So I received some cordial responses to my emails requesting information regarding apostles being Persian or Roman in origin. Those who responded basically said, “I got it from so and so…” I tracked down some of the references who have no further references but contacted them. Hopefully they will respond soon.

Some of them claim to be apostles which is interesting to me. I wonder what that might look like in contemporary society, especially in the West.

In related reading, I’m finishing up C.K. Barrett’s book Signs of Apostle or something like that. It seems to me there are some areas where he contradicts himself, but it is good reading nonetheless.

This afternoon we had a seminar by Hannah Hunt from Leeds Trinity University on Spiritual Direction in the Desert Fathers and as Spiritual practice today. I don’t think I got the title exactly right, but it wasn’t completely on this topic so I don’t mind being a bit imprecise. To summarize what I got out of this seminar:
Dr. Hunt discussed the role of the spiritual direction and spiritual fatherhood in the orthodox tradition and covered St. Symeon the New Theologian’s relationship with his spiritual father. She dealt partially about the accusations of these relationships being viewed as somewhat cultish to outsiders because of the level of obedience the spiritual child had to their spiritual father as well as the separation of the child from their natural family. To have a spiritual father, depending on who they are was/is an honor to some, but taken to be too highly regarded and you would have to repent for pride.

To get a spiritual father took discernment and one could not be a father unless they had some sort of divine spark or illuminating experience. This is where the uncreated light (manifestation of glory?) plays an important role. Sometimes the people having such experiences were at odds with the ordained or ecclesiastical officials because of taking confession as well as claims of mystical experiences. To St. Symeon the mystical authority was the highest authority and he did not want anyone teaching unless they could speak/teach out of experience of this divine illumination.

The seminar sparked (pun intended) some interesting questions and discussion.
In the charismatic protestant world there is a lot of talk about spiritual fathers and mothers as well as spiritual orphans. Strangely enough, I have heard rumors of these relationships being abused and/or unhealthy. On the other side of the coin, I have heard many younger people lament the fact they don’t have a spiritual mentor/father/mother. Which raises the question who is your (spiritual) mamma/daddy?

I have been working on the issue of memory, tradition and the apostolic. I have come across interesting modern invention of tradition regarding the term “apostle” within some segments of the church. According to several teachers, whom I really respect, along with some other websites (type in Roman Apostle in Google), an apostle is Persian in origin and/or was taken over by the Romans to designate a general or former military leader who would come in after the Romans conquered some land and teach the people about how to be Roman. This is then applied to modern apostles within the church to say that they (or the hoi polloi) are to bring the Kingdom of God wherever we are, especially to whatever mountain we are given to conquer.

In my survey of a lot of Bible dictionaries under “apostle” as well as books and articles I found nothing regarding anything related to Rome. Nor have I found any evidence that the Romans would acculturate the peoples they overtook. I have found nothing about Persia or that apostle would mean anything other than a messenger for another person/party. What I believe is happening is the invention of a new tradition regarding the word ‘apostle.’ What I have not figured out is why this is happening, or why the people teaching this need to have this particular definition? To what end does it serve? I have emailed several of them who teach this, but have not received a response yet. Once I do, I will follow up this post.

Greetings from the UK! We’re doing great & still settling in. Oddly enough, at times it felt a bit like Africa due to the pace of things and various complications. We weren’t quite prepared for that. We landed in Birmingham and another student, Christoph, picked us up. When we arrived we didn’t have a place of our own to move into so we stayed with another couple who has a 1 year old son. It was great seeing how other families interact with their kids. Due to space issues (the houses here are smaller than the US) we ended up moving in with Christoph and his family for a week. They have 3 kids and another guest and said that 3 more people wouldn’t change anything. One Sunday they hosted a Kaffeetrinken with doughnuts afternoon and I got to meet the rest of the theology students.

