Enjoy the Little Things in Life

Because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things. Today I drove to Cary to get in a jog on the American Tobacco Trail -- the ATT. 

Here's a map.

I love this trail and sometimes bike it. 

It's one of the treasures that makes Cary such a great place to live. Many people use it to commute to work by bike. I once did the Tobacco Road Marathon here. Before the race I had the privilege of attending a seminar led by the one and only Jeff Galloway -- the inventor of the walk-run method of racing. 

He's totally the one you want to go to for this kind of training. His books will show you how to adjust your times to suit your pace. After the seminar, Jeff invited me to run-walk the marathon with him the next day. It was just the two of us so I had the opportunity to ply him with questions. What a great athlete and gentleman! 

Did you know that the RDU area has a fantastic all-you-can-eat Indian buffet? Well, now you do. It's called the Sitar Restaurant and it rocks. Such flavor! Such texture! Such color! Ono-licious as we say in the islands. 

Well, it's been a long but good day. It ended with getting up hay. Farming is hard work but good work. I like to say it puts you to bed with a "good tired." 

Sleep well all! 

The Most Magnificent Book on the Planet

Know what you need more than anything? What I need? Solitude and time alone with God and the development of our walk with God so that whatever happens in our lives we won't be thrown off course and can stand on our own. As we are able to take in the Scriptures, we allow God's word to impact our daily lives. We are not simply reading the Bible. We are allowing the truth to fulfill its purpose in our lives. Without the Bible you and I would never find our way in life. Without the Spirit using his word we would be hopelessly lost. The Bible is God's map and the Holy Spirit his GPS. And the better we get to know the Scriptures the better we get to know the Lord of the Scriptures and the more intimate we are in that relationship. 

That's why this is the most magnificent book on the planet. 

How to Do a Lat Pulldown

Start by gripping the bar with hands in an overhand grip. How wide your grip is will depend on your body's dimensions, but you'll want to aim for having your hands just outside shoulder width. If you use too narrow a grip you'll end up shifting the focus from your lats to your forearms.

The target point of the lat pulldown is extremely important for proper form. Your goal is to target your upper chest muscles around the height of your collar bones. It's important not to cave your chest in forward and own while pulling the bar down. Instead, you want to visualize bringing your upper chest to the bar as you pull down. 

That's pretty much it. 

Have fun!  

Met a New Friend on the Trail Today

Here are today's steps at the High Bridge Trail. 

Met no one else on my walk. Except for him. 

How sweet!

We Love Our Sheep

As per usual, today I checked up on the sheep after returning home. Here are two of my favorites. 

I named them "Goodness" and "Mercy" because they follow me :-) 

Making Hay

More rain on the way! In the meantime, let's make some hay! 

Yes!

The Diamond Head hike is absolutely worth it. 

Pray for Armenia

Like any other country in the world, Armenia needs the life-changing power of the gospel. In Armenia, cultural Christianity can often replace a vibrant daily walk with Jesus. Please lift up the church in Armenia. 

Teaching at the Orthodox Seminary in Yerevan. 

Guest lecturing in the linguistics department of the University of Yerevan. The students were very receptive. 

A Little Marathon Humor :-)

Fun with Hawaiian Pidgin

There's an interesting expression in Phil. 1:23. Here it is in Greek:

The ASV has, "For it is very far better." Know the first rendering that comes to my mind? "Dat stay much mo betta, yeah?" 

Once a Pidgin speaker, always a Pidgin speaker I guess. 

Stuck in a Rut

For years now I've only eaten only two meals a day. This doesn't change when I'm in the islands. Breakfast is always a delicious plate at Zippy's. 

While my afternoon meal consists of Korean kalbi. 

Is your mouth watering yet? 

Slow Is Me

Thought this was pretty interesting. 

I'm to blame for making the averages so high. 😜

Modeling Grace

I think it's interesting that both Chuck Swindoll and I left Southern California in the 1990s to begin new ministries. I went to SEBTS while Chuck became the fourth president of DTS. Now, neither one of us were unhappy where we had been. In fact, we loved being involved at Biola and at EV Free Fullerton respectively. But we both sensed that the time was right for a move, and so we went on to new opportunities. 

