Home Base
Not to be cheesy, but home is wherever I am with my family–whether it’s going on a long car ride, taking a trip somewhere or spending time at home. Although I now consider Oakville my home, I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I went to the same high school as Kobe Bryant and Andy Reid’s sons, and I have a Kobe story that some find interesting.
Stimulating Subject Matter
Teaching is an immense privilege, especially Scripture, so I genuinely believe that whatever I am currently teaching is the most stimulating subject matter! However, some of the highlights are probably the way mountains are used in Scripture, how each of the Gospels introduces Jesus, the essence of sin, the purpose of the Law and Tabernacle, the meaning of sacrifice and the organism of Scripture and union with Christ—all of which enrich our appreciation for the death, resurrection and life of Christ.
So I consider every moment of my existence as a faith moment, even the breath that I breathe is from the Lord’s gracious provision.
Teaching Tips
What I love most is showing students the beauty of Scripture. Most of my classes are exegetical explorations into the text. Of course there are moments where we need to learn various contexts or engage in some of the scholarly debates, and though these are necessary, I most value the opportunity that students have with the primary text. In my case, this would be the Word of God!
Faith Moment
Biblical faith, as it is used in both the Old and New Testaments, is relational and ought to be perpetual. So I consider every moment of my existence as a faith moment. Even the breath that I breathe is from the Lord’s gracious provision. But one of the more challenging times of my life was when my wife was undergoing her residency training as an OB/GYN while we had two newborns and a third on the way. It was not so much the physical exhaustion as it was the psychological loneliness. In such a season of vulnerability, I experienced his mercies being new daily and his grace being sufficient.
In Conversation with Christ
If I could ask only one question of Christ, then it would be, “What was it like to become fully human?”
Redeemer Love
My favourite things about Redeemer are its history and its commitment to Christ. As much as I am thankful for its community and culture, I know that they are byproducts of countless individuals who sacrificed to make Redeemer what it is today. I am always humbled to learn more about the stories and experiences of alumni, donors, founders and many others, and this compels me to be a part of deepening what they have graciously left behind. What is most impressive to me is that their dedication was not primarily to the institution, but to Christ.