DTS News

DTS Needs Your Help to Develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

Dallas Theological Seminary — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:00:00 CST

DTS is undergoing its decennial reaccreditation, and part of the process is developing a QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan), a seminary wide project to improve student learning which incorporates suggestions from DTS students, faculty, staff, alumni, Board Members and Donors.

A plan to improve student learning
Developed with input from the Seminary Family

DTS will be collecting ideas on how to improve the seminary on a large institutional scale. Although we value any suggestions that will improve DTS, we are seeking your help to send us topics that specifically address student learning. If you're still a bit confused, we've provided some examples below.

Example Topics

Example #1 - Response to Suffering and Disability

Building on the “Theology of Suffering and Disability” course (BE547), there is a growing desire at DTS to serve disabled individuals and their families. Considering the advances we have already made on the DTS campus to accommodate our disabled students, it would enhance our institution’s servant-leadership model and our sensitivity to the cultural needs of the disabled community to promote the enrollment of students with disabilities. By adding a “service-learning” component, we could/would expose our students to those in our community who chronically suffer and/or are disabled. Our existing course would help promote our interest in the needs of this community, and lead to a quality program or curriculum for future pastors and Christian ministries. This would include hands-on experience with the disabled and suffering on and off campus. One possibility would be to work closely with such organizations as Joni & Friends, and specifically their Christian Institute on Disability, which may open a branch in Dallas in the near future.

Example #2 - Reflection of Media on Ministry Effectiveness

In today's culture, if you want to be taken seriously, having a presence in media is necessary. But before you go off creating facebook pages, shooting video, and registering for domain names, let's take a step back and analyze the effect of media on God's call for your life. There are strong positives for the usage of media, but they need to be utilized in a way that will maximize the way that God has uniquely gifted you. This topic would explore what that looks like through the various degree programs offered here at DTS.

Where Do I Contribute?

To contribute your idea, just click the button that says "Submit your idea."

Submit Your Idea

Christian Zombie Killers Handbook

Jeff Kinley — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:00:00 CST

Chapter 8: Zombie Rules Excerpt taken from the book The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook by Jeff Kinley, courtesy of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception. The one who lies with sincerity. —Andre Gide

In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. —The Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 4:1

Promises, Promises

Something happened to me at age sixteen that forever changed my life. One summer Sunday afternoon, I was driving home from a buddy’s house. Another friend of mine was in the car with me. Two teenage hippie boys, decked in blue jeans and flannel shirts. And barefoot. Go figure. It had just begun to drizzle rain a few minutes earlier, and I turned onto a country road headed back toward town.

As we traveled down this long hill, we came near a bend in the road. Coming up the hill pretty fast was this guy on a motorcycle. And for some unknown reason, as he rounded the bend, he lost control of his bike and began a sideways slide toward me. But while skidding up the country road, he separated from his bike and tumbled head over heels into a ditch. The motorcycle, however, continued an accelerated slide toward me, eventually slamming hard into the driver’s side door. The impact of the collision sent hundreds of glass bits shooting across the interior of the car. I did the only thing my sixteen-year-old mind knew to do: instinctively stomp the brake pedal as hard as I could. We skidded down the wet pavement for what seemed like forever, eventually coming to rest just off the road.

My brain kicked into overdrive, sending lightning-fast signals to my body, doing a “system check” to see if everything was still functioning properly. After processing what had just happened, I checked to see if my friend was hurt. We both checked out fine. Glass was everywhere, though, and I later found it down my shirt and in my front pocket. Glass was also all over the floor, which would soon make for a cautious barefoot exit from the car. Once I knew I was still alive and all right, my adrenaline temporarily subsided. But I was jolted back to a state of panic when my friend screamed, “Dude, you’re on top of him!”

Apparently, as I slid down the road, I had come to rest in the same ditch the man had rolled into. I immediately threw the gears into reverse and spun up the hill about ten feet, inadvertently running over the man a second time. Again, my mind was thrust into hyper-speed thought. I fast-forwarded and saw a future labeled with words like “manslaughter” and “jail time.” I pictured myself in one of those orange prison jumpsuits. My future had officially been canceled.

And that’s when it happened. I got religious. Since I wasn’t a churchgoer, I didn’t exactly know how the game was played. But I did know that people prayed to God, asking him for help when they got in trouble. And I was definitely in trouble. BIG trouble. My pulse was beating like a speed-metal drummer on a kick drum. So out of pure fear, I prayed. No, make that, I begged. I began making deals with God in my head while kicking my jammed-shut door. I promised God that if he got me out of this mess, I would stop my sinful behavior. I told him I would clean up my act, that I wouldn’t hang out with bad influences anymore. Promise after promise I made as I shoulder- slammed and kicked my way out of the car.

“God, just don’t let this man be dead. Please! Please don’t let him die!”

Finally, the door flew open, again sending more glass spraying my way. We jumped out barefoot onto the wet pavement and ran down the hill. Arriving at where the man was, we saw him lying motionless in the ditch. Then, unexpectedly, he started moving and slowly stood to his feet.

“Oh my gosh! M-mister, are you all right, sir? Are you hurt?” I yelled.

Brushing the damp dirt off of his jacket, the man looked up at the two teenage hippies, blinked his eyes, and responded, “Yeah, I think . . . I think I’m fine.”

And he was. In fact, he was more than fine. Amazingly, this man did not have one single scratch on his body. Unhurt in the crash. Unscathed in the slide across the road. Unbruised in the violent collision with the ditch. And unharmed by having a car land on top of him and getting run over by it twice.

Not a single scratch.

His motorcycle was another story. And so was my car. The man pushed his bike up the road to his house about a mile away while I drove slowly alongside him, holding my door on with my left arm. Later that day, I remembered all those things I had said to God during our in-car negotiations. I had sworn to get religious and stop doing bad things. I had even considered going to church or performing some kind of devout duty. And I did okay for a couple of weeks.

Then something started happening inside. A force greater than post-crash promises began raising its ugly head. Something inside of me no longer cared about God or promises made to him in a moment of panic and fear. All it cared about was self-preservation and getting bailed out of catastrophe. The ink on my inner contract with God had hardly dried before beginning a fast fade. Soon it would disappear altogether. Fortunately for me, within a month or so, another friend entered my life. And what I saw in him made me thirsty. This teenage guy knew Jesus, and in a short time he introduced me to him.

Faux Faith

Looking back, it was that incident that introduced me to the danger and deception of being religious. Someone has described religion as “man’s attempt to reach God.” That rings true with me. I mean, think about the religious stuff we’ve invented to help people make a connection with their Creator. In some religions, there are required places to visit, special wheels to spin, dead people to appease, sacrifices to make, and good deeds to perform. And even within Christianity, a pervasive religious odor lingers in the air. We have a litany of religious activity. Sunday morning performances we put on for the sake of God and others, hoping for his applause or a heavenly “Amen!”

Religious stuff.

There are liturgies we observe. Services we attend. Special prayers we pray. A certain percentage of money we give. Verses to memorize. Meetings and studies we commit to. Duties to discharge. Religious tasks to complete. In some churches, even certain clothing is considered more appropriate for “worship,” as if God is so shallow as to care about worldly social protocol and American fashion. I’m sure he appreciates us reducing him to this level.

Things were no different in Jesus’ day. The Son of God was surrounded by a clan of religious leaders who had also messed things up in a major-league way. One way they did this was through their teaching (more about that in another chapter). But the other way they perverted things was by their example, turning faith into a religious circus.

Jesus, not known for being a wimpy man, wasn’t afraid to inform the crowds that their religious leaders were a total sham and unworthy of being followed. In one message, recorded for us by a former cheating tax collector named Matthew, Jesus began by revealing: “Everything they do is done for men to see.”1 Really, Jesus? Everything? Are you serious? Apparently so.

According to Jesus in Matthew 23:6, these guys were a total facade. Counterfeits. Fakes. Actors. Had there been the Academy Awards back then, they would have won the Oscar for “Best Performance by a Group of Phonies.” They weren’t who they appeared to be. And Jesus intentionally exposed them for who they really were. He crashed their party. And that made them very, very uncomfortable . . . and also angry. Angry enough to want to kill him.

And what did Jesus find so wrong with what they were doing? Weren’t they the guardians of the truth? Didn’t they perform their religious duties faithfully? Didn’t they pray? Didn’t they read the Bible? Didn’t they lead? Didn’t they look and act the part of godly leaders?

Yes.

They also memorized tons of Bible verses, even tying little boxes of scripture cards to their arms and foreheads— you know, so everyone could see how religious and godly they were. They knew more Bible than you, and made sure you were aware of this fact. And they liked how this made them feel. Superior. Special. Sacred. They committed Scripture to memory, not because they loved God or his Word, but in order to be noticed by others.

They also loved the place of honor they enjoyed in their religious subculture and being greeted with respect in the marketplace. This kind of attention fed their egos and tossed a bowl of brains to their inner zombies every time someone called one of them “Rabbi.” They liked recognition (v. 6). Being called “leaders” exalted them, making them feel important (v.12).

Long prayers were another part of their religious game, and they composed some really good ones in public, giving the impression that they were spiritual (v. 14). But in reality, they were blind to the truth—about God and about themselves (v. 16). They did “religious stuff” but ignored the things God really cares about most—like justice, mercy, and faithfulness (v. 23)—heart attitudes that translate into outward actions, but usually in ways that no one sees. And if no one sees you being religious, then your ego can’t be fed. And that’s no fun.

Jesus said these men looked good on the outside, but on the inside was rampant self-indulgence (v. 25). He called them “whitewashed tombs,” inside of which were “dead men’s bones” (v. 27). No real spiritual life there. These guys were literally the “walking dead.” They appeared outwardly righteous (v. 28), and as such believed they were somehow better than the heathen and those “other” believers (vv. 29–32).

