Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments The first edition of this work was penned in 1994 when my friend, mentor, and senior pastor, Dr. Paul Fowler came to me and suggested that we co-teach a Sunday evening class on the subject of Systematic Theology. I've always tended more toward Biblical and Exegetical Theology, but I agreed to the exercise. Within a month, Dr. Fowler announced that he had accepted a call to what was at that eventually going to be New Geneva Seminary in Colorado Springs and I was left on my own to teach the class. It turned out to be an excellent exercise, both for those who were in the class as well for the teacher.

I am indebted to Dr. Fowler for his contagious encouragement and enthusiasm as well as to Dr. Robert Reymond under whom I studied in the days prior to the publication of his own Systematic Theology. This work is not meant to measure up against such standards. Rather it is aimed at bringing the ideas of theology down to the street where we live.

Finally, I wish to thank my beloved wife. Throughout my life she has been my greatest encouragement, my constant companion, my partner in ministry, my lover and my friend. She is my gift from God.