You Can Start TODAY

Once God gives you an urge or a thought and you don't act on it, it gets weaker. 

If you don't take action on it, it will fade away. 

Every day that happens, losses are made. 

It's progress, but in a negative direction. 

24/7/365, it's you versus you. 

You take good care of your car and your house. 

Why not do the same with your God-given temple? 

You can buy a new car. 

You can buy a new house. 

But you can never buy a new body. 

Neglect your health if you like. 

But spare your kids and grandkids. 

You owe it to them to take better care of yourself.

You know you can do it. 

What are you waiting for? 

Every day you postpone acting on what you know is right, the desire fades away until it is gone forever. 

You can start TODAY. 

Redemption never gets old. 

Very Happy to Do What I Do

This is just a brief report on my gym work today. It was cardio day. It took me 100 minutes to get in my 5 miles. As you can see, I was in a bit of a hurry. 😅

Today I forgot my earbuds so I just enjoyed eyeing the beauty of the outdoors as well as doing some people watching. 

As they left their cars to walk into the gym it was so neat seeing people who were just like me, mere mortals and rank amateurs who love getting fitter. We feel rewarded simply by getting to the gym and trying our best. You have to take whatever talent you have, train as hard as you can, and then see what happens. We must all find that edge between doing just enough to accomplish our goals and doing just a little too much and undermining our efforts. You quickly learn that sometimes enthusiasm is your greatest asset and at other times your greatest liability. Goals can never be too high, but expectations can!

At any rate, I loved getting in my daily step count and then rushing home to enjoy the sunshine and work in the yard. 

Even if I never climbed another mountain or ran another marathon, my workout schedule would be exactly the same. Very happy to do what I do. I know many of you are, too!

The Canvas of Your Life

Every day is like adding a brush stroke to the canvas of your life. 

What is the finished painting of your life going to show about you? 

Need Proof of God's Existence?

Watch a sunset. 

"Weighted" Pull Ups

You're never too fat to do pull ups. You're just doing weighted pull ups! 😄

"Fulfill Your Ministry" (Col. 4:17)

I am so inspired by this verse in Colossians:

The NIV reads:

Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the ministry you received from the Lord."

Here's the NLT: 

"Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you."

Phillips is amazing:

"God ordained you to your work -- see that you don't fail him!"

Finally, here's Eugene Peterson:

"Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best."

David, remember:

1. The Lord Jesus has given you a lifelong ministry. It's a stewardship from him.

2. This ministry needs to be "fulfilled" -- completed and accomplished.

3. You can "take heed" to this ministry by carefully discharging it.

The greatest surprise about aging that I've discovered is how satisfying it is. I enjoy an outlook on life that goes beyond happiness. Instead, there's a sustained tone of equanimity, knowing how the Lord has used me and will continue to fulfill his ministry in me in the days and years ahead. Call it wellbeing, but it's very real. 

It is to feel the sandals of new life on your feet as you continue to climb toward the next level in the spiral up the mountain. 

"Instructions" Are Not Suggestions (the Midway Near Miss)

"For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:2).

What a great text for my morning Bible study! 

As you know, in this fourth chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul's moving from the past to the present, from explanation to exhortation. What follows is plain, practical, ethical teaching based on the new life in Christ.

Notice Paul's tone of authority as he addresses the church. In verse 2 he reminds them of the "instructions" (Greek parangelias) he'd already given them when he was in Thessalonica. This is a forceful word. In ancient times it was frequently used for either a military command or a civilian law. Thus we should understand Paul's "instructions" as authoritative commands. If our goal as believers is to please God, we cannot evade these instructions. 

I'm mentioning this because of the recent near miss at Chicago's Midway Airport. I'm sure you've seen the video. 

Instead of holding short of runway 31C as instructed, the FlexJet proceeded to cross it just as a Southwest Airlines 737 was about to touch down. The pilot and copilot of the SWA jet deserve medals for saving all souls on board. Thank God they were fully engaged and cool as ice. What blows my mind is that the FlexJet pilot seemed distracted from the get-go. Didn't he see the SWA plane about to land? Ask any pilot: Before crossing a runway you always look left and then right, calling out "Clear left, clear right." Works every time. Honestly, the FlexJet pilot sounded a lot like a teenage who's texting while "listening" to his dad's instructions. That nearly led to disaster. Tower "instructions" are not suggestions. They are authoritative commands. If you're told to hold short, you hold short. If you're not sure what to do or where you are, you ask the tower. 

