Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour MinistriesBy Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). 
"Losers
"December 17, 2013
(Jesus said) "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 In life there are winners and there are losers.
Of course, there are those times when it is possible for everybody to lose. As example, I would point to the story of Edmonton, Alberta's Justin Harder and Calvin Clackson.
The story begins with 18-year-old Harder boasting to his friend Clackson that he had managed to get his hands on a "stab-proof" vest. Now I've never heard of a stab-proof vest, but apparently the article of clothing has the ability of deflecting the point of any knife thrust at it.
I say
apparently for good reason.
Harder was so positive of his vest that he encouraged his friend to take a stab at puncturing it. Clackson agreed and jabbed the knife at his pal's heart. Long story short: the knife worked and the vest didn't. When the knife came out, so did a spurt of Harder's blood. Well, the blood freaked Clackson out and he ran away. As for Harder, his life was spared because of an emergency surgery, which took place at the local hospital.
So ... everybody lost. The faulty vest's inventor lost; Harder lost because of his hospital time, and Clackson lost because he has been sentenced to six months in jail.
The story seems like a modern-day retelling of humankind's fall into sin.
Satan tempted our first ancestors, and the result was disastrous. Satan -- history's biggest loser -- was told how he would be defeated when God's Son entered the world to offer Himself to rescue us from sin, the world, and Satan. The snake lost when it was condemned to eat dirt, and Adam and Eve lost because, after a life of trouble, they were condemned to spend eternity in hell.
Everybody lost. At least everybody should have lost.
You see, unlike the story of Harder and Clackson, humanity's story does have an alternative ending.
That ending can be ours because, some 2,000 years ago, God kept His promise to send His Son. In Bethlehem, Jesus was born of a virgin.
For the next decades His life was spent fulfilling the laws we had broken. Then, after having lived a perfect life, Jesus carried our sins to the cross and died the death our disobedience deserved. His descent into hell showed those regions the success of His mission, and His third-day resurrection proved to all who will take a serious look, that death itself has been defeated.
That's why, since Jesus' redemption is offered freely to all, on Judgment Day the only loser has to be the devil.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that because Jesus has successfully paid my debt, I have been moved from condemnation to salvation. May I give thanks for His sacrifice and do my best to tell the world that, because of Jesus, they no longer have to be losers. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of
The Lutheran Hour®Lutheran Hour Ministries
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ ANSWER: It was his nephew
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MONDAY and TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Where is Philippi in relation to Israel? (I will leave this up another day since no one answered it.)
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CALENDAR:Tues- Quilting 9-2; No Bible Study
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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GIVING TREE GIFTS!!!If you haven't brought them in yet, make sure you do so by tomorrow evening!!!! Thank you to all who participated in this wonderful opportunity to care for the children of our community.
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SUPPER TOMORROW NIGHT HOSTED BY THE BOARD OF EVANGELISM AND OUTREACHDon't bring any food, but bring some cash to fill our fund for those who need help of all different kinds!!
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19 DAYS TILL WE BEGIN THE STORY!!!! HAVE YOU PURCHASED YOUR BOOKS YET? Kids 0-18 get their books for free!! Adults pay $6 per book.
We will be starting at least one new
The Story Study at 4pm on Saturday afternoons. We may also be starting an evening Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7 (7:30 during lent) if there is enough interest.
High School kids will have
The Story Study at 5pm on Sunday afternoons.
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ALL MEMBERS HAVE OFFERING ENVELOPES!!!
They are on the table in the narthex.
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PRAYER REQUESTS:WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover VERY SLOWLY from pneumonia and from complications after brain surgery.
Those going through cancer treatments:
Rick Spiniolas
Jonas Borchert (Don Nolte's grandson)
Jennifer- John and Mary Jo Fahrni's daughter
Those recovering from injuries and surgeries
Joyce Pietzschke- shoulder
Nancy Spiniolas- hip replacement
All of our servicemen-
Caleb Figura- Virginia
Danny Dreyer- Germany
Sam Hargrove- Alabama
David Mincemeyer- Colorado
Andrew Sherman (working as a military contractor in Afghanistan)
David Tate- Florida
Ryan Woolf- Colorado
Jon Rahn- Hawaii
Alex Walters- Guam
