Gary Shogren's Blog
Am I mistaken, or does the cover look like the Titanic? Gary: Interesting story: the book had its start back in 2012. I was asked to give a conference to missionaries working in Spain. I wanted to address: How do we process disappointment in our ministries? It happened to be the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and suddenly I... Continue Reading →
Greetings from Gary Shogren! Who are we? Every year we open a Facebook "club", whose members can learn a new ancient language (we have done Biblical Aramaic, Latin) or read Scripture in the original languages (the whole Septuagint; the Torah; the Hebrew Poets and Latter Prophets; the New Testament, twice; also the Apostolic Fathers). For... Continue Reading →
Last year we were in Costa Rica for Seminario ESEPA's anniversary; I gave a talk on "Christian Leaders and LifelongLearning." I suggested that "reading" was one of the best tools for building up brain power. And that reading broadly, including books we disagree with, will help rescue us from our social media echo chambers. Just... Continue Reading →
Spoiler alert - Bugs Bunny and I don't see eye to eye on this one! In March, Logos placed a joyful announcement on their Facebook page, featuring Bible commentaries written by “women who wield words for God’s glory.” Out of the ones they highlighted, I had just used Karen Jobes’s commentary to help translate a... Continue Reading →
If you have Spanish-speaking friends in the Chester, Pennsylvania area, we have an evangelistic/discipleship Bible study every other Tuesday night at 6pm, at North Chester Baptist. We are told that Chester alone has over 9 thousand Hispanic residents. Plus, we have people driving in from other areas, including Delaware. We are currently studying the Gospel... Continue Reading →
Who are we? I have been a seminary professor for many years. Every year I open a Facebook club, whose members can learn a new ancient language (we have done Aramaic, Latin) or to read Scripture in the original (the whole Septuagint; the Hebrew Torah; the New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers in Greek). For... Continue Reading →
I just visited our seminary in Costa Rica and gave an address on "Christian Leaders and LifelongLearning." I suggested that "reading" was one of the best tools for building up brain power. And that reading broadly, including books we disagree with, will help rescue us from our social media echo chambers. Just on the level... Continue Reading →
Who are we? I have been a seminary professor for many years. Every year I open a Facebook club, whose members can learn a new ancient language (we have done Aramaic, Latin) or to read Scripture in the original language (the whole Septuagint; the Hebrew Torah; the Greek New Testament). For this coming year we... Continue Reading →
I grew up with that gospel chorus (by James M. Gray, president of Moody Bible Institute) and I think I know where he was coming from. But let’s carefully unpack its repeated motif: I 'm only a sinner saved by grace or we could say - I am [present tense] only [no more than] a... Continue Reading →
It is a myth, and false gossip really, that the Reformed faith turns a cold eye toward prayer. “Calvinism cannot account for the Bible’s portrayal of prayer as a cause of God’s answers to prayer,” says this group. They even supply a meme! (I have been Reformed for decades and do not recognize this parody... Continue Reading →
Open Our Eyes, Lord! 