Pastor-Professor William "Bill" F. Kerr (1915-2003), a centennial tribute . . . "Tail of the Dragon," a motorcyclist's dream

Dr. William "Bill" F. Kerr
1915-2003

While attending the “Carl F. H. Henry: A Centennial Celebration” at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, in September 2013, I was reminded of my first learning about the evangelical stalwart from William"Bill" Fulton Kerr.

As Henry (1913–2003) was departing Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1947 in order to help form Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, my new friend and mentor, Dr. Kerr (1915–2003), informed me—nearly a half-century later, at age 78 (and me a one-year-old Christian convert of 22 years of age) in 1993 in Port Angeles, Washington—that he was arriving at the Lombard, Illinois, campus in order to serve as the school’s new Associate Professor of Old Testament (but later changed to Professor of Theology).

That spring (1947), Kerr had just graduated with his Doctor of Theology degree from Northern Seminary. During his doctoral studies, he served as the seminary’s instructor in history and Old Testament (1944–47). Before the Old Testament teaching post was assumed, however, Northern Seminary instead appointed Kerr as Professor of Theology, thereby filling the post left vacant by the California-bound Henry.

With the centennial anniversary of Kerr’s birth in 2015 (September 6), a tribute to the beloved pastor-professor-author seemed in order. So I researched, wrote and delivered a paper/lecture on Dr. Kerr at the annual southeast regional meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina, served as host to the March 18-19, 2016, meeting. Dr. Kerr was a member of ETS, as well as the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature.

My paper/lecture was one of 42 presented along with three plenary sessions by professor, author and Christian apologist Paul Copan. Dr. Copan spoke on "God, Evil, and the New Atheism, "God, Evil, and the Old Testament" and "God, Evil, and Civilization."

For a copy of the paper entitled "In the Shadow of Carl F. H. Henry: The Life and Ministry of William F. Kerr," please contact Uncommon Christian Ministries.

Dr. Francis Kyle.
Lecture on friend and mentor Dr. W. F. Kerr (1915-2003). March 18, 2016.
Columbia International University. Columbia, SC.

"Tail of the Dragon"

While on the same, 12-day, 1,900-mile road trip to the American Southeast (Lebanon, TN; Asheville and Cherokee, NC; and Charleston, Columbia and Coosawhatchie, SC), I was able to finally ride the "Tail of the Dragon" on March 12, 2016. On my 2004 Suzuki V-Strom DL650 (a middleweight sport touring bike that I've owned since 2007), this was my first and long-awaited motorcycle trip to this historic and scenic region of the country. 

With 318 curves in 11 miles on the North Carolina/Tennessee border--and situated along the borders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest--this short stretch of the 582-mile U.S. Route 129 is popular with motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts. The Dragon has no cross roads, no driveways and trucks are banned. Sadly, and mostly due to rider/driver error, deaths occur on The Dragon--see stats here.

For a 27-minute "Tennessee Life" (production of the PBS-TV station in East Tennessee) feature story on The Tail of the Dragon that aired in May 2015 (episode 14), see here.

Deals Gap, North Carolina, the tiny community that lies at the mountain pass (2000' elevation) along the North Carolina/Tennessee border, is a must visit when beginning or ending one's ride on The Dragon.

Francis Kyle on the "Tail of the Dragon." March 12, 2016.
Photo courtesy of Powerhead Productions, Killboy.com. Robbinsville, NC.

Francis Kyle on the "Tail of the Dragon." March 12, 2016.
Photo courtesy of Powerhead Productions, Killboy.com. Robbinsville, NC.

Francis Kyle on the "Tail of the Dragon." March 12, 2016.
Photo courtesy of Powerhead Productions, Killboy.com. Robbinsville, NC.

Memberships: Investing Time and Money into Your Interests and Passions

January is normally dues paying time for my memberships. So at the beginning of each year, I evaluate my memberships in order to see if there are any I want to add or remove based on my changing interests, financial situation and geographic locale.

With a wide variety of interests and passions, there are many good associations, leagues and societies to support with my time and money. But with limited time and finances--and with only one life to live ("it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," Hebrews 9:27)--I must choose and be intentional. This includes limited time to read the monthly, quarterly or annual periodicals published and sent by some entities as a membership benefit.

