Exactly 6 Months from Today

I'm getting nervous. And excited. 

Messy Success

You don't need to be perfect. Just consistent. Half a workout is better than none. Messy success is better than perfect failure. 

How I'd Train If I Started Over

When I first started training at the gym, I knew I was light years away from doing my first pull up. After a couple years of training, it seems to me that I should have approached the matter a bit differently. Instead of focusing on machine-assisted pull ups and lat pull downs, I should have been performing band-assisted pull ups from day one. I realize that this exercise can feel really awkward to somebody who's never done it before and some people might have to start out with really wide bands, but the exercise is worth learning and becoming proficient in. The problem with machine-assisted pull ups and lat pull downs is that these movements don't translate very well into doing actual pull ups. I think you'd be far better off incorporating some band-assisted pull ups from the get-go. If I was starting again I'm pretty sure that's what I would do. I wouldn't ignore the pull up or lat pull down machines. I would just focus on band-assisted exercises. 

Just a thought!

From today's workout:

If You're New to Lifting (15)

I want to go over a topic I get asked about a lot.

Why do you do what you do?

I ask "What is your why?" because it's actually the most important part of any goal. To make changes in your life you have to have something very powerful motivating you. I realized that early in my running career. I committed myself to running my very first marathon. What happened is that it changed my mindset completely. I started looking at my running differently. If you're going to succeed, you need to ask what your why is, because if it's not powerful enough you're probably not going to follow through with it. 

This means that before you get into the nuts and bolts of strength training, you need to get into the why. People usually lose their goals because of what's between their ears, not because the training is too hard or the diet is too rigorous. We can endure amazing things when we have a really good reason for doing what we're doing.

The "why" is the real answer and drive for everything in life. Not the what or the how. 

Philippians: Gospel Partnership (9)

As we have seen, the theme of the book of Philippians is "Gospel Partnership." I deduce this from 1:5, where Paul thanks God for the church's "partnership (or fellowship) in the gospel from the first day until now." The idea behind the Greek word for "partnership" or "fellowship" is "to share in." As believers, we share in the gospel in two primary ways. We share in the gospel in the sense that we all share its benefits and blessings. That's what Paul is referring to in verse 7 when he writes, "we are all sharers in God's grace." As believers, we mutually enjoy the salvation and forgiveness that comes through Christ. "We have shared together the blessings of God" is how the Living Bible puts it. This is indeed how the gospel first set foot in Philippi. Lydia, the slave girl, the jailor -- these all stepped into the grace of God. And before you knew it, there was a church in Philippi, meeting in Lydia's home. Salvation had brought them a new citizenship -- a heavenly, spiritual one (3:20) -- and with it a radical realignment of values and relationships. 

I've found that whenever I meet together with fellow believers, wherever they are, there is a tremendous oneness we enjoy because we are united in Christ. The three years Becky and I lived in Basel were years filled with the sweet fellowship that the Holy Spirit produced between strangers. From day one, our church family became the Baptistengemeinde Basel, where many close friendships were made. 

I've experienced the same oneness in villages in Ethiopia and in high rises in China. Such fellowship in the gospel is a blessing of salvation I never want to take for granted. 

But as believers in Christ, we also share in the gospel in the sense that we share joint ownership in the work of spreading the gospel to others. The ASV renders verse 5 as "your fellowship in the furtherance of the gospel." If we are recipients of grace through the gospel, we are also sharers of that grace to others. In other words, those who genuinely possess the gospel are eager to propagate it. Thus, while I enjoy wonderful fellowship with believers anywhere in the world, I also find that I enjoy a special relationship with those whom I feel I have a special partnership in the work of the gospel. I think this explains the closeness Paul felt with the Philippians (1:8). It also explains the closeness I feel with my faculty colleagues or my missions partners in such faraway places as Ukraine and Korea. What makes these relationships so special is not only that we are brothers and sister in Christ, but that we also work closely together in the gospel. 

Let me try to summarize what I think Paul is trying to say here. There are two main ideas in the expression "partnership in the gospel."

