It's Not Rocket Science, Folks

Education: Not Just for Information

Jesus' disciples were attracted to him because of his life.

They became devoted to him because of his love.

Classes at the seminary start in two weeks.

I pray that my classes won't be just informational.

I pray they will be transformational. 

Is there anything more a teacher could ask for? 

God, Our "Cliff of Ages" (Isa. 26:4)

It may sound weird, but climbing isn't meant to be all about enjoyment. It's meant to be a challenge. It's meant to be a chance to improve performance. It's meant to help you become stronger. 

Every single climb I've done over the past 9 years has been extremely challenging. I get so sick of hearing myself and lots of other people making excuses for why they're not doing the things they want to do. Climbing, like anything else in life, is a decision. You make it a part of your life and you GO. That's it.

Every single climb I've done has taught me an important lesson. Actually, several important lessons. Often they provide insights into something I read in the Bible. Like this last climb. Let me give you an example. 

The Anglican minister Augustus Toplady once wrote a hymn called "Rock of Ages." It was based on a footnote in the KJV for Isa. 26:4. Tradition has it that Toplady drew his inspiration for the title from an incident that happened to him in Burrington Combe, England -- a cliff where he found shelter during a storm. 

This led me to examine the verse he used, Isa. 26:4. Here Isaiah refers to God as our tsoor owlamim, our "rock eternal" or "rock of ages." The word tsoor properly refers to a sharp rock or a rock wall. The term could well be rendered "cliff." It depicts a crag that offers water, shade, shelter, and protection. Israel's topography is dotted with such stony landscapes, as are the Alps. The Riffelhorn is one such tsoor. 

Now that I've climbed it, I believe I have a better understanding of what Isaiah meant when he called God our tsoor owlamim. 

Figuratively, it means that God is our security. His protection is unassailable. 

Like a rugged cliff face, the safety he provides is steady, immovable, unshakable. 

I love that!

Friend, do not grow weary in the battle, even though sometimes God gives us more that we feel we can handle. With God, we can climb cliffs! He gives us the needed strength, hope, and courage. Faith helps us to hold on and prevail even on rocky crags. But we must humble ourselves and admit our weakness and receive his help. "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand," wrote the Psalmist. "He put a new song in my mouth. a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him" (Psa. 40:2-3). "He is my strength and my song" (Exod. 15:2). "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). He will make us "strong, firm, and steadfast" (1 Pet. 5:10). 

He is our tsoor owlamim!

Regardless

I recently heard Chuck Swindoll define biblical love. "Love is doing what's best for the other person, regardless." Regardless of the cost to you. Regardless of the other person. The other person might not reciprocate your love. Doesn't matter. The cost to you might not be appreciated by the other person. Love them anyway. Christian love is non-reciprocating. 

That's how I want to love others, beginning with my family. Lord, help me to do so!

Back to My "Mundane" Life

And loving it. 

Don't get me wrong. Travel is great. But it's not going to make you a fulfilled person. 

If all you did was travel the world and climb mountains, it would look like a bell curve. If you constantly lived that life it would become boring. Psychologists call it the hedonic treadmill. Basically, whatever situation you're in, you get used to it. This even happens to people who are "living the dream." Accept the fact that you will have to do mundane things in life and that it will become boring. 

Today, as per usual, I was back at the gym. 

Not a big deal. Same old same old, really. Got in my steps (my knee is back to normal thankfully). 

Did some barbell curls. 

Did some pull ups. 

Sure, there is pride in climbing a mountain peak. But there's just as much pride, if not more, in working or studying or cleaning or cooking or grocery shopping or changing diapers or doing finances or working out. These things aren't unimportant. In fact, failing to do them consistently will stop you from living your dream life. 

You are actually being an adult when you do these things. You learn to find ways to get used to the boring. You learn to savor every moment rather than just the "big" events in life. You work on improving what you can and accepting all the rest. You stop focusing so much on yourself and your happiness and you give your time and energy to others. You cherish each day the Lord gives you. You listen to birds singing and the wind blowing. You laugh with friends and family. You take care of yourself and get rid of your neuroticisms. 

