1. What is the name & URL of your blog? Why’d you choose that?

The name of my website is Christian Book Notes. It can be found at ChristianBookNotes.com. That name was decided upon because Discerning Reader was already taken. Seriously, though, I realized from the outset of this particular website that I would not be able to keep up with a discernment style review and, quite honestly, did not want to make a name for myself by being super critical of everyone else. I decided shorter reviews with a qualified reason as to why someone should by the book being reviewed would much more feasible in the long run.

2. How’d you get into blogging?

I started two blogs back in 2007 both of which are no longer available. The first one was more theologically minded and was called Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind. The second one was started as an evangelistic tool with unbelieving family and friends in mind and was called The Diary of a Seminary Student. I wound up writing on that blog for about two years before I shut it down. The first year or so has since been published in a book by Theocentric Publishing in 2011. And no, I have not finished seminary.

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Now that I am about to be 34, I am not sure how to answer this. I am currently not doing anything I thought I would be doing at this time. If I have to answer, however, I would have to say that I want to be content in all things.

4. Do you have a family?

Yes, I have been married to my wonderful bride, Krista, since 27 April 2002. We have been blessed with five wonderful children: Austin (2004), Isaac (2006), Nathanael (2008), Sarah (2009), and Carolyn (2010). Due to some major complications my wife had with pregnancies three and four, we are no longer able (we think!) to have biological children and are praying about adoption though that door does not appear to be open at this time, either.

5. Is Bibilical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

It started as a hobby because I did not know anything when I came to Christ. While I do not like the phrase “career aspiration” it is what I want to do the rest of my life in some capacity. I am an ordained pastor of the gospel in the Southern Baptist Convention and am currently looking at planting a church in the inner city of Alorton, IL (think E. St. Louis).

6. Who’s your favorite author? Recommended books?

My favorite author is really not an author. He never wrote a book though he has dozens in print. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has had arguably the most influence on my life and ministry. As for recommended books, I would offer in no particular order:

• Preaching and Preachers by Lloyd-Jones
• Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney, and no, he is not into mystical or speculative spirituality!!!!!
• Respectable Sins and The Bookends of the Christian Life by Jerry Bridges
• Knowing God and The Quest for Godliness by J.I. Packer
• Heaven by Randy Alcorn
• George Muller: Delighted in God by Roger Steer
• The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes

(OK, I could literally list another three dozen at this point)

7. What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

While I enjoy studying theology (both systematic and biblical), I have found that I tend to drift toward more practical theology. I would say at this point, studying the piety of Reformers and the Puritans have been a great aid to my own understanding of what it means to walk in holiness.

8. What’s your favorite Bible translation?

My favorite Bible translation is the English Standard Version simply because it came out around the time I was saved and was the first Bible I legitimately read from cover to cover. When I study, I tend to use multiple translations.

9. What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

In my car, I have The Listener’s Bible (NIV) by Max McLean. On my mp3 I have whatever current audiobook I am listening to in order to review it for AudioFile Magazine or a Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon.

10. Where did you go to school? (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

Undergraduate: SIUE, SWIC, SIUE, MoBap. Explanation: I started at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and quit to join the Army. Because I never officially dropped, I flunked out. When I finished my contract with the Army, I attended Southwestern Illinois College, a local junior college in order to be able to get back into SIUE. While at SWIC, I was saved, and since I had all of this college money from the Army, I decided to study philosophy when I returned to SIUE. Once I returned there, I came down with a mysterious illness which was later diagnosed as Crohn’s Disease. I ended up flunking out for a second time. I landed at Missouri Baptist University where I finally graduated, at the age of 29, with a Bachelor of Science in Religion.

Graduate: I have studied at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where my goal, though not my priority, is to finish before I die.

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

I work at a funeral home where I do everything but embalm.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

I have had one book published already (see above) and have done some editing work and helps for Randy Alcorn’s latest edition of his booklet entitled Sexual Temptation and Trevin Wax’s first book, Holy Subversion.

