Stephen C. Shaffer
@stephencshaffer.bsky.social
Pastor-Theologian at Bethel Reformed Church (Brantford), Author (Our Only Comfort, Rooted, All Things Hold Together, The Sinews of Scripture)
https://pages.penielpress.com/profile
https://pages.penielpress.com/profile
Translating Ursinus this morning and he makes a passing reference in Greek with no attribution. The old english translations assumed it was Romans 6:7 "For one who has died has been set free from sin" and simply quoted it and moved on.
However, that was not what the it said.
Cue 45 min. search
However, that was not what the it said.
Cue 45 min. search
July 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Translating Ursinus this morning and he makes a passing reference in Greek with no attribution. The old english translations assumed it was Romans 6:7 "For one who has died has been set free from sin" and simply quoted it and moved on.
However, that was not what the it said.
Cue 45 min. search
However, that was not what the it said.
Cue 45 min. search
On this Independence Day, our family is watching a film about a man wrongly imprisoned without due process, and how the government played on people’s fear to justify terrorizing children in the name of “being seen to be doing something” about the problem.
July 4, 2025 at 10:14 PM
On this Independence Day, our family is watching a film about a man wrongly imprisoned without due process, and how the government played on people’s fear to justify terrorizing children in the name of “being seen to be doing something” about the problem.
When I talk to elders and deacons from congregations across the RCA, I often hear of the need for more training. It is hard and important work being on consistory, but - particularly for first-time consistory members - it can be overwhelming.
July 4, 2025 at 12:47 AM
When I talk to elders and deacons from congregations across the RCA, I often hear of the need for more training. It is hard and important work being on consistory, but - particularly for first-time consistory members - it can be overwhelming.
The weirdest part about watching funerals on tv shows is that, somehow, nobody actually has any family, only work friends their own age.
July 4, 2025 at 12:42 AM
The weirdest part about watching funerals on tv shows is that, somehow, nobody actually has any family, only work friends their own age.
My spiritual director made a distinction in our conversation yesterday.
Defense mechanisms are things we use to avoid experiencing pain.
Coping mechanisms, when used correctly, are things that helps us engage and move through pain.
Isolation is a defense mechanism. Community is a coping mechanism.
Defense mechanisms are things we use to avoid experiencing pain.
Coping mechanisms, when used correctly, are things that helps us engage and move through pain.
Isolation is a defense mechanism. Community is a coping mechanism.
June 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
My spiritual director made a distinction in our conversation yesterday.
Defense mechanisms are things we use to avoid experiencing pain.
Coping mechanisms, when used correctly, are things that helps us engage and move through pain.
Isolation is a defense mechanism. Community is a coping mechanism.
Defense mechanisms are things we use to avoid experiencing pain.
Coping mechanisms, when used correctly, are things that helps us engage and move through pain.
Isolation is a defense mechanism. Community is a coping mechanism.
At 6.5 years in this church, I just learned that I am the third longest tenured pastor in the history of the congregation. I just saw the list of pastors at the 50 year anniversary and there were 12 people on it. The average pastor lasted 4 years, for a period of 50 years! I have so many questions.
May 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
At 6.5 years in this church, I just learned that I am the third longest tenured pastor in the history of the congregation. I just saw the list of pastors at the 50 year anniversary and there were 12 people on it. The average pastor lasted 4 years, for a period of 50 years! I have so many questions.
So much of leading good meetings involves not getting what you want.
Many people think that if they lead the meeting, they must be driving everything in their preferred direction. This is poor leadership, particularly within church or christian school settings.
Many people think that if they lead the meeting, they must be driving everything in their preferred direction. This is poor leadership, particularly within church or christian school settings.
May 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
So much of leading good meetings involves not getting what you want.
Many people think that if they lead the meeting, they must be driving everything in their preferred direction. This is poor leadership, particularly within church or christian school settings.
Many people think that if they lead the meeting, they must be driving everything in their preferred direction. This is poor leadership, particularly within church or christian school settings.
It’s rarely a good sign when I feel the need to pack my copy of Robert’s Rules in my bad before a meeting.
April 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
It’s rarely a good sign when I feel the need to pack my copy of Robert’s Rules in my bad before a meeting.
Be someone who builds today, instead of breaks.
April 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Be someone who builds today, instead of breaks.
A disturbing percentage of my work in leadership is helping clean up the aftermath of people's emotional dysregulation. This is true in every sphere in which I lead. I want to teach, to mold, to guide, to collaborate, but mostly I deal with anxious people struggling to deal with it all.
April 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A disturbing percentage of my work in leadership is helping clean up the aftermath of people's emotional dysregulation. This is true in every sphere in which I lead. I want to teach, to mold, to guide, to collaborate, but mostly I deal with anxious people struggling to deal with it all.
In church leadership, character matters more than charisma.
Every time we flip that around, we harm the flock of Christ.
Every time we flip that around, we harm the flock of Christ.
April 16, 2025 at 3:07 PM
In church leadership, character matters more than charisma.
Every time we flip that around, we harm the flock of Christ.
Every time we flip that around, we harm the flock of Christ.
The title for God in 1 Samuel 15:29 is often translated in English as "The Glory of Israel" or "the Strength of Israel." However, in Ursinus' commentary on Q27 of the Heidelberg Catechism, he uses the word "Triumphator." This is the word for someone who is given a triumph in Roman society.
April 16, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The title for God in 1 Samuel 15:29 is often translated in English as "The Glory of Israel" or "the Strength of Israel." However, in Ursinus' commentary on Q27 of the Heidelberg Catechism, he uses the word "Triumphator." This is the word for someone who is given a triumph in Roman society.