Even people who have everything don't spend all their time vacationing in the Bahamas. Having good relationships, or a good body, or a clean home, or a great job, or close friends -- all these take a lot of energy even though they are "mundane." An old saying puts it best: "Life is like an old-time rail journey: delays, sidetracks, dust, and sudden jolts, interspersed only occasionally with beautiful vistas or thrilling bursts of speed." 

It boils down to: Enjoy the journey. Be grateful for the mundane things in life. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Building daily routines over the long haul is the best way to achieve great things. 

Fueling the Climb

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. 

During my week-long stay in Zermatt, I ate pretty much what the average climber eats on a daily basis. That would be coffee along with a gipfeli and a bread roll with jam and butter for breakfast ... 

... and then a fairly heavy lunch often consisting of pasta. 

Nothing too out of the ordinary for sure. There's a reason why there aren't any Swiss restaurants on the planet. Swiss food is typically bland. On the other hand, it was hard work not to give in to the constant temptation to indulge myself in all of the different chocolates and cheeses Zermatt offered. Still, I ended up eating more pasta than I normally consume and I was sure I had put on several pounds while gone. Happily, that didn't happen. But that didn't stop me from pigging out on Friday in Geneva. I went to a Persian restaurant and, as a celebratory meal, I ordered some amazing lamb. 

Yes, this is actually TWO meals. 

I was first introduced to this wonderful cuisine on a trip to Iran years ago. I think Persian food should be as ubiquitous as Italian cuisine is in the US. I mean, it's incredibly delicious. Scrumptious even. 

And thus I fueled myself! 

A Walk Through Appomattox Court House

Early this morning I took a leisurely stroll at one of the prettiest sites in all of Southern Virginia, the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. Got in 2 miles as well as added some nice photos to my collection of pictures of this famous village. Enjoy! 

For the "Love" of Climbing (1 Cor. 13:7)

Does 1 Cor. 13:7 apply to climbing a mountain? Paul writes:

Love never gives up.

It never loses faith.

It is always hopeful.

It endures through every circumstance.

I'll let you be the judge. But in my view, Paul's words apply perfectly to mountaineering. 

How Now Brown Cow

I have become enamored with Swiss cows. Especially of the mountain variety. Here's a couple of them I encountered while out on a run one day. 

There are plenty of hiking trails that cross pastures where cows are grazing. Sometimes you even have to go around them as they are blocking the trails. (They don't know this of course.) There's an entire tourist industry in Switzerland based around cow culture. Cows are cute looking but can be aggressive, so be careful when approaching one. They might not look very aerodynamic, but they can run fast. But since they are everywhere, they're hard to avoid. Remember when approaching a cow that you're in their habitat, not yours. Keep a respectful distance if you can. When you can't, it's still probably safe to approach one, if only to get around them. Speaking Swiss German to them can help. 

Fun fact: In May of this year, a herd of 52 cows had to be evacuated from a village in southern Switzerland amid fears of a landslide. They had to be moo-ved by helicopter! 

Talk About Linguistic Diversity!

One of the things I love the most about Switzerland is its linguistic diversity. After all, it's a quadrilingual country. We may say "Geneva" in English. But it's also Genève, Genf, Ginevra, and Genevra in the chief languages of Switzerland. Even Basel (German) is spelled Bâl (French), Basle (English), and Basilea (Italian). Thankfully, German is the majority language in most of the places I visit in Switzerland -- Basel, Zurich, and Zermatt. After about 2 days I'm able to speak pretty decent German again. But it usually takes a whole week before I become really comfortable speaking the language. On day 2 of my trip I had this conversation with my server at the Fuchs (Fox) restaurant in Zermatt. He had waited on me for both breakfast and dinner that day, and I wanted to know if I could add a tip to my bill. (Tips are normally automatically included in your bill in Europe.) Here's how it went:

My waiter, of course, could serve people in any number of languages, not only German and English but also French, Italian, and probably Spanish. This is because, as I said, Switzerland is a very multilingual nation. Catch the train from Geneva to Zermatt and you're exposed to pre-recorded comments in French, German, and English. All three tongues welcome you on board, tell you that refreshments are available in the bistro car, and wish you a very pleasant journey. Sometimes the announcements are so long-winded that you're almost at your destination by the time they're finished. By the way, the Swiss don't really speak German at all. They speak Swiss German and are mighty proud of it. Still, they can switch to German-German at the drop of a hat, as well as throw in a bunch of French words (did you notice the French in our conversation?). 

