Oh to Be a Man Like This Man

Once upon a time, there was a man who loved the word of God. He opted to attend seminary. After that he pursued studies on the European Continent. Eventually he would write a well-known Greek grammar. But his interests were much wider than Greek. He became a champion of the faith. When scholars attacked the Bible, he defended it as the word of God. In essence his message was, "Liberalism is not Christianity. You have to choose between Liberalism and true Christianity." 

The man I'm referring to is, course, J. Gresham Machen. 

He defended the Bible in the early 1900s. But the devil still assaults us today along the same lines. He would have us doubt the word of God. Even evangelical Bible commentaries that raise questions as to the accuracy of what Jesus really said aid and abet Satan in his work. 

It takes no talent scout to locate God's man. His heart is perfect toward God. This doesn't mean sinless perfection but it does mean a heart set on pleasing God. There has never been an oversupply of such candidates. God, however, is out to demonstrate himself through dedicated men like Machen. 

A "halfway" inerrantist works both sides of the street. He is an inerrantist because it gives him a paycheck, but he has no intention of defending the perfect, inerrant word of God. Yet our Lord said that he would rather a man be utterly without profession to be a Christian than to be a mediocre, lukewarm "moderate." His death and resurrection are not merely facts of history. They demand of us our very lives. 

He died and rose that he might be Lord. 

Stop Running Away from Your Responsibilities

So you're in your 30s or 40s and you think you're "over the hill"? If you feel like you're declining, it's not your age. It's your mindset. It's just another excuse to stay on the couch. Stop running away from your responsibilities. Staying healthy is a responsibility for you and your children. 

73 years. Can't stop. Won't stop. 

Have You Ever Considered Time-Restricted Feeding?

Here's an idea. You might want to try an eating window between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. That's what I do. And it allowed me to lose 40 pounds in 10 months. That's a pound per week. It's a 6-hour eating window. 

The technical term for this is time-restricted feeding. Eating 2-3 meals during this restricted time frame will lower your insulin, which is your fat-storing hormone. This does two things: it creates more fat burning, and it helps you to sleep at night, which is important for fat loss. 

Again, you'll eat all of your meals between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. You might eat your first meal at 8:00 am, your second meal at 11:30 am, and then your third meal at 2:00 pm. Or you can do what I do -- eat only two meals, the first between 7:30-8:00 am, and the second between 1:00 - 2:00 pm. This ensures that your body burns through its sugar reserves, which in turn tells your body to burn belly fat. It activates a cellular cleanup process called autophagy, and you increase an important fat-burning hormone called human growth hormone. 

Think of your body fat as freezers in your basement. Then think of your sugar reserves or glycogen stores as the refrigerators in your kitchen. In order to tap into your fat stores (the freezers in your basement), you need to deplete the refrigerator, your sugar reserves. Once you do this, your body needs to get energy from somewhere. And as you do this, you get rid of all the groceries in your refrigerator. Then you get access to your fat stores -- all those freezers down in your basement. In short: You have to deplete the refrigerator before you move onto the freezer. 

Hope this makes sense! 

P.S. My big meal of the day -- homemade tikka masala with rice. Nummy! 

Why We Need to Rest Between Sets

Hey folks. While boring you with some pics from today's workout, let me share with you something I've learned from a couple of years of weight training. In a word:

Have rest periods.

When you lift weights, you don't want it to become cardio. Strength training is very specific. It's the rest periods that make weight training what it is. 

The rest periods are what make strength training produce the results people want, which is strength, muscle, body sculpting, and then all the other side effects that come from that like a higher metabolism. If you don't rest between sets, it becomes cardio training. 

So why the rest period? It's not because you need the rest. You can just keep the workout going. I know that. The reason for resting is so that you can focus on muscle and strength gains. When you go beyond that, you're working on something called endurance. Endurance training is fine if that's what you want. 

If you're wanting to build strength, then don't rest. With strength training, the reason you take a rest is to replenish your muscle energy so as to train what's called the anaerobic energy pathways. When you do this, the result is muscle growth. That's why you need to take a break between sets. 

It has nothing to do with whether or not you feel tired. In other words, a difficult workout is not necessarily a more effective workout. People often assume that if it's harder then its automatically better. That's not true at all. For me, 3 minutes of rest between sets produces the best results. Sometimes I have to take a 5-minute rest. You're actually better off doing fewer exercises and taking rest periods than pushing through and doing your sets back to back.  

Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope this helps! 