I am currently co-writing a book on Scripture Memorization (title yet to be determined) that will be published by BorderStone Press. I was also asked to write a series of books but at this time, I am keeping that idea close to myself until such time that I begin writing it.

A couple other thoughts include death and the urgency of the gospel and the seriousness of sexual immorality.

1.  What is the name & URL of your blog?  Why’d you choose that?

My blog name is Theology for the Road (url – www.craighurst.wordpress.com). I chose the name out of the belief that all theology matters to all of life and that everyone is a theologian (whether a good or bad one). My desire was to show how theology relates to all of life and thus make people less scared of it and desire to study it more on their own.

Over time though, my focus has become more on books and less on original content. So now, I primarily write book reviews and point people to new books or resources the encourage them to read them and grow in their knowledge and understanding of theology. In light of this I am considering changing the name of the blog to Books for the Road or something similar.

2.  How’d you get into blogging?

I started blogging as a way to make myself write. My end desire is to write at least one book someday and I figured that I needed to be writing regularly in order to make that process easier when the time comes. Then I realized that I could use my blog to get review copies of books from publishers and join blog tours so doing that has kind of taken over what I do on my blog.

3.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

From the time I was in high school I wanted to go into ministry full-time. Over the years what I have desired to do in ministry has changed but my desire for it is still as strong as ever. In a perfect world I would like to be teaching and preaching in my church, reading books and writing either articles or books. I would be satisfied doing this part or full-time.

4.  Do you have a family?

I am married to a wonderful and beautiful wife of almost nine years and God has blesses us with three great kids. My wife and I have a desire for adoption and we are in the process of adopting in the states. Katie homeschools the kids and both us have instilled in our kids a love for God, His Word and of course reading!

5.  Is Bibilical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

For now it is both.

6.  Who’s your favorite author?  Recommended books?

My favorite authors would include D.A. Carson, Mark Dever, John Calvin, G.K. Beale, Francis Schaeffer,  Alvin Plantinga, Michael Goheen and John Frame. Some of the most formative books I have read that I would recommend are:

1. The Transforming Vision: Shaping a Christian Worldview
2. Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for  a Reformational Worldview
3. The Glory of in Salvation Through Judgment
4. Institutes of the Christian Religion
5. Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old Fashioned Way
6. A Light to the Nations
7. The Trellis & the Vine

7.  What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

For the longest time I favored systematic theology until I began to read some on biblical theology, especially books dealing with the format of creation, fall, redemption and consummation. It was this interpretive grid that really turned the light on in my mind about how to better understand Scripture as a whole. I have always been a fan of apologetics and some philosophy as well so I keep up with that also.

At the same time, I try to read a broad spectrum of theology books. I am a jack of all trades and master of   none when it comes to reading and theological concentration in my reading. I try to gain a better grasp of a lot of things as opposed to studying more narrowly.

8.  What’s your favorite Bible translation?

I grew up on the KJV (though my parents used the NIV and NASB). Once I started taking Greek I dropped my KJV for the NASB. Now I use both the NASB and the ESV. I have grown attached to my NASB because I have a lot of notes in it and it is worn from use. I use my ESV Study Bible for study and devotions because I like both the translation and the wealth of notes.

9.  What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

I grew up in a home where we rarely listened to music so I am late comer when it comes to music. I like a range of Christian artists from Steve Green to Jeremy Camp and Third Day.

10. Where did you go to school?  (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

I graduated college with a B.A. in Church Ministry from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, FL. I will be finishing my M.A. in Theological Studies from Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary in Lansdale, PA. I hope to one day either finish an M.Div. or do a D.Min.

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

I can sleep for six hours or less per night and don’t need coffee in the morning to wake me up. I have an unusually high metabolism so I can’t gain weight no matter how much or unhealthy I eat. As much as I love to read (which requires you to sit and usually be inside) I love to do hard manual labor.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

If I ever get to doing it, there are three books I would love to write someday.

