"If I Only Had the Time"

If you have time to fiddle around on Netflix, you have time for Bible study and to go for a walk. 

My First Mission Trip

When I arrived at Biola in 1971, students were required to have a "Christian service assignment" every semester. Some stayed local and helped out in the various ministries located on or near campus. I guess I preferred something a bit more interesting. We were living in a strange, uneasy time when Watts (South Central Los Angeles) had just undergone major riots. It was tricky getting a gig there, but basketball was a door-opener. My buddies and I drove there every Saturday to play pickup ball with the locals. It was interesting, this new connectivity, but it led to actual friendships I treasured. People everywhere crave what they have always craved -- to be known and loved just as they are. We shot hoops and then, during "half time," one of us would share a Bible verse and the gospel with the teens who'd shown up. This was holy territory, this decrepit old basketball court in what people were calling the armpit of LA. Mission trips like these don't require a degree in foreign missions. Heck, sometimes it only means being a good power forward. Remember the theology, folks: the love of God and people is the whole substance of life. 

I always look back on that semester as my first "mission trip" after I left Hawaii. There I learned street apologetics and practiced defending my faith. There my hunger for community, justice, anti-consumerism, and humility was deepened. After graduation, my next "official" mission trip was just after Becky and I had gotten married. It was to a place far different from South Central -- Germany. But the people hadn't changed a bit. They too needed a Savior to fall in love with. This is my point: life is a mission trip. Take it. With every "I am here; use ME, Lord," going into a messy world becomes less terrifying, less overwhelming. 

I'm just saying there's a place for you to be yourself while partnering with Jesus in his worldwide mission. These are people, not projects. You can invest in them with all your guts. 

The Journey Moving Forward

The healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) for a 73 year old male who is 6 feet 4 inches tall is 156 lb to 204 lb. Lean men (with visible muscle definition and lower body fat) often fall on the higher end of that range because muscle is denser than fat. For a muscular but lean look, ideal weight is generally 185-210. Currently I am trying to get down to 12 percent body fat, with the remaining 88 percent being lean body mass (muscle, bone, water, organs, etc.). Based on these stats, my ideal weight at 12 percent body fat is 185 lb (84.5 kg). At my current activity level (lifting 3 days a week, averaging 15,000 to 17,000 steps per day), I will need to lose at least 10 pounds of body fat. This means eating no more than 2,000 calories per day and staying on track with training, protein, and sleep. I think this is possibly doable in 8-10 weeks. 

I think everything is dialed in. The key now is consistency. 

The Hawaiian of John 1:1

As you know, I've been teaching myself Hawaiian. I've always been curious about how this sonorous language works. This morning I decided to have my Bible time in the Hawaiian translation of John. I didn't get very far before I began to notice the most interesting details. John 1:1 reads as follows:

I kinohi ka Logou, me ke Akua ka Logou, a 'o ke Akua nō ka Logou.

This is the revised (or modern) Hawaiian Bible. In the original edition produced by missionaries and native Hawaiian scholars, instead of "I kinohi ka Logou" we read "Ma ka beretane ana, ua ia ka Logos." Note:

1. Logos is now Logou. That's probably because the Hawaiian alphabet does not have an "s." Also, every word or syllable in Hawaiian must end in a vowel. 

2. Originally, kinohi was not used to render the Greek word archē ("beginning"). Instead, beretane was used. The term is apparently derived from the word "Britain," used here probably in the sense of origin, since Hawaii was discovered by a British explorer names James Cook. 

Good old colonialism at work I guess. Incidentally, if you've ever lived on Oahu you'll be very familiar with "Beretania Street." This literally means "Britain Street." It's only two blocks away from "King Street."

One other thing jumped out to me. In the second clause of the verse, the Greek literally reads "and the Word was with the God." Notice the article "the" before "God." No English Bible I'm aware of has ever translated this "the." But the word is beautifully brought out in the Hawaiian Bible: "me ke Akua ka Logou" = "with the God [was] the Word." In Greek, of course, the referent is to God the Father (see verse 18). This is simply amazing, that Hawaiian can translate a nuance that English can't.

Bible translation is such a fascinating topic!  

I Thank You, Lord

Gratias tibi ago, Domine benignissime, pro vitae donis, pro famileae mea amore, et pro valetudine huic die data. In te quiesco, in te spem pono, donec dies novus oriatur. Amen. 

Loving Me Some Latin

Really enjoying reading Augustine's Confessions. His Latin is so beautiful. The classicist G. W. H. Lampe once said, "Augustine writes Latin that sings -- even in argument." His writings are intended to be heard, so read him aloud if you can or you'll miss his rhythmic cadences. I'd record a bit but my voice is a little scratchy tonight. Maybe tomorrow during Snowmageddon. But I can still pray in Latin! 

"You Are What You Eat"

Tonight I was reviewing homophony in Koine Greek (maybe a post on that tomorrow) and I was reminded of the classic German pun:

"Man ist was er isst."

We would say, "You are what you eat." The German, however, is literally "One is what he eats." However, when you say this aloud, another, separate meaning can result -- ""One eats what he is" -- a playful inversion of the English pun. Don't tell me that language never "swallows" meaning when sounds overlap! 

Note: Sometimes "man" is repeated in the German. 

Hawaii No Ka 'Oi!

