Defining "Bodybuilder"

In today's age of never-ending information, the pursuit of the "right" can be incredibly difficult. That's because, whatever you are doing, you will almost always find someone who is telling you that you are doing it wrong. Instead of trying to please others, decide for yourself who you are and what is important to you. Personally, I go to the gym because I enjoy it. It's just that simple. I can't tell you happy I was today when I was able to crank out 5 unassisted neutral grip pull ups in a row. 

Of course, I ultimately want to get better -- a lot better -- at pull ups, but I also don't want to lose the joy that it brings me. The pull up is a great fitness litmus test. I am still only able to do 2 (possibly 3) unassisted wide grip pull ups in good form. 

There is no easy way to up that number. Or take the standing dumbbell overhead press I did today. 

I rarely if ever do this exercise standing up. My soul smiles when I think about how far I've come in just two years with this exercise. I tend to feel inadequate with activities for which I have less proficiency. When we pigeonhole ourselves as "just a casual lifter" or "not a real bodybuilder," we set a precedent that we are somehow less. But no matter the stories my mind sometimes tells me, I am a lifter and so is every other person at my gym. Being a bodybuilder is not defined by the skill level with which you do it. All that's required is the willingness to participate in the activity. This freedom from false expectations makes me willing to try my hand at things that are outside of my wheelhouse. 

If we want to succeed at anything in life, we have to be willing to fail. By doing so, we can learn and grow in ways we never imagined. Whatever ray of hope you find in your life today, take hold of it and run with it. Sure, there'll be some clouds, but they will only serve to make the subsequent sunshine all the sweeter. 

Light Versus Heavy Weights?

Regardless of how your muscle building program is structured, the ultimate factor that determines your muscle development is progressive overload -- gradually increasing your weights over time. When you reach the upper end of a given rep range, then it's probably time to add a little bit more weight. That said, figuring just how much weight you should be lifting is largely a matter of learning how your own body responds and adjust accordingly. This means that you can put on muscle even by lifting "light" weights. That is, you can incorporate high reps with relatively low weights, or low reps with heavy weights. Those lighter weights can produce just as much muscle growth as the heavier weights do as long as you train to near failure. Recently I dialed back my use of heavier weights during my biceps exercises in favor of lighter, more focused exercises. To do this you will definitely have to leave your ego at the door, but you might find the results to be pretty amazing. The key is maintaining a good mind-muscle connection without just heaving the weights around. 

So if you want to build muscle you have to ask yourself how much weight is too much. It will do you absolutely no good to lift heavy weights but not pay attention to how you are doing it. Your goal should be to find the heaviest weight that still allows you to control it properly. 

Talk to you tomorrow God willing! 

The Race Is Marked (Heb. 12:1-2)!

Remember: The race is marked out for us (Heb. 12:1-2)!

Think of a trail race. The trail is carefully marked for the runners -- a flag here, a ribbon there, an arrow over there, marking the course in advance so that all the runners get through it without getting lost. 

What a profound encouragement to know that the God who gets us started on the race of life has already marked out the direction which our lives are to take. He has prepared the way spiritually and morally, vocationally and relationally, for our good and his glory. What a marvelous reassurance for Christian runners.

The race is marked out! 

The Power of Encouragement

In Phil. 3:14, Paul refers to the "upward call of God." 

The allusion is probably to a track judge calling the victor up to the winner's podium at the Olympic Games. But one commentator I read suggested that Paul might have had in mind an uphill (or hilly) race. I don't see why this couldn't be true. Only a few of the marathons I've run have had flat courses. These included Richmond, Dallas, and Chicago. Most races involved at least one major climb. At the St. George Marathon in Utah, this was the dreaded Veyo Hill. In DC, it was the final mile of the Marine Corps Marathon. At the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincy, everyone dreaded Mount Adams at the 6 mile mark. My most memorable uphill finish was at the Marine Corps Historic Half in Fredericksburg. The race organizers called it "Hospital Hill." We runners called in "Hospital Hell." Here's the elevation chart:

Running up this hill was brutal. 

Then out of the blue, who should show up but the cavalry Marines! 

Then ran with us to the top and then to the finish line. 

