…And So It Begins

Welcome to the Shepherd’s Study!

As I venture out into the blogosphere, I pray the Lord will make this blog a source of great blessing for God’s people, especially for all you busy Lutheran shepherds serving the flocks of the Good Shepherd. May this blog be a source of spiritual rest for you in the midst of your busy lives, and a place where your creativity and zeal for serving the Lord can find renewal. May the Lord richly bless you, dear Reader, whenever you visit the Shepherd’s Study.

Who Am I?

First an introduction… My name is Pastor Jeremiah Gumm. I have the God-given privilege of serving as pastor of Cross of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregation in Liverpool, NY (just NW of Syracuse–one of the snowiest places on earth! Believe me, you haven’t seen snow until you drive through a lake-effect snow squall coming down at 2+” an hour!). I am privileged to be the husband of Lisa and the father of our daughter, Adelaide.

What is “The Shepherd’s Study”?

With the Lord’s help, The Shepherd’s Study will be a source of encouragement primarily for the busy Lutheran shepherd (a pastor, a teacher, a staff minister, a deacon, an elder, etc.). It is meant to be “A Place of Rest and Renewal for the Busy Lutheran Shepherd”. That means this blog is intended to be much like the study of a called worker.

1. A place to get away for a moment from the busyness of ministry to get some insights from the vast resources of Church History up to the present day.
2. A place to find spiritual rest from God’s Word and encouragement from those who spent their lives proclaiming it, especially when the ministry gets difficult or overwhelming.
3. A place where one’s creativity or zeal for ministry can be renewed through the sharing of ideas, suggestions and thoughts for ministry.

What Will the Spirit of the Blog Be?

The Shepherd’s Study is not meant to be a source for ranting or destructive criticism. Far too many blogs that call themselves Lutheran already do that and make that their sole purpose. (So if you want to rant and rave, please find another blog!) Now this does not mean the Law will not be proclaimed when necessary, but with God’s help, the Gospel will dominate in this place.

Why Start It?

Personally I have always loved reading and sharing what I’ve read. As my theological training advanced, I found myself reading more and more books of a theological nature, primarily Lutheran. My theological library grew considerably and I took great care to mold my library, paring out the books I found useless for ministry or theological drivel. (Hauling my library through several cross-country moves didn’t hurt the paring down process either!) The more I read, though, the more I wanted to share some of the great things I found in the great texts I was reading.

I’ve always wondered how to do that. A few months ago a dear friend of mine from North Carolina suggested I create a blog to share these ideas with fellow Lutheran shepherds and Christian leaders out in the world. I had never thought of that and was a little unsure of trying it out, but the idea for “The Shepherd’s Study” began to percolate. (Thanks, Christy!) Another dear friend of mine serving a WELS congregation out in California, who had experience with blogs (and whose blog may eventually end up on my blogroll!), helped me to flesh out the concept for this blog. God-willing, he may even serve as a guest contributor in the future. (Thanks, Hans!) Thanks also to my dear wife, Lisa, who actually thought this was a good idea and has encouraged me through the percolation process! So with God’s help, The Shepherd’s Study launches today 23 January 2008 — The Eve of the Festival of St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor.

Above all, dear Reader, Soli Deo Gloria! — To God alone be the glory!