Just checked the wave conditions at Pipeline on Oahu. They're perfect -- 5-7 feet with a light breeze blowing. Let's clarify something. In California, waves are measured from trough to crest on the front side of the wave. In Hawaii, waves are measured at roughly half the height of the wave's face. Thus a 5 foot wave in Hawaii would be called a 10 foot wave in Cali. So when you read "Pipeline is breaking 5-7 feet," you can imagine wave faces at about 10-13 feet. That's BIG! You could also think of this as Hawaiians measuring wave size by measuring the back of the wave. I also checked Waikiki Beach for wave size, since I will be there (Lord willing) Aug. 4-12 (just bought my plane tickets). Sadly, the waves are currently flat -- at best 0-1 feet on the Hawaiian scale. Thankfully, Waikiki breaks much bigger during the summer months. Last summer when I surfed Waikiki, the waves averaged 2-4 feet with occasional southern-hemisphere swells of 4-6 feet. I cannot wait! 

Hawaii no ka 'oi! ("Hawaii da best!")

Locked In

Yet Another Baby Lamb

Attitude Is a Choice

If you've ever owned horses, you know that horses exhibit some distinctive behaviors. One of these is chomping at the bit. My thoroughbred Traveler did this all the time. 

Once I got him saddled and bridled, he couldn't wait to go for a long cross-country ride, usually at a full gallop. Thoroughbreds are extremely intelligent creatures. When they become bored, they can start playing with the bit. 

Well, to say that I'm chomping at the bit to get back into the classroom would be the world's biggest understatement. Last Monday class was cancelled due to the ice storm we had, and this coming Monday it will be canceled again due to a snowstorm we're expecting. To give you some perspective, after I retired from full-time teaching 4 years ago, I agreed to continue to teach a few classes each year as long as they were in person. No, I'm not against online learning. But I'll leave that to my colleagues. Nothing, and I mean nothing, brings me more satisfaction as a teacher than being able to interact with students face to face. 

Now, one of the greatest challenges in my life has been learning to keep things in perspective. To not sweat the small stuff. To focus on things that truly matter. To not take people or even life itself for granted. And I think one of the best ways to learn perspective is to find gratitude in every single moment of every single day God gives you. Without this perspective it's too easy to get caught up in the small stuff (losing a day or two of class meetings qualifies as "small stuff"). To keep things in perspective, another thing that helps is good old-fashioned prayer, as in "Let go and let God." 

Most worriers do just the opposite. We are forever yelling "Oh no!" when instead we need to repeat to ourselves phrases such as "It's not as bad as you think." After all, my students have my Youtube videos. No, it's not exactly the same thing as being in the classroom, but it's the next best thing and will do just fine as a substitute until we get back to normal weather patterns in Virginia and North Carolina. Focusing on what you have and not on what you don't have is one of the most profound ways to regain perspective and to revive gratitude. Life is full of "real" stuff to mourn -- people losing jobs, spouses, health, children, and the actual ability to walk. Having to miss class two weeks in a row is a bummer, but letting that lead you to frustration or self-pity indicates a serious lack of perspective. Learning to count your blessings during winter storms is how resilience is built when life really slaps you in the head. Just because I love the classroom and grieve the loss of not being able to personally instruct my students doesn't mean I don't understand that there are worse things that can befall a teacher. It's just that teaching makes me so happy that I miss it when I can't do it. Over and over again I have to remind myself how easy it is for me to succumb to tunnel vision. I am so used to things going a certain way that I can easily lose my flexibility to see the big picture. No, the world is not coming to an end. Weather cancellations simply go with the territory. It's all about our attitude. About our approach to life. About making lemonade out of lemons. About seeing the silver living. 

Every autumn, the monarch butterflies in Maine begin an unbelievably difficult journey down to Mexico. Each day they allow their instincts to steer them. Some winds blow them off course. Other winds speed them along. But they keep flying until, one day, they arrive. 

I will take my own advice. I will be tough. I will be grateful. I will control what I can (diet, sleep, exercise, attitude) and keep pushing on. I will keep life in balance and have faith. I will live in a place of gratitude about the present. I will notice the little blessings every day. 

Now go do something you can finally do because everything is cancelled and BE ALIVE!

Ignorance Does Not Mean Inaction

Normalize saying, "I don't know but I'll find out." 

Yes, We Love Latin

It's the perfect day to crack open Augustine's Confessions. 

"An Encumbering Superfluity of Flesh" (Heb. 12:1)

I love this book! 

It's the book of Hebrews.

And I really love Heb. 12:1-2.

And I really really love the noun onkos in verse 1!

So I did a deep dive into the word this morning. Mind if I share the results with you? 

According to the dictionary in the back of my Greek New Testament, onkos is defined as an "impediment, something that gets in one's way." The noun is found only here in the entire New Testament. The imagery, of course, is an athletic one. The thought of persevering in a race is a Pauline concept. He frequently alludes to the games in his writings (1 Cor. 4:9, 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Phil. 3:12-14, 1 Tim. 6:12, 2 Tim. 4:28; see also Heb. 10:32-33). In focus here is both the severe discipline of the competitor and the intensity of the struggle. As for the referent of onkos, either Paul is referring to "the encumbrance of a burden like unnecessary clothing" or else to "the excessive weight of the body." Both of these would render the runner less prepared for the race. A spectator may look at a race dispassionately, from a distance. But the runner must tax every muscle to the utmost if he wants to finish the race. Even if you've only run a 5K, you know what I'm talking about. Unless we run with endurance, we will not advance, and unless we advance, we will not attain the goal. 

