Weigh Thyself

One habit to develop on your way to 15 percent body fat is weighing yourself every single day. This is not just a means of monitoring progress. It can be the cause of progress. Half the reason why people hire fitness coaches isn't due to their expertise. It's simply the accountability they provide. You can provide this accountability for yourself. Every morning before food step on the scale. This is one of the most effective habits you can have when you're trying to get lean. I started out at 240 pounds. After 11 months of training, this is what I saw one morning. 

It was so helpful to be able to track my progress and witness how my weight loss journey had been developing. The same can be true of you. 

A Healthy Admission

Normalize saying: "I don't know enough about this subject to have a strong opinion -- yet." 

The Power of Routine

Whatever your goal is -- whether it's to achieve a lean physique, or build a strong marriage, or master a foreign language (like Greek) -- achieving that goal is not a glamourous flurry of activity. It is the result of small and distinctly unglamorous actions. It is the manifestation of unspectacular but unrelenting routine. 

Remember that. 

Yes, You Have the Time

If you have an hour to spend on social media, you also have time to go for a walk. 

A Classic Word Study Fallacy

Who else can vividly remember the moment you realized just how ridiculous it is to say that God loves a "hilarious" giver? 

Let's Be Honest

MEN:

There's no shame in admitting that at least 50% of the reason you exercise is because you hate being fat. 

73 Going on 45

73 going on 45, and honestly, that's exactly how I feel. A year ago I stopped making excuses and started showing up for myself. It started with me just wanting to get rid of unwanted body fat, but it's become so much more than that. Now, at 73, I feel stronger, healthier, and more alive than I have in decades. I truly feel 45. 

If you've been waiting for just the "right" time to start getting into shape, it's today. Stop waiting for that "perfect" time to arrive. Start now. Your body will change, but the real transformation will be much deeper. 

It's not about muscles. It's about becoming the man God created you to be. If you're ready to take that first step, he's there to help you. 

Band Assisted Pull Ups

I'm a huge band guy. It's a great way to decrease the weight of a pull up so you can slowly build your way up to an unassisted pull up. Try them. You will like them! 

Pain

Hear me out. We all know that with aging come all sorts of physical problems. Numerous aches, pains, and infirmities surface. I've had to cancel my 10 mile run in Lynchburg tomorrow because I pulled a muscle in my back. 

It's a sharp pain I've never had before. Here's the thing. You can't fake a 10 mile race. Any ache or pain you have when you get to the starting line will increase by 100-fold over the course of the race. Even if you should start the race with nothing hurting, by the time you finish everything will be hurting. Turns out my back pain stems from all the pullups I've been doing without taking at least a day off in between. The lesson in all of this? Slow down. Be wise. Take breaks between sets. You're not invincible, Dave. Know when to say when, but never give up. Remember that taking care of yourself and giving up are two completely different things. 

I am not a lover of pain. The doc gave me hydrocodone but I'm reluctant to take it. That might change ASAP. Pain is trying to tell you something and you need to listen. Pain is a weird thing. Sometimes you can push right through it. Sometimes you have to just stop what you're doing and heal. I'll obviously be taking a few days off from exercise. I'm in a lot of pain and can't really do anything.

Linus's Blanket and Gospel Origins

"The simplest truths often meet the sternest resistance and are also slow in getting general acceptance." Frederick Douglass.

Perhaps Charles Schultz's most adorable character was Linus. Never do we see him without his blanket. It's his cover. It keeps him safe. He can hide behind it if necessary.

We can all relate to Linus.

Modern gospel scholarship wraps itself with its own Linus Blanket -- unbridled speculation. "All the evidence that has been accumulated from various sources goes to prove most conclusively that our earliest Gospel is that of Mark." One could only wish. Perhaps the quintessential evidence of pedagogical puffery is the invention of a "document" called Q. 

We see everything as we want it to be.

Regardless of groundless guesses, hyperbolical hypotheses, and endless errors, there is a simple alternative to the Markan priority hypothesis. What if someone offered counterarguments to the consensus view? A theory that requires exactly zero hypothetical documents? 

And here's a thought. What if I told you that the earliest Christian scholars all agreed that our first Gospel was Matthew's? What could possibly be gained by ignoring their testimony? Instead, to protect our "solid conclusions," we drape ourselves in our own Linus Blanket.