From his general instructions on how to please God (1 Thess. 4:1-2), Paul moves on to specifying ways we should do this. Christian morality is not primarily rules we blindly obey but instructions to keep all of us safe and free from disaster. Complacency is a particularly horrid condition be it in the Christian life or on an airport taxiway. 

67 Degrees and SUNNY!

Hey y'all,

Can you believe it? Today it got up to 67 degrees with plenty of bright sunshine. I find it so much easier to live, move, create, think, and enjoy when there's hot weather, sunshine, shorts, t-shirts, green grass, more smiles on people's faces, and flip flops. Aside for days when the heat is scorching, there's so much to do, and so much life. Due to my upbringing in the 50th state, the sun doesn't bother me because I don't burn. 

Don't take long for me to tan. 

I also enjoy spending more time outdoors because of the longer days. Sunlight exposure encourages the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes a feeling of well-being. That's one reason why I love summer. Spring is a very close second, especially near dawn and dusk. 

This afternoon I fiddled about outdoors the whole time. I genuinely feel cooped up when I spend too much time indoors. Even when I'm being productive I still feel weighed down, like I'm missing something. But when I go outside for a walk or a run or even just to sit on my front porch taking in the surroundings of the farm, my mood is elevated and I just feel more energized. 

I love the outdoors. Thank you, Lord! 

If Exercise Were a Drug

I believe that when exercise is balanced with rest, it:

• Delivers the best attitude boost you can get.
• Provides enhanced vitality that lasts all day.
• Is the best stress reliever.
• Blends body, mind, and spirit better than anything else.
• Raises your body's overall physical performance capacity.

If exercise were a controlled drug, it would out-prescribe any other. The benefits of exercise -- even the simple act of feeding the animals -- are almost unlimited. 

Have a blessed day! 

Finding a Workout Plan You Can Do

Hey all. Just wanted to share what I did today. It's basically my normal routine nowadays. I lifted for an hour and a half, then I got on the treadmill to get my steps in. I finished up with some sets of close grip pull ups as sort of the icing on the cake. 

I get it that not everyone can do pull ups, but it's something you may want to try and learn how to do before you give up completely on the exercise. If it's still not possible, no worries. You can always use the alternatives such as band-assisted pull ups or the machine pull up. I think this depends on one's goals. I also think it's probably better to have a simple workout plan that you can do rather than an ideal workout plan that you're not able to do. 

Either way, I hope these workout reports can help you with your own motivation and goals!

Lipolysis and My College Greek Classes

Today in Greek class my poor students are being inundated with morphemes of every kind. 

Thing is, you never know when this can come in handy. Yesterday I ran across a new word in English. I had no idea what "lipolysis" meant until I looked at its morphemes:

Lipolysis is our body's way of breaking down stored fat.

I always knew there was a reason I took Greek in college! 

Up Early for Steps

Up early, grabbed some coffee, then got in some steps before starting my day. 

It was soooooo nice to be able to walk outdoors again. 

I pray you have a wonderful week as you live it in union with the Lord! 

My Paraphrase of Phil. 1:27-30

Phil. 1:27-30 contains some of the greatest metaphors that Paul uses in all of his writings. The driving word picture is the verb politeuesthe in verse 27. The verb has reference to citizen-soldiers who discharge their obligations faithfully. 

With that in mind, here's the paraphrase I've come with so far. See if you like it. 

Whatever happens to me personally, remember that there's only one thing that really matters. Yes, I realize that you are Roman citizens and rightly proud of it. But what matters most is the fact that you are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Continue, then, to exercise your heavenly citizenship in a manner that's in keeping with the duties and responsibilities which that citizenship imposes. Then, whether I'm able to come and see you again or only hear about you, I will keep on hearing good reports about you, especially that you're standing firm in a united spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the sake of the body of faith revealed in the gospel, not frightened or intimidated in any way by those who oppose you. Such courage will be a sign to them of their impending destruction, but also a clear sign to you of your salvation, and that too is from God. For on behalf of Christ, you have been granted the privilege not merely of believing in him but also suffering for his sake. It's now your turn to take part in the battle you once saw me engaged in and, as you hear, I'm fighting still. 