By the Beeston Marina

We’ve been keeping a record of all of the blessings and provision God has given us thus far. Aside from not having to live in a hotel and paying a ton of money, the Lord has provided us with great relationships. In my new student orientation I got to meet all of the new masters and doctoral students in the theology department. We gave introductions and stated our research topics. I was surprised when one of the students said he was working on spiritual warfare. I thought, “what kind of department is this allowing for students to work on such a topic?” Later the professor running the program mentioned that I had worked in Mozambique for the last several years. At the end of our meeting the student working on spiritual warfare came up to me and asked if I knew the Bakers. I said yes, that’s who we worked with and we struck up a friendship from there.

Some friends of ours neighbor works in a nursing home and told us one day that a lady she knows has a sleeper couch and arm chair to give away. When we went to pick it up it was in mint condition and mint green. We also got a kitchen table, chairs, pots, plates and silverware from Janico’s aunt and uncle who drove up to visit us one day. Another student gave us a double bed. Someone from a church was giving away a bookshelf along with a swivel chair, desk and printer for my office. We made friends with a woman at the local YMCA charity shop who gives us discounts on some items as well as some free baby clothing. Every time we stop by there she loves holding Joziah and telling him how great he is and how he is going to do great things in the world. Because we did not have health insurance and ended up having the baby in the hospital we had the huge burden of a gigantic hospital bill. We applied for emergency medicaid which would cover the birth and delivery. But in the end, the hospital forgave the entire bill! Over $20,000! That was a huge blessing!

Ministry-wise there is a lot to get involved with and we’ve been seeking areas to serve. Every Saturday along High street is a ministry that prays for people on the street that we’re getting involved with. They also serve breakfast to the homeless. On Friday and Saturday night in downtown nottingham called Street pastors which serve the party crowd all evening. There’s globe cafe which is mainly an outreach to foreign students. We’re helping a friend with an evangelism event in London sometime next summer.

Janico has been working hard taking care of Joziah and trying to get our house in order. We have been pursuing hospitality (Rom 12:13) and have had quite a number of guests visit or stay with us. I’m happy to say I think they rested well here regardless of Joziah’s nightly noises. I’ve been praying Psalm 84 and Revelation 21:3 that the presence of God would dwell in our house. A friend of mine back in the US confirmed my prayers by telling me he felt our house would be a place of healing and deliverance for both the saved and unsaved. We’re looking to start a weekly home group, so please pray everything falls into place.

So today was orientation to the department. It was quite long, but informative. I enjoyed hearing about all the thinkers and history of different schools and such.

I also found out today that we received approval on the house that we applied for! We prayed that if it was the right one that we would get it. Otherwise, not. So, I pray it is providential. Anyway, we need some extra funds to help furnish the place as it does not have a washer, dryer, beds, sofa or anything like that. So, if you’re feeling generous please feel free to click on the Paypal button or email me for other options.

So after a big push to get to the UK we have finally arrived! For the details of that encounter you can go to our ministry blog http://gloryreign.blogspot.com/. It has been really great being here and everyone has been so welcoming.

We really feel like this is a pivotal season in many regards. First and foremost as a family. We will finally move into our first home as a married couple. Prior to this we lived with our parents or temporary housing that offered little privacy. Joziah will finally have his own room with his own stuff in it. We put in an application for a decent size 3 bedroom place so we can have guests and friends stay as they pass through.

With regard to my studies I am excited about my topic and I definitely feel I am at the right school. From what the other students tell me it seems that the faculty really care about the students. There seems to be a strong community amongst the students.

Finally, with regard to ministry there is no lack of churches or ministries to plug into. Prior to coming I was in prayer about the possibility of heading to Asia. As it turns out, the Lord brought Asia to us as there are many students from all over the world here, especially China and Malaysia. So far all is well.

Joziah’s arrival

On 10:34 am of August 25 Joziah Tenison Walker entered the world. What an amazing boy! He’s perfect!