I could say more, but there's already an entire book out there on the subject. 

Appreciate Your Slow Progress

 Keep on grinding.

Hebrews and the Doctrine of Indecision

"Progress is the victory of a new thought over old superstitions." Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

In recent years I have defended a couple of classic views concerning New Testament scholarship. What's interesting is that I'm espousing positions the church held to for centuries. You might say I'm resurrecting positions that many students are completely unaware of today. I've concluded that Stanton's quote might well have it backwards. Maybe we could restate it as following:

"Progress is the victory of an old view over new superstitions."

An example from the American Civil War might help. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that  Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, a deeply religious Presbyterian, refused to fight on Sunday to honor God's day of rest. 

Quite a fable.

• Jackson stood firm on Kearny Hill in the first major battle of the Civil War.
• 8 months later he fought the battle of Kernstown.
• 2 months later Jackson defended the rolling hills at the battle of Cross Keys.
• During the Maryland Campaign, Jackson's gunners pounded the hapless Federals for 4 hours at Harper's Ferry.

As you can probably guess, each of these battles took place on a Sunday.

Groupthink is a human temptation. Everyone does it. No one avoids it. We engage in promoting our "new" theories that overturn those old "fuddy duddy" views of our forefathers. 

Historians must be alert for this omnipresent characteristic of scholarship. When conducting our research -- the detective work of a New Testament scholar -- we must be cognizant of groupthink and be careful not to accept something as true simply because "most scholars" say it is so. We must challenge our sources, question our facts, and be sage with our skepticism. Discernment is our defence.

How can any self-respecting scholar hold to the Pauline authorship of Hebrews today? 

The charge is often leveled. In my view, to sustain the doctrine of indecision about authorship you need to chose to ignore obvious evidence. It's the oldest game in human history: "Just trust me." Henry Ward Beecher is famous for his pithy quotes. One of my favorites is: "Whatever is almost true is quite false, and among the most dangerous of errors, because being so near truth it is more likely to lead astray." In my mind, there is solid evidence to support the conclusion that the apostle Paul was the author of Hebrews. What better way to start than with a reconsideration of the evidence pro et contra? I acknowledge my own prejudice against the guild on this issue. I have boisterously bashed evangelical groupthink for decades. Of course, that doesn't make me right. But it's also no excuse for ignoring the evidence. "You know nothing until you know all; which is the reason we never know anything" (Herman Melville). 

My book on the authorship of Hebrews challenges those who love history, and encourages those who have run from it. For those on the run, I hope I can slay the tormentor that's been chasing you. 

You -- Yes, YOU -- Can Get Into Great Shape

I've never once heard in my life anyone saying, "I regret working out." Certain things are earned through fitness. You can't wish for something you're not willing to work for. If getting in shape was easy, everyone would be in great shape. If you want to gain muscle while staying lean and aesthetic, you simply have to lift. What you did in your 20s won't work in your 70s. But that doesn't mean you can't get into great shape. 

Thank you guys for being a big part of this journey. 

The Sun Has Gone to Bed

And so must I. Was a great day. 

God, in his mercy, once again spared us from the rain. 

Tired but happy. 

When you go to bed tonight, talk to God. Don't just utter a few thank yous and bless 'ems. Really talk to your Daddy. Thank him for sunsets and good grades and pizza and a mother's hugs and grandparents and football season and friends and fireflies and beaches and "The exam's been cancelled!" and the time "DAADDD!" surprised you with a special gift and a hundred thousand other things. And don't forget tractors that work and storms that pass you by and the strength to pick up bales and .... 

Today's Steps

So far .... 😉

The Glory of God in a Simple Field

We just finished our work for the day. I feel particularly close to God in a hay field -- a place where I feel I can "cultivate" his presence. It's one of my favorite spots on earth, what I would consider a "heavenly" sight and sound. Farming is just so peaceful. There's laughter and chit-chatting, of course. But mostly you just silently and happily go about your work, hour after hour after hour. No one is in a hurry. There is a pace to farming that requires a great deal of patience. You just keep going until your work for that day has come to an end, often after dark. 

