Professor, School of Bible and Ministry
I have been teaching for 25 years and have immensely enjoyed the study, teaching, and the students. Beginning this
academic year, I am moving into administration as the Interim Provost. I will continue to teach a few classes each
year, but will now also oversee all of the academic activities at PBU. It will be an interesting challenge; one
that I am looking forward to.
November 2, 2009
The image of God
Last week I participated in a chapel with Dr. Fred Putnam and Mr. Chris Palladino. Each of us presented thoughts on the image of God. Because the image of God is not explicitly defined in Scripture, it allows for good biblical discussion and dialogue, which we had during the chapel session. I considered the relationship between image, rule, and subdue in Genesis 1:26-28. I presented the life of David as way to understand these three interrelated ideas. David was a man who had a heart like God's. He was a king who ruled Israel as the Lord's representative and he subdued the enemies of the Lord. In all this the Lord was with David and helped David. For David the battle is the Lord's. David imaged the Lord in that God's life was lived through David's. The attitude behind a genuine image-bearer is that of humility and obedience. This is perfectly embodied in the life of Christ who took the form of a bond-servant and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). Being made in the image and likeness means that humanity was created as God's servant.
October 26, 2009
Risk Managment
I have been reading on focal living for my Worldview Conference seminar. One of the interesting ideas I came across was how risk is an important part of our engagement with the creation. Think about the risk involved in playing sports virtually. There is none. But playing sports on a field or court involves all kinds of risk for bodily injury. How much does the technological world bar us from the risks that come with living? How does this impact the development of important virtues like courage and faith? Serving Christ is not safe nor is it intended to be safe. We do not know what awaits us - love or hatred, life or death, mourning or dancing. In Ecclesiastes the Preacher tells us that anything can lie before us as we walk in this world. The most frequent exhortation in Scripture is "Do not fear." Don't try to escape a world full of risk; live in it. Fear not and take refuge in the Lord.
October 9, 2009
The joy that seeks me through pain
In chapel on Monday we sang a hymn titled, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go." One of the lines that remained with me is from the third verse, "O Joy that seekest me through pain." I have thought a lot about how David in the book of Psalms presents his life of suffering and pain. Yet within the psalm he will go on and declare the praise of the Lord or rejoice in his goodness. The words of this hymn helped me to think about these psalms. It seems that in the midst of our suffering and pain God seeks us, wanting to show his power and goodness through the pain. Christians, walking in faith, hope, and love, can live in the joy of the Lord. Paul's letter to the Philippians is a New Testament letter with this message. Paul, while suffering in prison and perhaps expecting to die, repeatedly calls for the church to rejoice in the Lord. Look for the joy of the Lord seeking you in the difficult times of life.
September 21, 2009
Wisdom's House
Last week I spoke in chapel about the university as a house of wisdom. I chose to consider the life of Solomon as the proto-typical university student. Solomon not only sought to understand the creation which the Lord had made (1 Kings 4:32-34), but he also demonstrated that he was able to wisely apply his knowledge and understanding to difficult issues. This is illustrated in the account from 1 Kings 3 where two prostitutes come to Solomon for justice. These texts underscore the importance of the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. A biblical university is a house wisdom; knowledge and instruction are the building blocks of the structure. But a biblical view of knowledge is such that it proceeds to wisdom and insight. Such wisdom and insight is key to unraveling the riddles of life, whether they be in the home, school, work, or play.
September 7, 2009
The Martian Chronicles
I just finished reading The Martian Chronicles written by Ray Bradbury and published in 1950. It is a collection of episodes about human colonization of Mars. Instead of creating a utopia, the human colonists destroy the Martian culture and civilization while back home earth is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. The books ends with a reflection on how humanity turned out so wrong. This is definitely a biblical theme, especially demonstrated in how the Lord gave Israel the land, a king, a temple, and peace, but in the end all was lost. Unlike the end of The Martian Chronicles which sets up a repeat of the same story, the Old Testament looks forward to a second "Adam" who will not repeat humanity's sin and self-destruction. On the contrary, this second Adam will solve humanity's penchant for self-destruction by taking on sin and conquering death. So we wait in hope unlike so much of the world which has no such hope.
September 1, 2009
What is Christianity?
It seems that in the midst of going about being a Christian it is worth stepping back and reminding ourselves what Christianity is. I find myself repeatedly coming back to the facts of the gospel, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and the third day he rose again. The entire New Testament is like a reflection on these facts. I also find that coming back to the three Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love help me to know how to live in light of the gospel truths. Perhaps the best moment that brings this all together is the celebration of the Lord's Table. We look back in faith what Christ has done and we look forward in hope to his second coming. Communion takes place at church with other Christians that we are bound up with in the love of Christ.
August 24, 2009
Jesus on the Sea
At the beginning of each semester the entire university gathers together for a convocation. It is a chapel service to dedicate ourselves to the Lord and the tasks that are set before us. This year Dr. Williams spoke on Mark 4 and the story of Jesus asleep in the boat while a storm was raging around him and the disciples. One of the lessons of the story is that following the Lord Jesus may mean that he leads his flock through very difficult and trying times. Even though it may not seem that he is present and concerned for our difficulties, his followers should not fear, but believe in him. The Lord is our shepherd .... We should know that the Jesus that had the power and authority to calm the sea can deliver us out of our troubles - in his time.
August 20, 2009
Study and Prayer
We are on the brink of beginning a new semester at PBU. With any new endeavor it is appropriate to commit our work to the Lord and ask for his grace to provide for our needs. I often go back to a prayer almost 1000 years old to remind me that study is a spiritual exercise. Thomas Aquinas gave the church these words:
Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory,
and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion.
I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
August 6, 2009
A Tale of Two Cities
I have just returned from teaching at our international campuses in Kandern, Germany and in Hong Kong. The educational settings could not have been more different. Kandern is a small town nestled in the Black Forest. You can walk to a number of other small German towns on the footpaths. The town is quiet and the pace is slow. Hong Kong on the other hand is a bustling international city with an intricate metro system connecting all the islands and the New Territories. Wherever you go there a people and taxis. The sights and smells are intoxicating. PBU not only provides international education at these two sites, but there is also an opportunity to study abroad with Bestsemester (see bestsemester.com). There are great opportunities to broaden your educational experiences with the Langhorne campus being so close to Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C.
June 18, 2009
Seeking the Truth
Towards the end of World War II, German academic Karl Jaspers wrote, "The university is a community of scholars and students engaged in the task of seeking the truth." Jaspers was seeking to rebuild German universities after the horror of Hitler's reign. His words resonate in my mind as I consider PBU as a biblical university. For PBU this means that students and faculty are part of a great conversation in the pursuit of God and his truth. This truth begins with the Lord Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. Our pursuit of truth expands to include the truth found in Scripture. Finally, the PBU community of faculty and students are on the wisdom path, seeking truth in God's world wherever it may be found.
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