Like Spanish and French, German has two basic words for "you" -- Sie and du. Sie is very polite, but du is used between friends. In my conversation with my server, I used du even though I didn't know him from Adam. And it's perfectly acceptable. The younger generation of Swiss German speakers love to forget the "rules." Thus far I've never knowingly offended anyone by doing so. (Believe me, if the Swiss get offended, they will let you know.)

The Swiss are generally very polite and friendly. If outsiders find it hard to make friends, it's because the Swiss have a healthy distrust of foreigners. But as Becky and I discovered when we lived in Basel (or is it Bâl?), once you break through that barrier, a Swiss is a friend for life. 

It's not rare for Swiss people to say they speak only a little English. But that's usually an understatement. They're probably fluent. 

I enjoyed speaking German on this trip I think as much as I enjoyed anything! 

He Calms the Storm

Good morning one and all! I was up at 4:00 am this morning all bright eyed and bushy tailed. My body clock said it was already 10:00 am! How am I feeling? Sore and tired. I think they call it DOMS -- delayed onset muscle soreness. Everything in me aches. Which means that today is a day of rest -- which, for me, means active rest. I'll do a little walking but no running. My left knee is still a little iffy after getting it caught in a crack during the climb. Go figure. If anyone is going to be klutzy enough to get their knee caught in a crack while rock climbing, yep, it's me. All that aside, I'm still euphoric that the Lord allowed me to compete the climb. I was on the verge of quitting, and I am not a quitter. How many times are we of weak faith like that? How often, like the disciples out on the sea, do we keep trying to row our own boat in the storm on our own, forgetting what God can do? We wait until we're tossed about in the storm before reaching out and relying on God, trusting that he will save us. But God is always walking on the water all around us. In the perfect moment of our weakness, fear, and pain, he will speak to us. He is the only one who can calm the waves. Last Wednesday, he jumped into the boat and the storm died down. Or at least it became manageable. 

As I sit here at my desk suffering from jet lag and feeling the after-effects of one amazing climb, I realize again: I can't steer this crazy life of mine on my own. Lord, help me to remember that you steer my boat. Help me to look up and realize you're there. My Courage, you are with me with an outstretched hand! 

The Summit That Almost Didn't Happen (Zermatt 2025)

If I say "Switzerland," what's the first word that comes to mind? Chances are good you'd say:

Watches

Cheese

Banking

Skiing

Chocolate 

The Red Cross

Karl Barth

My answer would be: the mountains. In my mind, the Matterhorn is the real Swiss icon. It's probably the most well-known peak in the world. 

My first experience with the Matterhorn was in Southern California. We took the kids to Disneyland and -- lo and behold! -- there it was, right smack dab in the middle of Anaheim. Oddly enough, the real Matterhorn lies not in the middle of Switzerland but far away on the Swiss-Italian border. Which means to get there you have to go a long distance. From Zurich, it takes 3 trains. From Geneva, where I landed, it takes only 2. But people must think it's worth it. It's the view, no doubt.

Which reminds me. Switzerland can be divided into two halves, north and south. North is where all the people live and work (including "my fair city" of Basel). The south is where everyone goes on vacation. Again, it's the views. The mountains are the heart of the nation and the reason it became a distinct community in the first place. The Swiss have always lived in splendid isolation.

But not during tourist season. As I can attest personally this week, the hills are alive with the sound of hikers and climbers. A map of Zermatt and its envisions looks like the human circulatory system.

Americans have their freeways. The Swiss have their railways and cable cars. I am not the last person to drink in the view of the mountains made possible by that revolution in Swiss technology called the gondola. 

To be sure, the price of a ride is sky-high, but then again, so are you. To outsiders the Swiss transportation system is one of the seven wonders of the world. To the Swiss, it's merely a way to get from point A to point B. 

And then there are the Wanderwege -- walking paths. This network is almost as extensive as the national road and railway system. Moreover, the paths are just as well sign-posted, with little yellow indicators showing how long a walk you'll have to get to your destination. 