So, what is this "weight"? It's anything that might be allowable in and of itself and even be a blessing that God has given us. But for whatever reason, it's an impediment in our running the race of the Christian life. If we would run and run well, we must lay it aside. These may be good things, but they nevertheless would encumber our running and impede our progress. 

May I now switch gears here a bit and apply this to the physical realm for a moment? As an accidental late-stage athlete, one onkos I deal with is weight. I mean, literal weight. As you know, I have a big race coming up soon, as well as another climb planned for the alps this summer. Currently I am around 15 percent body fat but would like to get that down to 10-12 percent by the end of April. This will not happen without a disciplined diet along with regular exercise. I laughed out loud when I saw how one commentator defined onkos: "an encumbering superfluity of flesh." Wordy but oh so true! That's why, for an athlete of any stripe, weight loss is so important. 

Now, fat loss per se only reveals the physique you have. I don't recommend chasing 10 percent body fat if you don't already have a base of muscle. It's really all about improving the ratio of muscle to fat. Once you build a decent amount of muscle, you are ready to get to 10-12 percent body fat. You begin to weigh yourself daily, looking at weekly averages, and taking regular progress photos. You see, getting lean is pretty simple. It doesn't require any esoteric knowledge or techniques. It simply requires consistent repetition of some really straightforward basics. If that's something you aspire to, remember that the more muscle you have, the easier it is to get lean and stay lean. Conversely, the less muscle you have, the harder it will be to maintain leanness because you'll burn fewer calories at rest. As you know, last year I lost 40 pounds in 10 months. That's one pound per week. But once I got to 200-202 pounds-ish, I plateaued. This often happens. The scientific term for it is metabolic adaptation. Your body loves homeostasis, so it wants to keep you at a certain weight. For weeks my weight stayed the same. But a couple of weeks ago I began a new cut. And this was my weight today.

This is very encouraging because I'd like to weigh no more than 185 pounds come race day (32 miles is a hefty distance to run with extra onkos). Again, I want to be clear that the goal is not to get shredded or jacked but to get lean. The main difference between jacked and lean is this: when you're jacked, you're just extremely muscular. You're huge in fact. You have a lot of mass. Being lean, on the other hand, is having a moderate amount of muscle. I think the latter is definitely achievable for most of you guys who are reading this blog post. It's also probably closer to what most men actually want. When you're lean, muscle becomes more visible. Every single pound of muscle you put on through weight training is just a lot more apparent. You're actually able to see changes in your physique. And that makes your everyday activities consistently more enjoyable. 

Some of you may have the goal of trying to lose some body fat this year. This is my goal for the new year as well. I'm trying to get under 15 percent body fat for the first time in decades. I've done a decent job of dealing with the excess fat I've been carrying and building some muscle on my skinny frame, but I still have a long way to go. If you take away only one thing from this post, please remember that muscle building should be a priority for anyone who is overweight because building muscle is like compound interest in the fitness game. Build it as early as possible and it will benefit you for years to come. It's never too late or too early to get started "laying aside every weight."  Building muscle is the long-term play that makes your body look, feel, and function better at every body fat percentage.  

Have a wonderful day! 

Babies!

Two more born today. God is good! 

That "Difficult" Person

"There is nothing that makes us love a person so much as praying for him" -- William Law. 

Working Out

I don't know who needs to hear this, but being a Christian is a sweaty struggle. It's the most difficult thing you'll ever do. But know what? Gigantic rewards await those who accept the struggle, work diligently, and don't give up.

The same is true for fitness. 

So Much for a Crowded Gym

Previously I mentioned that my gym has seen an influx of people working out or having new starts. Suddenly, everything becomes super crowded in January. Yet come February or late January and it's empty, like it was today. 

Where's the follow through? If you're part of the 10 percent (I made that number up) of people who actually stick to your new plans in 2026, here's a high five. Some people try to tackle a goal so big it's impossible to accomplish. That's just asking for failure. I've been there, believe me. Eventually you just have to stop making excuses and follow through with your plans. There is no secret. Just get 'er done.

P.S. There is one upside to an empty gym. You don't have to wait for the pullup bar :) 

Jeff Galloway's Walk-Run Method

Met this random dude before running the City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh a few years ago. 

I love hanging out with heroes. I think I own all of his books. Jeff Galloway popularized the method of marathoning called the run-walk method. It all boils down to two maxims:

Run as slowly as you need to in order to remain comfortable.

Take walk breaks as necessary. 

You get the best of both worlds this way: You build endurance, and you avoid injury. It has gotten me through 45 half marathons, 20 full marathons, and 3 ultra marathons. And it's definitely more enjoyable than trying to run each and every step of the entire distance. I've found that walk breaks, when taken early and often enough, keep my muscles strong and resilient so that I can actually enjoy the race. 

The human body simply wasn't designed to run long distances without a break. But when you alternate walking and running, there's virtually no limit to the distance you can cover. 

Thanks for reading! 

No Turning Back

I was 8 when the Lord saved me. One of the songs I quickly learned was called "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." It went like this:

I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back.

No turning back.