After Chuck arrived on campus, the flavor of the seminary took on a completely new feel. He relates much of this in his excellent book Church Awakening. He concluded that the campus felt a bit too stiff-shirted. So he got rid of the tie rule. As he puts it, it was the only time during his tenure as president that he got a standing ovation from the student body. Then he did something about all the "Keep off the Grass" signs. He removed them. Families began picnicking on the lawns, while others played intramural flag football. Another change he made involved parking. He got rid all of the parking spaces that said "Reserved for ...." This included the one that said "Reserved for the President." The school's priority, he insisted, was not the administration but the people the administration served. I love that! 

In 1998 Chuck went on to found Stonebriar Community Church. It's located in Frisco, north of Dallas. Becky's parents lived in Murphy, about 24 miles to the east. On my trips to visit mom and dad I would sometimes drive over to Frisco to attend one of the services at Stonebriar. Once I attended Howard Hendricks' funeral there as well. One of the things I noticed during the morning services was how formal everything seemed to be, from the coats and ties of the staff to the pipe organ to the full choir. At the same time, the people there seemed very informal and casual. I even saw some with a cup of coffee in their hands. That seemed like a disconnect to me until I heard Chuck tell a story in one of his messages. He felt the congregation should be more welcoming to strangers, so he had the "No Food or Drinks Permitted in the Sanctuary" signs removed. He said, "I don't want the first word visitors see to be the word "No'." Do you have such signs in your home? he asked. Point made. At Stonebriar, one senses this spirit of, well, GRACE, as soon as one enters the building. I know I do. Which brings up another story.

Occasionally I will train or have a race at a certain city in Virginia. If I'm there on a Sunday, I will always attend church. There are two churches I've visited, both fairly sizable. One is a denominational church. The other is a non-denominational congregation. The non-denominational church is one where people feel free to sip on their coffee or much on a donut during the service. Not so the other church. In addition, they apparently have a dress code. I found this out the hard way when I dressed a little too informally for their taste. Thankfully, that kind of church is rare these days. I grew up in a church in Hawaii that welcomed you whether you were a long-haired Jesus freak (like me) or a grunt from the nearby Marine Corps base who sported a crew cut and a suit and who grew up in L.A. (Lower Alabama). Know what? When we get older, we tend to judge others. "Look at him. He doesn't even know how to dress for church." Let's stop doing that. Let's make room for people who don't look or act like us. At my home church in Hawaii, nobody cared what you were wearing. You didn't have to look a certain away. The younger made room for the older. The older made room for the younger. Arms were always open to people of another generation or ethnicity. When I lived in Southern California I never did attend Calvary Chapel. But I have nothing but the greatest respect for Chuck Smith and the way he welcomed surfers and hippies through radical hospitality. He prioritized grace over rules. He famously washed their sandy feet at the door and invited the bare-footed and blue-jeaned inside. He allowed casual clothing that some church members judged. Thankfully, most didn't. The result was a loving community that focused on Jesus rather than on institutionalization. "We will love these kids and teach them God's word," he said. 

You will never have a problem leading people to Jesus if you model that kind of grace. 

Titles Or Testimonies?

How was your Bible time this morning? Mine was, well, out of this world. I spent time in Romans 12 looking at Paul's list of spiritual gifts in verses 6-8. It goes like this:

• Prophesying 
• Serving
• Teaching
• Encouraging 
• Giving
• Leading
• Showing mercy

Interestingly, none of these gifts is defined or even described for us. So we're sort of left to ourselves to come up with adequate definitions. For what it's worth, here's how I would define "teaching":

"The gift of teaching is the God-given ability to explain the Scriptures with competence, clarity, and conviction." 

This is my calling in life. It is my gifting, if you will. Many of you can identify with this gifting as well. You are teachers. Always have been. Always will be. No, you did not choose this gift. But you did discover it and then develop it. Fact is, you wouldn't want to do anything else with your life. 

