The ESV Study Bible and John 20:19-31

We are seeing an explosion of Study Bibles right now. The ELCA recently released a study bible, we have the new Orthodox Study Bible, the older Concordia Self-Study Bible, and the new ESV Study Bible. Of course, we also have THE Lutheran Study Bible. I’m very interested in study bibles, since they are so influential […]

Ministering as if already dead

I heard an essay/interview on NPR last night about a soldier in Iraq who suffered from post-traumatic stress. One of the things that he said which really flooded me was that he became much more effective as an officer when he had resigned himself to the fact that he was going to die in Iraq, […]

When All Was Still…

and it was midnight, your almighty Word O Lord, descended from the royal throne! The Christ-Mass is ended.  The children are in bed.  All the presents are wrapped and under the tree.  The nog has been drunk.  The morning will bring two baptisms and the festival divine service.  It’s time for a long winter’s nap. […]

On Pastors and Christmas

I really envy pastors that get excited about Christmas.  In many respects I truly love Christmas.  I think that Advent hymns are probably the strongest in the hymnal, and once you get past all the English carols, Lutheran hymnody on our Lord’s Incarnation are wonderful and as full of Gospel as any you will find. […]

123 Meme « Esgetology

My friend Christopher Esget tagged me on this a while back, so I’ll show it to you: Turn to page 123 of the book nearest to you. Count the first five sentences. Post the next three. The book is Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry, by Dean R. Hoge and Jacqueline E. […]