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).
"Not Afraid of Hell"
December 12, 2013
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." Psalms 10:3-4
In the course of his long life, President Ronald Reagan dealt successfully with many situations.
There was, however, one situation which defied his best efforts and expert abilities. That situation was presented to him the day his 12-year-old son told him he "no longer wished to go to church." It appears the boy, already at the age of eight, had decided that religion just didn't make sense and he wasn't going to believe it.
The senior Reagan was shocked and disturbed by what his son had shared. For years he worked, invited, and prayed for a change of heart in his son. That change never came. Today, Ronnie Reagan is boasting of his unbelief in a commercial he has made for FFRF, the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In his radio spot, Reagan says this anti-God group is the nation's "largest and most effective organization of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate."
The ad is disturbing, but what is most upsetting is the way the commercial ends. The late-president's son concludes the radio spot by identifying himself this way: "Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell."
Those last six words are scary. They're scary for a number of reasons:
1. Ronnie may have truly convinced himself there is no God, no Savior, no heaven, no hell. Yes, he may have convinced himself ... but he can't be sure they don't exist. He is taking a very big, a very bad gamble.
2. But there's more. Having convinced himself there is no God, Ronnie is boldly flaunting his unbelief and encouraging others to join him in rejecting the Lord's love and grace.
It is almost as if King David had personally met and was describing Ronnie Reagan when he was inspired to write about men who boast in their unbelief and are proud they have renounced the Lord.
In reply to such foolishness, all anyone can say is this: "While you still have time, rethink, reconsider, reevaluate." At this moment you are denying the Lord who sent His only Son into this world to live, suffer, die and rise for you. Right now you are declining His invitation to faith, forgiveness and salvation. Right now you still have time.
But it will not always be this way.
The day is coming when the Lord's invitation and call to salvation will be withdrawn. If you have not left your foolish position, you will be lost.
And when that day comes which no unbeliever wants to come, you will find you should have been afraid of hell.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, give Christians the insight and ability to break through the misplaced confidence of those who deny You and Your Son. Give us the words that will let them see the love that has been given to all sinners through the Savior's sacrifice. In Jesus' Name. Amen. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
After breakfast we will be putting up new lights in the preschool room. Please let me know if you are coming and staying to help with the lights.
Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and Bible Study!! Please get the word out and invite your friends and neighbors.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEXT WEDNESDAY'S ADVENT SUPPER IS HOSTED BY THE BOARD OF EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH.
DO NOT BRING FOOD!! JUST BRING YOURSELVES AND SOME MONEY FOR A FREE WILL OFFERING FOR OUR EMERGENCY FUND FOR THOSE IN NEED, CALLED THE BENEVOLENCE FUND.
The menu is fried chicken, roasted red potatoes, green beans, salad, and dessert.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX.
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).
"Not Afraid of Hell"
December 12, 2013
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." Psalms 10:3-4In the course of his long life, President Ronald Reagan dealt successfully with many situations.
There was, however, one situation which defied his best efforts and expert abilities. That situation was presented to him the day his 12-year-old son told him he "no longer wished to go to church." It appears the boy, already at the age of eight, had decided that religion just didn't make sense and he wasn't going to believe it.
The senior Reagan was shocked and disturbed by what his son had shared. For years he worked, invited, and prayed for a change of heart in his son. That change never came. Today, Ronnie Reagan is boasting of his unbelief in a commercial he has made for FFRF, the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In his radio spot, Reagan says this anti-God group is the nation's "largest and most effective organization of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate."
The ad is disturbing, but what is most upsetting is the way the commercial ends. The late-president's son concludes the radio spot by identifying himself this way: "Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell."
Those last six words are scary. They're scary for a number of reasons:
1. Ronnie may have truly convinced himself there is no God, no Savior, no heaven, no hell. Yes, he may have convinced himself ... but he can't be sure they don't exist. He is taking a very big, a very bad gamble.
2. But there's more. Having convinced himself there is no God, Ronnie is boldly flaunting his unbelief and encouraging others to join him in rejecting the Lord's love and grace.