It's pretty obvious that they made a huge difference in my race. They eagerly jumped into action. One of them ran ahead of me to get me to run faster. People alongside the finishers' chute shouted encouragement. I slowed down but did not stop because I knew that if I did I probably would not be able to get started again. We live in a fast-paced world where it's easy to miss out on those big smiles and high fives. But at the end of the race, those moments become memories that make the ache worthwhile. 

In Gal. 6:2, Paul says that we are to "jointly shoulder each member's burdens." As Christians, we have the duty and joy to extend help to the brother or sister who is struggling under a load that's too heavy for them to bear by themselves. In Fredericksburg, this moral support came in the form of the Marines themselves. They couldn't run the race for us. As Paul says, "each person has to bear his own load" (Gal. 6:5). But what they could do is positively encourage us to keep going and finish strong. I see this every semester in my Greek classes where the students joyfully help each other to get over any speed bumps they encounter. It isn't anything profound. It's simply Christian love in action. The amazing thing is that such love is within our power to decide if it will be expressed or not. With a snub we can create horrors. But with one encouraging act we can work miracles. 

Encouragement is a power that has been perfected by God himself. But he has entrusted it to us as his representatives to the human race. 

Squeezing Every Drop

Today I did only three exercises at the gym. I was able to increase my weights by 10 percent. The three movements I did just happen to be my favorites -- the pull up, the lat pulldown, and the bench press. There's a certain magic in lifting. 

Every weight lifting session is done in three parts. The first part is strategizing with your head. The second part is pushing hard with your body. 

Lastly, you finish your workout with your heart. All around me, excellence was coming out of the woodwork. Friendships were formed between gym members in unspoken agreements to keep each other going. I felt empathetic smiles as I lifted, and I returned the favor. "This is it," I told myself. "This is where you give everything you have." After I had finished my session, the trainer patted me on the back. "You're looking good," she said. I savored the compliment.

Although I am now in my seventies, I am still squeezing myself into my workout gear and showing up at the gym. Sometimes, I'm the only one there in my age group. Working out at the Y has taught me that it's never too late to pursue a dream. I'm not the best athlete, but I can possess the best attitude of gratitude for the good health that enables me to do what I do. I may be too old for a few things in life, but I plan on squeezing every drop of opportunity God gives me and staying active for as long as he allows. 

Have a wonderful day! 

The Value of Sports for Christians

The Paris Olympics are now history. Nobody qualified for the Olympics -- let alone stood on the winners' podium -- without extraordinary commitment. It involved years of work and pain and endurance and discipline and sacrifice and single-mindedness. "Going for the gold" is what people call it. 

Did you know that when the apostle Paul used athletic imagery from the Olympics, the games had already been around for 700 years? 

What's even more interesting to me is the fact that Paul could employ athletic imagery from the games so positively when he knew full well the pagan background of the Olympics -- the temples, the altars, the invocation of the gods, the violence, and so forth. Yet despite all those reservations, he felt free to pull big lessons from the Olympics about spiritual reality. What can we Christians learn from the secular games? he might have asked his congregations. An obvious example is Phil. 3:14:

"I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven" (TLB).

Here we see nothing less than a call to perseverance, sacrifice, giving up our small ambitions, and single-minded devotion to the task at hand. This is not to say that we should ignore the dark side of sports. At their best, sports can point to a way of life worth emulating. Simultaneously, sports can reveal our uglier side. I think of Pete Rose's lifetime banishment from baseball, or Mike Tyson chomping down on Evander Holyfield's ear, or NBA referee Tim Donaghy fixing games for money, or baseball coaches surreptitiously using technology to steal opponents' signs, or the quest to gain an unfair edge through doping (Lance Armstrong, Ben Johnson, Marion Jones). Yet who can deny the positive benefits of sports? Professional athletes have established hundreds of charitable foundations with causes ranging from promoting health and fitness to diabetes awareness. Stadiums have been used to honor true American heroes like the first responders after 9/11. In 2014, Boston Bruins hockey players visited their local children's hospital for Halloween dressed up like Disney characters to help cheer up the patients. 

Studies have shown that young people who played high school sports had a better career outlook and were more successful in their jobs later in  life. Not to mention how sports provides a platform for local churches to lovingly share Christ and the gospel with their communities.