1. The gospel at work in the partners.

2. The partners at work for the gospel.

It's really just a matter of moving from fellowship to participation, from mere association to personal involvement. The Philippians exhibited this shift in many different ways. Lydia got actively behind the gospel by opening her home to the new believers. The jailor believed and was baptized, but he also washed the feet of Paul and Silas and then made them a meal. This is indeed "partnership in the gospel from the first day until now"! Gospel partners say, "This is my team. I will work with you for the gospel. Together we will keep the main thing the main thing, all because we share with one another God's amazing grace." As 1:9-11 shows, it's our genuine love for each other that adorns the gospel. A united church advances the gospel. On the other hand, a divided church hinders the gospel. A selfish, individualistic person is not a gospel partner! Thus to paraphrase 1:5:

"I'm so thankful to God not only for your fellowship as my brothers and sisters in Christ, but also for your sympathetic collaboration and generous contributions in spreading and advancing the Good News from the very first day you heard and believed it until now."

The work of the gospel, in short, is the secret of fellowship in the church. And it is all the work of God (1:6). We merely work out what he works in (see Phil. 2:12-13)! 

Using "morphology" to share the gospel with Persians studying linguistics at Yerevan University in Armenia. 

Building up fellow believers in Cluj, Romania (my mother's ancestral home). 

Teaching Greek to church leaders in China. 

Happy Born Day, Little One!

Philippians: Gospel Partnership (8)

In 1910 in Edinburgh, there was a global conference on missions. 95% of the participants came from the western world and only 5% from the rest. 

In 2010, a similar conference was held in Cape Town when 5,000 evangelical leaders came together from all across the globe. Only 35% of the participants were from the western world and 65% from the majority world. 

This is a reminder of how the evangelical church exploded all across the world in the last century. No longer can anyone say that Christianity is a western religion. In fact, the 5 countries with the largest number of evangelical Christians in the world are China, India, Nigeria, Brazil, and South Korea. In 1910, only 16 percent of the mission force came from the non-western world. By 1960, that had doubled to 35%. In 2025 that number is expected to double again to 70%. This well illustrates how paternalism in missions yielded to partnership. A true gospel partnership was birthed through mutual respect and cooperation. 

The answer to paternalism and dependence lies in true partnership where the daughter becomes a friend, and where founding agencies partner with national churches. Praise the Lord! 

Shared Leadership -- Essential!

One of the things we saw last week in Greek class, as we discussed the first two verses of Philippians, is that New Testament leadership was shared leadership. Paul does not to refer to a solitary "overseer" but instead to (plural) "overseers." The fact is, Jesus never entrusted leadership of a local church to a single individual. Thus it's not surprising that we find numerous references in the New Testament to what Michael Green once called a "fellowship of leadership" -- witness the "elders" of James 5:14 as well as the "elders" of Acts 14:23. A plurality of qualified elders serves many functions, not least to help a congregation avoid the cult of personality that often accompanies one lead pastor or the burnout that often attends the single pastorate. I once heard it said that pastors today have three full-time jobs -- teaching/preaching, counseling, and administration. No one person can do all of that well. 

I was reminded of this when I learned that the tower at Reagan National Airport (which I've flown into numerous times) was short-staffed on the night of the fatal collision of an American Eagle airliner and a military helicopter. 

Hopefully the FAA will address this issue and make needed changes, sooner rather than later. My heart goes out to the controller as he or she was one person working two positions in arguably one of the most if not THE most intense, congested, and restricted airspaces in the United States. It's intense because of its proximity to the nation's capital, the Pentagon, and other very sensitive areas. Just why airport towers are understaffed is certainly open to political debate, but to me there's really no excuse for it. I think everyone in the aviation industry now realizes in hindsight that what happened at Reagan was an accident waiting to happen, and my guess is that runway 33 will be closed until things are figured out -- or that military aircraft will no longer be allowed to fly their normal route past the airport. If not, I would hope that airline pilots would refuse to accept an approach where any aircraft is flying right beneath them with a vertical clearance of only 200 feet. That's just plain absurd. 

Are You Are a Procrastinator?

Procrastination is often perfectionism in disguise. Perfectionism (keeping those blog posts, videos, photos, etc. in draft form) helps no one. You need to take your potential seriously. 

Lambing Season Has Arrived on the Farm!

This adorable little guy was born this week. 

Best guess is that all of the other ewes are pregnant too. Mama and baby have bonded well. I'm so thankful for new life -- and for the warmer weather! 

De-Waxing My Surfboard

My job du jour? Prepping to strip the old wax off of my surfboard so that it's ready for a new season of wave riding. The old wax is pretty dirty and stained from use. On our next really warm day I'll leave it out in the sun and let the wax melt and then scrape it off with an old gift card. 

