Relief for the Victims of Hurricane Helene

If you would like help the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, please consider going here and making a donation. Every perfect day here in the Piedmont of Virginia is a day when I am achingly aware that I am not promised immunity from natural disasters. The perfectly normal is so tenuous and breakable. Life is so very, very fragile. Last week was a hard one in the life of western North Carolina and Virginia. It still has me reeling. I grieve, knowing all too well that the monster they are facing is hiding in my closet too. Please, please pray about making a contribution to the relief organization of your choice. 

Boone, NC. This easily could have been my farm. 

"I Am With You DAILY" (Matt. 28:20)

In Matt. 28:20, Jesus could have referred to his presence among us in any number of ways:

• around the clock
• 24/7
• without a break
• endlessly
• constantly
• uninterruptedly
• always
• incessantly
• perpetually
• unceasingly
• unrelentingly
• infinitely

Instead, he said "all the days." Meaning:

• day after day
• day by day
• daily

Hence the ISV's "I am with you each and every day."

When I think of the idea of "daily," I think of these examples:

• Daily routine
• Daily newspaper
• Daily life
• Daily dose
• Daily basis
• Daily rate
• Daily bread

Now we can add, "daily presence."

Friend, he is with you TODAY! 

Morphemes

Never look at the word as the minimal unit of meaning. That's the morpheme. Seriously. It's called science. 

Assumptions

You're not learning until you're challenging your assumptions. 

The Ministry of Small Things

Fellow teacher, don't neglect the ministry of small things. This includes a listening ear, a chat during classroom breaks, an office door that is open, the return of emails promptly, and a word of encouragement. Teaching is nothing more than the ministry of small things to accomplish great things. 

Happy Memory

Who else can vividly remember the satisfaction of the first time you translated a verse in your Greek New Testament? 

How Hebrew Helps Us Interpret the New Testament

Among other things, tomorrow in class we'll learn the Greek numeral "one." I've got several illustrations of this number to discuss with the class, not least this occurrence in Mark 10:8. 

Here the Greek literally reads "And the two will be into flesh one." This is exactly how the Hebrew would put it  -- hence we're talking about a Semitism here. It's amazing to me how much light Hebrew can throw on the exegesis of the New Testament. I even wrote an article about this once. I can assure you, you can read and interpret the Bible without the biblical languages. But you will be better prepared to do so with them. I am never without my (1) Greek New Testament, (2) Hebrew Old Testament, (3) Greek Old Testament, and (4) Hebrew New Testament. In fact, I have three different Hebrew New Testaments. There's nothing like the self-assurance that comes from a firsthand acquaintance with the original languages. But there are costs involved. The riches of exegesis are free, but they are not cheap. 

Are you ready to get started?

Go Bengals!

The Bengals finally got a win today. Good to see that Joe still has a strong arm. I hope they'll play well again next week. At least they're not off to a 0-4 start this year. For some reason I'm a huge Bengals fan, probably because I've run the Cincinnati Marathon three times and I really enjoy that city. 

Go Bengals!

I Can't Wait

My wife and I grew up thousands of miles apart. But all that changed when we met at Biola. She's in ALL of my memories. We have 15 grandkids. I buried her 11 years ago after 37 years of marriage. You only love like this once. I feel her every day and can't wait to be in her arms again. 

Biceps Chin Ups

Hello my friends. Here's a chin up variation that can really help you grow your biceps!

If your goal is to build stronger arms, then a good strategy is to do biceps chin ups. It's okay to lower yourself down to the ground, reset at the bottom, and then perform each subsequent rep in that fashion. This creates consistency from rep to rep and makes every rep a "first" rep, so that you're not skipping out on training the bottom portion of the exercise. 

Have a wonderful day!

To Do List

Let's be real. We're all going to die with a very long to do list. "Start exercising" shouldn't be one of them.  

The Joy of Firsts

Famous places always seem bigger than imagined. That's been my experience anyway. This includes the first time I saw the Great Sphinx in Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, and the Great Wall in China. I imagine my students will have a similar feeling when they encounter "real" Greek for the first time in Monday's class. Sure, I constructed my practice sentences to imitate the New Testament's style, but encountering the original Greek for the first time is usually an overwhelming experience. I think this may be up there with other significant firsts:

• First date
• First kiss
• First anniversary
• First child
• First day of college
• First job interview

It's going to be great! 

Balance

Hello everyone.

I was told in college that a great life is a well-balanced life. Up to then my life had been almost completely devoted to surfing. Later, I had to add studying into the mix. Of course, you eventually get a job, get married, have kids, etc. Without balance, things can get out of kilter real quick. If you're anything like me and love to exercise, you realize that getting in shape is really only a small part of what matters in your life. 

That's how it should be. Life is a balancing act. And achieving this balance is a never-ending journey. At my age, this means hacking away at non-essentials. "The key," wrote Stephen Covey, "is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." Balance is not owned. It's leased. And rent is due everyday. 

Remember, friend: Balance is not something to be achieved but an equilibrium to be maintained as you evolve through the stages of life. 

A Delightful Case of Ambiguity in Rom. 12:16

Writing is a craft. It comes with a toolbox full of rhetorical devices such as ambiguity. 

The word "ambiguity" comes from a Latin term meaning "wandering around." There are two basic types of ambiguity, as seen here: 

Other examples include:

• Brave men run in my family.
• Prostitutes appeal to Pope.
• The passerby helped the dog bite victim.
• Well, I've never tasted chicken cooked that way before.
• I saw someone on the hill with a telescope.
• Do you believe in clubs for young people?

Well, this morning I was rereading Romans 12 and stumbled on what may well be a case of intentional ambiguity. 

