On Saturday Africa Theological Seminary (where I teach) had its graduation. (Not to be confused with the South African Theological Seminary where I will graduate in May.) Here is a video with a few highlights of graduation.
Link to the video (just incase clicking above does not work): cox-net.com/2019_ATS_Grad.html
By God’s grace my PhD passed external review earlier this week. The rest of this week I have worked on some final formalities and minor corrections.
My graduation is on May 18, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa
Thank you very much for your prayers.
Those interested in reading my dissertation can find a soft copy at cox-net.com/pdf/Cox_Explaining-NT-Cultural-Biases-with-Hofstede.pdf
Grace & Peace — Paul
My time in the U.K. was great. My friends there are passionate about God and walking with Him. Hence it was wonderful to spend time with them. I trust that God, by His grace, used my teaching time on Sunday in the U.K. for His glory. Praise God for the time I had with my friends and the oppurtunity to share God’s word in the U.K..
Last week and the first part of this week I taught New Testament Introduction (NT Intro). While I was in the UK, I found out that there was not enough students for the Elements of Greek (EoG) class to make, the class I had planned to teach. So my first class was switched from EoG to NT Intro. Very thankfully I have taught NT Intro before so the change was fairly managable. All the students in NT Intro are students I had last year (hence you have recently seen a video with their prayer requests (cox-net.com/2018_eog.html). Praise God that NT Intro went well and pray that God would help the students intergrate the material into their thinking and application of the New Testament to their lives and ministry.
In our Febuary update, I mention the “backend” services I have been working on (setting up accounts, getting biographical information, writing support profiles, etc…) to support relationship development for Africa Theological Seminary (ATS). Please pray that I can get all this “backend” stuff finished in the next week or two.
Lastly, I have yet to hear anything from the external review of my PhD. Please keep praying for God’s favor. If my external review takes the “normal” amount of time (although “normal” seems to rarely apply to the Cox family), I should hear something by next week.
Below are a couple of pictures of me speaking at ATS chapel.
“Love what we do … Hate being apart” is how my wife very accurately captured the dynamics of the start of my bi-annual migration to Kenya to teach for nine weeks; I leave today. I will spend a couple of days with friends in the UK and speak to a church there on Sunday. Your prayers would be appreciated.
Below is a picture Donna and I took on a hike on Saturday as we tried to get some extra time together before my migration.
On Sunday I had the privilege to preach at Mwein, Kenya. It was quite a trek, which took close to four hours, to travel the 55 miles (as a crow flies) to Mwein: 2 motorcycle taxis, 1 shuttle (van with assigned seating that does not leave until all the seats are full) and 1 matatu (overstuffed van with the motto there is always room for one more that has its own schedule of often and varied length stops). But God was quite gracious once I arrived and the pastor—one of my students—was so excited to have me speak at his church. Praise God for His grace at Mwein (and that I left early).
One of the best things about most Kenyan churches is their enthusiasm in worship. Below is a link to a short video of some of the worship.
On Friday I start teaching apologetics. Your prayers for this class would be appreciated.
(Just in case the above picture with the link has difficulties the video can be viewed at: cox-net.com/mwein.html)
Other than teaching my classes my work on my dissertation has continued with reckless abandon. By God’s grace I have finished the last chapter of my dissertation. Now the process of editing starts. Currently my advisor has started the process of reviewing all 400 plus pages to see what changes are needed and it is out of my hands for now (and all the things I have been ignoring will start getting attention—like better communication with friends and supporters). Praise be to God that the writing is over. Pray that the editing goes smoothly.
I have completed teaching Pauline Epistles and Theology II (man, sin & salvation). Most of my students in these two classes you recently saw in the videos (cox-net.com/nt_bib_theo_2018.html and cox-net.com/apologetics_class_2018a.html). There are a few new students I will try to introduce to you next time. Praise God that these classes went well and pray that the lessons will be internalized and implemented in ministry.
The next few days I am visiting friends in Nairobi and Naivasha.
Below is a picture with some of my students after class.
Currently I am at Dallas/Fort Worth airport waiting for my first flight on my way to Kenya. I will be in Kenya for two months to teach Pauline Epistles, Theology II and Apologetics at Africa Theological Seminary. Your prayers for my travels, classes, students and family staying in the US would be greatly appreciated.
The last two months I have thrown myself with reckless abandon at my dissertation. I have written two and one thirds chapters; my goal was to write three. I have one and two thirds chapters until my dissertation is complete. If I can finish my dissertation soon, I can graduate in May (review process once I finish writing can take up to six months) and the hard deadline to finish is end of January. Please pray for completion.
Grace and Peace — Paul
After a quick trip to visit friends and supporters in New Mexico, I am on my way to Kenya to teach three classes: Apologetics, New Testament Biblical Theology and Elements of Greek. I think this is the most disorganized and ill-prepared I have been for international travel. Your prayers for my family who are holding down the USA home front, for my travel and for my classes would be greatly appreciated.
In addition to my disorganized travel, I had a major set back on my PhD. One of the principle sources for chapter 5 was Andreas Köstenberger’s commentary on John written in 2004. Until October of 2017, this was considered one of the best evangelical commentaries on John. Very unfortunately late last year Köstenberger announced “that there are some unacknowledged similarities between my John commentary … and DA Carson’s Pillar commentary” (Köstenberger’s Statement). In short, Köstenberger plagiarized Carson and his commentary is marked “out of print” by the publisher. What all of this means for me is that I cannot have Köstenberger as a principle source and have to start over on chapter 5. This has been discouraging and demotivating. Pray for my attitude and motivation.
Grace & Peace — Paul
While there may still be some dust from the remodel, not all the boxes are unpacked and some pictures still need to be hung, Paul and Donna could wait no longer to have a house blessing. Please join them for an informal, come and go time to thank God for His incredibly gracious provision of a wonderful home and pray it will be used for His glory.
| Sunday April 22 | 1101 Indian Ridge Dr |
| 4PM to 6PM | Denton, TX 76205 |
| 214 984 4969 |
Light refreshments will be served
If for some reason you cannot make it on Sunday, there is also an open house on Saturday April 21. The open house is geared toward neighbors and friends who may not be comfortable praying.
It has taken us a while to “arrive” enough to write a long overdue newsletter. In it you will find the latest updates, praises and prayer request for the Cox Family. Below is the link to the newsletter