This board has "migrated" through the years:

5 years in Hawaii.

27 years in Southern California.

27 years on the East Coast. 

By the way, I'm planning on taking this board with me this summer when I return to Oahu. Renting a board just doesn't cut it. It will be fun to use this board again on the South Shore! 

We Value What We Notice

Hello again everyone! I can hardly believe we're already a month into my 2025 training block. It's also hard to fathom just how beautiful the weather is.

Yes, the sun is out -- and it's warm!

I spent the morning at the gym chasing down my biggest, hugest, most ginormous goal for the new year -- climbing the you-know-what. This will involve intensive training, eating a healthy diet, and attitude adjustments and balance. For every setback it seems there are ten blessings and joys. If you want positivity in your life, you don't have to look very far. It's around us all the time -- the goodness, the wonder, the abundance of living. It's all about perspective. Making the most of it all. That's the attitude I tried to have during today's workout. It was pure enjoyment! 

Not that anyone is interested, but I've posted a couple of vids of my workout below. Friend, you value what you notice. I try to notice the little things every day. Even if I don't make it to the top of the Riffelhorn, it'll be a good lesson in humility for me! 

Have a great rest of your day! 

The Boys Are Back in Town

Loving Me Some Philippians (Philippenses Amo)

Next Monday's class will cover Phil. 1:3-11. It's going to be SO MUCH FUN. As you can see, I've got tons to say about this passage. 

I've also been studying it in Latin. Care to hear a snippet? Pardon my "Etruscan" pronunciation haha! 

Have a great day! 

Too Good to Be True

Thank you, Bo's! 

Attempted: New Pull Up Record

My goal today was to do 6 narrow grip pulls in a row. I was only able to do 5. 

Pull ups are insanely hard. The more body fat you have, the harder they are.

I'll try again next week. I'm so close! 😉

Stunning Altocumulus Cloud Pattern

Shot this a couple of hours ago. Wow.

The heavens just doin' their thing -- displaying the glory of God!

What Lifting Asks of Us

Here I am at the end of today's workout. Yes, I'm happy. 

All around me were people lifting a lot heavier than I was. Not that it matters. Being a lifter means doing my best. Having done that, I -- and those around me doing the same -- can go through a workout with pride, not embarrassment. 

Lifting asks what it has always asked -- no more and less -- simply everything over which we have control. 

Pulpits Are Not Substitutes for the Scriptures

Evangelical pulpits are not substitutes for the Sacred Scriptures. Not long ago I visited a church where the Bible stayed closed in people's laps during the sermon. But keeping the Scriptures open -- keeping them supreme -- is the only way to keep reforming the church.

The Bible is God himself speaking to us, not only in Hebrew and Greek, but in our own language. What have we done with such a great privilege? 

No Turning Back Now

Climbing a big mountain is like being in the Olympics. Months or even years of training have to be transformed into results in only a couple of days. I've been having a ball prepping for the challenge. I'm on my way to the summit of a really challenging peak. I'll do what it takes to get there, including today's run at the Tobacco Heritage Trail in LaCrosse, VA. 

I had to have my car serviced in nearby South Hill, so what better way to spend an hour and a half of free time than in running? 

No turning back now.

To the summit and a safe return.

I'm on a train with no intention of getting off.

I will not focus on the risks.

I will trust my guide to turn me around if he thinks it's necessary.

I'm heading into the unknown. 

How will I perform?

I'm going for the top of the Riffelhorn, putting my feet on terrain I've studied meticulously in photographs to glean its secret paths.

I am proud to be trying.

I am proud to be Dave Black.

I am proud I have the courage.

Nice Day for Some D

Yes, it's January.

Yes, I'm sunbathing.

Yes, I'm from Hawaii.

Yes, I'm a beach bum at heart.

Thank you. 

Back Day at the Gym (+ Life Lessons Learned)

My workouts these days reflect my dream of summiting the Riffelhorn this summer. 

Today was no exception. I really want to work on my back at the moment and so I did 4 really great pull exercises to strengthen my lats. These include:

1) Wide grip pull ups.

2) Narrow grip pull ups.

3) Lat pull downs.

4) Rows. 

