St. Paul Lutheran Church
Phone 701-794-3166
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,
What is the question if Jesus is the answer? Consider this prayer: “Lord, I don’t know what to do. My life is out of control. This is not how I thought life was supposed to be. It’s not fair! - By the way, are you even out there? Do you hear my prayer? How will I know if you answer?”
Big questions. Common questions. Where do we find answers? Prayer and Divine inspiration? Or does God have something to teach us in His Word, which we call the Bible?
Christians and, before that, the people of God called Jews, Israelites, and Hebrews called on God with big questions, seeking His Guidance, His Wisdom, and His Word for living life in an uncertain and sin-filled world.
The Hebrews, Jacob’s family and tribe, came to live in the land of Goshen and saw the Egyptians using written language. They developed their own written language, which came in handy when God wrote His Ten Words, which in English are the Ten Commandments, on stone tablets for Moses to give to the people.
Moses (1,400 years before Christ) wrote the LORD God’s Torah, His Instructions, which are recorded as Genesis through Deuteronomy in our Bible. The Lord God spoke to many others: storytellers, poets, wise men, and prophets over the centuries who recorded His Words, and the people of God discerned which Words and stories to teach to succeeding generations.
Why is this important? Because the people of God to this day have testified that God’s written Word and Way (instructions, wisdom, and direction) have guided, comforted, and inspired the people of God with peace (which in Hebrew is shalom, meaning well-being) for at least thirty-four centuries.
Therefore, I submit and testify that the more I delve into God’s Word and seek His wisdom and guidance, the more I realize He is with us, He hears our prayers, He is faithful, and He will guide us if only we have “ears to hear and eyes to see.”
Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.” (Matthew 13:16, NLT) But how will we see and hear if we have not spent time in the book? Asking questions, seeking His Wisdom and learning His Ways?
Last September I began writing “Daily Bible Readings” for the bulletin. I attempted to connect the gospel readings from one Sunday to the next. This year I am going to suggest which life questions are addressed and provide other areas in God’s Word that lead us to God’s/Jesus’ answers to the Big Questions of Life.
My prayer is that you seek the treasure of God’s Kingdom of Heaven, living, and once you have His Word securely in your heart, that you live in gratitude for His Ways and pass His Words of life onto others who struggle, not knowing what to do. Amen? Amen.
Your pastor, Dennis.
Pastor’s contact information:
Pastor Dennis Cell: 701- 301-4956
Home: 701-794-8703
Pastor Dennis’ e-mail –prshepherd@westriv.com