Becoming a follower of Jesus was an all-out commitment, similar to the one I made to Becky 50 years ago. As soon as the words "Till death do us part" came out of my mouth, the exact same words were repeated by her. We had pledged our lives to each other! When I made that commitment at 24, I was nervous. I had no idea what lay ahead. And there were risks aplenty. But I vowed to love her with all my heart -- no matter what. Likewise, when I was born into the family of God, God pledged to accept me in Christ unconditionally, for better, for worse. And I made the commitment to follow him for the rest of my days. 

Similarly, I've found in my weight loss journey that I need to be all in if it's going to work. When Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico in 1519, he ordered his ships destroyed to compel his soldiers to fight without the prospect of retreat. 

Similar acts are attributed to Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. It signifies full commitment to a chosen path.

When we embark on a weight loss journey, my friend, we need to scuttle our boats. We have to become "locked in." There is no Plan B anymore. You're fully invested. You have to have skin in the game. There's no other option than that because you've burned the boats. Plan B options have all gone up in smoke. It's full focus mode. You're dialed in for life. There's no other option than to succeed.

So go ahead -- DO something that requires your total commitment so that you can actually use your body -- the leanness, the strength, all that stuff -- and do something for God with all that fitness. 

Have you burned your boats yet?  

My Day in Pics

Nine, to be exact.

1. The storm has moved out. I hope we don't see radar like this again for a very long time.

2. Big shout out to VDOT for keeping the roads in excellent condition this morning.

3. This enabled me to get to the Y for a treadmill step session. Et voila! 

4. When I returned and weighed myself, the scale said 197. I'll take it. 

5. The grandkiddos are as active as usual. Noah, I see, is becoming quite the artist.

6. As for Reuben .... what on earth? Did he just discover a Dead Sea scroll???

7. Chesley keeping watch over the babies. Way to go, young man! 

8. Greek starts tonight in absentia. The subject? The aorist and imperfect middle/passive indicative. Yes, Greek can be mundane and boring. 

9. A mother's work is never done. 

Have a wonderful day wherever you are and whatever you're doing, friends! 

Peace in the Storm

Well, the storm has passed. We were spared (our power is still on) but a million of my fellow Americans are without electricity. Certainty in life is a rip-off artist. The more men try to control the world, including the weather, the more they realize they can't. God alone "does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of earth" (Dan. 4:35). I confess I was a worry wart over the past couple of days, concerned about the animals and the kids and the grandkids and the homeless. All I could do was place myself -- and them -- in his care. Entirely. Prayer, not despair, was the only recourse. I asked the Lord to spare us or at least mitigate the impact of the storm. In a sense, I think he did just that. "Prayer," writes Eugene Peterson, "is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters" (Eph. 6:18, MSG). 

How about you? When we face the perfect storm, God provides the perfect peace. "MY peace I give you," said Jesus (John 14:27), and that "my" is extraordinarily emphatic in the Greek (go here to see why). This is his peace. And it can be ours. It IS ours if we claim it.

Some Advice That Really Helped Me

Everyone knows that fast food isn't a good idea when you're trying to get healthy. 

Spiritual fast food presents the same challenge. Long-term spiritual growth isn't produced by a quick glance at the Bible on our way out the door. When I was a teenager, Pastor Jim Cook of International Baptist Church in Honolulu told his "preacher boys" (there were about 7 of us) that skimming the surface of the Scripture only makes for shallow Christians. God longs for us to dig deeper, he said, so that we can find out what he may by saying to us in the midst of our busy lives. I have now lived long enough to realize the truth of those words. It's not that I'm against rapid reading. I am, however, against superficial, mindless reading that doesn't prompt us to think about what we're reading. 

The Bible has exactly zero percentage of junk food. Rather, it provides an enormous amount of healthy nutrition. To tap into it may require us to change up our reading habits a bit.

Have a safe and warm Sunday! 

Shared Vulnerability = Shared Strength (or, Thoughts on a Winter Storm)

Well, folks, tonight some big, bad, mean winter storm is supposed to move in (they even used the "I-word" -- as in ICE, and I'm not talking about immigration). Those meteorologists better not be lying again. If they're right, I plan to sit by the fire while my children rub my feet and serve me hot chocolate. (Oh wait, the kids don't live here anymore.)

It looks like everything's coming together in the perfect storm -- frigid temps, wind, snow, sleet, and freezing rain ( = ICE!!). Oh, did I mention massive power outages? Since I need a little extra cash, I've decided to apply to be a storm watcher on the Weather Channel, you know the idiot guy who stands in the middle of a blizzard and holds onto a pole to keep from being hurled into the next county? Then again ... 

How quickly our priorities realign in the face of life's storms. Everything is sailing along normally and then -- BAM! -- we remember what's really important, not least of which is the fact God is God and we are not. It's in times like these that we remember him. And we remember what is of eternal value -- family, love, and faith. 

We've heard it a million times: don't focus on the negative; focus on all the good that is happening in your life, be it your health, your relationships, or even a cup of hot chocolate by a warm fire. This isn't to say that a huge artic blast isn't crappy. Frankly, I'm not looking forward to losing power for days or to icy, impassable roads for just as long. But since my wife passed away, I've learned that in the midst of loss and tragedy there are still lots of fantastic things happening in my life. You learn to move in and out of grief just as surely as you breathe the air around you. Whatever ugliness transpires this week, there is still so much beauty and goodness to behold, like this pic my daughter sent me this morning. 

