Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Ph 701-745-3346
from my perspective…
Some biographies are written to answer questions about a remarkable person. Christ’s
biography is written to answer questions about who we are. In Genesis, we find that we are created in the image of God the Father. In the Gospels, we find we are worthy (but not
deserving) of God’s love, for He gave His only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for us.
Throughout Lent, we have been exploring Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes, where He
teaches, “Blessed are you who are the poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” “those who hunger and thirst,” or “those who are persecuted.” For you will find “the Kingdom of
Heaven” and “see God.” (Matthew 5:2-12) The question asked is, “When push comes to shove, how did Jesus respond when He encountered these maladies and incredibly unjust persecution? Did Jesus hold fast to His teaching, or did he cave as the religious leaders expected Him to? To reveal Jesus’ true strength and faith from a human point of view, we look at how He responded to being falsely accused, arrested, spat upon, betrayed, and crucified. Seneca, a first century Roman statesman, and philosopher, wrote those who were crucified cursed the day of their birth, the executioners, and their mothers. They even spat on those who looked upon them. It turns out Jesus did none of this but prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 30:34). His words were unexpected, but we remember He taught, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44, ESV).
In April, we will continue to explore Jesus’ teachings and His actions on the
cross. “Blessed are the pure in heart” and the two criminals who were crucified with
Him. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” with the mystifying cry, “My God, why has thou
forsaken me?” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for they shall be satisfied” with His cry, “I thirst.” Finally, “I have not come to abolish them (the Law) but to fulfill them” with His confession, “It is finished.” I have found this to be a fascinating and inspiring study. Please join us on Wednesday and Sunday and invite others who wonder who Jesus is, if we can trust His words, and why His suffering and death lead us to Easter Sunday and new life.
Your pastor,
Dennis
Welcome!
I welcome your comments regarding our shared ministry at Our Savior's.
If you would rather comment privately; please, email me at prshepherd@westriv.com
I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life.
Neither the hospitals or care centers are allowing visitation.
If it a matter of life and death, call me and I will contact them.
Pastor Dennis
Pastor Dennis R.
We have had our share of challenges this year.
If you or someone you know is struggling with fear and despair, I invite you to lay your hands on a copy of Max Lucado's book
Anxious for Nothing:
Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.
We, also, have a helpful copy of "Cancer. Now What?"
available in the church office.
Of course, please contact me if you would like to chat or meet for a cup of coffee.
Pastor Dennis
