the hymnal off the organ and sang the words of an old hymn. It was originally composed in 1744 and published in a German Hymnal. Read the words slowly, thoughtfully. Pause to luxuriate in their message.

When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

In Heav’n’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

7:30 AM “Pitiable.” That’s the word that kept coming to mind last night as I slurped a bowl of delicious butter pecan ice cream in our library at Bradford Hall with my wife and son. Our Sheltie named Shiloh assumed his routine: he sat down next to me, eyes glued to my bowl, counting the seconds until he could relieve me of my sullied dish and polish it clean. O those sad, pleading eyes, patient yet persistent – pitiable, if you will. As it happened, all three of us finished eating at the exact same time, and down came the bowls – not one, but three. You never saw such ecstasy in your life as Shiloh scurried from treasure to treasure.

There is nothing like a dog.

Tuesday, September 21

1:49 PM Jonathan Grubbs on the anti-homeschool bias in the media. (Update: Jonathan Grubbs responds to my link:)

Dave,

It’s not simply “anti-homeschool bias in the media”. I spoke with the
newspaper reporter who wrote the story. She said that all of her
information came from the Muskegon County Sheriff’s office.

This is another gross example of “our tax dollars” hard at work!

Jon

8:33 AM How I feel about this story.

8:25 AM Maybe this is Dan’s real problem:

Dan said all these things to a British audience. However, back in the USA, he smothered his conscience and told his TV audience: “George Bush is the President. He makes the decisions. He wants me to line up, just tell me where.”

During the war in Vietnam, Dan’s predecessor at CBS, Walter Cronkite, asked some pretty hard questions about Nixon’s handling of the war in Vietnam. Today, our sons and daughters are dying in Bush wars. But, unlike Cronkite, Dan could not, would not, question George Bush, Top Gun Fighter Pilot, Our Maximum Beloved Leader in the war on terror.

7:29 AM Mixed message at LRC?

Your Vote Is Not Wasted
If you vote for a third party, says Charles L. Hooper. Be Responsible: Don’t Vote
Don’t be a conformist, says Wendy McElroy.

7:12 AM DBO contributor Keith Brumley, who just launched his own blog, sent me this great email:

Greetings Dr. Black,

Really liked this article for two reasons. First, because you rightly point out that Jesus is Lord over every aspect of life – including politics. As a libertarian Christian, I keep this in mind as I go to the polls. I also appreciate the Constitution Party and vote for them as well.

Second (and a bit more controversial) I liked it because of your statement on baptism. As you may recall, I am a part of the “Restoration Movement” (I.e., the Churches of Christ & Christian Churches). Many have labeled us as folk who believe in “baptismal regeneration.” This is wrong. While we do preach and teach that baptism (like faith & repentance) are essential responses to God’s good news in Christ, we don’t preach or teach that baptism, in and of itself, “regenerates.” Baptism is an integral part of responding in faith to Christ Jesus. Without faith and repentance, it’s merely getting wet. Coupled with faith and repentance, it is part of the process whereby one is united into a living union with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

While it is true that early “Campbelites,” in their zeal to emphasize baptism, made too much of baptism, I also believe many evangelicals make too little of baptism. I’m thankful to see you putting a positive emphasis on biblical baptism.

And, of course, I remain open to further study. I know I have no corner on the market of God’s truth and am always happy to journey with others who help me see His truth more clearly!

Keep the Faith!

Keith Brumley

7:03 AM From the mailbag:

Dr. Black, as a Catholic I read with interest your article on the occurrence
of the principal of ‘tolerationism’ within Evangelicalism.  The thought
occurred to me that this is the case of a political principal forming Faith
instead of Faith forming political principals.

This tendency is something that I have noticed taking place with American
politics and religion for some time.  The Christian faith in the US seems to
be infected with the heresies of Americanism (American Exceptionalism) and Messianism.

6:40 AM This is a great piece on the bane of urbanization. My wife and I can’t hardly drive in Raleigh or Chapel Hill any more, it reminds us so much of the crazy gridlock we knew in LA (and that ain’t Lower Alabama). Cities aren’t the natural home of people but they suit governments to a “t.”

6:37 AM A war on any abstraction – whether a war on “terrorism” or not – is a sham. Add to that the evil of preemptive war and you’ve got the breeding ground for more and more terrorism. Force only begets more more force, and the world is less safe after the invasion of Iraq. Chuck Baldwin calls us to stop looking at the Iraq War with our eyes firmly shut.

6:35 AM Declare “Mission Accomplished,” topple a few statues, and get the boys home. Wish it were that easy, Mr. President. Sorry. You’re stuck with the mess, and yanking the troops to appease the voters won’t help.

6:26 AM The Great Flip-Flopper does in fact understand that a vote to authorize force is not an endorsement of pre-emptive war. Kerry was clear on that point in his speech, and for that I give him credit.

6:24 AM Founders Ministries offers some important helps to Sunday School teachers who desire to wean themselves (and their students) from over-dependence on the Lifeway material. I would even take it a step further and invite class members to bring their Bibles instead of their lesson guides, and require teachers to study the Scriptures for themselves before consulting whatever resources they may end up employing in class.

Monday, September 20

3:23 PM Ian Black makes impeccably good logic in his latest column:

Al-Qaida may have suffered some serious blows, but its Jihadist affiliates are continuing their deadly business across the globe. The terrorism George Bush vowed to eradicate after the 9/11 attacks seems more virulent and widespread. Indeed, it has taken root where it did not exist before: in Iraq itself.

Jacques Chirac, the French president and leader of Europe’s anti-war camp, made no bones about his views when he declared that the US-led invasion of Iraq and toppling of Saddam Hussein had opened up a “Pandora’s box which none of us can shut”.

Even a terrible francophone like myself sides with Jacques on this one.

3:15 PM Just back from the big city of South Boston getting 16 foot gates for our horse pasture. The rest of the afternoon will be spent cutting hay (our fourth cutting this summer!) and airing out our tents for our next reenactment.

8:45 AM Get pregnant – or else!

8:15 AM Allawi: “We are winning in Iraq.” GOP Congressmen say no. War is never by the books.

8:10 AM Today’s toon:

 

8:08 AM Farm Update: My son’s latest interest is wanting to make our own maple syrup next year. Why not, we’ve got the trees….

8:05 AM Maybe it is just me being me, but is this the best a Republican blogger can do?

I smile and look around. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Serena Williams, Tina Brown and President George H.W. Bush, all talking and laughing. For at least one week, it is a happy political universe.

7:59 AM An “unborn child” (not a “fetus”) was among those killed during the recent hurricane-caused rains in North Carolina. Question: Why do we speak of a dead baby as a “child” and a live one as a “fetus”?

7:58 AM The Dems are still wondering what happened to Zell.

7:57 AM The Darfur disaster will never be resolved by a self indulgent, entitlement-rich, bloated organization that thinks it can fix any situation. Why don’t the Islamic nations take some leadership in this awful crisis?

7:57 AM Operation Market-Garden, and its famous bridge too far, remembered in Arnhem. I well recall visiting the city a few years ago and its war museum. Sadly, the main result of the war was Europe’s slide into a gigantic welfare state. What a great (and sorely neglected) mission field.

7:55 AM The latest on the Dan-ron scandal.

7:54 AM Uh oh, bad news for Herr Schroeder, who is facing increased opposition from Germans who still want to be Germans. Socialist Schroeder, who is now married to his fourth wife, has sent German “peacekeepers” far and wide in support of the UN. Great Weltanschauung, ain’t it? At least it’s good to know the right still has the power to exasperate the left in Deutschland.

7:50 AM A nice tribute to a man who “helped to restore the value of developing a Christian worldview and offered the intellectuals tools that evangelicals needed to properly engage with the secular culture.” I had the privilege of sitting under this pastor’s teaching when I lived in Switzerland. Read about him here.

7:48 AM An excellent article from the Guardian on how America views itself as a victim – and the way it exploits its victimhood to support its moral crusades.

When 3,000 people died on September 11, Le Monde declared: “We are all Americans now.” Around 12,000 civilians have died in Iraq since the beginning of the war, yet one waits in vain for anyone to declare that we have all become Iraqis, or Afghans, let alone Palestinians. This is not a competition. Sadly, there are enough victims to go around. Sadder still, if the US continues on its present path, there will be many more. Demanding a monopoly on the right to feel and to inflict pain simply inverts victimhood’s regular contradiction – the Bush administration displays material strength and moral weakness.

Sunday, September 19

7:48 AM “We’re back at war” says head of British Army.

