I started my Fall Break with another weekend within the series of what I am now calling my "Mid Life Theology Weekends." Once again at the nearby Lanier Theological Library and Learning Center, I spent Friday evening and most of Saturday with Dr. Jeannine Hanger from Biola University and Dr. Esau McCaulley from Wheaton College.
I will share today's interview with Esau McCaulley, an interview conducted by Mark Lanier, of biblical-literacy.org. Esau discusses his life background and how he went from a boy growing up in the poor side of Huntsville, Alabama - where families had two options - which in his own words were to grow up "in the church or on the streets." He gives a number of incredible, and humorous, anecdotes explaining how the Lord led him on a path from to eventually studying with N.T. Wright in Scotland for his doctorate.
If you enjoy the interview you may also like his book titled How Far to the Promised Land, a memoir which I was able to purchase the night of the final lecture. I took it home and was up late into the night and nearly finished it the next day. For me, I read Esau's book from the perspective of an educator, (Part 1 of the book is about his experiences during the elementary through high school years) - and how we can better understand the experiences of our students who are like Esau was - kids from underprivileged backgrounds packaged with so much potential, yet also wrapped up with a bit of trouble. He also discusses at least two or three children's books he has written and a children's Bible he has recently authored that will be available within the next year. You can see some of the wonderful illustrations and get a "sneak peak" at some of those books during the video interview too.
When you click on the video below, it should skip over the announcements and start right at the beginning of the interview at the 18:02 mark on the video:
I could write a few pages all that we learned over the weekend, and it was indeed eye-opening and fascinating learning. However, this week I have a few priority to-dos - and the first thing on that to do list is to complete the final edits on the updated and expanded Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks in Christ's Teachings. The updated book will be available for order through Amazon sometime on or before next weekend, October 19th. This book is an updated and expanded version of the former book He Called: 56 Daily Studies with the Words of Christ published in 2016. The new version is an 8x10, journal-text in paperback format, with space for the reader to write their own responses to the reflection prompts.
Enjoy the video interview with Esau McCaulley, and check back later this week for a new post and blogcast within the "Gems from the Greek and Hebrew" playlist and blogroll - as well as the release of the revised and updated Words of Jesus Bible Study.