Somehow, I’ve gotten myself into this game of “interview tag” that’s going around (actually, I volunteered for it). Tod Bolsinger of IT TAKES A CHURCH . . . has provided five questions, so now it’s my job to provide my answers.

1. What’s the best thing you learned in seminary?

There are a lot of things I could mention here, but I’ll limit myself to two “best” things. First, thanks to Dr. Bruce Demarest, I discovered that no system of theology - not even my own - could do justice to all of the material in the Bible. My carefully exegeted and well-reasoned papers came back covered with red ink, and the flaws and holes in my theology were exposed regularly. I came out of seminary with the same theology I had going in, but I held it less dogmatically and was more willing to allow others to have their own convictions. Godly Christian scholars look at the same data and come to different conclusions. Different presuppositions and hermeneutics yield different results. And that’s OK on the non-essentials of the faith.

Second, I somehow realized early on that the real education to be had in seminary was not in the material or the lectures: it was in studying the lives of my professors. I got to know them, picked their brains on matters that had nothing to do with the class, made friends with more than a few, and was privileged to see the hearts of some. I appreciate their knowledge but I really grew to admire their commitments to Christ. I saw glimpses of Jesus Christ in them. My favorite “subjects” were: Haddon Robinson, Vernon Grounds, James Beck, Bruce Demarest, Tim Weber, Bob Hubbard, and Donald Burdick.

2. Respond to this quote from Mark Twain: “I never let schooling get in the way of my education.”



Love it and lived it: I missed graduating with honors by .05 because I didn’t read the textbooks; I read original sources. I figured that, rather than reading a book about various theologies or psychologies, I would read the theologians and psychologists first-hand. I spent a lot of money (I’m sure The Tattered Cover in Denver laid people off after I moved) but I learned more than I would have if I had stuck to the core curriculum. Schooling did do this much for me: it taught me how to study the Scriptures and think theologically. And, as I said above, my real education came from studying my profs.

3. What does a “consultant” really do?

I listed consultant as my profession because Blogger didn’t give “counseling” as an option. There are times, though, when I do consult rather than counsel: when I counsel, I facilitate growth and try to help the client discover things for him/herself. When I consult, I give instructions and information to help resolve problems for people. I do a fair amount of consulting with parents of teenagers that I work with: the home environment often has to change if the teen is going to improve.

4. If you weren’t in Christian work what would you being doing?

I think anything any believer does is Christian work, whether it’s preaching on Sundays, teaching school on Mondays, handing out baskets at WalMart, or driving a beer truck. So, if I weren’t in Christian work, I wouldn’t be a Christian; if I weren’t a Christian, I’d either be doing time, drugs, or both.

5. Describe the church you’ve always wanted to belong to?

Actually, I’ve been to the church I’ve always wanted to belong to, and I think the one I’m at now is headed in that direction. The latter is Grace Bible Church in College Station, TX, pastored by Brian Fisher; the former is Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church in Madison, WI, pastored by Chris Dolson.

What makes Blackhawk so appealing to me is its balance: the people are grounded in sound doctrine, evangelistic, and seek to make a social difference in their community. The fellowship is genuine and the people seem to enjoy one another. (Plus, they have an annual dance that is just for fun!) The preaching is excellent, a blend of the cerebral and the visceral: Chris teaches doctrine and the Bible but combines it with an emotional hook that makes it memorable.


Here’s how you can play the interview game

1. Leave me a comment saying “interview me.” The first five respondents will be the participants.
2. I will respond by asking you five questions.
3. You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. (Write your own questions or borrow some.)


2 Cor 1.13