from my perspective
St. Paul Lutheran Church
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Welcome!
I welcome your comments regarding our shared ministry at St. Paul.
 If you would rather comment privately please, email me at Prshepherd@westriv.com

"Two are better than one," says Ecclesiastes, 
"because if one falls down, his friend can help him up." 

I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life. However, in this time of restricted visitation call me and I will attempt to contact them.

Please, assume that if you don’t tell us, we do not know. 
Call me at 301-4956 if surgery or hospital stay is imminent or if a visit could be helpful. 

Pastor Dennis
from my perspective…

    Breaking News, or Headline News, is updated by the hour and minute. The programs are designed to get our attention and to sell advertising. (Big surprise!) On the other hand, the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and is proclaimed today for an entirely different purpose.

    Mark begins his gospel with “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1, ESV) It sounds like Mark is reporting, “Breaking news! Pay attention! Something important has happened!” 


    Matthew begins his gospel, “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (Mt. 1:1) It sounds like Matthew is introducing a history lesson whereby we might learn something. Don’t get me wrong – I love history because I believe with George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 


    John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” (Jn. 1:1) This is something totally different. John invites us to lay aside our daily concerns and ponder life’s Big Questions concerning God and “The Word of God.” 


    Each year, we might take a measure of our life on Tax Day, an anniversary, or any number of other milestones. Regardless of the circumstances, we go through a process of reflection, evaluation, and decision-making. We might reflect on the Big Questions of Life, like “Who are we? And “How do I fit in with family and society?” or “What positive difference am I making?” 

    I will grant that the most common daily question is, “Am I happy.” But I believe the Bible teaches us that happiness results from how we think of ourselves and our relationship with others. Therefore, John invites us to ponder anew our relationship with the One God of the Holy Scriptures, as opposed to mental or emotional gods of pleasure, wealth or self-importance. 
In the church year, Lent is the season that encourages us to ponder our relationship with the one and only eternal God and one another or who we desire to become. 

    Join us as we explore Jesus’ great encounters with religious rulers, a disrespected woman from a disrespected people and His disciples. In John, Jesus, the Word of God, invites people to question who we are in God’s eyes and who He desires us to become to live a fulfilling life. (e.g. John 10:10)
As John informs us, Jesus, the true Word of God, comes into the world to save us from ourselves and the destructive temptations brought on by the evil lies of the great Satan. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV) 

Please join us in our encounter with the Living Word of God, your pastor, Dennis.

from my perspective

Pressure or Praise

 by Pastor Dennis on 02/24/16

How and what we say to one another makes a difference. Words create pressure - to uplift or grind down. You know how this works, don’t you?

            Getting along with one another can be a war of words or the Grace of God that lifts the spirit. A boy enters the batter’s box and looks to his dad. His dad smiles with encouragement, “You can do this. Just meet the ball.” A girl steps up to the free-throw line and looks to her mother. Her mother clasps her hands in victory, “You can do this; you’ve done it before, I love you.” Both son and daughter know who is walking with them in victory or disappointment. Praise lifts the spirit and encourages living in security.

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The Unexpected Jesus

 by Pastor Dennis on 02/05/16

A note on the Gospel…

            God’s chosen people expected God to send a Messiah who would destroy the oppressors. All the nations who opposed Israel would fall before the Messiah. God’s temple on earth would be restored to its former glory. Jews is Diaspora would be gathered into the New Jerusalem. Palestine would be the center of the world. Peace and prosperity would last forever. Certainly, Jesus’ Disciples would have understood following a great teacher or great leader, anointed by God. But they could not comprehend a Jesus who would give himself over to suffer and die for us. Only after being with Jesus, the Risen Christ, did they know Jesus and His plan of redemption that would free the people from their sins.  (Mt. 1.21)

 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, we know about You. Drive us to our knees to pray that we may know You more fully. Open our hearts and let us catch a glimpse of Your Divine Nature, so that we may follow in Your ways. Amen

 

Next week: the first Sunday in lent; Jesus calls His Disciples

Monday: Matthew 6:19-21.”Store up treasures in heaven…”

Tuesday: John 10:10.”the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy…”

ASH Wednesday: Luke 11:1-4. “Lord, teach us to pray…

Thursday: John 17:9-11. Jesus prays for us.