I repeat: the crowning part of our task in searching the Scriptures is to discover ways the truth applies to our own life and the lives of others. But it all begins by understanding what the biblical author meant to say to his original audience. My desire is to equip you with what you need to do this. If someday we should happen to meet each other in person and you say, "Dave, let me show you what I discovered about this passage as I dug into its grammar and context," no one will be more excited for you than me!

Lasting Lessons from Philippians 1

God's word provides his people with divine insight into how to face the challenges of life. Observation and interpretation always lead to the third step of Bible study, the critical step of application. Here is a list of some of the takeaways I've discovered in this wonderful chapter of Philippians. 

Mountains After the Flood (Great Video)

Maybe you didn't know this, but I'm a huge fan of creation science. I'm an even greater fan when I can combine my passion for creation research with getting in my daily steps.

Here's the video I watched while on the treadmill.

Here creation scientists explore how the earth's mountains were formed either during Noah's flood or just after that catastrophic event. I hope one day they'll make a video about how the Hawaiian Archipelago was formed according to creation science. I've done some preliminary work in this area, but I've yet to see anyone tackle this subject head-on. Oahu would a great island to begin with. 

Its foundational tectonic earth movements, combined with post-diluvian secondary volcanic eruptions (such as Koko Head), would make a fascinating application of flood theory to geology, don't you think? 

Is Sarcopenia Inevitable?

Here's a word you're probably unfamiliar with. It's sarcopenia. It's actually a disease. Sarcopenia begins in your 30s. At that age people begin to lose muscle and strength. The average American male can expect to gain an average of one pound of body fat every year between the ages of 30 to 60 and expect to lose about a half pound of muscle each year over the same time period. If you're in your 60s, it gets ever worse as the rise in body fat replaces muscle mass. 

The experts believe that there's nothing you and I can do about sarcopenia as we get older. Huh? Hasn't anyone out there ever exercised? With exercise we can avoid the loss of muscle tissue and strength as we age. Older doesn't necessarily mean sicker. It's possible to avoid premature disability and death. The average American male already possesses a genetic makeup that will allow him to live beyond 85. The key is to make the best of the genes we have so that we can not just live longer but better. True, there's no stopping the aging process. But we can learn to manage it. Every day, the lifestyle choices we make are affecting our health. The time to plan and act is now. 

I know how hard it can be to make behavioral changes for many reasons. But the truth is, it takes far less to prevent disease than it does to treat it. Most doctors are paid to treat -- not prevent -- disease. The insurance industry doesn't reward your physician for being proactive about preventing illness. That said, if your health is not perfect, you are not completely without fault. You must therefore learn how to prevent or reverse the loss of bone and muscle tissue. It's not too late to get with the program. You've got nothing to lose except for all those extra pounds you're carrying around!

God Still Carries Us

Are you growing older? Embrace it. God is still sending you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. "I've been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, and I'll keep on carrying you when you're old. I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray. I've done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you" (Isa. 46:4, The Message).

Fitness Routines

Hey guys. I thought I'd throw together some vids showing my workout today at the Y. These are meant mostly for my great grandkids. Someday they may want to know what their Great-Papa-B was like. When they ask their father (my current grandson) what I was like, he'll point them to my blog -- and mightily bored they will be.

Staying in relatively decent shape has always been a priority for me partly because of all the traveling I've done in Africa, Asia, and so forth. Despite not having the greatest genetics, average people like me can be fairly good at maintaining a decent level of muscle mass and relative leanness. For me, this is partly due to the fact that the Lord has blessed me with the "gift" of sleeping (this gift is mentioned in First Conditionings 6:14). 

If you're trying to get into shape and your sleep suffers, it's not a very good combination. Getting a good night's sleep like I did last night (I slept for 10 hours) just makes showing up at the gym so much easier in the first place, not to mention the fact that it makes your workouts far more enjoyable and productive when you get there. I honestly never have to "force" myself to the gym when I don't feel like going, and I think that it's probably due to adhering to a bedtime routine that leads me to wake up at a similar time every day without an alarm.

Of course, maintaining fitness is more than sleeping. You still need to keep your body fat within a certain range and have some kind of control over your calories and macros. Every morning I get my protein and carbs at Bo's (sausage biscuit), a meal that is fairly low calorie so that I can afford a much higher calorie dinner with plenty of protein. This daily routine helps me to stay roughly where I need to be in terms of calories without having to actually enter calories into an app. I also train 3 days a week and get in between 8-10,000 steps a day. 