First, I would like to write a gospel centered book on breaking co-dependency in relationships. One of the effects of growing up in an addictive and abusive family was the co-dependency it produced in my life on others. There are a few good books out there on co-dependency but they are either written by non-Christians (though still helpful) or the Christian ones are written by counselors. I want to write one as a Christian who was/is co-dependent.

Second, within the field of apologetics I have always been fascinated by the nature of faith and the different definitions Christians have of it. I want to write a book that deals with the nature of faith in Heb. 11 as a definition and then flesh out the multifaceted nature of it in the lives of the people mentioned throughout the chapter.

Third, I would like to write a book on a harmony of the family line of Jesus from Matthew and Luke. This would trace the life of each person mentioned and draw out the implications of each person’s life for today’s reader.

Fourth, I would like to write a book showing the faithfulness of God throughout Scripture in relation to the promised seed stemming from Gen. 3:15. Adam & Eve believed Cain to be the promised redeemer by virtue of the name they gave him. Of course, whatever hope they had was shot once he killed Able. When we get to Abraham and Sarah once again we see how the promised seed hangs by a thread as Sarah is barren and advanced in years. She was too old to have children but God had other plans and showed himself to be faithful to his promise. Time and time again throughout the Old Testament we see this scenario where the existence of the future family line of Christ hangs by a thread and then God comes through on His promise in a miraculous way. This of course climaxes in Christ, the final fulfillment of the promise, who ironically is born to die and is then raised to life again.

You might notice that there is overlap between my third and fourth book idea. They could be one book but I think the ideas for both could make separate books without too much overlap.

1. What is the name & URL of your blog? Why’d you choose that?

• Pastoral Musings @ pastoralmusings.com.  I chose that because I’m a pastor and I originally intended to record my simple thoughts on the blog.  Over the last few months I’ve also been invited to contribute to the King James Only Debate Blog @ kjvodebate.wordpress.com and have begun another team blog called Fundamentally Changed @ fundamentallychanged.wordpress.com.

2. How’d you get into blogging?

• I saw that others were doing it, thought I might have something to say occasionally that might encourage someone, and it has gone from there.

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

• A good Christian, father, and pastor.

4. Do you have a family?

• Yes.  I have a wife, Tonya, to whom I have been married for eighteen years, and two precious children who we were blessed to adopt, and were blessed that we could adopt siblings.  They are Titus Luke (3) and Abigail Ruth (4).

5. Is Bibilical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

• No answer.

6. Who’s your favorite author? Recommended books?

• The Pleasures of God and Desiring God by John Piper.   In addition, I would add Portraits of God by Coppedge.

7. What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

• Doxology.

8. What’s your favorite Bible translation?

• I grew up KJV only.  I still love and use the KJV primarily.  I have recently come to love, appreciate, and enjoy the ESV.

9. What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

• A great mixture. Some country, bluegrass, Casting Crowns, Kingdom Heirs, John Piper, John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, and some courses from Covenant Seminary.

10. Where did you go to school? (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

• I have only fifteen hours of any kind of formal education after high school.  I strive hard to read and learn. I read widely, and I read seriously.

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

• I am shepherd/pastor to two small country churches, preach six times weekly, and love it.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

• I am deeply interested in the Genesis debate.  If I were to write, however, I would write some simple doctrinal studies in a systematic form for the churches and preachers in the circles where I minister.  There is a great need to move beyond some of the more extreme fundamentalist attitudes that I see in my particular area and I would love to be able to help folks do that.  Of course, I am deeply interested in the KJVO debate as well as historic fundamentalism and have begun blogging about that.  Apologetics is also something that interests me and I find myself reading about quite often.

1. What is the name & URL of your blog? Why’d you choose that?

The name of my blog is Scripture Zealot at www.scripturezealot.com. Romans 12:11 says to never be lacking in zeal. Over the last few years my zeal for getting to know God through Scripture has increased exponentially so I came up with the name with those ideas in mind. I love reading the Bible and reading about the Bible. There’s so much I want to learn and learning through reading is worship for me.