Putting an End to Inertia

I don't like it when people minimize their gifts and potential. False humility does no one any favors. What can you improve at? Maybe you need to invest more in it. That mind and heart and set of hands and grouping of muscles you have are God's gifts to you, so use them. Let us be proud of you. Let us be inspired by your exmaple. But it won't just fall into your lap. 

When you make a decision to do something, your first priority should be to simply get in motion. Even a single step in the right direction can put an end to your inertia. 

Daily Bible Time

The time you spend in God's word today will be directly responsible for much of your walk with the Lord many years from now. 

Dream On!!

This is the moment! Time to hold each other accountable for our goals in 2026. The New Year is a fresh start. We can create fresh ideas, fresh goals, and fresh dreams for our fitness and for our life endeavors all at the same time. I love New Years day. It's a symbolic turning of the page. We look back and reflect. Then we look forward and dream of higher mountains, greener pastures, longer races, whatever you prefer. I have already set my goals for 2026. They should keep me highly motivated to train well. 

Be not afraid, ladies and gentlemen, to fail. Lean into your God-given goals. It's time to strive for them. Onward, my friends, onward! 

The FEES Method of Fitness

What method of fitness do you use? For what it's worth, I use something I call FEES:

Fast: I practice intermittent fasting every day. My first meal is a smallish breakfast at around 8:00, and a second (big) meal at around 2:00. I fast in between. 

Eat: Better nutrition with a slight calorie deficit. No liquid calories!

Exercise: 3 hard workouts per week plus an average of 12K steps every day.

Sleep: I'm in bed no later than 9:00 and sleep soundly between 9-11 hours per night.

Forming good habits and consistency are your greatest allies! 

2026 Can Change Your Life

There are people out there with half the talent you have who are making triple the progress. Rather than sugar coating their fear of taking a risk, they said enough is enough. A commitment in 2026 can change your entire life. I've been where you are. I know how hard it is to keep strict standards in all things. But it can be done. 

How you do anything in life is how you do everything. 

The End of Another Year

The end of another year brings tender thoughts. It's been another year of God's faithfulness. Then too, there is the sobering thought that time is running out for some of us. Here I am at the age of 10. 

I'm the shirtless kid. These were my best buds growing up, including my older brother (the tall guy) and my cousin Pila (Bill) second from left who died that year while surfing at Waikiki. At the outset of life, God puts only so much coinage into our hands. Just as we have to spend our money all the more wisely when we have less of it, so we need to wisely invest what remains of our days. Little wonder the Psalmist asked the Lord not to forsake him when he grew old and gray-haired (Psalm 71:18). 

There is a new year to be greeted with faith and hope. A new chapter of the tale begins on Jan. 1. It is but the prelude to an endless eternity with the Lover of our souls. 

Steps You Never Expected

I'm kinda surprised at the number of steps I got in today. 

I actually didn't plan on running that far. But the day was way too beautiful not to keep on going. I never wanted to stop. 

So folks, watch out. A sunny day in December might coax you into getting a bunch of miles you never saw coming. 

Don't Be Afraid to Start Anew

Don't be afraid to make new resolutions in the new year. Even if you're starting again at something. We've all been in that position. I dropped out of Greek after only 3 weeks. Two years later I was hired to teach Greek at Biola. Beginners tend to think that progress is linear. But life is actually full of fluctuations. It's a roller coaster of a journey. Restarting is just another way of staying in the game. 

Let go of the past. I know you're probably sick of me saying that. But I would love you guys joining me in 2026 on your own fitness journey. So what if you've lost momentum. You can get it back. You can carry forward strength, habits, and expertise. 

I know this sounds cliché, but it's true. 

My New Goal: The Muscle Up

Just about everyone agrees that the muscle up is one of the best bodyweight exercises you can do if you want to build upper body strength and mass. 

Which is exactly what I want to do in view of my next climb. This exercise is a combination of a pull up and a body weight dip. Most experts say you need to be able to do 10 pull ups before even trying it. I am a LONG ways from doing that. But it's a goal worth shooting for in 2026.

The bigger picture, of course, is less about lifting and more about the personal quest -- the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual components that factor into meeting a goal you think is impossible. The lesson is that none of us achieves goals effortlessly. Most of us have to work hard for what we have. Plus, most of us have "failed" many times before reaching our goals. Take that marriage you admire so much. Although they look so happy on the surface, it's almost guaranteed that they had to go through times that almost destroyed their marriage before they became truly one and happy. Most things in life do not come easy. That's what makes the victory so amazing. 

God bless you, my friend. 