It's both bizarre and frustrating how much previous English translations of Ursinus' Body of Orthodox Doctrine simply left out. In particular, Ursinus regularly quotes ancient pagans in support of his point, but this is mostly absent in the english translation.
April 15, 2025 at 6:49 PM
It's both bizarre and frustrating how much previous English translations of Ursinus' Body of Orthodox Doctrine simply left out. In particular, Ursinus regularly quotes ancient pagans in support of his point, but this is mostly absent in the english translation.
Want to be a church that welcomes children? Embrace interruptions.
When I ask a rhetorical question in a sermon, half the time one of the kids raises their hand. I pause and call on them and they answer. I try to affirm something good in their answer (even if I have to steer it back).
When I ask a rhetorical question in a sermon, half the time one of the kids raises their hand. I pause and call on them and they answer. I try to affirm something good in their answer (even if I have to steer it back).
April 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Want to be a church that welcomes children? Embrace interruptions.
When I ask a rhetorical question in a sermon, half the time one of the kids raises their hand. I pause and call on them and they answer. I try to affirm something good in their answer (even if I have to steer it back).
When I ask a rhetorical question in a sermon, half the time one of the kids raises their hand. I pause and call on them and they answer. I try to affirm something good in their answer (even if I have to steer it back).
Me: children, do we remember what happens in this scene?
Children: This is the scene where Aragorn breaks his toe kicking the helmet.
Raise up a child in the way he should go…
Children: This is the scene where Aragorn breaks his toe kicking the helmet.
Raise up a child in the way he should go…
April 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Me: children, do we remember what happens in this scene?
Children: This is the scene where Aragorn breaks his toe kicking the helmet.
Raise up a child in the way he should go…
Children: This is the scene where Aragorn breaks his toe kicking the helmet.
Raise up a child in the way he should go…
The fact that Ursinus argues that God's providence is seen in the fact that governments and kingdoms don't collapse despite the wicked who want to tear down the law is...hitting a bit different recently.
April 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The fact that Ursinus argues that God's providence is seen in the fact that governments and kingdoms don't collapse despite the wicked who want to tear down the law is...hitting a bit different recently.
Translating Ovid and Cicero (in Ursinus) this morning always makes me think of @smarcorodriguez.bsky.social who has a history of live-tweeting his reading of classical texts.
April 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Translating Ovid and Cicero (in Ursinus) this morning always makes me think of @smarcorodriguez.bsky.social who has a history of live-tweeting his reading of classical texts.
I just spent 45 minutes trying to track down the phrase, ἔχει θεὸς ἔκδικον ὄμμα
Ursinus said it was Homer, but it's not. It's from line 97 of Βατραχομυομαχία (The Battle of Frogs and Mice) which is a parody of the Iliad in the style of Homer.
Ursinus said it was Homer, but it's not. It's from line 97 of Βατραχομυομαχία (The Battle of Frogs and Mice) which is a parody of the Iliad in the style of Homer.
April 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I just spent 45 minutes trying to track down the phrase, ἔχει θεὸς ἔκδικον ὄμμα
Ursinus said it was Homer, but it's not. It's from line 97 of Βατραχομυομαχία (The Battle of Frogs and Mice) which is a parody of the Iliad in the style of Homer.
Ursinus said it was Homer, but it's not. It's from line 97 of Βατραχομυομαχία (The Battle of Frogs and Mice) which is a parody of the Iliad in the style of Homer.
"In ourselves we are scattered; in Christ we are gathered together. By nature we go astray, and are driven headlong to destruction; in Christ we find the course by which we are conducted to the safe harbor of salvation." - Calvin's Commentary on Isaiah 53:6
March 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"In ourselves we are scattered; in Christ we are gathered together. By nature we go astray, and are driven headlong to destruction; in Christ we find the course by which we are conducted to the safe harbor of salvation." - Calvin's Commentary on Isaiah 53:6
Truth has its own power to prevail - Lactantius
March 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Truth has its own power to prevail - Lactantius
Patience as lived by God’s children is shaped by God’s action in Christ - Alan Kreider
March 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Patience as lived by God’s children is shaped by God’s action in Christ - Alan Kreider
Adjudicating our school chess tournament. Our school has 250 kids (JK-8). You have to be in grade 3 to participate and we have 52 children in the chess tournament!
March 27, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Adjudicating our school chess tournament. Our school has 250 kids (JK-8). You have to be in grade 3 to participate and we have 52 children in the chess tournament!
"It should comfort us that God created all things out of nothing. For if He created all things out of nothing, he will also be able to preserve us, to hinder the efforts of the wicked, even reduce them to nothing." - Zacharius Ursinus
March 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
"It should comfort us that God created all things out of nothing. For if He created all things out of nothing, he will also be able to preserve us, to hinder the efforts of the wicked, even reduce them to nothing." - Zacharius Ursinus
“Now, nothing undertaken through impatience can be transacted without violence, and everything done with violence has either met with no success or has collapsed or has plunged to its own destruction” - Tertullian
March 22, 2025 at 11:13 PM
“Now, nothing undertaken through impatience can be transacted without violence, and everything done with violence has either met with no success or has collapsed or has plunged to its own destruction” - Tertullian
There is a section of Ursinus that was never translated (or included) in the older English translations. It was a 10 line epigram from Augustine. My Latin is okay, but poetry is hard. Doing my best @smarcorodriguez.bsky.social impression as I try to translate and capture the feel of the verse.
March 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
There is a section of Ursinus that was never translated (or included) in the older English translations. It was a 10 line epigram from Augustine. My Latin is okay, but poetry is hard. Doing my best @smarcorodriguez.bsky.social impression as I try to translate and capture the feel of the verse.