Sure, it's not all sunshine. Paul knew the dark underbelly of athletics. I'm sure he was aware of the devastating influence that Greek sports had on the Jewish youth of the intertestamental period, when peer pressure even led some of them to undergo "reverse circumcision" to hide the sign of their ancestral faith (see 2 Macc. 4:12). Still, Paul used sports analogies positively.

As an adult-onset athlete, I know from personal experience that sports builds bridges between generations and has many positive health benefits. I am living proof that one should not assume that exercise cannot be initiated by people who are aging. Senior adults who stop participating in sports reduce their physical activity and have health risks equivalent to people who have never done sports.

Paul makes it clear to his churches that the Christian life is like participating in an athletic contest. He wishes to emphasize the importance of continual concentration on those things that lie ahead. Effort in the Christian life is necessary if we are to achieve our goal of a complete and full knowledge of the Savior. So Paul runs to receive the prize. For him, that prize is found in Jesus Christ. Like an Olympic athlete, with his eyes fixed firmly on the goal, he hopes to receive from God the award he covets -- perfection in Christ. 

In the meantime, there is a race to be run. 

When the Medium Is the Message

Don't forget the rhetorical devices!

For example, in Phil. 3:2-3, Gerald Hawthorne points out the following figures of speech:

• anaphora
• paronomasia
• polysyndeton
• alliteration
• short, disjointed cola
• chiasm

"All," he says, are "employed for rhetorical effect" (p. 123). Sadly, he adds, "translators either cannot preserve or are unwilling to express these figures in translation. As a consequence, the vigor of the apostle's emotions is moderated so that its full force escapes the English reader." Here's a sampling of what he's talking about:

Beautiful!

When I was in seminary, Dr. Don McDougall taught me many of the principles and techniques that I have included in my own teaching. His passion not to overlook the rhetorical devices has stayed with me throughout my ministry. Thanks to men like Dr. McDougall, I finally discovered how to engage in a meaningful and reliable process of researching the Scriptures. No day passes without my returning to these tried-and-true guidelines. You too can confidently open the pages of Scripture without feeling fearful or intimidated. By using commentaries like Hawthorne's, you can be certain that what you are learning is in keeping with what God has written. You can experience the joy of personal discovery! 

Please Don't Lower Your Standards

Progress is better than perfection. But this doesn't mean you can lower your standards. I learned this from reading C. S. Lewis's classic Mere Christianity. 

How Many?

Wie viele Sprachen sprichst du? 

Back to Walking

Oh happy day. Today I returned to the track for the first time as I have now resumed my weekly walking-for-exercise routine. 

However, instead of 7 days of walking per week I've reduced that to 3. Instead of walking for an hour and a half my new max is one hour. My pace, instead of being 3.5 miles per hour, is now a mere 3.00 miles per hour (a 20-minute mile pace). Today I walked for an hour at a 3.00 mph pace and covered just over 3 miles. I see no problem in maintaining a moderate amount of weekly cardio just as long as I don't overdo it. No one "gets lean" by walking alone. However, it can definitely help out in terms of calories-out in a simple and sustainable way. 

How often do you walk?

How far do you walk? 

How much time does it take you?

What is your pace?

Do you enjoy it?

No Rush

Don't be like that person who is destroying himself through brutal daily exercise "to make up for lost time." There's no hurry. We are training for the rest of our healthy lives. 

Uncommon Sense

"There are some ideas so absurd that only an intellectual could believe them." George Orwell. 

Prayerful Petitions (1 Thess. 3:11-13)

Three observations from 1 Thess. 3:11-13!

There are 3 specific petitions in Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians here:

1. That God would "make straight" the way for him to return to them.

2. That the Lord would make their love "increase and overflow" not only for each other but for all people.

3. That the Thessalonians might be inwardly strengthened so that they would be "blameless and holy" when Jesus returns.

Lessons:

1. Satanic hindrance is a reality in life (see 2:18).

2. Though Satan does his part, God is still sovereign. He can remove any obstacle he chooses to.

3. My love for others is not only to increase but to overflow. 

4. There's no greater incentive to personal holiness than a vision of the return of Christ. Although perfection awaits his coming, progress in holiness is still possible. Later Paul will attribute the work of sanctification to the Holy Spirit (4:8).

I always try to analyse the syntax and structure of a passage I'm reading. You may want to practice something similar in your own Bible reading! 

