Crazy Wednesday

Tonight is my first class on Titus. It will be a crazy day because I work about 101/2 hours, run home, throw down some food, get a nap, get up and rush to church. One good thing is that I start much later on Thursday because our department has a special meeting from 12noon to 2pm. Thank you Lord for small favors!

Getting Ready for Titus

I am reading, studying and reciting the book of Titus. It is a short epistle, but packed with some great truth for the Christian. Paul and James are reconciled in this book. James said that faith without works is a dead faith. Paul says we are to maintain good works for necessay uses and that it is good and profitable unto men. It is also the reason God saved us and made us His peculiar people to be zealous ( that's right) Zealous for good works. Paul and James both agree that Faith alone without works cannot save. There is no merit in good works also. But a person who does not have good works in His or Her life shows no indication of a regenerate heart. The reformers said, "Faith alone saves, but the Faith that saves is not alone it is always accompanied by works." We are saved apart from the merit of works but not from the presence of works. We are to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and gloify our Father which is in heaven (Matt 5:16).
The book of Titus though only 46 verses has meat for the Christian, whether young or old in the Faith. I will be sharing more thought on this book in future blogs.

Ready for a busy week

I am going to bed now after a good full Sunday of worship and sunday school. I look forward to the challenges I face at work and how I can influence it for the cause of Christ my Lord. But right now I need some sleep.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Studying the Epsitle of Paul the Apostle to Titus

Well, I am in the midst of studying the book of Titus. It will be the third time for me to teach this epistle, teaching it first back in 2002, then again last year and now. It is a short book. Only 46 verses and 921 words in the KJV. I memorized this book word for word and will recite it to the class the first week. My objective for these next 5 weeks is to teach not only the contents of the book and its major themes also how to study this book in order to retain it and make it a part of our heart and soul. One way to do this is to read it repitiously for about a month. It becomes part of our subconsciously thoughts. We can then visualize the contents of the epistle without the bible in front of us. We then can start breaking it down by paragraph and titling them. We then look for key words. These are often repeated by the human author of the book. In this case it would be Paul the Apostle. Then we can look them up in an expository dictionary or concordance and see how that word was used in other contexts of the bible. Most important is how Paul used that word in the book of Titus as well as in his other epistles. We then ask questions of the text. They are, Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How ? This makes us observe the text of Scripture closely,often making lists and charts of the terms as we go along. When we do our observation worksheet thoroughly and properly, then the proper interpretation usually is very evident to us. We seek for the principle that is being taught in the text. We then apply it to our life.
This is not at all very hard but it is painstaking and detailed. We are to mine for the gold of Scripture with patience and the fruit of our study will be produced in our life. In short epistles like Titus, I like to memorize the book during my readings by taking a verse or two a day and verbally reciting it several times until it becomes a part of me. I continue this process until I memorize all 46 verses. Then the book becomes mine forever. Amen.

Marketing the Bible Classes

I talked to Betty Wednesday night. She directs the Wednesay night classes. She said I could teach my Justification by Faith Alone Class but I need to come up with a catchy title. She said the present title will not draw new people. I am very surprised that the marketing of the Church has come to the Wednesday night Bible classes. Since when do we need to schmooze the people to attend a class on the Bible or doctrine? These classes are to instruct the body of Christ. We should not have to sell anything to anybody. A direct title of the course should be enough. But oh Yes, we need to entice the people to come just as we do for our worship services. What has happened to the Church when we have to market God's Word to God's people?

The Defense Rests

I finished my last class on Defending the Faith last night discussing the TAG argument. It was a good hour of Q&A from the class and we listened to part of the debate between Bahnsen and Stein on the existence of God. I think the eight people who were in class came away with some good information and some tools that they could use in being better witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. They also come away with the assurance that our faith is not only logical and reasonable compared to all the other religions in the world but that Christianity is the only evidential historical based faith that bears witness to the supernatural power of the Triune God. Onward and upward. Next week, I teach Paul's epistle to Titus.