Below are the 19 entities I am a member of because I believe in and want to support what the non-profit entity stands for and does. Most (11) have annual dues ($20-$100), one (1) has a one-time membership fee, some (5) are academic in nature and some (8) are free based simply on gathering together because of mutual beliefs or interest. Six of the 16 entities have origins that date back to the nineteenth century, the oldest forming in 1803. The newest entity formed in 2000.

My fellow kingdom-minded Christian or otherwise, what are you interested in and passionate about? How can you go "about doing good" and bless an entity by your membership dues, involvement and/or advocacy and therefore increase an entity's influence by "strength in numbers (members)"?

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, 

especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Galatians 6:10

"Jesus of Nazareth . . . went about doing good

. . . for God was with him."

Acts 10:38

"learn to do good"
Isaiah 1:17

Local Church & Denominational Affiliation

Immanuel Baptist Church (Louisville, Kentucky)
~ Member, 2013-
~ Est. 1887; "building a community from all cultures where Christ is King"
~ See David N. Theobold, A Great People's Church: A History of Immanuel Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, 1887-2005 (2005)

The most important membership in life is with a blood-bought local "church

of the living God, the pillar and ground [buttress] of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15),

and which has the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ

as her Head (Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18):

". . . the church of God, which [the Lord Jesus Christ] obtained

[bought, purchased] with his own blood."

Acts 20:28

". . . you were ransomed . . . not with perishable things such as gold or silver,

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

1 Peter 1:19

~ Recommended resources: Bobby Jamieson, Going Public: Why Baptism is Required for Church Membership (2015); Thom S. Rainer, I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference (2013); Jonathan Leeman, Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus (2012) and The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline (2010); and Thabiti M. Anyabwile, What Is a Healthy Church Member? (2008) . . . Online, visit 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches

Kentucky Baptist Convention

~ Member, 2013-
~ Est. 1837; "The Body shall serve and assist the churches in their sovereign capacity by the providing of resources and the facilitating of cooperation so that both the Body and the churches may fulfill the Great Commission [Matthew 28:18-20]"; consists of nearly 2,400 autonomous churches; bi-weekly newspaper (print and online) Western Recorder (1825- )
~ State affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention (est. 1845, over 46,000 churches)
~ Immanuel Baptist Church is a member of KBC's Long Run Baptist Association (est. 1803)


Pastoral Fellowship
Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals (F.I.R.E.)
~ Member (individual), 2011-
~ Est. 2000; "a unifying network for independent Reformed (and Reforming) baptistic churches to experience mutual edification [Romans 1:12], fellowship, cooperation and prayerful support in ministries and missions"
~ Membership includes annual regional (fall) and national (spring) conferences

ALSO: When time allows--and though no formal membership exists--attendee at:

Together for the Gospel (T4G)
~ Est. 2006; biennial conference for pastors; Louisville, KY; attendee, 2012, 2014, 2016; most recent is in April 2016 with the theme "We Are Protestant: The Reformation at 500"

Sovereign Grace Bible Conference (every summer, New Home Missionary Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN, formerly/pre-2010 in Lexington, KY; attendee, 2003, 2004, 2013)
-and- Embracing the Truth Bible Conference (every spring, Hamilton Chapel Church, Lebanon, TN; attendee, 2016)
~ Annual gatherings of African-American Calvinistic Baptist churches--and that are connected to the late D. J. Ward (died 2008), elder/pastor of Main Street Baptist Church in Lexington, KY--throughout primarily the American South and Southeast; the two Tennessee conferences are also attended by many who are not elders/pastors--all are welcome and invited to listen to great Christ-centered teaching and preaching, and some of the warmest and sweetest fellowship that exists this side of heaven.

Theology (Protestant)

Evangelical Theological Society
~ Member, 2007-
~ Est. 1949; "a professional, academic society of Biblical scholars, teachers, pastors, and others involved in evangelical scholarship. We serve Jesus Christ and his church by fostering conservative, evangelical biblical scholarship"
~ Membership includes receiving the academic quarterly Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS); presenting papers/lectures at ETS regional (spring) and national (fall) conferences; book and conference registration discounts
~ See Andreas J. Kostenberger, ed., Quo Vadis [Where Are You Going], Evangelicalism? Perspectives on the Past, Direction for the Future: Nine Presidential Addresses from the First Fifty Years of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (2007)

Missions (Protestant)