Later on in the chapter Paul adds that we are not to avoid being around what he calls "ordinary people." I like that, because in the final analysis all of us are ordinary people. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. So, Paul says, don't be too proud to enjoy the company of, well, anyone. Teacher friend, everyone knows you're a well-taught person. Don't act like it, okay? Don't strut your knowledge. I'll even be so bold as to say, take down those silly diplomas hanging on your office wall. Nobody cares about them except you. Why not replace them with a picture of you and your wife? Now that's something people can get into! Don't be surprised when they ask, "Oh, is that your wife? She's lovely. Where did you two meet?" Now that's much more interesting! When you're laid in the grave, are people going to be standing around reciting all the fancy titles you've earned? Or are they going to stand around giving testimonies about all you meant in their lives and all the good things you did for them? Will they list your degrees or your awards or will they tell what a blessing you were to them? You don't have to have a certain rank in the body of Christ to count. There's no status. And so we have room for just ordinary people. I even like the way Paul adds, "Don't think you know it all." Amen to that! 

Anyway, just a few thoughts from my time in the Scriptures this morning. 

I'm no prodigy. I'm a drudge. If I've learned anything from my study of the word of God through the years, it's not because I'm smart but because I'm dogged, disciplined, and determined. You can be too. 

"You See Me When I Travel" (Psalm 139)

I love Psalm 139, don't you? This psalm is a prayer by a man who called on the Lord his God who knows him, who is ever with him, and who watches over him,. It was penned, not by a perfect man, but by a broken man -- a caring psalmist who loved his God and served the people as their greatest king. 

As someone who's about to embark on a trip (Lord willing) to Oahu, I loved reading the following lines in this psalm:

You see me when I travel.

You know everything I do.

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

If I dwell by the farthest ocean, even there your hand will guide me.

How precious are your thoughts toward me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

Isn't that great! It's almost as though these words were written just for yours truly -- one who travels annually to the farthest ocean and delights in the grains of sand!

The place where you grew up is often special because of the memories it holds and because of the experiences that shaped who you are. It was here that I came to know Christ as an 8-year old. God led a mainlander named Rudy Ulrich to start a church in Kailua. One Sunday night the Lord used his preaching to draw me to himself. I will never forget that man. I owe everything to him. A week later I was baptized at Kailua Beach. Little wonder the ocean in Hawaii holds deep significance for me. Over 70% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, highlighting its essential role in sustaining life on this earth. The beach became an essential part of my identity. It shaped my personal experiences and always evoked feelings of peace and tranquility. 

People who were born and raised in the islands aren't just laid back. They're ocean-raised, island-trained, plate-lunch-addicted kamaaina. It's all about sandy feet, salty hair, and being uncomfortable wearing anything other than swim shorts. For locals, "turn left at the banyan tree" means more than Google maps. If your slippahs break, shoes are not an option. You just go barefooted. At Waikiki, lines of surfers wait patiently for the next set of waves, reading the ocean with an acumen that only years of experience can produce. In just over a week, I hope to be one of them. 

Alas, we do not know what a day will bring forth let alone a week. So we keep the main the main thing. In the words of Psalm 139, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." 

Have a wonderful day! 

The Discipline of Serious Bible Study

In just 3 weeks, after I return from the islands, classes will begin again. There will be nothing like being back with my students again. Not even surfing can compare with it. Why? Because we will gather around the word of God that has been revealed from heaven to earth. God is no longer giving us his inspired word. Inspiration is finished. But illumination goes on and on and on. No, it doesn't come naturally. No one is born with an innate ability to understand the Scriptures. We're all in the process of getting to know how to handle the Bible accurately and responsibly. These are disciplines that must be developed and perfected. 

I've spent my life continuing to study them. And in my Greek classes I get to share what I'm learning with eager students of God's word. We must learn the steps involved in going from observation to interpretation and finally to application. 

Don't miss this last step. We learn Greek, yes, to accurately interpret the New Testament. But how does all this apply to where I live and work? What does it have to say about the decisions I'm facing or the relationships I'm struggling with? What about when I get sick and I'm not getting well? I don't know how many times in my Christian life I've said to the Lord in prayer, "Lord help me. Help me to understand this passage of Scripture. Direct me into an understanding of what you have written. Then help me to use these truths to grow up spiritually. 

Is there an inner zeal that drives you to the text over and over again? Fact is, we have an infinite text. We will never exhaust it. I can tell you that my passion for the word of God has never abated in 50 years of teaching. It's the most exciting part of my life. But God does not reveal his truth to lazy souls. Every minute spent in serious Bible study is worth it. 