Then Jesus landed the knockout punch. More than fakes. More than hypocrites. “In reality,” Jesus was saying, “you men are snakes, sons of vipers.” And to a Jewish mind, that was the equivalent of saying you were pure evil. “And what’s more,” he added, “you’re all going to hell” (v. 33, paraphrased). Okay, so Jesus, tell us what you really feel!

Fortunately for us, the Lord was a great communicator. He always meant what he said and said what he meant. He understood that religion is merely a costume temporarily masquerading the zombies within us. For you and me, Christian activity and service can easily be that costume. We attempt to keep our inner zombies’ mindless hunger moans quiet through religiosity and Christian endeavor. The more we do for God, the less our sinful cravings will be heard, right?

Nope.

It’s actually just the opposite. Christian service (mission trips, singing in the choir, mowing the church lawn, going to Bible studies, attending fellowship gatherings, helping the homeless, attending more church services, etc.) may fill up your schedule, preventing you from having time to get yourself in trouble. But it has zero effect on causing your sinful self to get any better. The danger is that you will start feeling really good about yourself as you do all these things. And that good feeling begins to swell, producing pride and a feeling of superiority over others who don’t serve the way you do. And you gradually morph into a Pharisee without even knowing it.

But sad to say, by being religious we also sometimes gain greater acceptance with the Christian crowd. And as a result we assume our standing with God is improved as well. Even servanthood can be twisted to serve the self-god. The more I serve, the more I am committed. The more I am committed, the better I am. The better I am, the better off I am in God’s eyes (and thus better than you). It’s a subtle process, but it’s all too common. This is exactly why Jesus advised us to be careful about parading our service to God in order to be seen by men. Instead, he urged us to practice our faith “in secret” without a public audience. Serving in obscurity is no fun for self, especially when others get all the attention. But it helps us avoid the trap of trying to please God, and you’re back to earning/working for your salvation again. And that also feeds your egodriven zombie.

Faith in Jesus just doesn’t seem to be enough these days. We subconsciously feel that we need the “extras.” Your inner zombie wants to “help” you in your relationship with Jesus. But it’s a trick. It knows that by adding self-effort, it will feel good about itself and grow in its control over you. You may be insulated from a host of sins through serving God, but the subconscious attitude of “Look at me. Look how spiritual I am. Look how I serve God,” along with the subtle pride, is epidemic in churches. And among Christian leaders.

All of this is merely an attempt to achieve a clear conscience that assures us everything is okay between God and us. Another reason these good works can be dangerous is because Jesus has already pleased God for you. When he cried out, “It is finished” on the cross, he meant that your debt to God was now paid. “It is finished” is one word in the New Testament’s original language, meaning “Paid in full.” Jesus satisfied God’s righteous demands because you never could.

You struggle with sin, so you “try harder.” You fail. So you try even harder. You add more service and activities. You make promises. You “do” more for God. And why? To keep you from screwing up again and because you really want to live for him. But there are other forces at work here too. Hidden motivations that elude us. In reality, we try harder because of the “buzz” it gives our inner zombies. Every time we attempt to satisfy God through religious service or deeds, we throw a bucket of brains down that hole. And the flesh junkie in each of us reanimates all over again, becoming stronger and more confident. And harder to kill. It doesn’t at all mind dressing up like a clean, committed Christian as long as it can still be fed daily.

Ironic, really, how the whole point of Jesus’ work in us is to save us from sin’s ditch and a futile religious lifestyle. And yet, like a car whose front end is out of line, we constantly drift and slide toward that ditch.

Church activity and religious works can’t mask the scent of the rotting corpse below. Just like the Pharisees. Avoid their example.

I wonder what Jesus would say if he walked into the average church this Sunday morning. Would he find a swarm of service? A buzz of activity? Imagine for a moment there’s no stage or platform. No ambient lighting. No concert venue. No theater atmosphere. No big screens. No Broadway stage-show sets. What if we scratched all that for a few months and simply came together as the body of Christ? What if we chucked the religious stuff and came as broken followers, sick of beingentertained, seeking instead to encounter him and love one another, no matter who saw us do it?

What if we shed our religious suits, exposing the zombie for who he really is. And what if we do all this, not to gain any acceptance from God, but simply because we already are fully accepted by him?

Imagine that.

Why So Serious?

But there’s another subtle trick our zombies play on us. In an attempt to tame our sinful nature, many Christians buy into a system of thought that believes that the more rules you have, the “godlier” you are. If you have a spiritual problem, the best way to resolve it is to simply create a regulation for yourself. A standard. You just need a new habit, or new set of habits. Replace old, bad behavior with good behavior. If you can submit control of your life to a moral code, you can beat your problems and defeat the enemy within.

The only flaw in this approach is that both Jesus and Paul said it just doesn’t work.

“Wait a minute,” someone says. “I know lots of fine, upstanding Christian people who live by God’s rules, and their lives are very Christlike and worthy of imitation. Are you saying the rules don’t work for them?”

No. I’m saying that’s what Jesus and Paul said. These people’s lives may be morally upright, but according to the apostle Paul, and Christ himself, rules are only effective in dealing with outward behavior, not the condition of the heart.

Allow me to explain.

As we have already seen, the wickedness of our sin nature is corrupt and unchanging. It can’t be reformed or made better. It only grows worse and worse, continuing to horribly malfunction.

Let’s say you got mad and punched some guy in the face. He called the police, and they arrested you, placing you in handcuffs. Now you can’t punch him anymore. But that doesn’t resolve the issue of why you punched him in the first place. The anger that caused you to knock the guy’s lights out is still inside you. And even the police can’t handcuff your mind or emotions. A night in jail or a hefty fine may prevent you from doing something foolish again, but the anger that caused it may simmer inside you for years.

Some psychologists say that if you perform a certain healthy behavior long enough, it becomes a habit and your life is changed. And while that may work in dieting, studying, or exercise, it still can’t change your heart. The heart and mind are a battlefield. When God changes the way you look at life, fulfillment, pleasure, relationships, and solving problems, your behavior will also change. Heart and mind first, then behavior.

Don’t misunderstand: some rules can help curb sinful behavior. But that’s not good enough for God, who’s way more concerned with your heart and mind. Genuine change is from the inside out, not the other way around.

So if the rules can’t help our hearts, why did God put so many commands in the Bible? Why would he give us rules if they’re useless? What’s the point? To answer these questions we first have to make a distinction between God’s rules and man’s rules. One of Jesus’ biggest problems with the religious leaders of his day was that they not only perverted God’s commands, making them say stuff God never intended them to say, but they also made up their own set of rules as well. Sort of “extra credit” stuff. But over time their rules became as serious and binding as Scripture itself. We do the same thing today. We take Scripture out of context and make it condemn things in our culture that we deem inappropriate. Depending on the particular church or Christian group, these rules vary. For example, Paul told the Thessalonians to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Someone may read this verse and conclude that since the topic of zombies deals with flesh-eating, it is therefore inappropriate and evil. Henceforth this book is evil. Oops!

But Paul didn’t say, “Abstain from everything in life that some random Christian might believe is inappropriate.” Doing this is not only unbiblical; it’s also ignorant and impractical. You can find Christians who’ll object to anything—movies, the Internet, eating meat, wearing designer clothes, having a nice car, or playing the electric guitar.

Truth is, there are hundreds of morally neutral issues we face that fall into the category of “gray areas.” But instead of throwing up a wall of concrete rules, the wise follower of Jesus will seek him and his Word regarding the issue. He will learn to rely on the Holy Spirit within and walk with him in a genuine relationship. If all you have are rules to guide you, then you don’t need (or even have) a relationship with Jesus. But the budding Pharisee will simply make a rule and move on. His behavior may change, but his sinful heart remains the same.

Apparently both Jesus and Paul got very upset when people perverted God’s commands and made up their own rules, so it’s worth reviewing what they said on the subject.

We would all agree that obeying God’s rules can’t save us or get us to heaven (Galatians 1:6–9; 3:24; 5:1–4). That’s because God’s rules were never intended to save us (Galatians 3:23–25). His Law was meant to serve as our “tutor,” leading us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). His righteous standards only demonstrate our inability to obey them. But why would he give us rules he knew we couldn’t keep perfectly all the time? So we’d realize our need for a Savior and cry out to him (Romans 8:3–4).

Paul said that if you could get to heaven by keeping the rules, then you wouldn’t need Jesus (Galatians 5:1). Christ set us free from having to keep the Law, not to have us become enslaved to it all over again. Furthermore, your chances of earning your way to heaven are about as likely as a corpse running a marathon!

Paul went on to tell the Galatian Christians that if they trusted in their ability to earn God’s favor through keeping his Law, then Jesus would be of no benefit to them (v. 2). Salvation is found in Christ alone—plus nothing. You can’t keep some of God’s rules and not keep all of them. It’s all or nothing with God (v. 3). You have to keep every one of God’s standards perfectly for your whole life to achieve perfection before God. And even then, you would still fall short because of the sin virus within you. And if you try to combine rules with grace as a means to gain salvation, you will forfeit, or lose, grace (v. 4). The only way to “fall from grace,” Paul said, is by refusing to completely trust in that grace. Grace is the only road to salvation. Keeping the rules is a dead end.

So what is our hope of achieving righteousness before God? It’s faith. Complete and exclusive trust in Jesus Christ alone. Do you really get that?

And what about after you trust Jesus? What part do God’s commands play then? Most Christians will accept that salvation is by grace through faith, but somehow our good standing with God is maintained by obeying the rules. Not so, according to the apostle Paul.

Keeping a list of dos and don’ts cannot cleanse your heart from sin or make you holy. To think otherwise is to let a zombie sneak up on you. External standards can’t cure you from self-centeredness, but they can give you a severe case of self-righteousness. And that actually displeases God most. It is deception to equate self-denial with spirituality. Paul wrote to the Colossians that keeping religious rules is futile, even though these rules “have an appearance of wisdom.” In reality, they have no value or power to kill your inner zombie.

