Walking with Jesus

I've been working on this PhD in Old Testament from Gateway Seminary for years now. I've poured hundreds of hours, thousands of dollars, and over 6 years into answering this divine call. Through it all, Olivia has patiently supported and encouraged me. Go her!!!  One of the biggest challenges I've faced has been learning the Hebrew language. I had a good 12 years between my Master's work and these PhD studies, and I wasn't very good a Hebrew the first time around. So, as someone who has really struggled and passionately desired to get this language, I wanted to let you know what I've found that actually works. Of course, classroom experience is usually best, but that isn't a valid option for most people. [Warning, effectively learning biblical Hebrew is an investment that takes time and practice, especially if your goal is to be able to pick up your Hebrew Bible and actually read it.] So, here are my recommendations for study on your own: ...

Our culture is in crisis in so more ways than I can count! When it comes to man's role as a husband and father in a relativistic world, here's an article worth reading. Better yet, it's worth listen to! 5 Ways Men Need to Step Up as Husbands and Fathers Thanks to Dennis Rainey, FamilyLife.com, and my amazing wife (who pointed the article out to me). (image taken from article)

Perhaps you’re not part of the growing minority? Perhaps you didn’t know that Halloween isn’t something followers of Jesus should associate with? Perhaps you didn’t know that... ...Jack-o-lanterns represent a wandering soul so evil that *atan wouldn’t let him into Hell? ...Halloween Costumes were originally worn to commit crimes without being recognized by demons? ...Trick-or-Treat was about buying protection from thugs who would kill your horse, rape your wife, or burn down your barn if you didn’t pay them? ...Dozens of children are sacrificed each year on Halloween by satanic cults in the a United States? ...The Bible specifically forbids God’s people from participating in the worship of the very demons who are celebrated on Halloween? ...The Founding Fathers of our country did not celebrate Halloween? ...Light and Dark should have nothing to do with each other? ...Halloween provides *atan with avenues of access into the souls of our children? ...Sometimes our kids NEED ...

As some of you may remember, Oct. 31st is a big deal in our home, but not because we think it’s a good (or even mildly okay!) celebration. The following post represents a fair and compassionate testimony of one family’s decision to skip Halloween from now on. The author clearly presents the choice before us. As believers, we are free to do whatever we want with this day, but WHY we do what we do is important to consider. Please read the following article and feel free to write Mrs. Gowen a note of thanks. You might also thank Olivia since she is the one who shared this post with me to begin with. (Thanks, sweet girl!) https://faithit.com/why-were-not-celebrating-halloween-this-year-brie-gowen/

Hello friends; I was inspired by my amazing bride's blog to turn my own blog back on as a study break. She recently wrote about our daughter Natalie's 15th Angel Day . Hope you are doing well. I'll try to write again, but no promises. I'm studying hard for a Comprehensive Hebrew Exam, teaching at some Bible Schools, trying to find a full-time job, and loving my life with Olivia , Ahava , Ezekias , and Gracey . So, you'll pardon me if I don't write a lot or often for a while, won't you? Thanks! God bless. Bryan (or "Professor Brigham" as my students call me)

Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will refine them and try them; for how shall I deal with the daughter of My people? Their tongue is an arrow shot out; it speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably with his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lies in wait. Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?' - Jeremiah 9:7-9 We're coming up on the 4th of July again, and I expect this year's celebration to be among the most nationalistic/patriotic/humanistic holidays of recent decades. Now don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to be an American. I enjoy the freedom to worship God publically, raise my children to love Jesus, and live with those inalienable rights we claim God has given to us (although I'm not sure the God of the Bible would have prioritized "the pursuit of happiness"). However, there are increasingly times when I look at our country and cringe in shame, espec...

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” ~ Proverb 14:12 My daughter is attending day camp for the first time this week. Of course, the camp is Christ-centered and she is having a great time. (Anyone who knows our family knows that we are extremely selective about who gets to be an influence in our lives!) She is also learning a lot… including lessons we need to be reminded of from time to time. Today, she learned about Fool’s Gold . “Fool’s Gold,” or Pyrite, is a common iron sulfide whose metallic luster and pale yellowish coloration give it a superficial resemblance to true Gold. However, while they may look like to the untrained eye, Gold and Fool’s Gold are intrinsically different. And, although Pyrite does have some handy uses, it is an unstable element which can advance the deterioration of composite materials or even spontaneously explode. Now, the application for my daughter’s learning is where you (dear reader) come to m...

My brother is a scientific sort of guy, so one of the first thoughts I had after I recovered from hearing this (right after lots of God-praise) was: "I need to post this for Kevin." Of course, even if you aren't Kevin, I want you to listen to this as well. I heard it on the car radio while I was running errands, and it shook me to the core. I actually sat in the parking lot at the recycling center weeping over the goodness of God that we should live in an age when we can hear the praises of creation. The video clip is long, but you'll be glad it is. Ps. 148:1 Praise the Lord ! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light ! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord , For He commanded and they were created. 6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decre...

Today my classmates and I were worshiping the Lord together and I had one of those moments... Perhaps you know those moments... You're singing in a group and suddenly you feel the presence of the Lord. It's a very experiential feeling: a chill, a separation from the world around, a feeling of clarity in your voice and power in your shoulders, a sense that your words have power (being created in the image of God). Suddenly, you realize that the overwhelming feeling in your chest is LOVE: love for God in particular, but also a recognition of love from  God.  Since I cannot share that moment with you, at least let me share the words we were singing. I pray that you too will experience those moments. However, even more than that, I pray that you will know the God who makes such moments known. May the Lord bless you today! One day when Heaven is filled with His praises One day when sin was as black as could be Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin Dwelt among men, my example is H...

Hello Friends! I haven't written in a while, and for that I guess I should apologize. Or, perhaps I shouldn't. :-) Jesus said he did only what he saw the Father doing. I haven't felt like it was the right time to write, so I haven't. But,  today I do. We are settling into our new life and our new ministry. There is so much need in our town. #atan has been attacking recently and I feel like we're in his territory. I guess we are, but we are also taking that territory one soul at a time. The difficulty is that some people want to take that territory without requiring a change in ownership . They want to be sensitive to the point of not making any demands, But, this doesn't really work, because God does make demands of us. Please don't hear me incorrectly: Salvation is an absolutely free gift based on the perfectly atoning work of Jesus Christ and not on anything we can or ought to do. However, becoming Jesus' disciple after we have confessed Him as Lord an...