Let me tell you about the build up to his arrival because I think it was a bit unique. Tuesday morning we went to the clinic for a weekly update and the nurse practitioner said we should go to the hospital to be induced due to Janico’s rising blood pressure. We don’t believe in induction or drugs after watching the movie The Business of Being Born, which I recommend to any pregnant person. So we called our midwife, the amazing Laura Yoder, and she suggested taking castor oil and waiting things out. So we did that and called the hospital to inform them we were arriving later. Meanwhile the clinic kept calling us wanting to know where we were and said the hospital wanted to know where were were. So we waited…

My mother came home from prayer group and told me a story about how her friend there was 4 weeks overdue. Everyone in her husbands battalion drank a Harvey Wallbanger to induce labor. So she tried it out and it worked. The funny/spiritual/prophetic part was three nights before I was laying in my bed and the name Harvey Wallbanger came into my mind. I didn’t know why and I contemplated the story behind the drink. When my mother told me that story I thought this was why the name was rolling around in my head the other night! So I ran to the ABC store and bought the vodka and Giliano. While I was in the store another man asked the clerk, why are all the bottles rattling against the wall? The clerk responded, “uh, when Chanellos gets an order next door sometimes the walls shake.” When I got in my car I found out that it was an earthquake! Nothing major, but it was noticeable for our area.

I went home and and against my rules & better judgement made the drink for Janico. Afterwards we prayed and later went for a walk. I confessed making and giving the drink to our midwife and she said that there wouldn’t be a problem since the baby was past due. Then she started having contractions around 5. The midwife came over around 7 and checked her blood pressure which was fine. I thought, Yes! We’re going to have a home birth just like we wanted! We hung out for a while then Laura suggested going for a walk after Janico’s water broke while getting up from the couch. We went on the walk and afterwards Janico’s blood pressure was up, which wasn’t so good. Our midwife suggested we head to the hospital.

Within an hour or so the doctor saw us, said they were waiting since noon that day and said they were going to give Janico something to “move things along”. We knew it was going to be piton, a synthetic version of Oxytocin which is known to intensify contractions. Despite the fact that we did not want this, nor did we ask for it, the nurse said that it would help get the baby out without infection. Normally, they don’t get concerned with infection until the 24 hour mark, but due to the business related to giving birth in hospitals and the need to overturn beds they gave the drugs. It was painful for both of us. More so for my wife who at one point could not stand due to the pain. After 5 hours on the evil drugs she asked for other drugs to take the pain away. While disheartening, I completely understood. I believe my wife could have handled a natural child birth and her body was designed to give birth according to God’s plan. Unfortunately, when man dabbles into things it doesn’t seem to go as planned.

Fortunately, the Lord was gracious to us and after several hours the doctor decided to take her off the Pitocin to see if her body would take over. Of course, it did and the baby arrived after 10 minutes of pushing. Janico did an amazing job! I couldn’t believe how strong she was. Joziah was happy and healthy and we can’t imagine life without him. He was 10 days overdue, but he was just the right size at 6 lbs. 12 oz.

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.”
-Rom 8:25

Greetings from the heat and humidity of Virginia! We’ve had some great times catching up with friends and family since we’ve been back. We’ve also had some great times of ministry.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the next several months and years coming up. But thought without action is pointless, just like faith without works, as James said. I have also had some time to reflect on our time in Africa and wondered if there can be a “theology of waiting.” Having heard a lot of teaching in Mozambique on rest and entering into the rest of God one can get the idea that nothing will get done in the church. Honestly, I don’t think Africa needs that kind of teaching. Most of the men and women I met have no problem sitting around, waiting and enjoying each others company. I don’t think they don’t feel the pressure to perform like us Westerners.

But waiting is never a purely passive event. I’ve thought about all the saints who waited things out: Noah who sat in the ark for forty days and forty nights (not so much fun in a zoo!); Abraham and Sarah waited to inherit the promise of a son and further promises (Heb 6:15, 11:9); Elijah and Israel waited for rain and the disciples waited in the upper room in Jerusalem as their Master instructed them.