7:45 AM Good Sunday Morning! This afternoon we will be entertaining guests at our table — twice. Our guest of honor will be our revival speaker, and we have invited church members both for an after-church lunch and a pre-evening meeting supper. It’s always a joy watching my wife doing what she does best and to perfection. This morning our men’s group is off to sing at the local nursing home  – good ol’ country Gospel, gut bucket and GEE-tar included.

Saturday, September 18

5:05 PM In case you missed it, Covenant News is reporting about the growing problem of euthanasia in the Netherlands.

3:56 PM This song is too cool! Here are the words. For you Kamaainas out there, I used to sing it, “I want to go back to my little Black Shack in Kailua over the Pali.” (Below: My beloved home “over the Pali.”)

3:45 PM King Tut visits Basel. My wife and I saw the same artifacts in the Cairo Museum. Fascinating! Incidentally, during our European tour next summer we will get to spend the Lord’s Day in Basel. I will be preaching (in German), and English-speaking services will be available as well. I am really looking forward to seeing our many Swiss friends again!

3:25 PM Sheldon Richman on whether Kerry or Bush “served his country” – whatever that means.

I am annoyed by so much of the debate about Bush’s and Kerry’s roles during Vietnam. The other night Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame repeatedly said that the one thing no one can doubt is that George Bush was a “shirker” and Kerry wasn’t. If he meant that Bush shirked according to the standards Bush himself would likely endorse, then Bernstein is right. But objectively speaking, Bernstein is wrong. To shirk is to avoid a duty or responsibility. No one had a duty or responsibility to go to Vietnam and shoot at perfect strangers who had never attacked him and to risk getting killed or maimed or just badly screwed up. Likewise, Kerry didn’t “serve his country” when he went to Vietnam. At most he served a corrupt U.S. government that continuously imposed on the American people (not to mention the Vietnamese) by making them fight that immoral war.

12:48 PM Why the mystique surrounding the Arabian horse? Maybe it’s because it was the original breed. What beautiful creatures!

12:43 PM Neat link on Greek epigraphy with various fonts, including obsolescent letters like the digamma:

11:55 AM The impartiality of the Gospel and peace on earth:

Bad Christian theology regarding the “Holy Land” contributed to the tragic cruelty of the Crusades in the Middle Ages. Lamentably, bad Christian theology is today attributing to secular Israel a divine mandate to conquer and hold Palestine, with the consequence that the Palestinian people are marginalized and regarded as virtual “Canaanites.” This doctrine is both contrary to the teaching of the New Testament and a violation of the Gospel mandate. In addition, this theology puts those Christians who are urging the violent seizure and occupation of Palestinian land in moral jeopardy of their own bloodguiltiness. Are we as Christians not called to pray for and work for peace, warning both parties to this conflict that those who live by the sword will die by the sword? Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring both temporal reconciliation and the hope of an eternal and heavenly inheritance to the Israeli and the Palestinian. Only through Jesus Christ can anyone know peace on earth.

11:45 AM What will you be doing on Tuesday, May 31, 2005, Deo volente? Why not join us in Erfurt, Germany? By the way, rather than staying in a hotel, we’ll have the privilege of overnighting in Luther’s Augustinian Monastery — just one of the many unique features of our European tour.

Read more about it here. I hope you will prayerfully consider joining us. It’s gonna be gobs of fun!

11:30 AM The young shall inherit the debt.

10:15 AM Iraq is not another Vietnam. It is far graver, like the Germans going into Stalingrad, fighting for every house.

9:59 AM A DBO reader asks a very good question:

Dr. Black

James Dobson can endorse other candidates, why not
Peroutka?  I have heard Dr. Dobson admit that he voted
for the Constitution Party candidate in 2000.  He said
no one in the two major parties shared his beliefs.  I
say to Dr. Dobson, nothing has changed in the last
four years.  Things have only gotten worse.  His
suspicions about Bush have been shown to be correct.
Like Pat Buchanan mysteriously offering no endorsement
for Michael Peroutka, so has Dr. James Dobson.  Dr.
Black I will continue to pray that all Christians
offer their uncompromising support to the Michael
Peroutka and Chuck Baldwin. 

Deo Vindice

Charles Porter

9:05 AM N. T. Wright has some good things to say about the Caesar-cult — both then and now:

…if Paul’s answer to Caesar’s empire is the empire of Jesus, what does that say about this new empire, living under the rule of its new lord? It implies a high and strong ecclesiology, in which the scattered and often muddled cells of women, men and children loyal to Jesus as Lord form colonial outposts of the empire that is to be: subversive little groups when seen from Caesar’s point of view, but when seen Jewishly an advance foretaste of the time when the earth shall be filled with the glory of the God of Abraham and the nations will join Israel in singing God’s praises. From this point of view, therefore, this counter-empire can never be merely critical, never merely subversive. It claims to be the reality of which Caesar’s empire is the parody; it claims to be modelling the genuine humanness, not least the justice and peace, and the unity across traditional racial and cultural barriers, of which Caesar’s empire boasted.

Such radical monotheism seems to be been missing in these days of state-worship. From this standpoint in social history we need to see Christ again against the backdrop of the first century and hear His words in a context of empire-building.

Friday, September 17

7:20 AM Homeschool moms always say it best.

7:12 AM Only if I believed in our two-party monopoly would I agree with Andrew Greeley that there’s no choice in ’04.

7:09 AM Reenlist, or else!

6:59 AM The instructors at one of the Ethiopian schools I’ll be teaching at have requested that I bring copies of my intermediate Greek grammar, It’s Still Greek to Me, for their students to use. I am happy to do so, but I do have some concerns. Not about the students’ ability to understand intermediate Greek. I’m sure they can handle that. It’s my silly English I’m worried about, especially some pretty stupid puns – “Up the Greek without a paddle,” “to Koine phrase,” “tense times with verbs,” etc. And how about that cartoon with mice illustrating preposition usage? Well, at least it should be interesting….

6:57 AM Who really cares about the tailspin over at CBS News? Not this former TV news junkie!

6:55 AM Mmm, mmm, now this is something you can really sink your teeth into:

My generation–that baby boom bunch that we’ve heard so much about–has a compulsion to change the church to be what they want it to be. Why? Oh….don’t you know?

Our generation has been told for the whole trip that we are special. We deserve more. We need more. We are wounded. We are alienated from authority. We are the victims of Vietnam, and divorce, and educational breakdown. Decades of advertising have convinced us that we need our own Oldsmobile, cause we can’t drive daddy’s. We’re smarter. Thinner. Better. We’ve got the short attention span. Television and movies are our medium. We need stories. We’re casual. We need to be met “where we are.” We need to be in “real relationships.” We aren’t satisfied with “church the way it used to be.”

Yeah right. What a crock. This is the most flattered, catered to, lied to and indulged generation in history. I loathe my generation, not because we don’t have some good people. We do, but we also have generational selfishness honed into a kind of idolatry that is truly awesome to behold. We are big, fat, demographic bullies, who won’t play with anyone else unless we get everything “our way.”

Read A Contrarian Manifesto for the Church Growth Debate. Then add Michael Spencer’s website to your list of favorites.

6:52 AM Our friendly neighborhood hawk has been picking off our hens one at a time. Needless to say, our otherwise free-ranging chickens are being quarantined until our fine feathered friend can be, ahem, “taken care of.”

6:48 AM Latest German WW II film juxtaposes the Battle for Berlin with Hitler’s bunker. Did the Leader have a human touch? Read about The Downfall (Der Untergang) and why so many people sacrificed their lives and their children’s lives for the state. Here’s a German review that lauds the picture for being a German production and not another example of American “spin”:

Zuerst einmal möchte ich sagen, dass ich es klasse finde, dass auch mal ein deutscher Film über dieses heikle Thema produziert wird. Dieser wird – im Gegensatz zu den US-Filmen – um einiges objektiver ausfallen.
Dennoch werden in diesem Film einige – meiner Meinung nach sehr entscheidende Dinge – nicht geklärt. Denn Hitler und der Großteil der damaligen Führungsetage Deutschlands, waren schwer drogensüchtig. Herrmann Göring zum Beispiel, war extrem Morphiumsüchtig…: “In den höheren Rängen der NS-Hierarchie wusste man über seine Sucht sehr wohl Bescheid, und in Gefangenschaft begab er sich mit zwei dicken Koffern, Inhalt: 20.000 Ampullen Morphium. Es schmerzte ihn sehr, dass ihm die Amerikaner diese abnahmen, und sein völlig verändertes Aussehen beim Nürnberger Prozess war eine Folge der unfreiwilligen Entziehungskur. Er war eine Art ‘NS-Hippie’ mit einer Vorliebe für Lametta und Paradiesuniformen…”
Oder Hitler: “Er war schwer Amphetaminsüchtig (damals Pervitin; heute Speed), bekam gegen Darmprobleme regelmäßig kleine schwarze Pillen (Wirkstoffe: Atropin und Strychnin) und lies sich seine entzündeten Schleimhäute mit Kokain pinseln. Weiterhin wurde er vor seinen ‘großen Reden’ immer ‘fitgespritzt’ und das Atropin (Tollkirsche) sorgte dafür, dass Hitler seine berühmten, stechenden Augen bekam.” Versorgt wurde er regelmäßig von Dr. Morell, der in der Führungsetage nur als “Reichsspritzenmeister” bekannt war. Dieser Dr. Morell war ebenfalls die ganze Zeit bei Hitler im Führerbunker und wich ihm nur sehr selten von der Seite… und hätte vll. doch in diesem Film erwähnt werden sollen.