God doesn’t equate our standing before him with certain external measurements, no matter how good they sound. If spirituality is nothing more than simply obeying a list of “Do this” and “Don’t do that,” then any disciplined person can be spiritual. But godliness goes much deeper than being strong willed or disciplined. Look at the Pharisees. They kept a lot of good rules, but missed it all when it came to God. Being disciplined can promote growth, but it can’t cause it. The change you need was settled by what Jesus did for you at the cross—nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. It was his righteousness, not yours, that purchased your salvation and won your freedom. He did for you what you never could have done for yourself.

“Wait. So is it useless to read my Bible every day?” Of course not. But does God command us to have a quiet time or devotion every morning at seven? Does it have to last at least thirty minutes, with ten minutes spent in prayer? Must it include a notebook, several colored pens, a spiritual journal, and a commentary? No. Can all those things be helpful? Yes. Are they required? Nope.

Is It Party Time, Then?

As a result of Christ’s accomplishment at the cross, God now views you as holy. That fact is established by him and will never change (2 Corinthians 5:21). He now sees you clothed with the righteousness of Jesus himself. Think about it! Your standing before God is forever fixed, based on Jesus’ work and accomplishments, not yours. Self-denial cannot improve your righteous position in Christ. How could we ever think we could improve on the salvation God himself has already provided for us? There is no Christian deed you or I can do that will motivate God to make us more holy or acceptable in his sight. No act of obedience can in any way improve your standing before him. In fact, even obedience means nothing to God unless it is motivated by grace and love out of a relationship with Jesus Christ. He wants your heart first and foremost.

I see this in many young people today who have grown up in Christian homes, but bear little or no resemblance to the God their parents claim to worship. They received the facts about God from nursery school to high school. They attended all the retreats, camps, and mission trips. But upon arriving at college, they began making their own decisions about life. And God often gets the boot. That’s because facts are not the same as faith. Hearing about someone’s experience with God is not the same as experiencing him yourself. You have to “own” your own faith.

As a Christian, no matter what you do, you will never be any more loved or accepted by God than you were at the moment you received Christ. Are there commandments in Scripture? Of course. Lots of them. Does God have standards1of thought and conduct that he commands us to obey? Obviously. Absolutely. Yes! But God’s commandments must be understood in a context of relationship love, not law. Our devotion to Christ is a willing one, not one born out of obligation or duty. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Notice, first comes the love; then comes the obedience. Of course God wants us to do what is right, even if we’re not feeling emotionally in love with him at the moment. But he prefers that we obey him out of a loving relationship and heart for him, not out of a cold compulsion to “keep the rules.” Unfortunately for some, the rules are just another opportunity to feel good about themselves and earn God’s approval, boosting their self-righteous image. Have you ever fallen into this trap? Have you ever embraced this myth as truth?

If you degrade your relationship with God into merely coloring within the lines and keeping the rules, the beast in the pit wins—and the religious monster within will convince you you’re something that you’re not, creating a false sense of spirituality. You’ll be proud, with a counterfeit feeling of moral superiority.

You’ll take minor subjects and make them more important than they actually are. You’ll say things the Bible never says, and make issues of all the wrong things. You’ll have a judgmental and critical spirit—the worst form of Pharisaism (Matthew 23:13–15).

You’ll stunt your growth in Christ. You’ll have a warped view of God as a Father who is never pleased with you.

You’ll be eaten up with frustration because you’re still living in your own power. And you’ll continue to struggle with sin inside.

You’ll never experience real freedom in Christ, because legalism is the enemy of grace and wisdom. You’ll live in a constant state of fear that you’ll abuse your freedom, and out5of this fear you’ll use rules (or God’s rules misapplied) to keep yourself in check.

You’ll never have any real peace because you can never be sure if God is happy with you. You’ll never be “good enough.” There will always be some minor rule or command you’ve missed.

And you’ll be way too busy stressing over whether you have been good enough today to really enjoy the life God intended you to have. Sound fun?

Again, keeping the rules cannot produce holiness (Mark 7:15, 21–22). It cannot restrain fleshly desires (Colossians 2:19–23). And it cannot set you free from sin (Acts 15:10; Galatians 5:1).

Believing that obeying the commandments protects you from your sin nature is like building a fence in the backyard to keep the neighbor’s air out. It’s not only ineffective; it’s also stupid.

But equally damaging is the “All right, let’s party, then!” attitude. Seriously, this is the worst form of grace abuse. God gave us liberty, not license. We were freed from sin, not freed to sin. That’s why some of the New Testament writers gave us powerful reminders. For example:

Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. —Peter

We are now free to enjoy and live for Jesus, not to sin (2 Corinthians 5:15). We serve a new and wonderful Master now!

“You, my brothers [and sisters], were called to be free,” wrote Paul. “But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”

Our freedom does not include the right to serve or feed the zombie. Instead, now we can actually obey God, whereas before we were totally unable to (Romans 8:6–7). (Elsewhere Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Don’t let your liberty cause others to stumble.”)

God passionately desires our hearts. He wants our love. And where there is love, obedience has a way of becoming real and regular. This love casts out the fear of not pleasing God. In fact, love will cover a lot of things in your life.

And it will turn your religion into relationship.

When All Else Fails: God's Grace through Trigeminal Neuralgia

Mark McGinniss — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:00:00 CST

Even through the haze of anesthesia, I knew my brain surgery had failed.

In October of 2010, I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN), a nerve disorder characterized by episodes of searing pain that affects either side of the face. In my case TN affects the left side. Besides cluster headaches, TN is the most painful condition known to the medical profession. I’m told that even childbirth and kidney stones cause less agony. TN is so excruciating that it has been called the “suicide disease.” Only a handful of procedures manage the condition, albeit temporarily, and only one offers a cure.

My wife, Joy, and I chose the cure: a microvascular decompression (MVD). It is a type of invasive brain surgery. It is the only procedure that offers the chance of a permanent fix, with a 95-percent success rate. My MVD was scheduled for April. A world-renowned neurosurgeon led my operating team, and I was treated at a premier hospital. A company of people from coast to coast prayed fervently for success. I had the best possible prognosis. All the odds favored success.

But afterward as I lay in ICU among the numerous IV’s and beeps of various monitors, I realized I was in the 5 percent. My surgeon suggested a glycerol rhizotomy as an alternative to deal with my TN. A rhizotomy is less invasive, but it provides only temporary relief. The best it could afford (if successful) was a one- to seven-year respite from pain. Though not a permanent fix, it could be repeated as needed. Statistically this medical procedure offered a 90-percent success rate.

Two months later, I underwent a second surgical procedure. And in the recovery room my neurosurgeon met Joy and me. He explained that everything had gone as planned. He was very pleased, and from his perspective the chance of success was high.

But from my perspective, the left side of my face resembled the cheeks of an overstuffed chipmunk. I felt as if a dentist had over-administered Novocain. And even through the facial numbness of the rhizotomy, the pain came roaring back. With tears we realized that we were in the 10 percent.

Another medical failure. Hopes crushed. A certain future with tremendous pain.

When surgery fails, when the prognosis cannot be any worse, when intense pain is the only certainty, how do you face the rest of life? How do you get out of bed day after day when the only thing you are certain of feeling is pain or the dread of more pain?

And these are only the questions that trouble the body. What about the emotions of the soul, the deep disappointment that threatens to turn to despair, the plague of loneliness, the anxiety and fear that the life once enjoyed is over forever?

As I wrestle with these questions and contemplate a life with pain as a constant companion, I am reminded of certain truths that for those who must live with failure, the guarantee of a new order is a sure promise of new life without pain or tears. orient my view of failure. Unfortunately, these thoughts do not eliminate physical pain, but they may encourage the soul.

Failure Does Not Mean That God Does Not Love You

It is easy to imagine in the midst of failure that somehow God has ceased to love. We reason that if God truly loved us, He would grant success. We assume we must read failure as God’s lack of love. Failure, therefore, separates us from God’s love. While we may feel this way, the truth is much different. The apostle Paul anticipates such emotions in the midst of difficulties, and he asks a rhetorical question of the Christians in Rome: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Rom 8:35). Paul’s question is meant to elicit an emphatic “No” from his readers. Paul was convinced that nothing—even a surgical failure—could separate a believer from the love of God (Rom 8:38–39).

Failure Does Not Mean That All Hope Is Lost

Bodily failure may lead to despair, and despair breeds hopelessness. Yet in the face of a physical and emotional collapse, Asaph declared, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). Whether we’re enduring emotional or physical pain or both, life is not contingent on the strength of the physical body or the emotional self. While “my flesh may fail” with continual pain, and hope for relief may be but a distant dream, there is another present reality: “But God….” In the midst of physical anguish there is always God, whose presence is our strength, even when the body betrays us.

Failure Reminds Us to Look Beyond This Life

With the advances in medical science, we sometimes believe the newest surgical technique or the just released prescription drug will prove successful. Our hope is pinned on statistics that suggest success favors our condition. Yet when we sit on the wrong side of the medical data, we are forced to look elsewhere for hope and relief.

The new heavens and the new earth are not topics that one hears preached about much on any given Sunday. But for those who must live with failure, the guarantee of a new order is a sure promise of a new life, a life without pain or tears. In his vision from God, John writes, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev. 21:4). While this may sound like pie in the sky or even morbid, it was meant to give comfort to hurting saints and to demonstrate that pain, suffering, and even death are confined to this world and not the next.

Even when medical options are exhausted and days clouded by painful tears, with this divine assurance those who live with failure look forward to the time when the Savior Himself will banish tears, pain, and death itself. In the new heavens and the new earth no one will experience failed surgeries.