Waiting for my Assignment

I have yet to receive my teaching assignment for the Spring term. Tonight is my last class on Defending the Faith in the 21st Century. I trust Betty will let me know tonight what she wants me to teach in April. That way, I can start studying for it ahead of time to be prepared. It is a privilege to teach God's Saints God's Word. I don't ever want to take that for granted. I strive to improve my communication skills as a teacher. The Holy Spirit works in me and through me to edify the Saints and to equip them to do the work of ministry.
Next week, I will start teaching the book of Titus for 5 weeks. I have memorized the book and will recite it next week in class. Tonight, for my final class on Defending the Faith, I am teaching on TAG. I will play part of the CD of the debate between Bahnsen and Stein that took place 20 years ago at USC Irvine Campus. It should be a fun and informative evening with God's people.

Final Reflections on TAG

Today, I listened to the debate between Dr. Greg Bahnsen and Dr. Gordon Stein that was held in February of 1985 at the University of California Irvine Campus. They debated the issue of whether God exists. Dr.Bahnsen presented the TAG argument during that debate and it thorougly destroyed Dr. Stein's position since he could not answer the question posed to him, how an atheist worldview could have universal abstract unchanging laws such as logic, science and morality. Atheism had no answer to Tag for many years. Over the last 10 years atheists have stepped up to attempt to answer TAG with TANG, the Transcendental Argument for the Non Existence of God. Their argument is forced and filled with fallacies and wrong assumptions. Their argument is basically an attempt to destroy TAG and show that since logic is dependent on God it is not necessary in the Christian Worldview. This is not the TAG argument. Logic reflects the thinking of God. Logic finds its ontological reality in the very nature and essence of the Triune God. Since Logic is an attribute of God, it cannot exist independently from God. Logic is universal, unchanging, and abstract because the Triune God is eternal and unchanging. I have yet to see a coherent TANG argument. TANG does not answer TAG but creates a straw man and then destroys it. I have yet to read an argument from atheists that attempts to explain how logic can exist in a purely physical material universe. How could there be unchanging laws of logic, science and morality. Until the atheist makes a positive case to explain this, then their atheism is assumed but not rational within their own system. Some have claimed that universal standards of reasoning are just mysteries that need to be accepted and not explained with the existence of the Christian God because that would be accepting a fairy tale like a Greek mythological story that is concocted because of an ignorance of all the causal factors. The proponents of this argument are not writing with knowledge of the Christian Faith or its historical evidence. I take exception to anyone comparing the Christian Faith to a fairy tale or Greek mythology. The Christian Faith is rooted and grounded in history and my previous posts on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates that. The atheists cannot legitimately claim Logic as a mystery. It contradicts their entire worldview of naturalism. It must be explained. Yes, Logic has transcendental necessity and provides the preconditions of intelligibility. How does an atheist allow this in a universe that is only physical and material?? Until Atheists make a positive case for the Laws of Logic,Science and Morality,TAG reigns supreme and casts down the false reasonings and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2Cor 10:4-5).