Dennoch werde ich mir diesen Film anschauen, da er – wie oben bereits geschrieben – eine deutsche Produktion ist und nicht von “hirngespinnsten” durchtränkt ist, wie so mancher US-Film.

6:45 AM Did you notice? Columnist David Saransohn of the Oregonian pointed out the curious gap in all the talk at the Republican National Convention about Iraq:

At this convention, you don’t hear much about Iraq.

That is, Iraq the country.

You hear constantly about Iraq the symbol, the demonstration of American resolve, the place that will be a beacon of democracy throughout the Middle East and the Muslim world. Speakers repeatedly invoke Iraq as a stage set for President Bush’s determination, a symbol of a rebuilding world.

Thursday, September 16

8:55 AM The recent hurricanes remind me of an incident that happened on the shores of Galilee (Yam Kinneret) when my wife and I were staying in Capernaum. The day started out calm and peaceful, but in just a matter of seconds a great storm blew down from the mountains to the west of the lake, and before you knew it I was literally body-surfing in the historic Sea of Galilee – the waves were so high. The God who could still a storm in Jesus’ day is the same God who can direct a hurricane to less-populated areas and preserve life in the midst of great destruction. These hurricanes are not surprises to God. He is the God of the storm and has a purpose in them. (Below: The Arbela Pass as seen from Capernaum.)

8:12 AM Too many of us play the numbers game. No, we never need be ashamed of concern over numbers. The New Testament is full of them – how many people were fed on a mountainside, how many people were added to the church on the Day of Pentecost, etc. But a healthy church body is never preoccupied with numbers. Even the secular press mocks our inflated membership statistics, as Tom Ascol has pointed out. The solution?

Simply put, the answer is doctrine. The men and women who founded and shaped the Southern Baptist Convention in its formative years placed a high premium on sound doctrine. They took for granted that which we have all but forgotten, namely, that the foundation of vibrant Christian living and healthy Christian churches is solid, biblical teaching.

8:10 AM Larry Pratt is right:

We have invited terrorists to strike our schools because we have singled these institutions out as criminal safe zones.

Read Lessons from Beslan School Massacre.

7:50 AM Governor Arnold does it again. I hate to say it, folks, but I told you so….

7:45 AM Blitzer interviews Buchanan. Take a few seconds and read this interesting dialogue. By the way, Pat, it’s still not too late to endorse the only true conservative candidate for president.

7:35 AM Morning roundup:

• Went to the seminary yesterday to hear Craig Blaising speak in chapel and to take him out to lunch afterwards. Dr. Blaising is the Provost at our sister seminary in Fort Worth and was on campus lecturing on eschatology. Where did I take him? The Texas Steakhouse, of course.

• Had a terrific sinus headache yesterday afternoon and all evening. We don’t need a barometer around here. My sinuses are a pretty good sign of a low pressure system.

• Have a female Boer in the hospital unit in the barn. My wife gently bathed her foot in Epsom Salts, and the goat seems to be doing much better today. How fragile and tender these young ones are, requiring constant monitoring.

• Our nightly prayer meetings at church have been a wonderful time and a great blessing to all in attendance. This Sunday our “revival” begins, and I pray the Lord will send a great awakening. Our little choir will be singing one of my all time favorite hymns – “Come Holy Spirit.”

• For our anniversary my wife is getting me a set of old Haven of Rest Quartet CDs, which are very hard to find. If yall know where we can find some more (CDs or cassettes – no LPs), please let us know. I am desperate to get my hands on some.

• I see that the young Mr. Friedrich is back, and back with a vengeance. Both his pen and his new found brush are active:

Welcome back to the blogosphere, Pieter. 

Tuesday, September 14

1:55 PM What do blabatrice, honeyfugle, illatration, luscition, and oligosyllable have in common? You won’t find them in spell check!

1:50 PM Having a good blog is nothing to sneeze at. Or is it?

I’ve written previously written about a great book called Unleashing the Idea Virus (by Seth Godin) on this blog. He argues that for any idea to spread that you need to think of it as a virus and make it as easy as possible for other people to spread the virus for you. It is much more effective to let others ‘sneeze’ (or promote) your site into the web than to do it all yourself.

1:43 PM Despite what Mr. Bush and his veep say about people being “free” to pursue so-called alternative lifestyles,

Sodomy is a crime, and for Christians to publicly refer to this criminal activity as “gay” or as a “life style” is an anti-Biblical presupposition that suggests to the public, and to our civil officials, that the laws against sodomy can be ignored. To ignore what God says is to mock God, and for Christians to suggest that it is permissible for civil officials to ignore the Commandments of God is iniquity — anomia — Greek for lawlessness (Matt. 7:23).

Read more from Jim Rudd, editor of Covenant News – and a man who knows his Greek!

12:47 PM I recently spoke at a church that had lost its pastor rather suddenly. Times of transition are a challenge but also a great opportunity to rethink the biblical teaching about church leadership. I just reread Alexander Strauch’s Biblical Eldership and found it to be both inspiring and convicting. If you have never thought through your position on church leadership, I commend his work to you. An abbreviated version may be found on the Internet by going here. Meanwhile, let warm, aggressive affirmations of love be the continual expression of our local churches whenever we come together – even though we may differ as to temperament, politics, and personality!

10:35 AM And here’s one from a fellow agrarian:

… one more reason to live and work on a farm.

    “In 1989, Dr. David Strachan, a respected epidemiologist at Britain’s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, launched a tidal wave of debate with a complex theorem of human immunology development and disease control, saying, ‘We need dirt.'”

    “Dr. Strachan proposed that society’s growing separation from dirt and germs may well be the cause of weaker immune systems resulting in the growing incidence of a wide range of maladies.”

    “Dirt–or to be more specific, the microbes in the earth’s soil–may be some of our best friends.”

This is a quote from The Maker’s Diet by Jordan S. Rubin, pg. 69.

Still enjoying your website….

I agree completely. Three cheers for Pig Pen!

10:33 AM From the mailbag:

Mr. Black,

http://www.dhtn.com/peroutka.html

This is the Peroutka commercial that is soon to be aired in the state of Mississippi. Thought you would like to be aware of it.

This is great news! Thank you very much indeed!

8:23 AM Jonathan Grubbs wants to know who left the door open.

In a single day, more than 4,000 illegal aliens will walk across the busiest unlawful gateway into the U.S., the border between Arizona and Mexico. And many will obtain phony identification papers, including bogus Social Security numbers, to conceal their true identities and mask their unlawful presence. TIME’s Pulitzer Prize winning investigative team, Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, takes a look at the damage, the dangers, and the reasons America fails to protect itself as millions of illegal aliens pour across the U.S.-Mexican border this year, many from countries hostile to America.

8:15 AM Read a mind-boggling excerpt from Hersh’s Chain of Command to see how we got from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib.

7:59 AM Robert Dabney, one of my Southern heroes, on our indifference to the truth:

A church, whose teachers are not heartily agreed in doctrine, can only have peace within itself at the cost of a Sadducean indifference to truth. . . . Indeed, the ends designed by this so-called comprehension can only be gained by indifferentism. The theory has an obvious tendency to disparage the importance of truth. . . . So benumbing is the spirit of indifferency begotten by this comprehension, that its tendency is to extinguish all true life in the church which practices it. . . . Peace is preserved at the expense of life, and the motley body dies in the stupor of its own indifference.

Read Broad Churchism.

7:33 AM It struck me while reading 1 Samuel 16 this morning that God picked the most unlikely son of Jesse to be king. “The Lord does not see as man sees” says verse 7, and this is a healthy reminder. The very things that had commended Saul (natural ability, physical appearance) are now seen as detrimental. God “looks on the heart” and thus picks David. Ironically, David is a handsome young man — ruddy, with bright eyes and very good-looking. But his heart was what mattered. I needed to remind myself this morning that God is not interested in my giftedness but my brokenness. Even whatever gifts I might possess are just that — gifts from Him. I must refuse to claim any credit for them, but seek to examine my heart to see whether “the Spirit of the Lord is upon [me]” (verse 13). And then go through the day reveling in the presence of the Lord!