Failure Reminds Us That the Outer Person Is Decaying But…

TN has taught me a significant theological truth about myself: I am a frail creature. Intellectually we know humanity is frail, but somehow individually we believe ourselves immune from experiencing the flesh’s weakness and decay. But the reality is we are dust (Gen. 3:14), and grass (Isa. 40:6–8), and our days are like grass (Ps. 103:15).

Yet in our frailty there is another significant theological truth: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). While our physical body may experience failure, our spirit is renewed daily. And our renewed spirit affords us the grace to live with a frail body that is subject to pain.

Continue with double earnestness to serve your Lord when no visible result is before you. Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light: faith’s rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her great Guide. Between this and heaven there may be rougher weather yet, but it is all provided for by our covenant Head. In nothing let us be turned aside from the path which the divine call has urged us to pursue. —Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from Letters to My Students.

Disappointment, discouragement, and pain accompany the person living with a broken body. There may be an apprehension that the pain may even get worse. But in the midst of brokenness, we can believe there is a God who loves us, who is present with us in our suffering, who is our strength in physical weakness, and who has promised that a day is coming that includes no tears of failure. These are truths that will not fail, even when surgery does.

Dr. Mark McGinniss (MA[BS], 1991) is associate professor of Old Testament at Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

Intergenerational Ministry: Grandparents as Disciple-makers

Aaron Williams — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

As I look back over my life, I can see God’s hand preparing me to minister to seniors. I can also see how God used many seniors to minister to me in my formative years.

My Grandparents, the Prayer Warriors

My grandparents played a vital role in leading me to Jesus Christ. I don’t think they knew they were discipling me, but that’s exactly what God was doing through them. They were both prayer warriors, and I had prayer with them every Sunday morning before we ate breakfast and went to church. We would close family devotions by quoting Scripture. I remember my grandmother quoting Matthew 28:19–20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

My grandparents had a profound impact on my life and how I view ministry as intergenerational. Embracing age diversity is the very core of my ministry. I learned from my grandparents that discipleship is a way of life. It’s not just something we do at church; it makes up the fabric of who we are and what we intentionally do in relationship with each another. They have both gone to be with the Lord now, but I take the lessons they have taught me everywhere I go.

I grew up in an environment where words such as “discipleship,” “mentoring,” and “spiritual formation” were foreign. But the Spirit of God was still at work.

During my early years as a youth pastor I was discipled by the elderly Rev. Nathaniel Irvin, who took me under his ministerial wing and modeled what a godly pastor is like. I went everywhere with him—to visit the sick, to conventions, funerals, and weddings. I watched him minister to a whole community and not just his congregation. I sat at his feet for ten years before I went to seminary. And I learned from him that authentic ministry is intergenerational. He taught me that the church is at its best when the young and the old are integrated throughout the life of the congregation.

Connecting Old and Young

Seniors must remember what it was like to be young, and the young must remember that they may one day become seniors. Therefore we must be patient with one another. If we have a contemporary service for the young and a traditional service for seniors, we teach the young and the old to be intolerant of one another. We are bordering on ageism. The young and the old must come side by side with each other and minister to the glory of God together.

Paul the senior told Timothy the younger, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Tim. 5:1–2). Churches in the twenty-first century would do well to take to heart this admonition as it relates to intergenerational ministry.

During a class on discipleship and mentoring I took at DTS, I heard Prof Hendricks say something one day that resonated with my spirit: “Every Timothy needs a Paul and every Ruth needs a Naomi.” Prof Hendricks’s words that day became a guiding principle for how I would carry out ministry. A young believer needs an older believer, someone seasoned in his or her spiritual walk to mentor and guide toward spiritual maturity. We need someone to show us the spiritual ropes to the Christian life. Paul told the Christians in Corinth to “follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). In other words we all need someone after whom to model our Christian walk, someone who has walked with Christ long enough to show us the way.

A Lifetime of Discipling and Being Discipled

During my years in seminary my wife, Michelle, and I were fortunate to live and work at a retirement community. God made clear to us the calling He had placed on our lives to minister to the elderly. At this community I came to believe in the importance of ministering to seniors. A woman there named Prebble was about four-foot-five in stature, but she walked tall. She was ninety-three years old, and we became close friends. I became her son and she became my mother. She would always say to me, “You’re going to make a great preacher one of these days.” She encouraged me to teach a Bible study class at the retirement community every Wednesday. She said she would be there to support me. I agreed to teach the class, and attendance averaged about twenty seniors weekly. Prebble kept her word; she was there every week until she was no longer able to come. Teaching that class was one of the best decisions I ever made in ministry because the people ministered more to me than I did to them. They shared wonderful stories and nuggets of wisdom with me and each other.

God prepared my wife and me there to minister to a congregation in Seattle that is largely comprised of seniors. Older saints are the lifeline of the Mount Zion Baptist Church family. Every Wednesday morning I teach a Bible study class for seniors. We have a seniors ministry geared toward meeting them at their specific points of need. We have a seniors Sunday each year in which we celebrate their birthdays and accomplishments, both in the community and the church. And we have a retirement community of sixty apartment units called McKinney Manor. Our seniors serve the church family as a repository of wisdom, and we would be wise to listen. Almost everything I learned about ministry, I learned from seniors.

Rev. Aaron Williams (ThM, 2006) is senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington.

Human Trafficking: 20 Things You Can Do Today To Stop It

Linda Tomczak — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

Jesus tells us to treat others as we would want to be treated, and He has a heart for the oppressed. With God’s help, you can make a world of difference. Don’t know where to start? Here are some suggestions.

1. Pray.

The crime of human trafficking reflects a powerful clash of spiritual forces. Don't minimize the importance of your prayers. The battle deserves and requires the best resources available: God’s favor, power, wisdom, and protection. A Heart for Justice has collected several ministries’ prayer guides.

Volunteers from one anti-trafficking ministry use Free Conference Call to facilitate a regular time of prayer for the ministry's leadership, the work the group is trying to accomplish, and trafficking victims in general. Volunteers who wish to pray together call in on Tuesday mornings at one of the two set times (6:30 and 8:00 a.m.), using the assigned phone number and login, and pray with other volunteers who have also called and logged in. You could find a time that works best with those in your network or ministry, request a phone number and log in, and begin spreading the word to others who would like to join you in prayer. (Your assigned phone number and login will remain the same, the service is free, but, depending on your phone's rate plan and the time of your call, you may need to use your long distance minutes.)

2. Learn.

Educate yourself and those you influence. For starters, here are a few facts about human trafficking:

After drug dealing, human trafficking (both sex trafficking and trafficking for forced labor) is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing. (U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services)
Worldwide, there are nearly two million children in the commercial sex trade. (UNICEF)
There are an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 children, women and men trafficked across international borders annually. (U.S. Department of State)
Approximately 80 percent of human trafficking victims are women and girls, and up to 50 percent are minors. (U.S. Department of State)
The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion. (U.N.)
Sex trafficking is an engine of the global AIDS epidemic. (U.S. Department of State)

Learn all you can, then consider becoming a resource person, volunteering to speak at churches, organizations, retreats, and in other venues. You can easily become knowledgeable on human trafficking through information readily available on websites, in articles, and in books.

An attorney who prosecutes human trafficking cases said one of her biggest challenges is convincing a jury that this sort of thing really happens. Most are so overwhelmed by the horrors of the case that they have difficulty believing it's true. She encourages the general public to educate themselves about trafficking, so, should they have the opportunity to serve as a juror on a human trafficking case, they are able to listen objectively and rule fairly.

The award-winning movie, Human Trafficking, featuring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland, is a fictional thriller, but gives viewers a realistic view of the life of trafficking victims, and shows how easily young women can become ensnared in the trafficking network. (This is not a movie for children.)

Slavery 101 is a very informative twelve-minute video on multiple aspects of slavery.
The Love146 website contains a wealth of information, survivors’ stories, videos, and ways to make a difference.
Free the Captives Houston provides a comprehensive resource for current trafficking issues, updated regularly.

Set up a google alert. Just type "human trafficking" in the search query, adjust the preferences to your liking, and you can receive a daily or weekly email with the latest articles or blogs, including links and a brief synopsis, about this—or any—subject.

3. Read a good book.

Terrify No More, by Gary Haugen and Gregg Hunter
Good News about Injustice and Just Courage, by Gary Haugen
Escaping the Devil's Bedroom, by Dawn H. Jewell
Renting Lacey, by Linda Smith
Disposable People, by Kevin Bales
Not For Sale, by David Batstone
Priceless, by Tom Davis

4. Express your concerns to your political representatives.

The International Justice Mission site simplifies the process with a form that will automatically forward a letter to your state senators. Be courteous and thank those who reply.

Rate your state: Shared Hope International has graded each state's effectiveness in addressing human trafficking issues. Discover your state's grade and contact your officials to commend or challenge them regarding what is/isn't being done to protect, rescue, and rehabilitate victims of trafficking.

If you would like to know what your elected officials are hearing regarding trafficking, or read the transcripts of those meetings, they are recorded and available on CSpan. You can learn quite a bit from this comprehensive congressional hearing addressing the sex trafficking of minors that takes place within our borders, and listen to other Congressional and State Department hearing on domestic and international trafficking as well.

5. Support local law enforcement.

Find out how your church can help them as they address this concern in your community. When one church in Arizona discovered that police officers who picked up young girls who were being prostituted were buying the hungry girls meals and covering the cost themselves, church members donated a large number of fast food gift cards. The church gave them to the city’s vice officers, assuring the officers that they would be covering them in prayer.

6. Be a responsible consumer.

Look for a “fair trade” logo when you purchase coffee and especially chocolate, since child slaves harvest most cocoa. Learn more about how cocoa pods are harvested and look for companies who offer fair trade chocolate.

The handmade carpet industry exploits nearly 250,000 children. Look for the rugmark seal to buy a rug that has been ethically made.

