 | Reverend Dennis Paschke is the senior pastor at Evangel Holton United Methodist Church, in Holton Kansas. Evangel church is a vital and growing congregation full of life that is changing lives and our community one person at a time. Dennis’ family emigrated from North Dakota to Alberta, Canada to homestead when his father was just a young boy. Rev. Paschke returned to the United States and has lived in many parts of the country. His life has afforded him many blessings before answering God’s call to full-time ministry, including being a vice president of a Fortune 100 company, serving as a chairman of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and holding a U.S. patent. His greatest blessing in life is his walk with Christ! He believes strong faith always engages the heart and mind. EDUCATION: BSEE from the University of Calgary, Canada, and a Master’s of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology. FAMILY: He is married to wife Dawn and they have three sons Corey, Kyle and Marc. The family also includes one “wonder-dog” named Tucker! You can reach Reverend Paschke via email dpasch01@gmail.com. |
Religion
2012-04-19 13:00:15
How to read the Bible
Q: In most faiths people are urged to read the Bible. The Bible is a very big book. How does one go about reading the Bible? Where does one start? Other than understanding what happened in the past, is the Old Testament relevant any longer?
A: The Old Testament is the truth about how God has been revealed in and through the history of the people who chose to follow God for centuries prior to Jesus’ birth. The Old Testament reveals to us the truth of how God spoke to His people through events and through the people selected by God to be prophets. It helps us all understand how we can find God and relate to God as uncovered through centuries of experience. So it is very relevant.
The New Testament is the most incredible writing of human history. It reveals to us exactly what God wants us to understand about living life to the fullest and the truth about death in and through the life and teachings of Jesus. Our greatest fear in life is not death, but not having lived life to the fullest. So God sent His Son Jesus, the fullness of God in human flesh to live in our midst and teach us so we might live as he created us to live – in communion with Him!
Reading the Bible should include both the Old and New Testaments. A good way to start is with the gospel of Matthew and then on to the gospel of John. This will give a good understanding of who Jesus is and what God is up to here and now. Then the Old Testament books of the Bible will have context that brings it all together. Then reading the wisdom books of Psalms and Proverbs will give you the context to read the rest of the bible. Most importantly when you read any part of the Bible we must recognize that God is Spirit and so we should always read the Bible prayerfully. Lastly the bible should be read often and every day if possible!