This goatlet was born this morning along with his twin brother. It's the smallest and most random of things, but what a smile he brought to my face as I thought of how God planned for that little guy to be born into our herd so we could look after him during the storm. You see, in the middle of the darkness and the cold, there are moments of joy found in births and healings and text messages from family. The human connection is often the closest during hardships. Yesterday my son spent hours getting my farm ready for the storm and even re-insulated my well pump for me. His wife brought me farm fresh eggs and delicious bread she had baked herself. Goodness has oozed out from each and every one of my kids and grandkids, demonstrating anew that love (as Paul said) never fails, though power lines may. 

The way I see it, our job is to recognize that though we all have problems and difficulties, we should never be limited by them. I thought about that this morning as I got in my last gym workout for who knows how many days. Here's a post-workout pic. 

I have come so far. Why should I stop now? Why shouldn't I set for myself new weight loss and fitness goals for 2026? So what if I fail? No one, and I mean no one, goes through life unscathed, especially if they set for themselves lofty goals. A few years ago I ran a marathon on New Year's Day in Allen, Texas. The temp was literally 1 degree Fahrenheit for the entire race. I remember wearing layers and layers of clothing and still feeling like I was  freezing to death. I remember the blisters I got on my feet because of the concrete sidewalks we were running on and how I had to walk many of the remaining miles. I remember how despite all the difficulties, 45 of us finished the race anyway. Folks, I could count my blessings and gifts countlessly. 

Oddly enough, the verse the Lord gave me this morning during my devotions was Heb. 1:3. 

It's a reminder that Christ "holds everything together by his powerful word." The idea of the participle pherōn is one of "sustaining, preserving, governing, and upholding." Here the whole work of Christ's providence over nature is set forth. He does what he pleases. His plan is absolute and irresistible. He bears up the pillars of the universe. He preserves every creature (even newborn goats) in its being. He supplies all with the necessities of life. The whole course of nature and history reveals the Son. Philo called him "the pilot and steersman of everything." Yes, the world is unpredictable and constantly changing. But even  natural disasters bring us all closer together. Through desperate times, we are reminded of what is truly lasting. 

I am remaining hopeful that the storm won't be as bad as the prognosticators are telling me. Either way, let's deal with it the best we can while continuing to make efforts to be sure our family members and neighbors are cared for. Our shared vulnerability is our shared strength. 

Man

Homo sapiens = man the thinker.

Homo faber = man the maker.

Homo ludens = man the player.

Have all three, and the game of life is magnificent. 

Hawaii Calls

While getting ready (along with 200 million other Americans) for the winter blast that's coming this weekend, I've been watching the Live Cam from the Sheraton Waikiki. 

As you can see, the waves are pretty flat. That's typical for winter. Oahu experiences seasonal shifting swells. The North Shore breaks from about November to April, while the South Shore (which includes Waikiki) breaks from May to September. The East Shore (or the Windward Side, where I was raised) has waves year-round, while the North Shore swells can wrap around to the Leeward (Western) Shore of Oahu and break at such beaches as Makaha. During the winter, the South Shore is usually flat, while during the summer the North Shore is usually flat. That said, the South Shore can still have some good days during the winter months. The nice thing about growing up as a surfer on Oahu is that you always had rideable waves regardless of the season of the year. Kailua (my hometown) had a shore break, a reef break, an island break, and a point break. At 16 (shown below), I had a fondness for the beach at Kailua. 

The waves rarely got bigger than 5-6 feet, but there were almost always rideable waves to be enjoyed. If I didn't surf Kailua, it was only a 30 minute drive to Waikiki or Ala Moana or Panic Point, which this photo shows I am about to enjoy at the age of 19 while on summer break from Biola. 

If the South Shore was flat, it was only a 45 minute drive to the North Shore. I still find Waikiki enjoyable because of its long, rolling break -- perfect for a longboard. During the winter season, Sunset Beach sure was a lot of fun, along with Pupukea. If you're actually going to surf 300-365 days a year like we did, you will want to live really close to the ocean. 

Pretty eager to get back there this summer to surf as well as do some teaching! 

The Community Called "Gym"

The gym community is just that -- a community. I hope newcomers see a community with wide-open arms, that welcomes and is determined to build one another up. I hope they find us kind and always willing to help another member. May we show love in big and small ways, because we are not a tribe of superhumans but a collective of fitness conscious pilgrims. My own gym, I think, is a good example of what I'm talking about. At the gym, we're not Lone Rangers. We don't just train solo. We show up for others, not just for ourselves. This may mean spotting for someone on a heavy bench press, or cheering someone on their last rep of a hard set, or videotaping each other so that we can evaluate ourselves after our workout, as a friend did for me today. 

When you're part of a fitness community, feelings of intimidation and self-doubt are greatly reduced, and overall mental wellbeing is given a hefty boost. Remember, behind every person you meet at the gym, there is a story. At the end of the day, it's the little things that count -- giving a fist bump, saying "Good to see ya," observing the rules of gym etiquette such as re-racking your weights. That's because it's not just the barbells and machines that make up a gym, but the people. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Today's step count.

Today's progress photo. Grateful for small improvements! 