Recycle your electronics. DisposablePeople.org recycles unwanted computer and electronic equipment, putting it back into the secondhand market, and donates a portion of the profits to end modern-day slavery.

Purchase gifts for others from ministries that provide housing and rehabilitation for rescued victims of trafficking:

Jewelry from Eden Ministry is handcrafted by women in China rescued from prostitution. The women now work in a safe, joy-filled environment. And if you create jewelry, and would like to help them come up with new designs, they are open to ideas.
Bajalia Trading Company pays fair prices for beautiful handmade items from artisans around the globe, helps finance Christian ministries in the artisans' communities, and partners with organizations that rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking.

7. Protect by prevention.

Be aware of traffickers’ tactics, and talk with your children, school administrators, youth directors, and anyone working with children or teens.

Traffickers can be male or female, even classmates. Traffickers may even use kids to recruit other kids.
Traffickers frequent locations where teens do and often post false profiles as teen boys and girls on social media sites.
The average age of entry into forced prostitution is 12–13. Most victims are young women, but boys are also at risk. Seeing a young teen girl with a much-older “boyfriend” should raise a red flag. For most young women who are prostituted, this is how their story begins.
Traffickers may approach young women in malls, posing as talent scouts or modeling agents with legitimate-appearing credentials.

8. Save 888-373-7888 in your phone.

This is the number of the hotline at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center sponsored by the Polaris Project. Save it on your cell phone. The line is manned 24/7, with multiple language interpreters available.

Report instances or suspicions of human trafficking. Know the signs that might indicate that a child is a trafficking victim.

9. Be alert when traveling.

Though most friendly strangers are authentic, Never agree to go somewhere with anyone or allow yourself to be separated from your group. People, especially young people, traveling abroad can be naïve, so arm them with safe traveling tips so they are not vulnerable to those who would exploit them.

Also, as you travel domestically and internationally, be alert for potential trafficking scenarios. Innocents at Risk trains flight attendants to identify and report trafficking on their flights, which has led to the rescue of numerous victims. Print print or download their informative brochure or handy wallet card on your phone or iPad so you'll know what to look for and who to contact should you suspect trafficking. If you are a flight attendant, contact Innocents at Risk for more information regarding workshops for airline employees.

10. Trust your gut instincts.

If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Call 888-373-7888 and report what you see. They can direct you, and this information helps them know the scope of the problem in the U.S. Never try to rescue suspected victims yourself. Always contact authorities instead, and always call 911 if someone is in danger; otherwise you jeopardize the safety of both yourself and those you hope to rescue.

Many legitimate-seeming businesses (and some not-so) have served as fronts for labor and sex-trafficking, including massage parlors, nail salons, restaurants, farms, and youth selling products and magazines door-to-door.

11. Man up!

Our culture’s portrayal of manhood is far from biblical. “Pimp” has become a glamorized term, and the destructive effects of pornography have been downplayed. Men need to tell other men and the next generation of men that true masculinity protects women and children rather than exploits them.

Consider being a mentor to young men in juvenille detention. In nearly every facility, requests by young men desiring mentors can't be met due to a huge shortage of male volunteers. Share your life and your faith with a young man looking for direction, and you may not only chage a life, but an entire community.

12. Woman up!

Women’s presence can be a redemptive force at juvenile detention facilities. Volunteer to mentor an individual or teach life skills classes. Many traffic victims wind up in juvenile detention because there are no aftercare facilities and their homes are abusive. These young women are often hungry to know God and His transforming power. Alert Ministries is a faith-based organization in the Dallas area whose female volunteers reach out to teen women in detention. In most juvenile and adult detention facilities, volunteers are allowed to minister from a biblical perspective and even share the gospel. Contact your local facility to find out their policies and requirements.

13. Speak up!

Don’t minimize the power of Facebook posts, tweets, blogs, and other modes of electronic communication. Use your resources to speak up. Consider downloading videos to your laptop, phone, or iPad, so you’re even ready for an impromptu presentation.

Host a film night with a panel discussion and refreshments afterward. Suggestions:

14. Host a dinner.

Host a social issues dinner for those in the community; invite others who share your concern for the oppressed. Discuss the issue of human trafficking and brainstorm for creative ideas; pool your resources and apply them to make a difference. A dinner could also raise funds as well as awareness for a group involved in the fight against trafficking.

Invite a speaker from an anti-trafficking ministry to address your church or home group. International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org) has produced an informative thirty-minute DVD for this purpose, and IJM can also provide speakers for groups and events. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center offers comprehensive training for organizations and ministries.

Raise awareness and a community's conscience level by organizing a conference or town hall meeting, or benefit your community by providing a workshop for law enforcement, social workers, civic groups, clinic or hospital staff, city council members, or other concerned citizens.

15. Sponsor a child.

Poverty makes populations more vulnerable to traffickers’ lies. Consider helping a child in an area of the world where child sex-trafficking is most prevalent. Trafficking exists everywhere, but India, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Eastern Europe, parts of Africa, Haiti, and the Philippines are especially vulnerable.

Compassion International, Gospel for Asia, World Vision, and several other organizations offer sponsorships for children at risk.

16. Get involved.

Volunteer with a group that is involved in preventing or combating human trafficking or aiding its victims. If you have specific abilities or connections, ask if they could be useful, and be willing to help wherever you are needed.

17. Give.

Often people who hear about this awful crime desperately want to do something, and envision a mission trip in which they participate in a dramatic rescues, but the reality of that scenario is unlikely and unwise. The money one would have to spend pursuing that would go much further supporting organizations that already have resources in place to accomplish this and additonally help those they rescue.

18. Use your talents.

Offer your unique gifts and skills to God and see what doors He opens for you to use them. Perhaps you're a writer, artist, videographer, web designer, musician, or even a good cook. Your talents can be used to raise awareness or funds, provide a needed skill for a current or beginning ministry, or bring people together to learn about or address these issues.

A photographer and graphic designer combined talents and produced note cards with original photos and pertinent scripture verses, which volunteers helped assemble and package. The cards were sold at an anti-human trafficking conference, and at various workshops to raise money for two anti-trafficking ministries. The back of the cards directed recipients to the ministries' websites. The cards were advertised as “a beautiful way to combat an ugly crime.”

Tom Davis, author of Priceless, wrote the novel to raise money for the Russian orphans his ministry supports. This hard-to-put-down thriller not only accomplishes that, but it opens readers' eyes and hearts to the orphans' vulnerability to becoming traffick victims.

Many musicians have partnered with anti-trafficking groups to produce public service announcements, or raise awareness at their concerts.

19. Set an example.

Terra Organica, a natural food store in Bellingham, Washington, fights human trafficking by donating a percentage of sales to anti-trafficking efforts and by making sure the products they sell aren’t produced or harvested through slave labor.

The number of aftercare resources and facilities for rescued victims is grossly inadequate, especially for American children trafficked within our own borders. Consider what role your church can play in addressing that need or partnering with ministries who are already addressing it. One hair salon in Dallas donated one day’s profits toward building an aftercare shelter for girls rescued from sex slavery.

One church congregation decided to use the money they had been saving to build a sanctuary to construct a safe house for young women who had been sex trafficked, and to fund the salary of a qualified woman to minister to the girls and ensure their restoration and recovery.

20. Think outside the box.

Major sporting events always bring in a huge influx of traffickers, who travel from around the country to these events with the young women they exploit. When the Super Bowl came to Dallas, Traffick911 initiated an "I'm not buying it" campaign. Besides small wallet cards and door hangers with trafficking facts (in both Spanish and English), they also recruited a couple of Dallas Cowboy football players who were concerned about the trafficking of young women for sex to be courageous spokesmen against it. Traffick911 printed posters and coasters with one of the Cowboy's images and anti-trafficking message, which many bar and restaurant owners agreed to use in place of their regular coasters the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.

Ask for permission to post a small sign with a human trafficking fact on a public bulletin board at work or in the community and update it regularly. Include an action point, contact info, or a website for those who would like to contact you or get involved.

Consider replacing a personal or family gift with a financial gift to a ministry combating trafficking. Create a family legacy by researching and choosing together, taking time to pray for the ministry and the victims it seeks to rescue and restore.

Helping New Friends Find New Life: Profile of Stephanie Clanton:

April Frazier — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

After spending a summer in India and Nepal living with women rescued from the slave trade, Stephanie (Reese) Clanton knew she “couldn’t do anything else but minister to this population.” Stephanie talks with DTS grad April Frazier about the work that has changed her life.

How did you first get involved with the fight against human trafficking?

I was at a missionary conference my senior year of college. As I was praying during the conference, a thought popped into my head about ministering to prostitutes. It was a really odd thought to me because I didn’t know any ministries like that existed. The next morning during the main session the founders of Project Rescue spoke. They run safe homes for sex-trafficked victims, and they help them leave the sex-traffic world. I spoke with the founders later, and they invited me to participate in an internship with seven other girls. So I spent the summer of 2007 in India and Nepal living with and ministering to rescued women in the Homes of Hope.

How did this experience change you?

My life was forever changed after living with the Project Rescue women. At the end of my internship I knew I couldn’t do anything else but work with this population. So I geared my DTS classes and electives in counseling toward ministering to these women. At first I thought my only option was to return overseas to participate in a ministry like this, but then a friend told me about New Friends New Life (NFNL), an organization that helps women leave sexually oriented businesses in Dallas. So I visited their office and loved what they were doing. I did my counseling internship there for DTS, and a year after my internship, they hired me to be a protégé counselor.

What do you do as a protégé counselor?

I do individual therapy for all our protégés, who are the women who have been accepted into the program after they have applied. I also run group therapy sessions on abuse, and I do family therapy for the protégés’ children. I try to develop networks with other counselors and psychiatrists in the area who can also offer pro-bono work for the women. All the protégés are assigned a social worker who helps them set up action plans, whether going back to school, finding a job, or getting their felonies or misdemeanors taken off their record so they can find jobs and housing and take care of their kids. At NFNL we basically help the women get to a point where they can be self-sustaining and self-supporting.