Currently I'm not making any really significant gains in terms of muscle mass, but that doesn't mean I don't train as if I'm trying to build muscle. At this point in my lifting "career," my progress has plateaued, but at the same time I'm losing unwanted body fat through cardio. The truth is, you're going to go through phases in lifting when you're more or less in a real good groove with your training. At my age I'm someone who's pretty much grateful just to be able to get out of bed in the morning. I do think that if you really want to get into good shape for life, at some point you need to start thinking long term, which means incorporating into your daily lifestyle basic things that will help you arrive at your health and future goals. 

Well, that's all for now. I told you you'd be bored. But as I said, I write these posts mainly for my descendants, who already show promising signs of moving well with their bods. 

Day Dream Believer

I'm sitting here watching the Waikiki Beach live web cam. One can always dream, right? 

Lovely Winter Day

Phil. 1:27-30: Initial Observations

Just trying to practice what I preach.

Next step: In-depth exegesis. 

The Skill of Fresh Observation

This was me this morning preparing to teach on Phil. 1:27-30 next week. 

I've taught Philippians dozens of times but that doesn't mean anything. Every time I teach the book I start over again from scratch. I owe it to my students. If we're going to work in the text, we have to learn the skill of fresh observation.

I simply begin with a blank sheet of paper. It's time to work the passage, and this always begins with observation. If you're going to be a good student of God's word, you're going to have tap the brakes and focus. 

Slow down. The Lord wants you to hear him. That's not going to happen if we're in high gear all the time.

What does "fresh observation" mean? Consider the following:

• Notice the text. Pay careful attention to it. Read the text with attention to detail.
• Begin with the Bible only. Just you and God's word. No commentaries. No translations. No Bible dictionaries. No Google. Those tools are for later. Approach the text with your own eyes and mind.
• Remember: You are engaging the living God whose Spirit resides within you. Ask him for guidance. Then jot down your observations. Write down everything you see in the text. Observe not only the words but the relationships between the words.

Friend, you can do this. And you can do it with any passage of Scripture. The key is to make yourself slow down so you don't miss the details. When you do this, the text will begin to speak to you -- and sometimes in ways you can't imagine. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Overcoming Sedentary Confinement

Today was cardio at the gym. 

Got in my steps just before the snow began falling. 

As you all know, several years ago I decided it was time to use fitness to improve my life rather than it becoming my life. My new routine would need to be low injury risk and include running because I wasn't going to let memes keep me from what I enjoy. It should assist me with my goals of surfing, mountaineering, and family. Above all, it should not take away from my number one priority, which is to use my teaching gifts to train others how to read their Bible with accuracy and joy.

Fitness can improve your life instead of controlling it. "Do more of what makes you happy" may seem like an overly simplistic explanation, but we so often don't do what makes up happy. Instead, our culture tells us to do what gives us short-term gratification (food, sex, drugs, booze) and we deny ourselves the really substantive things in life that ultimately provide longer term growth and peace of mind. "Do more of what makes you happy" is a reminder to treat yourself with respect, be good to your body, and give yourself permission to live your life to its fullest. No gimmicks. No pills. No shortcuts. No tricky diet plan. Just consecration, dedication, and discipline. It won't happen overnight, and if you give up it won't happen at all. Losing weight is not about losing weight. It's about mindset. Get the right mindset and the weight melts away.

To all of you reading this: Being an athlete, any kind of athlete, is a way of life that gives more back to you than you invest. You have been released from a life of sedentary confinement.  

Getting That First Elusive Pull Up

Hey guys. So I was thinking about my pull up journey and how it took me so long to even do my first pull up. If I had to do it over again, what would I have done differently? Well, for one thing, I would not have placed so much hope in machine lat pull downs. The fact is, even if you do an endless number of these exercises you're not going to wake up one day and miraculously perform a pull up. The machine pull down is a very similar movement but it doesn't translate into pull up strength as much you might think. If you do perform lat pull downs, my suggestion is to do them with a cable pull down bar that forces you to use your core while doing the exercise. This is because your core will need to be engaged when you do your first pull up. 

I also made the mistake of doing machine-assisted pull ups rather than just using a pull up bar and a band. A band-assisted pull up is better than the machine because you still have to control your body weight and have some element of stabilization working for the motion. With the machine-assisted pull up, it's not quite the same. 