Evangelical Missiological Society
~ Member, 2007-
~ Est. 1990; "exists to advance the cause of world evangelization. We do this through study and evaluation of mission concepts and strategies from a biblical perspective with a view to commending sound mission theory and practice to churches, mission agencies and schools of missionary training around the world"
~ Membership includes receiving EMS's annual academic book published by William Carey Library (e.g., in 2015, the complementary book was Diaspora Missiology: Reflections on Reaching the Scattered Peoples of the World, in 2014 The Missionary Family: Witness, Concerns, Care); presenting papers/lectures at annual regional (spring) and national (fall) conferences

History (4)

American Society of Church History
~ Member, 2007-
~ Est. 1888; "a scholarly community dedicated to studying the history of Christianity and how it relates to culture in all time periods, locations and contexts"
~ Membership includes receiving the quarterly academic journal Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture; presenting papers/lectures at ASCH national conferences
~ See George H. Shriver, Philip Schaff [1819-1893]: Christian Scholar and Ecumenical Prophet; Centennial Biography for the American Society of Church History (1987)

Nineteenth Century Studies Association
~ Member, 2016-
~ Est. 1979; "purpose of this non-profit educational organization shall be to advance research and scholarship, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary studies, in all aspects of nineteenth-century culture"
~ Membership includes receiving the annual interdisciplinary academic journal Nineteenth Century Studies, and presenting papers/lectures at NCSA's annual national conference
--> NOTE: My areas of interest and scholarly pursuits regarding the "long" nineteenth century--chiefly America's antebellum (pre-Civil War) period--include the Second Great Awakening (1790-1830) and especially in New England and the Connecticut-born evangelist James Brainerd Taylor (1801-1829); early years of the American Protestant foreign missionary movement (mostly the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, est. 1810); origins and growth of Evangelical Protestant theological education (1807- ); Lewis and Clark/Corps of Discovery expedition (1803-06); westward expansion frontiersmen, emigrant trails (California Trail, Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, etc.) and Protestant pioneer missionary activity in The Great American West; relations between Native American tribes and the U.S. government; and British and American involvement in the Middle East (mainly Palestine/Israel)

Filson Historical Society 
~ Member, 2013- 

~ Est. 1884; "Kentucky's oldest and largest privately supported historical society" whose mission "is to collect, preserve and tell the significant stories of Kentucky and Ohio Valley history and culture"; headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky; covers entire Ohio River Valley ("The First American West") and thus the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
~ Membership includes free lectures and archival research visits; members-only access to online podcasts and research tools; receiving the quarterly newsmagazine The Filson and the quarterly academic journal Ohio Valley History (published collaboration of FHS, Cincinnati Museum Center and University of Cincinnati)

Louisville Historical League
~ Member, 2013-
~ Est. 1972; "dedicated to promoting the appreciation and preservation of our cultural heritage and historic environment in the metro Louisville area [est. 1778]"

~ Membership includes free lectures

Motorcycling (2)

American Motorcyclist Association
~ Member, 2007-
~ Est. 1924; "to promote the motorcycle lifestyle  and protect the future of motorcycling"; headquartered in Pickerington, Ohio; USA's largest motorcycle advocacy organization (over 200,000 members)--including for women riders--with an emphasis on "Rights, Riding, Racing"
~ Membership includes supporting AMA government relations/activism in Washington, D.C.; monthly magazine American Motorcyclist; online access to members-only area; AMA Roadside Assistance (for motorcycle and car); money-saving discounts at many motorcycle retailers, hotels and motorcycle/car rental agencies, and with certain motorcycle magazines and at certain motorcycle events and races (AIMExpo, AMA Supercross, Arenacross); riding events and rally opportunities with the AMA Premier Touring Series and/or with a local AMA Club; discount to annual AMA Convention and AMA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (every October in Orlando, Florida), AMA Championship Banquet and AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (every July in Lexington, Ohio); admission discount to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame (opened 1990)

Iron Butt Association
~ Member, 2015- 

~ Est. 1984; "The World's Toughest Motorcycle Riders"; "Dedicated to the Sport of Safe Long Distance Motorcycling"; over 60,000 members; one-time membership fee (no annual dues)
~ I became an IBA member after completing a "Saddlesore 1000" (1,000-mile motorcycle trip in 24 hours or less): rode 1,053 miles in 21 hours, Louisville, Kentucky to Dryden, Ontario, Canada, August 8, 2015, on my 2004 Suzuki V-Strom DL650