Step by Step, Inch by Inch

I am slowly regaining my health and strength. As the Stooges would say, "Step by step, inch by inch."

Today's brief workout saw me do two band-assisted pullups. That's right. Only two. 

It's like learning how to lift all over again. But it's in those moments that I remember why I started -- the desire to be the best version of myself, to build mental and physical resilience, to transcend the limitations I impose on myself, to be able to see my grandkids grow up if that's the Lord's will. 

Today you can choose to keep moving forward. Not because it's easy, but because it's necessary for self-mastery. Never forget that with time and patience, a setback need not spell the end of your training journey. Focus on your own progress. If you're not where you want to be, let this be the start of a transformation in your journey. 

I believe in you. Now it's time to believe in yourself. 

Remember: Step by step, inch by inch. 

Reminder

Something to remember as a new semester begins: People who end up mastering Greek don't have special knowledge or methods. They've simply made the biblical languages a top priority. You can too. 

Still the Most Beautiful Campus on Earth

See You at the Top

This afternoon I had a very easy-peasy workout at the Y. Just a few basic exercises, including this lat pulldown with very light weights. 

I'm getting back into things slowly and deliberately. No sense in overdoing it. 

Never stop dreaming and chasing down your goals as we enter the final stretch of 2024. Every sunrise is a new chance to test our limits, push out our boundaries, and ultimately master ourselves. I'm not turning back now. 

Onward and upward. See you at the top. 

All Fame Is Fleeting

Tomorrow begins my 96th semester of teaching. I am more excited today about the classroom than ever. It feels monumental and important and terrifying all at the same time. I look back over these past 5 decades, over two-thirds of my life, and it just doesn't make sense that a boy from Kailua Beach should have ended up in the classroom. Don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed every minute of my career. God took an ordinary life and spun it through with something that feels like magic. I'm breathless with the beauty I see in every magnificent moment. I know it's my duty to feel grateful -- and I am -- but I can't stop asking why. Why me? Why have I had such a satisfying career when so many fight tool and nail just to make it through their shift? And why did it have to go by so fast? And then a voice comes to me. 

Life is a breath, all of it. I am the Constant when everything changes. Remember, Dave, that I have carried you this far and will not abandon you or let you slip beneath the waves. You are mine. You don't have to worry about tomorrow, for I am already there.

Decades after Patrick Henry's death, his youngest son, John, marked his father's grave with a marble tablet. It's visible still at Red Hill. It contains this simple inscription: "His fame his best epigraph."

Patrick Henry's fame has endured throughout the generations. But all fame is fleeting. All the firsts are suddenly lasts. To paraphrase General Douglas MacArthur, old Greek teachers never die. They just slowly fade away. One day I too will slip into the dim light of history, rehearsing days long forgotten, a mere memory in my consciousness, ambition quenched, God's calling fulfilled. And every time I think about this, I think about him. As I type these words, I'm resting in the arms of God, nestled up against his chest. I know that suddenly winter will give way to spring. It won't be anything like it used to be, but my life will be different. I am going to love with a fire that burns away everything that doesn't matter. And what is left is going to be perfect. 

A Visit to Patrick Henry's House (Red Hill)

After taking a week off from exercising, today I finally got back into the swing of things with a stroll in one my favorite villages in all of Southside. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

On my drive there I decided to check off an entry on my bucket list. Red Hill, Patrick Henry's home in Charlotte County, VA, is less than an hour's drive away. It seemed like a good day for a visit. 

When you enter the driveway you're met by this magnificent statue of Mr. Henry -- often called the leading Virginia statesman in defending the rights of the American colonists. 

Henry was the first elected governor of Virginia. He was also famous for supporting the creation of a Bill of Rights. In 1794 he purchased Red Hill, a 700-acre estate, including its simple story-and-a-half house. I began my tour of the estate at the Visitor's Center, which contains a museum, a bookstore, and a theater. 

I was warmly welcomed by Patrick Henry Jolly -- a fifth great-grandson of Patrick Henry. 

He gave me an overview of the Henry family tree as well as of the Virginia governor's illustrious three decades of public service. Then it was movie time (sans the popcorn). Henry is best known for his immortal words, "Give me liberty, or give me death." 