I've got 6 months to prepare for the climb. I think I might have a 50-50 chance of achieving my goal -- maybe a little higher than that, but not much. At this stage of life it's been impossible for me to predict the outcome of any really challenging goal be it a marathon or a mountain. One of the greatest gifts I've received from marathoning has also been one of the most difficult truths to accept: I've had to learn that I'm human. My body is not unique or special. I am susceptible to all the trials and tribulations that we all have to face as we age. I cannot hide from them. I cannot escape them. I have to face them head on. I believe we can all find the right way forward if were willing to take the risk of moving off the spot we're on. 

I came to this life as an athlete not because I wanted to but because I didn't know how else to cope with losing my wife. One of the ways God used to get me moving forward again was with my own two feet. Being an athlete doesn't mean you're athletic. (I'm certainly not.) Being an athlete simply means that you are committed to facing the world around you with the courage of an athlete. If you choose to live this way, then I think you'll find, as I have, that you have more strength of will and body than you ever dreamed possible. 

Today, 11 years after Becky's homegoing, I am much stronger than I ever thought possible. Not stronger so much in a physical sense as in the sense that I feel more capable, with Christ's help, of facing the challenges that life throws at me. I'm learning to face the challenge of aging in the same way I face the challenges of running or mountaineering -- with faith in God and with the strength he gives to those who rely upon him. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Glad to Be Back on Campus

Let the semester begin! 

When Progress Is SLOOOOOOW

Whoever said patience is a virtue must have been a gym rat before starting to spew out quotes. 

It's 190 days exactly before I hope to stand atop the Riffelhorn in Switzerland. 

Sometimes my progress feels so SLOW. 

Like today. 

Progress seems to be measured not in inches or even centimeters but in millimeters. 

Still, I can't stop.

Progress is progress. 

Slow progress is better than no progress at all. 

Roger Miller said it well: "It took me 20 years to become an overnight success." 

Growth takes belief. 

You can't have one without the other. 

Stopping equates to zero. 

This is literally infinitely less than the smallest progress. 

So focus on the goal, every day.

Keep on improving, every day. 

Even when you're moving at a snail's pace. 

Outdoors Again!!!

This day has started out beautifully! I didn't ask a lot for Christmas, so I decided to ask the Lord if I could have just ONE day of sunshine so that I could get in a run. And he granted it. As I was driving to Farmville I was hoping against hope that the High Bridge Trail would be runnable but -- alas -- it had the runnability of an ice-skating rink. Hmm, wonder if the local high school has a track that's open to the public? Et voila! 

I got in a lovely run for just over 5 miles before stopping for lunch. 

Glad to see I got my steps in. 

Felt REALLY good to run again.

Earlier I had gone to the gym for a brief workout. 

I thought I had a shot for 4 close-grip pull ups in a row. Et voila! 

(Like my French?) The bad news is that I'm not even close to getting in 4 straight wide-grip pull ups with proper form. They are much harder! 

Are you anything like me? I always want more. I am never quite satisfied. That makes me annoying but it also makes me driven. It's just who I am. Yeah, I know -- there's a happy balance between acceptance and pushing yourself. But I'm still trying to find it. This is something I'm definitely working on. 

Oh well, enough wah, wah, wah. It was a GREAT morning to be running and lifting in Southside Virginia today. Simply said, it's tough not being outdoors on a day like this! 

Have a great weekend wherever you are! 

The 2MAD Eating Plan

If you're looking for a good way to lose body fat, the two meal a day (2MAD) eating plan may be for you. You choose any two meals of the day. This could be either lunch and dinner or breakfast and lunch. The approach I use is breakfast and "drunch" (dinner + lunch). The two meals are fairly far apart. This means a roughly 18 hour window of fasting every night. I have a small breakfast during my Bible time before heading to the gym. For drunch I'll have a large meal with plenty of satiating protein. I find this is not just great for weight loss and maintaining where I want to be, but it gives my digestive system a break and helps me feel generally more comfortable in everyday life. It's great for keeping your insulin in check and for dipping into a little ketosis to help your body with cellular cleanup. I eat breakfast at roughly 8:00 am and drunch at about 1:30 or 2:00 with usually a protein drink in between. That averages to about 2,000 calories per day, which is about a 800-1,000 calorie deficit below my maintenance calories. I find that when I eat just 2 meals a day with no snacking in between I have no trouble maintaining muscle mass. 