Monday, September 13

5:56 PM Sorry, but I couldn’t resist! (Below: The famous “Jaws” beach on the Island of Maui.)

5:02 PM Tonight we begin a week of nightly prayer for our church revival that begins next Sunday. I am much encouraged that God still has a good work to do in our little flock, and that His work has nothing to do with our numbers and everything to do with our obedience, as this essay on the Chocolate Soldier by C. T. Studd reminds us.

Come, then, let us restore the “Lost Chord” of Christianity – HEROISM – to the world, and the crown of the world to Christ.  Christ Himself asks thee, “Wilt thou be a Slacker or a Militant?”  To your knees, man!  And to your Bible!  Decide at once!  Don’t hedge!  Time flies!  Cease your insults to God, quit consulting flesh and blood.  Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses! 

12:10 PM Homosexual marriage: How the nation got into this mess in the first place.

The church has lost its influence with society because it sends mixed messages and because it has no leg to stand upon when it strays from its Biblical moorings. Barna, based upon his constant polling and research on the church, wrote in 2002 that the church “is not among the top dozen influences these days — a far cry from the way things used to be.”7

Because of our timidity, naiveté, and poor understanding of our own faith, the church is often viewed as inconsequential in American society today. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where numerous polls indicate that the majority of the people oppose same-sex marriages, yet the concerns of the Christians are simply swept aside.

Yes, I fought in the trenches in the culture wars. I served in a place that suffered substantial losses. Yet, I know God reigns. If only His people would act like it.

10:55 AM The debate over N. T. Wright and the so-called new perspective on Paul continues unabated, as a DBO reader reminded me today. Here’s a good link that will help you sort out this important issue, if you haven’t done so already.

8:57 AM Yet another pro-war Congressman sees the light:

A visibly emotional U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, who two years ago described a potential invasion of Iraq as being in the “interest of America and all freedom-loving people everywhere,” Friday told a Northern Kentucky audience that his vote to authorize that war was the one he most regretted during his three terms in Congress.

8:25 AM Darrell Dow on the “you are either for us or against us” fallacy of statism and the New Right:

But my question is this: Given that we live, or at least once lived, in a republic where power rests on the consent of the governed, what does Wilson’s indictment say about Christians who give their consent to the advancement of “syncretistic idolatry?”

One other item that Wilson fails to address is the Bush administration infatuation with the idolatry of statism. That our security comes from the regime, that you are “with us or against us” in the war on terror, that there is “wonder working power” in state-funded “faith-based” social programs are all lies propagated by the administration, and point to the state rather than God as the author of every good and perfect gift.

8:23 AM Are Americans facing a “Westmoreland moment“?

8:04 AM Jacob Hornberger on the flaws of interventionism:

After 9/11, President Bush, amidst tremendous fanfare, declared his “war on terrorism.” Rather than simply going after those individuals who had conspired to commit the 9/11 attacks, he invaded both Afghanistan and Iraq, on the basis of the notion that the president has the power to preemptively attack, without the constitutionally required congressional declaration of war, any nation whose rulers might have “harbored” terrorists or who might pose a terrorist threat to the United States at some time in the future. In the process, the United States killed tens of thousands of innocent people (that is, people who had nothing to do with 9/11 or even the 1993 terrorist attack on the WTC), thereby producing even more anger and hatred that will inevitably lead to more terrorist attacks and ensuring that the process will continue. This policy also ensures ever-increasing budgets for the Department of Defense (so-called) and ever-increasing federal power over the lives and fortunes of the American people.

7:55 AM From the mailbag:

Bro. Dave, I just wanted you to know that I really appreciate your web-site! It is very refreshing to know that there are others out there who are not afraid to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!
The articles on your web-site on everything from family based worship,
constitutional government, and the unvarnished record of GW Bush and the Republicans have gotten me in some hot water as I have forwarded them to friends/family members! I recently preached a series at our church on a Biblical perspective of voting, and the info on your site was
indispensable! Thanks again, and God Bless!

Thank you, dear brother, and keep up the good work, inasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

7:32 AM Good day, friends. In my reading this morning I saw an interesting equation: “Walk about Zion, and go all around her…. For this is God” (Psalm 48:12, 14). To praise Zion, the dwelling place of God, is the same as praising God Himself. Yesterday we paid a visit to a some dear friends in western Virginia, a home school family of nine children with a church that meets in their barn. As I looked at the orderly, peaceful home, I couldn’t help but admire the job mom and dad are doing. Their “Zion” is indeed a blessing to visit, and surely “God is in her palaces” (Psalm 48:3) and “He is known as her refuge.” On our trip to Ethiopia we hope to visit with their eldest daughter and her husband who are missionaries in Uganda. Thank you, Lord, for this family — for their testimony to your grace and love, for their willingness, like Lydia and Priscilla, to have a church meet “in their home,” and for their dedication to the Word of God, even when it’s counter-cultural. Surely “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!” (Psalm 48:1).

Sunday, September 12

8:30 AM From today’s Le Monde: How Bush, Putin, and Sharon started World War IV:

Poutine, Bush, Sharon paraissent donc participer au même combat. Ils font la même analyse d’une idéologie – le fondamentalisme islamique – et d’une méthode – le terrorisme. Ils voient, mais ils ne sont pas les seuls, dans le fondamentalisme une nouvelle forme de totalitarisme, rappelant les idéologies du XXe siècle.

8:20 AM Die Zeit believes Vietnam will determine the outcome of the U.S. presidential election:

Der Vietnam-Krieg kostet – auch dreißig Jahre nach seinem Ende – noch immer Menschenleben: Erst am vergangenen Mittwoch sind sechs Vietnamesen durch die Explosion einer alten Granate aus den Kämpfen mit den Amerikanern umgekommen, vier erlitten Verletzungen. Vietnam ist immer noch ein aktuelles Thema – auch und gerade in den USA. Dort könnte der Krieg die Glaubwürdigkeit und vielleicht auch die Wahlchancen der zwei Hauptkandidaten im diesjährigen Präsidentschaftswahlkampf, Bush und Kerry, entscheiden.

8:08 AM Don’t you just love airport security these days?

The government finds it easier to lock down law-abiding citizens in hopes of catching the bad guys in their net. Besides, the more hassles you have to endure, the easier it is to convince the general public that the government is actually doing something to protect you. The fact is few bad guys and a lot of innocent Americans are made to suffer. Powerful lists designed to deny freedoms isn’t the way to fight terrorism.

There are more plans in the works beyond no-fly lists. Once in place, getting on the wrong list can cost you your bank account, your driver’s license, your job, or even your home, all because of a typo from a minimum wage, apathetic worker.

8:05 AM EXTRA! EXTRA! Harry Seabrook, erstwhile editor of Little Geneva, to Join Army, Repents of Negativism Toward Bush! Read all about it!

I retract everything bad I’ve ever said about George W. Bush. His Christianity was not evident to me, but then I read this from George Grant: “Over the course of several years now, President Bush has developed a vibrant devotional life. Every morning before dawn, even before he brings Laura a cup of coffee, he reads from the Bible. Not surprisingly, he finds the Book of Psalms particularly invigorating… He also regularly reads the daily selection from My Utmost for His Highest, the classic devotional work by Oswald Chambers.” As long as he has morning devotions, it doesn’t really matter if he thinks Jews and Muslims worship the God of the Bible. That does it… I’m going to talk to an army recruiter.

Please, Harry, before going off the deep end, consider this opening. It’s perfect for a Willow Creek/Saddleback fan like yourself.

Saturday, September 11

11:45 AM Bee sting cure-all? Might be worth checking out as often as I am a target….

11:43 AM Guess who sends their kids to private schools? 

11:30 AM Is the Greek term for “elder” age specific? I tend to think it is. I agree with this writer:

The word ‘elder’ implies that the person in question is an older man. In the Old Testament ‘elders’ had a significant role in leading the people of Israel on the national, tribal, and city level. The New Testament carries on this tradition. Who would question that the ‘elders’ of the Old Testament are actually older men? Why should we assume differently in the New Testament? After addressing the elders in I Peter 5, Peter tells the younger, likewise ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder. Notice the age difference.

An elder is a mature man. There are many young men gifted in the things of the Lord, gifted to teach, and perhaps even gifted to ‘pastor’ in the Ephesians 4:11 sense. But if a man has not lived long enough to fulfill the character requirements of I Timothy 3, then we should not see him as an elder of the church. Let him use his gifts, yes.

For more, you might see the chapter “Jesus and the Age 30 Transition” in my book The Myth of Adolescence. 