Finally, it was off to the museum, which contained several portraits of Patrick Henry. I found this one to be the most compelling. 

The house itself is a simple affair. Off to the right is the kitchen. 

The furnishings match the simplicity of the exterior of the building. 

At times 14 people lived in the home. From the house it was only a short walk to the only original building on the site, Henry's private law office. 

Just outside is an osage orange tree that is over 350 years old. The brochure I was reading said that it was already 100 years old when Patrick Henry moved to Red Hill. 

Eventually my tour came to an end and I drove to the site of today's walk. Do you recognize it? 

Maybe this will help. 

Or this. 

Yes, the village is Appomattox Court House. It was good to see so many visitors here on this beautiful fall-ish day. The centerpiece of the village is, of course, the (reconstructed) McLean House, where the surrender took place. This is what the room looks like in case you've never been here. 

Yesterday I mentioned how much I like to read about American history. Mr. Jolly recommended this book as perhaps the best biography of his illustrious ancestor's life. 

He was kind enough to inscribe it for me. Incidentally, Patrick Henry Jolly is not only a docent at Red Hill. He also played the role of Patrick Henry in the video I showed you. He was truly a delight to meet. 

Today I was reminded of that precious thing we call liberty. I was also reminded that our Lord offers us a Declaration of Independence signed with his own blood. He has redeemed mankind out of the marketplace of sin. Salvation is ours when we receive and claim what has been purchased at the price of his life. Let's not keep our Declaration of Independence under glass like the American document. Let's make it a living reality and share it gladly with any and all who will listen. 

Life Is in the Details

It was such a joy getting back home tonight. 

It was a great day. Nothing spectacular, and yet it is all spectacular. Being able to do a very short workout. Clipping branches. Prepping for class. Nature displaying its finest to you everywhere you looked. Watching the kids getting up hay. Being alive and aware enough to be able to appreciate it all. 

Life is in the details. Don't miss a thing. 

Old Places Matter

It never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who live where I do and have never been to nearby places that tourists travel days to visit. I meet people who have never been to the boardwalk at Virginia Beach or to the summit of McAfee Knob. They've never driven on the Blue Ridge Parkway or seen the magnificent fall foliage in the mountains near Roanoke. They've not even made the short drive to Appomattox Court House. They've spent a lifetime becoming aware of these treasures but have never made the effort to see them firsthand. It would be like visiting London without taking in the British Museum, or Paris and not visiting the Louvre, or Rome and missing the Sistine Chapel. 

When it comes to historic sites, few states can match the Old Dominion. Think Historic Jamestown or Monticello or the Arlington National Cemetery or Mount Vernon or the Richmond National Battlefield or Fort Monroe or the Manassas National Battlefield or the Fredericksburg National Military Park or Colonial Williamsburg. I can say from ample experience that there's something magical in learning about the rich history of a place while standing inside it. The experience often upends what we thought we knew about the past. At a Civil War Battlefield like Gettysburg, historians and visitors alike can see with their own eyes how a slight rise in the topography could mean the difference between victory and defeat, or how one division of troops can be decimated while another survived unscathed. The continuing existence of the "old places" fosters a deeper understanding of who we are as Americans. The places we choose to visit -- or not -- reflect our identity as a people. 

Wherever you live, don't miss out on a rich travel experience. Invariably you'll discover something about a place or the people who inhabited it and then be able to share your experience with others. Visiting historic sites is similar to another favorite pastime of mine -- reading. Both travel and literature help me feel a deeper connection with the past. History allows me to feel like I'm part of something much bigger than me -- the unfolding of God's providence throughout the history of the world.

"The world is a book," said Augustine, "and those who do not travel read only one page." I'll add: once a year, make sure you go to a place you've never visited before. You'll be so glad you did. 

We Love Our Carrots

My Fat Loss Journey (Part 10): Progress Is Slow (But Good)

It's now been 2 months since I began this journey with all of you. 

I began it with the scales showing 240 pounds. Here's what I weigh as of today. 

