Hal’s Blog

Why is it that the biblical authors use language regarding the atonement differently than most use today? Out of all the phrases in the New Testament that refer to Jesus’ sacrificial death, most people choose to use a phrase that isn’t there. Why is that? I talk about that in this video. For more on… Read more

Breaching the Stronghold On a typical day of evangelism, I hit the streets to preach and chat with those who approach me. Most often my day looks like this: I set up, I start preaching, people stop to chat. Sometimes I’ll preach for a stretch of 20-30 mins. Other times, I’ll barely get started before… Read more

It’s likely that you have heard some wrong teaching about Ephesians 2:1. In this video, I talk about what Paul meant by ‘Dead in Trespasses and Sins.” I’ve written a blog on this subject and now I have a similar teaching in video form. To read my blog, click here.

‘A debtor to both the Greek and the Barbarian.’ In Romans chapter one, Paul explained that he was a ‘debtor both to the Greeks and to barbarians…’ This was a significant thing for Paul to say, both for that time and for the present time. In Paul’s day, the Greeks were the educated and sophisticated… Read more

Boardwalk Evangelism I know I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again! It never ceases to amaze me to how many people will open up and talk about spiritual things with a complete stranger on the boardwalk! Not only have I had countless gospel conversations with people on the boardwalk, but I’ve… Read more

I remember in 1999, when I first heard about the shooting at Columbine High School, how shocked the world was that such a massacre could happen. Of course, there have been things like it in the past, but it seems like Columbine was the event that set off a stream of similar shootings that have… Read more

To the shock of many (including myself), Joshua Harris, the author of the two biggest Christian books on courtship and marriage from the late 90’s / early 2000’s, has recently announced that he and wife were separating. To anyone who read his books, watched his videos, and followed his love story, this comes as a… Read more

This newsletter is going to be all about my kids! Why? Well, one, because my kids have been my focus for the past month. With my wife finishing up work before the baby’s arrival, I was Mr. Mom. This month I found myself focusing exclusively on the family. Being home with the kids has given… Read more

An Important Work Preaching on the streets is an important work. It is undoubtably the rawest and purest form of evangelism. In fact, the word ‘preach’ in the Greek New Testament has the meaning of being a herald. A herald’s job was to be sure to deliver the message of the king in such a… Read more

Blessing in Boston At the beginning of April, my good friend Arnoldo and I had the opportunity to travel to Boston to minister at a wonderful Spanish church. It was unusual to get a request from a Spanish church (since I don’t speak Spanish), but I was glad to go. Arnoldo (a friend from my… Read more

[This blog continues my thoughts on the Atonement. For a fuller understanding, visit these previous posts that I have written: Jesus Didn’t Pay for Your Sins, The Governmental Theory of the Atonement, Error From Penal Substitution] The beauty of the Cross of Christ is that it serves as a substitute for the penalty of the… Read more

Today marks the release of the eleventh edition of one of the most iconic, controversial, and violent video games ever made, Mortal Kombat. I remember as a young man in the nineties when the very first Mortal Kombat was released to the Super Nintendo. I was eager to get my hands on it. If I… Read more

The Power of the Law. Christians don’t like to talk about law much these days, and I can understand why. The Old Testament Law isn’t for true Christians. Christians are not under the law. We are not to serve in the oldness of the letter, but under the newness of the spirit. HOWEVER, the law… Read more

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. – 1 John 3:7 It would be wise for us to go throughout the Bible to look for verses like these that begin with, “let no one deceive you…” There are several. The sad thing is that… Read more

God in University Philosophy. I spoke to a young man at the University of Delaware recently who surprised me in a good way. I have spoken with him several times over the past year or so. He was generally antagonistic to the gospel–but in a friendly way. He enjoyed chatting with me and I enjoyed… Read more

The Dregs of Society and the Dregs of Suffering. I got to spend some time in Camden, NJ for the first time during the cold weather of the new year. My immediate thought was, “This place is awful. This is nothing more than the dregs of society.” As we preached, a few feet away there… Read more

2018 is Over! It’s hard to believe that 2018 is already over. It has now been two full years since I launched out into full time evangelism! Wow! God has been very good to us and has faithfully supplied all our needs. I can say like Samuel: “Thus far, the Lord has helped us.” (1… Read more

All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. – Psalm 86:9 One of my favorite songs is Matt Redman’s song, “10,000 Reasons.” It’s a really good song and for the most part, it has great lyrics. However, as I was listening yesterday, singing along,… Read more

The Human Heart.  The human heart is in much worse shape than most people realize. In my daily Bible reading, I came across a verse that struck me. It is found in Luke 16:15. Jesus spoke this to the Pharisees: “You are those who justify yourself before men, but God knows your hearts.” The Pharisees… Read more