Since 1984, I have been exploring, excavating and presenting the archaeological record of Bible Lands.

MY Mission

My mission is to explore the place where faith begins.

From a Christian perspective, such a place is at once personal, historical, and geographical. Biblical faith is rooted in the claim that there is a God, that such a God has interacted with humanity, and memories of that interaction mark the ground. Sometimes these marks are faint: a tiny bead, a Hebrew letter, or a clay pot. At other times these marks are enormous: a marbled theater, a biblical text, the ruin mound of a city. Of course, the the most precious treasures of all—faith, hope, and love—cannot be drawn out of the soil. They are discovered in the ongoing work of God today.

My RATIONALE

I teach because teaching allows me to fulfill the fundamental responsibility of ministry: making and maturing disciples. This responsibility is discharged (1) through the balance of faith and action, (2) through reading, reflecting on, and appropriating the experiences of others (3) through the development of healthy relationships, and (4) through the choice to be an agent of positive change, regardless of situation or position. I want to radiate these priorities.

I travel for more selfish reasons. Possessions, comforts, food, habits, and a hundred other things dull the senses. Travel has an astringent quality. It scrapes off the barnacles and opens me up to new ideas, self-awareness, the fragility of our world, and compassion for those around me.

I organize trips to combine these loves. Group travel, of course, is not the same as solo travel. Both have advantages and disadvantages. I enjoy the challenge of working with groups in cross-cultural situations. This requires the clear communication of the priorities, the careful management of itinerary, instruction in low-impact strategies of engagement, voiced awareness of human rights issues, and the redirection of traveler spending to smaller markets that support the local economy. These priorities set Bible Land Explorer apart.

MY Venues

I have worked for more than 30 years in academic settings. In June of 2021 I retired as Dean of the School of Bible and Theology at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee.

I view this move not as a cessation of activity but as a change of venue. The freedom that it provides gives me a chance to travel in more opportune seasons, to work with adult learners, to write that book I’ve been thinking about for a while, to speak publicly when invited, and to help my wife make pie (check out Mama Z’s Pies!).

MY dirt experience

My experience in the archaeological field was gained in the regions of Israel-Palestine and Jordan. Sites include Khirbet Nisya (Palestine), the Abila Excavations (Jordan), Tel Dan (Israel), Tell Jawa (Jordan), the Madaba Plains Project (Jordan), and the Khirbet Birzeit Excavations (Palestine). Roles assumed in two decades of work in these places include wheelbarrow-man, square supervisor, assistant field supervisor, field supervisor, photography director, architect/surveyor, educational director, and assistant director.

MY Writing

I’ve done a bit of that. Publications include The College Press NIV Commentary: Joshua (2008), The College Press NIV Commentary: Ruth (2008) and My Father’s World: Celebrating the Life of Reuben G. Bullard (2011). Other articles, reviews, and contributing chapters have appeared in volumes such as Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible (2000), A Humble Defense (2004). Taanach/Tell Taannek. 100 Jahre Forschungen zur Archaologie, zur Geschichte, zu den Fundobjekten und zu den Keilschrifttexten (2006), The Eerdman’s Companion to the Bible (2011), Devotions on the Hebrew Bible (2015), Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and PostBiblical Antiquity (2015) and The Dictionary of the Bible in Ancient Media (2017).

These are the things I do and some of reasons why I do them. Thanks for reading.

I hope we can meet soon, so we can laugh and cry and share stories and drink some coffee. Will you stop in let me hear your story and why what you do?

Observe. Engage. Contemplate.