The Biblical Wisdom Podcast

Pastor Jim came to Peninsula in 1994, after spending nine years baking in the desert! Jim is a native Californian, who has a B.A. in History from Biola University, and a Th.M. from Dallas Seminary. Jim married his wife, Christie, while they were both school teachers at Brethren High School, then located in Paramount. Their desire is to serve the Lord together and let the world know that living God’s way is always best. Jim loves to travel to Israel (don’t get him started on that subject) and to teach the Scriptures. They have three great kids.

Mary Jeanne and her husband Paul met in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship group at Stanford University. Though they became engaged shortly before graduation, the wedding was delayed for 3½ years as Mary Jeanne went to New York to attend Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. The following year, Paul matriculated at Gordon-Conwell Seminary. They came to know the roads between Massachusetts and New York well as they visited over weekends. They married before their final year of school as Mary Jeanne took elective courses in New England. After graduation, they moved to the Los Angeles area where Mary Jeanne had residency training in Internal Medicine at LA County Harbor General Hospital, while Paul served with InterVarsity. in 1980, they went to Taiwan as missionaries with OMF, the former China Inland Mission. Their daughter Gail was born there in 1983.

Dr. Mark Alan Williams is a missionary, speaker, author, podcaster and blogger at markalanwilliams.net. In 2016 he founded Discipleship Journeys with Jesus which has a vision to disciple 100 million believers in actionable, biblical wisdom. He has traveled to 60 countries on 6 continents, sharing the Gospel and training leaders. Mark is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Biola University, Talbot Seminary and Fuller Seminary where he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree. He was named Alumnus of the Year by Moody Bible Institute in 2010. Mark & Carolyn were married in 1979 and have three sons.

In our interview, Dr. Williams references a prayer that he prays most days to combat pride.  This is the Humility Prayer from Andrew Murray book Humility:

“Out of your great goodness Lord please make known to me and take away from my heart, every kind and form and degree of pride, whether it be from evil spirits, or my own corrupt nature; and please awaken in me the deepest depth and truth of that humility which can make me capable of Your light and Holy Spirit.”

Visit djjministry.org & markalanwilliams.net to learn more.

Ross Lokken earned his MDiv in Pastoral Studies from Western Seminary in Portland, OR. Ross completed course work for a DMin, as well. Further education has come from numerous conferences, seminars, and workshops, as well as, extensive reading in a wide variety of subjects relating to culture and the church. Most of his ministry has been in Baptist churches and recently with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Through his work with Hope Again, he has had experience interacting with churches across the evangelical spectrum.

He served as a senior pastor and as an executive pastor in Minnesota, Iowa, and California, plus serving as an interim pastor for three other churches. As a lay leader, he volunteered as a committee member and chairperson, junior and senior high ministry, adult ministries, and as advisor/consultant to church leadership personnel.

Ross’s passion is to lead churches to health and growth, helping the church to live to its full potential in the community. He is especially excited to work with churches and their leadership during times of transition. His love for connectively preaching the Word of God has been appreciated and affirmed in every church he has served. His personable style is relational expository preaching with a strong emphasis on application.

Ross also devoted ten years of ministry to work among the homeless in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles as the Executive Director of a Christian ministry known as Hope Again, Inc. With a budget of nearly $500,000, his responsibilities included fund raising, program development, staff oversight, and board recruitment and development. He networked with other nonprofit agencies involved in similar work. From time to time, he engaged the assistance of consultants in various areas of management and development. He worked in partnership with over 25 donor churches across the span of evangelicalism.

Dave Goss is the pastor of Light and Life Isla Vista church--a Free Methodist congregation.  Dave and his wife Tracey planted the church with nine other adults in 2007 after graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary with his MDIV degree. Five years after it’s founding the ministry began attracting students and the homeless from Isla Vista--the bedroom community/notorious party town for the University of California Santa Barbara--so they moved the church to their location of ministry impact. The last eight years have been full of joy, baptisms, transformed lives and the congregational shifts as students graduate and move on to adult life, the homeless become housed, the jobless employed, the at-risk and fragile now stabilized and independent.  LLIV meets either in a university lecture hall or in the adjacent park, making participation easier for visitors and the homeless community in particular (Not to mention the weather is always great!) 