Here it is in Greek:

The problem is that the first two words here can be either masculine or neuter. This problem is reflected in the KJV and the ASV:

• KJV: "condescend to men of low estate"
• ASV: "condescend to things that are lowly"

Paul is either saying, "Associate with humble people" or "Accept humble duties." But wait a minute. He could mean both! The idea may well be something like, "Don't become snobbish but take a real interest in both people and activities that are humble."

With that in mind, this morning I made a list of ways we can follow Paul's injunction to live humbly:

• Listen more than you talk. Don't interrupt when others are speaking.
• Accept being disappointed -- like when you don't get that big promotion!
• Always be polite, even when you encounter a rude person.
• Complement others genuinely. We have the power to make others feel good about themselves!
• Perform random acts of kindness. There's nothing more noble, especially when you do it without being seen.
• Apologize sincerely when you are wrong. Welcome correction with an open mindset rather than with a stubborn defensiveness.
• Thank people sincerely when they help you.
• Share credit generously for your successes in life.
• Accept lesser roles and responsibilities gladly (yes, I'm talking to us retirees!).
• Avoid flaunting your titles and status (this is especially hard for newly-minted Ph.D.s.) 
• Embrace opportunities to learn new things.

In short, walk humbly! 

Which of these do you need to work on?

What would you add to the list? 

Today's Workout ...

... was heavenly. 

Hope your day is going well! 

"Blessed Are Those Who Mourn" (Matt. 5:4)

"How God blesses those who mourn, because it is they who will be comforted!" 

That's my rendering of Jesus' second beatitude in Matthew 5. The paradoxes continue. In the first beatitude we find destitute people who nevertheless rule in the kingdom of Heaven. Now we have people who are mourning being comforted. Most commentators I've read point out that the beatitudes reflect a progression in logic. Some believers may think that living in the kingdom is all joy and laughter. The truth is that we shed "streams of tears" (Psalm 119:136). We groan, we weep, we mourn, we bewail. Jesus isn't necessarily talking about the loss of a loved one (though I'm sure that's included). He's referring to the sorrow of repentance. Writes Stott: "It is one thing to be spiritually poor and acknowledge it; it is another to grieve and mourn over it." Listen to the words of Augustine:

"I flung myself down, how I do not know, under a certain fig tree, and gave free rein to my tears. The floods burst upon my eyes, an acceptable sacrifice to you. I felt that I was held by my sins and I gasped forth these mournful words, 'How long, how long? Tomorrow and tomorrow? Why not now? Why not in this very hour put an end to my uncleanness?'"

When Augustine died 1,594 years ago, he died praying the penitential prayers of David. Such mourners, says Jesus, will be comforted. 

If you're anything like me, you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sin all around you and even in your own life. Being a Christian is a struggle. It's the hardest thing you'll ever do. It means waging hand-to-hand combat with sin. Favorite sins and bad habits nag at our souls. The struggle is ruthless and relentless. I'm growing weary of making excuses when I'm insensitive to other people or when I place my own desires before God's. I'm tired of Satan's assaults. Most of all, I'm tired of asking forgiveness from the One I love the most. On my own I'm trapped. Only Jesus can help me get off the merry-go-round of failure. 

When I get discouraged in my walk with God and feel I've fallen short of his expectations, I take a few minutes to talk it over with him. What I can't do, he can do. He'll go with me, help me, teach me, if for no other reason than to keep me trusting him and not myself. 

Three Traits of a Great Teacher

In 2 Tim. 2:24, Paul uses three adjectives to describe Christian leaders, including those of us who teach. 

Here's my rendering of the verse:

"As the Lord's slave, you should not be quarrelsome or argumentative. Instead, be gentle and even-handed no matter who you are dealing with, ready and able to teach, and patient with difficult people, willing even to suffer wrong from them if need be."

I'm memorizing this verse in Latin, by the way. Here's what it sounds like:

Friends, our students are God's masterpieces (Eph. 2:10), but as yet they're diamonds in the rough. So be patient. We can't expect them to be perfect and always act the right way or do the right thing. We can't ignore these things. It's just that cutting and shaping takes time! 

A Run -- and a Word of Thanks

Today's 4-mile run took place at the local high school. 

A huge shout out to county officials for allowing runners like me to use their roads and track during school hours. It's a privilege that's rare and one I never want to take for granted. So, "Thank you!" 

Excelling in the Work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)

1 Cor. 15:58 is such a great verse. It's a challenge I never want to forget. Paul says that our work is always to be carried out as more than just enough to get by. We don't just do our work. We excel in it. The NIV has "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord." The CJB reads "always doing the Lord's work as vigorously as you can." The NLT gives "Always work enthusiastically for the Lord." And in the ISV we did "always excelling in the work of the Lord."

The idea is not just to be engaged in the work of the Lord but to be engaged diligently and energetically. The HOF says "Setzt euch mit aller Kraft für den Herrn ein." I love that. I also love that word "always." We are to do this whether we're young or getting old, whether the work is a joy or we're slugging it out with a heavy heart, when it's fruitful or barren, whether we feel like it or don't feel like it, whether we're highly motivated or deeply discouraged, whether others are with us or against us. This verse is God's way of reminding me, "Dave, I realize that doing my work is hard. You are digging into an ancient text and delivering its truth to very real people. Don't avoid it. Embrace it. Give yourself fully to it. Do it with as much passion as I give you. Do it 'mit aller Kraft'." 

We Christians ought to set the world on fire. If in experience we've moved through Calvary and the resurrection to Pentecost, let us glorify our Lord and not quench his Spirit. Then we will be burning and shining lights for him today. 

Writing Conversationally

Every author remembers the first book they published, unfortunately. I thought about this yesterday in Greek class. It was exam day, and so I did what I always do when we have an exam -- I offered any student who got a perfect score on the exam a free copy of one of my books. 