More on the Millers of Sharpsburg

A great-great-great-great-great grandfather in German is:

Urururururgrossvater. 

Stacking five "Ur's" together can be confusing, so Germans will sometimes say, "Grossvater mit fünfmal Ur" (grandfather with five Ur's). 

As you know, my German Urururururgrossvater was David Miller, who along with his wife Catherine emigrated from Germany to Western Maryland in the 1760s. Together they established the first store in the town of Sharpsburg. Writes one historian, "In 1768 the first store was formally established in the new town by David B. Miller. Up to this time the inhabitants had done without, made their own, or traded for needed goods at the Old Trading Post. Mr. Miller brought in yard goods -- calicoes at $.50 a yard and muslin at $1.00 per yard. He would go to Baltimore on horseback loading up a pair of saddlebags with dry goods and groceries. Roads were still almost non-existent and horses were about the only convenient means of travel." 

According to my calculations, the distance between Sharpsburg and Baltimore would have been about 72 miles. In Colonial America, the average rate of travel by horseback was about 4 miles per hour. You could probably travel about 30-40 miles a day, although you and your mount would be exhausted by the time you reached your destination. Ideally you would want to travel about 20 miles a day, giving both horse and rider enough rest each day to continue on the next. David Miller's business trip to and from Baltimore would have lasted at least a week. Today it's a mere hour and 20 minute drive each way! 

David's son John (my great-great-great-great grandfather) followed in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps. He operated not only the store but the town post office, a hotel, a gristmill, and also owned several farms. During the War of 1812, John was a colonel in the 10th regiment of the Maryland militia and continued to be referred to as "Colonel" Miller. He helped establish his sons on farms throughout the Sharpsburg area. This included his son David's farm. (David's brother John was my great-great-great-great grandfather.) David and his wife Margaret had 7 children and worked hard to harvest their crops that fall. Near the westside barn a number of haystacks stood, and the garden was "sprawling with pumpkins, potatoes. and beans." Just to the south of the farm was their 24-acre cornfield with "stalks higher than a man's head" standing ready to harvest. After the battle, when David and his family returned home, not a single stalk was left standing. 

During the fighting, Union casualties were gathered at the farmstead. The days following the battle, Union burial details swept across the Miller farm to bury their dead. The barn roof can be seen on the far right of this photo. 

Surprisingly, there was very little damage to the Miller house and barn. Only the blacksmith shop was destroyed. Miller filed a claim of $1,237.75 for damages from the Federal government. He received $995.00. David Miller and his family continued to live and work on the farm for the next 20 years. How odd to think that today I own a farm and one of my sons (along with his wife and 7 children) make their living from farming. 

I am so proud and thankful for my German heritage. It's like working on a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle where the picture that's emerging is the most wonderful of surprises. You can't rest until you work it all out on your own.

Sorry if this is TMI!  

Running Your First Marathon?

Think you're ready for that first marathon? Here's my advice for what it's worth. Run shorter distances first. Start with a 5K. Then do a 10K. After that, you will want to do a couple of 10-milers. Finally, a half marathon is advisable. After that you can reassess, knowing that you will have to run twice that distance in a full marathon. 

This may take 6 months to a year. Personally, I did 8 half marathons (out of the 45 I've done) before I attempted my first full marathon in Cincinnati. This helped me figure out a goal pace for the marathon. Now that I've completed 20 marathons -- Cincy, Baltimore, Raleigh, Richmond, St. George (UT), Phoenix, Dallas, Fort Worth, DC, Allen (TX), Chicago, etc. -- I'm used to running 50K ultras. Keep in mind that training is more than just running. Strength training is important also. Not only does strength training offer protection for muscles and joints from the impact of long-distance running, but it can help you improve your running economy as well. 

Please, please, please: identify what your goals are for your first marathon. If your goal is just to finish and you could care less about your time, that's great. If you want to shoot for a BQ (Boston Qualifying time), that's another story. Always be clear on your true "why?" 

Hope this helps!