TAG

The Transcendental Argument for the existence of God(TAG) has become more popular among Christians in defending the Faith, especially in the 21st century. In this Postmodern age of no absolute Truth,God is dismissed as subjective and personal and not objective and universal. The God concept gets privatized to the point irrelevancy. Since it is considered irrelevant in the public sector, it is considered out of bounds when passing laws or looking at the evidence of origens, or considering ethics and morality. A totally secular nation then bases most of its laws on sociological patterns and what is considered "right" by the powers that be. There is no universal ethic, since there is no absolute Truth. Everything passes with time, even prevailing ideas. Religion then is considered dangerous and not to be tolerated because it imposes an absolute standard of Truth in morality. In the Christian Worldview, morality is based on the Character of God as expressed in Holy Scripture. It is therefore eternal and permanent. Atheists which are people that do not believe that God exists have a real problem when it comes to absolutes in human experience. We all assume universal abstract unchanging laws of logic, morality and science but only the Christian has a Worldview that can account for these immaterial universal laws that we assume. They reflect the thing and nature of the Triune God of Holy Scripture according to Scripture. Since God did make the universe and made man in His image to understand and interact with this universe, then it follows that Christianity is Truth not only by Divine special Revelation but it is verified in the daily life of each one of us. Everyman presupposes absolute laws of logic or he could not reason or communicate or have any knowledge. All men assume universal laws of science such as causality otherwise we could not interact with our environment and the world in any meaningful way. Everyman has a sense of oughtness, of right and wrong. Even the thief is upset when someone steals his car or picpockets his wallet. This is because we have been made in God's image(Gen 1:26,27).
Atheists must say that these universals just happen to exist. It just is, that would say and we don't have to explain them. Well I understand how they feel about this since they do not accept the Triune God as objective Truth. But if their entire view of reality is simply material universe then they must come up with some rational explanation of how in their atheistic worldview and outlook on life, there could be anything abstract,universal and unchanging in a purely material, physical universe. How could they account for any truth at all. Certainly the laws of logic defy any explanation in their system. The Christian has an answer. It is one the atheist does not like but the Christian DOES have an answer to this basic metaphysical question dealing with reality. How can you account for the laws of logic , the laws of science and the laws of morality in a universe that is purely material in nature according to the atheist. To say it is a mystery is to say you do not have an answer because it is not a mystery it is an outright contradiction according to their worldview. This is something every atheist and unbeliever of Christ needs to understand and resolve in their hearts and minds. I pray the Lord of Glory would lead them to the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus Christ, the Logos of God (John1:1), and all who believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Getting Ready for the Transcendental Argument

I have been studying the Transcendental Argument for God's Existence, and MAN is it deep!!! It bascially says that the proof of the Christian Triune God is the impossiblility of the opposite. Without the Trinune God, there would be no basis for the laws of logic, the laws of science and the laws of morality. It is an interesting and true argument that most Christians do not know. Most Atheists have never heard of it either and it puts them on the defensive. They are made to defend their use of logic, science and morality in their own atheistic worldview. The more I contemplate this argument, the more sense it makes. Stay tuned.

A Restful Saturday

I had a big breakfast this morning that I made myself and did some study on the Transcendental Argument for the Existence of God. I did get a nice long nap this afternoon. I took in an evening movie close to my apartment and saw Firewall starring Harrison Ford. I look forward to church tomorrow to recharge my batteries for the coming week.

Study this weekend

Wednesday night convinced me I need to put in more study for my final class coming up next week on the Transcendental Argument for the Existence of God. It should prove to be an interesting class and one that the people attending should be equipped to explain to an unbeliever when necessary. I pray I would use my time wisely for the truth of God's Word to edify the Saints.

A Curve Ball

I was thrown a curve ball this evening when I got an email from Betty who directs the Wednesday night Classes at Church. She said she surveyed the people and teachers and found most of the people have taken the classes being offered and would like to see different classes being offered for the people. She wanted to know if I could teach the Islam course again in the spring term instead of the two courses I was planning on Justification and Scripture. Well now I am praying and seeking the Lord on what I should do. I had my mind and heart fixed on Justification and Scripture. Betty also wanted to know if I would teach another bible book in the spring if not Islam. So now I am praying and seeking what I should teach. I call on the name of the Lord for guidance.

A small class

I had a small class tonight of about 7-8 people. I shared the proof of the Resurrection of Christ and the Saints were encouraged. I thank the Lord even for the few folks that attended. It is a privilege to share God's Word and I pray I would be diligent whether 5 people or 500 people come to class. God is glorifed when his Truth is proclaimed and taught. Amen.