From today's workout: 

God's Indescribable Gift of Jesus

The grandkiddos singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. 

Love it!

A Very Merry Christmas!

No, I am not blogging again on Christmas Day. What do you think I am? Obsessed or something? It's just a figment of your imagination. Besides, what are YOU doing reading blogs on this special day??? 

I did want to wish all of you a very Jolly Christmas again. This past year has been amazing. But the greatest blessing of all is God's indescribable gift to us, our Lord Jesus Christ. On bright and cloudy days, he makes life bearable and even fun. 

Speaking of clouds, today started out rainy, but as soon at the weather began to clear and the temps began to rise, I knew I just had to get in a few miles. So weird because I NEVER run on the High Bridge. (sarcasm.) 

At any rate, Merry Christmas friends! 

Notes on Inerrancy (10)

In the book Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy, one of the authors cites the story of Jesus healing the blind man near Jericho as an example of "the futility of some efforts at harmonization ...." (p. 148).  

The passage contains what in his opinion are two irreconcilable contradictions:

1. Luke represents the healing occuring while Jesus is entering Jericho, while Matthew and Mark have Jesus leaving Jericho.

2. Luke and Matthew report only one blind man, while Mark reports two.

"You cannot resolve these differences," we are confidently told, "so it is futile to wait for a day when some bright spark might find a way to resolve the differences, but my point is that we do not need to" (p. 148). Later he adds, "...ancient historians were storytellers, not modern journalists, so naturally they were given to creativity in their narratives and filled in the gaps on details when necessary" (p. 168).

So are the supposed contradictions in the story of the healing of the blind man near Jericho irreconcilable? The opposite is true. In fact, the possible harmonies are so numerous I won't even take the trouble to link to them. (Google it if you don't believe me.) In the same volume, Al Mohler writes, "Once an interpreter of Scripture begins to use human standards of moral judgement to evaluate the truth status and authority of the Bible, in whole or in part, the authority of the Bible is immediately denied. The real standard of judgment is now to be human moral reason and sensitivity. A commitment to biblical inerrancy requires a commitment to the responsible interpretation of Scripture and to the development of a mature biblical theology. The abandonment of inerrancy renders every biblical text suspect until it passes or fails some test of human reason" (p. 57). 

Here's an analogy from modern-day cinema. Being a huge WWII history buff, I've always enjoyed the movie The Great Escape. But the film contains numerous factual errors. 

• The film features American characters but no American actually participated in the escape itself.
• The movie depicts the majority of the escapees being shot in a single event whereas they were executed in smaller groups.
• Certain scenes like the motorbike chase were added for dramatic effect and did not occur in real life. 

In short, the movie is riddled with fiction. And yet we are told in the opening credits that "This is a true story" and that "every detail of the escape is the way it really happened." 

"It's no big deal," someone says. "This is just Hollywood being Hollywood." I get that. That's why I still enjoy watching the movie. It's basically a true story. And it's a story told in a marvelously entertaining way. Still, the details matter to me.

The Bible is a true story. And it's told in a remarkable readable fashion. BUT ... it is also true down to the last detail. No Hollywood embellishment is needed to add to its power or impact. "Difficulties that have not been resolved may yet be resolved under further scrutiny," write Sproul and Geisler in their book Explaining Biblical Inerrancy. "This approach to the question of the resolution of difficulties may seem at first glance to be an exercise in 'special pleading.' However, if any work deserves special consideration it is sacred Scripture. Before we jump to the conclusion that we are faced with an ultimately unresolvable contradiction we must exhaust all possible illuminating research. A spirit of humility demands that we give careful attention to the resolutions that have already been made, and that we acknowledge that we have not as yet left every stone unturned in our efforts to give a fair and judicious hearing to the text of the Bible" (p. 114).

When Paul sailed for Rome he warned of dangers ahead. But the Roman centurion listened to the master of the ship rather than to Paul. The expert was heeded rather than the evangelist. And so the ship sailed away to its own shipwreck.

In 50 years of scholarly activity, I have discovered a simple truth. When the church listens to the "masters of the ship" rather than to the ministers of the word, it's in for trouble. This is the day of the "expert." They tell us, "The details don't matter. Irreconcilable contradictions are to be expected. That's just how they wrote back then." Yet again, I agree with Mohler when he insists that " ... even when we cannot resolve the question as easily on the test case, the affirmation of the unity and consistency of Scripture must rule. Otherwise the Bible is not the Word of God in every word and every respect" (p. 54). 

Amen and amen. 

Why Not Add a Marathon to Your Bucket List?