One of my kids asked me, "Are the times measured in walking, running, or what?" The answer is walking, but take note: The Swiss are really fit. Hiking is a Swiss national obsession. I can't tell you how many gaggles of eighty-somethings I saw on the trails this week. These marching masses have over 65,000 kilometers of Wanderwege to enjoy. Add to those the streets and roads, and you've got a runner's/walker's paradise. I enjoyed my share of them while getting in my daily steps in the shadow of the Matterhorn.

Some people travel to Switzerland to climb the alps. This week, I was one of them. My goal was to summit the Riffelhorn and, believe it or not, I succeeded. You might find it interesting that most Swiss mountains have crosses on their summits. 

This is a hangover from ye olden days. To many observers, modern day Switzerland could justifiable be called a post-Christian nation. Why, some argue, should our mountain peaks be used for religious purposes? The mountains belong to all, not just Christians, they say. Years ago a wealthy businessman hired a helicopter to fly a crescent moon to the top of a mountain in the Appenzell region of Switzerland, where it stood for a few days. He said he wanted to call attention to the absurdity of having the symbol of any religion on a mountain. As a Christian, I don't mind the presence of a cross at the summit. 

It's a reminder that nobody ever "conquers" a mountain. We are allowed to do so by the Divine Guide -- whether we acknowledge him or not. I would go further and say: the top of the mountain accounts for just one step in a few thousand steps up and down the mountain. Every part of the mountain, and every other step, is important. For me, climbing isn't about conquering anything except myself. It's about not letting your natural instincts (fear, worry, self doubt, panic) to override you. It's about seeing something beautiful in the mountains and reaching out to touch it -- and, if you're a Christian, to give God the glory for creating such majestic peaks. I give everything I have to the mountains and still they give me back more than I've ever given them. That's just how their Creator designed them to function.

To be honest, my climb was anything but easy. Even though I had a great guide.

There were 3 different vertical "steps" on the Riffelhorn that had to be negotiated, the first one having the consistency of recently polished marble. 

That is to say, the cliff face was extremely slippery. 

Halfway up the first step I got stuck. I froze. I couldn't move. For the life of me, I couldn't find a foothold for my next step. It was only by the Lord's help that I was able to stay calm and not panic. Eventually I regained enough composure to work through the situation. My guide was superb. "Take your time, Dave. You can find that next step. You'll figure it out. No worries." What makes mountaineering so attractive to me is the level of uncertainty and variation, as well as the sometimes very high stakes. 

It is truly a "complete" sport that requires endurance, strength, technique, and at the same time a large mental component -- both mental fortitude, a capacity for focus, and good decision-making skills under very challenging circumstances. The scale of the challenge makes the sport all the more rewarding and fascinating. You try to prepare as best as you can in every way, and that's why you feel such a great mixture of relief and satisfaction at the end of a successful climb. That's why I look back to each successful summit (and my unsuccessful ones too) with such fondness. I love the challenge of hitting new goals. This climb pitted me against incredible challenges and allowed me to draw on God's strength to fight through my own fears. But it's the spiritual connection to the mountains that means the most to me. I savor the struggle but I also experience the closeness of my Creator in a very unique and special way.

In the end, mountaineering is just like any other sport. You set goals for yourself. You reach them. You feel grateful beyond words. You get better over time. Each milestone is a personal achievement -- first marathon, first ultra, first triathlon, first ascent. It's a huge part of what makes your life so enjoyable. I came within a gnat's hair of telling my guide, "I'm done. I can't go on. We've got to go down." The fact is, even if we had done that, the experience would have still been extremely rewarding. Imagine setting for yourself a goal, something at once physically demanding and mentally challenging, one that pushes you to keep going and face down your fears. Then achieving it. There's simply a rush you get from standing thousands of feet above everyone else. You're applying yourself to a dangerous and arduous task that forces you to put aside the mediocrity of your everyday life and apply yourself 100 percent to a task you may not succeed in. The act of wrestling with your self-doubt builds inner strength and a greater awareness of your utter dependence on and need for God. 

I think modern man not only craves such powerful experiences but realizes there's a lack of them available in our modern "safe" and sanitized world. My Riffelhorn ascent was one such experience, accomplished by a (relatively) fit septuagenarian who'd barely set foot on a vertical route before. Mountaineering is one of the few places left where we are not in control. The mountain -- and, more importantly, the Lord -- calls the shots. It's up to us to survive and move around what the elements are doing.