Thank you, Lord, that I can feel close to you in the fields, at the ocean, on a mountaintop -- wherever you call me to walk closely beside you. Your presence calms and soothes me. The fields are a visual and sensory reminder of your love and power. I could never imagine that someone would look at the beauty of your creation and not see your handiwork. I am not even deserving to look upon it! Nature humbles me and makes me feel small. I give you the glory for the solace that farm work always brings to me along with the sweet memories of Becky and feelings of closeness to my children and grandchildren. As I look out at the familiar view of the fields I am once again in awe of the beauty of creation and your constant love. In life there are good and not-so-good times! Life does all that. Yet your love is as constant as the seasons, giving us an anchor to hold onto through life's storms, treasures, and surprises. Glory be to you! 

A Dad to Emulate (Luke 15:11-32)

Today I'm working on a lecture on Luke 15:11-32, the so-called "Parable of the Lost Son." 

When I got to verse 20 I was forced to pause. I became a dog gnawing on a bone. Just what does this term signify? 

Most translations say that the father simply "kissed" his son when he saw him. But notice that prefix. Dad did more than just kiss his son. I love how one Spanish version puts it:

"... y lo recibió con abrazos y besos."

For what it's worth, here's my own rendering of the verse:

"While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with compassion, he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and smothered him with kisses."

Once again, Greek is my hero. Sometimes the Greek will turn upside down so much of what you know. It will challenge you to think differently. It will dispute established interpretations. It will defy conventional wisdom. Often it will counter accepted translations. 

We learn motivation by studying Churchill, teamwork by analyzing Eisenhower, fortitude by emulating Lincoln. But we learn compassion by studying the father of Luke 15:11-32. 

By the way, I'm not calling my lecture "The Parable of the Lost Son." Instead, I believe I will go with "The Grace of a Compassionate Father."

Friend, are you getting into the Scriptures yourself? I hope so. Whenever you study any verse of Scripture, be sure to pay attention to the key words. There is a direct correlation between your ability to observe Scripture and your ability to apply it to your life. So anything you do to improve your reading skills will be a quantum leap in the direction of improving your observation skills as a student of God's word! 

Have a wonderful day! 

The Miller Tree

Working on the good ol' family tree today in my spare time. What fun! 

The Virginia Ten Miler Is This Weekend!

Well, I signed up for a race this weekend even though I wasn't really planning on doing so. It's the Virginia 10 Miler up in Lynchburg. I have a sentimental attachment to the 10 mile distance. Thus far the Lord has allowed me to complete 11 of them. It makes a lot of sense to run a 10 miler. It's a great way to gauge my fitness before the Milwaukee Lakeside Half Marathon next month. I've done the Virginia 10 Miler 3 times already. I usually find my pace around mile 3 and then put it in cruise control until the end. I'm never fast, but occasionally I do set a new PR in the 10 mile distance. 

When you do get a new personal record, the feeling is pretty amazing. 

If you're racing the Virginia 10 Miler this weekend, let me know. Would love to say hey! 

Leading from the Front?

In the movie Gettysburg, John Reynolds is portrayed as the hero of the first day of battle. 

While I would agree that Reynolds brought his I Corps swiftly and ably onto the field, his actions while on the battlefield left much to be desired in my layman's opinion. Rather than leading individual companies and regiments into the fight (which sadly led to his death), he should have managed the deployment of his divisions, especially his 1st Division. As a result, the Federal 1st Division was easily flanked on the right side by Davis' brigade, imperiling the entire corps. 

Sometimes it's best not to lead from the front. 

You Know I'm Right

If you're a guy who's overweight, it's time for you to get in shape. No, I don't want to hear your excuses. You know I am right. 

Older -- and Wiser (Hopefully!)

I got this board in Hawaii 57 years ago. 

I still use it today. The biggest difference between training in your 20s and training in your 70s is the amount of room for error in your training form, training volume, and training intensity. You can get away with a lot in your 20s but not in your 70s! 

Why Not More Participation in Our Church Services (1 Cor. 14)?

