"The Conversion of Saul"
9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." 13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened."Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues"
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
What makes something more believable than having an enemy of it turn to it? I imagine that there was nobody more zealous than Saul (who became Paul) for the persecution of Christians. He would have been the Saddam Hussein or the Osama Bin Laden of his day. So when Jesus knocks him off his high horse and blinds him so that he may truly see Jesus for who He truly is, there is nothing that could be more pure Godly genius.
It's not something we think off when it comes to our enemies. We want to destroy our enemies. We want to annihilate them and rid ourselves of them, but what does Jesus tell us to do? He tells us to LOVE our enemies, and PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US.
What better way to get rid of an enemy than to bring him or her over to your side. You're not going to do that with hate. The only way it is going to happen is with patience and love.
Now, I'm not saying that every enemy will be won over. There will be some who will hate you or your country or your Religion till they die, whether it be by the hands of an army or the hand of God is up to Him. What I am saying is that GOD WANTS HIS WILL TO BE DONE, and it's always better for you if it is done in you and with you than in spite of you and against you.
Take the lesson for God's dealings with Paul. Don't ever think that there's something that God can't or won't do. He might even do what He does through you and in you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to release my will to You, and to do Your will instead. Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Election day!! Get out and vote for St John's members Allan Dreyer (school board) and Scott Schulze (alderman); Quilting 9-2; GUN CLUB MEETING 7pm
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimer's Support Group 1pm; Beginning of Lutheranism 101 7pm
Sat- Church work day 8-noon; Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study 9:45; Worship 11; Elders noon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Sarah Cluver 11- Alaina Heitgerd
Ushers- Scott and Alex Heitgerd, Bob and Tom Linke
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Joanne Hachtel
Elders- Sat-- Randy Sweet????; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel ; 11- ??????? We need someone
Lay Readers- 8:30- Jacob Nagel; 10- Stephanie Owenby
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Sat Piano- Kathy Barrow
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Jacob Cluver 11- Hailey Blechle
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: What did Saul (Old Testament) do so he could talk to Samuel?
1. Only have a limited knowledge of the history of Lutheranism and what Lutherans actually teach on things.2. Learned all that stuff back in seventh or eighth grade and weren't paying attention3. Want to learn how to share your faith with others.4. Just like being around other Christians and growing in your faith.Then this is the study for you! Come and join us! We'll have snacks!_______________________________________________________________________________
You deserve a kid free night out! Friday, April 15th from 5pm - 10pm. Miss Kelsey and Mrs. K along with some great babysitters from our youth will be hosting our 2nd Parents' Night Out. This is a fundraiser for our church youth group. $20 for the first child $10 for the 2nd and $5 for each additional kid. Little Lambs and church kids get first dibs_________________________________________________________________________________INSIDE SPACES ARE SOLD OUT!!
Join us as a vendor inside, have a tag sale on the parking lot, or craft items for sale. Outside spaces are available for $10 for a double parking spot.There will be a sale under the pavilion if you would like to donate items. The youth will be raising money for their National Youth Gathering trip under the pavilion and at the concession stand.St. John's Lutheran Church, 950 S Hwy 47 in Warrenton. Please call the church office for more info. 636-456-2888.
Vendor spots are being held for: Tupperware, Origami Owl, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, 18" doll clothes by PJ'S Patterns, Perfectly Posh, Paparazzi, Damsel in Distress, It Works Global, Mary Kay, Norwex, Tastefully Simple, Pink Zebra, Lilla Rose, Usborne Books & More, Cindy Rust handmade Jewelry, Avon, Park Lane, scroll saw art, Young Living Essential oils, Amy Flores Handmade Jewelry and custom / personalized key chains. More to come...THE QUILTERS WILL ALSO BE RAFFLING OFF THE QUILT THAT IS HANGING DOWNSTAIRS!!____________________________________________________________________________________________________LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR FOR CURRENT STUDENTS AND ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS!!! OPEN REGISTRATION FOR EVERYONE STARTS APRIL 1.Registration forms are available from Little Lambs or the church office. All registration forms must accompany the $45 nonrefundable registration fee. Children should be 3 or 4 by August 1. For more info talk to Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier._____________________________________________________________________________________DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THIS DAILY EMAIL?If you know of someone who isn't currently receiving my daily emails but would like to, please reply to this email with their email address and I will add them to the list. THANK YOU!_____________________________________________________________________________OPERATION BACKPACK FOR APRIL IS CANNED SOUP AND RAMEN NOODLES(Remember this is for the poor and needy children of our community and county that often receive two breakfast and lunch at school, and have very little or no food at home.)___________________________________________________________________________________GENERAL PRAYERS:For PASTOR'S SISTER'S FATHER IN LAW, CLARENCE SICKMANN, who is recovering from an aneurysm and 8 hour surgery to repair it last night. The next 48 hours are critical.For PASTOR'S DAD, ROGER KLAUSTERMEIER, who is dealing with a distended gall bladder, and is traveling home from Texas to Minnesota Thursday-Sunday. He may need to have surgery when he gets home. ]For PASTOR MCCRACKEN, who is having an exploratory cardiac catheterization on Friday. He hopes to be back at church by Sunday.For PAT MANESS who is moving to Parklane Rehabilitation today.For MELISSA BADER as she recovers from back surgery at Mercy Rehab in Creve Couer.For SHARON GARRETT as she is at home and recovering from two broken ankles.For DON BRAZEE as he has been moved to Breeze Park in Weldon Spring for rehab and to receive his cancer treatment.For PASTOR PIPER, from St. Paul, New Melle, as he recovers from a heart attack he had while running a 5K in Florida.For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.
--