For me, there's just something very special about that. 

Following Our Guide

Hey folks. Quick thought before I hop on the plane. 

Heb. 12:1 reminds us that we are to "run with endurance the race set before us." It's not simply any old race. It's a race set before us by God. The course is God's responsibility. Ours is to follow the course he has set. 

Next Wednesday, Lord willing, I will attempt to climb the Riffelhorn. My guide will lead me up the steep slope. Climbers do not set their own course in the alps. They follow the course their mountain guide sets for them. The course might not be the one the climber would have chosen. Moreover, the course the guide chooses for you might not be the same course he chooses for another climber. Doesn't matter. He's the guide, you're the follower. So it's a waste of time to worry about the course you are to take. 

So it is in life. It's not about what we want. It's about what God has planned for our lives. He sets the course. We follow. Our job is one of cooperating with his plan. We are to lean hard on him even when we can't see where we're going. We do this by "fixing our eyes on Jesus." We look away from distractions and focus our full attention on him.

Prov. 16:9 says, "A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps." There's everything right about devising our way. Like you, I have a day planner. Each month of the year is jammed full of events -- trips I'm to take, speaking responsibilities, birthday celebrations, and on and on it goes. As I fill it out I'm thinking, "Lord, at any time you want to bring any change to any part of this, please do. I invite you to do that. Nothing here is in concrete. This is how I see me juggling the various responsibilities and opportunities I have in my life. But I'm not in charge. You are." So we plan with the utmost care, but it depends completely on God whether or not we will carry out our plans. I leave for Switzerland with this truth firmly embedded in my mind. 

Can I mention one other takeaway from Heb. 12:1? Though my mountain guide alone is responsible for the route we will take, I am responsible to prepare for my climb. He will guide me, but he won't do the climbing for me. It doesn't matter if he's in great shape (which he is). It's my responsibility to be in the best possible physical condition for the climb. It's also my responsibility to strip off the things that would slow me down, be it fear, worry, self-doubt, or a negative attitude. 

My guide has prearranged the route I am to take.

But the preparation for the climb is my responsibility alone. 

Obviously, staying focused on my guide throughout the climb is essential. Likewise, as we follow the Savior, let nothing distract us or sidetrack us. 

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support. As I leave for Europe, I dedicate this trip to God, my true Strength and Joy, from whom all blessings flow. 

Adieu! 

With Walter, my alpine guide. 

The Breithorn: Where It All Started

When I climbed my first 4,000 meter peak 9 years ago, it was a very emotional experience for me. I had never been higher in elevation before. There was just so much snow and ice and beauty all around me. All I could think about was how badly I wanted more. The climb was a foretaste of the kinds of adventures I would be seeking for the next decade of my life. God has blessed me with good physical fitness and the means to travel and explore his creation, and because of this climb I was now more motivated than ever to do just that. Summiting the Breithorn was the beginning of my mountaineering journey. I cannot thank the Lord enough for his goodness and grace toward me. 

The Authorship of Hebrews and the Value of Innocent Shrewdness

It's so easy to pass on to others what we've been taught without ever having thought through the evidence for ourselves. I should know. I'm an expert in "scholarly group think." For example, here's a list of objections to the Pauline authorship of Hebrews. I used to teach lists like this in my NT Intro classes. But while I was reviewing this evidence for a book I was writing on the authorship of Hebrews, I was like, "Hmm. I might want to rethink my assumptions here." Case in point? Well, the above-linked essay says this about Hebrews' use of the Old Testament:

Auctor [the author] cites the Old Testament differently than Paul does. "As it is written (kathōs gegraptai) appears in Romans 11 times and never in Hebrews. "It says" or "he says" (eirēken) appears in Hebrews 6 times and never in Paul.

Notice that little word "never." Upon reading Paul, I learned that this is simply not true. I found 6 examples -- count 'em, 6 -- where Paul uses the it says/he says formula. 

This triggered something in me that had gone dormant in all my years of teaching Hebrews. I had not been as skeptical about the "evidence" as I should have been. The tight hold the academy had on me had gone unnoticed. Not only did I learn that this particular argument could be challenged, but all the others could as well. What kind of disciples are we making when we simply repeat what others are telling us to believe? Problem is, I'm undoubtedly still doing this in ways I'm ignorant of. And that bugs me no end. 

