Author Archives: Gary Shogren

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About Gary Shogren

I am a professor of New Testament from the USA, working as a professor at ESEPA Bible College and Seminary in San José, Costa Rica. Soy profesor de Nuevo Testamento, Seminario ESEPA, San José, Costa Rica (http://esepa.org)
by | 31 Aug 2013 · 1:21 pm

September update!

When Jesus wanted His disciples to remember something, He often tied the lesson to something familiar that they would encounter often. The most obvious example is the Lord’s Supper, where He used the most common food elements of the day to remind them of His sacrifice on the cross. Surely that was no accident. From then on, at every meal, the bread would remind them of that time of horrible pain and grief, followed by unimaginable joy at the resurrection. They’d never be able to eat a meal again without those events being uppermost in their minds!

Let’s follow the Master Teacher’s example. In many people’s minds, Costa Rica is synonymous with coffee. It certainly is for Costa Rican nationals: coffee has been their #1 cash crop export for decades, making it an integral part of the economy and everyday life. And the rest of the world? Those who know excellent coffee look for Tarrazú, a special one grown only in Costa Rica: “in November 2012, [Costa Rican] Tarrazú Geisha coffee became the most expensive coffee sold by Starbucks…online customers were able to buy 0.5 lb packs at a price of US$40 each and it was sold out in less than 24 hours.”

What does this have to do with Gary and Karen Shogren, missionaries to Costa Rica? Plenty! For almost all of you, coffee plays an important part in your day. I’m praying that God will use your daily coffee to remind you of us, our need for prayer and our need for financial partners. Continue reading →

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Filed under Bible, Costa Rica, ESEPA, Gary Shogren, Karen Shogren, Missions, New Testament, seminario, WorldVenture

by | 8 Aug 2013 · 9:23 pm

August Update!

Since January our support level has risen from 59% to around 82%, and unofficially we might be in the upper 80s%. This is very good progress, and God has been very kind, blessing us with a generous team.

Our goal is to be in San José for Thanksgiving Dinner. Why? Because two new missionary families are just now moving to Costa Rica for the first time; look up the Mihalkos and the Footes on http://www.worldventure.com. We have been walking step by step with them as they decided that God was calling them to be missionaries. We want the Shogrens, Mihalkos and Footes to meet around the turkey in November.

To accomplish our goal, we still need to raise hundreds of dollars a month.
We would be happy to visit your church, or even your family or your small group; just leave a COMMENT below; we are very low pressure and won’t twist your arm!

Karen says: I’m having my other hip replaced on Aug 12 at Physicians Care Surgical Hospital in Royersford. In 6 weeks it just may be the first time in many years that I can walk normally! We have reactivated our CaringBridge page HERE.

Gary says: I’m probably on my way to a certain island nation for some weeks; if anyone wants more details, they can email me. Please pray that I get a visa and that I will be up to a demanding schedule while there.

And young Sammy says by Skype, Grandpa, ¿cuándo regresará? When will you be back? By God´s grace, we hope within a few months.

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Filed under Bible, Costa Rica, ESEPA, Gary Shogren, Karen Shogren, Missions, seminario, WorldVenture

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by | 5 Jul 2013 · 5:35 pm

July Update

Everyone wants to know when we are due to return to Costa Rica. The answer is simple: as soon as we raise all of our money! God knows the specific date, and we are aiming for a time frame. However we both hope to be able to return by the middle of September.

So far we still need to raise about 2400/month. Will you pray and ask if the Lord wants you to back our work?

COME HEAR US SPEAK: Southward Baptist Church, West Deptford, NJ, 10:30am, August 4
http://www.southwoodministries.org/

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by | 3 Jul 2013 · 2:03 pm

Will you buy banana bread to send a boy to school?

bread_banana_500They came to our gate in the rain, a mother and her son of about 14. She was selling home-made banana bread. We see them every couple of weeks and buy large pieces from her for 50 cents each.

She also asked if we had any used men’s shoes for her son, Continue reading →

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by | 29 Jun 2013 · 5:27 pm

Gary’s teaching this month

Gary continues some thoughts on what it means to thank the Lord in concrete terms. He wants it to be personal, not just a check. He wants to do something more grateful than just “Liking” God on Facebook. Click to read!

http://openoureyeslord.com/2013/05/14/how-do-you-pick-out-a-thank-you-gift-for-someone-who-has-everything/

And an earlier post on a similar topic:

http://openoureyeslord.com/2010/04/17/bring-him-the-sacrifice-of-paint/

Blessings this month!

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by | 20 Jun 2013 · 2:09 am

Professor Shogren’s Chowder Recipe

100_0825As a native Rhode Islander, I would go with my father at low tide to dig clams and “quahogs”. The next day we’d have a clambake. Here is the version of chowder that my kids have voted as the best and doesn’t require you to wade into the tidal muck.