The Brutal Truth about Fat Loss and Muscle Building

Guys, one of the things I've learned in the past 2 years is that literally anyone can get in shape. This is what I used to look like:

I wanted to show you so that you could have some proof that I actually did a transformation and, by God's grace, was able to change my body. You can see that I had a good amount of body fat and didn't have a lot of muscle. I just remember waking up every morning and looking in the mirror and I wasn't super happy with what I saw. I remember thinking that my physique was predetermined and that I was just going to have an average to below average physique for the rest of my life. Thankfully, I was able to completely change my look through just a few basic steps that anyone can do. As a result, I lost a lot of body fat, gained a bit of muscle, and just overall lived a much healthier and better lifestyle. As I said, literally anybody can get into good shape and be healthier.

When I started my weight loss journey, the biggest challenge I ran into was avoiding an all-or-nothing mindset. I would make progress and then fall back into my old eating patterns. I would be filled with anxiety and regret about it and it was all very discouraging. I had to learn that it's okay to eat in a moderate (not gigantic) calorie deficit and have cheat meals occasionally. As the old Greek proverb says, "Moderation is a good thing." Progress isn't a day-to-day type thing. It simply needs to be an overall pattern. How am I trending? Am I making progress in a gradual and a realistic and sustainable way? My point here is that you can't expect to get into shape in a couple of months. It's going to take longer than that. In addition, all progress should be fun and exciting. If you lose a pound of weight in a month, that's a good thing. It's something to be celebrated. And if you can increase your calorie deficit up to 500 calories each day, you can even expect one pound of body weight loss per week (which is what I ended up doing over a 10-month period).

The other thing I struggled with was the number on the scale. Scale weight is influenced by many different factors including water weight, sodium retention, a high carb meal the night before you go to bed, and even your hormones. All of these factors will show up on the scale. You need to look for trends over time. So again, going back to what I was saying earlier, you need to be super patient with yourself. I like to compare weight loss to a sport you love doing, like basketball or surfing. It's something you're going to look forward to doing and sustaining throughout your life. I think this mindset is totally worth developing when you're getting into shape. Learn how to get back on track the day after you've messed up because we're all human and will makes mistakes. There's always going to be bumps in the road no matter what we're trying to accomplish in life. Don't think that making a mistake is abnormal. It's actually extremely normal. Just learn the skill of getting back on track. 

Everyone wants fat loss yesterday. But fat loss isn't quick or easy. Here's the brutal truth. You're going to have to cut way back on your junk food for a few years. You will probably need to be in the gym 3 times a week. And when you're there you're going to have to push yourself harder than last time. And if you go over your calories, you're going to have to get back on schedule straightaway. You're going to do all this for a very, very long time. No one wants to hear this. But it's the reality. Even if you just take that one truth away from this blog post, you're 80 percent of the way there. The key is to stay consistent over time and win every day, day by day. 

Well, guys, just some thoughts about how to lose fat and build muscle. Thanks so much for reading. 

Did You Know I'm a Proponent of the Critical Text?

Indeed I am. And I say that as someone who's not a reasoned eclectic. Here's my Greek New Testament. I've had it for decades. 

I've had it rebound 3 times and I need to do it again. 

And which edition of the Greek New Testament is it?

The UBS3 (Corrected Edition)! 

Yes, a Critical Text! 

I love this book. I read it each and every day without fail. I love it's font size and print type. I love its extensive footnotes and detailed list of witnesses for the variants. I especially love the fact that the ancient versions and fathers are included in the apparatus. 

So does this make me a proponent of the Critical Text? Absolutely. But I'm also a proponent of the Byzantine text form. Guys, I'm in favor of any Greek New Testament you will actually use. Yes, there are there some pretty major differences between the Greek texts on the market today in terms of their textual apparatus. But whichever text you use, I hope it encourages personal engagement, serious study, and heartfelt devotion to the Lord. I can assure you, there is life-giving power in the word of God. And there is no joy comparable to the joy that comes from a first-hand study of the Scriptures. PLEASE don't get so bogged down in the debates about the "best text" that you fail to read the one you own! 

"Thank You, God, for School!"

"Non scholae sed vitae discimus." -- Ancient Latin proverb. 

"Thank you, God, for school!" I actually uttered those words this morning. Let me explain. I started school when I was 5. Kainalu Elementary School was a Paradise for me. 

A 5-year old does not yet understand life, but he may well understand mystery. Even at that young age I knew that school would always play a big role in my life. That somehow I had always been and would always be a student. My every day was filled with exploration. By the 5th grade I had reached the zenith of my earthly existence. Not only was I learning Spanish in school, I was playing the trumpet in the band (all 4 of us) and serving as auditor in the school's "bank" (sponsored by the Bank of Hawaii). In time I became a hopeless reader. Books teleported me from a tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean to the forests of Maine (the Hardy Boys series) or the battlefields of Europe (Churchill's The Second World War). I had discovered what a wonderful thing it was to be a human being. 

The Greek word for school (the Latin, too) means "leisure." No capitalist propaganda here! "We study, not for school, but for life" reads the Latin proverb I quoted above. Of course, some ideas do well in the marketplace. Study Greek and you might end up earning a livelihood at it. But the idea behind "school" is the notion that people pursue understanding for its own sake. I am here to tell you that to be a fulfilled person in this life, you must be a lifelong learner. I admit, for example, to being a self-taught linguist. I never had a course in linguistics but still managed to write several books on the subject. I stand here now hoping to transmit that love of learning to the young. I will not deny that I am a Greek specialist. But I will not plead guilty to an "I-am-done-learning" attitude.