I use this as an example of what is quite possibly a false assumption in the field of New Testament studies, but it can probably be applied to many other areas of research as well. Our students should be taught to question everything. And they will learn innocent shrewdness -- or not -- from us. 

Just sharing some thoughts. 

Have a wonderful day! 

P.S. Care to dig a bit deeper? Check out my power point here. 

The Day Is Done

Our work is done for the evening. 

Been a really good day. 

Good night, all. Schlof guet! 

Rootin' for Aaron Rodgers

Been prepping for my fall Greek class before heading off to Switzerland. This will be my 49th fall semester as a teacher. I thought about that while watching an interesting NFL interview just now. At the Steelers training camp, Aaron Rodgers was asked why he hasn't retired yet from the game of football. After all, he's been in the sport for more than two decades. His answer? "I haven't done enough yet." 

Jim Carrey, when he was asked why he was retiring from acting, said, "I've done enough. I have enough. I am enough." 

I'm not there yet. I fell in love with teaching when I was 24 years old. As I think about my life, I realize that almost everything that is special about my life has come from teaching. My philosophy is, why stop if you still love what you're doing? 

To A-Rod: Don't let anyone push you out the door. You play the game you love as long as you want to. Enjoy this year with the Steelers and ... RELAX. 

My Very First Hard Copy of the New Living Translation

Guess what just came in the mail?

I am so excited. I've always wanted a hard copy of the New Living Translation. Note: It is a real translation, done by a committee, unlike The Living Bible, which is the work of a single translator. Ever heard of -- 

• Barry Beitzel
• Daniel Block
• Lynn Cohick
• Tremper Longman
• John Oswalt 
• Jeremy Taylor
• Norman Ericson
• Grant Osborne

Yep, they all served on the Bible Translation Committee of the NLT. 

I'll be taking this Bible with me to Europe on this trip. And no, I will not be traveling with my well-worn Greek New Testament. I'm afraid I'd lose it or it would get stolen. "O ye of little faith." Well, I had my first Greek New Testament stolen out of my car in California, so my paranoia is well-grounded. I just couldn't live without my Greek New Testament. That's an exaggeration, of course. But it is a rather special book to me :-) 

Zermatt Weather Report

A week from today yours truly will be attempting his ascent of the Riffelhorn. Here's a Zermatt weather update for D-Day. The date is Wednesday, August 6. 

I could so deal with this: 

Yes, athletes obsess about the weather. I'm also one who believes that if you stop trying to micromanage every moment, great things can happen. 

Either way, I will be thankful. 

God Is a Faithful Guide, So Count on Him As You Climb Your Mountain!

Today was the last full day of training for my climbing adventure next week. Every journey has a story. Telling my story is part of my journey and healing since my wife passed away almost 12 years ago. I share my story as a witness to God's continued presence in my life and as a testimony to encourage others to keep on climbing when the way is steep. After Becky's death I found running cathartic. Then came mountain climbing. Finally I began to surf again. Through it all, God's word has been my best medicine. Reflecting on Scripture has brought me through a very difficult climb called grief, even if it isn't over yet. But God also prompted me to be more physically active than I had been prior to Becky's homegoing. It is amazing to look back and see how he used both his word and his creation to bring healing to my soul. I keep thinking, "God brought me to this mountain, and he will be with me on it." The main point of my journey that I hope you will come away with is this: God will carry you over your mountain, whatever that is. He is a faithful guide and a light to your path. 

On my climbs, I've noticed that mountain guides tend to do a lot of calling back. To "call back" is when you call back to your clients to encourage them toward the top. In the spiritual realm, God continually calls back to us to encourage us to keep climbing. This analogy also implies that one should never climb alone. Two weeks after I climbed the Matterhorn, two Brits in their 60s died on the mountain. They failed to use a guide, got lost, and ended up spending the night on the mountain without proper clothing to keep them warm. They froze to death. Life is steep. We shouldn't try to do it alone. I am so thankful for all who have walked beside me in this journey and who have supported me through all my athletic efforts and dreams. My children and grandchildren are the lights of my life and my greatest cheerleaders. It is for all of you that I try and be a good role model of always aspiring to do your best, reaching for your own dreams, and keeping God as your guide in life. The newest additions to our family -- grandsons Reuben and Noah -- have been a testimony of God's timing and plan. They have given me renewed hope in healing. I love you both to the moon and back.