10:50 AM If you haven’t read Mark Harrington’s Terror in the Womb: The Forgotten Victims of 9/11, please take a moment and do so. Aren’t you glad we have men like Mark writing such essays? Eventually, given enough time, any movement becomes a reflection of its leaders. Thank God for men who have a sharp, insightful leadership role; and shame, shame on those jokers who create congregations that do nothing but laugh a lot!

10:43 AM About to enjoy some scrumptious omelets, prepared by my darling. Tonight we are getting all fancified and going to a nearby bed-and-breakfast/restaurant for a ritzy supper. Meantime I’ve got the grass to bush-hog and more work to do on the sheds. We hope to cut and bale more hay as well. Because of the plentiful rains this summer we may even get an unheard-of 4 cuttings this year in some fields. Saturday a day of rest? Not for us!* Man, what a great life!

*Didn’t someone once say, “Six days shalt thou work”?

9:15 AM Happy Anniversary to … us! Date: September 11, 1976. Place: Grace Bible Church, Dallas, Texas. Officiating: Dr. Dwight Pentecost, Rev. Robert Hakes. Honeymoon: Hawaii — where else?

Friday, September 10

6:55 PM Thought for the day (C. H. Spurgeon):

By perseverance the snail reached the ark.

6:35 PM In today’s LRC blog, Thomas DiLorenzo expresses his disappointment with the politically-correct battlefield guide he had at Gettysburg. Tom, I could have told you as much. Next time, forego the propaganda, get out your walking shoes, and hike the fateful mile from the Virginia monument to the stone wall, as many of us do each time we visit that hallowed ground. Gives you a brand new perspective on the kind of frontal assault you described in your blog comments.

6:23 PM Like every American, I was horrified by the events of September 11, 2001. But don’t let anyone tell you we are more secure today than we were pre-9/11. Lee Shelton deals in great specificity about the shape, style, and agenda of the Bush response to terrorism in part three of his series on the lesser-of-two-evils myth.

2:56 PM Cheney backtracks after reading my essay on his scare tactics.*

*Just kidding.

2:34 PM Look who’s divorcing.

2:10 PM Dr. Lyman says learn Spanish and learn it muy pronto! Izzy, I realize the Real Academia Española was established in 1713 to “fijar las voces y vocablos de la lengua castellana en su mayor propiedad, elegancia, y pureza,” but would my Southern California Spanglish do? After all, I am able to surfear the web and I can both deletear and dragear an icon!

1:58 PM John Pafford reviews Pat Buchanan’s penultimate book, A Republic, Not an Empire. A salient quote:

While it is true that the United States is a multiethnic country, it has not been and must never become a multicultural country. To proclaim that this is a multicultural country, that the basis of our culture is diversity, is meaningless. That really means that there is no national culture, that the country is just a conglomeration of separate, unassimilated groups of people. A successful country, though, must be based on voluntarily accepted values which unite individuals from diverse backgrounds. There must be something which transcends the differences which separate us.

1:45 PM Lobe den Herrn! My Microsoft Word is actually working, folks. There have been no more crashes while I have been working on my sabbatical project. This is indeed a miracle from the Lord (at least in this layman’s estimation). While I’m on a break from writing, it’s good to see the work Buddy Hanson is doing at the Grace & Law website. He notes:

For too long we have been approaching life in a schizophrenic manner: professing to be Christians, and proclaiming that God’s Word is truth, yet living as though He has nothing to say about everyday life! As a result civil government is not fulfilling its God-appointed role of protecting citizens and prosecuting law-breakers. By living in accordance with the four self-governing spheres (Self, Family, Church, State) we will:

• increase our personal liberty
   

• reduce the amount of all taxes to below 10 percent (since to pay Caesar more than God is to dishonor God), and
   

• have peaceful communities in which to raise our families.

This is a great reminder, Buddy.  The state — the institution of human government — has been ordained by God to serve the individual, not the other way around. As Buddy reminds us, we must begin with God as Creator and as Law-Giver. Man is a divine creation designed to love and obey God, and governments that lose sight of this great truth often force men to bow to service to the state without regard for their obligation to God. Thanks, Buddy, for all you are doing to remind us that when governments fail to recognize man’s allegiance to God they court revolution, and when men fail to recognize their allegiance to God they court tyranny. It’s as simple as that! 

9:55 AM San Gabriel Mission loses its cross. (Gracias: Charles Porter.)

8:43 AM Hmm, a husband and wife team, both of whom have degrees in Secondary Education, home schooling their kids? Wassup?

8:35 AM Jeff Adams wants to know, Who left whom? 

I believe in the same things today that I did when those ideals motivated me to join the U.S. military to ‘serve my country.’ Those ideals are what motivated me to vote for Reagan, questioningly vote for Bush senior, hold my nose voting for Dole, and finally in 2000 to vote for Buchanan. I’ve come to the point that I don’t think I can even vote for either of our U.S. senators in Texas, who are both Republican, or for the Republican running for the congressional seat for my district. These people, along with Bush, have turned their backs on the Constitution, the ideals and principles that have historically defined America, and the citizens they are suppose to represent.

I won’t vote for a Democrat either, as I gave up on the Democratic Party long ago (they are socialists in everything but name). I have to vote for what I believe in, not vote for a Republican because I fear the Democrats more. There’s no real difference between the two parties any more. It’s like a choice between sticking my hand in a jar full of rattlesnakes or a jar full of cottonmouths. Either way, my hand is going into a jar full of poisonous snakes, and I’m sure to get bitten.

To borrow from Ronald Reagan, I didn’t leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me. I’m voting conservative/traditionalist, and if that means the Constitution Party, so be it. George Bush has shown his true colors and they are anything but conservative. I’m not throwing away my vote; Bush has thrown my vote away. What’s the problem here? It’s not me folks, it’s him.

7:56 AM The credo of Babyholics Anonymous.

7:45 AM Chuck Baldwin says it about as well as it can be said:

James Bovard and Bob Barr are correct: America has been betrayed by President George W. Bush! Mr. Bush has proved himself unfaithful to virtually every precept of conservative, constitutional principles. As such, a John Kerry presidency would be no worse. In fact, it might even be better as conservatives would suddenly have their blinders removed and might actually start acting like conservatives again.

Of course, the best alternative would be to elect a true constitutional conservative as President. And the only such candidate for this year’s election who meets that criteria is Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party. It is for the above reasons and more that I was happy to accept Michael’s invitation to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

If you choose to vote for G.W. Bush, go ahead, but please don’t delude yourself into thinking that by doing so you are voting for something dramatically different from that of the Democratic candidate, because you aren’t. You are merely voting to continue the failed and fallacious policies of the liberal establishment which controls both major parties.

Read The Bush Betrayal.

Thursday, September 9

7:50 PM I have a lot of weaknesses but ingratitude isn’t one of them. I want to thank my good friends over at the LOS website for their faithfulness in reposting so many of my essays. If I get over 10,000 hits in a day, it is because of websites like Dixienet and Vision Forum and Covenant News and Dixie Daily News and many others. A heartfelt “thank you” to each and every one. May the Lord bless us as we seek to honor Him and Him alone in all we do!

7:35 PM Tonight I received the wonderful news that the Peroutka/Baldwin ticket will be third on the Virginia ballot. Thanks be to God! And thanks be to God for the hard work of Mitch Turner and the rest of the Virginia Constitution Party. This is a great note upon which to end a very busy day. This is how good God is — our faithful covenant God. O how I long and pray, with tears at times, for the fulfillment of Joel 2:25-26 in terms of our nation: “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten…and ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you.” Fortunately, America is slowly waking up. We are again recognizing the dangers of an over-governed idolatrous society. But our pursuit of God is possible only because He is forever pursuing us. O may we respond this November 2 in humbleness, righteousness, trust, and hope!

10:55 AM SIM Friendship Day in Charlotte, NC a week from this Saturday. A great opportunity to learn about mission work in East Africa. (My wife’s family served with SIM in Ethiopia.)

10:15 AM The smells emanating from the kitchen inform me that my precious wife of 28 years come this Saturday has been baking cinnamon rolls again. So if you’ll excuse me….

8:45 AM I believe the Christian answer to our problems is to recognize first that God is sovereign and that all things happen either with His direction or with His permission. But I also hold with deepest conviction that God has created us and that we have a responsibility before Him to make wise choices based on His character and His Word. Good people may certainly disagree, but it seems to me that a thinking Christian should always encourage the de-escalation of war and discourage the resort to humanistic political means of consolidating the state’s existence. Thus, while I am encouraged by the rise in visibility of Michael Peroutka, Chuck Baldwin, and the Constitution Party, I remain very concerned about the coterie who surround the president with incompetent sycophants, seeking to reinforce their imperialistic ambitions by leaning not only on the government but also on the churches. With only eight weeks to go before the general election it is truly sad to see those who preach power politics discuss nations and peoples as though they were chessmen to be manipulated. The current lack of understanding of constitutional principles in our nation makes it virtually impossible for individuals such as Michael and Chuck to apply Christian morality to the struggle. But they will keep trying, and so will this writer. The main battleground will remain, not the arena of politics, but the hearts and minds of the Christian populace, and there, I can assure you, our efforts will be incessant. May the Lord bless you, each one, this day.