Public Safety (2)
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
~ Member, 2016-
~ Est. 1999 by Louisville Metro Police Department; LMPD volunteers provide about 1,900 hours of monthly service

Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association
~ Member, 2016-
~ Alumni, LMPD Citizens Police Academy (led by Community Services Division), Class No. 27, 13 sessions, Sept.-Nov. 2016


Local Community Leadership
Louisville Leadership Center
~ Member, December 2016
~ Est. 1979; LLC "is a non-profit, member-oriented organization whose mission is to grow and connect a diverse network of leaders who serve as catalysts for a world-class community."
~ Alumni, LLC's 2.5-day "Focus Louisville" program, December 2016

Healthcare (Infection Control, Sterile Processing of Surgical Instrumentation) 

International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM)
~ Member, 2014-
~ Est. 1958; headquartered in Chicago, Illinois; "Instrumental to Patient Care"; over 26,000 global members
~ Is the international certification association for my "tent making" (Acts 18:3) Louisville hospital job (2013- ) as a Sterile Processing Technician--see my "Perspectives" op-ed articles in Infection Control Today magazine: "Reflections on My First 18 Months as a Sterile Processing Technician" (August 2015, pages 8 and 10) and "Just a Tech? The Benefits and Greatness of Being--and Remaining--a Sterile Processing Technician" (February 2016, pages 8 and 10)
~ Membership includes the bi-monthly newsmagazine Communique: A Publication of IAHCSMM and bi-monthly e-newsletter Central Source; discounts on IAHCSMM resources and for annual national conference; member-only online access to various sterile processing resources
~ See photos and feature cover article in IAHCSMM's September/October 2015 Communique (pages 56-60) of the hospital department I work at: "Triple Crown Certification: How One CS Department is Winning the Race for Quality, Safety and Professionalism"; also see here for additional information on the feature magazine article
~ See also photos and feature cover article in Healthcare Purchasing News, May 2016 (Vol. 40, No. 5, pages 10-17), "Jewish SPD Bolsters Package Deal within Regional IDN: Winning team weathers past, present and future in positive flux" (our department was HPN's "2016 CS/SPD Department of the Year"); see also here for the digital copy of the May 2016 issue
~ I initiated and helped organize the "Jewish Hospital: Past, Present and Future" program at Louisville's Jewish Hospital (est. 1903), August 21, 2016; co-sponsored by KentuckyOne Health and the Louisville Historical League; see InsiderLouisville.com's pre-event coverage "Jewish Hospital explains guiding principles, recent feats and new initiatives" and JewishLouisville.org's post-event coverage "Presentation showcases Jewish Hospital Past, Present and Future"

Kentuckiana IAHCSMM Chapter
~ Member, 2016- ; vice president, 2016-17 (former secretary, April-Sept. 2016)
~ Est. April 2, 2016; regional IAHCSMM chapter for Kentucky and southern Indiana

Physical Fitness

Planet Fitness
~ Member (home club, Louisville, Kentucky), 2015-
~ Est. 1992; "a unique environment where anyone--and we mean anyone--can be comfortable. . . where a lasting, active lifestyle can be built"; headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire

Evangelical Theological Society, annual Midwest regional meeting . . . April 10-11, 2015, Chicago . . . Theme: Sexual Holiness

Though my lecture is not on the important and timely theme of "The Church and Its Call to Sexual Holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:4b, New Testament) I'll be delivering a lecture at the annual Midwest regional meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society on Friday, April 10, 11:00-11:40 a.m. This year, the meeting is being hosted by Chicago's Moody Bible Institute.

"'Mr. James Brainerd Taylor, I presume?': The American Inspiration Behind David Livingstone's 'Uncommon' Christianity" is a lecture I delivered at various places in 2013, the bicentennial anniversary year of the birth of the famed Scottish missionary-explorer David Livingstone (1813-1873). (See my March 1, 2013, blog post for an online summary of the lecture that is based on my recent research discovery from a Livingstone letter manuscript housed at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.)

Though a repeat lecture, the presentation does provide an opportunity to inform others about the forgotten "uncommon Christian" evangelist James Brainerd Taylor (1801-1829). And my attendance provides an opportunity to get to know members of my new ETS region. This is my first Midwest meeting since leaving ETS's Pacific Northwest region in 2013.