A final mistake I made was thinking I needed to do as many pull ups as possible by taking my sets to failure. If you do this, you're likely to get fatigued to the point where your next set is going to be heavily impacted and the number of reps you do will be significantly reduced. A better approach would be to stop a couple reps short of failure to keep something in the tank for your subsequent sets. For example, today I performed a set of 3 pull ups, then rested, then performed an additional set of 3 until I completed a total of 12 pull ups. 

Just a final note on getting that elusive first pull up. You should treat your pull ups just like you do every other exercise you perform in terms of constantly trying to make them harder. You don't necessarily have to keep your pull ups to one day a week only. There's absolutely no problem with doing band-assisted pull ups every day if you really want to. I've been ending all of my workouts with a few sets of bodyweight pull ups and it's been great. 

Have a wonderful evening and watch out for tomorrow's snow! 

Chinese Food, Anyone?

Believe it or not, our little town has the best Chinese buffet within a 100 mile radius. 

All I can say is that when I take the boys there, the business loses money. 😋

God.

Family.

Love.

Food.

Joy. 

Blessed. 

Encouragement for Older Lifters

As you know, I'm trying to get down from 18 percent body fat to about 15-12 percent so that when I climb this summer I won't be carrying around too many unnecessary pounds. The thing about getting lean is the fact that making gains is easier early on in your lifting career because as a newbie you're more responsive to the new stimulus. 

Also, for most people, the time they start lifting corresponds roughly with a period in their life when their testosterone production is highest, typically in the early 20s. 

So it makes sense to make the most of those years by building as much muscle as you can. That said, even an older lifter (like me) can train hard and maybe get to a point where they are in really good shape from a muscle mass perspective and a lean perspective. No, you're not young enough to take advantage of higher testosterone levels, but that doesn't mean you can't still put on muscle. 

Thankfully, you don't have to start at the age of 20 and get everything exactly right to get where you want to be provided that you are consistent .

I hope that's an encouraging word for you older lifters out there.

Have a wonderful day!  

A Rendering of Phil. 1:19-26

Here's my (preliminary) rendering of Phil. 1:19-26. 

Watcha think?

For I know full well that what is happening to me here in Rome will turn out for my ultimate vindication and maybe even for my deliverance from prison, thanks to your petitions on my behalf and the generous resources of the Spirit of Jesus Christ they will release. As I look to the future, I do so with the hopeful expectation that I will never be put to shame by anything but that now, as always, Christ will be magnified in my body whether I live or die. For to me, "living" means simply Christ, and if I die I merely gain more of him!

But if by continuing to live on in my body my work will produce more results for the gospel, then I'm not sure which option I prefer. I'm finding it hard to choose between the two. Naturally, I'd like to "break camp," leave this life, and be with Christ. For me, that's obviously the far better choice. But for you, it's much more important than I remain alive. 

Since I'm convinced that I've still got work to do down here, I feel certain that I will continue to live. I will remain and stay on with all of you to help you make progress in your faith and become even more joyful. And so, by coming to you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus. 

My Current Mini Cut

Here it is! I've been following this aggressive cut plan for about 6 weeks now. Already lost 10 pounds. 

As you can see, I'm eating 1,800 calories per day. That's 1,200 below my daily maintenance calories of 3,000. I eat breakfast and then an early dinner. If I get hungry later on, I drink a 25-gram protein drink or munch on carrots. I'm loving it. My goal is to get down to 12 percent body fat in 2 months. 

Wish me well, will you? 

Phil. 1:21

If you've never memorized this verse, why not do so today? 

Go ahead. Make me proud. 

Prayer and the Work of the Spirit: A Symbiosis (Phil. 1:19)?

People who experience a major loss in life are often reminded of just how dependent they are. I know I was reminded of that when Becky passed away 11 years ago. Her death taught me many lessons. One of them was just how much I needed others. First of all, I was dependent on the prayers of others. But I was also dependent on God's direct help to see me through the grieving process. Experiencing the loss of a spouse helps us to focus on what really matters as Christians. Facing something like that means that you cut away the peripheral issues of life. Self-sufficient living really shows up for what it is. We are pressed to prove that there is no more important aim in life than to validate the sufficiency of Christ and our utter dependence on him.

