October 22, 2023

The Shepherd's Corner

Firstly, I would like to wish you a happy anniversary!  By the grace of God this local body of Our Blessed Savior has been standing firmly in San Gabriel Valley for forty-three years. As a fellowship, this church has actually been around a few years longer because when I came to this country in 1978, our beloved Oom John had already begun Sunday services.  We thank God for His bountiful blessings upon us.

As he studied the Bible, Daniel Henderson observed that there is something in common among those used by God.  In his book, Old Paths New Power, he shares his finding and sums it up in one simple phrase: “The Lord was with him.”  I cannot agree more.  We might think that the key to their so-called successes was their talents and abilities, but the fact is, “No.”  Their experiences and abilities were absolutely useful in carrying out the work of the Lord, but they were not essential and definitely not the reason why God called them and used them.  The key to their so-called successes in carrying out the work of God was simply because the Lord was with them.

Our Blessed Lord has been with us ever since the inception of this church.  The fact that He has been with us all this time does not make this church of ours a perfect church.  No, far from it. This body of Our Lord Jesus is a redeemed body, not a perfect body.  It’s been redeemed from sin, which means this body consists of sinners who have been redeemed, and at times still beset by sins and failures. And I am not only talking about you; I am also talking about me.

But you have always been patient with me; you have tolerated me and accepted me.  And not only me, but you have also been patient with each other.  You try your best to move beyond mistakes; and instead of dwelling on the past, you look to the future with hope. And hope is, in the words of Lewis Smedes, “a faith in what can be.”

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - February 21, 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Life can change in a split second. Over a week ago Monty Williams, assistant basketball coach of Oklahoma City Thunder still enjoyed his family life with a lovely wife and five beautiful children. Then, on Thursday, February 11, everything changed. His wife, Ingrid, was kille...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - March 19, 2017
[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER This week I and a fellow deacon had the privilege of baptizing a sister in the Lord....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - April 4, 2021
He is risen!  Yes, Jesus is risen!  The empty tomb and the many appearances He made to His disciples for the following 40 days are inarguably proofs of His resurrection.  One of the appearances He made was to a couple of His disciples, who were on their way to Emmaus, a small town 7 m...
Read More