One student asked me about my first book, Paul, Apostle of Weakness. "Didn't you once tell us that this was the worst book you ever wrote?" Well, I did tell them that. Like so many doctoral dissertations, the book was overly filled with academic jargon and unnecessary footnotes, intended to impress academics. I've since discovered that solid scholarship and an engaging writing style are not incompatible. My next book, Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek, adopted a much more conversational tone. Studies have shown that 250 percent more people read an entire blog post when it's written with a conversational tone instead of a formal one. Conversational writing has many advantages. It creates an intimacy by using language that's familiar to your audience. You avoid words you'd never use in real life. Remember, you're writing to connect, not to impress. You keep sentences short. You say "I've been" instead of "I have been." You ask questions. You even end sentences with prepositions! You tell personal stories. In short, you write like you're speaking to a friend.

So give it a try. Give your readers a good reason to come back to your blog or FB page. The point is to be conversational, not wordy and impersonal!

Imagine

Imagine where you would be ...

if in the last two years ...

you did exactly what you were supposed to do. 

Family: Being There for Each Other

I love my family -- my kids and my grandkids. I'm not only cheering them in their race of life but squeezing my encouragement into them for whatever they might be facing next. After all, we are all running our own races in life and need all the encouragement we can get.

I recall a runner passing me once at the end of a marathon. Both of us attempted to smile at each other but physically we couldn't. The best we could manage was a head nod in acknowledgement of each other's existence. Life is like that at times. All you can manage is an audible grunting noise. But you keep on going. You have to. I've heard marathoners say, "Fake it till you make it," meaning if you act like a marathoner long enough you might just eventually become one. And the best part of all is that we can be there for each other.

Friend, your family needs you. They need your smile and your words of encouragement. Even if you offer nothing more than an audible grunt today, offer it to them in love.  

Just Do Your Best

If you think you have to get an A in my classes to please me, you're in the wrong class. In college I struggled in a number of the classes I took, especially if they had anything to do with philosophy, math, or logic. I stunk at those subjects. But I tried as hard as I could. I am incredibly blessed to have finished my college degree. It's not like I studied or anything in high school. (You wouldn't have either if you grew up in Hawaii.) Deciding to become a real student (that is, someone who actually studies) was the first step toward me becoming a teacher. I had completely run out of excuses not to study. 

So take courage students. "The glory of God," wrote Irenaeus (an early church father), "is man fully functioning." That's true whether you're a student trying your hardest to get a good grade on an exam or a prof just trying to finish his teaching career well. 

Great News!

Sorry for the personal content here. But I just had to share with you the news I got from Israel this morning. You see, after I taught Greek there (by Zoom) a few years ago, it was decided to translate my beginning grammar into modern Israeli Hebrew. Well, I was informed today that the project is finished. I'm told it's the first of its kind ever to be published. I really want to be there when the book is released but with all that's going on these days in Israel that doesn't look like a possibility. 

Life, they say, goes through periods. Well, today was an exclamation point for me. Thanks for sharing my joy.

Have a wonderful day everyone! 

Just Sayin'

Choosing to open your Greek New Testament when you could just turn to the commentaries is an underrated form of self-mastery. 

Advice for Reading Your Greek New Testament

Reading your Greek New Testament requires you to assume the role of a biblical detective, searching for clues as to the meaning of the text. Here I'm going to suggest 7 strategies that can turn you into a first-rate reader.

1. Physical copy only.

2. Bring your Greek New Testament with you everywhere you go. I've read my Greek New Testament on planes and in restaurants, while I'm waiting at the doctor's office, while waiting for a tow truck, and many other times and places. I'm never without it.

3. Always have a pen handy. Some people may recoil in horror at the thought of marking up the Bible, but as a lover of books I have no problem with it.

4. Keep a notebook with you. "We should hunt out the helpful pieces of teaching ... which are capable of immediate practical application" (Seneca).

5. Beat them up. I've had my Greek New Testament rebound 3 times. It's falling apart again.

6. Speed reading is discouraged. You have to spend a lot of time in your passage to truly benefit from it. 

7. Don't be afraid to revisit the same passages over and over again. "You never step into the same river twice" (Chinese proverb).

In short, read:

• regularly
• repeatedly
• thoughtfully
• patiently
• selectively
• prayerfully
• meditatively
• purposefully
• acquisitively

As you dive into your Greek New Testament for yourself, relax and enjoy the experience. God's truth is there, and you'll find it if you just give yourself enough time.

4 Miles on a Cool and Cloudy Day!

Pronouncing "Codex Bezae"

Do you sometimes struggle in knowing how to correctly pronounce words, including names? I do. When I was in college, a friend of mine at Biola invited me to spend the Christmas break with him in Portland, Oregon. As we neared his home he asked me to say the word "Willamette" out loud. Out came "Wil-la-MET-ee." Welcome to the "Commonly Butchered Name Club," Dave! After he had stopped chuckling he gave me the correct pronunciation: "Wil-LA-met." Later, when I had moved to Basel in Switzerland, I discovered that there were four official names for that city:

• Basle
• Basel
• Bâl
• Basilea

Yikes!

Well, the other day I was watching some YouTube videos on the subject of text types in New Testament textual criticism in which one of the interviewees consistently referred to a certain Codex "Beza." The manuscript is, of course, Codex Bezae. When you say "Beza," you are referring, not to the manuscript, but to the Swiss scholar who donated the codex to the University of Cambridge. Why, then, was "Beza" (the name of the scholar) changed to "Bezae" (the genitive case in Latin)? "Codex Bezae was called Codex Bezae because it was the property of Theodore Beza" (thank you James Snapp). Yep. It's just that simple. 

