Life of a minister.

I have been ordained for almost thirty-three years, and during that time probably preached close to 2000 sermons. In addition, I have taught countless classes, led hundreds of Bible studies and even written curriculum. In seminary, I became "turned on" to Biblical studies and in May will be traveling to New York to celebrate the retirement of the Old Testament professor who instilled in me my love of Scripture. I consider myself well versed in Scripture.

During the past thirty-three years, many colleagues have traveled to the Holy Land and all have returned glowing over the experience. Although I envied them, I never felt the absence of such a pilgrimage made much difference in my ministry. I identified with a quote from the book, The Way of the Lord by Tom Wright, "...going to holy places is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition of being, as one might say, a good Christian." I was not only a good Christian, but a good teacher without ever setting foot in the Holy Land.
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