2. How’d you get into blogging?

I spent a lot of time on the Internet and not much time at all reading Christian related material which wasn’t right so I started looking around. I found a Christian message board or two but was dissatisfied. Then I found various Christian blogs and found what I was looking for. When I started reading commentaries I decided to start my own blog so I could write about what I’m learning, have a place to collect quotes and links and hopefully lead people to some good resources I come across.

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A wise old man who isn’t wise in his own eyes.

4. Do you have a family?

I’m happily married and we have two very lucky cats.

5. Is Bibilical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

It’s definitely a hobby for me but I’d call it more than a hobby. I was born in 1964 and didn’t start really getting serious about studying the Bible until a few years ago even though I’ve been a Christian for 25 years and have always been very serious about my relationship with God. My interest in finding refuge in God has increased as chronic suffering has gotten much worse from various conditions.

6. Who’s your favorite author? Recommended books?

I can’t say I have a favorite. I haven’t read more than two or three books of any one author. Some of my favorites are A.W. Tozer, Gordon Fee, J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul and D.A. Carson. The latter may become my favorite. I’m reading his commentary on John right now, I’ve read two of his books, A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers and Exegetical Fallacies along with some papers and articles and I have two of his books on my list–How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: An Exposition of Matthew5-10.

One fairly unknown book I would recommend is The Lord by Romano Guardini. He was a Catholic scholar and the book goes through who Christ is from the beginning to the new heavens and the new earth. Other than some things about Mary the mother of Jesus and John the Baptist that I don’t agree with it’s a great book.

7. What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

They would simply be Jesus, Prayer, Suffering and God’s Sovereignty/Providence. The latter two overlap quite a bit of course.

8. What’s your favorite Bible translation?

The HCSB because of its use of traditional theological terms but less archaic language than many others. The NLT comes in a close second even though it’s very different. The NRSV was my primary translation for three years until earlier this year and the NIV was my main translation for about 20 years before that.

9. What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

Mostly orchestral music from the Romantic period and electronic music–both ambient for sleep and some with beats–along with a bit of big band and New Flamenco. I like music without vocals so I can read or sleep while listening.

10. Where did you go to school? (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

I had a full music scholarship to a major university but couldn’t keep up the required grade point average and then dropped out. I don’t have fond memories of that.

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know
about you?

I brew my own beer along with a friend. With my bad back and chronic fatigue there’s no way I could do it by myself. I can’t say I enjoy the process but it’s nice to brew beer where you make up your own recipe and drink high quality beer at a lower cost. I don’t drink very much of course so we only brew a few times a year between the two of us and give some away. I also roast my own coffee. (I have too many hobbies) even though ironically I can’t handle very much caffeine. My afternoon cup along with reviewing memorized Scripture is a nice time of the day. The flavors that God put in those things are amazing.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

In 2010 I’m going to start educating myself more on the Old Testament. We’re studying Ecclesiastes in our small group Bible study right now. I love that book.

I can’t get enough of the Sermon on the Mount. We studied that in our small group Bible study and want to keep studying that. I read D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ exposition of it which was great, Stott’s which was kind of like cliff notes for the former and a little one by Oswald Chambers in addition to France’s commentary on Matthew and other bits and pieces here and there. I mentioned that I’d like to get Carson’s book on it and may look for others. I’m familiar with Betz but it’s very expensive.

I want to study Colossians as in-depth as I can and possibly write a Bible study for use in small groups. I love Colossians.

1.  What is the name & URL of your blog?  Why’d you choose that?

The name of my blog is Bible Geek Gone Wild.  I chose the name for several reasons.  I wanted to use the word geek, because I’m a long-term computer geek and also consider myself a geek when it comes to Biblical & theological studies.  I enjoy talking at length about subjects that bore many of my family and friends to tears.  For me, writing in a blog felt like “going wild” at the time as I’ve historically been an introvert.  Although if you met me today, you’d never think I was all that introverted.  Originally my blog was hosted at www.shauntabatt.com.  The old blog is still there.  Eventually this url will be transitioned to a web site for Shaun Tabatt, hopeful author.  A few months ago, I moved the blog over to wordpress and a new url:  www.biblegeekgonewild.com.

