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Dennis Shaw is a musician, marathoner (Boston!), retired military officer, math modeler, muse, and United Methodist Pastor. A keen observer of the human condition, he has degrees in music, quantitative methods (don’t ask!), theology and leadership. He will discuss with other leaders how to become engaged and present in our current leadership opportunities. Critical to leadership is strong self-awareness. Becoming authentic, empathetic, and aware will form the framework of all discussions. You can access and follow this podcast on Apple, Podbean, Spotify and Amazon Music.
Episodes

Saturday May 13, 2023
Mindful Leader --Transitional Episode
Saturday May 13, 2023
Saturday May 13, 2023
This is the transition between what was and is to be.
I am preserving here on Podbean all of my old sermons from the past (@ Hilltop UMC in Sandy, Utah) but I am going in a new direction. The next episode will lay out where and what is going on.
But this episode is to create a boundary mark between the old and the new.

Saturday Feb 23, 2019
Epiphany + 5 -- Blessed to be a Blessing
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
The various scriptures for this Sunday are HERE. The sermon is from the Luke with touches from the Psalm and the (unread) Jeremiah.
I wonder if the title doesn't give the big idea to us: "Blessed to be a Blessing."

Saturday Feb 02, 2019
November 25, 2018 -- Christ the King!
Saturday Feb 02, 2019
Saturday Feb 02, 2019
John 18: 33-37
We stand at the end of the church year. It is New Year’s Eve in New York City and the ball has gone down and we are here to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Who is Jesus for us? Really for us? What is our no equivocation answer? He is King?
If not, why not? I expect while the scriptures are NOT John 3: 15-17, I will get to John 3: 15-17, particularly 17. We can live according to the cynical values of Pilate or …. the choice is ours.

Saturday Oct 20, 2018
Season of Pentecost - Job 23 -- The Impact of Bad Theology
Saturday Oct 20, 2018
Saturday Oct 20, 2018
Job 23 ... I like Job. Not easy to preach from but I do think it speaks to us in our humanness.

Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Season of Pentecost - James -- Are you "All In"? Why Not?
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Pentecost 17: 18.09.23
James 3:13 - 4:8a
Pastor Dennis “Big Idea”:
I decided to take to the area of which wolf will you feed? Which wisdom will you honor? Played with the idea of what it means to be "all in". Sometimes it means you are exhausted or tired. But other times, it means, I am totally with this. I am "all" in. No guilt. No shame. But at the same time, where are you?
Revealed this service my financial contribution to the church. Not for guilt, or shame, but to show Marilyn and I are all in.
Sunday Four of Five Straight RCL Sundays on James
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
4:1 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures….
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8a Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Sunday Jul 01, 2018
Season of Pentecost -- Ephesians 2 and a Second Rule of Church Leadership
Sunday Jul 01, 2018
Sunday Jul 01, 2018
Ephesians 2: 13-22. The second rule is to be grateful and remember those who came before us. We are going to have seven weeks of Ephesians when done.
This was preached on July 1, 2018 right before the July 4th midweek break. I obviously felt we could do both -- secular and sacred.

Friday Jun 29, 2018
Season of Pentecost: Ephesians First Rule of Church Leadership
Friday Jun 29, 2018
Friday Jun 29, 2018
Ephesians 1: 3-14
Sermon one of seven from Ephesians. Will introduce a "rule" per week.
This week: "Love your congregation where they are."

Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Season of Pentecost -- You Are the Light of the World!
Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Elder Mary Kavila preached on my behalf this June 10th last. Her scripture was Matthew 5: 14-16. As is usual when Mary preaches she brings both gentle understanding and a challenge to the application of the scripture.

Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Season of Pentecost -- Graduate Recognition Sunday
Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
Tuesday Jun 19, 2018
The Scripture this week was from Old Testament Proverbs, Chapter 7, but the focus was more on the broader topic of faith, family, friends. Played with idea of those three important words. The setting was a borderline baccalureate service for Hilltop graduating students and chose to try and focus on how those hearing the words could use them to help be mentors and coaches.

Friday May 25, 2018
This Side of Easter: Making a Choice (May 13, 2018)
Friday May 25, 2018
Friday May 25, 2018
Ephesians 1 -- this is Mother's Day and we look at being a parent as a church.