Here are two New Testament scholars at Cambridge correctly bringing out the -ae suffix in Bezae: 

I should probably mention here that there are some significant differences between Classical Latin and Ecclesiastical Latin (not to mention Pig Latin). In classical Latin, the diphthong -ae is pronounced as the igh in the English word fight. In Ecclesiastical Latin, the exact same diphthong is pronounced as the a in the English word mate. No need to stress out over this. Personally, I use the Ecclesiastical pronunciation for -ae (as does this scholar), but if you want to use the Classical pronunciation that's fine.

I know all this probably comes across as pretty pedantic. But scholars of the New Testament, especially  textual critics, pride themselves on paying attention to details!

________________________________________________________________________

P.S. Just for fun, can you correctly pronounce the following names? (Scroll down for the answers.) If you can get all 7 correct, you deserve the Pulitzer Prize! 

• Ayn Rand
• Gresham Machen 
• Karl Barth
• Joaquin Phoenix
• Likelike Highway (Oahu) 
• Ralph Fiennes 
• Jake Gyllenhaal 

• Eye-n Rand
• Gres-um May-chen
• Karl Bart
• Wa-keen Fee-nix
• Lee-kay-lee-kay Highway
• Rafe fines
• Jayk Jil-lin-hall

An Unforgettable Experience: Hiking the Maryland Heights Trail

If you enjoy hiking and you ever find yourself in Harper's Ferry, WV, be sure to take the Maryland Heights Trail to the Harpers Ferry Overlook. Here are a few pics from a visit a few years ago. 

The trail can be steep in places as you ascend to the top of Maryland Heights. 

Oddly enough, once there you have to downclimb to reach the lookout. The path here is very rocky so be sure to bring hiking poles with you. 

When I got to the overlook I was alone and sat quietly trying to absorb the history and beauty all around me. 

It's impossible to take a bad picture of Harpers Ferry at sunset. 

Thomas Jefferson once proclaimed that Harpers Ferry was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic for." Or at least a drive to West Virginia. :-) 

For My German-Speaking Audience

Wenn du Jesus kennst, das ist genug. Auch wenn du das übrige nicht weisst. Wenn du Jesus nicht kennst, das ist alles nichts. Egal wieviel du weisst. Es geht darum ihn zu kennen. 

A Great Faculty

A seminary is one thing: its faculty. Do not choose a library or a curriculum or a location. Choose a great faculty. Everything else is incidental. 

I Never Complain

When I have the gym to myself. 😉

Kudos to Aaron Rodgers

Did you see that JETS game last night? Wow! Wow! Wow! Props to Aaron Rodgers. 

He looked brilliant all game long, in the pocket and even out of it. His completions were done with execution as he made some of the most beautiful throws I've ever seen. Eerily Brady-esque. Other than the penalties it was as close to a perfect game the JETS could have asked for. At 40, Rodgers still has the swag and the talent. He's still got the fire in him. I'm so happy for him. I had a similar feeling watching LeBron last year. You gotta appreciate the fact that these "old" guys are still going. 

The end of an era.

Exciting Days in Greek Class

What a great morning for a run!

As I ran I prayed for my Greek class. They have a big exam coming up on Monday. Then after that we get to learn the third and final noun declension in Greek. 

With that we will have reached a significant milestone in our journey. Until now, all of the Greek to English exercises in my beginning grammar were written by yours truly. But beginning with chapter 18, our exercises will come directly from the Greek New Testament. ALL of them. I think we're eager to get there. Students and teacher alike, I think, are growing a bit weary of sipping on baby Greek. It's time to move on to the real deal.

Until now, I've been asking my students, "What does that sentence say?" Now I can ask, "Yes, that's what it says, but what does it mean?" I'll try to stroll them through the book of 1 John, showing them how John moves slowly and carefully toward a clear goal. He wrote his letter to drive home the point that fellowship with the Father and the Son produces an obedient life, a discerning life, and a love filled life. And all of this is possible through the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I never want to forget that. I never want to forget to thank the Father that it's not my might or power that gets me through the day. It's only his power that guides me into the Light.

May this course help all of us to grow into the likeness of our Savior!

Be a Berean

With the internet you can find a study that supports just about anything you want to believe. That's why critical thinking is so crucial. Be a Berean. 

Why You Should Consider Doing Band-Assisted Pull Ups

Allow me to get on my soapbox for a minute. The band-assisted pull up is a great exercise for those wanting to perform their first pull up proper. However, recently it has come under attack because it fails to help at the top of the pull up where help is most needed. I disagree. By using the band we are ensuring that we're not wasting our energy on the part of the movement that's easiest. This allows us to have the energy to tackle the hardest part of the pull up at the top. I'm not saying that the assisted pull up can't be abused. If you're using the band to build momentum while bouncing around then you're obviously not using the band in a productive way. But despite whatever potential drawbacks the assisted pull up may have, it still works well in helping us get our first pull up. As you can see in the demonstration below, the key is to allow the exercise to go through its full range of motion. 

In short, pull ups -- including band assisted pull ups -- are a great body weight exercise to develop your upper body strength, specifically your back muscles. You'll also be working on your grip strength and your forearms because you're going to be hanging your body weight from the bar. This can be really difficult to do if you're just starting out, so it only makes sense to give yourself some assistance so that you can gradually work your way up to what your body weight is. Your ultimate goal is to work your way down to a small band and eventually no band at all. 

Have a fantastic day!

The Importance of a Mentor

I end the day with a few personal comments. I could not be more thankful for all the schools that trained me -- Biola, Talbot, and the University of Basel -- as well as the mentors in those institutions who loved the truth and helped me to cultivate a love for the Scriptures; for my wife for helping to put me through my education; and for my colleagues who were patient with me as I forged out my teaching style, right up the present moment. For me, teaching God's word has been a dream come true. I want to pass that love of the Bible on to others -- including you. Every believer can experience the joy of personal discovery, as well as the great satisfaction of sharing with others the principles of God's word. I especially want to express my profound gratitude for my very capable Greek teacher and then colleague at Biola, Harry Sturz, who carefully placed my feet in the starting blocks and then assisted me to run the race with passion and endurance. My gratitude to this humble and godly man knows no bounds. 