2.  How’d you get into blogging?

Peter Edstrom, who is my best friend and long-time Mac evangelist had been pestering me for quite awhile to check out google reader and get into blogging.  Getting started was a little slow and there was period of nearly a year that my blog was dormant.  However, I got back into it about 2 years ago and have been going strong ever since.  Be sure to check out Peter’s blog:  Project Oriel.

3.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

That’s kind of a funny question for me.  Ever since my early days in college, I’ve had aspirations of being a professor at a college or seminary & an author.  Professionally, I’ve been working in information technology most of my adult life.  To be honest, I’ve been very successful in the information technology field.  I currently work as a Customer Support Manager for a software company in Minnesota.  No matter how successful I’ve been in IT, I still can’t kick the sense of calling and purpose I feel towards Biblical & theological studies.  For the time being, I’m an IT guy by day and a fledgling Bible scholar by night.

4.  Do you have a family?

I have a great family.  My wife & I have been married for nearly 11 years.  We now have 5 children and as young as we are, I imagine there will be a few more in our future.  I grew up as an only child, so my life as a father of 5 has been very educational.

5.  Is Bibilical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

Can I answer, “All of the above.”?  My love for Biblical & theological studies is a big part of who I am and spills over into pretty much all other areas of my life, so I’ll stick with my original answer.

6.  Who’s your favorite author?  Recommended books?

Paul L. Maier – A Skeleton in God’s Closet, Pontius Pilate, More Than a Skeleton.

7.  What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

I tend to be more of an Old Testament guy.  I’m fascinated with the tabernacle, especially with the ark of the covenant.  A few other topics of interest are the indwelling of the spirit and the ascension of a physical body.

8.  What’s your favorite Bible translation?

My favorite English translation is the ESV.  I do enjoy the NLT as my favorite dynamic equivalence.  I’m trying more and more to do more of my work and study in the original languages.

9.  What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

There are number of things on my ipod right now.  1.  Confessions of Saint Augustine, 2.  The Blood by Kevin Max, 3.  A few sermons by Mark Driscoll, 4.  Modern Heart Exhibit by Ill Harmonics.

10. Where did you go to school?  (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

It could be easier to tell you where I didn’t go to school.  You might call me an itinerant student.  My bachelor’s degree (Management & Network Administration plus a 2nd major in Christian studies) is from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN.  I also attended Conconrdia University & Bethel University in MN before finishing up at Crown College.  I spent a little bit of time in the Biblical Exegesis program at Wheaton College Graduate School.  I’m currently working on my master’s degree in the virtual program offered through Reformed Theological Seminary.

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

I’m guessing that most of my readers didn’t know I had 5 children.  I love coffee.  Also, I’ve been a hardcore PC guy my entire life, but through Peter’s evangelism I’m ready to replace my trusty Dell with a macbook as the budget allows sometime in the next year or two.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

I’ve been working on quite a few ideas and outlines during the past few months.  I’d like to start some writing projects on scribal practices & scriptoriums, physical ascension, & the call to “be fruitful & multiply”.

What is the name & URL of your blog?  Why’d you choose that?

I was prodded to start Seminary Survival Guide.com because of the really terrible attrition rate both in seminary and in ministry. Only ten percent of those who begin a ministry career stay in it until retirement, and about half of the students who start seminary fail to finish. Some of this is a natural weeding-out process, but many times I’ve seen the dropout come because of unwise living.

My church has several seminary students studying now. I love those guys very much, and I want them to succeed.

Seminary’s important; it gives you necessary skills, and prepares you to think well, but it can’t fully prepare you for on-the-ground reality in the church. If seminary is boot camp, then church is the front line. Seminary Survival Guide is there to share practical wisdom from the trenches of ministry, in hopes that wisdom will protect and encourage you.

The gospel of Christ is the hope of the world. The church is the steward and bearer of the gospel. Pastors who lead the church are therefore the most critically important leaders in the world today. Seminary Survival Guide is my small contribution toward helping these leaders to start well.