The church must be under God's word. The church also needs to be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This will sometimes result in doing things we've never done before in our church services. We read in 1 Cor. 14 that the gathering of the local church was highly participatory. Today our churches tend to encourage spectatorism. But why couldn't we have a service where more than one person speaks? I've seen this done well in a number of churches. At the very least maybe we could ask if someone has a "word" before dismissing. It will mean a repudiation of the one-man syndrome. Vigorous Christians want to be part of a living body where the contributions of every limb is valued. And they need to see this modeled before their very eyes by the leadership of the church. Moreover, elders themselves could share preaching duties Sunday after Sunday so that the church will never be known as "So-and-So's Church." The church at Corinth pioneered this area. Abuses there were, but Paul wants order, not passivity. The church in Corinth experienced a radical openness to God the Holy Spirit. It is his church, not the elders'!

Preach the Word! (2 Tim. 4:2)

This morning I was in Paul's second letter to Timothy. 

In 2 Tim. 4:2, Paul told Timothy to "Peach the word ... using the utmost patience in your teaching" (Philipps). Here "preaching" is defined as "teaching." According to the New Testament, a sermon is a "word of exhortation" (logos paraklēsiōs, see Heb. 13:22). A biblical sermon is neither sermonizing nor pulpiteering. (The New Testament knows nothing about a pulpit much less a "sacred desk.") It is not a performance. Christian preaching is the event by which God brings to his people a Bible-based, Christ-centered, life-changing message of encouragement through the words of his spokesmen. The Bible is always the focus, not the speaker. The speaker views himself as nothing more than a mouthpiece for the biblical word of God. He does not speak for the text as if it could not speak for itself. He stands behind it rather than in front of it. His task is to focus everyone's attention (including his own) on the text, to let the text speak for itself, and to apply the text to the listeners with a life-impacting thrust. He mediates an encounter not only with the text but with God himself. If, by words or manner, a speaker becomes self-absorbed, focusing the attention on himself, he precludes any possibility of channeling biblical truth to his audience. Instead, he displays a transparent wholehearted rejection of anything that would induce the hearers to focus on the messenger rather the message. In short: Preach THE WORD! 

In our market-driven, personality-centered church culture, this is a salutary word indeed. 

McClellan's Fall from Grace (and Much Deserved, Too)

When discussing historical events, a common mistake we make is overgeneralization. It's possible to so simplify complex events that the nuances and diverse perspectives are overlooked. The "Industrial Revolution," for example, involved much more than technological advances. It presented significant social and economic challenges as well. This is not to say that generalizations are never helpful. Here are some brief descriptions of significant events in American history. See if you can identify them:

• Tea, Toss
• Beer, Banned
• Harbor, Sunk
• Music, Mud
• Texas, Shooting
• Planes, Collapse

At the Battle of Antietam, I've heard the event described in two words:

• Movement, Piecemeal

The reference here is to key characteristics for each commander at the battle. 

Lee's word is "movement." During the fighting, Lee was constantly shifting his troops around the battlefield where they were needed the most. Moreover, although outnumbered 2 to 1, he committed his entire force to the fight, while McClellan sent in less than three-fourths of his army, thus enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. 

The Pry House, McClellan's HQ during the battle. 

For McClellan, the word is "piecemeal." That day he failed to launch a single coordinated attack on Lee's flank. Unbelievable! Instead, the Union army went into the fight division by division. This gave Lee the opportunity to adjust his lines in a way to counter the Federal assaults. At the Sunken Road, for example, a great opportunity was afforded McClellan. If this broken section of the Confederate lines had been exploited, Lee's army would have been divided in half and possibly defeated. McClellan had the forces to accomplishment this. Waiting in reserve were 3,000 cavalry and the 10,300 infantrymen of General Porter's V Army Corps waiting near the Middle Bridge, a mere mile away. Or take the fight at the Burnside Bridge. McClellan could have made a determined attack on Lee's right and prevented him from detaching troops to reinforce his battered left.

McClellan did neither. 

I'm no expert in Civil War strategy. But I can't help but think that McClellan had opportunity after opportunity to destroy Lee's army. They were all wasted. 

On Nov. 5, 1862, Lincoln ordered McClellan to be removed from command. 

Today's Workout

We hear it every day, so much so that it's become a cliche. 

Live each day as if it's your last. 

What, if anything, are you doing to make your life exactly like what you want it to be?

Stop making excuses for your life. 

Make the life you want happen. 

And do it NOW. Make each day count. I'm going to try to. 

Happy Weekend!

As the sun sets on the farm, may I wish all of you a very blessed weekend and Lord's Day. 

