Take Courage: Essays in Honor of Harold L. Senkbeil

by Timothy Pauls, Mark Pierson (Editor)

Take Courage is a collection of essays, written by pastors and professors, about the care and cure of souls in the 21st century. As spiritual physicians, pastors are called to diagnose and treat all those suffering with the disease of sin. This noble task requires much from these undershepherds who are placed over Christ’s flock. Yet the Good Shepherd himself has provided the effective tools of this healing the life-giving word and sacraments. Pastors, then, specialize in applying the medicine of forgiveness and bringing comfort to broken consciences. Collectively, these essays teach and expound upon this themeThis helpful book honors the 45 years of faithful service given by one such undershepherd, Harold L. Senkbeil. As a pastor, seminary professor, author, speaker, husband, father, and the executive director of DOXOLOGY, Senkbeil has consistently provided competent treatment for both laity and pastors by distributing the forgiveness won by Jesus on the cross.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[Timothy Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 18 essays. Each essay was written in honor of Harold (Hal) Senkbeil on the occasion of his 45 ordination anniversary. Each essay has an eye toward the craft of soul-care, as exemplified by the life and ministry of Hal himself.

Like any collection of essays, some are better than others. I thought the best essays in this volume were those by Pless, Finnern, and Cwirla. The least helpful essays will remain unsaid because it edifies no one to identify them.

With that said, I gave this review 4 stars instead of 5 stars because this book lacked even a one-line biographical sketch of the various contributing authors. If possible, I would have given this 4.49 stars out of a five. I rounded down.

This book is valuable for all pastors, but the "in house" language will make it an easier read for Lutherans of the Missouri-Synod confession.