In many ways Africa has prepared us for this time as waiting is something most Africans can relate to. I recall asking a man from Kenya what he did when his bus broke down on the way to Mozambique. He responded, “I waited for several days for the next bus.” In my western amazement, I asked, “Yes, but what did you do?” His reply, “Nothing, what could I do but wait?” Transitioning from that kind of event oriented culture to the western time oriented culture hasn’t been easy.
I imagine that the saints of old kept themselves busy during their waiting time.

Either through prayer or deepening relationships, I think the characters in Scripture were diligent in what was set before them, whether it be grooming animals on a boat or shepherding sheep. I gather it was a completely different lifestyle than our western culture, which emphasizes time, numbers and efficiency. An acquaintance once told me that the best way to wait things out is with your sails up ready for the wind to take you to the next place. This is fine as long as your sail doesn’t have holes in it!
We’ve been gearing up for the arrival of our son and taking care of the various immigration and visa issues we’ve encountered. Fortunately, some of the UK visa requirements for US citizens have been eliminated, which relieved us of a huge burden. 

The author of Hebrews once wrote, “so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.” In an effort to pursue the promises Janico and I have kept quite busy despite what the nurse at the ultrasound clinic said, “rest”. A week ago I was able to sit in on an advanced research methods course at a local Christian university. It was really helpful to be in an academic environment after being in Africa where issues of narrative discourse and textual criticism a far from every day conversations. The following week I sat in on a course on the miraculous in the biblical tradition, which was insightful. I also felt I had something to contribute academically and spiritually as I had been privy to quite a few wondrous events in Africa. Both courses helped me get a jumpstart on my research as well. I’ve been meeting with a friend to go over Greek on a regular basis and I’ve been reviewing German and French.

Janico and I have had various medical appointments and I imagine they will increase as we arrive closer to the due date. There seems to be no consensus on the due date among the nurses and doctors. Only 5% of babies arrive on their prescribed date, so we’re not too worried. I guess the more concerning factor is where the baby will be born. The hospital that we are scheduled to deliver at is moving its maternity ward to another location as of August 1. With the uncertainty of the due date and the uncertainty of the transition happening on August 1, we’re not quite sure where to go. It would be a bummer to go to one hospital only to have them turn us away to the other. So, we’ll see. Onward and upward we go for Jesus!
Thanks for all your prayers and support during this time as we hurry up and wait.

I have been reading up on hagiography or holy writings about the saints. Traditionally, hagiography is thought of as a Catholic field of study that focuses on the life, works and miracles of the saints. These writings are meant to inspire faith and encourage believers to pursue a more holy life.

This is of interest to me because Protestant circles may have more in common regarding this area. Western protestants have their favorite preachers, teachers or apostles that are currently living. Would Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Mark Driscoll, Rob Bell and more maybe considered as contemporary “saints”? Given the consumerism of the Western Church in general, they may not measure up in the Catholic genre as the saints were noted for their austere and ascetic lifestyles.  Moreover, the anti-supernatural bias of the West may not lend to a belief in miracles. 

Overall, I’m enjoying reading up on the saints of old and evaluating their lives compared to our present heroes.

Growing in grace
Last Sunday I had the privilege of sharing at Harvest Assembly’s evening Awakening service. I shared on 2 Peter 3:18 which exhorts the readers or hearers to “grow in grace.” This was interesting to me for several reasons. 1) I’ve been told I need to extend more grace; 2) It seems that some branches of the church think that grace is given at salvation and that is it. This verse as well as 2 Pet 1:2 makes it clear that grace can increase. This led me to think about what grace is and how can one grow in grace.
I won’t go into all the details of it, but you can download the podcast here:

http://www.harvestva.org/online-sermons.asp