The (Lieben)GOOD LIFE

The Book of Revelation is about "works."  To be more precise, the Book of Revelation is about how works are a condition for journeying successfully through the wilderness of Babylon (Revelation 17-18) into the Promised Land of the New Jerusalem/New Garden (Revelation 21-22).  We get a glimpse of the importance of the work that disciples of Jesus are called to by attending to two images of Jesus in the opening chapter.  Two Orienting Visions of Jesus In Revelation 1:5-6, we see that the accomplishments of Jesus are described after the pattern of Exodus, that paradigmatic event that demonstrated YHWH's power to deliver his people. In John's description, the death of Jesus functions like the blood of the Passover, liberating (literally "loosing" or "unbinding") God's people from the tyranny of sin. Just like the first exodus, this liberation comes with a responsibility, work to do: the work of being priests to the God and Father of Jesus Christ.  ...

One of the reasons I enjoy researching and teaching in the latter part of the New Testament (e.g., 1-2 Peter, Hebrews, and Revelation) is because these often unfamiliar texts say things in ways that we are not accustomed to hearing them said, especially as it relates to how we conceive of life in Christ. And sometimes this different way of saying things runs up against what we "know" to be true.  In my most recent go-around at teaching Revelation, I have been struck by this simple, pervasive, and yet often-overlooked fact: John's Apocalypse is about works!  To be even more precise,  John's Apocalypse is about being saved by works! In the midst of the fantastic and perplexing imagery of Revelation, especially in chapters 6-20, it is easy to loose the forest for the trees. But, as I will try to show (in the next three posts), the majestic extravagance of Revelation 4-5 and the shocking horror of the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls are in the service of this most fun...

 Article can be found here .  Summer is officially here! People often think of the New Year as the time to make resolutions and develop new habits like eating better or going to the gym. What is often overlooked is that summer provides us with opportunities for course adjustments as well. Often our normal daily and weekly rhythms are disrupted or altered by summertime. Kids are out of school; there is more daylight; we take vacations, etc. Because of this, summer is a good opportunity to reflect upon, and even reconsider, what our daily and weekly rhythms are and how they might be shaping us. There is a saying in business: “culture eats strategy for lunch”. In other words, a business can have the best plans in the world, but the daily rhythms, attitudes, and habits of the company—the culture—will ultimately determine how successful the business becomes. And good strategy cannot overcome a bad work culture. The same is true for our personal lives. We can have the best...

Recently I was asked to speak at the national conference for the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD). The organizers asked me to give a theological account for the work of student development and to show how the themes of the conference connected to the good work of student life. Here is the final installment of the six talks I gave on June 10-13.  Session 6          The Good Work of Student Development   I’d like to thank Dr. Kristy Morgan, Dr. Steve Conn, the LETU Student Life team, and the executive team of ACSD for letting me be a part of this wonderful conference. Thank you for letting me share in your life and your work. It has been so enriching to learn more about what you do.  I would also like to give thanks to those of you who have engaged with me these past four days—for the hospitality that you have shown me through your attentiveness, which is perhaps the greatest gift we can give to one another...

Recently I was asked to speak at the national conference for the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD). The organizers asked me to give a theological account for the work of student development and to show how the themes of the conference connected to the good work of student life. Here is the fifth installment of the six talks I gave on June 10-13.  Session 5          The Good Work of Hospitality   Good morning! I hope you have been encouraged as we have been reflecting upon the good work that you do and seeing how it is connected to the ongoing work of Jesus! This morning I want to talk about the good work of hospitality. I want anchor our discussion on hospitality in what will at first seem like a really strange passage, Romans 16.1-16. Bear with me for a moment. Trust me, this text will preach!   As I read Romans 16.1-16, I want to ask you to listen for hospitality language (welcome), to pay attention to...

  Recently I was asked to speak at the national conference for the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD). The organizers asked me to give a theological account for the work of student development and to show how the themes of the conference connected to the good work of student life. Here is the fourth  installment of the six talks I gave on June 10-13.  Session 4           The Good Work of Identity Formation   For most of my time in college, I felt totally lost. I went to San Jose State, where I was able to pursue my life-long dream of playing football. Even with success, I was totally empty.   Strangely, the most profound feeling of emptiness came after one of the best games I ever played. I remember standing on the Orange Bowl logo at the fifty yard-line, shaking hands with Gino Torretta, the Heisman trophy winner that year. I was a freshmen; I got my first start; and we played the number one...

Recently I was asked to speak at the national conference for the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD). The organizers asked me to give a theological account for the work of student development and to show how the themes of the conference connected to the good work of student life. Here is the third  installment of the six talks I gave on June 10-13.  Session 3          The Good Work of Reconciliation   Good morning. I hope the past two days have been encouraging for you; that you have a renewed sense of purpose and value in what you do; that you’ve been able to connect with your people, and perhaps even meet new people; and that you’ve had rich fellowship with God, and   have sensed God’s comfort and direction in your life. Lectio Divina: Jeremiah 9.24 Over the past two days, we’ve been thinking about how our work is connected to the work of another—that of Jesus Christ, who has gathered us and called us t...

  Recently I was asked to speak at the national conference for the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD). The organizers asked me to give a theological account for the work of student development and to show how the themes of the conference connected to the good work of student life. Here is the second  installment of the six talks I gave on June 10-13.  Session Two: The Good Work of Paying Attention   Lectio Divina: John 17.24-26: hear this as God’s word to you as we listen in on the motive of Jesus’ work that he has been sent to accomplish.   All of our work is to be oriented around the good work of another—Jesus Christ—who is at the right hand of the Father, where he continues the work he was sent to accomplish by empowering us through the Spirit to join him in what he is up to in the world.  Y esterday, I gave you three snapshots in the NT, which point us to this foundational calling (the overarching narrative of the Gospels-...

Recently I was asked to speak at the national conference for the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD). The organizers asked me to give a theological account for the work of student development and to show how the themes of the conference connected to the good work of student life. Here is the first installment of the six talks I gave on June 10-13.  Session 1   The Good Work of Student Development: Participating in the Ongoing Work of Jesus Christ.   Thank you, Dr. Morgan for allowing me to be a part of this gathering. I wish you could all be on our campus this week, and I wish I had to the opportunity to meet you and hear your stories, and to learn more about the important work that you do on our campuses.   I must say that of late I have come to appreciate the important work you do at a deeper, more personal level. That is not to say that I didn’t appreciate your work before! As a former campus pastor, and as someone who became a Chris...