Awarded Teaching Position At Cornerstone University

I just recieved an email from the Faculty Services department at Cornerstone University that I have been awarded a teaching position in the PGS (Professional & Graduate Studies) program there. The position offers placement in the accelerated program and is a bit different from the typical day-to-day course schedule. The official title is "Adjunct Faculty" so, this is not a tenured position but still, I'm very excited about the opportunity to get some classroom experience. Upon taking the job, some of the courses (among others) that I'd teach are:

* Principles of Biblical Studies
* Inductive Study of Ephesians
* Interpretive Analysis of Old Testament Literature
* Gospel Literature (emphasis on Mark) Yay!!!
* Mosaic Literature

* Christian Doctrine

Update On My Life & Pisteuomen

Prior to the first of this year, I had been blogging for about a year and a half. In that time period, I never missed a day of updating Pisteuomen. However, with the advent of 2009, a few things changed and in many ways, I had to temporarily cut back on my blogging activities. While I plan to write a post some time in the near future with more specifics, here, I just want to be quite general as to what's been going on in my life.

First of all, just before the advent of 2009 (December 2008) I was quite busy on a number of projects. I was filling out PhD applications, finishing up two conference papers and doing my ministerial duties. As January rolled around, the motherboard on my computer melted and I had to get it replaced; this led to a nearly 2-week hiatus.

Second of all, when I recieved my computer back in mid-January, I needed to finish my two papers for the conferences immediately. This meant a 3-4 week leave from blogging.

Third of all, at the end of January, I started my own logo/web design business. Things have been going GREAT so far! This is not easy, however and drumming up business is quite a consuming task

Fourth of all, I have been interviewing with a local university to teach biblical studies. I should find out in a few days if I will get hired or not.

Fifth of all, I have been accepted to a number of PhD programs and am still waiting to hear back from a few before I make my final decision. This is an incredibly important decision as it will determine much of my future (both immediate and distant).

Sixth of all, I have been contacted recently by a number of reputable journals to write some reviews and whatnot for them. This too, takes time.

Seventh of all, I will begin working with a new German tutor this week...once again, time consuming.

Eighth of all, as many of you know, the wife and I are adopting. At this point everything is complete from our side. Now, we're just waiting for a court date, a child referral and to fly to Ethiopia to pick up our baby.

There are some other things I could list but that is enough for now. Needless to say, I have been incredibly busy and to be honest with you, I miss blogging. I plan to start back on a more consistent basis at the beginning of March; I'm hoping this works out! I plan on posting another update soon and hope to be sharing some exciting news with you then. Thanks to everyone for reading Pisteuomen and for encouraging me. I hope to be interacting with my readers again on a more consistent basis in the near future.

Funeral Theology: Do's & Dont's At Funerals

In my view, funerals are one of the ripest moments for both pastoral ministry and sharing the Gospel. Funerals tend to make people reflect on their own lives and perhaps, their own (impending) deaths. Funerals get people thinking spiritually and often get them asking spiritual or theological questions.

Yet, funerals, at least from all of my experience with them, are often times the place where theology is thoughtless, chucked out the window or just errant. Here are some of the things that you should never, never, never say or do at a funeral:

1. Never say, "God needed an angel so He took so and so." First of all, God needs nothing! Second of all, God doesn't "need" angels in particular. Third of all, God doesn't take people's lives. People die and then God recieves them or not. None of this is sustained by the Scriptures or Christian theology.

2. Never say, "Everything happens for a reason." This is a view from ancient Greek philosophers (e.g. fate) not Christianity. When people say this it is usually code for "Everything that happens, happens beacuse God had a reason for it." This is patently false. Some things just happen, that's life. There are times when we can tell that God had a hand in something and there are times when we know He didn't. Please don't say this to someone at a funeral.

3. Never say, "So and so is an angel now." When Princess Diana died, thousands said this. Again, it is just not true. People do not turn into angels. In the resurrection, they will take on an incorruptible nature as angels have but that doesn't happen at death and they remain human anyway; they don't become angels.

4. Stop telling people, "They're better off in heaven, now." When people die, they do not go to some imaginary planet called heaven. The Bible doesn't teach this. It does teach, however, that when humans die, their souls go into God's protective presence. Then, they will be raised to dwell on the new earth after the resurrection and they will also take on incorruptible bodies. Christianity isn't about heaven, it's about resurrection! And resurrection is about transformation.

5. Never say to someone, "I understand what you're going through." Chances are, you don't understand. You don't know the exact relationship the living had with the deceased and you never will fully know it. Even if you've shared a similar experience, you still don't understand totally what that person is going through. If you want to say something, encourage people or just be in their midst. Sometimes not saying anything is the best thing. Usually, a happy story or good memory is worth sharing. When you tell someone you understand it is not helpful because you're supposed to be supporting them but when you say that, you're bringing it back to you. Really, the grieving people don't care if you understand. At that point, they could care less.

6. Don't tell people that their loved one has assumed a new body. This doesn't happen until the resurrection.

7. Never launch into a theological debate or teaching during a funeral service. That's not the place for it. It is the place, however, for talking about the person's life, the family and the Gospel. Give people hope, not a lecture.

8. Don't tell the grieving that their loved one is watching over them (this is like the angel suggestion above). This is not true. When people die, they die. They do nothing until the resurrection except dwell in God's protective presence.

9. If the deceased wasn't a Christian, don't go condemning them or trying to evangelize everyone. Now, funerals are great places to share the Gospel but they aren't the proper setting for polemicizing. Share the Gospel but do it gently and lovingly.

10. If you're preaching or talking, don't make it all about you. Stay focused on the grieving and the deceased. Nobody came to hear about your life, they came to hear about the life of the one who has passed on. If you didn't know the deceased then talk about things like hope, the family and again, Jesus/the Gospel.

11. If you're preaching or talking, don't use a stock sermon or a sermon you've already used. Every sermon or speech should be unique and totally different. It is a great disservice to do this to someone, please don't. And I beg you, do not use someone else's sermon from the internet or elsewhere. Take the time to write a personalized word of good news to those listening.