Final Thoughts on the Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian Faith. It is also the main argument of Evidential Apologetics. The historical legal method of proof is based on probability. It is inductive in nature. So it is not a formal logical proof of deduction bringing total certainty but one of induction showing the overwhelming evidence that demands confirmation for anyone who seeks to know the Truth with an open mind. Most people however, have an axe to grind. They have a worldview that clashes with the Christian biblical worldview. Because mankind has inherited the sin nature from their first parents, they do not want to accept the truth about Christ,His deity, His Holiness, His God-man natures, His substitutionary death, and His glorious bodily Resurrection. This would expose their sin and require repentance and a change in their entire outlook on life. It is not an intellectual problem. It is a moral and spiritual problem. Since men are naturally spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5;Colossians 2:13), they need a spiritual rebirth, and a quickening of their spirit (John 3:3,7;Ephesians 2:5). God is the one who opens the heart to the Gospel (Acts 16:14).
The Lord uses many different ways to bring a person to the Truth. As I have said in a previous blog, men such as Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel and Ralph O. Muncaster have examined the evidence as skeptics and by the power of the Holy Spirit, have been reborn as new creatures in Christ.
The first use of these evidences is to encourage the young Christian and affirm that their faith is based on solid historical factual Truth. It is not a blind faith without evidence. It also, as Calvin would say, stops the mouths of obstreperous men against the Christian Faith. Their objections to the evidence of the Resurrection sound so foolish that they defy all reason and deny the evidence that is so manifest and clear. All men are without excuse. Let us go boldly into the World to proclaim Christ's life, death and bodily Resurrection so that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting Life(John 3:16). Praise the Lord!!! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!!

The Resurrection of Christ Part 2

The importance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be overstated. The credibility of the Christian Faith hangs on this Truth. As Paul said in 1Cor 15:13-19

13
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable


I found this executable outline on the Resurrection at ccel.org. It is wonderful and kudos to Mark A.Copeland who summarized these points.

IF CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED

A. IT VERIFIES OUR JUSTIFICATION... (Ro 4:24-25)
1. Jesus claimed His blood would be adequate - Mt 26:28
2. By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated His acceptance
of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins! - Ro 8:33-34

B. IT DEMONSTRATES THE POWER AVAILABLE TO THE CHRISTIAN... (Ep 1:
18-20)
1. Power available at our conversion - Co 2:11-12; 1 Pe 3:21
2. Power available to live the Christian life - Ro 8:11-13; Ph 2:
12-13; 4:13; Ep 3:20; 6:10

C. IT GIVES US HOPE CONCERNING OUR OWN RESURRECTION... (1 Pe 1:3)
1. His resurrection gives us a living hope! - 1 Pe 1:21
2. Especially concerning the resurrection of believers! - 1 Th 4:
13-14

D. IT DEMANDS OUR COMPLETE LOYALTY... (Ro 14:9)
1. He was raised and then exalted to become our Lord - Ac 2:32-36;
Ep 1:20-23
2. Thus our lives and service belong to Him - Ro 14:7-8; 2 Co 5:15

CONCLUSION

1. The impact of the resurrection of Jesus should not go unfelt in our
lives...
a. As a historical event it has everlasting implications
b. For both the believer and the unbeliever

2. The believer must never lose sight of the significance of the
resurrection...
a. Do our lives demonstrate that we serve a risen Lord and Savior?
b. Do we possess the hope, peace, and strength that the reality and
power of His resurrection gives to the Christian?

3. The unbeliever also needs to examine the significance of the
resurrection carefully...
a. It verifies the deity of Jesus, that He has all authority - Ro
1:4; Mt 28:19; Ac 2:36
b. It verifies the truthfulness of what He taught, such as...
1) No one can come to the Father but through Him - Jn 14:6
2) His blood was shed for the remission of sins - Mt 26:28
3) He came to offer abundant life - Jn 10:10
4) He went to prepare a place for us - Jn 14:2
5) He shall come again - Jn 14:3
6) There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing judgment
- Jn 5:28-29; 12:48
c. If Jesus rose from the dead, then one must believe in Him! - cf.
Jn 8:24

May we never forget "The Significance Of The Resurrection of Christ" in
our lives!