In short, the 2MAD diet is a wonderful way to control calories and burn body fat. You burn calories in a short amount of time without having to starve yourself and without having to lose a bunch of strength. For anyone who needs a quick jump start on their fat loss then this might be for you. Or if you're already lean but you want to get to that next level of leanness pretty quickly without having to do anything crazy, this is also for you. You're going to consume food within a 6-8 hour window while indulging in the foods you enjoy. My drunch meal leaves me fully satisfied for the next several hours before I go to bed, when autophagy kicks in until about 8:00 am the next day. The caloric restriction that results from eating fewer meals I have found to be very, very easy. But whatever diet you choose, make it an approach to training and nutrition that's as easy as possible to stick with and that promotes overall health and wellbeing. 

Have a great weekend! 

Coffee and Me

One thing most books on Bible study miss is the concept of coffee. Never underestimate the effects of a good cup of brew on your reading of Scripture. 

Philippians: Gospel Partnership (7)

Many people consider joy to be the theme of Philippians. 

I would argue that at best joy is a subtheme of the letter, which is all about "gospel partnership." Take just chapter 1 as an example:

1:4-5: Here Paul rejoices specifically because the Philippians had become partners with him in gospel ministry. "I rejoice because of your participation in the gospel."

1:16. Paul rejoices because "Christ is being proclaimed."

1:18: Paul continues to rejoice because he knows that through their prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit this would turn out for his deliverance from prison. This would give him further opportunities to preach Christ.

Joy is never the goal.

Joy is always a byproduct.

Joy is the byproduct of living to spread the saving message of the gospel. 

"Make the Bible Your Hobby!"

I love this! 

He is so right! 

For what it's worth, here's a video clip of my Greek New Testament as of 8:00 this morning. 

As you can see, it's in a major state of disrepair. I've already had it rebound three times. I need to do it again but I can't find anyone local who I can trust to do it for me and I just can't bring myself to put it in the mail and risk getting it lost. I've had this Bible for decades. I literally couldn't stand to part with it. In case you've never noticed, I heavily mark it. This includes the personal reflections of my mind and heart. One day the book will be passed on to my children. I hope they'll enjoy reading my notes and seeing my chicken scratch on its pages. I can see them laughing or wondering at things I've written. I hope they will find it a priceless treasure, a family heirloom. In its pages they will always be able to find their father or grandfather as they travel along the same path of life that so delighted me. 

(I realize some people can't bring themselves to write in their Bible. They feel like they're putting graffiti on the Mona Lisa or Michelangelo's statue of David. Believe me, I get that view and respect it!)

Anyways, a shout out to John Miles for the video. If you've never visited his Youtube channel, you might want to give it the once over. Lots of good, edifying stuff there.

Philippians: Gospel Partnership (6)

"Every heart without Christ is a mission field. Every heart with Christ is a missionary." -- Vijay Menon. 

As you know, I've been privileged to visit believers in many nations, including China, Ethiopia, Korea, and Ukraine. I went to serve them, but not as a missionary to non-missionaries. Rather, I viewed the believers in those countries as equal mission partners beside whom I had the honor of ministering.

The book of Philippians suggests that it may be a mistake to continue to refer to only certain people as "missionaries," because we are all to be on mission for Christ as we hold forth the life-giving word (Phil. 2:16). I love it how some churches refer to their missionaries as "mission partners" and their mission pastor as "pastor of missional living," for the responsibility of making disciples among the nations belongs to all of us. 

It's simply a part of becoming Christlike. 

Thanks for reading! 

A Healthy Body Is Helpful in the Service of God

In 1 Tim. 5:23, Paul tells Timothy to "drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often" (Living Bible). 

To many of us today, the exhortation would be most appropriate. 

In essence, Paul is telling Timothy to take care of his body. 

And to use all due means of doing so. 

God can and does use us when we're ill. 

But a healthy body is helpful in the service of God. 

Why We Study Greek (Simple Answer)

We learn it to live it. 

Have a great day! 

If You're New to Lifting (14)

Think of your workouts like you're turning on a light with a dimmer switch. I've got these throughout my house. 

As you do your warm ups, you turn on the light. But the dimmer switch is down low because it's only a warm up. At this point, you're not using all of your muscles. Here's one of the warm up exercises I did this morning. 

