Three Years

It has been about three years since my last blog post. I’d say it is time for an update. October 7th of this year (2026) marked three years since I was ordained in the Global Methodist Church. This three year mark is also the anniversary of my appointment to Salem Methodist Church in Eastover, NC as the Pastor of Biblical Studies. This appointment speaks to precisely why I have not posted, here, for three years.

The Outlet

When I came to Salem, I also brought Solid Rock School of Theology‘s ‘On Campus Classes’ to Salem with me. Every week I get to speak/lecture/teach on the subjects I spent 15 years writing about, here. It is about having an outlet. The School is an excellent outlet for Vision casting.

This setting – at Salem, with The School – has also afforded me the time and opportunity to write, still, too. A lot of time and energy are spent on writing commentaries on Scripture and writing notes on the conversations had at Salem (and various other locations, as well). Previously I had written and published books on various subjects, and notes on the entire Pauline catalog – including The Books of Luke and Acts – as well as notes on The Book of Revelation. However, over the last three years, I have written full commentaries on:

The Torah, written from a Pauline (the Apostle Paul’s) perspective –

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus-Numbers-Deuteronomy

I am, right now, working on the Book of Joshua (also through a Pauline perspective).

…And published notes and various essays on The Conversations at Salem:

The latest two – A New Testament Criticism – three esays on the New Testament that explore some difficult texts of Scripture and their (possible) misuse/abuse; and Kingdom of God, Now But Not Yet – answering two distinct questions: Who, exactly, is Christ? And what, exactly, has He done?

Three Human Categories (for categorical thinkers)

I cannot fail to mention the myriad of opportunities “outside the four walls” of the institution: While, for decades I’ve spent my time with mostly “Unchurched” folks, these past three years have also been spent with the “De-Churched.” Where the Unchurched have never been to church, the De-Churched used to be “within the four walls,” but have been hurt by the institution or have, otherwise, left the church. These are very different conversations – talking to each group entails different languages and differing (proverbial) “hills to climb.”

And with my time at Salem – within the four walls; in the institution – I have been given ample opportunity to spend time with the third group, the “Churched.” Yet another language, and another hill to climb. All three are worth the time and energy. I’m having a good time!