Friday: Luke 5:1-11. “Do not be afraid…”

Saturday: Share what God has revealed to you with a friend.

Sunday: Come and bring a friend to worship the Son of God, whose Word is a lamp to our feet in a darkened and confusing world.

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Temptations

 by Pastor Dennis on 01/27/16

            Temptations are personal and universal; they come to everyone promising to quickly satisfy the desires of the human heart. Christ temptations were real; He was tempted just as we are tempted. He could have used His power to feed the hungry; reform the church and government but (and it is a big ‘but’) there is a price to pay and Jesus is unwilling to turn His back on God and worship the Devil. Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, resists the shortcut and chooses the long way home through the cross and the grave so that we might be saved.

 Let us pray: Lord Jesus, give us a strong heart to focus our eyes on You; so that we might resist the lies of the Devil. I submit myself, all the days of my life, to Your protection; and look forward to that day when all who believe will be freed from temptation and sin to live with you eternally.   Amen

Next week: Jesus begins His ministry

Monday: Matthew 4:17-22. “Repent, believe and follow me.”

Tuesday: Luke 4:16-19. Jesus’ ministry in a nutshell.

Wednesday:  Luke 4:20-30. God redemption challenged.

 Thursday: Mark 6:7-13. Jesus’ sends Apostles.

Friday: John 21:15-17. “Feed my sheep.”

Saturday: Share what God has revealed to you with a friend.

Sunday: Come and bring a friend to worship the Son of God, whose Word is a lamp to our feet in a darkened and confusing world.

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The Reformation Way:The Lord's Supper

 by Pastor Dennis on 11/09/15

The Lord’s Supper.

The confessions (a statement of beliefs) of the Lutheran Church are contained in the Book of Concord and our constitution. All confirmands study Martin Luther’s Small Catechism which was written for the head of house to teach. Luther also wrote Large Catechism. Please take some time to read the articles concerning the Lord’s Supper. (http://bookofconcord.org/index.php)

 

Let us pray: Thank you LORD for calling faithful servants to proclaim Your Gospel of grace, mercy and forgiveness. Thank you LORD for faith in Your promises that gratefully hears and lives in a way that honors You. Thank you LORD for giving us the sacraments to remember and meet our LORD Jesus at Your Altar. Amen

 

Next Sunday: The Reformation Way: The Sacrament of Baptism.

  

Monday: Matthew 28:18-20. The Risen Christ commanded…

Tuesday: Romans 6:3-11. Dead to sin and new life in Christ

Wednesday: Acts 2:38-39. Peter declares the promise of Baptism.

 Thursday: Luke 18:15-17. Little children were brought to Him.

Friday: John 3:5-6. Sinners need rebirth.

Saturday: Share what God has revealed to you with a friend.

Sunday: Come and bring a friend to worship the Son of God, whose Word is a lamp to our feet in a darkened and confusing world.

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The Way: when you thought all was lost.

 by Pastor Dennis on 10/12/15

Friends are great. We are able to tell them anything. And that is the reason friendship can be so dangerous. We drop our guard.   

Monday: Isaiah 43:1. Fear not…

Tuesday: Luke 4:18-19.There is good news…

Wednesday: Galatians 4:4-7. Adopted…

 Thursday: Ephesians 1:7-10. Forgiven…

Friday: Titus 2:11-14. Sent…

Saturday: Share what God has revealed to you with a friend.

Sunday: Come to worship the Son of God, whose Word is a lamp to our feet in a darkened and confusing world and bring a friend.

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