So far, the feedback I’ve gotten has been very encouraging.

How’d you get into blogging?

Randy Elrod is an uberblogger, and the convener of the re:create conference, which I attend each year. He’s called “The Blogfather” because of all the people he’s gotten to start blogging. So while I never had a conversation with him about it, it was his enthusiasm and influence that got me first into my personal blog, and then to do Seminary Survival Guide. The power of blogging still amazes me. I’ve had visitors to my blogs from all over the world.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A professor. I love teaching, can’t get enough of it. Philosophy, apologetics, history, humanities, theology, literature….. In 2002, I had an opportunity to start a Ph.D. in philosophy at Marquette, but it was clear to me that it wasn’t God’s time for it, so I set that aside for a while. I keep wondering if the Lord will allow me to come back to that, but I know I’m where I’m supposed to be right now.

Do you have a family?

I am single, and really enjoy it. My parents, sister and brother-in-law live in Florida, and I try to see them whenever I can. I have brilliant, beautiful twin nieces who are twelve and a very smart three year old nephew.

Is Biblical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

I’d have to say neither. It’s a career, yes, but also a life. Vocationally, I’m a worship pastor, but I’ve gotten to do a lot of teaching and preaching here, too. I’m particularly passionate about seeing the Bible lived and not just studied. I lead a men’s Bible study group on Monday nights, and I’ve watched those guys really be transformed by their obedience to Christ. (Four of us went on mission to China this past spring.) Also, theological issues come up from time to time. Right now we have a couple of guys in our church who are seriously questioning the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, so I get to meet with them and talk through the whole counsel of scripture on the subject. It’s all part of the life leading the church.

Who’s your favorite author?  Recommended books?

Hard question. Here’s a short list:

• William Shakespeare. Othello is my favorite.
• C. S. Lewis. It’s a tie between Surprised by Joy and The Abolition of Man.
• I was a Tolkien fan before it was cool. I’ve read The Lord of the Rings over twenty times, and still find it very instructive on human nature, and character-driven leadership.
• I’m a huge fan of Winston Churchill, and love reading things by and about him.

For ministry: Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders is a must-read.

You didn’t ask about my favorite films, but unquestionably, the best movie of all time is Braveheart.

What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

I’d have to say soteriology, especially justification, adoption, and sanctification. I’ve become very interested in how fully embracing our new identity in Christ becomes a powerful force for sanctification. You can hear a sermon I preached on it here.

On the other end, I am utterly uninterested in eschatology.

What’s your favorite Bible translation?

I use NIV most of the time, much to the dismay of the growing hordes of ESV snobs I keep running into. I know it’s not perfect, but it’s a decent standard translation. We preach from it at my church, mainly because of its accessibility (8^th grade reading level). For study I like NASB and ESV.

What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

Mostly worship music. I run to a high-tempo mix of Hillsongs, Passion and Lincoln Brewster. I also listen to Ravi Zacharias’s radio show via podcast.

Where did you go to school?  (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

I got a Bachelor of Music Education at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida (Go Noles), and earned a M.Div. at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. I also studied philosophy (non-degree) at University of Illinois-Chicago for a year.

What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

All my friends know I’m a pianist, but SSG readers might not. I have recorded two albums, both with singer friends of mine. I recorded a Christmas album with my friend LeAnna Grooms, who tragically died of cancer two years later at the age of 32. In 2002, I gave a benefit concert for a local homeless shelter with my friend Chris Terry, who has just an awesome voice. We recorded it, and it made for a pretty nice CD.

What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

My main writing focus right now is to work on Seminary Survival Guide. There are still entire topic areas I haven’t gotten around to addressing. I have a lot to say about emotional health for leaders and churches. I don’t get to write as much as I need or want to, because life in a healthy church keeps you pretty busy. I have four very major projects I have to lead here before the end of the year. I have to practice what I preach, which means sometimes the writing gets put on hold.