Folks, if you want to be an educated person, you must do it yourself. AI can help, but it's no substitute for self-discovery. Spend at least one hour every day in studying something. Never lose that curiosity you had when you were in elementary school. Most importantly, begin your day with the Book of books. If you fail to learn doctrine, don't blame your pastor. It is your own responsibility.

"Thank you, God, for school!"

All day.

Every day. 

Stepping Out in Faith

Every step today was a gift directly from the hand of God. 

Thank you, Lord, with all my heart.

"When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble" (Prov. 4:12, NIV).

Clarkesville by the Lake: My Fair City

I'm Giving Away a Copy of Learn to Read New Testament Greek

Ladies and gents, to celebrate God's amazing goodness to me for allowing me to enter my 50th year of teaching Greek, I'm happy to say that I'm giving away a copy of my beginning grammar. 

It can be used along with my free Youtube videos. 

Now, there are many similar grammars out there and none of them are alike. Mine may not be suitable for you. So if you would, kindly mosey on over to Amazon and read the top reviews of my book. If you're still convinced that it would fit your learning style, send me an email at black@sebts.edu and I will enter you in the drawing. Cut-off time is tomorrow (Tuesday, 1/20/2026) at 6:00 pm. When you write, tell me why you're excited about studying Greek, and be sure to include your mailing address in case you win. I promise to read every single email I get.

Love you guys!

Aww ... Farm Life :-)

The Truth Will Set You Free

Dear students,

No one can think for you. Or needs to. What Luther thought, you may think. What the apostle Paul felt, you may feel. What has befallen any great saint, you may experience. You have permission to live life to its fullest. 

Nobody ever said it would be easy. But we were not put on this earth to avoid pain or hard work. However reluctant, we must enter the arena. It is just you and your God. It is, as Ecclesiastes noted, a pilgrimage with inexpressibly joyful peaks and unspeakably painful valleys. At times you will soar like an eagle, and at times you will become so weary you can barely walk. All of which means you must keep going.

Fellow teachers, let's give our students substance this semester. Believe it or not, they crave depth. Let's give them the goods. Just speak the truth because the truth will set them free. With truth comes light, and when enough bright lights are created, the darkness has nowhere to hide. 

God bless us all,

Dave 

You Got This

Today's step count:

Friends, beginning is easy. Staying consistent and motivated is the hard part. Lean hard on the Lord. He got you started. He will see you through. 

Grateful and Blessed

Guys, I'm doing a 90-day cutting challenge right now and it's a lot harder than I thought. But I'm seeing progress. I'm so grateful and blessed to be in this position. 

God is good. 

Only One Week to Go!

So excited for classes to start in exactly one week. I know I'm capable of being a good teacher only by the grace of God! 

Here Are 20 Signs You're Losing Body Fat

I know it's different for everyone, but here are some signs of fat loss I've noticed in others as well as in my own weight loss journey. Maybe you can identify :-). 

1. Your clothes start fitting looser.

2. You start looking leaner.

3. The number on the scale starts coming down.

4. Your daily energy is increasing.

5. You experience better sleep, which means more fat burning.

6. You're appropriately hungry, not starving.

7. You have improved health markers such as decreased blood pressure and lower LDL.

8. Your step count is probably up 2-3,000 steps per day.

9. You want to move more.

10. You have increased muscle definition throughout your body, including your abs. 

11. Your ankles don't look swollen anymore.

12. You have a mindset shift from "I have to" to "I enjoy this!"

13. Doing physical activity is much easier.

14. It hurts when you bump into things.

15. Getting out of a chair is a lot easier.

16. You can cut your own toenails again.

17. You enjoy fruits and veggies more.

18. You stop eating when you're satisfied rather than when you're stuffed.

19. Your skin is getting jiggly around your midsection as your fat cells begin to shrink. 

20. Your necklace no longer looks like a choker. 

I sincerely hope you become the best possible version of yourself in 2026. Slow and steady wins the race! 

My Verse for the Week

Just decided on my theme verse for Jan. 19-25. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Col. 3:2). May my heart be where my treasure is! 

Great Promise!

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans" (Prov. 16:3).

Blessings,

Dave 

The Art of Observation in Bible Study (Mark 10:46-52)

Today's sermon was from my favorite Gospel -- According to Mark. It was a deep dive into the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). 

The theme was "great faith" and there were four points:

1. Great faith sees yourself the way Jesus sees you.

2. Great faith stays on mission.

3. Great faith surrenders your comforts.

4. Great faith trusts even when it is difficult.

I took pages of notes. 😋

Incidentally, I noticed that there was only one verb in this passage that was in the perfect tense. 

If you read Greek, I think you'll understand why. 

It's those little details that I just love about the Bible, don't you? Sherlock Holmes was fond of saying to people who were amazed at his investigative powers, "You see, but you don't observe." The ability to observe what is in Scripture is something that has to be developed. You can't get it through a fly-by-night approach to the Bible. No, there's nothing wrong with the "Through the Bible in a Year" method of Bible reading. (I emphasize this because in the past week I ran across two different Youtube videos in which I was told to immediately STOP reading my Bible this way. Sheesh. You're not my mother.) One of the reasons I tell my students to master Greek is so that they can boost their powers of observation when they read Scripture. And I give them plenty of opportunities to test their skills out on various portions of the word of God. It's funny how often little things make a difference. 