Thanks largely to his mentoring, the last 48 years in the classroom have been nothing short of life changing. To God be the glory. 

"I Make My Body My Slave" (1 Cor. 9:27)

I love how the apostle Paul writes. I especially love all the figures of speech he uses. Although he was a Jew by birth, he was most definitely a Greek when it came to the love of sports. Just read 1 Cor. 9:24-27. "I run," he writes. "I box." "I beat my body." These are all sporting analogies. He's putting himself on the line. He's going for broke. His body is black and blue. I can almost hear him saying:

• I get up early every morning.
• I go at it hard.
• When I'm tempted to eat too much, I say no thanks.
• When I'm tempted to do less than my very best, I refuse.

Then he adds: "I make my body my slave." This is more than the KJV's "I bring it into subjection." He's saying:

• I enslave it!
• I bring it into bondage!
• I bring it under complete control!
• I subject it to rigid discipline! 
• I make it serve me! 
• I subdue it!
• I subjugate it!

Why I am telling you this? 

According to the CDC, obesity is the number one health threat facing Americans. In addition, a study at Purdue showed that church members tended to be more overweight than the general population. And guess what? My own denomination has the "distinction" of being the most overweight religious group in the study. Many of us are destroying the temple of God by our poor eating habits and insufficient physical activity. This even includes leaders in the pulpit. 

But you say, "I don't have any self-control." I get it. Neither do I. But thankfully God doesn't leave us there. According to Gal. 5:22, when we're filled with the Spirit of self-control, we can become self-controlled. Sometimes I hate writing about food/weight issues because the subject is so loaded. Yet it is such an important issue, and not only for athletes. You will NEVER hear me say you're not a good Christian because you're overweight. Only you know what's going on with your body. For the most part I have a healthy relationship with food. But it's been a struggle. I still love Doritos and soda, just not all day, every day, anymore. I want exercise to enhance my life, not be my life. I eat to live instead of live to eat. Also, I wanted to add that in my opinion greatness often comes with some measure of dysfunction/unhealthiness, be it physical, emotional, psychological, or other. I will be the first to admit that I have obsessively overtrained and have also been known to go as hard and as fast as I can. Neither of these traits is healthy. We all have unhealthy tendencies from time to time. The question is, do you have an awareness of yours? Is what you see obsessive, unhealthy, detrimental, out-of-control, or compulsive -- be it overeating on the one hand, or too severely restricting your calories on the other? Either extreme is a slippery slope. I am in no way saying that it's right to judge people on the basis of their weight, especially when you realize that there are often hereditary and medical conditions that come into play. Self awareness is key. When we get disconnected from reality, we make poor decisions. 

When all is said and done, my body is the temple and I want to treat it right. There's nothing magical about that. Eat quality foods. Exercise. Get enough sleep at night. Treat your body with respect. Paul would say, "Be tough on yourself!" Life is not a part-time sport. It's a full-time challenge. If we enter the race, we will be the better off for engaging. If we sit on the sidelines, we can only wither away. 

Today's 5-Mile Run

I had the BEST run today. Perfect weather (70 degrees, overcast). Ideal conditions. Every mile a gift. 

I can't guarantee that running will add years to your life. But there's no doubt that it will add life to your years. Which is much better! 

No Complaining!

If you haven't consistently studied your textbook and done all of the work requested by your Greek professor, you are not allowed to complain about your poor aptitude for language learning. 

Hard Work and Success

If you are going to be successful in any field, you can't be allergic to sweat. 

Choose Wisely

God never makes decisions for us. They are ours to make, and the consequences are ours to live with. Choose wisely. 

Scholars Can Be Wrong

You must, on occasion at least, thumb your nose at the "scholars" around you. They've been wrong before, and they'll be wrong again. 

162nd Anniversary of Antietam

As you may know, I'm a proud member of the American Battlefield Trust, whose purpose is to preserve our Civil War, Rev War, and War of 1812 battlefields. Today the trust is coming to you live from the Antietam Battlefield as the nation commemorates the battle that was fought there 162 years ago today. One of my ancestors on my father's side was a German Baptist (and pacifist) named John Miller of Sharpsburg who lived along the Antietam Creek. His property abutted that of his brother David Miller, in whose famous corn field the battle commenced that morning. I shot this photo two years ago while visiting the Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields. 

I so wanted to be there today for the ceremonies but I had to teach yesterday and couldn't get away. If you'd like to view the videos that the trust is publishing today, simply go here. I hope you will also consider joining me and others in the effort to preserve 11 acres next to the Dunker Church, where the Millers met for worship. 

Here's where you can go if you're interested in making a donation. 

Have a wonderful day! 

My FAVORITE Pull Exercises

Today's workout focused on "pull" exercises. There are my favorite: 

1. The barbell curl. 

2. The pull up. 

3. The lat pull.

4. The waiter curl. 

Guys, I hope you enjoy these posts and are able to see that regardless of your age you can implement weight training into your exercise regime. Remember, it's never too late to start and always too soon to stop. Come along and join the fun! 

Keep Showing Up

This is me tonight. In two months I'm hoping to reach my goal of 15 percent body fat. 

Work hard on things you are care about.

Keep showing up even when it's hard.

Stay positive.

Be kind to others in the gym.

Remain humble and give God the credit.

A year from now, you'll reap the benefits of whatever you're doing right now. 

Choose Your Hard

Imagine where you'd be if ...

You studied Greek one year ago.

You stuck it out.

You learned all the basic vocabulary and grammar.

You did all the exercises in your textbook.

You never felt sorry for yourself.

If you had done all those things you'd be reading your Greek New Testament today with the minimal use of a dictionary.

Choose your hard. 