 Ingredients
6 slices bacon, minced
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cups chicken broth
3 cups clam juice (bottled) Continue reading →

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by | 20 Jun 2013 · 1:52 am

Short-term Opportunity!

cJV1v7y0Xb6fPwdDcRgcedjKy5OK7bSNuwumz4gHR9t8-9qoT2fV_RaPJuAijtzcVjL7Wr3EngzDrf9z2fjpy7-gVRc0w7P3NC1UUC9b_J2uaQNjjBKo7dwlUIqv3YG10Jfm3POGlhYGKYpn5JEKaren is putting together another short term team to run an English VBS program (ages 0-18) for missionary kids in Honduras Sept 25-29. We need experienced teachers and helpers for nursery, toddler, elementary and middle/high school age groups. The cost will be about $700 per person, if you’re coming from Philadelphia.

This will be a short, no-frills trip Continue reading →

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by | 1 May 2013 · 7:39 pm

June 2013 Update!

It was great to see our friends at Tasker Street, Covenant in Bath, PA, Whitehall BFC, Calvary Protestant, Friendship Baptist, Oreland EPC, Mount Hope, Lehigh Baptist, Chestnut Hill Baptist, Living Hope, Sovereign Grace, Oasis Church, Bible Fellowship Church in Quinehaug, Connecticut, Christ Evangelical Free in Lehighton, the Bible Fellowship Annual Meeting and the Bible Fellowship Missionary Conference, 14 churches and 2 conferences within the space of 8 weeks!

Thanks for your new commitment to finance our work: Blaine, Nate, John and Debby, Kimberlee, Karen K, Phil and Marty, Robyn, Andy and Cel, Lloyd, Ruth and Ron, Ted and Audrey, Arlene, Sister Johnson, Deb C., Jenn Florin, Perryville, Steve and Phyllis, Redeemer BFC. And thanks for your continued support, Deb S.

COME HEAR THE SHOGRENS! There are things we can share in person which we cannot post on our website.

We are currently in New Mexico, visiting Tim and Ariel. We will be traveling across the country, so if you or your group want to hear us speak over the next 2 weeks, respond to this message right away!

Everyone wants to know when we are due to return to Costa Rica. The answer is simple: as soon as we raise all of our money! God knows the specific date, and we are aiming for a time frame. Gary will be teaching the next ESEPA semester online, and Karen has already said she’s unavailable for her two summer courses, which gives us flexibility until this fall. However we both hope to be able to return by the middle of September.

So far we still need to raise about 2400/month.

** For those of you who are keeping track of our financial progress: our finances are complicated, we’ve lost another church, it’s taken us all these months to compile all of our budget needs. We’re seriously praying that this is the FINAL gross figure, and there will be no more losses to recoup!

Gary and Karen share at Tasker Street Baptist, S. Philly

Gary and Karen share at Tasker Street Baptist, S. Philly

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by | 19 Mar 2013 · 9:50 pm

How has our ministry expanded?

Gary has a new role, helping prepare a generation of Bible professors in a certain nation (you have to come hear us to get the details). He is now mentoring masters degree students through their final projects, a 75-page thesis in which they apply the Bible to their local needs. He also is in charge of making sure they get library material they need to do scholarly research.

Karen will be working more closely with our denomination, the Bible Fellowship Church. The BFC has a special department for caring for its missionaries and their families. Karen will help to prepare their missionary kids (MKs) for life overseas.

Still needed for us to return to the field: 78 people to commit to give $50/month

In the car Sundays, between ministry presentations, the talk naturally turns to ministry and fundraising. Presenting our ministry is a joy we wouldn’t want to miss:
1. We get to meet new and interesting people (this week at two new churches for us, Redeemer BFC in the morning and Franconia Reformed Baptist at night).
2. We “happen” to run into and catch up with old friends with whom we’d lost touch.
3. We get to encourage young people that serving God is always worth the sacrifice.
4. We stay focused. There are so many things we COULD be doing, that we have to work through, what  we SHOULD be doing. As we put into words why we do what we do, it puts the spotlight on our priorities.
5. We enjoy traveling, since we can spend some time together as a couple. Since we were newlyweds, we’ve analyzed everything from “How was my sermon/bible study/presentation?” to future ministry strategies. It helps us stay united in direction.

Please pray: Do you have Christian friends who might be interested to hear about our ministries and our financial needs? We’re still free  weekdays in April.

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Filed under Bible, Costa Rica, ESEPA, Gary Shogren, Karen Shogren, Missions, New Testament, seminario, WorldVenture

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by | 16 Mar 2013 · 3:48 pm

1 Corinthians commentary by Gary!

1 Corinthians, by Gary Shogren

1 Corinthians, by Gary Shogren

Announcement! The English version of my 1 Corinthians commentary is now available from Logos.com; it is fully integrated with the Logos system. Only $19.95. Or you can download a pdf version for free, right here!

Shogren_1_Corinthians

What does agape mean?
What are the spiritual gifts?
Should women wear veils to church? Or remain absolutely silent?
What about divorce?
Do we exist as spirits forever?
Paul was a missionary – how did he know where to go?

These issues and many more!

Related blog: http://openoureyeslord.com for articles on the New Testament, the spiritual life, Bible prophecy and more

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