Every Sunday service is accompanied by a meal share with the community.  In eight years, LLIV has served tens of thousands of free meals and built countless friendships, good will, and trust in the community.

Dave is the proud father of Noah (18), Caleb (16), and Micah (14).  Dave is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Recovery Ministry from Fuller Seminary. Dave currently serves as the Asbury Alumni Association Council President.

Jean E. Jones is co-author of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament, Discovering Joy in Philippians, and Discovering Hope in the Psalms. She blogs at jeanejones.net. Jean is a member of Women in Apologetics. She’s been a contributing writer for Crosswalk.com and has published in Today’s Christian Woman and Home Life. She’s happily married to her high school sweetheart, Clay, an associate professor of Christian apologetics at Talbot Seminary. They live in Laguna Niguel, California, and once were foster parents to three preteen/teen girls. Jean enjoyed rooster claws and century eggs in Asia.

Dr. Ron Lee Davis is the author of several best-selling Christian books, and has addressed audiences in Asia, Europe, Africa and throughout the U.S. Ron received his doctorate degree from Bethel University after concluding his undergraduate studies at the University of London, London, England. He later served as a spiritual leader for both the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Athletics. Dr. Davis, a father and grandfather, lives in Santa Barbara, California where he enjoys playing with his four grandchildren, running on the beach, and writing and speaking on topics such as healthy aging, Christian parenting, and overcoming life’s greatest challenges. His monthly column “From the Pen of Dr. Ron Lee Davis” is read widely by thousands in the U. S. and other countries. Choosing Joy: The Pathway to a Life of Passion and Purpose is Ron’s tenth book.

Dr. Ron Lee Davis is the author of several best-selling Christian books, and has addressed audiences in Asia, Europe, Africa and throughout the U.S. Ron received his doctorate degree from Bethel University after concluding his undergraduate studies at the University of London, London, England. He later served as a spiritual leader for both the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Athletics. Dr. Davis, a father and grandfather, lives in Santa Barbara, California where he enjoys playing with his four grandchildren, running on the beach, and writing and speaking on topics such as healthy aging, Christian parenting, and overcoming life’s greatest challenges. His monthly column “From the Pen of Dr. Ron Lee Davis” is read widely by thousands in the U. S. and other countries. Choosing Joy: The Pathway to a Life of Passion and Purpose is Ron’s tenth book.

Clay Jones holds a doctor of ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is an associate professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics Program at Talbot Seminary. Formerly, Clay hosted Contend for Truth, a nationally syndicated call-in, talk-radio program where he debated professors, radio talk show hosts, cultists, religious leaders, and representatives from animal rights, abortion rights, gay rights, and atheist organizations. Clay was the CEO of Simon Greenleaf University (now Trinity Law and Graduate Schools) and was on the pastoral staff of two large churches. Clay is the Chairman of the Board of the university apologetics ministry Ratio Christi, is a contributing writer for the Christian Research Journal and specializes in issues related to why God allows evil. You can read his blog at clayjones.net, find him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter at ClayBJones. Clay has authored Why Does God Allow Evil?: Compelling Answers for Life’s Toughest Questions and the forthcoming Immortal: How the Fear of Death Drives Us and What to Do About It.

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Brandon Cash obtained his bachelor of arts degree from Long Beach State University, his master of divinity from the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and his doctoral degree in Old Testament at Fuller Seminary. Brandon has been serving as a pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship for nineteen years. He has also served as the chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2010. He has been involved in denominational leadership at both the regional and national levels, the Evangelical Homiletics Society since 2001, and has served as a mentor to pastors and church planters throughout Southern California. Brandon is the current chair for the Christian Ministry and Leadership Department at Talbot, and an assistant professor in hermeneutics and preaching.

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