Today, as I was preparing for tomorrow's class on Phil. 1:19-26, I was struck by Paul's own sense of dependence. In verse 19 he writes, "For I know that through your petition and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance." The Greek word for "petition" is the same one that appeared in verse 4. The word normally refers not to prayer in general but to an "entreaty," "request," or "supplication." What Paul needs in prison is not just the prayers of God's people in general but their specific petitions in a time of intense and immediate need. Such petitions were not generalities but actual requests to God in which specific needs and concerns are mentioned.

Now let's look at the word "provision." The term appears only here and in Eph. 4:16 in Paul. It could also be rendered "furnishing," "help," or "support." The genitive that follows -- "of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" -- can either mean "the provision which is the Spirit of Jesus Christ" or "the provision given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ." The later meaning seems to fit the context better.

What I find infinitely interesting here is that the terms "petition" and "provision" seem to be linked by Paul in such a way as to imply that the provision comes through the petitions of the Philippians. Perhaps we could translate Paul's words, "through your petition and consequent provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." Is Paul here sensitively hinting that the supply of the Holy Spirit in our lives is directly dependent on the prayers of others? This may well be the case. 

As I entered widowerhood, I did not do so without the keen awareness of a Helper who was constantly providing me with everything I needed in order to face that trial. And I have no doubt that this provision was due, in very large part, to the faithful prayers of my family and friends on my behalf. When my world began spinning out of control, my natural inclination was to withdraw into myself and my blur of emotions. With God's help, I learned to let him work things out inside of me -- both through the prayers of others and through the consequent provision of his indwelling Spirit. Thanks be to God. 

Have a wonderful day! 

All It Takes Is a Piece of Paper

Here's a simple Bible study hack:

• Open your Bible.
• Get a piece of paper. 
• Jot down what you see. 
• Then begin interpreting your passage. 

I'm currently doing this with Phil. 1:19-26. 

Remember: Exegesis starts with observation. 

Care to try it yourself? 

How Mastery Occurs

Whether we want to become proficient in New Testament Greek or achieve a lean and muscular physique, the process is not a glamorous, glorious, grandiose flurry of activity. It is the cumulative result of small, gradual, repetitive, and distinctly undramatic actions. 

It is the expression of unspectacular and unrelenting habits. 

This is how mastery occurs. 

Building Your Pull Up Strength

So I recently watched an interesting video. The Youtuber explained how he learned to master pull ups. He said we should pick a number of pull ups that we want to get done in a single session -- for example, 10. You might be able to get in only 2 or 3 at a time, but you just get 10 done even if this means doing a bunch of sets of only 1. I like this idea! So I've incorporated it into my weekly workouts. As you can see here, I perform a set of 2 pull ups with good form, then take a brief break. 

After that I do another set of 2, then another set of 2 until I've reached 10. By the way, nothing wrong with a band for assistance if you need one.

Enjoy this rainy day! 

"All Creatures Great and Small"

"The Lord God made them all." Show me how someone treats animals, and I'll show you who they really are. 

Don't Be Afraid

To personalize Scripture. 

Research Shows ...

A recent study by Black et al showed that an intake of one apple per day is an effective method of medical professional deterrence. 

It also showed that daily Bible reading can help you develop the temerity to live a life that pleases God. 

You're welcome. 

"Doctor" Black 

Cardio Day

Back from the gym. 

Just cardio. 

Today's stats:

On deck: Lifting session tomorrow. 

Just part of my life and routine.

Hope your day is going well! 

Paul's Greatest Ambition (Phil. 1:12-26)

As you know, I love to be outdoors and to travel. I can therefore only imagine how galling an active person like Paul must have found his imprisonment in Rome as he wrote the book of Philippians. His life was one mission trip after another as he restlessly moved from one strategic city to the next. What must it have been like for him to be cooped up in prison? We know he was longing to revisit the churches he'd founded and from which he now was forcibly separated. Then there was his dream of going further west from Rome to Gaul and even Spain. 

He was no doubt longing to be active again in his evangelistic and church planting ministry. Some have pictured him like a horse pawing the ground or a pinioned eagle futility flapping his wings to be able to soar again or even a lion pacing relentlessly in his cage. 