My Ancestors' Losses After the Battle of Antietam

Ever done a deep dive into your family history? At what point do you stop adding people? Right now I've been keeping myself very limited on my main tree through my paternal grandmother's line (the Millers). Direct ancestors only (no siblings.) But if it's important, I'll make a note. I don't know how typical I am, but I stick to direct ancestors. 

Currently I'm tracking down the direct descendants of John Miller of Sharpsburg, MD. Right now I have a special interest in learning why his descendants left Sharpsburg to settle in Missouri and then in Montana. My grandmother was born in Montana but then moved to Hawaii in the early 1900s, where she married my grandfather. 

But back to the John Miller (my great great grandfather) who lived on Antietam Creek and who was a German Baptist who attended the famous Dunker Church on the Antietam Battlefield. 

John had a sister named Margaret who was married to William Roulette. When the battle began, Roulette had farmed his 198 acres for 9 years. 

He and his wife had 6 children, ranging in age from 20 months to 13 years. Margaret had lived on the farm her entire life. Her brother John had farmed this land for decades. In 1853 he sold the property to Roulette, who had grown up on an adjoining farm. The farm prospered under William and Margaret Roulette. They grew rye, wheat, corn, hay, and potatoes, and raised sheep for wool. South of the farmhouse, they had a 4-acre orchard that provided the family with a plentiful supply of fruit. A large vegetable garden was located between the house and the barn. As of the 1860 census, William and Margaret owned 8 horses, 14 cows, 11 sheep, and 20 hogs. Roulette's neighbor was a 58-year old named Samuel Mumma, who owned 182 acres with his wife Elisabeth and their 10 children. Mumma was a devout member of the German Baptist Brethren (Dunkers) and had donated 4.5 acres for the construction of a permanent church building, which became known as the Dunker Church. Mumma's house was burned to the ground during the battle. 

When the Confederate Army began to arrive in Sharpsburg on Sept. 15-16, 1862, William Roulette stubbornly refused to leave his farm, taking shelter in his cellar. After the battle, Roulette documented his losses. They included all of his beds, comforters, pillows, and quilts. Also missing were:

• 337 bushels of corn
• 65 bushels of oats
• 10 bushels of rye
• 60 bushels of wheat
• 155 bushels of potatoes
• 220 bushels of apples
• 350 pounds of bacon
• 300 pounds of lard
• 200 pounds of sugar
• 220 bushels of apples
• 11 bushels of vinegar

He also noted that 700 soldiers had been buried on his property, thus removing this land from what he could cultivate. He claimed $2,779 from the Federal government in household damages and $720 for grain and forage. He was reimbursed only $377 for those damages directly related to his farm's use as a hospital. Lee's invasion of Maryland had indeed brought calamity to the door. 

It would take generations to recover. 

To Ultra Or Not?

I am not sure what to do this December. Shall I run the Honolulu Marathon as planned? Or shall I try another 50K ultra marathon on the High Bridge Trail? I thought about this question as I got in 8 miles on that trail today. 

I would have gone farther but the heat got to me. It's weird how stuff happens. I love to run marathons (20 so far) but I love to run ultras (32 miles) even more. Clearly, I like running. Just look at the pictures on this blog. I am also a big fan of huge, audacious goals. I haven't done an ultra in a while. Am I still up for one? I say this because the High Bridge 50K Ultra is coming up on December 6, 2025. I'm not sure what to do. If you give it too much thought you will talk yourself out of doing it. An ultra is sheer torture. I remember doing three 50K ultras on this very trail and the mental fortitude needed to get to the finish line. 

I write all this simply for what it's worth. Everyone is different, and you really need to figure out what works for you. Hawaii or Farmville? 42K or 50K? I won't lie. The ultra distance seems impossible for me. But maybe, just maybe, I've got one more 50K race in me. How will I know unless I try? As I've told you, running is at the center of my universe. I know it is for some of you too. One thing I am learning as I age is that confidence is essential. Confidence that your fitness is up to the challenge. Confidence that you will finish the race. Confidence that your body will adapt to the stress. Confidence that when race day comes you'll be ready for the challenge.      

Prayers appreciated. 

Major Conference on the Byzantine Text, March 2026

Please mark on your calendar March 7-8 for our conference on the value of the Byzantine text.