1.  What is the name & URL of your blog?  Why’d you choose that?

My blog is named Fundamentally Reformed (http://fundyreformed.wordpress.com).  It has a double meaning, I used to be an independent fundamental Baptist (IFB), but I’ve since embraced Reformed theology (while abandoning many of my former legalistic tendencies and super strict positions).  I detail “my story” of coming out of strict fundamentalism on my blog.

2.  How’d you get into blogging?

I was introduced to blogging by none other than Justin Taylor (of Between Two Worlds).  He was an intern and then an assistant for my current pastor (John Piper).  I sat in a Bible institute class taught by Justin, where he gave us his blog url (http://theologica.blogspot.com/).  I checked out his blog, and fell in love with the concept of blogging.  That would have been the summer of 2005.  My aim in blogging (I started in October 2005) was to provide help for others going through the same struggle I went through.  When you start owning up to the errors of your theological system, the going gets pretty tough and lonely.  I had looked for help online, and didn’t find much out there.  So I determined to share my story, and thereby help anyone else in a similar situation.

3.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Yea, I probably haven’t grown up yet!  Seriously, though, I really hope one day to become a pastor, and shepherd a church.  I see so many bad churches, and there is such potential in today’s world for what one solidly Biblical church can do.  To become a pastor, given my current situation, will take a while.  We’re paying off debts, raising four girls, and becoming adjusted to our life within conservative evangelicalism (which is much different in many respects from our fundamentalist past).

4.  Do you have a family?

I have a lovely wife Carolyn (we’ve been married for 6 years now), and four daughters: Emily Grace (5, and starting kindergarten next month), Megan Faith (3 and a half), Amber Joy (2 and a half), and Rachel Charity (10 months).  They keep us quite busy!

5.  Is Biblical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

I enjoy Biblical and Theological pursuits, but they are more than a mere hobby.  They impact my Christian life and help me lead a small group, and serve in my church.  Ultimately they will be needed in my career should God be pleased to find me faithful and put me in the ministry.

6.  Who’s your favorite author?  Recommended books?

I enjoy a variety of books.  I love everything to do with books.  Sometimes I don’t finish the ones I start reading however….

J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) is a favorite of mine.  I also enjoy Stephen R. Lawhead’s (Celtic Crusades, Pendragon Cycle, Paradise War Trilogy, Byzantium) Christian historical and fantasy writing.  I can’t forget C.S. Lewis (the Narniad / Space trilogy) either.

I like anything by John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, his biographies and devotionals, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, What Jesus Demands from the World) but I haven’t finished as many of his as I should.

Sam Storms (Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist / Chosen for Life) and C.J. Mahaney (Sex, Romance and the Glory of God / The Cross-Centered Life / Humility, True Greatness) are also favorite authors of mine.  I also highly recommend Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology and The New Dicitonary of Biblical Theology (InterVarsity).

7.  What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

Biblical theology and Redemptive-historical hermeneutics have been my favorite topics of late.  Seeing Christ as central to all of Scripture is so wonderful, and important.  I now own works by Graeme Goldsworthy, O. Palmer Robertson, and Edmund Clowney, and am working my way through them.  This topic has led to my abandoning dispensationalism for Covenant Theology, but it encompasses more than just a denial of dispensationalism.  Seeing how the Bible fits together to tell one overarching Redemptive story, helps one see how everything fits together.  Jonathan Edwards reflects this line of thinking in his excellent “The History of Redemption”.

8.  What’s your favorite Bible translation?

I prefer the ESV, although I like to reference the NASB and even the NET Bible.  I’m not ESV only, or anything.  I respect the NIV and am helped in study by the NLT, for instance.

9.  What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

Well, I’m another guy who’s less than 30 years old and has no MP3 player.  I’m too cheap!  I do get lots of free CDs through my music club though.  I’ve been enjoying Stephen Curtis Chapman’s This Moment, Steve Green’s Always: Songs of Worship.  If someone wanted to give me Casting Crowns’ The Altar and the Door, I’d be thrilled.  I try to explore other music styles as well (even non-Christian music).  But considering my roots, I’ve come along way .

