In 2015 I finished a Ph.D. in
Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (part of the reason that my blog
has suffered!). Anyone who’s completed a Ph.D. knows that it’s no walk in the
park. Let me say right off the bat, I could not have accomplished this
achievement without the loving support of my family.
My wife, Debbie, has been my
anchor who’s kept me from going adrift on the tattered seas of academia. God
could not have given me a better life partner, friend, and confidant. I am
blessed to have married such a wonderful and godly woman.
My kids, in their own way, showed
me love, encouragement, and joy—all of which sustained me when life seemed dim.
Working on a PhD can often lead down the path of narcissism and
self-centeredness. God used my kidlets to show me that life isn’t just about
me!
But there is another group that I
want to recognize. In bringing back my blog, I thought of no better way to kick
it off than to give credit where credit is due, paying tribute to those who have
gone before me—those who have passed on the baton of faith and who have given
of their own energy, time, and passion to make a difference in the lives of
others. Each of these men have been influential in my life in various ways, and
I dedicate this blog post to them and their continued faithfulness and service
to the Lord.
Church
Dr. Steve Willis – I first met Steve when I was a teenager. Steve
was the youth pastor of a neighboring church where some of my friends attended.
I would often see Steve when our youth groups got together for various
community-wide events or when our denomination had “youth rallies.” One day out
of the blue (at least it seemed to me), Steve asked if he could disciple me. I
agreed and we began meeting after school going through the book of 1 Timothy.
Looking back, our meetings were quite humorous. Steve would point to a passage
from Scripture and ask me what it meant. I would give an answer and he would
say, “No, what does it say?” After some time meeting together, Steve asked if I
would come on board as a youth intern. I began leading worship for CBY (Calvary
Baptist Youth). When it was time to go to college, Steve challenged me to
consider holding off on going to a liberal Christian college, and instead apply
to the Moody Bible Institute. This was a big risk. I already had a scholarship
lined up and I was planning to leave that summer. After much prayer and
fasting, I took Steve’s advice and applied. He scheduled a road trip and we
visited Moody. At first I was put on a waiting list, but eventually Moody
accepted me. Steve and I have gone on quite a few adventures together (mission
trips to Mexico, India, and Thailand, driving to Chicago, Camp Cowen, and Youth
Specialties Conventions). If it had not been for Steve, the trajectory of my
life would have looked quite different. Steve, thank you for pushing me to go
out of my comfort zone, challenging this young hillbilly from West Virginia to
trust the Lord in his decisions. Thank you for taking your time to show me what
following Jesus really looks like. Thank you for investing your life in mine
(and in my wife’s too!). You are a true brother in the Lord and one of the most
passionate people that I’ve ever met.
The Moody Bible Institute
While at Moody I encountered a
number of Christian professors who challenged me to grow in my faith, but three
professors stand out.
Dr. John Hart – Dr. Hart taught Bible courses at Moody, and I took
him for Hermeneutics, Pauline Epistles, General Epistles, and Revelation. What
impressed me most about Dr. Hart was his passion and desire to interpret the
Scriptures accurately and faithfully. Much of what I’ve learned about biblical
interpretation I learned from watching how he did it in the class room. One of
my favorite exercises in his class was the emphasis on actually getting into
the Scriptures and doing over forty hours of self-study in the books that we
were studying for class. Dr. Hart, thank you for all that you invested in me as
a student, instilling in me a desire to learn and to understand the Scriptures.
Dr. David Rimm – Dr. Rimm taught theology at Moody, and my only
regret is that I only had the privilege of taking him once. Dr. Rimm’s passion
for theology came out in every single class. His lectures and discussions left
us students hanging off the edges of our seats, hungry for more. Not only is
Dr. Rimm passionate in the classroom, but he is humble and kind toward his
students. Dr. Rimm, thank you for taking us to the watering hole of Christian
theology each and every week. Your passion for theology ignited a fire in me
and many others.
Dr. Mark Eckel – Dr. Mark Eckel is an educator of educators. He
encouraged me to stay for a fifth year program at Moody to pursue a ACSI certification
to teach Bible in Christian high schools. I’m so glad that I did! Mark’s
classes instilled within me both a desire to learn and a desire to teach
others. Not only did he teach his students how to be teachers, but he lived out
what that looked like in each and every class. Dr. Eckel mentored me both in
and out of the classroom. One of my fondest memories was eating a Chicago style
hotdog together after a class outing! Dr. Eckel, thank you for teaching me to teach and for
instilling within me a desire to learn and grow as a teacher.
Liberty University
Liberty was not my first choice
for grad school. I had my eyes set on Dallas Theological Seminary or Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School, since those were the popular seminaries that Moody
students often attended. Though, through a series of events, my wife, Debbie,
and I found ourselves moving to Lynchburg, VA, where I would begin taking
classes at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Little did I know at that time
the next twelve years would shape me significantly. There are many professors
at Liberty who have influenced me, but the following teachers have had a
significant impact on my academic development.
Dr. Ed Martin – During my first master’s degree at Liberty, I decided
on a whim to take a course in Religious Epistemology with Dr. Ed Martin. I had
very little philosophical training but thought the course sounded interesting.