The lecture is one of fifty-five that are being delivered during the two-day meeting. The topics range from various academic fields, including Historical Theology, New Testament, Old Testament, Same Sex Attraction, Systematic Theology and Theology.

Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon

The plenary sessions are on "The End of Man: Homosexuality and the Human Telos" (Dr. Douglas K. Blount, Dallas Theological Seminary) and "Homosexualist Readings of Scripture by Two New Testament Scholars, William Loader and James Brownson" (Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). This will be my second time hearing from Dr. Gagnon. I had the privilege of hearing him at the ETS-Pacific Northwest annual regional meeting in Tacoma, Washington, in April 2013.

A graduate of Dartmouth College, Harvard Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary, Prof. Gagnon is considered the foremost Evangelical Protestant scholar on the issue of homosexuality in relation to Christianity and the Bible. Among many other writings--in print and online via his website--he is the author of The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics (Abingdon Press, 2001, 522 pages).

For those interested--and via his website and YouTube.com and Vimeo.com--Dr. Gagnon has appeared in many videos, most of which are available online and at no cost. This includes his 7-part online video series "The Bible and Homosexual Practice." Some of his writings and videos have been translated into other languages. Click here ("The Church in a Homosexual Culture") and here ("Same-Sex Temptations in the Church") for 30-minute audio podcast interviews with Dr. Gagnon on John Piper's DesiringGod.org.

From the ETS website, here is the background to this academic society that consists of over 3,000 members. Among other societies and associations, I've been a member of ETS since 2007. The minimum requirement for full membership is a Master of Theology degree (Th.M.), of which I earned in 2005 from Toronto Baptist Seminary.

Founded in 1949, the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) is a group of scholars, teachers, pastors, students, and others dedicated to the oral exchange and written expression of theological thought and research. The ETS is devoted to the inerrancy and inspiration of the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Society publishes a quarterly journal, the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS), an academic periodical featuring peer reviewed articles, as well as extended book reviews, in the biblical and theological disciplines. ETS also holds national and regional meetings across the United States and in Canada.

James Brainerd Taylor on the radio . . . book presentations

The two recent James Brainerd Taylor books--An Uncommon Christian and Of Intense Brightness (University Press of America, 2008)--were the topic of discussion during a portion of the March 26 "Todd Ortloff Show" on the Port Angeles, Washington-based KONP News Radio. To listen to the 17-minute interview, click here and go to "Archived Programs--Todd Ortloff Show--3/26/09--Local Biographer." NOTE: the downloadable interview begins at 17:44 and ends at 38:02. Or contact UCM and request the free MP3 audio file.

Sponsored by Uncommon Christian Ministries, 2 upcoming book presenations and signings include the following:

Sunday, April 5, 2009

6:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, Port Angeles, Wash.

Wednseday, April 15, 2009

Noon

ASC Conference Room, Peninsula College, Port Angeles, Wash.

--> Co-sponsored by Peninsula College Christian Student Fellowship

These two book presentations and signings are in addition to the 7 presentations or book-related sermons done already:

+ 3/7/09 -- Evangelical Theological Society, Northwestern Regional Annual Meeting, George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Portland, Ore.

+ 1/25/09 -- Quilcene Bible Church, Quilcene, Wash.

+ 11/20/08 -- Evangelical Theological Society, 60th Annual National Meeting, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, R.I.

+ 8/10/08 -- Lusk Alliance Church, Lusk, Wyo.

+ 7/6/08 -- Calvary Grace Church, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

+ 3/15/08 -- Evangelical Theological Society, Northwestern Regional Annual Meeting, Western Seminary, Portland, Ore.

+ 3/14/08 -- Worldview Center: Institute for International Christian Communication, Portland, Ore.

NOTE: Today (March 29, 2009) marks the 180th anniversary of J. B. Taylor's death.

Evangelical Theological Society meeting, Providence, R.I. (and Connecticut churches)

For those in the New England area, I will be presenting a paper/lecture on James Brainerd Taylor at the 60th annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Providence, R.I., on Thursday, November 20, 2008. Under the category of "Historical Theology," the talk will be held in Room 555A at the Rhode Island Convention Center, 3:40 to 4:20 p.m. The talk is titled "James Brainerd Taylor (1801-1829), Forgotten Evangelist In America's Second Great Awakening: Why He Is Needed Today."

