Comments for A Shepherd's Story

Comment on Cranach in the Study by Gareth Batten (mallangong) | Pearltrees

Gareth Batten (mallangong) | Pearltrees — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:58:10 +0000

[...] Here is what strikes me about the painting: Luther’s preaching points to Christ. He is preaching from the Scriptures, but the Scriptures always point us to Jesus. Therefore preaching should do the same. Preaching is not primarily aimed at educating or entertaining people, nor is it primarily aimed at changing people’s behavior. But it is to point to Christ who hung on the tree in place of sinners. Cranach in the Study « A Shepherd's Story [...]

Comment on 2011 Reading by BobPotratz

BobPotratz — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:20:59 +0000

I own The Deustchlander but have yet to read it. But I have read Senkbeil’s Dying to Live three times. Very clear and very confessional.

Comment on 2011 Reading by Rev. Johann Caauwe

Rev. Johann Caauwe — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:02:14 +0000

Both of the T. David Gordon books deal with forces and trends in our culture that have dramatically changed the way we approach and use texts (preaching) and music (hymns). The preaching book is more focused on preachers, but the book on singing I would recommend to anyone. I made reference to the book in my presentation this summer to emphasize that singing (hymns) happens best when singing is not something reserved for the shower, with the car stereo, and an hour on Sunday, but when hymns accompany life. The book is quite good at explaining the obstacles to be overcome.

Comment on 2011 Reading by Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:32:18 +0000

Thank you! Prof. Deutschlander’s book has been recommended to me before, but now I am interested enough to buy a copy.

I have seen the T. David Gordon books referenced an awful lot in blogposts since the Worship conference. (I was there. I tried to squeeze your workshop in but I only got to go to about half the ones I wanted to. Sorry.) Are the Why Johnny… books mainly of interest to pastors looking for insight into parish education?

Comment on 2011 Reading by Rev. Johann Caauwe

Rev. Johann Caauwe — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:43:13 +0000

Thanks, Jay. I’ll add this to the list.

Comment on 2011 Reading by Jay Ramos

Jay Ramos — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:29:18 +0000

I highly recommend “The Brothers Karamazov” as your 2012 fiction selection. That is Dostoevsky’s magnum opus, and one of the master works of literature.

Comment on 2011 Reading by Rev. Johann Caauwe

Rev. Johann Caauwe — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:50:18 +0000

The Theology of the Cross is a must-read. Deutschlander's style is not the easiest to read, but what he writes is deep and very useful. Near the end of the book, he writes what he calls "a sampler" of crosses that Christians bear at different times of life. I have said that this section is worth the price of the book. It is simply brilliant in the way it understands human nature and the experiences of young, middle-ages, and elderly, and how life at every stage presents us with crosses of various shapes and sizes. Chemnitz is also very useful, though also not the easiest to read. Of course, this is in translation. I would say that Chemnitz' Enchiridion could be useful to a layperson. It was written as a series of questions and answers for examining pastors by their superintendents (bishops). In many ways, it's probably as good an overview of Christian doctrine as Lange's "For God So Loved the World" but shorter by a few hundred pages.

Comment on 2011 Reading by Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:23:03 +0000

How is The Theology of the Cross? How about Martin Chemnitz? Are these useful for the average, not synodically trained layperson? I have read #s 1, 8 & 24 on your list. #1 has been quite useful.

Comment on 2011 Reading by ladyofshadow

ladyofshadow — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:59:12 +0000

Good luck

Comment on 2011 Reading by Rev. Johann Caauwe

Rev. Johann Caauwe — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:54:57 +0000

Most of the reading that I do is generally in connection to my profession as a Lutheran pastor, and so most of it tends to be theological in nature. But I have made it a goal to sneak some fiction in occasionally. I especially enjoy reading Russian authors, when I get the chance. I also hope that my Kindle will allow me to do that even more.