Soaring above the Drag of Fear

There's a proverb of Solomon that goes, "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." When Becky and I finished building our house, there was a deep sense of sweetness that came over us. I've had a similar feeling whenever I've finished writing a book. There is a sense of sweetness knowing that the Lord sustained you through the long and sometimes tedious process of bringing a new book into print.

It may sound strange, but at 74 I find it sweet to chase down certain athletic goals like marathoning or mountaineering or surfing. I keep learning that growth occurs when things are hard, not when things are easy. Muscles grow that way, a fact I was reminded of during my workout this morning. It's these arms that will either allow me or not allow me to paddle out at Waikiki in a couple of weeks. 

I think I may be a bit like Peter in the New Testament. He's a man who never stayed lukewarm about anything. Yes, he was impulsive. He could be impetuous. He often went to the heights of ecstasy and he went to the depths of discouragement. But one thing never changed. He lived life to the fullest. And he trusted God for it all. That's the life I want to live. It's the kind of life that can't be measured by income or by health or lack thereof or by family tradition or by culture or by geography. It's available to whomever, whenever. That's what my life is committed to. It means soaring above the drag of fear and negativism and pessimism. It means trying your best not to let the trials of life make you a grim kind of person. You continually remind yourself of the sovereignty of God. You remember that nothing comes to you apart from the will and plan of God. It must all pass through his fingers before it touches you. He is the sovereign Lord. He is in control. 

Reread Jer. 32:27 where God asks, "Is anything too hard for me?" Where the word "anything" appears, substitute the burden you are currently carrying. Release the grip on your worries now. Then live to the hilt whatever you are convinced is the will of God for your life (Jim Elliott). 

Why So Many Eastern Counties?

I think this map is fascinating.

Why so many counties in the eastern U.S. and so few out west? The answer is purely historical. Eastern counties were founded before there were railroads and automobiles. County governments, which handled essential services such as courts, tax collection, and law enforcement, required smaller counties because most people traveled by foot or on horseback. As populations grew, eastern counties were repeatedly divided into smaller ones to keep government accessible. The county I live in, Mecklenburg County, VA, was created on March 1, 1765, having split off from Lunenburg County. Charlotte County was established in the same way. 

In contrast, much of the American west was settled later, after railroads, telegraphs, and automobiles made it practical to administer much larger counties (often with far fewer people). For 27 years Becky and I lived in the city of La Mirada, California, in Los Angeles County. Parts of the original Los Angeles County later became San Bernardino County and Orange County. The county seat of Mecklenburg County is the town of Boydton. The Boyd name is a very common one in these parts. In fact, the original owner of my farm was Anderson Boyd. A former member of the 59th Virginia Infantry, he is buried in our farm cemetery. 

Final fun fact: Maui County in Hawaii includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe! 

Mornings in Waikiki

Early mornings at Waikiki Beach are always the same: a gentle reset. I made this video on July 2, 2025. 

The sound of the surf, the soft shadows from the sunrise, the sand that sinks underfoot. It's not just the sights and sounds. It's the feeling of being here. It's the kind of experience that makes you think, "This is why I love Hawaii." 

A Surprise Discovery in Sharpsburg

It's hard to believe that one place can hold so much history. That's Sharpsburg for you. Ironically, a visit to a cemetery was the highlight of my recent trip there. 

Imagine locating the memorial marker for both your great-great-great-great grandfather Col. John Miller (born Oct. 13, 1787 in Sharpsburg) and your great-great-great-great-great grandfather David Miller (born Dec. 5, 1734 in Germany ). 

It probably took about two seconds before I thought, "This is a very special day, Dave." 

Invaluable to me was the time I spent in Hagerstown, the seat of Washington County, Maryland. 

The Western Maryland Room at the public library was a godsend. It has a wealth of information. 

I also spent some time at the Washington County Historical Society.

To the staff of both places, thank you so much for looking into the John Miller family for me. The records you shared helped a great deal with my research. Your insights gave me several leads to follow. I am truly grateful for your expertise and generosity. 

To be continued .... 

The Dunker Church in Sharpsburg

There are times when the Dunker Church at the Antietam National Battlefield looks so perfect it almost doesn't seem possible. 

No matter how many photos you take, they never quite capture what your eyes are seeing. 