The journey will not end next week. It is ongoing for the amount of time God gives me on this earth. Since it is ongoing, I'll continue to tell the story. Leading others to know and walk with Jesus is more important to me today than ever. So I'll continue to pass on to you what I'm learning about life and loss as I take one step at a time with the Lord. May all who see my words be encouraged and strengthened. And never forget: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed" (Prov. 16:3, NIV). 

Thank you for reading. In case you might be interested, here are a few pics from today's workout: 

1) Loved seeing the gym so busy today. 

2) Doing "hanging" pull ups. Great for your biceps.

3) My final set of dumbbell curls before Zermatt. 

4) Walked 9 miles on the treadmill today (too hot to walk outdoors). 

5) Today's steps thus far (still have hay to get up). 

6) My final progress picture before leaving for the alps. 

I will be climbing 40 pounds lighter than when I climbed 9 years ago. Praise the Lord! 

Sunrise in Kailua (Time Lapse)

This never gets old. 

Historic Christian Orthodoxy and the Seminary

I would like to take a moment and honor the memory of one of the most respected Bible expositors of our day who is now with the Lord, Dr. John MacArthur. I cannot think of a more fitting way to do this than to draw attention to one of the greatest legacies he leaves the evangelical church, namely The Master's Seminary. 

Regrettably, all too many pastors today are woefully weak in such areas as theology, church history, theological ethics, the biblical languages, and apologetics. Christian leaders have a duty to improve their own education. They have an obligation to read serious books about the Bible and hermeneutics instead of some psychological pablum often sold in Christian bookstores. Wise Christians will reject all such nonsense. These Christians know that the only faith capable of meeting the challenges of today -- the only faith worthy of their continuing commitment -- is historic Christian orthodoxy. The three men on this panel are profoundly convinced of that. They are adamant that pastors need to learn how to think biblically. They care deeply about the content of education. They demonstrate irrefutably that there is no such thing as a neutral educational system. That's why seminaries are so important. Here thinking is shaped, formed, and matured by the word of God. The question of values, standards, and biblical norms must once again be given center stage in the educational process. 

Irv Busenitz was one of my professors at Talbot. I took him for every class I could. At the time Dick Mayhue was pastor of Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach. Through the years we became friends, and it was to him that I dedicated my second book. It is nothing short of amazing what they accomplished by God's grace, under Dr. MacArthur's leadership, in establishing The Master's Seminary, a school that makes no apology for its commitment to Jesus Christ, to the inspired and authoritative word of God, and to the essential doctrines of Christian belief that have always defined the nature of historic Christianity. 

To God be the glory. 

The Timeless Music of Chicago

Been listening to the music of Chicago lately. Chicago isn't Boomer music, as young people like to claim. The music of Chicago is timeless. We're still listening to them 60 years later. The group transcends generations. It's amazing how their songs -- Saturday in the Park, If You Leave Me Now, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, 25 or 6 to 4 -- have become so much of our daily lives that we don't even notice their complexity anymore. As the quote goes, "Genius is making the complicated seem simple." That's really descriptive of Chicago, including the horn section. Many people think their songs are simple until they dig deeper. 

As a former trumpet player, I love how they pushed boundaries. They remain the definitive rock band with a horn section. They had a killer blend of jazz/rock, R&B, pop, soul, blues, and even a bit of funk. Every instrument is perfectly balanced, which is impressive given how much is going on in their music. The mix allows the guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and brass each to have their own space without ever stepping on each other's toes. The harmonies are gorgeously crafted, while the horn section cuts through in just the right way. I especially love their early albums, from Chicago Transit Authority to Chicago VII. 

In case you need a refresher in Chicago greatness, here's a video of them performing their hit Feeling Stronger Every Day. 

With You Every Step of the Way!

Today's step count so far. Still half the day to go!

Got in a bunch of these steps by engaging in one of my favorite activities :-) 

How's your step count going today? 