8:40 AM As I am doing a great deal of writing these days, I am reminded of what Thomas Jefferson once called “drudging at the writing table.”

7:05 AM This comes as no surprise. None at all.

Wednesday, September 8

5:25 PM My good friends at Trinity Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC are holding a father-son campout at the fabulous Brown farm October 8-10. For more information, including a registration form, please go here.

4:25 PM Taking a break from writing, I found this excellent link from Dr. Patrick Johnson. Folks, don’t be afraid to be a one-issue voter! 

3:03 PM Amen and amen! Was finally able to download successfully Windows XP onto my sorry old pooter, after five tries! The first three times I was like Pickett in the movie: “Come on, you can do it, that’s the style, Lo!” The fourth time I was saying, “What’s happened to my boys?” The last time, resigned to whatever outcome God had planned for me, I was like Lee: “God’s will.” And it worked! Now I can hopefully get on with my sabbatical writing project without the complicated world of cybernetics spoiling things for this computer ignoramus.

1:08 PM One of my Ph.D. students recently asked me how he could keep up with his languages, both biblical and modern. The best way I know, indeed the only way, is simply by reading. I try to read at least Greek, German, and French every day. Last night it was a wonderful short story called La creation de la femme. Try reading until the language in question becomes second nature to you. When I was a doctoral student in Basel, it was just expected of us that we had a good reading knowledge of the languages. So if in my dissertation I quoted Berkhof, I quoted him in Dutch (of course). Or Barth in German. Or Cullmann in French. Of course, the Greek and Hebrew texts were always used, never translations, unless we provided our own. So the key to mastering a foreign language? Simple. Learn to love it — and then read it every chance you get. Viel Spass!

(BTW, the BBC has some great links on foreign languages, from German to French to Italian. You can easily learn a foreign language — correct pronunciation included — on the web! Also, if you want to check your knowledge of, say, German, you can always take an online test, like this one. Try it out, you German speakers!)

1:05 PM A little sore but none the worse for wear. The Yellow Fever was the most painful but also the most necessary shot. The seminary email is down so it may be a while before I can answer your letters.

7:08 AM Off to get our shots for Africa!

7:06 AM Elder Scott Brown is absolutely right:

The separation of children from their parents in the church, a practice that governs modern church life, is more a product of our godless culture than it is Biblical Christianity. The church has departed from its heritage.

There is no indication from scripture that children were ever removed from the meetings designed for preaching, scripture reading, prayer and worship. But, in our culture, it is automatic and comprehensive.

7:05 AM Chuck Baldwin on what is perhaps the most important Congressional bill of the century.

This means, that the federal judiciary would be prohibited from interfering with any expression of religious faith by any elected local, state, or federal official. In other words, federal judges could not prevent the Ten Commandments from being displayed in public buildings or Nativity Scenes from appearing on court house lawns or “under God” from being recited in the Pledge of Allegiance or prayers being spoken in public schools, etc. This bill would limit the jurisdiction of the federal courts in these matters.

7:03 AM The new “old” siding on the woodshed makes it look at least 100 years old. Maybe we should call it the wood “mansion”; it is huge. With five wood burning fire places in the Hall we’ll need all the firewood we can get come winter (my wife loves wood fires). Should keep the chain saw humming this fall. Now if we can only get enough old wood for the horse barn — er, horse mansion — we are building. At least the pasture fencing is done, and it looks pretty neat. Country living is great for many reasons: peace and quiet, stewardship of the land, animal care, self-sufficiency (no, that’s not a dirty word for a Christian; see the Greek of Phil. 4:11). But the real reason to love country living is the machinery! Man, to have a Massie Ferguson to help with the farm work. Now that’s the real deal!

Tuesday, September 7

7:37 PM 1,000 and counting….

9:45 AM Michael Moore is back in the news. My take on Fahrenheit 9/11?

I came away from the movie thinking that the greatest danger we Christians face in this era is from ourselves, not the opposition – liberal or conservative. We have abandoned our constitutional savvy and, by default, have lost our ability to be the salt of the earth in terms of politics. Michael Moore is no more biased than any other film-maker. He has the right, as does every citizen, to engage in political and other human activities. He also has the right to agitate for change like everyone else. The sad thing is, Christians should be the ones exposing fraud and deception wherever it is to be found, and yet it takes a Bush-w left-winger to do it when it comes to our warmongering.

For more go here.

8:30 AM Bob Barr publishes his latest book review:

Perhaps the clearest evidence of how detached this administration is from the constitutional underpinnings that used to hold presidents at arm’s length from near-absolute power is a quote unearthed by Bovard and included in the closing chapter of The Bush Betrayal. In April of this year, at a news conference, Bush described himself as “the ultimate decision-maker for this country.” As Bovard correctly notes, of course, Bush is at most the decision-maker for the executive branch of the government; the people are the ultimate decision-makers for America. Our Founding Fathers knew that. Generations of Americans understood that. Previous presidents recognized that. Sadly, that constitutionally based and historically sound perspective, which is the cornerstone of what America should stand for, appears not to be a component of the current administration’s thinking. And that is a betrayal.

Read chapter one of The Bush Betrayal here.

7:05 AM Have you checked the Dow lately?

6:59 AM James Boice, a fellow Basel grad, has written one of the most readable introductions to Reformed Theology on the web. Read it here.

6:52 AM A friend recently asked me if there is any really big surf in Hawaii during the summer. The answer is basically no. The North Shore only breaks in the winter, but, as you can see, there is still some very good surf to be had in the summer. Shown on the right is the “bowl” at Ala Moana (near Honolulu) on the South Shore of Oahu. The break at Ala Moana is one of the hollowest you’ll ever see. Short ride, but very good. You have to drop in real fast, though. As teens we used to surf it, then paddle in for “church” (the Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy held a service on the beach), then paddle out again. (Needless to say, that was during my Jesus Freak days — long hair and Mariachi sandals to boot.)

6:48 AM Planning a trip to Ethiopia. When I find the ark, I’ll let you know.

6:45 AM Seeker-sensitive or seeker-centered? My friend from California Greg Koukl discusses the tidal wave sweeping American churches.

6:43 AM Quote of the day (Dean Inge):

The Church which is married to the Spirit of the Age will be a widow in the next.

6:40 AM For readers in the UK, I just stumbled across the LogosWord “webstore” that offers many of my books for sale, some at a discounted price. Nice site!

Monday, September 6

12:45 PM They’re coming for your sons and daughters. Even the BBC recognizes the changing role of women in the U.S. armed services. Thankfully, a response is being formulated upon the solid Reformation base of a fully authoritative Scripture.

9:20 AM New definition of “heavy” infantry. Mmmm, I can taste that bratwurst already. 

8:15 AM Mr. Charles Porter writes:

Dr. Black

Hope that your weekend went fine and this letter finds
you in good spirits.  I am halfway through “Why I
stopped listening to Rush” and am want to thank you
for putting into words the way that I feel and the way
thousands of others Christian conservatives feel about
being abandoned by the Republican Party.  Wanted to
pass along the last rhetoric from Jerry Falwell.  Some
say that Zell Miller sold out his own party by
speaking at the GOP convention.  I had a friend that
reminded me that Dick Cheney voted against just about
all the same defense programs that Miller accused
Kerry of going against.  Such is life of the
Republicrats.  God speed to you and your family.

“As for the overall state of the Republican Party, I
can report that the GOP platform is very reflective of
our conservative ideals.  I was able to meet with
several party officials, including Senate Majority
Leader William Frist, who were actively involved in
creating and guarding the platform.  I am happy to
report that the platform remains pro-life and
pro-family.”

Charles Porter

Thanks, Charles. As usual, you are right about the pseudo-conservatism of the Republicrats.

6:34 AM John MacArthur has some pearls on Calvinism:

Scripture speaks with absolute, unmistakable clarity on these vital issues: (1) Sinners are utterly helpless to redeem themselves or to contribute anything meritorious toward their own salvation (Rom 8:7-8). (2) God is sovereign in the exercise of His saving Will (Eph 1:4-5). (3) Christ died as a substitute who bore the full weight of God’s wrath on behalf of His people, and his atoning work is efficacious for their salvation (Isa. 53:5). (4) God’s saving purpose cannot be thwarted (John 6:37), meaning none of Christ’s true sheep will ever be lost (John 10:27-29). That is because (5) God assures the perseverance of His elect (Jude 24; Phil 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5).