Now, as you get into your working sets and those really challenging reps especially toward the end of a set, you're turning that dimmer switch up. This is when you're getting the greatest stimulus. Your body has now activated all the high threshold motor units to lift the weight. Once you've done this, any further work isn't going to turn the light on anymore because you've already maxed it out. 

Hope this analogy helps! You probably knew it already intuitively, but I just thought I'd mention it! 

Keep Pushing the Boundaries

If your performance in the gym has plateaued, you can be pretty much certain that something in your program is off and that your muscle gains will have plateaued along with it. 

Just stop moving the weight from point A to point B. 

Contract your muscles through every bit of every rep if focused hypertrophy is your goal. 

Keep pushing the boundaries. 

Keep grinding. 

49 Years!

Hey friend! This will be my 49th year of teaching. Wow. It feels like a long time but it also feels like it flew by. It makes you want to double down and teach your heart out this semester. Time is ticking away -- but in a good way!

To celebrate God's goodness, I'm giving away my defense of the historicity, reliability, apostolicity, and trustworthiness of the Gospels.

To enter just send me an email at dblack@sebts.edu along with your mailing address. I'll draw a winner tomorrow night.

Have a wonderful rest of your week! 

Three! Yes, THREE!!

Form could be better, but I'll take it. 😃

Make THIS the Year

Regardless of how 2024 went, let's make the most of 2025. 

Take the risk.

Embrace the challenge.

Find your path. 

This could be the year of your biggest transformation as a person yet. 

Learning to THINK in Greek

This semester in Greek class we're going through my little book Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek. One of the things we talk about there is the fact that to be a linguist you do not necessarily have to be a polyglot, or a person who can speak several languages. That's a good thing, especially for us 'Muricans. As the old saying puts it:

Someone who speaks three languages is called trilingual.

Someone who speaks two languages is called bilingual.

Someone who speaks only their own language is called an American.

That said, I think it can help us in doing New Testament exegesis if we can speak two or more languages. You see, the goal of all my teaching is to help my students acquire the ability -- to a degree-- to think in Greek and not just translate it. When I speak German, I don't translate it from the English. I don't translate at all. The goal of all language study, as far as I'm concerned, is to reach a point where words mean what they mean, and not merely the equivalent of your native language. This isn't impossible. On the contrary. If you put in enough time and effort, you'll get there eventually. 

This is how German and English work with me. Both languages mash up in my head and become one. So I don't think, "This is x in German and y in English." People don't really think in language, though all monolingual people think they do. All of us think in a kind of meta-language that is independent of the language we are using at any given time to communicate. Of course, when you're thinking about communicating, then you do think in the language you're intending to communicate in. But the rest of the time, you don't. Either way, I rarely translate when it comes to speaking German or Hawaiian Pidgin. But I do need to do that whenever I'm trying to speak, say, Spanish.

I see this as a door analogy. I have mainly an "English door," so when I'm trying to speak Spanish everything goes through that door because my mind doesn't know any better. Now I imagine I have a new "Spanish door," and I try to let the Spanish just kind of flow in. 

Greek has its own door, as does German and a few other languages. I just know the right words to say. 

I'd like to get my students to the point where Greek just comes naturally. That would be really cool. But it will take quite a long time to get there. 

Philippians: Gospel Partnership (5)

If you're like me, you're probably very familiar with the book of Philippians. That's why I think it's a good idea to read things that we're familiar with as though we were reading them for the very first time. I'll tell you, that's one of the keys to my own personal Bible study. Every single time I go to a passage of Scripture I go to it as if for the first time. I don't go back to previous notes I've taken or to the commentaries or to the English Bible translations. Eventually I do all that, but I don't start there. When you read the Bible this way, I think you'll see things you've never seen before. You'll struggle over your own personal translation of the passage you're studying as never before, especially with terms that seem unclear or ambiguous. 

For example, in Phil. 1:1, Paul refers to "overseers and deacons." Are these descriptors, or are they titles -- or both? How you decide that question will determine how you translate those words. In other words, are these administrative offices in the church or simply a reference to people who are called upon to perform specific functions in the church? One thing is clear: Paul refers to these people in a way that distinguishes them from the congregation as a whole. Not only that, he addresses the entire congregation first before even mentioning these overseers and deacons. Hence the Living Bible's translation here will hardly do:

From: Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus Christ.