How can others help the work you are doing?

People can help by getting churches to aid such women. They see Christ in us, but they feel very uncomfortable stepping into a church. Sometimes they don’t know how to dress or how to censor what they share. So make your church congregation more aware of how to receive these women and how to treat them and love them. They need church members to walk alongside them and encourage them.

Another way people can help is to volunteer at NFNL or another organization that does something similar. Educate yourself about the world of human trafficking and meet some of its victims. When you come face to face with this reality, it will deeply affect you.

What has had the most impact for you as you work with these women?

I’m just so proud of them. Often I hear more truth and wisdom from them than I do in a small group from my church. They speak such raw truth. It’s uninhibited, so it comes out bluntly, but it’s sincere. They soak up information. They are inquisitive, and they want to know about God. I see why Jesus loved the people with whom the Pharisees did not associate. They are at a place where they are so ready for hope.

M.A./MC Grad Writes about Redemption and Obedience

DTS — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

Have you ever considered the tremendous impact obedience to God can have on peoples's lives? Melissa Shaver (M.A./MC 2010), director of Walking in Grace Ministries, describes one such instance and challenges believers to follow its example.

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” – Isaiah 61:1-3

Nicole’s face beamed. She sat at the “table of honor” with her son, Roberto, the newly named chief surgeon at a prestigious hospital known for saving lives. She had been invited to the special ceremony for more reasons than just being his mother. She had been asked to speak of his life.

Roberto’s life story actually began a year before his birth. Nicole was only 15 when she met a woman, named Mary, who started hanging out in her neighborhood. Mary didn’t live in the neighborhood, but would show up once a week. The first time she came around, Nicole wondered how she found the place. Most people like Mary didn’t even know it existed. And, if they did, they dare not drive through the run-down complex known for drugs, prostitution and murder.

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More about the M.A. in Media and Communication More about DTS

Your Questions Answered at All DTS Locations

DTS — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

Teams from DTS are visiting all campuses and extension sites this spring to treat prospective students, current students, and alumni to either coffee or lunch and answer any questions you might have about DTS. At some locations, you can even sit in on a class and meet a prof. We'd love you to join us.

Teach Truth. Love Well.

Austin, Friday, February 24

North Location: Starbucks®, 10am—1pm, Come and Go Q&A
13450 Research Blvd Ste 238, Austin, TX 78750 (map)

South Location: Starbucks®, 10am—1pm, Come and Go Q&A
907 W 5th Street, Austin, TX 78703 (map)

More info for Austin

San Antonio, Saturday, February 25

Community Bible Church, 9:15am—12:30pm
2477 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232 (map)

More info for San Antonio

Dallas, Friday, March 2

Dallas Theological Seminary, 7:45am—4:30pm
3909 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204 (map)

More info for Dallas

Knoxville, Saturday, March 3

Tusculum College Knoxville Regional Center, 9:15am—12:30pm
1305 Centerpoint Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932 (map)

More info for Knoxville

Tampa, Saturday, March 10

Starbucks®, 9am—1pm, Come and Go Q&A
502 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604 (map)

More info for Tampa

Washington, DC, Saturday, March 24

McLean Bible Church – Prince William Campus, 9:15am—12:30pm
10002 Battleview Parkway Manassas, VA 20109 (map)

More info for DC

Houston, Saturday, March 24

DTS-Houston Campus, 9:30am—2:15pm
6000 Dale Carnegie Lane, Houston, TX 77036 (map)

More info for Houston

Atlanta, Saturday, March 31

North Point Ministries Office, 9:15am—12:30pm
4400 North Point Pkwy, Ste 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022 (map)

More info for Atlanta

Dallas, Friday, April 13

Dallas Theological Seminary, 7:45am—4:30pm
3909 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204 (map)

More info for Dallas

New Courses and New Times for Lay Institute's Spring Semester

DTS — Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

DTS's Lay Institute (LI) is about to begin the Spring 2012 semester and it's offering a wide variety of courses at times that fit all types of schedules. LI offers unique and in-depth Bible, theology, spiritual life, and ministry skill courses that are rooted in sound doctrine.

The courses provided at the LI cover the multifaceted spectrum of Christian truth. Courses are designed to:

Address spiritual questions by developing a rich understanding and faith in the triune God and His word,
Act as a translator between the ancient culture of the Bible and our modern world, and
Prepare disciples with skills to help them minister to the body of Christ.

FAQs about LI Current Course Offerings

Free Bib Sac Article: Have the Prophecies in Revelation 17 about Babylon Been Fulfilled?: Servanthood: Jesus' Countercultural Call to Christian Leaders

DTS — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 12:00:00 CST

In the Spring 2012 Issue of Bibliotheca Sacra Andrew Woods writes:

Preterests content that the events in Revelation 4–22 were mostly fulfilled in the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. They believe that the book of Revelation was penned in the mid 60s and predicts God’s judgment in AD 70 on national Israel because of her rejection of Christ. At that time God was also at work creating the new universal church to replace disgraced and judged Israel (John 4:21; Gal. 3:9, 28–29; 6:16; Eph. 2:14). However, “partial” preterists are quick to distinguish themselves from “full” preterists by still holding to a future bodily return of Christ and final judgment (Rev. 20:7–15).

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Dan Wallace on the Reliability of New Testament

DTS — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:00:00 CST

Earlier this fall Dr. Dan Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at DTS and executive director of The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, delivered to Biola University a two-part chapel series entitled, "Is What We Have Now What They Wrote Then?" Dr. Wallace not only challenges key assumptions in contemporary scholarship but argues that the number of manuscripts we have today bolsters the New Testament's reliability.

Reliability Part 1 Reliability Part 2 Th.M. in New Testament Studies Request Information

Christmas Devotionals from DTS

DTS — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:00:00 CST

Dallas Theological Seminary is pleased to provide "Worthy Is Thy Name," Christmas devotionals written to direct our reflection on and worship of the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Mark Bailey, president of Dallas Theological Seminary, introduces this collection with special focus on the meaningfulness of the incarnate Son's names:

The Scriptures are full of names for Jesus. He is called “Beloved Son” and “Lord of lords,” “Morning Star” and “Living Bread,” “Rabbi” and “Carpenter,” “Messiah” and “Immanuel.” Each of these names tells us something different about His essence and His acts. Each one reminds us of the centrality of Christ above all else—He is the name above all names and He is worthy of our praise. It is because of His name that we are saved.

In the twenty-five days leading up to Christmas, I pray that these devotionals, based on the names of Christ, will remind you afresh that Jesus is the focal point of God’s creation. The DTS faculty, who have written the devotionals that follow, share this conviction. The authors wrote in their own style, reflecting their heartbeat for this project and for our Savior.

The multitude of names for Christ reminds me not only of His power and authority, but His ability and desire to provide for all our needs. The Lord has certainly blessed DTS with a wealth of loyal friends! As Christmas approaches, I pray that Christ will be your focus and that He who is worthy might be praised.

Merry Christmas!

Read Advent 2011 Devotionals Learn more about DTS

Download Complete Eschatology Course on iTunesU for Free

DTS — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:00:00 CST

You asked for it so here it is. Download ST106 Eschatology (the doctrine of "last things") from iTunesU in its entirety. And it's free!

Eschatology is part of the core curriculum of every DTS master's-level degree. With the occurrence of significant global events there isn't a better time than now to be grounded in the biblical theology of the end times. Dr. Michael Svigel unpacks key terms and tensions of eschatology, while helping to develop a biblically and theologically based overview of God's work in history. In the end, these videos will encourage faith, hope, and love toward God.

Subscribe to ST106 Eschatology for free Explore degree programs

DTS Grad Recalls the JFK Shooting

DTS — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:00 CST

On the day President John F. Kennedy was shot, Mal Couch (ThM, 1964) was in his fourth year at DTS. He was also working as a television reporter, cameraman, and assistant editor for WFAA-TV, an ABC affiliate. “I was to meet the President at the airport,” he recalls. Couch was then to “follow his motorcade through the streets of Dallas, attend the luncheon in his honor, and follow him back to the airport for his departure.” One month before the president’s Dallas trip, the FBI had screened news reporters in Dallas, and several days before the event Couch learned he was assigned to film the president’s arrival—his biggest assignment ever.

Having begun with WFAA during his high school years when he sold several filmed news stories to the station, Couch had eleven years with the ABC affiliate.

He recalls the beautiful weather and the roar of the crowds that November day. “I managed to get alongside the car for some close-ups,” he said. “Then the motorcade began to roll. I was riding in the fifth car behind the President’s with Bob Jackson of the Dallas Times Herald and the photographers from the other networks. Like the president, we were in an open car.” The convertibles slowed as they neared the city and the record number crowds grew more dense, surrounding the president and reporters in a flurry of confetti.

When the cars turned right to go down Houston Street, the cameramen relaxed and put down their cameras. Couch recalls, “I remarked, ‘Boy, what a beautiful day for a parade! Everything is going perfect, too.’ Hardly had I finished when we heard a sharp crack. It sounded like a motorcycle backfiring, or a firecracker. Then a second or so later, another crack. People began to run and scream. The reporter next to me jabbed me in the ribs. ‘Look!’ he yelled, ‘Up in the window! A rifle!’ He was pointing straight in front of us to the Texas School Book Depository Building. There, on the fifth or sixth story, I saw about a foot of a rifle being drawn back into a window.”

The car carrying Couch and his fellow newsmen turned sharply down Elm Street. “I began taking pictures of the people running, falling to the ground, and screaming,” he said. “Many of them fell as I aimed my camera at them, perhaps thinking I had a gun.” One of his photos showed a policeman running toward the car with his .45 pulled, pointed right at his camera (and thus his head). “‘Get down!’ he yelled, ‘Get down!’”

When the car slowed enough, the reporters jumped out and raced back to the scene. “I started toward the building where I had seen the rifle in the window,” Couch recalls. Later he hitched a ride to Parkland Hospital with a young driver, but they were stopped by a police blockade. So they walked on the expressway, passing crowds still unaware of what happened and waiting to see the president. ABC aired Couch’s footage from coast to coast over the next few days. Then most of it was turned over to the government, and WFAA-TV did not keep a copy.

Because Couch was one of only four persons who saw the rifle, the Warren Commission asked him to provide testimony. Their final report quotes much of what he had to say.

“One thing that impressed me in the days that followed the assassination of President Kennedy,” he said, “was that so many people … walked around the city in a daze. They had no connection with life, it seemed… [But] my personal faith [was] in Jesus Christ and in a God who controls the affairs of men.”

Meet other DTS alumni

Bible Prof Runs . . . Walks with the Best of Them

DTS — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:00:00 CST

Dr. Ron Allen, senior professor of Bible Exposition, took part in the 2011 Portland Marathon. When asked to share a little about how long he's been running marathons and his experience this year, this was his jovial reply:

First, I am not a runner. The thought of running makes me sick. Ha.

I am not an athlete. I began road bicycling and long-distance walking in 1989 when I was rushing quickly to the age of 50. I felt that if I did not begin exercising soon I never would. At that time I never dreamed that I would still be doing both more than twenty years later, but cycling and walking are now very much a part of my life.

I can walk. I can walk fast and long.

I took part in the Portland (OR) Marathon on 9 October 2011.

The Portland Marathon is the one big-city marathon that does not simply tolerate walkers but encourages them. The city keeps the course open long enough for walkers to complete the full 26.2 mile course. So, unlike other marathons, there is a special registration that is just for walkers. We are grouped together at the start so that we do not impede the progress of the runners. These days everyone wears a chip on his or her shoe laces so that precise timings may be given for each entrant no matter whether running or walking. This year there were over 8500 people who completed the marathon, over 3000 did so as walkers.

I have completed the Portland Marathon as a walker eight times, the last before this one was in 2005. My goal time in the past has been 6 hours.

I know, I know, but this is walking. My best time ever was 5:54 where I was number 209 out of over 900 walkers.

This year I celebrated my 70th birthday and desired to do the marathon again. My goal in 2005 was 6 hours 30 minutes; I came in just under that. This year my goal was more modest, to complete it in under seven hours. I loaded my iPhone with Mozart Piano Concerti and was motivated by glorious music all along the way.

At mile 25 (where the picture was taken) we were stunned to find that a train blocked the route. There was no walking around, over or under. Those who arrived when I did were stuck for twelve minutes (almost the time for a mile). It was so troubling.

When the train finally moved, I could barely walk. It took me three blocks to get back up to speed. So I was stunned to learn as I crossed the finish line that my time was 6 hours 59 minutes 10 seconds. Ha.

I laughed and laughed that despite the delay by train I still got in just under seven hours. Then came the "rewards"--space blanket, medal, a rose (it is Portland) and all manner of food and drink.

The hard thing was to walk the three blocks after the finish line (and all of the hoopla booths) to where Beverly would pick me up.

So I have already made plans for next year. I want to get back to 6 hours and 30 minutes as a goal. Perhaps then I will miss the train.

A marathon is a remarkable for two reasons. First, there are a real athletes who are able to compete on a very high level on a very long course. Second, there are lots of very ordinary people such as I who are able to do something we each believe to be extraordinary, the completion of a long course, based on training and determination. I am grateful to the Lord that I am still able to do these events.

. . . One more thing. I found that of the 8461 people who completed the Portland Marathon (runners and walkers) there were only 28 who were in my age range: 70-74 years old. I came in near the last of these, number 24. Ha.

So, be not impressed that I finished; be astonished that I even began. Ha.

Meet other DTS friends Learn about degree programs

Read an Excerpt from David Jeremiah's Latest Book

DTS — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:00:00 CST

Have you ever said, "I never thought I would see the day when . . ."? Dr. David Jeremiah (Th.M., 1967), founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, has and reflects on some of those instances in his new book I Never Thought I'd See the Day! Culture at the Crossroads (FaithWords). In this bestselling work, Dr. Jeremiah considers nine significant and surprising shifts in culture and the implications for Christians for today.

Read the first chapter More about the Th.M. What makes DTS distinct?

Wallace-Ehrman Debate in Review

DTS — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:00 CST

DTS alumnus, Rob Marcello (Th.M., 2011), and student, Nika Spaulding, share their reflections of the conversation and issues discussed at the recent Wallace-Ehrman debate.

On October 1, McFarlin Auditorium, on the Southern Methodist University campus, hosted one of the largest debates of its kind in history. The majestic building, with its stately columns reminiscent of Grecian architecture, and nearly 1600 attendees—among them scholars, Christians, seekers, atheists, Muslims, and Mormons—suggested the magnitude of the subject matter: the reliability of the text of the New Testament. Expectations soared for the two scholars debating—Dr. Daniel B. Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, and Dr. Bart D. Ehrman, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Neither would disappoint.

The moderator, Dr. Mark Chancey, a former student of Ehrman, introduced both speakers fairly, fielded questions, and kept the audience on track. He was quite neutral as his reputation had suggested he would be.

Dr. Ehrman claimed that the text of the New Testament was corrupted beyond repair. His main argument stemmed from the absence of New Testament manuscripts from the first 100 years after it was composed. This “silence” he argues could have resulted in chaos from the scribes; thus, it follows that the text is no longer trustworthy.

Conversely, Dr. Wallace presented much evidence that affirms the reliability of the text, including the importance of documents from the first-century. In comparing the New Testament manuscripts to that of the best Greco-Roman authors, the New Testament manuscripts far exceed this literature in quality and quantity. Based on the grounds of textual reliability the text of the New Testament can be considered trustworthy.

Ehrman demanded absolute proof that the New Testament had not been corrupted, as though such proof was the standard of certainty for all other things. But this was making unrealistic demands on the text; demanding absolute certainty for historical materials. Ehrman’s old fundamentalism had hardly changed, only his loyalties had.

In Wallace’s final point he argued that every one of Ehrman’s books on the New Testament presupposes that he knows what the original text said—even in his latest book, Forged, written earlier this year. Wallace contended that Ehrman’s belief that Paul did not write the Pastorals Epistles depends on Ehrman knowing which Pauline letters are “authentic” and how the vocabulary of the Pastorals differs from these letters. Ehrman never could have written that book unless he knew, almost in every detail, what the original text of Paul’s letters said.

Between the scholarly dialogue and humorous rhetoric of the two men, attendees enjoyed an evening focused on the significance of the subject. Ultimately, the text of the New Testament was well defended.

Dr. Wallace’s newest book, Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic, and Apocryphal Evidence (Kregel), was also announced at the debate. Dr. Wallace is the book's editor and a contributor, along with five of his former interns. It critiques Ehrman’s Orthodox Corruption of Scripture.

Behind the scenes, hundreds of people were praying for the two men. Wallace noted many times since the debate that he sensed a supernatural calm as he got down on his knees in the dressing room twenty minutes before the debate and sought the Lord’s help in earnest. He was totally at peace going into the debate.

Missed the debate? DVDs of the evening will be on sale soon. More information can be found on www.smudebate.com and www.CSNTM.org.

Learn about these great Master of Theology emphases:

Jesus Studies New Testament Studies Bible Backgrounds Historical Theology

Read D.Min. Dissertations and Abstracts

DTS — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:00:00 CST

DTS has posted select D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry) dissertations and abstracts from 1992 to present.

The D.Min. provides advanced training in the practice of biblically and theologically oriented ministry to those actively involved in vocational ministry. The program concentrates on developing expertise in the biblical rationale, sociological strategy, and practical implementation of ministry.

The D.Min. in English The D.Min. en Español

Two Essential Things According to Dr. Stan Toussaint

DTS — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:00:00 CST

Dr. Stanley Toussaint, Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition, reflects on over 50 years of teaching ministry and 20 years of pastoral ministry. He shares the two essential things to which every ministry must be committed and the reason he continues to teach today.

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David Ashcraft, Nathan D. Maier Series Speaker

DTS — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 CST

David Ashcraft is the speaker for the 2011 Nathan D. Maier Series in Bible Exposition. Born in Dallas, Texas, David was raised in France until the age of seven. His family moved to California and then back to Dallas for his middle school and high school years. David is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a degree in Business Administration, holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, as well as a Doctoral degree in Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, in Chicago, Illinois. He served for 12 years at Scofield Memorial Church, Dallas, as the Minister to Adults which coincided with his 10 years of service as the Director of Scofield’s “Camp El Har,” also in Dallas.

David began serving as Pastor of LCBC Church (Lives Changed By Christ) in Manheim, Pennsylvania, in February 1991. Over the past 20 years LCBC has grown from a weekly attendance of 150 people and a staff of one to a weekly attendance of 10,500 people and a staff of over 100.

As LCBC continues to grow, David reminds the church of its goal—seeing Lives Changed By Christ. That responsibility grows as the church grows—including reaching beyond the campus walls into Central Pennsylvania and by working to transform one community on each continent of the world. Because of its work around the world, in 2008 David and LCBC received “The Courageous Leadership” award from the Willow Creek Association and World Vision.

David and his wife Ruth live in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and have two children, Justin, a recent graduate of Lancaster Bible College, and Ashleigh, currently serving with YWAM.

"More Than"

The series runs Tuesday, October 4, through Friday, October 7, and is entitled “More Than”.

Tuesday: “More Than Ever”

Wednesday: “More Than Me”

Thursday: “More Than This”

Friday: “More Than Us”

Appointments with David Ashcraft are available through Kayla Cole in the Academic Dean's Office.

