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How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him! (1Kings 18)

But the people were completely silent.

It was only a few hours later that the LORD completely consumed the water-soaked alter with fire. The people, the very ones that were silent, fell down on their faces and cried out, “The LORD – he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!

Even after 10 years of following Jesus, the same question Elijah asked is asked of me.

How much longer . . . ?

If the LORD is God, follow him!

But if your ambition is God, then follow it!

But if a good job is God, then follow it!

But if you are God, then follow yourself!

But if seminary studies is God, then follow them!

But if facebook is God, then follow it!

But if your fears are God, then follow them!

But if your worries are God, then follow them!

The LORD – he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!

One of Dr. May’s illustrative sketches. Here he was explaining the practice of protective magic of a people group in Zimbabwe. Dr. May and his family worked in Zimbabwe for several years with the IMB.

A while back I told you about Jerry’s sno-cones. Samuel got his first taste just a few weeks ago. Did he like it? You be the judge.

A group of students from MABTS cross the street every once and a while to play soccer. Bellevue has several fields, and lots of folks come out to play.

One of the coolest things about it is that there are usually some guys from other nations out to play. Last week three guys from Morocco joined the game.

This is why you may see me sprinting towards the cafeteria between classes.

Brad Johnson, 2008 graduate of MABTS, currently runs the campus bookstore. Brad and I go back. We’ve got some history. We served on staff at Geyer Springs FBC, Little Rock together in 2004. Also, we’ve been known to crank out some pretty mean blues tracks together. In addition to being a book-wrangler, Brad produces Live by Word with Dr. Mike Spradlin, a daily radio show. Brad also teaches on Wednesday nights at Marion First Baptist.

Me: What is your best-seller?

Brad: Probably . . . the best-seller is Dr. Grey’s evangelism stickers.

Me: What about best-selling book?

Brad: Encountering the Old Testament by Arnold & Bauer.

Me: What’s your personal favorite book?

Brad: That’s here or of all time?

Me: Of all time. And you can’t say the Bible.

Brad: I think my favorite book is probably . . . Well, I have two . . . Pilgrim’s Progress and my second favorite book would have to be Francis Schaeffer’s The God Who is There.

Me: If you were to stack every single book in the bookstore on top of each other, do you think you’d reach the moon?

Brad: No.

Me: Are you sure?

Brad: Yes.

Me: Have you every tried it?

Brad: No.

Me: Then how do you know you wouldn’t reach the moon.

Brad: Ummmmm . . .

Me: Tell me about your family.

Brad: Hannah, my wife, is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at University of Memphis. Heather, is six months old. She’s the cutest baby in the whole world. She has my eyes.

Me: Tell me about the Dr. Spradlin’s radio show.

Brad: I produce it. It’s every weekday at 4pm on BOTT Radio Network (Locally AM640). Also, every Sunday at 10am. It’s a show which features Dr. Spradlin doing expository teaching through the Bible.

Me: Where do you record it?

Brad: We’re building a recording studio here on campus. Currently we record at AM640.

Me: What’s your future look like.

Brad: It’s so bright I have to wear shades.

Me: What’s your favorite verse?

Brad: Psalm 13. The Psalmist lists all the things that are going wrong in his life. Then, at the end he says, But You are God and I will praise You.

We appreciate cows. So does Chic-Fil-A. On ‘Cow Appreciation Day’ anyone donning bovine attire is entitled to one free combo meal at Chic-Fil-A. Sweetness!

One of the more difficult things about seminary life is transition. It seems like someone is always packing up to leave or unpacking to begin seminary. Of course, it’s great to welcome new folks into the community and get to know them. Seeing them leave isn’t so great.

Here’s a shot of some of the seniors on one of their last days as students at MABTS. I snapped this photo in the chapel just a few moments before taking a posed senior photo of the class.

I had the opportunity to be part of the Preview Day program last week at MABTS. That’s a picture of Britt Taylor leading the group in worship.

One couple shared with me how the lifeatmabts blog had impacted them and that God had used it to lead them to Mid-America. Wow. That was humbling.

Being with these folks who were excited about a new chapter and still trying to figure out exactly what God wanted for them helped me remember. God has been so good to us. He has walked with us every single step. Though we couldn’t always see where we were going, he never let us go. And he never will.

I guess that’s what faith is. Moving forward in obedience to him no matter if you can see or not. Because it doesn’t matter if you’ve got it figured out, what matters is that he doesn’t let go.