If you stood here before, you know exactly what I mean. My German Baptist ancestors worshipped God where I am sitting. 

I can hardly grasp it.

Jogging Your Memory

If you ask me, this is the secret to a great trip to Gettysburg: get out of your car and walk (or jog) the battlefield. 

What's one activity that instantly makes you feel like a part of history? 

The Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg

There are places that fill your camera roll. And then there are places that fill your soul.

What's the best place you've ever visited in the Gettysburg Battlefield Park? 

The Round Tops at Gettysburg

How many times have you visited Gettysburg and said to yourself, "The Round Tops sure look smaller than I thought they were!" 

"Take Me Home, Country Roads"

Just back from a quick jaunt up to Hagerstown and Sharpsburg, Maryland, for a bit of genealogical research. Took a side trip (of course) to Gettysburg. Anyone else prefer driving back roads to the interstate? 

Hot Heat

Turkey's all-time high is 122 degrees. 

That's nothing. I snapped this pic in Iraq after it had cooled down at night. 

Man, that was some hot heat. 

Ah, Switzerland

If I say "Switzerland," what comes to your mind? 

For my answer (and a tale about the summit in the alps that almost didn't happen last summer), go here.  

God Still Controls the Water

A look at our local lake due to severe drought conditions. 

It's sad to see people's docks on the land and there's still plenty of summer left. I don't recall ever seeing it quite like this. However this drought breaks, it will one day. It looks like we will see a return to rain as early as tomorrow morning and on through the weekend. 

It's starting to feel like we're finally going to get past this drought. Knees down and chins up. Our God still controls the water!

Remember to Rest

Here's a lovely Hawaiian word you may have never heard before. It's ho'omaha. It means to rest or take a break. My summer trips to Hawaii are not only for surfing. My visits are reminders that slowing down is not wasted time. Every morning greets you with a gentle breeze. Every sunset asks you to pause. Ho'omaha is a reminder that you don't always have to be in a hurry. It may mean a warm memory of your growing up years. It may be a peaceful morning brew at Zippy's. It may be the sand between your toes.

These small pauses can help travelers return to the mainland with a refreshed and more grateful heart. Your ho'omaha may not be Hawaii. But wherever it is, may it help your heart feel rested, my friend. 

God Knows

Remember, when you feel overwhelmed, God knows what he's doing. He knows both the depth and the length of your trials. If we begin each day with an acknowledgement of our dependence upon him, and our intention to glorify him, he will certainly help us. 

I'm Blown "Away" by Heb. 12:1-2!

Here's a nice little feature in Heb. 12:1-2. We are to "strip away" what's slowing us down and "look away" to Jesus. "Strip away" is clear enough. But the idea of looking "away" to Jesus gets lost in the shuffle. 

The Greek term means more than merely "looking." It carries the idea of looking away from all other things and people who are distractions and who might keep us from focusing our full attention on the Lord. Wuest writes that the term means "to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something or someone." The idea is to allow Jesus to come into full focus. We might use the word "concentration." Concentration is a powerful state of focus. A number of examples come to mind:

• studying for a final exam.
• practicing scales as a musician.
• concentrating on the ball while dribbling during a basketball game.
• silencing notifications on your iphone.
• closing out apps on your computer that aren't essential.
• asking those around you not to distract you for a period of time.

We're talking here about an intentionally selective gaze. This involves (1) turning one's eyes away from competing sights, and (2) fastening attention on a single object. Hence my paraphrase of Heb. 12:1-2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip AWAY every weight that is slowing us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us keep on running with endurance the particular race God has set before each and every one of us. We do this by looking AWAY from all that distracts us and focusing our full attention on Jesus, the Pacesetter and Perfecter of faith. 

I love how one German translation renders the idea of looking away: "Dabei wollen wir nicht nach links oder rechts schauen, sondern allein auf Jesus." As Corrie ten Boom once said, "Look inside and be depressed. Look outside and be distressed. Look to him and be at rest." 

Thank you, Corrie! Great advice! 

Sunrise Run at Kailua Beach

It's a long flight from DFW to Honolulu. After hours in the air, this is the view you get to enjoy the next morning.

Lord willing, 13 days and counting. 

