My Biograhy
Does it really matter who says it, as long as it is the truth of the Word of God! The apostle Paul wrote, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed..." I (Paul) has planted, Apollos watered; But God gave the increase. so then neither he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." The Church (i.e. the people) has given far to much credit to man. and his natural qualifications. Many say, "Oh I am not a theologian, how I understand the Word of God." That is the "Dark Age" mentality! You can understand God's Word. According to the pattern in scripture Levi was separated from among the children of Israel as the "Priesthood" to teach, protect, and watch over the copying the Word of God. (Deut.17:18, Num.1:47-54, Deut.24:8;31:9-13, 2Chron.15:3;34:15, Neh.8:2 / Neh.7:63-65) Levi was "set" in this place by God as it pleased Him. Levi was not selected because he was a scholar or a theologian, he was selected because he was one of the sons of Israel, that had been born into the family covenantal line. (Gen.49, Eph.2:1-19) Levi had nothing to do with his placement. He did not earn his place, he did not work his way "up through the ranks" (so-to-speak). His degrees did not qualify him, or his years of experience. It was God's mercy. (Note: Rom.9:20) The reality of the Levitical priesthood today is the Church, the Body of Christ, the Saint, the individual believer. (1Peter.2:5-9, Rev.1:6;5:10) We have been born again into the family, the Covental line, (John.3:1-7, Eph.2:1-19) God has "set" us " in the body as "an holy priesthood" (1Cor.12:18) God did not set us in because we were scholars and theologians. God has set us in His Church where He wants us, with the ability that He gives us. (1John.2:27, John.16:12-13, 1Cor.2:1-14, 1Peter.4:11) Peter and John were "unlearned and ignorant men" (Acts.4:13) Luke was a doctor. Paul was "an Hebrew of Hebrews" yet considered all his natural qualifications as "dung" (Phil.3:4-8) God called Moses, who was "learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and in deeds," (Acts.7:22) was sent into the desert to come to the realization that the "reproach of Christ" (is) greater than the treasures (wisdom) in Egypt." (Heb.11:25) Education (i.e. the wisdom and treasures of Egypt) has it's place in things of this world. However, in the "things of God" our education must be in God's Word, and not man's intellect. (1Cor.2:1-14)
The Church (i.e. the people) gave up this responsibilty during the Dark Ages to man appointed Priests, that hath polluted the "holy things" of God.(Note:Neh.7:63-65) We, the people, need to take it back. Note this quote from John Wycliffe. He wrote the "people had the right to read the Bible and interpret it for themselves" (Compton Interactive Encyclopedia,96) There is an excellent "ensample" (i.e. types, shadow, model) in the the Church in the wilderness, that illustrates the balanced between the people and leadership concerning God's Word. (Num.10:1-10) There was a cloud that abode on the Tabernacle of Moses. When the cloud lifted up all Israel journeyed. When it remained , they journeyed not. (The Cloud is a type of God leading His Church by the Spirit) Everybody could see the cloud, regardless of their placement around the Tabernacle. (Num.1-3) They could interpret God's leading, but nobody moved until the leadership (the Priest) came out and blew a trumpet sound. (Num.10:1-10) This was a confirming sound because the people hah already interpreted what God was doing. The apostle Paul declared himself to "helpers of their (the Corinthian's) joy." He did not want dominion over their faith. Leadership is vital, however they are the servants holding the people up. They are "elders" (i.e. older spiritually) placed by God to give wisdom to the "younger" in the Lord. As a natural father would to his children.
This Website is designed
to give keys to understanding God's Word for the "everyday siant." God's Word is yours!
Now to my history. I was born and raised in the South Island coastal town of Timaru New Zealand. I gave my life to the Lord at the age of sixteen when an American evangelist, A.S. Worley, came through holding meetings. This was 1960. Two years later at a family camp meeting I felt the Lord birth a specific desire in me to teach the Word of God. This desire has never waned. A year later two other young men and I traveled to the Chatham Islands off the coast of New Zealand and worked for a year starting a Church, which still remains. The following four years I continued my O.J.T. (i.e. on the job training) in ministry, traveling throughout the U.S.A., New Zealand and Australia as part of a Gospel quartet called the "Firebrands." The Lord was proving Himself more and more a "sure foundation" to me as Isa.28:16 says, "Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone for a sure foundation, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation." 1967-75 were spent in Anchorage Alaska, working in advertising and art layout while attending Abbott Loop Chapel. 1976-89 were spent attending Wichita Christian Center (Kansas) teaching in their local Bible College. There I was grateful to be given much freedom to study and teach. In 1989, with my wfe Mary and our three children, I moved to Eugene, Oregon where my wife and I still live. We attend Life Bible Church in Harrisburg, Oregon. Our three children are now married and we have seven grandchildren, each who are living lives committed to the Lord. My two sons are Pastors, and my daughter is a registered nurse.
Psalm.37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" This is because when you delight in Him, your desires become in line with His desires. This is our prayer for each of you.
I trust that you will enjoy these studies.
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There have been several men of God that I have been excellent examples in Word and doctrine for the past 47 years. My Pastor David Jackson in New Zealand for the first years of my walk before the Lord. Kevin J. Conner, Ray Jackson sr., and Rob Wheeler. These men taught the rich Word of the Lord in our Church. This laid the founation in my life of the Old Testament is a blueprint, and the New Testament is the building according to the blueprint. After arriving in Anchorage Alaska, their were other men of God that built on this foundation. Apostle Dick Benjamin and Jim Feeney. Dick Strutz (who made me realize the benefits of charts while teaching) Like Timothy "from a child (in my case 16 yrs old) have known the holy scriptures, because these great men of God.