Well said Mark. Amen and Amen.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

This Wednesday, I will be teaching on the proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Without this truth there is no Christianity of any meaning. It all hangs on this fantastic fact. The evidence is more than sufficient to hang our faith on. Our Faith is not a blind faith without rational reasons but a Faith rooted in Time and History.
I look forward to the study of the next few days preparing for my class on Wednesday.

Home Again!

Just got back from a nice overnight trip with my mother to her beach house. I had a good time of rest sleeping 11 hours last night! I had a great time of conversation with my 90 year old mother who recollected many memories of her earlier years and our family. It was a special time I will always remember. Thanks Mom for raising me and loving me. You are the best!

Time to Go

I have to go now. I am picking up my Mom and heading to the beach. I will post when I get back on Saturday,Lord Willing.

Looking Forward to the Weekend

I am preparing to go down to my mother's beach house with my mother after work tomorrow. We need to check the house and drive her car. I need to clean up the yard,sweep, and kill some weeds. While I am there tomorrow night, I want to study for next week's class on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It should prove to be a enjoyable weekend with my mother.

Busy Time

I just had a great class tonight on the Inspiration of Scripture. There were many good questions asked by the class and I think all were edified and encouraged by the information and truth that was taught about the Word of God.
Now it is sleep and then up for a full day of work. Rush home to prepare for tomorrow's workday and trip to the beach with my Mom for a couple of days.I will be back Saturday night in time to go to church on Sunday. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to teach His holy Word.

Out the Door

I am heading out of the house to go teach my class at church. I will be teaching on the evidence for the Inspiration of Scripture. It should be a fun class. Well, upward and onward!

The Muslim Outcry in Europe

Since many in the Blogosphere are opining on this event, I thought I would throw in my 2 cents as well. As I said in my Introduction to Islam class last fall, there is a war of civilizations going on in the world. Islam is not playing games. They are protesting according to their religious convictions. Blasphemy is blasphemy to them in the Koran. They do not judge things according to the Enlightenment of Western Civilization. Freedom of Press is nonexistent when it comes to making satire cartoons of their prophet.
It has been pointed out the hypocrisy of this protest. When 9/11 took place in the name of Allah, there was cheering in the Muslim streets. Cartoons cause them to go into a murderous rage but a slaughter of 3000 people in the name of Allah brings cheerful celebration. People need to understand the Muslims will not rest until the Law of Islam covers the globe so that every nation, people and tongue becomes the land of Islam and is subject to Sharia. Christians around the world need to pray to the Triune God of the Universe, Father,Son and Holy Spirit, that He prepare His people for suffering and to preach the Gospel before He comes again in the clouds with great glory. "The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest(Matt 9:37b-38).The Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come(Matt.24:14)."

The Inspiration of Scripture -Part 2

The evidence for the Inspiration of Scripture is a compelling argument of probability. Most Reformed scholars reject it and any evidential argumentation because they say it subjects the Word of God to the will of sinful men. My problem with my fellow reformed brothers is this. God is the one who opens the heart to believe(Acts 13:48,16:14). God wants His Word proclaimed and defended (2Tim 4:2;1Pet 3:15). Giving reasons for the Faith does not dishonor God but glorifies Him by being obedient. God is sovereign and will use the reasons drawn from His Word to bring redemption to the soul.
The Bible was written by 40 different human authors over a span of between 1500-1600 years using three different languages. This is testimony to its amazing unity since it has one unifying person throughout, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:39),and one theme, the redemption of a people for Himself (Eph 1:3-14).
The Old Testament has 14000 extant copies. Some like the Dead Sea Scrolls, going back to 250BC, authenticate that the prophecies of Isaiah were written well before the time of Christ.
The New Testament has 5,488 copies in existence according to leading New Testament scholar, Bruce Metzger. When meticulously compared,the variations are on an average of about one in every 1000 verses of the New Testament. This shows providential preservation. Not one variation affects any doctrine of the Faith.
Archaeology over the last 150 years has established many of the historical facts and people mentioned in the Old Testament. Leading Jewish Archaeologist, Nelson Glueck said,"It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference. He applauds "the almost incredibly accurate historical memory of the Bible and particularly so when it is fortified by archaeological fact"( Rivers in the Desert [Philadelphia: Jewish Publications Society of America, 1969],p.31). Sir William Ramsey was a skeptic and an archaeologist that set out to disprove the Bible once and for all, but became a converted Christian when he discovered the precise accuracy of the Gospel of Luke.
Predictive Prophecy is the self authenticating proof of the Inspiration of the Scriptures. Over 300 prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament have already come true. The mathematical probability of this happening in one person fixing the time and place is beyond the power of numbers to express or the mind of man to grasp, eliminating forever the skeptics ability to escape the compelling power of the evidence of biblical prophecy.
Skeptics and Atheists such as Josh McDowell, Ralph Muncaster and Lee Strobel examined the evidence and not only became Christians by the power of the Holy Spirit,but have become leading Defenders of the Christian Faith. They have written books that have blessed and given assurance to the Saints, and have been used to bring many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
This is just a short summary of the evidence. Books by the three above mentioned men should be read and studied and used in Defending the Inspiration of Scripture and the Truth of the Christian Faith.