But this was not Paul, who actually welcomed his imprisonment. However much frustration it had brought him, it had turned out well for the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ was more important to him than his own liberty. "Paul was glad to be silenced if thereby others were challenged to speak. Paul was glad to have lost his freedom if thereby the gospel gained a greater freedom" (John Stott). What an example. I can only imagine what it would have been like to live like this man, as I fall very short. I fear I have too many self-centered ambitions rather than Christ-centered ambitions. 

Grant me, Father, the same ambition the apostle Paul had -- to glorify and magnify Christ whether by life or by death.

Don't "Find" a Sermon

Don't go to a text to find a sermon. Inappropriate application can be just as destructive as superficial exegesis. 

How to Get Lean

If you're trying to get leaner, there's nothing magical about it.

• Watch your calories.
• Cut out processed foods as much as you can.
• Eat whole foods instead.
• Be consistent about going to the gym.
• Sleep 8-10 hours.
• Get your steps in.

Today's steps so far. 

That's basically it.

Enjoy your day!

Do What You Love

When You HAVE to Use a Treadmill

This time last year, the weather was untypically pleasant. 

This year it's been -- well -- not so pleasant. 

Which means, no outdoor walking for the time being. I'm using the treadmill instead. 

If you read my blog you know I will do just about anything to avoid walking (or running) on a treadmill. Today I had to do it. I can't run on ice and snow. (Get big booboo.) My "walk" today was exactly one hour. I got in 6,000 steps, which is my daily goal. I also got caught up on some Youtube videos I'd been intending to watch. 

I'm grateful for today's walk. But I'd still much rather be walking outdoors. 

Asking the Wrong Question?

Too many Youtubers spend too much time fussing over the "best" Bible translation when the people who need the most help aren't reading any Bible translation whatsoever. 

Signs of Aging (Phil. 1:19-26)

Aging has a way of sneaking up on us. You know you're getting old when ...

• You willingly go to bed at 9:00 every night.
• You alone in your family knows how to drive a stick shift.
• You still give paper quizzes.
• You prefer a desktop to a laptop.
• You use punctuation in text messages.
• You were born in a territory that doesn't exist anymore.

• You know what Wake Forest looked like before it was swallowed up by Raleigh.
• It takes you forever to scroll to find your birth year on an online form.
• You don't understand current jargon, but you don't care.
• Ear hair seems to grow exponentially.
• The music you grew up with is now called Classic Rock.
• You're okay with fewer friends.
• All your students were born after 9/11.
• You hate iPhone updates. 
• The first number of your age begins with a 7.
• You have grandkids in college.
• You start finding "boring" websites interesting (e.g., American Battlefield Trust).
• You remember how your exegesis classes had 45 students (instead of 6) before online education took over.

I would also add:

• Your longing for heaven is stronger than ever.

This week in our Philippians class we'll be exegeting Phil. 1:19-26. This passage contains the famous verse:

"For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

The words roll off the tongue. There's an unforgettable beauty and symmetry to them. Many of us have memorized them.

Paul had two options in front of him, and both were desirable. Both were good options. In life, Paul knows that he will be able to bear more fruit for Christ. In death, he knows that departing this life is desirable because he will go and be with Christ. For Paul, there was nothing greater than being in the eternal presence of Christ his master. To this point in his life he's tasted the appetizer of fellowship with Christ on earth. But he's longing for the main course. His metaphorical mouth waters at the idea of being with Christ for eternity.

That's why he can talk rather bizarrely about desiring death. He knows that through death he'll possess and enjoy Jesus forever. Nothing could possibly be better than that. But in the meantime, life for Paul means Christ as he loves and serves him day after day and year after year. So if he goes on living, he lives to bear fruit for Christ. The Living Bible puts it beautifully: "For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying -- well, that's better yet!" In essence Paul is saying, "If living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don't know which is better, to live or to die!"

Which leads me to ask: "Is my desire to live longer primarily because I long to be useful and fruitful through Christ to others?" Paul was willing to forego being in the presence of Christ in glorious eternity for the sake of the gospel. Am I? 

That same level of preparedness ought to mark our attitude toward Christ's long-heralded second coming. We ought to live in anticipation that it could happen tomorrow. Or, for that matter, today. Our hearts should be ready, our lives in order, our priorities correct. As the saying goes, 

Only one life, 

'twill soon be past. 

Only what's done for Christ 

will last. 

Haddon Robinson on Modern Preaching

"Most modern preaching evokes little more than a wide yawn." -- Haddon Robinson. 