My percentage of body fat started out at 25 percent and it's now 20 percent. My target is anywhere between 12-15 percent. Nutrition has been the main difference-maker, as always. Consistency has become the rule of the day, though I still enjoy a cheat meal from time to time. Three total body workouts per week have helped. Then there's all the walking I did until my body told me in no uncertain terms that I was over-training (= under-recovering). Everyone who reads this blog knows how much I enjoy training and working out, especially when I have a specific goal in mind. Training can, paradoxically, actually impair physical performance and even your health. Having taken a week off, I can tell you that my body feels fantastic. Rest, as they say, is the ultimate performance-enhancing drug. It's the age-old struggle between the satisfaction of constant training and the satisfaction of optimal training results. Call it stubbornness or blindness or whatever, but I allowed my body to face a constant battle with exhaustion, soreness, and joint pain. When you exercise like that, you never fully recover. Sometimes you gotta experience it yourself to believe it. Fatigue management is one of the most important principles in athletic performance but it's so blithering easy to overlook. Going forward, I hope to do a much better job with God's help. Training needs to be smart, and part of that is not running (or walking) yourself into the ground on a constant basis. I've given my kids explicit permission to call me out if and when they think I am pushing myself too hard without taking sufficient breaks. 

Most athletes are overachievers. This trait can come in handy when you've got to be productive at work or in school. It keeps you on top of your game. The challenge is to keep all of our goal-setting-ADD from getting out of balance. Really, the trick is to do an inventory of your physiological state and then just shut down the afterburners until homeostasis has returned. I'll say it again: if we don't take care of ourselves willingly, then our bodies will force it upon us in the form of injuries or illness. Determination may be inspiring, but lots of times we fail to prepare ourselves mentally and overdo the physical. I just keep smiling like a fool whenever I think about it. At the same time, I am now, more than ever, convinced that nothing can separate me from the love of my God. Not trouble, not pain, not weariness, not frustration. My stupid choices have no power over him. No matter how hard I make things, he always makes a way for me to move forward again. 

And I am now, more than ever, thankful. 

Don't Ignore the Details (Mark 1:36)

Don't you love the details in Scripture? Here's one I saw while in Mark 1 this morning. 

The verb Mark uses differs from the more traditional verb for "search" found in the Lukan parallel. 

Most English versions say that Peter and his companions "searched" for Jesus. But the verb Mark uses almost implies that Jesus is being pursued like a fugitive. DARBY has, "went after him." The LEB has, "searched diligently for him." The NRSVA has, "hunted for him," while the ISV reads, "searched frantically for him." 

It's such a "minor" detail that some people might ignore it. But Mark loves little details like that! 

Did You Know?

Which one of these pieces of equipment is the most important in helping you to build muscle? 

The answer is: none of them. The most important piece of requirement you should be focusing on is your ... bed. 

Most muscle building takes place when we're sleeping. Yes, you can stimulate muscle growth during your workouts. But it's during the actual rest process at night that you stimulate muscle growth. Failing to get a good night's sleep can actually seriously limit your ability to build muscle. Even the best workout can be completely undone by not getting this right. I typically get between 9-11 hours of sleep every night. 10 hours is my sweet spot. I wake up whenever my body tells me to. I feel good and well rested when I get up. 

If you feel fatigued or not at full strength during your workouts, then you're probably not getting enough sleep at night. However, if you feel rested, even after as few as 6 hours of sleep, then there's probably no need to adjust that to meet some arbitrary "8 hours" ideal. It helps if you can sleep in a dark and cool room and if you maintain regular hours of hitting the hay every night. The bottom line is to get enough sleep every night so that you wake up feeling fresh and able to perform your daily duties with full concentration and motivation. 

Hope you're having a wonderful day! 

My Word! What a Day!

Some days are, well, spectacular. I spent most of today working outdoors in ideal weather -- 76 degrees and 43 percent humidity, aka, perfect. I launched into my chores with gusto. First up was mowing both of our lawns. 

Then it was time to spray Roundup around all of our outbuildings, including the gambrel barn. 

Work was never more enjoyable. Not a hurry in the world. Just putzin.' 

I am so proud of the kids. Their first cutting's been sold and now they're filling up the barns with their second. You can't believe how hard they work. But again, as I like to tell people, farming is hard work but good work. It puts you to bed at night with a good tired.

Next, I walked down to what we call the Valley, where I had replanted about 70 acres of pines a few years ago. I like to inspect this crop (yes, trees are as much a crop as corn or hay) about once a month to make sure there's no pine beetle damage. 

