Interest and areas of expertise
Research Interests: addressing problematic portrayals of God in Old Testament narratives (particularly as it relates to the issue of divine violence), investigating Old Testament texts which exemplify peace, peacemaking, and alternatives to violence.
Education
- Ph.D., 2002, Drew University
- M.Phil., 1999, Drew University
- M.A., M.Div., 1996, Asbury Theological Seminary
- B.A., 1992, Messiah College
Classes I teach
- Abraham, Moses, and the Exodus (formerly titled: Pentateuch)
- Encountering the Bible (formerly titled: Introduction to Biblical Studies)
- Encountering the Bible for Majors
- First Year Seminar: Alternatives to Violence
- Fundamentals of Hebrew I
- Fundamentals of Hebrew II
- Historical Books I
- Intermediate Hebrew
- Introduction to Christian Theology
- Issues of War, Peace and Social Justice in Biblical Texts
- Old Testament Literature
- Old Testament Literature for Majors
- Selected Old Testament Books: 1 & 2 Samuel
- Selected Old Testament Books: Exodus
- Topics in Biblical Theology: Divine Violence
Profile
I grew up just outside of East Berlin, PA, which is about a half hour from Messiah University. I attended Messiah as a Bible major from 1988-1992, and it was there I met Elisa. Elisa and I have been married for over thirty years and have three fantastic school-aged children who bring much joy and laughter into our lives.
One of my favorite pastimes is hunting for beach glass (admittedly, a poorly chosen hobby for someone living in landlocked South Central PA!). I also enjoy hiking and visiting national parks. Each summer, we go on vacation with extended family to Wildwood, NJ, a place that has grown very familiar to us over the years. I attend Grantham Church and am committed to following the nonviolent way of Jesus. Through my writing and teaching, I am eager to help people read and understand the Bible in ways that increase their love for God and others.
Publications
Enjoying the Old Testament: A Creative Guide to Encountering Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2021)
Disarming the Church: Why Christians Must Forsake Violence to Follow Jesus and Change the World (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2018)
The Violence of Scripture: Overcoming the Old Testament’s Troubling Legacy (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012)
Disturbing Divine Behavior: Troubling Old Testament Images of God (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009)
Subversive Scribes and the Solomonic Narrative: A Rereading of 1 Kings 1-11 (LHBOTS 436. New York: T & T Clark, 2006)