As I trained today I thought about my next marathon. 

Will it be in Honolulu? Or in St. George, Utah? Or in Cincinnati? 

My advice to you if you're a runner: be sure that a marathon is on your bucket list. 

These days you can pretty much choose a destination and there is a marathon waiting for you. 

You will hate much of it, but you will love most of it, trust me. 

From Our Home to Yours

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS. 

A Movie Scene That's Pure Genius (AND Why Cultural Background Is Important)

Living in both Germany and Switzerland has had its advantages. Even when it comes to movies. A good example is a scene in one of Quentin Tarantino's films in which a British spy posing as a German officer orders 3 glasses of whiskey by holding up his index, middle, and ring fingers. Typically, Germans count to three with their thumb, index finger, and middle finger. A (real) German major named Hellstrom notices this discrepancy. 

This subtle but culturally significant detail is a brilliant example of how Tarantino uses cultural nuances to heighten the tension in the film. The "drei Gläser" ("three glasses") line is an ingenious but subtle sign to the audience that the jig is up. Hellstrom also displays that he is extremely good with German accents (the spy's accent seems pretty fake to him). Last summer while dining in Zermatt I asked my Swiss server where he thought I was from (we were, naturally, conversing in German). He guessed either Belgium or the Netherlands. Care to listen in? 

Conversely, when I'm in Germany I'm often mistaken for a Swiss. I even knew someone in Basel who could tell what quarter of the city you were from based on your dialect!

Most Americans and Brits probably wouldn't notice the 3 finger motion because it seems so natural to us, plus they can't hear any differences in the spy's accent. The details and references are so specifically German that a native German had to have either written or advised the scene. When I tell you that the shot of the spy's hand holding up the wrong 3 fingers had me on the edge of my seat, I'm not joking. I have no sufficient words (in either English or German) to describe the dialogue in this scene. It is like a renaissance painting. It's a cinematic masterpiece. 

Like probably 99 percent of people who go to the movies, I tend to watch films and enjoy them for what they are. But when you can see the details and the fine cultural nuances in the movie, a whole new perspective opens up. Which reminds me. When we read the Scriptures, we have to pay attention to the cultural and historical context of what we're reading. When you study any portion of God's word, make sure you study the background. Recreate in your mind the culture if you can. This will make the text come alive as never before. 

You Got This

This is me now.

This was me two years ago.

What was in between?

Insane genetics?

No way.

Obstacles to overcome?

Absolutely.

"Maybe I can get in shape." That was the thought that sparked my transformation.

And so my journey began.

Exercise became my passion.

I kept working.

Amd have never stopped.

My goal?

My first pull up. 

It seemed impossible.

But I was getting stronger.

Then it happened -- my first unassisted pull up. 

Now I knew that anything was possible.

I trained harder and harder.

I went from 240 to 198 pounds.

Eventually my physique caught up with my hard work.

Now I'm starting to learn new skills. 

Hopefully one day I will be able to do a muscle up. 

With God, anything is possible.

You got this.

10 Miles!

I started my Christmas celebration the best way -- getting in 10 miles on the treadmill. 

It wasn't as much fun as running outdoors but I was happy. 

Also pictured are the 100 hammer curls I got in between each mile. It's more of a cardio move than a weight training exercise. 

The temps are supposed to get up to 70 tomorrow so maybe I can get my run in outdoors. Here's my promise to you. No matter how hideous I look, I will continue to update my (slow) progress for all of you. 

Merry Christmas from me to you.

The Best Exercise for Your Upper Body

Pull ups are arguably the best exercise for your upper body. 

This exercise targets practically your whole back. 

I've done these for the past year or so and it's a huge reason why my back is my strongest muscle group. Don't feel embarrassed if you still struggle to do even a single pull up. Start with a modification of the exercise you can do and work it until you're strong enough to move on! 

You HAVE to Fight

Every family deserves a dad or a granddad who works hard at his health and fitness. They realize as much as you do that someday you're going to pass away. Your body is going to fail you bigtime. You're going to become ill or sick. Things are going to happen that you have no control over. And the only way you can prepare yourself for the future is by the decisions you make today.

If you have to drum up motivation to go to the gym, you don't want it hard enough. You have to want to be fit. If you really want to do it, what's going to stop you? It's your next move that counts. Something has to get you out of your apathy, and you have to create it. 

Your children and grandchildren deserve it. 

If you keep driving forward and never quit, you will succeed. No matter how old you are. 

My personal question to you is, why not? You can change your life. You can grow immeasurably in the new year. 