Each class I would find myself in this love/hate relationship with
epistemology, but Dr. Martin had a way of helping us “get it.” I had the
privilege of taking Dr. Martin for several other courses. It was his classes
that helped me develop a love for philosophy. To this day, the fruitful
discussion in his classes have paved the way toward my own research interests. Dr.
Martin also directed my Master’s Thesis on God and time. His direction made it
all the better. Dr. Martin and I would often meet in his office or go out for coffee
at the Drowsy Poet and discuss a variety of philosophical issues. When together,
he would challenge me to be clear in my thinking and writing. I always dreaded
hearing, “what do you mean by . . .” But it was that kind of persistent pushback
for clarification that helped me to become a better thinker. Thank you, Dr.
Martin, for pushing me to be clear in my thinking and for instilling within me
a desire to learn philosophy.
Dr. John Morison – I must say
that in all of my years of education, I don’t think I’ve had a professor quite
like Dr. Morrison—but I mean that in a good way and with the utmost respect.
From his witty quips to his deep theological acumen, every class Dr. Morrison
left his students in awe with the sheer amount of theological knowledge he lavished
upon us. He has one of the sharpest minds that I’ve ever encountered. He is
brilliant! Yet, Dr. Morrison has a deep love for his students and is one of the
kindest and most personable people I’ve ever met. I walked away from each class
having drunk deeply from the wellsprings of theology. Thank you, Dr. Morison, for
dedicating your life to training young theologians like myself. You are a theologian
par excellence.
Dr. Gary Habermas – I entered into Seminary thinking that I was
going into fulltime vocational church ministry, but Dr. Gary Habermas changed
all of that. When registering for courses for my first semester at Liberty, everyone
I spoke to mentioned that I should take Dr. Habermas for an Intro to Apologetics
course. Dr. Habermas is one of the world’s leading experts on the resurrection,
but at that time I had no clue who he was. His course on apologetics was a
game-changer for me. By taking that course, not only did I realize how much I
enjoyed apologetics, it also awakened within me a desire to pursue rigorous
academic study. Little did I know, I would eventually become his research
assistant while working on my Ph.D. at Liberty. In the three-and-a-half years
that I served in that position, I had the privilege of not only sitting under
his teaching, but accompanying him to conferences and on mini-road trips. During
that time, I got to see a side of him that most people don’t. Most people know
him as a national and world apologist. But what most don’t realize is that he
spends much of his personal time, whether on the phone or through email,
engaging individuals who are wrestling with doubt or have intellectual questions
about their faith. Dr. Habermas is a man of the highest intellect, but he is
also a man of great integrity and humility. He has genuine concern for those to
whom he ministers. Dr. Habermas, thank you for your service to the Christian
world and for modeling what a true apologist looks like. Moreover, thank you
for giving me the opportunity to shadow your ministry those three-and-a-half
years.
Dr. David Baggett – I actually never had Dr. Baggett in class (with
the exception of a course I briefly audited and later dropped), but he has played
a significant role in my academic journey. Knowing very little about me, he
agreed to do an independent student on ethics and then to chair my Ph.D.
dissertation. I’m so glad that he did! I’m a better person because of it. While
working on the dissertation, every step of the way he challenged and encouraged
me. He saw potential in my work when I could not see it for myself. His
constant encouragement and kindness, in the midst of some of the roughest years
of my life, proved to be what I needed in order to press on stronger and
harder. He is now one of my dearest and best friends. He has demonstrated to
me, not only what it means to be an outstanding professor and academic, but
also what true comradery in academia looks like. Thank you, Dr. Baggett, for
your kindness to me and my family and for your model of Christian friendship.
Home
Each of these men have had a
significant impact on my life, not only as a student, but as an academic who
seeks to love God and to follow Christ. But there is one other person that I’d
like to take a moment to recognize—Dad.
Dad – Of all the people who’s had an influence on me, you were the
one who remained constant in your faith during the earlier years of my life,
and even now you have a genuine love for the Lord. I recall every morning on my
way to get ready for school seeing you at the table reading your Bible. When I passed
back through on the way to my room, you stood by our wood stove, warming yourself
by the fire and praying. That always left an impression on me. Each week you
took me to church, and you drove me away to church camp every summer (where I
came to know Jesus). You invested time into my interests—whether baseball,
karate, playing guitar, and going to youth group activities—and you always
cheered me on no matter what endeavor I took up. Though it about killed you to
send me off to Chicago to attend college at Moody, you loaded up our small
Chevy S-10 pick-up truck and moved me across the country. You were always my
biggest fan and always expressed how proud you were of me. Dad, thank you for
being there for me and for showing me Christlikeness and Christian commitment
when it mattered most in my life. Know, I’m your biggest fan and you truly are
a hero to me!
My Turn
To each of you, I cannot express
my gratitude enough. Having invested in me, I now take up the baton and seek to
invest all that you’ve given to me into the lives of others. You’ve enriched my
life! May the Lord of all peace and kindness and wisdom now use me as He's used you!
