My wife, Esther, and I have four adult married children, all of whom have children. Three of our kids graduated from Holland Christian. My preaching and teaching ministry has been well received because of its unique focus on the Bible in historical and cultural context. This perspective on the Bible highlights God’s call for Christians to be a transforming influence on their culture. I do not view myself first as a scholar in the area of Jewish culture and archaeology. I have established a knowledge base in this area by studying the scholarship of others. My gifts, expertise, and my calling are to link that cultural information and the Bible so that the message applies to our lives today.