To: The pastors and deacons and all the Christians in the city of Philippi.

This is precisely what Paul does not say! Let me add that, in the Greek, both terms lack the definite article, which normally indicates that the writer is emphasizing qualities and characteristics rather than particular identity. Finally, let's recall that as early as Acts 6:1 and Acts 14:23, the duties of these people were fairly well defined in the early church. This implies that Paul considered these persons to be distinguishable from the congregation by some kind of official status. Apparently some in the church had been called by God to (in some sense) administer and overseer affairs in the church and others to take care of the poor and the sick in the church. All of this leads me to render Phil. 1:1 as follows. See if you like it.

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves owned by Christ Jesus. We are writing to all God's people in union with Christ Jesus in the city of Philippi, including those who supervise the spiritual needs of the church as overseers and those who serve the material needs of the church as deacons.

At the very least we can conclude that Paul is reminding the Philippians that church leadership is not an imposition on the congregation but an extension of it! 

Have a wonderful rest of your day! 

It's Your Body

I usually do a wide grip pull up. But some days, like today, I did a close grip pull up. 

What you do is totally up to you.

It's your choice.

It's your body.

It's your life. 

The Theme of Philippians in Four Words

"Partnership in the Gospel" (1:5). 

Yep, it's that simple. 

Diet Is Important

It was great to see the gym flooded with new people today. 

If you're one of those people, please remember that your diet is responsible for 70-80 percent of your results. 

Learning to Swim

When Biola opened its pool in 1976, I was hired as a swimming instructor. 

White-knuckled kids gripped the pool's edge or thrashed the water trying to stay afloat. "Don't fight the water," I would tell them. "Just trust it to hold you up." Gradually students learned not only that they could trust the water to support them, but that they could swim the whole length of the pool.

I find that the hardest part of life is simply letting go and trusting God to be there to support those who are agonizing over their insecurities. Friend, if that is you, just for today, trust God for the "impossible" in your life. He wants to guide and help us, but there are some things we may need to let go of first.

One Week

My Philippians class begins in one week. Welcome, students. Every day of the semester will be one day closer to becoming the Christian you want to be. I don't care who you are or what you've done. I only care where you're going. So put your head down and get to work. 

Leg Day

Get Better. Be Better

As you know, last week I was able to finally do two full range of motion pull ups at the gym. The pull up is the best exercise for men's health by far. The pull up really shows how strong and fit you are. I'm 72. The pull up is my objective. I won't stop until I make it times 5 at the very least. 

The only way to get better at pull ups is by doing them. Whatever you do, you get better at. That's true of life in general. Growth requires work. It also requires a choice. I have zero idea of what you want to do or where you want to go in life. You'll never find the answer by sitting around doing nothing. Cut out the distractions and focus on being your best self. It's there you'll find the answers. You'll excel yourself years forward too.

The REAL Reason You're Not Exercising

You need a new playlist. 

Running Is Boring

And I love it! It's so chilling to just slowly jog for a very long time. It's one of the best ways to clear headspace in my life. Long walks are fine too. 

Just sayin'. 😀

Lovely Evening on the Farm

For the next three days the highs will be below freezing, but this evening we're enjoying 44 degrees and a pond that's no longer frozen. 

Sheep are happy. I am happy. Life is good. 

Don't Forget Application

Failing to apply the Scriptures when we preach is like cooking a delicious meal but never actually sitting down and enjoying it yourself. Application is the crowning task of our work in the text. It's the diamond in the ring of truth. Please don't forget that. 

"Normal" Eating

Eat fast food every day and people think you're normal.

Eat clean and people think you're a health fanatic.

Eating real food isn't dieting. It's eating normally. 

Be Grateful

If you woke up this morning, got out of bed under your own power, have a roof over your head and food on your table, your life is pretty amazing.

Be grateful. 

Lat Day at the Y

Today I briefly worked my lats at the gym. 

The lat is a big muscle that climbers love to use. They are best worked with either the lat pulldown or the pull up.  

As I said, lats are big muscles that you use almost every time you go climbing, so they should be well trained, especially if you plan on climbing very steep terrain like the Riffelhorn. 

They also play a role in stabilizing your entire spine. Little wonder they are the largest muscles in the upper body! 

Have a fantastic day! 

2026

Eleven and a half months until 2026. Make good use of them. 