Those are the five points of Calvinism. I believe them not because of their historical pedigree, but because that is what Scripture teaches.

6:32 AM Having taught in South Korea numerous times and been exposed to church-state relations there, I really want to read this book:

6:30 AM The latest blogging tips. One of my favorites:

Don’t try to please an audience, and don’t post simply because you feel like you ought to – only post when you have something to say.

6:28 AM More wisdom from my friend Chuck Baldwin:

Unless America wakes up soon it will be too late. Either we once again embrace the Christian value system and recognize our dependence upon God or we are doomed. I repeat: God is the author of freedom. As such, our destiny for good or ill is in His hands. On the one hand that reality is a reassuring promise. On the other hand it is an ominous warning.

6:25 AM The Parable of the Constitutionalist and the Republican:

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: “Two men went up to church to pray, one a Constitutionalist and the other a Republican. The Constitutionalist stood and prayed thus within himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — welfare recipients, public schoolers, youth group advocates, or even as this Republican. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I have, I home educate my children, and I am the patriarch of my family.’ And the Republican, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

6:23 AM Butler Shaffer has the correct diagnosis but the wrong treatment. Statism is the status quo in our society today; on this we can agree. But to conclude that “Our choice, as always, is to look within our own souls, and listen for those inner voices that continue to speak to us,” is to play into the hands of our own flesh, which the Scripture condemns as wicked beyond measure. Better to look unto Jesus and to the Bible, which does not merely contain the Word of God (so the liberal theologians) or become the Word of God (so the neo-orthodox) but is the very Word of Almighty God written and without error.

Sunday, September 5

7:05 AM Took the WayBack Machine last night and had a blast from the past, listening to a 1940s radio program replete with Bing, swing, and Judy — not to mention the ubiquitous Chesterfield commercials. As I sat in my son’s old farm house I tried to imagine the family that lived there last century as perhaps they listened to that very broadcast live.

In my reading this morning (from James 1:12-27) I was reminded of our desire to minister in Ethiopia this fall as I contemplated the two nouns the author uses in verse 17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” The first noun for gift (dosis) refers to the act or impulse of giving; the second (dorema) to what has been given. James is emphasizing not only that what we give was God’s in the first place (all we have is His to do with as He pleases; we are simply managers or stewards of His possessions), but that the very desire to give, the eagerness and willingness to give, comes from God. We can take credit, in other words, for neither the impulse nor the act! It is all “of His own will” (v. 18). This point, of course, is missed in such modern “translations” as the NIV: “Every good and perfect gift,” which doesn’t even translate the first “gift” or the second “every”!

Saturday, September 4

7:50 PM Mowed five acres in Carolina; brought back to the farm a trailer load of old wood for the woodshed siding; did a LOT of galloping uphill on Cody; just had a superb supper of home-grown collards and corn on the cob; am tired to the bone. Tonight am reading Miroslav Volf’s interview with Jurgen Moltmann, who was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1943. A fascinating story! From a disciple of statism to a leading liberation theologian — in one lifetime. For my doctoral orals in Basel I was required to read some of Moltmann’s works and be familiar with his “theology of hope”; he was “in” at the time and a guest lecturer on campus just about everywhere. Even heard him lecture at our university. He fit right in; most of the profs in our “practical theology” department were avowed Marxists. Well, time to head for my son’s farm to make pop corn and READ!

8:57 AM Weekend toon:

8:48 AM From the mailbag comes this heart-warming letter:

Dear David,

I want to thank you.  You ask for what?  Well…I am a frustrated Republican.  One day I was toying around on the internet … and I also came across your website.  That is when I read about the Constitution Party.  I thought…hmmm?!!  I continued to read and discovered that perhaps this Republican needs to explore the Constitution Party a bit deeper.  It seems to be more to what I am about politically.  I may have found a home.  I have not made the move yet.  I am in the process of finding out what party offices or contacts are in my county. 

I have told family members and friends what I have found out about the party and they are cautiously curious.  I also have the top website in my county with a political page.  I will make sure that there appears information on the Constitution Party.  Interesting isn’t it?  We never know the impact we make on others and the rest of the world.  

I just thought that it was important to let you know that you may have reached out and made a convert.

Sincerely,

David B.

8:32 AM Charley Reese ably describes the beautiful manhood of General Lee, who said of himself, “I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.” Our family celebrates Lee’s birthday annually.

8:27 AM Darrell Dow on Republican idolatry:

Teddy Roosevelt once said of his countrymen that, “We are a people, not a polyglot boarding house.” Decades of mass immigration has changed the ethnic composition of the country. But the shift to a majority non-white population is only one revolution being foisted on the country by its ruling class.

According to a recent study at the University of Chicago, America’s Protestant majority will disappear in the next year. According to the survey, the Protestant population has shrunk from 63- in 1993 to just 52- in 2002.

The survey also found that the percentage of Americans claiming no religion has risen from 5.1- in 1972 to 13.8- in 2002. Over the same period, American’s claiming a non-Christian or non-Jewish religion rose from 1.9- to 6.9-.

The decline of Protestantism leads to the sort of blasphemy that took place at the Republican National Convention this week.

A Muslim Imam opened the convention in prayer. This decision by Karl Rove, or whoever is responsible, is nothing less than the advancement of idolatry, pure and simple.

Like the emperors of ancient Rome, our leaders bless all religions as long as none claim to corner the market on truth.

Christians should ask themselves if it worse for pagans to advance idolatry or Christians to promote idolatry.

Clean out them catacombs, boys. It won’t be much longer….

8:27 AM Neat home does happy mommy make. (Did you get it, guys?)

8:20 AM Psalm 47: God is the “Ruler of the Earth,” the “LORD Most High,” a “great King over all the earth.” He “reigns over the nations,” because all other kings have but derived authority. Only one King is absolute in power. No King But King Jesus!

Friday, September 3

7:12 PM Latest humor from Die Zeit:

Gerhard Schröder sitzt an seinem Schreibtisch, vor sich eine völlig in Tränen aufgelöste Doris Köpf. Schröder zu Doris: “Das hat wirklich nichts mit dir zu tun. Aber ich muß bis zur nächsten Wahl unbedingt einen Mann heiraten.”

6:58 PM Hmm, Punks for Bush. Is that anything like “Bucks for Lolos,” as we used to say in Hawaii?

6:56 PM This is a great editorial (sorry, French only). The money quote:

L’Irak est cité en passant, comme un simple épisode d’une guerre globale. “Nous frappons les terroristes à l’étranger pour ne pas avoir à les affronter chez nous”, dit George Bush. Telle est la véritable justification de la guerre en Irak. Cela fait longtemps qu’il n’est plus question de la présence d’armes de destruction massive dans ce pays, motif officiel du déclenchement des opérations.

6:17 PM Self-esteem and the gospel of success: Yet another heresy evangelicals tolerate for the sake of “unity.”

6:15 PM Jim Rudd: Have we forgotten that murder is still a capital crime?

5:35 PM Peroutka is being impeccably logical again (from an email):

The 1996 GOP Platform called for the abolition of the Federal Department of Education which, with Mr. Bush’s approval, now spends more than $60 billion annually. The 2000 GOP Platform said, in part:

“We recognize that under the American Constitutional system, education is a state, local and family responsibility, not a federal organization (emphasis mine)….The Republican Congress rightly opposed attempts by the Department of Education to establish federal testing that would set the stage for a national curriculum.”

In an interview on Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” TV show on March 22, 2001, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) said, when the subject was raised: “Well, to be honest, I’m one of those guys who can’t find education in the Constitution as a function of the Federal Government.”

Fast-forward to the recent GOP Convention in New York City. In his remarks to this gathering, Secretary Of Education Rod Paige praised our country as being, among other things, “defined by our founders” — who, of course, authorized no role for the Federal Government in education. He noted that “no nation can sustain its greatness unless it educates its citizens.” No “nation,” of course, “educates” anybody because no “nation” has any children.

7:32 AM The Establishment Clause that never existed.

7:30 AM These Prairie Muffin sites are too cute! Look what you’ve started, Carmon!

7:08 AM Are you ready to puke yet? Bush on Larry King: “I think our society is great because people are able to live their lifestyles, you know, as they choose or as they’re oriented.” Cheney at a campaign stop in Davenport, Iowa:  “My general view is that freedom means freedom for everybody.  People ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to.” Don’t you love our conservative, pro-sodomy leaders?

7:05 AM John Leone does more than defend our biblical and constitutional foundations. His website is a treasure trove of opinionated but always readable essays on theology. 