It is almost as if King David had personally met and was describing Ronnie Reagan when he was inspired to write about men who boast in their unbelief and are proud they have renounced the Lord.
In reply to such foolishness, all anyone can say is this: "While you still have time, rethink, reconsider, reevaluate." At this moment you are denying the Lord who sent His only Son into this world to live, suffer, die and rise for you. Right now you are declining His invitation to faith, forgiveness and salvation. Right now you still have time.
But it will not always be this way.
The day is coming when the Lord's invitation and call to salvation will be withdrawn. If you have not left your foolish position, you will be lost.
And when that day comes which no unbeliever wants to come, you will find you should have been afraid of hell.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, give Christians the insight and ability to break through the misplaced confidence of those who deny You and Your Son. Give us the words that will let them see the love that has been given to all sinners through the Savior's sacrifice. In Jesus' Name. Amen. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Felix? (No I'm not talking about the cartoon cat.) I am talking about the governor who heard Paul's case and kept him safe from the Sanhedrin by sending him to Caesarea. He was kept under guard in Herod's palace.
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ: Who was it that warned Paul, and then the commander of the centurions, that there was an ambush waiting for Paul to kill him?
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CALENDAR
Fri- Bible Study @ Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Bell Ringing at north door of Walmart 8am-8pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45; Sunday school Christmas program at 11; Little Lambs Christmas program 6pm
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Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Bell Ringing at north door of Walmart 8am-8pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45; Sunday school Christmas program at 11; Little Lambs Christmas program 6pm
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!!
After breakfast we will be putting up new lights in the preschool room. Please let me know if you are coming and staying to help with the lights.
Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and Bible Study!! Please get the word out and invite your friends and neighbors.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEXT WEDNESDAY'S ADVENT SUPPER IS HOSTED BY THE BOARD OF EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH.
DO NOT BRING FOOD!! JUST BRING YOURSELVES AND SOME MONEY FOR A FREE WILL OFFERING FOR OUR EMERGENCY FUND FOR THOSE IN NEED, CALLED THE BENEVOLENCE FUND.
The menu is fried chicken, roasted red potatoes, green beans, salad, and dessert.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX.
I have noticed that a lot of you who have been in church have not picked them up. If you are a confirmed member of the church you have your own offering envelopes. Make sure you pick them up next time you are at worship!!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM WILL BE THIS SUNDAY AT OUR 11AM WORSHIP.
Come and check it out and enjoy the wonderful Christmas story from the mouths of our wonderful children!!
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MANY OF YOU STILL NEED TO BUY YOUR BOOKS FOR THE STORY!!!
The beginning of THE STORY is less than a month away!! Are you excited? Do you have your books yet?
Adults may buy their books for $6 a piece before or after worship!!
Kids will get their books at Sunday school, but if they miss Sunday school they can get them after worship as well!!!
There are about 40 adult books left. Get them while they are still available!!
What is it? THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it. The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible. It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.
How will it work? As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book. There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children. You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5. Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions.
Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page. The materials are excellent. It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel!
What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter? We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.
How do we get the books? Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6. A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.
What about the kids? All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund. There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books. Kids will get theirs in Sunday school .
What kind of help is needed to make this a success? We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one. I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week.
Can I order books for family members who are not members? There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.
Where can I go to get more info? Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.
The beginning of THE STORY is less than a month away!! Are you excited? Do you have your books yet?
Adults may buy their books for $6 a piece before or after worship!!
Kids will get their books at Sunday school, but if they miss Sunday school they can get them after worship as well!!!
There are about 40 adult books left. Get them while they are still available!!
What is it? THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it. The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible. It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.
How will it work? As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book. There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children. You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5. Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions.
Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page. The materials are excellent. It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel!
What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter? We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.
How do we get the books? Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6. A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.
What about the kids? All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund. There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books. Kids will get theirs in Sunday school .
What kind of help is needed to make this a success? We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one. I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week.
Can I order books for family members who are not members? There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.
Where can I go to get more info? Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.