Why not you?

It's a very simple concept. If you want it, you've got to go and get it. 

I quietly put in the work, the effort. In 2026 I will start to shut up and let the results speak for themselves. No more promises. Just actions. Just start showing results. 

God give me the grace and the strength to do what I know I have to do. 

My friend, you have to fight. 

Nobody can do it for you. 

You HAVE to fight. 

So fight.

It doesn't matter how much money you have or how much success you have. The only thing that matters is when the commitment rises to the effort. 

Guess what? I have children and grandchildren. That's why I work out so hard. Anything worth doing is hard. You're not going to succeed in life until you accept maximum responsibility. 

It's time to decide. 

You have to fight for your health. 

Nobody can do it for you. 

You have to fight.

So fight. 

Enjoying the Undeserved Blessings of God!

This evening I drove down to Durham for some Ethiopian food and a Christmas concert. I love nothing more than eating and music! I hope your day went well for you. If you play your note and I play mine, together it will create a beautiful song that sounds a lot like grace. 

A few pix. Have a great week! 

Marvelous News! So Grateful!

I am friend-rich and I know it. Some of my best friends live in Israel. One of them is the provost at the Israel College of the Bible. I taught a Greek class for him during Covid. The ICB is the only evangelical Hebrew-speaking seminary in the world. They offer courses online and in person ranging from certificate programs to advanced courses for pastors and ministry leaders. Messianic Jewish and Arabic leaders study side by side. 

Well, today I received an email from my provost friend that had me crying tears of joy. It read, in part, "The first Hebrew textbook to learn New Testament Greek is done!" He sent me this picture of the cover with an assurance that a printed copy of the book is coming in the mail. 

I don't even know how to thank the Lord. Life, they say, goes through periods. Mine just went through an exclamation point. I could not be more grateful. The title literally reads Learn to Read the Greek of the Septuagint and the New Testament. Hopefully the book will be adopted not only in Bible schools but also in the Bible departments of Israeli universities. 

For 5 decades I have cultivated a love for the New Testament and have pursued an understanding of it. My purpose in writing all my books on Greek is to help others do the same. My interest in Greek can be traced in large part to the teaching ministry of Dr. Harry Sturz of Biola University, who was my instructor for two years then my colleague in the Greek Department for many years thereafter. 

Thanks to what I learned from this man of God and humble Greek scholar, I finally discovered how to engage in a meaningful and reliable process of searching the Scriptures and teaching them to others. More important, the study of Greek has transformed my own life. For me, teaching Greek has been a dream come true. Harry Sturz's creative mind and skillful hands were of inestimable value in assisting me as I have honed my classroom and writing skills. Little did he know when he hired me to teach Greek at Biola in 1976 that I would go on to write a beginning Greek grammar and that this book would one day become available not only in English but in Spanish, Chinese, and Modern Israeli Hebrew. My gratitude to him -- and to the Lord -- knows no bounds. 

May your journey through the Bible never end, my friend. May your walk with the Lord continue to deepen as you grow in knowledge and discernment. And may God's word, by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, transform lives all around the world, including Israel. 

Rosewood Farm, Virginia

Home of the WHOPPER. 

My Next Race

As you know, the Freight Train 50K was moved from December to May because of the weather. Seriously. Who wants to run 32 miles on ice? I think May will be the perfect month to do a 50K. There's no turning back now. I figure if I slowly up my weekly mileage without upping my speed or frequency, I should be okay. You know, I'm all about the 10 percent rule nowadays. I just couldn't resist doing 10 miles at the Tobacco Heritage Trail today. 

This is how running has taken over my life. Without even trying or thinking about it, my Christmas has turned into training runs. But it was worth every mile. 

One of the greatest feelings in life has to be working toward some goal, giving it your all, feeling the pain, but persevering and eventually reaching your goal. When I finished my run today, it truly felt like a celebration. One last note. Yesterday I had my annual physical and the doc tells me I am AOK to pursue my summer goals of climbing the alps and surfing in Hawaii again. 

Moi aujourd'hui. 

What, if anything, are you currently doing to make your life exactly what you want it to be right now? Make the life you want happen. This means being very selective about the people you spend time with, the emails you answer, how you talk to people you love, and where you are investing your limited mental, physical, and spiritual energies. Be very careful about your choices in life. Make each one count. I'm going to try to. 

Have a great Lord's Day tomorrow! 

Today's Workout (with Pics)

You can lose weight without exercising. 

But if you want to lose fat and little or no lean tissue, you have to train your muscles.