The Bane of Undertranslation (Phil. 4:9)

Here's a construction Paul uses in Phil. 4:9. 

The "these things" (tauta) refers to all the truths the Philippians had learned from Paul. Now they are to prassete them -- live them out by constantly putting them into practice. 

The verb prassō occurs 39 times in the New Testament. Paul uses it 17 times, usually in contexts dealing with practicing things that are in accordance with God's will. Previously in Philippians, Paul used two other verbs with the same basic meaning:

"Live" (1:27).

"Walk" (3:17-18).

Such living, walking, or practicing is the necessary balance to the "thinking" the Philippians are to do. Right thinking should always lead to right practicing. It does absolutely no good, for example, to take Greek in seminary and then never use it in your personal walk with the Lord or in your sermon preparation. Living faithfully before God always involves ethics. It is one thing to know Greek, but it is another thing to allow the language to flow out through your life. And this outflowing must be constant.

In Phil. 4:9, I think this point is missed in the CSB ("do"), ESV ("practice"), and the GNT ("put into practice"). The verbal aspect of the imperative prassete is clear: this is something we have to keep on doing. Hence the ISV's "keep practicing" (cf. "keep putting into practice" in the LB and NLT). The idea of "keep on doing this" is not foreign to the Greek. Quite the contrary. It is part and parcel of the verb. So to undertranslate it does no one any good at all.

Sharing the Burden of Grief

It's not unusual for me to get touching emails from my blog readers. Interestingly enough, many come from widowers who felt the need to write and tell me that a certain blog post ministered to them in a special way. The other day I received one such email. These emails are far too personal for me to publish here, and I will never do so. Suffice it to say, most of them express profound grief and loneliness after the passing of their wife. This one was no exception. It broke my heart.

The absence of a spouse can lead to overwhelming feelings of sadness. We all seek to ask the same questions: Lord, why this? Why me? Why now? The fact is, more often than not we'll never know. We'll never understand why God didn't heal or bring relief. His judgments are inscrutable, and his ways unfathomable.

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul says there's something remarkable about people who go through the same pain you're experiencing. He states that God uses what we go through to comfort others who are going through it now. Who better to comfort a widower than someone who's lost his wife? Who better to comfort the one who lost a child than someone who's lost a child? Who better to understand a debilitating illness than someone who has gone through the same thing?

The man who wrote me lives across the seas in a home I will never visit. This has zero effect on the bond we share. Shared suffering acts as a kind of "glue" that brings together people who experience pain together. Bearing one another's burdens is a biblical way of supporting and caring for our fellow believers in times of need, distress, or weakness. When Paul writes, "Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2), he's calling for believers to actively engage in helping each other by reflecting the love and compassion of Christ. This interconnectedness is essential for the unity of the body of Christ. It calls us to live out our faith through acts of love and mutual support. 

Even if your "burden-bearing" is limited in its extent and shape, you'll never know the impact it has on the lives of your fellow sufferers. So keep sharing the load. Keep being transparent with your grief. You do not travel this road alone. 

Who's Your Favorite Author?

My son-in-law and one of my grandsons are currently in London on a mission trip. Seems my grandson loves to read, so I told him if he ever got the chance, he needs to visit the used bookstores in Piccadilly Circus. I don't know about you, but I've always been able to find a rare book I've been looking for at one of the shops there. 

Hatchards. One of my faves! 

I suppose all of us who love to read have our favorite authors. If you really love a particularly author, chances are good that you have bought most if not all of his or her writings. When you really love an author, you get to love their style. You learn to trust that writer to communicate in a way you can understand and identify with. 

When it comes to the authors of the New Testament, I sort of love them all. But if I had to choose my favorite author, it would have to be the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. Hebrews features some of the most polished and sophisticated Greek in the New Testament. Unlike any other New Testament writing, it uniquely bridges the gap between a written treatise and a spoken sermon. I love that combination! Some have even called Hebrews a literary masterpiece. The Greek reminds the reader of Classical Greek more than Koine Greek. At the same time, the letter is steeped in the Old Testament. It interprets Jewish history as a "shadow" pointing directly to Jesus, who is shown to be our Great High Priest and the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for our sins. 

