Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By 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).
"Proper Attire"
October 28, 2014
(Jesus said) "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. ..." Matthew 22:11-13a
It's always interesting when one of Jesus' parables finds itself being duplicated in today's news.
That is just what happened when Amber Vinson, the second person in the U.S. who has contracted Ebola, was moved from Dallas Presbyterian Hospital to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
The TV cameras showed Vinson, in an enclosed capsule, being wielded across the airport tarmac into a waiting jet.
The people escorting her were all in (wedding garments) hazmat suits.
All the people visible were in hazmat suits, except for one fellow... a fellow who was dressed in a suit and was carrying a clipboard. As the procession moved, the man talked with the folks in the hazmat suits and at one point he even appeared to exchange an item with one of the fellows who was wearing the protective garb.
Having watched the video a few times, it looks as if the man is trying very hard to fit in and not be noticed.
Yes, he tried to fit in, but he failed: miserably, completely, totally.
It was obvious to every onlooker the man had failed. Like the fellow in Jesus' parable, the man was wrongly attired. It was a decision that might easily end up with him contracting the disease and find him being thrown into (outer darkness), i.e. an isolation unit.
Now many people when they hear this parable about the man without the wedding garment or the fellow without the hazmat suit get upset. They say, "Why should they get punished? Maybe they don't have the right clothes for the event." If you feel that way, let me share, it was customary for the king in the parable to give a wedding garment to the guests, even as it is customary for the government to give a hazmat suit to anyone who was helping move the Ebola patient.
In both cases, the outfits would have been free. The man in Jesus' parable and the man moving the Ebola patient could have been properly dressed, but they wanted to stay the way they were. The truth is if you are going to get into heaven or if you are going to avoid Ebola, there are certain things you need to do.
* To avoid contracting Ebola you need to wear a hazmat suit.
* To enter heaven, you need to be clothed in the garment of forgiveness, which is freely given to all who are brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, accept my thanks for giving me the garment that has covered my sins and brought me into heaven. May others also appreciate and enjoy Your grace and generosity. In the Savior's Name I pray it. 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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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What did Jesus do to raise the widow's son?
Luke 7:13-15 When the Lord saw her (widow) his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched
the coffin and those holding it stood still. Jesus said "Young man, I say to you, get up. The dead man sat up and began
to talk and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
(An excellent answer from Dianne Hance!)
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By 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).
"Proper Attire"
October 28, 2014
(Jesus said) "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. ..." Matthew 22:11-13aIt's always interesting when one of Jesus' parables finds itself being duplicated in today's news.
That is just what happened when Amber Vinson, the second person in the U.S. who has contracted Ebola, was moved from Dallas Presbyterian Hospital to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
The TV cameras showed Vinson, in an enclosed capsule, being wielded across the airport tarmac into a waiting jet.
The people escorting her were all in (wedding garments) hazmat suits.
All the people visible were in hazmat suits, except for one fellow... a fellow who was dressed in a suit and was carrying a clipboard. As the procession moved, the man talked with the folks in the hazmat suits and at one point he even appeared to exchange an item with one of the fellows who was wearing the protective garb.
Having watched the video a few times, it looks as if the man is trying very hard to fit in and not be noticed.
Yes, he tried to fit in, but he failed: miserably, completely, totally.
It was obvious to every onlooker the man had failed. Like the fellow in Jesus' parable, the man was wrongly attired. It was a decision that might easily end up with him contracting the disease and find him being thrown into (outer darkness), i.e. an isolation unit.
Now many people when they hear this parable about the man without the wedding garment or the fellow without the hazmat suit get upset. They say, "Why should they get punished? Maybe they don't have the right clothes for the event." If you feel that way, let me share, it was customary for the king in the parable to give a wedding garment to the guests, even as it is customary for the government to give a hazmat suit to anyone who was helping move the Ebola patient.
In both cases, the outfits would have been free. The man in Jesus' parable and the man moving the Ebola patient could have been properly dressed, but they wanted to stay the way they were. The truth is if you are going to get into heaven or if you are going to avoid Ebola, there are certain things you need to do.
* To avoid contracting Ebola you need to wear a hazmat suit.
* To enter heaven, you need to be clothed in the garment of forgiveness, which is freely given to all who are brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, accept my thanks for giving me the garment that has covered my sins and brought me into heaven. May others also appreciate and enjoy Your grace and generosity. In the Savior's Name I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
| Print this devotion | Subscribe to this podcast! | Through the Bible in a Year Today Read: Jeremiah 13-22, 49; Hebrews 3 |
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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What did Jesus do to raise the widow's son?