Making the Most of Your Limitations

A funny thing happened to me on the way to old age. I became an athlete. And not just any athlete. No sirree. This here athlete is an expert in back-of-the-pack running. In fact, I am the most unlikely runner (or mountaineer) you will ever meet. But that hasn't stopped me from pursuing my goals. I have a dresser drawer bursting with race t-shirts to prove it. 

I thought about that while getting in my penultimate (oops -- my next-to-last) workout at the gym before flying to Europe in 4 days. 

While performing exercises like lat pull downs, I was listening to an interview with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Apparently the man is known for his wit in addition to his stellar ability as a football coach. 

The interviewer asked him to explain certain of his "Tomlinisms" for the listening audience. Here's one of them, and I will never forget it:

If you have red paint, you paint the barn red.

I love that. If all you have is red paint, then you're stuck with painting the barn that color. This means, for me at least, that in life you have to work with what you have. No matter what others may do, it's your life to live, and you have to live up to your potential. I will never climb Everest or Denali, but I think I've got another 3,000 meter peak in me called the Riffelhorn. As an author I will never win a Pulitzer Prize, but I can say without the shadow of a doubt that I have written all the books God led me to write, and I am right pleased with every one of them. No one uses lighter weights in the gym than I do, but I don't care because I'm not going to let anyone else define me. 

Being an adult-onset athlete has taught me, and continues to teach me, that there is great joy in accepting your limitations and making the most of them. True, I've only got red paint, but I've got a pretty big brush. I am not finished with life. I am not done pushing myself so that I will have nothing left on the table when I get to glory. 

Being an athlete, even an old and slow one, allows me to believe that if I am willing to work hard enough, I can achieve the impossible. I prize my finisher's medals, not for what they are, but for what they mean to me -- a simple man who is constantly striving for his ideal self. 

Take Responsibility

Being overweight may not be your fault. But it's still your responsibility. 

Why Walk?

Normalize saying, "I walk more, not because I have to, but because I want to." 

Can We Please Get Rid of Unnecessary Jargon?

Ever met a specialist whose extensive knowledge of a subject keeps him or her from being an effective teacher?

To fix a truth firmly in the hearer's mind requires that we state it simply. 

I'm not talking about trivializing truth. But you can be simple without being simplistic. 

There's no need to try and impress an audience through the obscurity of our language. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that you really don't understand your subject  unless you can express it clearly to others. 

New Testament scholars, for example, speak of Weltanschauung, Sitz im Leben, Heilsgeschichte, and Ausgangstext. All well and good I suppose when speaking to other scholars. 

But when we're addressing an audience less familiar with our discipline, we must step down from our abstraction and talk about "world view," "setting in life," "salvation history," and "initial text." If we fail to do so we may get high marks as scholars but fail as communicators. 

If we're not careful, we'll use jargon to impress rather than to inform. Terms like pneumatology, existentialism, and hamartiology become unnecessary barriers to communication.

In short: Never overestimate your audience's religious vocabulary.

The Gracious God Who Gives (and Even Withholds) Rain

It's 9:45 pm and I just got home from working in the fields. When we started baling this afternoon the weather looked pretty foreboding. A storm was heading our way. We saw lightening off in the distance. 

(We are located just southwest of Clarksville.) What to do? Send up a quick prayer. Nothing fancy. A simple prayer, along the lines of Max Lucado's words in his wonderful little book Before Amen:

Father.

You are good.

I need you.

We need you.

Please help us.

Thank you.

In Jesus's name.

Amen.

Within minutes, the storm seemed to just fizzle out. 

Not a drop of rain fell on us. The sky cleared up and displayed her beauty.

I can think of no one who depends on God more than farmers. We depend on him for sunlight, for rain, and for health. For equipment that works. And even to withhold the rain when needed. In an agrarian region of the nation like mine, good weather is all-important. Jesus knew this. He reminded us that God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike (Matt. 5:45). He makes no distinction between the wicked and the good. He gives good gifts to both in equal portion. God not only graciously gives good things. He graciously withholds things. I can't tell you how many times the forecast called for a storm when we needed to bale and the Lord held if off. It's a beautiful reflection of his love for us. My gratitude knows no bounds. 

Thank you, Lord. 

Thank you. 

Thank you.

Lovely Day for Farming