From my ministry in Central America, I understand how names change from language to language: the English form of my name “Gary Shogren” is difficult for the Spanish-speaker – the “a” and the “e” don’t have exact counterparts in Spanish; nor does “sh”. I say my name one way if I’m speaking English and another... Continue Reading →
Why you’ve never heard of the Second Corinthian Church [Studies in 1 Corinthians]
Paul was a traveling apostle, not the local pastor of Corinth. Nevertheless, he had to deal with the members of this flock in a pastoral way, teaching, encouraging and rebuking them. I’ve spend some years studying 1 Corinthians, and I must admit honestly, that if I had been Paul, I would have been heavily tempted... Continue Reading →
How to write a commentary when your library is 2000 miles away
[I wrote this post at the very end of 2012. In 2021 we relocated to the States, since all of my teaching at Seminario ESEPA is now done online. A lot has changed since I wrote this, especially in the possibility of accessing older printed works online. And when I visit the Westminster Seminary library,... Continue Reading →
1 Corinthians and Thessalonians: My New Commentaries now available!
The English version of my Thessalonian commentary is available from Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Thessalonians-Zondervan-Exegetical-Commentary-Testament/dp/0310243963/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343856671&sr=8-1&keywords=shogren It is also available as a book on Logos. And the English version of my 1 Corinthians is available on Logos software - http://www.logos.com/product/24079/first-corinthians-an-exegetical-pastoral-commentary Spanish versions to come in the future! Blessings! Gary
Missionary, your newsletter is an act of worship
I calculate we've now [in 2012] sent out 100 editions of the Shogren missionary newsletter. Plus, I’ve received a thousand or two from other missionaries. Since we won’t ever be Tweeting, it looks like our communication style has settled into an e-letter we send off every two months. All said, if I’m going to offer... Continue Reading →
The theology of the chocolate sampler [Studies in 1 Corinthians]
One day you bring me a large, beautiful box of chocolates. There are all kinds, too, every type imaginable: some with nuts or cookies or caramel; some with raisins or cherries or other fruits; some with dark or light or white chocolate or a mixture. It’s the wide variety that makes it so impressive –... Continue Reading →
Christian urban legends
I can remember my first brush with an “urban legend”. In the early 1970s, I was in a group for Christian boys, and we got a monthly magazine, similar to “Boys’ Life”. One article passed along the following story, saying it was solid fact: In a southern state, two men were traveling along a rural... Continue Reading →
An introduction to 1-2 Thessalonians [Studies in Thessalonians]
This is an article on these Pauline letters for a new Spanish-language Bible dictionary. The reader should note that a dictionary article is supposed to be "descriptive," that is, the author is expected to describe the state of the discussion, not argue for or against a particular viewpoint.Zondervan will be publishing my exegetical-pastoral commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians... Continue Reading →
“So I once knew a guy who…” Preachers who stretch the truth
A famous visiting preacher, the Rev. Johnson, is wrapping up his message on sacrificial love. He concludes with a story: In the church where I used to be the pastor, there was a boy named Jimmy, 10 years old. He was good-hearted and liked by everyone in the neighborhood. One day Jimmy saw the little... Continue Reading →
The Night that the Rivers Rose and the Sky Fell
“There are two kingdoms, the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. One works one way and the other another way. And you can really see the difference between them.” That was how Pastor Flor summed up her ministry. I’m visiting her home and her work in a shantytown (or precario), along with my... Continue Reading →