But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Years ago I heard the story of a conservative Amish man who was taken to the city by a worldly friend.
Wishing to show the Amish gentleman the wonders of modern society, a prolonged stop was made at a giant mall. Together the men toured one store after another.
After the visit, the Amish man was asked, "Well, are you impressed by what you saw?"
The Amish man thought, then he nodded in agreement. The nod was explained when he said, "I truly was impressed. I never thought there were so many things I didn't want or need."
That was the way I felt reading the story of the man who was recently arrested at Bangkok's international airport. While the man was being held in custody, officials went through his luggage. Inside his suitcases they found two baby leopards, two newborn panthers, a young Asiatic black bear and two monkeys. All were about the size of puppies; all had been drugged and some were in cages, which held them flat to minimize movement.
And where was the man going with his mini menagerie?
His first-class ticket said he was headed to Dubai.
And why Dubai? Well, folks it's this way: on Thailand's black market a leopard or panther will sell for a paltry $5,000 or so. But if an entrepreneur-smuggler can get those leopards or panthers to oil-rich Dubai, well, he's going to turn a real profit. There, people keep such animals as status symbols or to move ahead of their neighbors.
It was the kind of news story which made me cringe. Animals were paying the price to stroke an overpowering human ego, an overwhelming craving for stuff.
When Jesus told us to "seek first the Kingdom of God," He probably wasn't referring to folks who wanted to own an Asiatic bear as a pet. Even so, those words need to be heard by the black-market buyers who ordered those animals.
They also need to be heard by us.
Too often our priorities get messed up, and God gets put on the back burner while we search for the newest and the latest. Brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Far better for us to thank the Father in heaven that His Son never forgot He had come to save the world -- not figure out a way He could own the world's transient riches.
His is an example we should follow.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there is a poem which reads, "All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all." From that poem as well as Your Word may we learn respect for the Creator and His creation. May our priorities be kept in the proper order. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
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YESTERDAY's QUIZ: Find one verse in Proverbs that talks about having a bad temper. (I'll leave this up one more day.)
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CATECHISM:
Question: How does the Small Catechism sum up Christian doctrine?
Answer: The small catechism sums up Christian doctrine by dividing it into six chief parts: the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar.
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BIRTHDAYS:
Tues- Hailey Coleman
Wed- Ken Schien
Sat- Kaitlyn Schulze
Sun- Cheryl Bettlach, Irma Travelet
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ANNIVERSARIES:
Sun- Don and Cheryl Tate
Mon- Leo and Melissa Bader; Jerry and Abby Roseman
Fri- Ken and Marilyn Foster
Sun- Mike and Peggy Smith
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CALENDAR:
Mon- nothing
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- nothing
Thurs- nothing
Fri- assemble newsletter
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 9am; Sunday school and Bible class 10:30am
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WORSHIP WORKERS
Projector- Sat- Figura; Sun- Schlesselmann
Elder- Sat- Turnure, Sun- Winter
Ushers- Boeger, Schulze, Sherman, Nolte
Acolyte- Figura
Lay reader- Sat- Mauch; Sun- ?
Greeters- Talbert
Altar- Setup- McKenzie; Clean Up- Boeger
Organist- Hilgendorf
Tellers- Team #4
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NEWS:
PRAY FOR THE FOLKS IN JOPLIN, MO
Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School (where Naomi Johnson's brother is the principal) are both okay. All staff has been accounted for but they aren't sure about all of the students. If I am able and they are able to take folks coming down to help, I may be getting a group together to go down there for a day or two.
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I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!! OAFC (Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ) will be here June 3-5
This is a group of high school age youth and their adult leaders who goes to a different church once a month and canvasses neighborhoods for that church. They do a survey that asks questions like, "What church do you go to?" "Do you know about Jesus?" and "Are you going to heaven?" They also help to lead worship and go to a nursing home to minister to the people there.
What we need from you is the following: (I know that the luau is Saturday night, but you can still pick the kids up around 10pm to take them home with you.)
HOUSING- They will be here all weekend and so they will need housing for Friday and Saturday night and breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning. All other meals will be at church. There will be approximately 15 people so any housing arrangements you can provide would be appreciated.
SUPPORT and PARTICIPATION- If you have time available on Saturday, please come and join them in their activities. You will be greatly blessed!
HELP WITH MEALS- Not sure what the meals will be yet, but if you would like to help with them it would be greatly appreciated. It would consist of lunch and supper on Saturday and lunch on Sunday after Bible study. It may just be Subway for lunch and pizza for supper and then a light carry in on Sunday morning.
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ADULTS ONLY LUAU ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4 5:30-whenever pm at Walt and Betty Schirr's house.
$12 per person: Hawaiian dress is encouraged!! Invite your friends!!!
Sign up on the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Checks made payable to Betty Schirr.
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TORNADO RELIEF EFFORTS
Go to lcms.org/worldrelief or mail a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care PO Box 66861 St Louis, MO 63166-6861 (write "Tornado Relief" in the memo line.)
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MISSION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS AGAPE
We have supported this organization for many years, ever since Pastor Langhoff along with a concerned group of individuals organized it and got it going back almost 20 years ago.
This year is a little different because two of their usual grants were denied this year totalling $145,000. They are in desperate need of funds and support.
Anything you can provide will be a blessing to them and to the hundreds and even thousands of people they serve.
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GET YOUR QUESTIONAIRES IN ASAP!!
Last week each communicant member of the church received a letter and a questionaire concerning your view of how things are going with your church. You have one more week to get them filled out and sent to Pastor Wyssmann.
Please fill it out thoroughly. If you are having some sort of trouble with the church, please make sure you make that known. If everything is going great and you are pleased with the church and things going on, make sure you make that known as well. We need to be able to rejoice and have joy in all that God is doing a well.
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (Please reply to this email to have prayer requests posted.)
For the thousands in and around Joplin, MO effected by the tornado, especially the many who have lost or are still searching for loved ones.
For our graduates, who graduated the past Saturday and recently including Allen Berryman, Miranda Linstruth, Torre Linke, and David Tate.
For NORBERT HEITGERD who remains hospitalized with severe problems due to his cancer.
For ROSETTA JONES who has been moved to Warrenton Manor ??? to recover from a broken colar bone after a fall.
For RUTH CANTRELL who is dealing witha tumor on her pituitary gland and with severe problems with weakness and tiredness.
For ROBYN MCNEW'S BROTHER, KEN MEYER, who is still on the long road to recovery. .
For OUR CHURCH as we begin to deal with our many conflicts and how to best resolve them and reconcile with one another.
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