This is an interesting shipwreck story that you should read sometime if you never have. It could be made into a movie. It is about common sense and trust in God and how they go very well together. What I mean by that is that sometimes Christians forget that God gives us commons sense too.
I'm sure you've heard this story before too, but let me tell it again. There was a flood and homes were beginning to go under. A man had to go up to the roof of his house to escape it. While on the roof he prayed to God. "God save me from this flood." A little while later a helicopter came by and lowered a ladder down to the man. The man refused the help and said, "No thanks God is going to save me from this flood." A little later a man in a boat came by and told the man to get in. The man refused again saying, "No thanks, God is going to save me from this flood." A little while later the floods became too much for the man and he was swept away and drowned to death.
When he got up to heaven he asked God, "God, why didn't you save me?" God answered, "Well, I sent you a helicopter and a boat. What more did you want?"
It sound silly, but a lot of times Christians fail to use common sense. In other words, common sense is getting to be less and less common.
Another common sense passage that I like says this, "How can they hear (the Gospel) unless someone tells (preaches) to them, and how can they preach unless they are sent?" Do we think that somehow our loved ones who don't know or believe in Jesus are going to somehow get Him by osmosis? NO! Do we think that someone else, further away and not as associated with your loved one, is going to tell him or her about Jesus? NO! God is sending you! It is just common sense!
It is you God is sending! Stop denying the common sense! get yourself filled with the Holy Spirit by filling up on God's Word and His Sacraments and then go and share that Gospel!!
Prayer: Lord God, give me a clean heart and a renewed spirit so that I may go and do what just make sense. Amen.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What was the lawyer's name who went down with the high priest Ananias to Caesarea with some elders to bring charges against Paul before the governor.
No one answered so I am leaving it up one more day.
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CATECHISM:
Question: How do you receive this forgiveness of sins?
Answer: I receive this forgiveness through faith, that is, by believing the Gospel.
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CALENDAR
Thurs- nothing
Fri- Bell ringing at WalMart 8am-4pm; Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Christmas Program practice 10-11am; worship 5pm
Sun- Deadline to get Giving Tree gifts in; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Sunday school Christmas program 11am; Little Lambs Christmas program 6pm __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
ONE BELL RINGER NEEDED FOR TOMORROW from 2-3pm!!! Please call 636-359-1061 to tell me you can do it!
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GIVING TREE GIFTS DUE THIS SUNDAY!!!
Make sure you have your wrapped gifts in to church by this Sunday!
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GOOD NEWS CLUB NEEDS Please help!!!
1. MONEY: Another thing we are responsible for is providing funds for materials. Since it is not in the budget, this depends on individual donations. If you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause, please call me about it.
3. HELPERS: A third thing that is needed are helpers. They meet every Wednesday from 2:45-4:15 at Rebecca Boone Elementary. Call me if you'd like to help out!
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THIRD (and last) ADVENT DINNER AND WORSHIP
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
SUPPER 5:30
WORSHIP at 6:30!!!
If your elder is Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, or Steve Robine please bring two of the following: vegetable, salad, or dessert. Don't forget that worship is at 6:30, a half hour earlier this year!!!
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LAST SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE THIS SATURDAY Dec. 15- 10-11am, Taco Bar after practice to celebrate!! (Come hungry!)
Performance is Sunday, Dec. 16 at the 11am service!!!
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CHOIR PRACTICE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:15.
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CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE
Christmas is only a month and a half away. Time to get those Christmas cards! Where can you get good Christian ones? how about downstairs at church? They are in the display case! Stop by and pick some up! You can pay Marilyn in the office.
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HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts. If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online.
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PRAYERS:
For BETH RITTER, daughter of Dave and Carol Kohrs, who is in ICU with many complications from an unknown illness.
For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.
For SANDRA PERRICONE'S SISTER, KAREN, as she continues to deal with her heart issues.
For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength very slowly as she is recovering from an undiagnosed illness.
For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .
