Dissertation Update

It has been quite a while since I gave a dissertation update.  Well things have been moving along rather nicely over the past few months.  I began sending out invitations to Baptist related colleges and universities to participate in my study way back in December.  I had to wait until every one came back on campus in January to get any real responses.  Since that time, completed surveys have been trickling in slowly but surely. 

I had a secondary push to get more schools to participate over the last month.  One, last ditch effort to get 10.  10 was my minimum and I was stuck on 7 for months.  The result of the final push was I got a few more schools to join in.  As of right now, I have 11 schools (with one more agreeing to start, but haven’t completed any surveys yet).

Those schools are:

1. Campbellsville University
2. Mid-Continent University
3. Blue Mountain College
4. Bluefield College
5. Hannibal LaGrange University
6. Howard Payne University
7. Baptist University of the Americas
8. Soutwest Baptist University
9. Brewton-Parker University
10. Hardin Simmons University
11. William Carey University
12. Oklahoma Baptist University (agreed but haven’t started yet)

Even with a few surveys still to be completed, I have entered the statistical analysis phase (Chapter 4 for those who have done a research dissertation).  I have four main questions to answer and I am nearly through answering two of those questions statistically.

My goal is to finish analysis in April.  Then write Chapters 4 & 5 in May.  It should be sent off in the first draft form by May 30.  I will hopefully defend my dissertation in July.  That is my hope and my goal.  I would love to get this thing done before the fall semester begins.

The Last Fraud

Matthew 27:64 ESV  Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”

The last fraud of the resurrection is astonishing…so the scientists say.  No man comes back from the grave.  No man returns from death. 

The last fraud, implied in this verse by the chief priests and the Pharisees, is the stolen body of Jesus by his disciples.  How does anyone roll away a stone without waking military-trained guards with a ordered to provide protection and security?  Not only open the tomb, but then steal the body without waking the guards.  The disciples were not trained in stealth black ops.  It would be like a 12-year old little leaguer pitching a no-hitter against the New York Yankees.

The first fraud, however, may be more outrageous.  The fraud of Jesus declaring himself to be the Messiah, the Christ, God’s Anointed One, the Deliverer heralded in the Old Testament prophecies.  The fraud is nullified by the fact that Jesus completely fulfilled over 60 major messianic prophecies.

Regardless of which fraud is more prominent, the first or the last, the resurrection must be dealt with.  Dealt with by looking at the facts.  Dealt with spiritually.

Check out the top 7 denials of the resurrection offered by scientists and historians over the years.  This is the best science has to offer to defeat the resurrection.  defense-of-the-resurrection-theories

KBC Youth Ministry Retreat

I get  the special privilege of leading two sessions at the annual KBC Youth Ministers Spring Retreat in Georgetown, KY later this spring.  Joe Ball, KBC Youth Ministry Director, came to our campus back in November and helped me lead our inaugural Think Again conference.   After the conference, he asked if I would be willing to lead a couple sessions for him at his annual retreat.  30 to 40 youth pastors will be gathering to be encouraged and equipped. 

I am really honored to be used by God to serve these men and women who lead teenagers all over our state.  They work hard and are often unpaid and unappreciated by their congregations.  They give so much of their time, energy and passion to see students come to faith in Christ and be discipled toward greater spiritual maturity. 

Can you imagine what our state would be like spiritually without teenagers serving in VBS, teaching children in Backyard Bible clubs, on mission trips, doing construction through Kentucky Changers, and sharing the Gospel with their friends?  And usually they are led to do these things by their youth ministry leaders.

As a former youth minister in KY and TX and now as one who is training the next generation of youth ministers on the college campus, I hope I can encourage these heroes of the faith to keep fighting the good fight.

7 Years…and Counting

Jennifer and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday.  We were married on Saturday, April 6, 2002,  in Williamsburg, KY at Mountain Ash Baptist Church.  Rev. Charlie Worthy performed the ceremony.  Jennifer’s sister, Janice Hedayati, was the matron of honor.  My father, Danny Garrison, was the best man.

We traveled from our wedding reception at the Cumberland Inn in Williamsburg over to Nashville and spent our first night together as man and wife at the Opryland Hotel.  I sprang for the Honeymoon package…very nice.  Then we drove the next day all the way to Dallas/Fort Worth, back to our seminary apartment.  We arrived late at night, unloaded all the gifts in the living room floor, took a quick nap, and grabbed our backpacks and headed to the DFW airport.

We spent the next 7 days in Montezuma, Costa Rica at the Finca los Caballos (Horse Ranch Resort).  Pool side.

Since that day, we have lived in three cities (Fort Worth, Alexandria, and Campbellsville).  We have both completed our Masters degrees.  We have had two beautiful sons: I & E.  We have grown in our relationship with each and with the Lord.

God’s gift of covenant marriage is absolutely amazing.  7 years now, I hope we will make it to 70.

Living Grace Pulpit Supply

I was asked to fill the pulpit for my friend Pastor Phillip Kelley at Living Grace Church in Campbellsville on Sunday.  It was great to be back with this outstanding congregation after several weeks in other churches.  I filled in for three months back in 2008 before Pastor Phillip came on board.

It was a powerful day.  I believe God was active and working.  My message was entitled “My Word is My Bond” taken from 2 Corinthians 8:8-14.  If you would like to listen to the message, you can go to iTunes and search under “Living Grace Church” or click here.

www.livinggracechurch.com

Spring Ministry Opportunities

I am really looking forward to the next month in ministry. 

I get the honor of preaching at Living Grace Church on Palm Sunday, April 5.  Then on April 26, I will be preaching at Campbellsville Baptist Church.  Then on May 18-19, I get to lead two sessions at the KBC Youth Minister’s Retreat.

And then from May 24 to July 5, I get to preach in the greatest church in Kentucky: Main Street Church in Alexandria, our former congregation.  My former pastor, Robert Franklin, will be taking a 7-week sabbatical and the church leaders have asked me to come and fill the pulpit during those weeks.  The entire family is very excited to see our friends and family from NKY.

Not to mention, I will be turning in my dissertation at the end of May…Lord willing.

Busy couple months coming up, but I am thrilled to be used by the Lord in his kingdom work.

Harry Potter in China

My good friend Nic Hervey found this photo from 2002.  Nic and I were serving together in Xian, China.  As we built relationships with the merchants and street vendors, I found a good buy on some new specs.  Thanks Nic for a trip down memory lane.

I should have kept those glasses.  They rocked.

Also notice the sugarry, rice lollipop…a daily treat from the street.