A year ago I accused myself of being "the world's worst blogger, poster, and author group host." I return today to prove my earlier claim. :) It has been, however, a wonderfully productive year. I look forward to the second edition of my INTRODUCING THE APOCRYPHA: MESSAGE, CONTEXT, AND SIGNIFICANCE coming out with Baker Academic at the end of this month. I spent about three months revising the text, bringing it in line with my own thinking on various issues since 2002 and bringing it up to date with the face of "Apocrypha scholarship" through about 2016. I finally finished my manuscript -- and, at this point, all the editing and proofing -- for my contribution on THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS for the NICNT series published by Eerdmans. I anticipate this to appear in late August. Finally, I took another three or four months to update my best-selling book (not that it's a "best seller" by any stretch, but among my books it sells best!), AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT: CONTEXTS, METHODS, & MINISTRY FORMATION. Along with a rather thorough revision of about half of the chapters (and light revision of the other half -- but I've admittedly not done a lot of thinking about John's Gospel, for example, since 2003!), it will also feature mostly new, and perhaps more judiciously selected, photographs from my own travels throughout the lands of the NT. I'm grateful to my partners at Baker, Eerdmans, and IVP for allowing me these great opportunities to contribute to people's thinking about what I consider to be some matters of the greatest importance.
In early October, I was given a "field promotion" to interim pastor at the church I had been serving (and continue to serve) as director of music and organist. This, as the pastors among my readership well know, spells the end for writing for a while, save for a few shorter pieces that, being contributions to collaborative ventures, I can't fail to produce and, of course, a steady stream of sermons. If any of you are at all interested in what it looks like when this NT scholar tries to proclaim the word to a congregation, you are welcome to read the transcripts of any of my sermons on my blog: https://apocryphalwritings.wordpress.com/. I anticipate that this "gig" will continue through June.
Thanks to all of you who have not left the group in disgust over my lack of posts! :)
- These are two ways FL has given one a voice on what to pursue! I'd say if it garners much attention, the request would be honored!
- I have placed a number of resources here for one to vote on and comment support in hopes of seeing them published including several volumes by a wonderful scholar named David A. deSilva! Go check it out and add a few of your own!
