Augsburg Fortress

The Mystery of God and Suffering: Lament, Trust, and Awe

Humans have long searched for answers to an age-old question: If God is good, why do we suffer? The Mystery of God and Suffering offers an understanding of Jesus's life and his own suffering on the cross for all who find themselves uneasy with the notion of a vindictive God. Focused on the undeniable nature of a God who is good, this thought-provoking title offers wise guidance for our journey into the abyss of suffering.

9781506440040

Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms

We all carry sexual shame. Whether we grew up in the repressive purity culture of American evangelical Christianity or not, we've all been taught in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that sex (outside of very specific contexts) is taboo. Psychotherapist Matthias Roberts helps readers overcome their shame and determine their own definition of healthy sex. Define your sexual values on your own terms, overcome your shame, and start having great, healthy sex.

9781506455662

A History of Luther Seminary: 1869-2019

Church historian and Luther faculty member Mark Granquist provides a new and comprehensive history of Luther Seminary just in time for the celebration of the institution's 150th anniversary (1869-2019). It also explores recent history, analyzes the challenges faced by the ELCA, and the major shifts in theological education in the early 21st century, and includes a gallery of photos chronicling Luther's history.

9781506456621

Judith

Judith is an ancient Jewish novella about a woman who saves Jerusalem by killing an invading general. Included in some early Christian versions of the Old Testament, its imagery and use of biblical motifs have played an important role in the Western tradition ever since. This commentary provides a detailed analysis of the text's composition and its meaning in its original historical context. It thoroughly surveys the history of Judith scholarship and the book's history of interpretation in paintings, sculpture, music, drama, and literature.

9780800661052

Trains, Jesus, and Murder: The Gospel according to Johnny Cash

In Trains, Jesus, and Murder, Beck explores the theology of Johnny Cash by investigating a dozen of Cash's songs. In reflecting on Cash's lyrics, and the passion with which he sang them, we gain a deeper understanding of the enduring faith of the Man in Black.

9781506433769

Proverbs 1-15

The book of Proverbs is more than the sum of its parts. Even if some proverbs could be older, the overall composition stems from the late Persian or early Hellenistic period. By introducing the scribal student to the foundations of sapiential knowledge and its critical reflection, the book of Proverbs comes close to the critical wisdom of Job and Qohelet. In addition to a detailed exegesis of the biblical text, this commentary presents new parallels from Egyptian wisdom literature.

9780800660673

Ecumenical Adventure

This book tells the story of Charles West, one of the architects of the modern ecumenical movement. By connecting his past experiences to modern challenges, he outlines a new ecumenical way of relating biblical faith to the realities of the world, not least in matters of peace, racial justice, combating poverty and promoting justice amid rapid social and technological change.

9781506449340

Essays in Hindu Theology

This work offers a series of theological explorations into questions of both contemporary and enduring interest in the Hindu tradition. These reflections build dialogical bridges with other religious traditions around matters of shared concern, including the nature of theology, vocation, social justice, nationalism, and violence and non-violence. In exploring these issues, Rambachan draws deeply from authoritative Hindu sources and offers an interpretation of the Hindu tradition to meet the challenges of the modern world.

9781506453125

Migration and Public Discourse in World Christianity

This volume identifies and address key topics in the discourse on world Christianity and migration. A combination of senior and emerging scholars and researchers of migration from all regions of the world contribute chapters on the central issue, including the feminization of international migration, the theology of migration, south-south migration networks, the connections between world Christianity, migration, and civic responsibility; and the complicated relationship between migration, identity and citizenship.

9781506433691

The Galápagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey

Travel with bestselling author Brian McLaren as he follows his love of nature (specifically tortoises) all the way to the Galapagos Islands. Experience the beauty and fragility of this extraordinary place as McLaren reflects on how his faith has evolved and how the natural world awakens his soul.

9781506448251

Bitty Brown Babe

This board book showcases the wonder and beauty of a beloved baby and the joy that comes with new life.

9781506448534

Religion in The Handmaid's Tale: A Brief Guide

From the significance of names to twisted uses of religion to the origins of the Ceremony, Religion​ in The Handmaid's Tale answers all the questions you might have about religion in Atwood's prophetic novel. For anyone who's ever googled a biblical precedent or religious phrase after encountering Atwood's dystopia, this essential guide explains it all and gives readers a fascinating look into the novel and its world. Read it and understand The Handmaid's Tale like never before.

9781506456300

On Your Way

A tender look back at a child's first steps, On Your Way is a celebration of growth, movement, and the importance of slowing down to observe life's milestones both big and small.

A mother recounts for her child "that day on the porch" when they first tried to walk. As the child totters, stumbles, and flops, young animals nearby gallop, jump, waddle, and hop. Kids will delight in the child's progress and think of the ways they're still learning to grow and move every single day now that they're on their way. A perfect book for looking back at how far kids have come...and how far they'll go.

9781506452586

Becoming Like Creoles: Living and Leading at the Intersections of Injustice, Culture, and Religion

Creolization offers a way of envisioning a future through interplay between cultural diversity, injustice and oppression, and intersectionality. People of faith must embrace such practices to be relevant and effective for ministry in the 21st century. Becoming Like Creoles prepares followers of Jesus to live in a world where injustice is real and cultural diversity is increasing. This book will equip readers to embrace a Creole process, becoming culturally competent and social justice focused.

9781506455563

Anna B. Hoppe: Her Life and Hymnody

Anna B. Hoppe is one of the most prolific Lutheran hymn writers of the early 20th century. She composed hundreds of hymns along with opinion pieces and devotional writing. Today Lutherans still know her through her hymns--"O Son of God, in Galilee," "For Jerusalem You're Weeping," and "Rise, Arise." Hoppe's major collection, Songs of the Church Year: Hymns on the Gospel and Epistle Texts and Other Songs was published in 1928.

9781942304333

I Walk with Angels: The Life and Work of James Engel

James Engel played an important role in the history of Lutheran church music. He was known by his colleagues and students as an excellent musician, choir director, composer and teacher. He had a positive influence on the subsequent generations of Lutheran musicians. In his later years, he became well-known as a composer of church music. His organ and choral works have been performed by many musicians through the years.

9781942304357

Searching for Aunt Dot: Surprised by a Lutheran Woman's Story

The author has cast her Aunt Dot as a quiet rebel and a very strong woman. In the depths of the Depression, she worked to save money and follow her older brothers to Carthage College. After two years she succumbed to the cultural ideal of the era and gave up college for marriage. She became a wife with several titles -- wife-in-waiting, minister's wife, housewife, and war wife.

9781942304340

The Essential Forde: Distinguishing Law and Gospel

This volume includes some of the most essential writings of the theologian Gerhard Forde and trace the contours of Forde's theological argument. Organized around "Law and Gospel," the selections incude historical background on that doctrinal locus and express Forde's own views of the law and the gospel, including death and resurrection, the bondage of the will, good works, preaching, and the sacraments. The volume also includes a definitive introduction to Forde's life and work.

9781506448343

Confident Humility: Becoming Your Full Self without Becoming Full of Yourself

Self-help books emerge from one of two flawed views of the self--that people are fundamentally bad or fundamentally good--and these mutually exclusive ditches are destructive. Dan Kent presents a third view. He shows how the humility Jesus revealed offers the most accurate, freeing view of the self. Whereas the ditches both lead to powerlessness and passivity, humility as Jesus teaches it is empowering, fosters proactivity, and serves as a scaffold for true confidence.

9781506451923

Owen and Eleanor Meet the New Kid

The third book in the Owen & Eleanor series is a story about welcoming strangers and loving your neighbor.

9781506452029