7:03 AM The “it-can-only-be-changed-from-within” twaddle still oozing from the pores of compromisers.

6:55 AM Yes, Harry, I did like your prattle about the silly convention in NYC, and, yes, I will be praying for you and your family in the eye of the storm. Maybe I’ll be able to attend the Virginia LOS meeting in beautiful Lexington where you’re speaking. Be good to finally meet you in person (and visit the Lee Chapel again).

6:50 AM Off to the seminary this morning for meetings with my Ph.D. students. It’s an hour and five minute drive from Rosewood Farm, mostly on curving country roads that take me back a century. The ante-bellum homes you encounter on the way make it worth the drive. The only traffic is in Wake Forest, which once was a humble village but now is a mega-city the likes of Raleigh (we call it Raleigh North). So you think I have an aversion to urban living?

Thursday, September 2

2:23 PM Farm Update: The weather couldn’t be better for working outdoors. Got much of the horse pasture fencing done, and started the siding on the woodshed (at least we’re collecting our materials for that project). Time to work on my sabbatical project. (Afternoons are my time for writing.) A pastor from Nebraska and his wife and two precious children are staying with us at Bradford Hall for a couple of days. Right now they’re enjoying some of our reenacting videos. Today is their daughter’s fourth birthday. Happy Birthday, sweet Sarah!

8:15 AM My, my, how we love the first twins:

A Muslim imam gave the invocation to open the Republican convention this week. Incrementalist Christians believe this will move us a step closer to putting our nation in covenant with God. “Vote for Bush!” shouts Candy Sandlin. So far, not a single Bible passage from any of the primetime speakers. They used to at least pretend. Last night, Jenna Bush said to Barbara sitting up in the balcony, “Granny, we love you dearly, but you’re just not very hip. She thinks ‘Sex in the City’ is something married people do, but never talk about.” I tell you, it was a knee-slapper for the evangelicals in the house. “One step closer to covenant with God,” they were thinking. The important thing, they all agree, is to stay away from losers like Peroutka. God hates losers.

7:45 AM When I read Carmon Friedrich’s stirring political diatribe this morning I thought immediately of Isaiah 66:2: “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My Word.” I know of only one presidential candidate of whom this can be said, and it isn’t John or George. I would suggest that the Peroutka campaign is more than just another interesting example of third party politics. What we find here is a model from which every Christian can learn something profound about humble and contrite spirituality, and which indeed provides the basic outlines of how the Spirit of God moves in true revival on the level of the church and even in nations, not to mention in one’s personal walk with God. Sister Carmon and brother Steve, if only even a few Christians would begin to practice the holiness and love of God on a moment by moment basis as you are seeking to do, I believe the Holy Spirit would move in a mighty way throughout the church. God bless you for your stand, not for Michael Peroutka, but for the Word of God.

7:32 AM The true Republicans:

The Constitution Party is, in fact, the true “Republicans.” They are the only party which is completely pro-life, anti-homosexual rights, pro-American sovereignty, anti-globalist, anti-free trade, anti-deindustrialization, anti-unchecked immigration, pro-second amendment, against the constantly increasing expansion of unlawful police laws, in favor of a strong national defense, and opposed to unconstitutional interventionism.

7:14 AM The fog walks through the valley while the sun nods over the pines. Psalm 31:8 reminds me “You have set my feet in a wide place.” “How great is Your goodness” (v. 19), so “love the LORD, all you His saints!” (v. 23). Above all, “In You, O LORD, I put my trust” this very day, come what may (v. 1).

In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
I call upon Thy Name;
O save me in Thy righteousness,
Nor let me suffer shame.

Bow down Thine ear to my request,
And swift deliverance send;
Be Thou to me a rock of strength,
A fortress to defend.

Since Thou my Rock and Fortress art,
My Leader be, and Guide;
From all temptation rescue me,
Thou dost my strength abide.

To Thee my spirit I commend;
Redemption is with Thee,
O Thou Jehovah, God of truth,
Who hast delivered me.

I hate all those that love the false,
My trust is in the Lord;
I will be glad, and joyfully
Thy mercy will record.

For mine affliction Thou hast seen,
And known my many woes;
Thou hast not let me be enslaved,
But freed me from my foes.

Show mercy, Lord, to me distressed,
And send my soul relief;
My life is spent with bitterness,
My strength consumed with grief.

My life has aged grown with woe,
With sighs my years decay;
Mine eye is worn for very grief:
I pine and waste away.

My foes have made me a reproach,
My state my neighbors see;
My friends, appalled at mine approach,
Turn them about and flee.

For I have heard defaming tongues,
And marked the terror rife,
When all in league deliberate
To take away my life.

But, Lord, in Thee is all my trust,
Thou art my God, I cried;
My life, my times are in Thy hand,
I in Thy strength abide.

Wednesday, September 1

8:59 AM Off to work on the woodshed. I leave you with this thought:

Nothing is inherently wrong with flying a flag, of course, and in fact there can be great merit in it. Yet it seems that some of the motivation behind the post-September 11 fervor is unqualified allegiance to a particular civil government, along with a kind of wounded pride. In contrast to this nationalism, a biblical patriotism recognizes that the civil government should not occupy center stage in society, and that a disaster requires a response from the church, families, and individuals. Loyalty to an authority does not mean unquestioning approval of that authority’s decisions–patriotism is sometimes critical if the biblical principles that made this country great are compromised. Yet, consistent with the idolatry of statism, our response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 has been to expand and reinforce the role of the state. Rather than national repentance, renewed evangelistic efforts, and a reining in of the state in its overseas interventionism, our response has been to grant the state even greater access to our personal affairs, and to renew the international crusade for democracy.

8:52 AM Notice how George tries to compare himself with Ronnie. Nice try. Bush is a Harding, not a Reagan.

8:48 AM The epistemological flaw with Mises.

8:31 AM Having money problems? Benny Hinn’s financial breakthrough, later this month, will change all that!

8:05 AM BBN booted Alistair Begg and now has re-booted John MacArthur (for preaching election, no less!). Maybe it’s time to boot BBN? By the way, accusing MacArthur of being a Hyper-Calvinist hardly makes him one. He’s probably a 4.258927987011-er, wouldn’t you say?

7:50 AM This guy is some kinda miracle worker!

7:34 AM Had an interesting discussion at church the other day about taxes that are used for ungodly and unconstitutional expenditures such as the National Endowment for the Arts. When laws are out of sync with people’s values, they will try to find a way around them. Basically, few of us believe in a moral code that would justify forcing people to give up what they have earned to finance purposes they do not approve. Yet that is exactly what is happening in our society. Only the fear of punishment, not a sense of justice or morality, will lead people to obey our current tax laws. At the bottom of the bottom line is the real issue: the illegality of direct taxation, as my son pointed out in our conversation at church. And there is only one party that will deal with this issue squarely.

In Article I, Section 9, the original document made clear that “no Capitation, or other direct Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census of Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.” It is moreover established that “No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.”

Since 1913, our Constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property have been abridged and diminished by the imposition on each of us of Federal income, payroll, and estate taxes. This is an unconstitutional Federal assumption of direct taxing authority.

The Internal Revenue Service is the enforcement arm of the Federal government’s present unjust tax system. Citizens, both in groups and as individuals, have repeatedly sought responses from the IRS bureaucracy as to the basis for the agency’s tax policies and procedures. No answers have been forthcoming although a responsible government must be answerable to the people and has a duty to those it is supposed to serve.

We propose legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, and will veto any authorization, appropriation, or continuing resolution which contains any funding whatsoever for that illicit and unconstitutional agency. We are opposed to the flat-rate tax, national sales tax, and value added tax proposals that are being promoted as an improvement to the current tax system. The Sixteenth Amendment does not provide authority for an un-apportioned direct tax.

7:32 AM Here’s one unrepentant dude who wasn’t educated at the Mr. Good Guy Theological Seminary, and that’s for sure!

7:25 AM When I was working on the International Standard Version New Testament, I pondered long and hard on how to translate the Greek word poiema in Ephesians 2:10. We decided on “masterpiece.” The word literally refers to anything that has been “made” (it comes from the common Greek verb poieo), but in this context seems to indicate a handiwork, a masterpiece. God’s church is His “masterpiece,” the crown of His new creation, just as man is the crown of the old. The point is, since God did all the work, He gets all the credit. All boasting is excluded, as is all pride and self-congratulation. If you have accomplished anything, my dear friend (and some of you have accomplished a lot!), it is only because God has been at work in a weak but yielded vessel. This “treasure” we have is in a fragile pot of clay so that the surpassing greatness of the power might be of God, and not of us. Don’t forget the “forgotten” verse that comes right after Ephesians 2:8-9!

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