I offered a word of thanks for not finding any. 

Finally, it was time to say hey to the sheep. They love the human touch. 

Of course, the ram of the flock had to make his grand entrance. So entertaining. 

Arriving back home I found this surprise waiting for me. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.

God loves me. He provides more than I could ever ask or imagine. Sometimes he shows up in acts of healing (I am feeling almost completely recovered from my bout with central nervous system fatigue). At other times he shows up in making the weather so beautiful you want to shout aloud. And sometimes he shows up in homemade pastries. 

I'm learning to see him in all these places. 

Phil. 4:19

I was back in Phil. 4 this morning. What a rich time in God's word! 

If you're looking for a great commentary on Philippians, do consider the one by Gerald Hawthorne. 

While studying verse 19, Hawthorne helped me to see the close parallel between Paul's own material needs (and how God had met them) and the Philippians' material needs (and how God will meet them). 

Hawthorne writes, "Thus in v. 19 Paul has in mind exactly the same kind of needs he was talking about in v. 16, namely, present material needs that can only be met right now by material resources" (p. 207). He adds that these are needs "that could only be alleviated by earthly goods and services and by human associates" (p. 208). 

That's something to remember the next time you face material or physical needs. "My God, the same God who has taken care of all my material and physical needs, will supply every material and physical need of yours in accordance with his magnificent wealth, because you are in union with Christ Jesus" (verse 19, my paraphrase). 

There's so much more that could be said here, but I thought this might be an encouraging reminder to you today! 

On Teaching Greek

Love this quote about teaching: "Teaching kids to count is good. But teaching kids what counts is best." Teaching students Greek is fine. But teaching students how to use Greek in life and ministry is best. 

Did You Know?

There's a big difference between health and fitness. You can hit the gym and run and still not be healthy. These things are only about getting fit. In fact, if you're not healthy, getting fit can be dangerous. Fitness is defined by the absence of disease and the ability to do physical work. Health is characterized by the proper functioning of all your systems, not merely the muscular-skeletal. 

A proper, balanced fitness program will make you stronger and less prone to disease at the same time. 

It Can Happen

I don't want to sound too generic, but if you're serious about getting into shape, it can happen -- with God's help. 

Taking Things for Granted

A gentle reminder that the best time to repent, to rededicate our lives to Christ, to renew our faith in God, is when everything is going well. God's goodness was never meant to lull us into complacency. 

Did You Know?

That word order in Greek plays less of a role in determining meaning than it does in English?

Or that Greek verbs present plenty of information in just one word?

Or that there are several ways of pronouncing the Greek of the New Testament and none of them is the "correct" way?

Or that Greek adjectives don't always have to look the nouns they modify?

Or that people in many fields (science, medicine, etc.) use Greek pretty much all the time -- and not just because it makes them look smart! 

A Word that "MUST" Be Translated

In 1 Thess. 4:1-2, Paul moves from narrative to exhortation. 

He begins with a very general exhortation before he proceeds to the specifics of Christian ethics. For Paul, "pleasing God" is the guiding principle of all Christian behavior. No one can claim to be born again and to love God if they do not also seek to please him.

What's interesting to me here is the fact that, although Paul begins with a fairly mild tone -- "we ask and urge you," what follows are not mere suggestions. What he requests and urges are "commandments" of the Lord Jesus that "must" (Greek dei) be carried out. 

Some translations like the NIV leave this verb out completely. As a result, Paul's "urging" loses its force. So let's see how other translations fare in this regard:

NIV: how to live

ASV: how you ought to walk and please God

CSB: how you should live and please God

GNT: how you should live

LBLA: en que debéis andar y agradar

HOF: wir ihr leben sollt

LUTH: wie ihr solltet wandeln und Gott gefallen

SCH: wie ihr wandeln und Gott gefallen sollt

LSG: vous devez vous conduire

HWP: how you guys suppose to live

VG: quomodo oporteat vos ambulare et placere Deo

This is the sort of teaching on which we ought to mediate in depth if we are really serious in our effort to understand the kind of obedience the gospel calls for. Only as we understand the general nature of Christian living as an obligation will we be able to move on to examine the more concrete tasks to which Paul instructs the church in the rest of chapters 4 and 5.