DEVOTION: (From Lutheran Hour Ministries) April 24, 2013
And (the devil) said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You,' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.' Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Matthew 4:6-7
Teenagers can be cool.
At their best they are idealistic and optimistic, eager, energetic and enthusiastic. Just as importantly, life hasn't yet taught them that the impossible can't be done. Oh, one other thing, they also generally believe they are going to live forever.
Now from a theological perspective that last one I listed, the one about living forever, is perfectly sound. Those who have a living faith in Jesus as their Savior will live forever. Forgiven of their sins, justified before their divine Judge, they have been adopted into the family of faith and will live forever with their Lord in heaven.
Yes, from that point of view the idea of living forever is a good thing. But it is a bad thing when a teen, or anyone, thinks they can defy temporal death indefinitely.
Nobody has that ability.
Case in point: Austin Price was a 15-year-old sophomore at San Lorenzo High School in California. A week or so ago Price was playing "chicken" with some friends near the train tracks that go by their school. The winner of the game was the person who could come closest to an oncoming train without being hit, hurt, crippled or killed.
Austin Price didn't win the game. When his friends moved out of the locomotive's way, he didn't. It was a brave, bold move on his part. It was also a decision that ended up with him being killed by a northbound Amtrak train. Let me ask, having heard Price's story are you thinking thank heaven I've grown out of such foolishness.
I hope so, but I'm not sure.
Yesterday Pam and I drove from Minnesota to Texas. During the course of that 900-plus-mile trip we saw some people weaving in and out of traffic, while others pulled out in front of fully loaded semi-trucks. We saw someone wend his way past the railroad closing guards, a few who blew through red lights, and others who tried to blast their way across eight lanes of traffic.
And although these people weren't teens, they were still driving like they thought they would never die. They were also tempting fate, other drivers, and God Himself, which -- according to Jesus' words and example -- is something we are not supposed to do.
Jesus came into this world so people might have life and have it abundantly (see John 10:10). Each day lived in Him is a precious gift and needs to be cherished. Each day's time is given to glorify Him and not "put the Lord Your God to the test" (see Deuteronomy 6:16).
This is just my way of saying, when you're driving or doing anything else, don't play chicken with death.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may I, in everything I do, give thanks for the time You have given to me. While death will someday come, do not let me hasten its arrival by doing that which is foolish and foolhardy. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Psalm 77 written for? It was written for the director of music and for Jeduthun (Good try Pam and Dianne)
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And (the devil) said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You,' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.' Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Matthew 4:6-7Teenagers can be cool.
At their best they are idealistic and optimistic, eager, energetic and enthusiastic. Just as importantly, life hasn't yet taught them that the impossible can't be done. Oh, one other thing, they also generally believe they are going to live forever.
Now from a theological perspective that last one I listed, the one about living forever, is perfectly sound. Those who have a living faith in Jesus as their Savior will live forever. Forgiven of their sins, justified before their divine Judge, they have been adopted into the family of faith and will live forever with their Lord in heaven.
Yes, from that point of view the idea of living forever is a good thing. But it is a bad thing when a teen, or anyone, thinks they can defy temporal death indefinitely.
Nobody has that ability.
Case in point: Austin Price was a 15-year-old sophomore at San Lorenzo High School in California. A week or so ago Price was playing "chicken" with some friends near the train tracks that go by their school. The winner of the game was the person who could come closest to an oncoming train without being hit, hurt, crippled or killed.
Austin Price didn't win the game. When his friends moved out of the locomotive's way, he didn't. It was a brave, bold move on his part. It was also a decision that ended up with him being killed by a northbound Amtrak train. Let me ask, having heard Price's story are you thinking thank heaven I've grown out of such foolishness.
I hope so, but I'm not sure.
Yesterday Pam and I drove from Minnesota to Texas. During the course of that 900-plus-mile trip we saw some people weaving in and out of traffic, while others pulled out in front of fully loaded semi-trucks. We saw someone wend his way past the railroad closing guards, a few who blew through red lights, and others who tried to blast their way across eight lanes of traffic.
And although these people weren't teens, they were still driving like they thought they would never die. They were also tempting fate, other drivers, and God Himself, which -- according to Jesus' words and example -- is something we are not supposed to do.
Jesus came into this world so people might have life and have it abundantly (see John 10:10). Each day lived in Him is a precious gift and needs to be cherished. Each day's time is given to glorify Him and not "put the Lord Your God to the test" (see Deuteronomy 6:16).