The Inspiration of Scripture

We move to the evidential method of Defending the Christian Faith. After establishing the proof of the existence of God from the existing order we move to the source of written special Revelation which is the Holy Scriptures. 2Timothy 3:16 is the classic text which speaks of the Inspiration of Scripture.

16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The word in the Greek for inspiration is theopneustos, meaning literally "God Breathed. This word is only used once in Scripture and it is only used in reference to Scripture. That is powerful evidence of its origin, its uniqueness, and infallibility. It is the basis for the Evangelical doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Scripture alone is sufficient to function as the infallible rule of faith for the Church. But that will be a doctrine I will discuss in a few months. Tomorrow, I will discuss the evidence for inspiration of the Bible.

The Brevity of Life

Because the weather changed my plans this weekend, I had a chance to visit a very sick Christian friend in the hospital. It was very sad to see this once robust healthy man thin as a rail,sick as a dog, with tubes and IV going into his body. He has Pancreatic cancer and it does not look good. I stayed a while to encourage him. I then prayed with him and slipped out as he laid back to get some sleep.
As I drove home, I reflected on the brevity of life. The Lord has numbered our days and has determined the times before appointed and the bounds of our habitation. We are only on this earth a short time. There is very little time to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. I am reminded of that saying," only one life will soon be passed, only what is done for Christ will last." My friend Bill seemed healthly a month ago but is now facing cancer and death. Will I be ready when my time comes? I remember going to see Dr. James Montgomery Boice in Lakeland Florida for a Bible conference in October 1999. While I was there, I thought how dynamic,articulate and scholarly he is. He seemed at the pinnacle of his ministry life. It would be only several months later that he was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and died in June of 2000. The Lord has only given us a certain number of days to live on earth. Those of us that are Christians must serve him faithfully with all our hearts so when the time comes for our homecoming we can personally not suffer regrets for wasting the time he gave us. I want to hear his voice say " Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

Preparing for the Weekend

One more night/morning work day and then I am off with my mother down to her beach house south of Clearwater. I look forward to studying for my Wed. class there and preparing for a new class to be taught sometime this year or next on the Trinity. Time with my Mom will be precious as she just turned 90 years old. I pray she comes to repent of her sins and place her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Amen.

A Teacher's Challenge

It is a challenge to every teacher to impart information and understanding to the people they are teaching. Tonight, teaching classical apologetics was a challenge because of the intellectual nature of the arguments involved. They were rigorous and abstract conceptually. But they were rational and logical. I think I communicated the proof of the existence of God through the cosmological argument and by the impossibility of an infinite past. Another challenge of the teacher is to get the folks to act on the knowledge they receive and go further in their understanding and knowledge through study. I believe the study of the bible and theology is one of the most important and noblest disciplines a person can ever undertake. I pray I would continue to learn first as a student and then as I understand, to teach others the principles and precepts God has taught me through His Word.