Greek Student: Go for It!

If you are taking your first year of Greek, success isn't complicated. It may be difficult, but it's not complicated. Stop hoping it will be easy. Give up your search for an easy way out. The Lord is giving you an opportunity to grow in faith, in self-discipline, in time-management, and in knowledge. He wants you to trust in his care and rest in his power. 

So ...

Go for it! 

Waiting for the Waves

Does anyone else out there surf? I've been a surfer since I was a kid, and at 72 it's one thing I can still do. Some of my best days at the beach happened in June when I surfed Waikiki with a light wind blowing from the east and the waves just right for riding. I'm now waiting for a swell to arrive at Virginia Beach. I don't care if the waves aren't much over 2 feet. Okay, that's a bit hyperbolic. But beggars can't be too picky. Here's the thing. It takes me over 3 hours to drive to the beach. In traffic. However, if there's even a small chance there are waves in VB this week, I'm going. The truth is, I'm not too bright sometimes. One dumb thing I do is to act impulsively. But I miss the ocean and I will make any excuse to walk in the sand and wax down my board. 

All this to say, people should not have to apologize for finding joy in sports. Spectating should not become a substitute for the actual experience. Life should not be experienced second-hand. Surfing is a coming-of-age for the young, a renaissance for the adult, and -- thankfully -- a regeneration for the old. 

Thank you, Lord, for the ocean. 

Passion

J. B. Phillips once wrote a great book with the title Your God Is Too Small. Someone needs to write a book entitled Your Teacher Is Too Boring. Jesus, the greatest teacher who ever lived, was anything but boring. He came to light a fire. Nothing he said was a sleeper.

Find a teacher like that. Passion is one of our greatest foods of the soul. It's an essential human need. Passion relieves boredom because it turns both our head and our heart. For it is our hearts that accept the truth. 

Teaching without passion is like a mountain without a summit. It is stupid, boring, and ugly. Truth, however, is always good, true, and beautiful. 

Only a live wire can shock you. Find a teacher who's alive. 

The Price of Pastoral Leadership

I was 12 years old when I became aware of just how difficult pastoral ministry can be. I was a member of a Baptist church in Kailua whose pastor was in his early 60s. Even today I have very fond memories of the man. He was a gentle, soft-spoken mainlander who genuinely loved his congregation. Though his messages weren't always interesting, they were always faithful to the Scriptures. 

One day he suffered a stroke. It wasn't a major stroke but it did prevent him from clearly articulating his words. Within weeks he was out of a job. My 12-year old brain was uncomprehending. After all, with a little bit of effort, I had no problem understanding his sermons. No matter. He was gone. "We can't understand him" was the reason I was given when I asked why he'd been fired. 

J. Oswald Sanders, in his outstanding book Spiritual Leadership, writes: "No one need aspire to leadership in the work of God who is not prepared to pay a price greater than his contemporaries and colleagues are willing to pay. True leadership always exacts a heavy toll, and the more effective the leadership, the higher the price to be paid."

Some of you pastors are paying a high price right now. I want to say that I respect you for that. Thank you for being men of courage and conviction. I regret that you have to deal with people that Paul described in Rom. 16:17 as "causing division and putting obstacles in your way." These things aren't just happening inadvertently. They are being caused deliberately and knowingly. These actions do not come from the Holy Spirit. Nor are they always overt. Usually they are subtle. William Barkley describes a divisive man as someone "who speaks well and acts ill." He leads people astray not by direct attack but by subtlety and subterfuge. Nothing in the church will demoralize you like that. Church becomes hell on earth. 

If you're in this situation, ask for help! Don't pretend that you wear a cape and tights. You can't carry the weight of the whole world on your shoulders. Turn to those you trust for prayer and support. You need their companionship and involvement at this time in your life. Admit your weakness and inadequacy. I deeply respect that attitude among the pastors I know. One of the greatest privileges of ministry is having a friend you can unburden on. The enemy of our souls tries to get us to face our trials alone. Don't go there. You'll pay too heavy of a price for going it alone. Accept this time of testing as from the hand of God. The Holy Spirit does not flourish through methods. He flourishes through men -- men of contrition and vulnerability. 

My former pastor in Hawaii made a lasting impact on my life. I had never before seen such a clear example of Paul's "strength-in-weakness" theology -- a crucial doctrine I went on to write a book about years later (Paul, Apostle of Weakness). This dependence on God never changes. Opposition is the means by which God grants power to those who rely on him. May that be your blessed privilege today, my pastor friend. 

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (Matt. 5:3)

Learning is truly mastered when we are able to explain what we have learned to others. I love trying to tell others why I have become excited about studying a passage of Scripture. This morning is no exception. All I could get through in the Sermon on the Mount today was one verse! Here's how I rendered it:

"How God blesses those who are destitute in spirit, because the kingdom of Heaven belongs to them!" 

That done, I feasted at the table of Scripture for an hour. In the process, I was forced to think through at least 3 issues:

1. How to translate "Blessed." Notice I didn't use either "happy" or "fortunate." Writes Stott: "Happiness is a subjective state, whereas Jesus is making an objective judgment about these people." In other words, Jesus is describing, not a subjective feeling, but an objective reality -- that God is blessing them. In Hebrew, we find the very same construction in Psalm 1:1: "Blessed is the man." Here the Hebrew word for "blessed" is plural, which seems to denote fullness and variety. Hence my rendering, "How God blesses ...."

2. Greek has a word for "poor" and another word for "destitute." When I was in college, I was poor but hardly destitute! The latter word is used here. Hence, "How God blesses those who are destitute in spirit."

3. Finally, you might have noticed that I capitalized the word "Heaven." That's because the word seems to be a way of saying the divine name ("God") without actually using that word. Hence, "kingdom of Heaven." 