Stupid Ideas

"Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them." George Orwell. 

Prioritizing God's Word

A gentle reminder that no Sunday sermon, no matter how good, can even begin to compare with the personal study of God's word. Every pastor worth their salt will encourage you to feast and be satisfied at the table of Scripture. 

Discipline

If you're a Christian, remember that discipline is a fruit of the Spirit. The more disciplined you are, the easier your life will be. The less disciplined you are, the harder. It will take discipline to get yourself to the gym three days a week. It will take discipline to eat foods that are as nutritious as possible. It will also take a lot of discipline to take time off to give your body sufficient time to recover and grow. But when you do these things, your body will begin to change. You'll begin to look and feel, not just good, but great. It's not some miracle supplement that did this. You did it through discipline.

Loving Me Some Idioms

All languages use idioms for communication. My favorite idioms in English include:

Bite the dust.

A drop in the bucket.

The root of the matter.

Killing time.

Kick the bucket.

Throw in the towel.

Eat your heart out.

German too has some classic idioms:

You can put your poison on it (= You can bet your life on it).

Hit two flies with one swat (= Kill two birds with one stone).

Demand an extra sausage (= Demand special treatment).

I only understand train station (= It's all Greek to me!).

Have a pig (= Be lucky).

If you ever move to Hawaii, prepare to be met with a number of words and phrases that won't make any sense to you at first:

Talk story (= Catch up with friends).

Slippahs (= Flip flops).

Shishi (= Go pee).

Grinds (= Food).

Pupus (= Appetizers).

When you study Greek, learning Greek idioms is a fun and effective way to boost your language fluency. While some Greek idioms sound similar to their English equivalents, others are entirely different. My favorite Greek idioms are:

Speak mouth to mouth (= Speak face to face.)

Have in the womb (= Be pregnant).

Their eyes were weighed down (= They became very sleepy).

What to you and me? (= That's your business, not mine).

Eat your own bread (= Work for a living).

Kick against the goads (= Hurt oneself by active resistance).

Have it badly (= Be sick).

By the way, some of these idioms occur so often in the Septuagint that they might be considered Septuagintalisms. 

Just thought I'd share that you! 

Exercise = Movement

One of the exercises I did at the gym today was the band assisted pull up. 

When looking at my list of exercises I don't see them as mere exercises but as movements. You want to think of your exercise routine as a series of mobility steps designed to build a strong and fit body as you grow older. Get better in these movements and watch yourself get better as a result. 

Hope your "movements" are going well!

Setting Up Your Exercise "Team"

If you're new to exercise, you need all the support and encouragement you can get. Be sure to set up your "team" that will be there for you when you need them. My team is mostly my family (including my very athletic son-in-law Tino) and those who surround me at the gym. 

Tell them what your intentions are and what you need support in. Just be honest with them. A lot of them want to support you and the goals you've set for yourself.  

Don't go through the journey by yourself. 

Have a blessed day! 

Zermatt Calleth

August can't get here fast enough! 

Reviews of WHY FOUR GOSPELS?

This is a very kind review of my book Why Four Gospels? For a less positive assessment, go here. My thanks to both of these fine scholars for taking the time to review my book. I feel honored! 

Curiosities about the Battle of Antietam

Here are four:

1. The battle is known both as the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Sharpsburg. The North named most of their battles after natural features (Antietam Creek, Bull Run), while the South tended to name battles after the nearest city or town (Sharpsburg, Manassas).

2. Lee's retreat after the battle took place at a nearby ford over the Potomac. At the time this ford was known as Pack Horse Ford, Blackford's Ford, Boteler's Ford, and Shepherdstown Ford. All are names for essentially the same ford on the Potomac River.

3. Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Some 50,000 men fell killed or wounded or were captured at Gettysburg during Lee's second invasion of the North in early July of 1863, but over 3 days, not one. Some 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or captured in Antietam in a single day of battle, thus making it the bloodiest day in American history. 

4. The Battle of Antietam was possibly the most important battle of the Civil War. Lee's retirement back into Virginia allowed President Abraham Lincoln to use the Union's strategic victory to issue his Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves held in rebellious states to be free as of Jan. 1, 1863. If there was any real chance that Great Britain or France would intervene on the side of the Confederacy, the Emancipation Proclamation ended that hope. England and France, which had already banned slavery, could no longer take up the Confederate cause.