This is just my way of saying, when you're driving or doing anything else, don't play chicken with death.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may I, in everything I do, give thanks for the time You have given to me. While death will someday come, do not let me hasten its arrival by doing that which is foolish and foolhardy. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Psalm 77 written for? It was written for the director of music and for Jeduthun (Good try Pam and Dianne)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: In Psalm 95, what do Meribah and Massah mean?
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- 8th grade questioning and reception 7pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30am and 11am; Sunday school 9:45 8th Grade CONFIRMATION at 11am service
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Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30am and 11am; Sunday school 9:45 8th Grade CONFIRMATION at 11am service
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8th GRADE QUESTIONING TOMORROW (Thursday) NIGHT at 7PM and CONFIRMATION THIS SUNDAY AT 11am!!
Come and hear the eight 8th graders talk about all they have learned in confirmation class on Thursday night and then read their essays all about what their Lord and their faith means to them on Sunday morning .
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REPRESENTATIVE FROM TURNING POINT, ELLEN REED, WILL BE HERE TO TELL US ABOUT TURNING POINT THIS WEEKEND AT THE END OF WORSHIP AND AT BIBLE CLASS.
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MEN'S BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY, APRIL 27 at 8am!!!
I will do the cooking. We will eat breakfast and have a half hour devotion, followed by the planning of future gatherings and events. Please make plans to attend TODAY. Wives please encourage your husbands to go!!!
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NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST AND SERVICE NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 2!!!!
I will do the cooking. We will eat breakfast and have a half hour devotion, followed by the planning of future gatherings and events. Please make plans to attend TODAY. Wives please encourage your husbands to go!!!
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NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST AND SERVICE NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 2!!!!
Come and enjoy a wonderful continental breakfast with many of your brothers and sisters in Christ from throughout the community and then spend some time in prayer and worship before going to school and/or work.
Breakfast begins at 6:30am
Prayer service begins at 7am and will last half an hour so that no one is late for school or work.
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SPRING BAZAAR AND EXTRAVAGANZA COMING UP SATURDAY, MAY 4!!!
Do you like hunting for treasures?? Do you like good deals? Do you like good eats? Do you like to support your church and your preschool?
Then come up to church 7am-1pm and find all that you will need!!
Here's what we will have!!
1. Lunch: sloppy joes, hot dogs, pie, chips, drinks!!
2. Ladies Aid Bake and Craft Sale
3. Vendor Fair- Tupperware, Scentsy, Upper Case Living, etc.
4. Parking Lot Flea market/yard sale
There are still spots available in the basement and in the parking lot to sell your won stuff!! Call the church office today 456-2888!!!
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she is hospitalized recovering from surgery to remove and infection in her leg.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH, who will be having surgery June 14 to remove his bladder due to cancer.
For MARY SUE TOEDEBUSCH as she meets with the doctor on Thursday to discuss the results of breathing tests
For RICK SPINIOLAS who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will be beginning chemotherapy on Monday.
For NANCY SPINIOLAS, his wife, who is dealing with severe back pain due to many years of using an artificial leg.
For RALPH SPOEDE who is dealing with cancer in both his kidney and in his brain.
For DOMINIC GENTILE, a friend to many at church and in the community, who is suffering with brain cancer and is recovering from surgery.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, and Pat King's cousin on your prayers today as well.
PAT KING'S COUSIN is seeing the doctor today about an ovarian cyst.
PAT KING'S COUSIN is seeing the doctor today about an ovarian cyst.
PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICEMEN
I have been compiling a list of servicemen who are members of St John's so that we can pray for them. Below is a list of them and where they are currently stationed. Please note that their stationing changes quickly, so this may not even be up to date, but it is the last known whereabouts that I have of these guys.
Danny Dreyer- Army- 2nd Lieutenant- graduating from Ranger school Thursday.
Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training
David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO
Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time
David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Kirtland AF Base, Albuquerque, NM
Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam
Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO
If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list.
Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!
Pray for these guys. Some of these guys are in harm's way right now, others are training to put themselves in harm's way. All of them have volunteered to serve and protect their country (which is you).
Danny Dreyer- Army- 2nd Lieutenant- graduating from Ranger school Thursday.
Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training
David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO
Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time
David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Kirtland AF Base, Albuquerque, NM
Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam
Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO
If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list.
Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!
Pray for these guys. Some of these guys are in harm's way right now, others are training to put themselves in harm's way. All of them have volunteered to serve and protect their country (which is you).
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