The meeting itself is Wednesday to Friday, November 19-21. The plenary sessions are on the theme of "Text and Canon." In addition, about 400 elective papers/lectures will be presented. The elective category topics include Biblical Studies, Evangelism/Missions, Issues in Systematic Theology, American Christianity, Pastoral Theology, Old and New Testament Studies, Baptist Studies, and a host of others. Over 2,000 people are expected to attend.

Formed in 1949, the Evangelical Theological Society is "a professional society of Biblical scholars, teachers, pastors and others involved in evangelical scholarship in order to serve Christ and His Church." Its purpose is "to foster conservative Biblical scholarship by providing a medium for the oral exchange and written expression of thought and research in the general field of the theological disciplines as centered in the Scriptures." ETS publishes a quarterly journal called JETS. (JETS is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. See Pastor-Author John Piper's June 18, 2008, article "2 Birthdays and Biblical Inerrancy.") The society currently has over 4,500 members, with Old Testament scholar Dr. C. Hassell Bullock of Wheaton College (Ill.) serving as 2008 president.

ETS is one of six societies or associations I am a member of. Click here to view my other memberships.

FYI: While visiting family in Connecticut, and on the lone Sunday (Nov. 16) I'm in New England, I plan to worship at Trinity Baptist Church near Yale University in New Haven, Conn. Author and friend Josh Moody (B.A., Ph.D., Cambridge University) is senior pastor of Trinity (1999- ), and creator of the online GodCenteredLife.org. He is 1 of 22 international endorsers of An Uncommon Christian: James Brainerd Taylor, Forgotten Evangelist In America's Second Great Awakening (University Press of America, Jan. 2008). A highly recommended church to attend if in the New Haven area. NOTE: It was just announced that Pastor Josh has accepted the position of Senior Pastor at the historic Wheaton College Church (est. 1861) in Illinois. He succeeds long-time (1979-2006) College Church pastor-author Dr. R. Kent Hughes, and begins the new position January 1, 2009.

Also, on November 17, I plan to meet with Mark E. Given (M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), pastor of Christ Episcopal Church in Middle Haddam, Conn. Christ Church (est. 1785) was the childhood/home church (birth to age 15, 1801-1816) of James Brainerd Taylor. One of the 8 stained glass windows in the church is dedicated to Col. Jeremiah Taylor, James's father. Through James's instrumentality, it was during the spring 1822 revival that James's parents and some siblings were converted to Christ. Rev. Given (M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is 1 of 17 international endorsers of Of Intense Brightness: The Spirituality of Uncommon Christian James Brainerd Taylor (University Press of America, 2008).

Canada's James Houston . . . Book Tour Update

Along with James Houston--author of the Foreword to Of Intense Brightness: The Spirituality of Uncommon Christian James Brainerd Taylor (read excerpt here)--a book signing and PowerPoint presentation is set for Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. I am a current, non-residential Doctor of Ministry student at Western and Dr. Houston has spoken there once before. Western Seminary's new/12th president, Dr. Randall Roberts, will introduce us both.

I will give a presentation on my two James Brainerd Taylor books and Dr. Houston will speak on his latest book Joyful Exiles: Life in Christ on the Dangerous Edge of Things (IVP, 2006), winner of the World Guild Best Leadership/Theoretical Book. Read here a review of Joyful Exiles in "Christianity Today" magazine.

Dr. Houston (M.A., Edinburgh; D.Phil., Oxford) is the founding principal of Regent College: An International Graduate School of Christian Studies (est. 1968) in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He has authored or edited over 40 books on evangelical Protestant spirituality and currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent. It was the British-born Houston who was the primary instrument in influencing his fellow Englishman, theologian, and Knowing God (1973) author, J. I. Packer (D.Phil., Oxford), to come to Canada and teach at Regent (1979- ). Bruce Hindmarsh (D.Phil., Oxford) is the current James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent.

As of now, this October 7 date is the only scheduled book signing/presentation event for 2008. My ambitious idea of a November mini-book tour to entities associated with James Brainerd Taylor (in Conn., N.J., N.Y., Virg.) is postponed due to time and financial factors. However, if my submitted paper is accepted, then I hope to give a talk on Taylor at the 60th annual Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) meeting in Providence, R.I., November 19-21. Stay tuned.

UPDATE (Sept. 15, 2008): The October 7 event with Dr. Houston in Portland, Ore., has been cancelled. I am set to deliver a paper/talk on J. B. Taylor on November 20 at the national ETS meeting in R.I.