February 25, 2010

My Testimony

I was born and raised in south Texas. I grew up on a farm as the oldest of three brothers. All of my immediate family and most of my extended family live in Texas, my Father works as a department head for a water treatment plant, my mother is a first grade teacher, and my two brothers are still in school (one in college, the other in high school). I have been married for just under four years (June 2006) to my high school sweet heart, whom I dated since my freshman year of high school and now live with in Jerusalem, Israel.

I became a believer at the age of five after hearing the gospel from my pastor (grandfather) and praying with my mother. From that time on I grew in my faith under the direction of my godly parents and bible-believing church.

My earliest recollection of assurance in my faith was at the age of eleven. While attending middle school I was asked a question by one of my teachers regarding why I had not followed a certain procedure, but instead of telling the truth – that I simply had forgotten to follow the rules – I lied and got away with it. The rest of the day I was miserable and deeply convicted over my wrongdoing. Late that night as I lay in bed the miserable conviction that I felt throughout my whole being, finally, lead me to confess my sin and re-dedicate my life to the Christ. The following day I went to the same teacher and confessed my lie to her and she forgave me. The effect of my confessions was instantaneous – my spirit was immediately restored. I believe this event was foundational for my early spiritual growth, because I had come to a clearer understanding of living as an adopted son of God. I had on the one hand discovered my own ability to sin against people and the Savior, but on the other hand I had discovered that the Lord of Heaven and Earth possessed a superior ability to my rebellion, the ability to forgive my sins.

My walk with Christ grew over time through junior high and high school.I continued to attend the same church with my family and began to grow in the knowledge and truth of Scripture. My grandfather played a considerable role in my life at this time. Besides hearing him from the pulpit every Sunday I would spend many hours with him in the cotton and grain fields during the summer harvest. Listening attentively to him as he told me story after story, as we listened to Houston Astros games, Pastor Lester Roloff and Dr. John MacArthur. His recounting of WWII battles, fishing stories, prison-ministry testimonies, and countless other fascinating tales (often told more than once) left in an indelible mark on my life-direction and worldview. More than that, it was during his Sunday school classes that I began to understand that I had the Holy Spirit living inside me illuminating the Word of Truth to me personally and that I too could interpret the Scriptures. I cherish this period of my life – it was absolutely foundational to my spiritual growth.

Upon graduation I left for the Master’s College where I began pursuit of a B.A. in Biblical Languages. The depth or breadth of spiritual growth I experienced at Master’s cannot be told in the short space that I have here. At Master’s I was pummeled by grace and truth from every front. In the classroom the teachings of TMC’s Bible faculty shaped the way I thought and the way I read Scripture (particularly Advanced Hermeneutics, Greek, and Land and Bible.) In chapel and church I was met with the effective exposition of the Word of God and the practical truths of delighting in the Savior. In the dorm I met life-long friends in whom I was able to discuss and reflect upon the deeper truths of the God of Scripture. During my time at TMC I married my high school sweetheart, Mindy, which brought a whole new wave of spiritual development. We have been married almost four years now and as we maintain growth together in the Messiah I am continually amazed at the faithfulness in both the character and thought of my beloved.

After graduating from TMC I moved on to Jerusalem University College in pursuit of an M.A. degree. It was at this stage where my mentality began to shift from one of personal development only to the development of others also. Over my time at JUC I have been given the opportunity to move outside of the student audience and actually be the instructor (if only on a part-time basis). This adjustment has caused me to realize the deep responsibility teachers have. I realized that I was now in a position to affect the way people think and subsequently how they live. This has pushed me to prayer both for faithfulness for myself and for growth and attentiveness for the students that I will be teaching. As I continue to teach I pray that I will grow into the teacher the Lord would have me be, as I follow hard after the examples of the men I have had the immense privilege of sitting under.

February 17, 2010

Paralells - History of Redemption

If the Exodus is the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the OT (Salvation), which it is in terms of theology, then the Conquest is the Pentecost and spread of the Gospel (Kingdom Advancement) of the OT. 

Pilate the Cowardly Murderer

Sometimes we empathize with the actions of Pontius Pilate - seeing the difficult situation he was put in, acknowledging that it was not he who plotted out Christ's death, and recognizing that he understood the Lord of Glory to be innocent.  While all of these things are true - that does not excuse Pilate's ploy to punish Christ with flogging nor his verdict to murder the Culmination of all Innocence.  He had the power to do the right thing, the power to act judiciously, but chose not to.  Pilate was a coward whose cowardice caused him to be a murderer.  What makes his murdering cowardice all the more appalling are his thoughts.

“So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up."

Even worse than his conscience condemning him is the fact that his own wife's conscience was pricked and supernaturally warned.

"Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”
(Matthew 27:17–19 ESV)

See painting's bibliography here.

Despite this Pilate still murdered - butchered the Wisdom of God.  His attempt to wash his hands of the situation is laughable since his approval, and his approval alone (from a human, judicial perspective) allowed the Light of the World to be crucified.

February 10, 2010

Alive King Jesus - Dead King Herod

There are many interesting aspects about the Biblical story - many fascinating tidbits that can only be gleaned by being in the land and seeing and experiencing how the land fits together.  Here is one of my favorites.


As King Jesus made his way up and over the Mt. of Olives, while the deafening throng erupted with shouts of Hosannah, the coronation of the true king of Israel finally was realized.

Imagine the amount of conflicting emotions the Lord experienced - joy, fear, anxiety, foreboding, and quite possibly irony.   The tomb of Herod the Great (or at least Herodium where the tomb was) could be seen quite clearly from the route the King of Kings took on his way to Jerusalem.  It's quite probable that Jesus looked to his left, towards the Judean Wilderness and the Dead Sea, and saw the tomb of the jealous "king" who once sought to have Him murdered by killing the babies of David's city - the king who claimed to be the true king of the Jews now rotting in an illustrious tomb unloved and still posthumously trying not to be forgotten.  Jesus was about to show Israel and the whole world what true kingship was all about.

Torah as Conscience Pricker

“If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby— if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt.”
(Leviticus 6:2–5 ESV)

Clearly there is a place for the conscience in Torah.  Torah is much more than law (as it is often defined as) - if it were merely law a passage like this would not exist.   Law is designed for governments to punish law-breakers (very impersonal) here is something else entirely - the law of the conscience (inherently personal).  This passage clearly calls for accountability of sin based upon the sinner’s conscience - Yahweh is providing a way to cover one’s sin, as well as restoring the seared conscience of the sinner.  This teaching differs greatly from modern laws in that instead of merely offering justice and repayment for the sinned against and punishment for the sinner it offers restitution and forgiveness for the sinner.  The result is holy living vs. unholy legalism.

February 6, 2010

Piper's Lecture on C.S. Lewis

Great lecture on Lewis - I learned a lot about Clive Staples.


Enjoy! (sorry for the weird video angle - Desiring God's player is bigger than my blog template - if you want to watch it at Desiring God go here)