10. Where did you go to school?  (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

Fairhaven Baptist College (B.A. in Pastoral Theology with Greek emphasis)
Fairhaven Baptist Seminary (M.A. in Bible with language emphasis)

This school is located in Chesterton, IN and is a small independent Baptist school (unaccredited).  So I have degrees, but I’m not always sure how much they’re worth!

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

I spent a year of my life in Africa.  My parents are missionaries and I spent my senior year with them in Livingstone, Zambia.  It was a wonderful time, and a life changing experience.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

Well, I am trying to organize my blog better.  I have lots of plans for it.  I also am working on a site dedicated to the King James Version Only controversy (http://www.freewebs.com/kjvonlyresearch/).  I have some more articles to write for it.  I’d like to write a booklet on that issue one day, maybe even something on my exodus from strict fundamentalism.  I’m not sure if other writing is in store for me or not.

1.  What is the name & URL of your blog?  Why’d you choose that?

Going to Seminary (www.goingtoseminary.com) – I chose the name because that’s what I was (am) doing.  When I was trying to decide if I could actually make it in seminary as a husband and father of two I didn’t find much help online.  I decided that I’d blog my way through seminary so that the next time someone googled “family going to seminary” they’d find something that might actually help them.  Also, I recently launched a new site/bog called Best Bible (http://www.Best-Bible.org).  The site is designed to help answer basic questions about bible translations and bible resources.  I am also running a blog on the site that will cover bible news.

2.  How’d you get into blogging?

I can’t really remember… I know it was January 2005 (my original blogger blog is still floating around out there… and no, Im not giving you the URL), but I can’t remember what got me stated to begin with.  However, once I started I’ve never stopped.

3.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Primary – A good husband and father.
Secondary – A good friend and pastor.
Tertiary – A good photographer and pro-blogger… oh, and I want to fly a plane.

4.  Do you have a family?

I got married in November of 2000 to Jennifer.  We have two children, Asher Charles (2005) and Grace (2006).  Grace has no middle name because grace is sufficient.  Should the Lord bless us with another son, his name is predestined to be Calvin.

5.  Is Bibilical & Theological studies a hobby or a career aspiration?

Neither.  I’d say it is a response.  God has created and saved me.  My worship and response is to seek to know him and make him known.

6.  Who’s your favorite author?  Recommended books?

Alive – John Piper (Supremacy of God in Preaching, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ)
Dead – John Calvin (Everything)

7.  What’s your favorite theological subject / topic?

The Gospel

8.  What’s your favorite Bible translation?

ESV ( I use the Pew Edition)

9.  What’s in your CD and/or MP3 player right now?

I’m SO uncool when it comes to music…
- Choir Of King’s College – Various Hymns
- Recording of a Waterfall – (I work in my house, so that white noise helps block out the screaming children)
- Stavesacre
- Various Blues

10. Where did you go to school?  (undergraduate, graduate, etc.)

Georgia Southern University (Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, AKA – BS in BS)
Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando (Currently MDiv Student)

11. What is something interesting that most of your readers don’t know about you?

I love rock climbing and am afraid of heights.

12. What are some research / writing projects you’re interested in pursuing?

I’ve been working on a eBook about going to seminary… but it is slow going.  I actually have a 3 part series of eBooks on the topic planned… but only the Lord knows if I’ll ever get around to finishing them.

That’s a tough one.  My two favorite books were written by Robert Letham and Larry Hurtado respectively and I really enjoy the way that both of them write.  But I own quite a few books written/edited by both Richard Bauckham and Darrell L. Bock respectively, and I really enjoy the way that they write.  So I said all that to say that it’s a toss-up between the writer of Mark’s Gospel or the writer of John’s Gospel.   Oh, and for recommended reading check out my book reviews (http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/books-received-reviewed/)

Stay tuned for next week’s Biblio-Blogger of the week:  W. Ryan Burns of GoingToSeminary.COM.