The remainder of my time was letting the truth of this verse begin to seep into my soul. What Jesus is teaching us here is both powerful and timeless. The results of a prideful spirit are absolutely disastrous. A spirit of humility before God is indispensable for life and ministry. There is no substitute! 

More coming up! 

Dumbbell Waiter Curl

Hey guys. I've added this exercise to my routine over the past 30 days. 

It's called the incline dumbbell waiter curl. It's used to build bicep peaks that rival the Matterhorn. This exercise is awesome because it targets the big head of the biceps. Make sure that the top of the dumbbell stays parallel to the floor. The next time you're looking for some variation in your biceps exercises, try incorporating this variation of the waiter curl into your training. It's a great finisher at the end of your workout.

Have a lovely weekend! 

Set Your Sights High

Join Abigail as she takes off and lands for the first time as a solo pilot. 

She entered the cockpit as a trainee and left it as a pilot. In 1976, at the age of 24, I taught my first Greek class. I entered the classroom as a student and left it as a professor. 

Young person, you were created for greatness. Find God's will for your life and then pursue your dream with everything you have. Don't put God in a box. Don't ever limit him in any way, shape, or form. Set your sights high. You'll never reach higher. 

No More Excuses

Exactly 12 Fridays ago today I began my fat loss journey. I started off my journey at 240 pounds. Today I weigh 223 pounds. I began with a body fat percentage of 25 percent. Today it is 20 percent. The gym has turned fitness from a boring routine to a simple and easy lifestyle. 

No more excuses. You know what you need to do. 

Taking Exegesis Seriously

Some people will tell you that serious exegesis of the New Testament, including the field of textual criticism, is a subject for the experts only. Shrug them off. You don't need their permission to take your study of the Bible seriously. Don't be ashamed to make time for it and defend that time like your life depends on it. In some ways, it does. 

Deep Diving into the SOM

This morning I began a study of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount using these tools:

There's my Greek New Testament. There's my Hebrew New Testament. And there's an English translation. Of course, many other translations are available at my fingertips online. But my main guidestones will be the Greek along with the Hebrew. 

Every translation is a commentary because in order to translate the Bible you have to first decide what the source text means, not just what it says. By definition this involves interpretation, and even a "literal" translation of the Bible must do this, even if it involves only the words a translator chooses. Among these translations, I'll give priority of place to the Hebrew since Jesus probably spoke and taught in Hebrew/Judeo-Aramaic. This Semitic influence extends not only to words (amen, korban) but to certain grammatical and syntactical constructions. Delitzsch sought to replicate these nuances in his Hebrew translation, which is fundamentally Biblical Hebrew. His Hebrew Gospels thus allow readers to see the stories and teachings of Jesus in the Gospels through the lens of the Hebrew language. 

I've started this study of the Sermon on the Mount not to prepare for lectures on the passage but solely to listen carefully to the text myself. Jesus spoke this sermon to those who were already citizens of his kingdom. The high standards he sets cannot be glibly set aside, as I have done so often. The sermon was written for those who believe that the precepts of Jesus not only can but should be followed. 

Matt. 5:1-2 states that Jesus "sat down" and his disciples "came to him" to listen to what he had to say. Then he "opened his mouth" -- a Semitic idiom indicating the solemnity and gravity of what he taught them. (See my study here.) My responsibility now is to assume the posture of one of his talmidim (disciples) who learn the Torah (teaching) from their rav (rabbi). 

Eager to get started!

Worry -- Good and Bad (Phil. 2:20, 4:6)

As people age they tend to worry more than they should. They worry about their health. They worry about their kids and grandkids. They worry about their finances. They worry about the future of the nation. 

The Greek word for worry is merimnaō. 

Interestingly, the word can have both positive and negative connotations depending on the context. For example, in Phil. 2:20, Paul uses the term positively. "I have no one else who worries about you more than Timothy," he says. Here, worry is commendable. It is commendable because it grows out of true concern for others. I imagine this is how you felt if you were the parents of a high schooler in Winder, GA, when you learned that there had been a shooting at the school. That kind of worry would be most understandable. In fact, without such concern I would wonder about your love for your children.

But there's another kind of worry, the kind that has no business being a part of our lives. Paul refers to this kind of worry in Phil. 4:6. Using the very same verb he used earlier to describe Timothy, he now uses it with the negative connotation of unreasonable anxiety or harrowing care. Thus Paul can say to the Philippians, "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything." He's referring to the kind of worry we all know so well -- the anxiety that strangles us and chokes us and eats away at us.

I wish I were a marvelous model of a man who practices the right kind of worry, but I'm not. The other day I told someone, "I'm worried about you," intending my words to convey the force of "I care about you deeply and I'm so anxious for your wellbeing." But even as I spoke those words, in my heart there was a churning, an "unreasonable anxiety." I had begun to fret about something neither I nor they had any control over.

Maybe this is why Paul immediately brings up the topic of prayer. Because of our anxieties, God says "Bring them to me. Let me handle them. Exchange your worry for my peace." I challenge every one of us to make a habit of doing that regularly. Our worry list should never be longer than our prayer list. They ought to be of equal length. Let each worry be matched by a specific petition to the Supreme Person of the universe who cares about every concern we could ever bring to him. 

Walk, Yes, But Watch Your Nutrition!

It was so much fun getting in 4 miles today as part of my fat loss journey. 

But guess what? Cardio can get you only so far. Anytime you want to lose fat anywhere on your body, you've got to begin with what you're putting into your mouth, that is, your nutrition. Notice I didn't say "diet." Diets are something you're on temporarily. Nutrition is how you feed your body over the long haul. The simple truth is that if you're eating more calories than your body is burning off, you are not going to burn fat. You've got to be hypocaloric. This doesn't mean you should stop doing slow cardio like walking. I have no doubt that regular walking can help you get rid of your love handles faster. Again, however, if you're consuming more calories than you're burning off, you're not going to burn enough fat to get rid of your belly fat. 