There's a vast difference, my friend, between merely seeing and carefully observing. Pay special attention to words and grammatical structure. Also take a careful look at the context. Always use a pen or pencil to record your observations in and around the text. Expect to find something new in whatever passage you're studying! 

Who Am I? (and ... Who are YOU?)

Sometimes I'm not sure whether I'm a lifter who teaches Greek or a teacher who lifts weights. The two have become inseparable in my life. I cannot teach others to exercise discipline (in learning to master a truly difficult language) without teaching myself to exercise discipline (in learning a hobby as physically and mentally demanding as lifting). Dividing my athletic life from my intellectual life would be as easy as splitting a piece of plywood. 

When I teach, I am the expert. When I lift, I become the student. When I write a book or even a blog post, I begin with an idea. Then I allow that idea to percolate. I will occasionally inspect it. If it stands up to scrutiny, a book or blog eventuates as a finished product. 

What writing is to my intellectual life, lifting is to my physical life. You ask yourself, "Do I really need to be fit?" In my case, the answer is a clear yes. And when that certainty strikes you, you accept the challenge eagerly. 

Neither writing nor lifting is easy. And no matter how well you do either of them, you are never satisfied. Regardless, the idea of effort is natural to both.

The Christian, for all he talks about heaven and the afterlife, knows that the here-and-now has infinite possibilities. He lives on full alert for the opportunities. Even if a man had no reason to believe in God, he would still invent a reason to get the most out of the game of life. The ancient injunction "Know thyself" still applies. 

And the best way to know yourself is through an analysis of your God-given gifts and callings. Who I am is no mystery. I am a teacher. I am an athlete. Neither were accidental choices on my part. 

A philosopher once said, "Man reveals himself through his body." Paul wrote, "And so dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy -- the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is that too much to ask?" (Rom. 12:1, TLB). The believer answers, "No, it is not." 

When I draw a portrait, I am concerned simply with the physical aspect of the person. 

Yet in that portrait, a person's soul reveals itself.

We are all, in the words of 1 Thess. 5:23, "body, soul, and spirit." Even the staunchest dichotomist will accept that we are at least material and immaterial beings.

My body shows you who I am.

Who are you?

Take a look. 

Notes on Inerrancy (11)

Even though the autographs (original documents) of Scripture are unavailable to us today, the ascription of inerrancy to these documents still stands. Restricting inerrancy to the autographs enables us to consistently confess the truthfulness of God. Only with an inerrant autograph can we avoid attributing error to the God of truth because he, in the pages of Scripture, takes responsibility for the very words of the biblical authors. 

To assert that God could breath forth a word that contained mistakes is to say, in effect, that God himself can make mistakes! 

Preaching Always Involves Exhortation

With Greek exegesis starting up in a few days, I'm reminded that preaching involves three things.

1. We read the text.

2. We explain the text.

3. We exhort on the basis of the text.

Step 3 is indispensable. Here God confronts us where we live and the Bible is related to life. Thus the preaching task is not finished until we relate the passage to the experience of our hearers, who are called on to live under God in the light of biblical revelation.

Effective sermons always relate biblical truth to life. And they do so in a specific, not general, way. 

The Week in Review

It was an amazing week of workouts. For the most part I'm pleased with my 7-day step count. 

As long as I can average over 12,000 steps daily, I'll be content. This week, as per usual, I had three strength training sessions, including today's. 

It's a sad thing to see the gym so empty. 

Already the newbies who started at the beginning of January (after making a "resolution" to do so) appear to be falling by the wayside. One of my own resolutions this year is to read more. As you know, I want to be a person who is interested in learning and doing new things. I think that books can help you do that. One area I do follow through on is training. It seems that I never lack motivation in that area of my life. For 2026, I am only picking training goals I am excited about. No "shoulds." In addition to my May ultra, June climb, and July wave-riding adventure on Oahu, I'm looking into the idea of returning to Colorado to run the Bolder Boulder again. I am very very sad that I won't be able to visit Israel as planned in order to promote the release of my new grammar, but obviously the timing isn't right in light of world events. Here are some things I'm not going to do:

• Hang out with people who bring me down.
• Miss a chance to spend time with my kids and grandkids.
• Sweat the small stuff. 
• Dwell on the negative.
• Quit.

Someone has said that when we humans set goals, we often play it way too safe and pick goals we think we can easily accomplish. I think there's a lot of truth to that notion. Why are we so reticent to stretch ourselves and take risks? Goals that aren't very intimidating probably aren't worth having in the first place. I remember signing up for my first marathon. I was so scared and excited. Just the thought of crossing the finish line brought tears to my eyes. One of the things 2025 taught me is that just when you think you're working as hard as you can, you're not. The point is not that we achieve our goals, but that we go on to another level and become better. For example, I'm still chasing down a Boston-qualifying marathon time. To some of you that might not sound like much, but so far I've failed in 20 attempts. Training and working towards BIG goals takes a whole different mindset -- one I am ready to tackle! Life is all about understanding and tapping into your full potential. The goal is to stay in the game long enough to let the tough times pass and move into brighter days. 

Enough rambling, however. For those of you who joined the gym but are thinking about stopping, be proud of your body regardless of the flaws you see. Always have a fitness goal, be it running, cycling, lifting, anything. The more you work out (be it at a gym or elsewhere), the healthier you will become. It just takes time and perseverance.