The Nathan D. Maier Memorial Series in Bible Exposition is a yearly Bible conference designed to model sound biblical exposition and to minister to the spiritual needs of the Seminary community.

DTS President Announces New Initiatives

DTS — Tue, 6 Sep 2011 12:00:00 CST

Dear Students, Staff, Faulty, and Friends,

Welcome to another exciting semester at DTS! I pray you are well and ready to study.

In response to the changing needs of our student body and in anticipation of great ministry opportunities ahead, I am happy to announce several new initiatives that have come to fruition and are now in effect:

Advising Center

In order to serve you better, representatives of all major student-centered departments (e.g., Registrar, Financial Aid, Business Office, Student Services, etc.) can now be found in one location in the Advising Center (AC). The AC offers a "one-stop-shop" for students at its office on the first floor of the Walvoord Student Center. If you need help from a distance, the AC stands ready to assist all students (External Education, Online, etc.). Find out more at dts.edu/advising

Customizable Th.M. Emphases

Pursue your passions through one of 30+ new Th.M. emphases. From Apologetics—to Jesus Studies—to Urban Ministries, the new Th.M. emphases offer greater flexibility AND focus on the areas of scholarship and ministry that you love. Find out more at dts.edu/emphasis

Master of Arts in Christian Leadership

Leading this generation and the next requires leadership training adaptive to diverse situations. The NEW Master of Arts in Christian Leadership was designed with this in mind. The M.A./CL, offered in a convenient format for students on the move and studying at a distance, is for those who plan to assume roles in a ministry or marketplace setting where leadership-oriented skills are primary and teaching is more secondary. Find out more at dts.edu/macl

12-Hour Ministry Residence

Maximize your time and service. Earn up to 12 hours of credit toward your M.A./CL or Th.M. degree through your current ministry or marketplace work. This ministry residency program is customized to your current ministry context and offers students a unique way to develop specific ministry and professional goals. Find out more at dts.edu/mr

DTS-Houston Degree Additions

Houston's multi-ethnic growth has provided a diverse student base at the Houston campus. To address this growing and unique population, DTS-Houston has added three new degrees to complement its current offerings. The M.A./CM (Cross-cultural Ministry), M.A./CL (Christian Leadership) and the D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry) can now be earned entirely at the Houston Campus. Find out more at dts.edu/houston

Please join me in praying for the success of these advances at DTS, so that we can continue to accomplish our mission to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.

Have a great semester and beginning of a new academic year.

Mark L. Bailey
President

Dan Wallace and Bart Ehrman to Debate at SMU, October 1

DTS — Thu, 1 Sep 2011 12:00:00 CST

The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM) is proud to announce the SMU Debate between two noted New Testament scholars, Dr. Bart D. Ehrman and Dr. Daniel B. Wallace. The debate will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 7 PM in the McFarlin Memorial Auditorium at Southern Methodist University. This debate will feature a dialogue on the reliability of the text of the New Testament.

Though Ehrman and Wallace have held public debates in the past, this one will focus on providing a general audience with insider information regarding one of the most significant pieces of literature ever written.

Dr. Ehrman, the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, is a New York Times bestselling author who has published over 20 books. His book, Misquoting Jesus: The Story behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, questioned the reliability of the New Testament text, arguing that Christian scribes have corrupted it beyond repair.

Dr. Wallace, director of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts and New Testament Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, has spent his life studying and digitizing ancient copies of the New Testament. He has authored and edited numerous books; most recently he has edited and contributed to Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic, and Apocryphal Evidence. He asserts that we have good reason to believe that the New Testament text is reliable.

If you are interested in the New Testament and its reliability, this is sure to be an event you will not want to miss. For more information on the debate and to purchase tickets, please visit www.smudebate.com.

Why, O God? Takes a Fresh Look at Suffering

DTS — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:00 CST

Several Dallas Theological Seminary faculty and staff have contributed to a new anthology on suffering, Why, O God? (Crossway), edited by Dr. Larry Waters and Dr. Roy Zuck. Coupled with explorations in biblical and theological perspectives of suffering, Why, O God? helps individuals and churches think through how they can minister to those who suffer. Noted author Randy Alcorn writes this in his Foreward of the book:

"Why, O God? addresses issues in the Bible, theology, church and pastoral ministry, counseling, and much more. Each chapter is written by a DTS professor or a professional in a specific field of disability. Rarely have I seen such biblical and theological knowledge integrated with moving and helpful personal stories and extremely practical ministry guidance. As a bonus, it has several pieces of beautiful art.

There is something in this book for everyone—whether you’re looking for biblical perspective on suffering, insights on how to serve those who suffer, hands-on guidance on establishing a disability ministry in your church, or help in dealing with ethical questions in end-of-life issues." (From the Foreword by Randy Alcorn taken from Why, O God? by Larry J. Waters and Roy B. Zuck, © 2001, pp. 9–10. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Read more)

Did you know the DTS course that inspired this book is available for free on iTunes? Download BE547 Theology of Suffering, Disability, and the Church

OT Professor Digs for Ancient City

DTS — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:00 CST

Dr. Eugene Merrill, distinguished professor of Old Testament Studies, shares his thoughts on the 2011 Dig Season at Kh. el-Maqatir (Ai), Israel. Dr. Merrill was part of the dig staff as square supervisor in search of Ai.

Among the most significant sites of Old Testament times, Ai has yet to be identified with certainty. Its importance lies in its being the second place attacked by Israel under Joshua (Josh 7-8) and the first place to defeat Israel in battle (Josh 7:1-5). The Bible too suggests that it was a military stronghold that must be defeated if the Israelites were to be able to penetrate the highlands.

In addition, the narrative makes clear that Ai’s destruction was part of the general conquest of Canaan, 40 years after the exodus. Inasmuch as the historicity and date of both the exodus and the conquest are in question among critical scholars, the recovery and dating of the site are vital in addressing that debate. The ‘early’ (biblical) date is ca. 1400 BC in the Late Bronze Age whereas the ‘late’ daters prefer a time around 1200 (Iron Age I), if, indeed, they believe a conquest occurred at all.

Since 1995 the Associates for Biblical Research, an evangelical archaeological ministry, has been at work on the project. Overwhelmingly, the pottery finds have been Late Bronze (LB), thus supporting the early date. In addition, pottery and other artifacts have been found dating all the way from the Early Bronze (3000-2000 BC) to the Byzantine period (ca. AD 500). My square this summer did not yield evidence of LB but we did find a first century AD Roman ‘villa’ or some other large private residence. Among the finds was a Roman coin with a Latin inscription and bearing the likeness of Festus, the Roman governor about AD 58-60. Paul appeared in a trial before him (Acts 25:1); thus, we did not find Ai this summer but we found to our surprise support for the historicity of a New Testament official.

Th.M. in Bible Backgrounds Th.M. in Old Testament Studies Other Th.M. Emphases

DTS Training Fuels Latin American Ministry

DTS — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:00:00 CST

Alumnus Steve Johnson (S.T.M., 1983) shares how his DTS relationships and training have influenced over three decades of church ministry and continue to fuel his new ministry with Latin America Mission.

After serving as a pastor in local churches for almost thirty-five years, the Lord called me to serve as the seventh President of Latin America Mission. LAM's mandate, based upon Jesus’ great commandment (Matt. 22:37-40), great commission (Matt. 28:19-20), and God's call to man through the prophet Micah (Mic. 6:8) is to share faith (connecting others to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ), offer hope (contributing to the building of a better tomorrow), and express love (caring for physical, emotional, and spiritual) to people throughout the reach of the Latin world. We can't rest until every person within the reach of the Latin world is not only transformed by, but also living the gospel of Jesus Christ as the fruit of focused partnerships that are initiated and cultivated alongside Latin Americans.

As president, I oversee all of the people and operations of the mission, while providing vision and resources to help LAM navigate through the turbulent waters of change in global mission. We currently partner with the Latin Church in fourteen countries, including Spain, and are forming new partnerships in several more Latin countries.

Two fond memories stand out from my time at DTS. I served as a teaching assistant in the Pastoral Ministries Department for two semesters with Dr. John Reed and one of my life mentors, Dr. Don Sunukjian. God used these men and the experience to help redirect my future from seminary teaching to local church pastoring, which has proven to be richer for my family and me. At the same time, a semester spent with Dr. Walvoord in a small seminar on eschatology helped me hone my skills in personal biblical and theological reflection beyond the normal studies.

I'm grateful for the ability to not only sit under but also to interact personally with DTS faculty outside of the classroom. Their guidance provided me with the encouragement to translate the daily work of biblical exposition, first into the Spirit-led transformation of my own personal character and then into applications relevant to the lives of those I have been privileged to pastor. DTS helped me both see and internalize the priority to "be" a man of the Word, before I can effectively "do" the work of the Word. This has kept me strong throughout the storms of pastoral ministry for almost forty years. I know it will help me finish well for His glory.

Check out some of the degrees that help you do the same thing as Steve.

Master of Theology M.A. in Cross-cultural Ministry M.A. in Christian Leadership

Join DTS for Coffee in Knoxville, Atlanta, and DC

DTS — Tue, 2 Aug 2011 12:00:00 CST

A team from External Studies will be in Knoxville, Atlanta, and Washington, DC, this August to treat prospective students, current students, and alumni to coffee and to answer any questions you might have about DTS. We'd love you to join us.

Knoxville, Thursday, August 11

Tusculum College Knoxville Regional Center, 5:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m.
1305 Centerpoint Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932 (map)

Atlanta, Friday, August 12

Starbucks®, 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
5315A Windward Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (map)

Atlanta, Saturday, August 13

Starbucks®, 9:30 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
11770 Haynes Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (map)

Washington, DC, Saturday, August 27

Starbucks®, 9:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
14155 Saint Germain Drive, Centreville, VA 20122 (map)