Walk, yes, but also watch your nutrition.

Have a great day! 

Another Payday Is Coming

In the mid-1800s, a man lost his job as a customs agent. Brokenhearted, he went home to tell his wife. To his amazement, she said "Great! Now you can write your book!" "Yes," he said, "but what will we live on while I'm busy writing?" Her answer startled him. "Well, I've always known you were a man of genius. I knew that one day you would write an immortal masterpiece. So every week I've saved something out of the money you gave me for housekeeping. Here is enough to last one year."

The amazed husband went to his study and began writing. His name? Nathaniel Hawthorne. 

His book? The Scarlet Letter. 

It became one of the first mass-produced books in the U.S. and even today is considered a classic work of American literature. Novelist D. H. Lawrence called it the "perfect work of American imagination."

It is my prayer that every time you encounter a setback in life you will remember this story. Don't snatch things out of God's hands. Do what you should do, but be patient. God is not finished with you. His promise is that if you remain faithful to him, you will reap (Gal. 6:9). Another payday is coming. 

No Need to Become a Gym Rat

The videos below are from today's workout. It was a wonderful time. I just wanted to jump online and remind everyone that you don't have to live at the gym to see results. The gym is usually not a huge time investment. 

People see someone who's in great shape and automatically assume that the person lives in the weight room, when in reality 3 or 4 workouts per week can build the majority if not all the muscle you're capable of. 

Besides the physical benefits, it will improve your general mental health and then carry over and make you more productive for the rest of the day. 

Personally, I spend no more than 5 hours a week in the gym. As a result, my health has improved, I sleep better, and I am more motivated to do everything I set out to do. And yes, I'm well on my way to getting the physique I want. 

Combine gym workouts with cardio (easy walking, for example) and you'll be at the top of your game in your personal life. 

Have a fantastic day! 

Belgian German

What a delightful video this is. 

It always amazes me that people living on the same border can speak almost two entirely different languages. In Basel, the old-timers could even tell which quarter of the city you lived in by your dialect. You gotta love languages!  

A Lovely Day

Miscellaneous pics from this wonderful day:

1. Chillaxing.

2. Ira spoiling the goats.

3. Mexican for lunch. 

4. The barns are filling up. 

5. Love me some apples. Thank you, Jessie! 

Have a blessed evening. 

A Night to Remember

This morning my daughter sent me this picture. 

She took it 11 years ago today. The original plan was for me to take Becky out for dinner on our 37th anniversary. But her strength just wasn't there. So our daughter prepared dinner for us. She decorated our formal living room like a fancy European restaurant. Then she served us an exquisite Swiss meal, which included some delicious fondue. It was quite a celebration. We had been given the indescribably precious gift of time, and we were going to enjoy it to the max. Even now I'm breathless thinking about the beauty I saw in Becky's eyes that night. I knew I just needed to be grateful, to savor the moment, to revel in the fact that the monsters had stayed in their closets just for an evening while my wife and I settled in for a delectable feast. 

Seven weeks later she would be in heaven. 

I wish that evening could have lasted forever. Nothing this side of forever will ever be long enough. I'm desperately trying to find words to explain what that evening meant to me. Sitting here at my writing desk, the house quiet all around me, I remember how I felt when such a lavish meal was served by such loving, caring, thoughtful hands. And now, suddenly, that daughter is grown, with a husband and a newborn of her own. There's so much future for us to look forward to together. But I will never forget the night that God took a milestone and shot it through with his unmistakable love through the selfless act of someone Becky loved and who loved her to the end.  

Anyway, Happy Anniversary, honey. You loved us well. You will never be forgotten. 

The Value of Nostalgia

Oddly enough, I dreamt about Becky last night. I don't remember the details, but the thought of it is pleasant. I was reminded of one of my favorite songs from the 70s called "Time Passages." 

Its theme is how nostalgia sneaks up on you when you least expect it. It grabs you when it's dark and cold and you're all alone. There's a part of ourselves that continually travels back to the past and tries to justify itself by rationalizing that we have something valuable to learn from the past. Of course, the past is never quite the same when you revisit it. Not to mention the fact that you never want to spend your life looking into the rear view mirror. The truth is, the past never goes anywhere. It remains a part of the present. What we left behind is part of our self, who we once used to be. Hence the singer retreats into memory, fantasizing about what he left behind, what was not entirely realized. He remembers the girl he "once used to know." But try as he may, he can't grasp her. "You reach out your hand, but you're all alone." She's gone forever. "Buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight" is his way of saying that although he knows he has to return to his real life, he still wants to linger in his nostalgic past for a while. Finally, after the past has been revisited, he returns to reality, empowered by his new recollections. 

People who experience the loss of a spouse experience never-ending pain. They'd rather forget the past and the things associated with that event. Pain, however, has its useful side. It shows us that we still have the ability to feel. It's then that we remember why the pain is so great -- it demonstrates the supreme value and worth of what was lost. We realize that whatever the future holds for us, it will always include the pain (and joys) of the past with it. This backward look is the sign of a healthy soul. Nostalgia doesn't have to be morbid or fatalistic. It's not something to avoid but to embrace. It gives us an opportunity to take fresh inventory of our lives and determine new directions. It makes our tragedies look smaller and God's grace look bigger. So we must be willing to see the value in nostalgia and to receive it as a gift from God. 

When Becky died, I lost the world I loved, but God replaced it with another world that I also love. Her death then helped me to clarify my purpose in life now. My dream last night didn't give me an answer to the question of why her death occurred. It did not erase my grief or sorrow. But it did give me a measure of peace. The same God who was with me as a married man is with me as a single man. He was there to welcome Becky into heaven, and he is here to walk with me before he too calls me home.