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a -- SMITH MACHINE!

Today I used a piece of equipment at the gym I'd never used before. 

The smith machine is an amazing aid to lifting. Because of the additional rail-guide system, fewer stabilizing muscles are required to perform the movement. Today I used it for shoulder presses and felt like my risk of injury was far less than it is when using dumbbells. I normally find free weights better than machine exercises. That said, you can put together some great workouts using the smith machine. I wish I had discovered it earlier! 

The Farm Says Hey!

Scaling the Heights of Your Existence

I've always been a seeking soul, driven by some uncontrollable urge to challenge the parameters of my small world. It's just who I am. Growing up on a tiny island in the middle of a huge ocean, I wanted to explore the big wide world that was out there. One of these places are the mountains of Switzerland. What I want is not so much the glory of a climb achieved but rather the majestic beauty of the high peaks. I've gone from scaling inner heights to ascending outer ones. When I return from a climb I feel renewed -- a better human being, stronger and a bit more capable of facing life's unpredictable terms. By sharing my journey with others, maybe I can inspire people to take a closer look at their own lives and consider whether they are living their dreams or giving up on them. I don't like it when people talk but never do. I have to be careful not to develop that intoxicating habit myself. You can't wait forever to fulfill your innermost, God-given aspirations. Even if you fail, you must have the courage to persevere. If you never test your limits, how will you know what they are? Select only the most sublime goals. Force of habit will take care of the rest.  

Anyways, today was arm day at the gym. 

By God's grace, and only by his grace, and always by his grace, I'm still persevering in my training. I'm beyond grateful for my mountain guide. 

He's one of the best mountaineers in the Alps. Not snobbish, made of flesh and blood. We're a good team. The crowning achievement of my last trip to the Alps was, with his help, planting Becky's memorial banner on the summit of the Breithorn. Each time I'm up high, my body gets extremely debilitated. But the experience is unparalleled. 

Could that be just the reason God created mountains? 

Have a blessed day! 

A Translation of Phil. 1:12-18

Scripture is authoritative and sufficient. It's always textus rex -- the text is king. Not only are good sermons based on the text of Scripture, they should actually expound the meaning of the text. To prepare to do this well, I find it helpful to produce my own translation of the text I'm teaching. For what it's worth, here's a translation/paraphrase of Phil. 1:12-18 that reflects the results of my exegesis of this great passage.

1:12-14

And now, my dearest sisters and brothers, here's something I want you to sink your teeth into. I want you to know that my imprisonment has had the very opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being chained up, the gospel has actually broken its bonds and prospered. It hasn't in the least stopped advancing! You ask, how do I know this? Well, first of all, the entire palace guard in Rome and all the others here know that I'm in prison, not because I'm a criminal, but because I'm a Christian -- a servant of Christ. And secondly, by the very fact that I'm in prison for Christ's sake, most of the believers here have become more confident in the Lord, so that they grow bolder and bolder to preach the message without fearing the consequences,  remembering that "God works all things for good."

1:15-18

Some of them, it's true, are actually preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry toward me, motivated by nothing more than a competitive spirit and misguided ambition. Others, however, are motivated by goodwill and a loyal spirit toward me. They're preaching Christ out of love for me, because they know I've been put here by God on purpose to defend the gospel. The former preach Christ insincerely, motivated only by self-promotion, thinking that they are actually making my imprisonment even more galling than it would be otherwise. But what does it matter? Nothing matters except that, in one way or another, Christ is being proclaimed, whether with honest or dishonest motives. That's what makes me happiest! And it will continue to make me happy! 

God bless,

Dave 

An Attitude of Gratitude

The theme of Phil. 1:12-18 can be summarized in one sentence (I just made this up):

"An attitude of gratitude increases the magnitude of the gospel's amplitude."

Now let's see if I can go through the day heeding my own advice. I'll let you know. 

Learning Greek Is Like a Tree

Learning Greek is like a tree. You learn the fundamental principles first (i.e., the trunk), before you get into the branches and leaves. 

Throughout my years of study and teaching, I've relied on this visual aid to keep me on course. The principle holds true regardless of the activity. In lifting, you go from a broad perspective of understanding to the tiny intricacies of the science of strength training. Greek is the same way. Please don't rush into exegesis without a foundation in grammar.