Luke 7:13-15 When the Lord saw her (widow) his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched
the coffin and those holding it stood still. Jesus said "Young man, I say to you, get up. The dead man sat up and began
to talk and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
(An excellent answer from Dianne Hance!)
______________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What did God call the rich man who tore down his barns to build bigger ones to store up all his crops?
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Karate 5:30-7:30; Praise band practice 6pm
Fri- Chili Supper 5-7; TRUNK OR TREAT 5-8
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Jack Bunge 11- Jacob Cluver
Altar guild- Set up- ????; Clean Up-- ????
Greeters- 8:30- Terry and Lynn Russell; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- Lynn Figura, 8:30- Sandra Perricone, 11- ????
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann, Sun 8:30 ????? 11--??????
Pianists/organists Sat- Barb Dreyer; Sun- Melissa Pedersen 11am- Doug Walters
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Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Jack Bunge 11- Jacob Cluver
Altar guild- Set up- ????; Clean Up-- ????
Greeters- 8:30- Terry and Lynn Russell; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- Lynn Figura, 8:30- Sandra Perricone, 11- ????
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann, Sun 8:30 ????? 11--??????
Pianists/organists Sat- Barb Dreyer; Sun- Melissa Pedersen 11am- Doug Walters
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
PROJECTORS ARE NEEDED!!
We need some new folks to take some of our projector spots, especially on Saturday night. (Don and Ann Panhorst, faithful projectors, are back in Florida for the winter.)
Please consider helping in this very beneficial way. It requires no experience, just one finger to push a button, and a brain that can pay attention to worship and follow along. Please reply to this email if you are willing to help in this much needed way!
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TRUNK OR TREAT ON HALLOWEEN!!!
Bring your kids, bring a pot of chili, and your carved pumpkins to our 3rd annual Trunk-or-treat!! THis is a fun and safe environment to have your kids go trick-or-treating and it's fun for the whole family. We will also be having a chili cook off and a pumpkin carving contest! There will be prizes for thw inners. Event starts at 5pm with chili judging and then we will serve al the chili till 6:30. If you plan on being in the chili contest; please calling the church office, or emailing Kelsey at koverbeck@live.com. Trunk or treat will go until 8pm.
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ONGOING AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST (OAFC) will be here November 7-9!!
This is a group of high school age kids who spend one weekend a month at a church doing outreach and evangelism and sharing fellowship with one another and the congregation that hosts them.
We are in need of the following help:
1. People to house kids and their adult leaders and provide breakfast for them.
2. A couple people to take care of lunch and dinner on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday.
3. Kids in 7-12 grade AND ADULTS to come out and participate along with the OAFC kids.
Please consider this wonderful opportunity to affect your community for Christ and grow in your own faith at the same time.
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HOLIDAY VENDOR FAIR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 8am-2pm!!
If you have a business that you run from home or you would like to sell your wares at a place where tons of people are sure to come, please consider being a part of our 3rd annual Vendor Fair. The Ladies Aid will be serving lunch and selling baked goods as well!
Make plans to come out and get your Christmas shopping done early!!
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QUILT TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE QUILTERS!!
$1 each or 6 for $5!! The qult will be awarded to the lucky individual on Saturday, November 15!! Proceeds are given to several local charities!
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMUNITY GUIDES AND BUSINESS DIRECTORIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX
Support your local businesses! Pick up a directory and use it to call on your friends and neighbors to do the things you need to get done!
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PATRIOT PACKAGES WILL BE PACKED AT THE WARRENTON ARMORY ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 9am-noon!!
You may donate small travel size personal hygiene items, gum, comic books, magazines, or cash. A full list of needed items will be available soon. These packages are sent to troops out on the front line and battle fields around the world.
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Kelsey updates our website weekly! Check it out!! www.stjohnwarrenton.org
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
For BEVERLY WAALEN who has been placed on hospice care and is nearing the end of her earthly life.
A prayer of thanksgiving For my aunt, LOIS RICHARDSON, as she has been able to go home and is recovering slowly.
For THOSE IN DANGER, THOSE SUFFERING, AND THOSE MOURNING THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES DUE TO EBOLA, that the Lord would find a cure and an antidote for it.
For OUR CONTINUED FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SPEECH in the United States, that we would continue to be able to freely speak the truth even in the face of opposition.
For our NATION'S MILITARY LEADERS AND SOLDIERS as they figure out what to do about the imminent threats from ISIS.
For MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith.
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