I have had the great joy of teaching the Greek exegesis of Hebrews about a dozen times in my career, taking about one chapter per week. That's a lot, I know. But students slug through it. I so wish we taught Classical Greek as well as Koine Greek in our seminaries. We did this at Biola back in the day, and oh the difference that made when our students encountered a higher register of Greek in such New Testament books as Luke-Acts, 2 Peter, Jude, and Hebrews. Of course, all these differences are masked in our English versions. That too is unfortunate. If only we worked harder at conveying the stylistic differences between the various writers of the New Testament books! 

Who is your favorite modern author? New Testament author? Old Testament author?

The Blessing of Missions Partners

On our trips to Ethiopia, Becky and I would often take friends with us to share in the work of the ministry there. What a fantastic group they were! Whenever I think of them, I'm reminded of the 3 terms Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus in Phil. 2:19. They are:

• adelphos.
• sunergos.
• sustratiōtēs.

All 3 terms are governed by the pronoun mou, "my." This term speaks of Paul's close and intimate relationship with Epaphroditus, who was a partner with Paul in the ministry.

• "Brother" emphasizes not only that Epaphroditus was a Christian but that he enjoyed a strong brotherly tie with the apostle.
• "Fellow worker" suggests that Epaphroditus was engaged in the same work as Paul, which included evangelism and teaching.
• Finally, "fellow soldier" moves from the world of work to the world of the military. The term implies that Epaphroditus participated with Paul not only in service but in suffering. 

In short, Epaphroditus and Paul:

• Shared the life.
• Shared the work.
• Shared the danger.

Do you have any friends like that? If you do, you are thrice blessed. 

A Teacher's Greatest Virtue

If you want to give your Greek students a Charlie Horse between the ears, ask them to define the word epieikes in Phil. 4:5. This has got to be the hardest word in all of Philippians to render into English. The term combines two words: epi, meaning "on" or "upon," and eikō, meaning "yield." The lexicons say that the term can express any number of ideas, including clemency, gentleness, graciousness, tolerance, indulgence, courtesy, modesty, leniency, reasonableness, magnanimity, kindliness, charitableness, good will, and friendly feelings. It's the opposite of meanness, selfishness, unkindness, malevolence, harshness, severity, and sternness. BDAG suggests "forbearing spirit" as the best translation. I love how the Hawaiian Pidgin version puts it: "Make everybody know dat day no need be scared wen dey talk to you guys, cuz you guys ack gentle wit everybody." My own paraphrase might read, "Let everybody -- believer and unbeliever alike -- see how gracious and considerate you are." 

Gracious and considerate people act with kindness, empathy, and thoughtfulness toward others. They make others feel comfortable and valued. They show gratitude, listen attentively, and remain calm and respectful even in difficult situations. They avoid being hurtful. They remain composed even in stressful times. They use courteous language such as "please" and "thank you." They apologize sincerely when they are wrong. They forgive others instead of holding grudges. 

I think back to Honolulu in the year 1965. It was a city in great need of change. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the Billy Graham Association was led to hold a crusade in the Blaisdell Arena. Yours truly sang every night in the mass choir. I immediately fell in love with Graham's preaching. 

He must have uttered "The Bible says" 30 times during every message he gave. No one could preach like Billy Graham. At the conclusion of his messages, the arena floor would be flooded with people young and old who made their decision for Christ. The city changed. Repentance transformed lives. The crime rate plunged, and renewed lives began to do random acts of kindness toward each other. This wasn't just the "aloha spirit." This was the Holy Spirit.

If you are a teacher like me, please take what I've written to heart. Make being pleasant in the classroom a priority. By having a relaxed, poised, and encouraging demeanor, you will be the kind of teacher students will want to be around. Don't sweat the small stuff. Be willing to meet your students halfway. Be, as William Hendricksen put it, "big-hearted" to everyone you meet. Dr. Harry Sturz, one of my mentors at Biola, was the epitome of pleasantness. 

He was always relaxed and had a gentle demeanor. His comments were always kind and supportive. And even though he was a brilliant scholar, he had no desire to make others feel inferior. He personified epieikes. 

As a new semester begins, try to do that, okay? I'll try to do likewise.