St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO: January 2014

Bike route

If you want to see the bike route I and many others will be taking go to http://www.bak.org/2014/route2014.php.

Have a great day!

Men's breakfast tomorrow morning (Sat) at 8am!!

Come for some pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon....... Stay for some learnin' about" How We Got the Bible."

It is always a good time good food, and a good chance to grow in god's Word and get to know some other real Christian men like yourself!

Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb 1, 8am!!!

We are usually done by 9:30 at the latest unless you wanna stick around and do some work.

Many of you have already let me know you are coming! If you haven't, please do so ASAP!!

Creation vs. Evolution Debate Tuesday, 2/4 at 6pm at Warrenton Christian Church

I really want you to take a couple hours out of your Tuesday night to go to Warrenton Christian Church and watch the debate between Ken Ham, the founder and director of the Creation Museum, and Bill Nye "The Science Guy" from TV and children's programs.

It is this coming Tuesday beginning at 6pm! Make plans to attend!

Pastor is biking 3/4 of the way across Kansas June 10-13

Good morning everyone,

A blessed Friday to all of you.

As some of you may know I have been supporting CCCS (Children's Christian Concern Society) for many years.   About a year ago they decided to change their name. The new name for the organization is Lead a Child. Their website is leadachild.org.   Check it out when you have time.

One of the big fundraisers they do every year is the BAK (Bike Across Kansas). They raise pledges ahead of time and all of the money they raise goes to provide Lutheran schools and Christian education in about 30 third world countries.

This year I AM GOING TO JOIN THEM FOR PART OF IT.   I will start in Elinwood, KS and go to Hiawatha, KS. A trek of about 279 miles.   You can check out the route and where we will be each day on the website.

I am telling you this so that you may support this great cause. I can't think of any organization that better serves our purpose as Christians of making disciples of all nations.

Make checks payable to Lead a Child and either send them directly to Lead a Child, or you can give them to me and I will make sure they get to the right place..

Have a blessed day!
Pastor

Fwd: [Creation VS Evolution DEBATE] Check out this incredible response made in...

Go to Warrenton Christian Church next Tuesday night for a wonderful debate between Bill Nye the science guy and Ken Ham the founder and director of the Creation Museum.

-------- Original message --------

From: Ashton Stewart

Date:01/30/2014 1:02 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: Creation VS Evolution DEBATE

Subject: [Creation VS Evolution DEBATE] Check out this incredible response made in...

Ashton Stewart posted in Creation VS Evolution DEBATE

Ashton Stewart

1:01pm Jan 30

Check out this incredible response made in response to an atheist against the creationism worldview:
http://feedly.com/k/1e4YWEj

Feedback: Will Ken Ham "Crumble to Scientific Facts" in the Debate? - Answers in Genesis

feedly.com

Scientific facts work beautifully in a Christian worldview.

View Post on Facebook · Edit Email Settings · Reply to this email to add a comment.

Thurs. Jan 30, 2014

DEVOTION: Moses answered the people, "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." The Story, p. 53

Can you imagine you just fled Egypt overnight, you are on your way out of town with a couple hundred thousand other people, there is chaos all around, you are just trying to keep your kids close to you and move ahead, and then you look back and there are hundreds of chariots with guys in them who want to catch you, capture you, and if they don't beat you and your kids to death, they will make your slavery worse than it was before, and then Moses gets up in front of you all and says, what he says above?

I would have a lot of trouble not being deathly afraid of what is going to happen to my children and to me. Logic would simply say that you are doomed. Common sense would tell you to start walking back and give yourself up. But then you see Moses taking that famous staff that you've heard so much about, and raising it up over the water. Then you see the waters begin to pile up on either side of that staff. Then you see dry ground appear in the middle and Moses says, "Let's go!" You aren't out of the woods yet. You still have to cross, but from what you've just seen you are pretty sure everything is going to be alright. You get this calm sense that even if you don't make it to the other side, everything is going to be alright, because the Lord is with you and He will save you.

Whatever you are going through in your life right now, know that the Lord is with you. He is on your side! He will part the waters for you. He will care for you in good times and in bad, and you WILL MAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE! HEAVEN!

Let us pray: Lord God, help me to trust in you, even when things seem impossible and completely hopeless. In you there is complete hope! Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: How many plagues were there and what were they? Good job Dianne! She's back on top!

Begins in Exodus 7:14 thru Exodus 12    10 Plagues in all

The Plague of Blood
the Plague of Frogs
The Plague of Gnats
The Plague of Livestock
The Plague of Boils
The Plague of Hail
The Plague of Locust
The Plague of Darkness
The Plague on the Firstborn

Yesterday we forgot to add the plague of FLIES right after gnats.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What Moses' mom's name? Jochebed
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ: Who (or what) was traveling in front of the nation of Israel and leading them until they got to the Red Sea and then went behind them to protect them?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Sat- The Story Chapter 4 Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class on The Story Ch. 4 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- SOPHIE TINNIN; 11- Kailyn Blechle
Altar guild- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave WInter
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; Sun- Jennifer Figura
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP: THE STORY: CHAPTER 4 "Deliverance"
Come to worship and Bible Study to hear all about how God used Moses to deliver his people, Israel, out of the hands of slavery and gave them a new purpose.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
DID YOU EVER WONDER WHERE THOSE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS ON OUR ALTAR COME FROM??
They come from members who buy them in honor of someone or something or in remembrance of someone they love who has gone to heaven. Please consider doing this yourself! They are $25 each. The chart to sign up is on the bulletin board in the narthex and you can pay for them by putting a check in the offering plate with an envelope that says what it is for.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8am!!
Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and learning HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE!!   Let me know if you are coming!!____________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!!
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours! Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
TRIVIA NIGHT WAS GREAT THIS PAST SATURDAY!!   A big thank you to Lois Boeger for organizing the whole thing!!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________
WORK DAY WAS GREAT THIS PAST SATURDAY! A big thanks to all the guys who took time out of their Saturday to put new lights in the preschool!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page. yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together? There's help!

If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week. Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive. It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31. Check it out and tell me what you think. I think they are excellent!!
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm. This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)

DAVE CALLIES, as he recovers from knee replacement at DePaul Rehab.

JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.

DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.

WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery.

PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery.

Sermon from last Sunday

Check it out. I'd like your feedback as far as sound quality etc. Have a blessed week!

-------- Original message --------

From: YouTube

Date:01/29/2014 1:14 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: Jeremy Klaustermeier

Subject: Congrats, your video's now on YouTube!

Way to go, Jeremy Klaustermeier!
Your video's now on YouTube.

Pastor Klaustermeier's message from 1/26/14 Chapter 3 "The Story"


	Want to spread the word about your newest video?	Share your video

We've sent this email to revklaus@hotmail.com. You can unsubscribe from notifications for finished uploads by visiting Email Preferences.

Wed. Jan 29, 2014

DEVOTION: Do not come any closer, God said, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." The he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God." The Story pg. 45 (bottom) and pg. 46 (top)

Every time we see people who are in the presence of God in the Scriptures it is always a dramatic scene. People are either falling down dead, lying prostrate on the floor with their faces on the ground, or hiding their face like Moses does in today's reading.

A lot of times I think we have become a little too casual, a little too at ease with God. We have brought God down to our level a bit too much. He is Almighty God after all. When we are in His presence we are on holy ground and we should treat it as such.

The trouble, or should I say the blessing, with that is God is present everywhere. There is nowhere that we aren't in His presence. It is a curse, because He sees our sin no matter where we are. There is no sin, no matter how big or small, that we can hide from Him.

Simultaneously it is also a blessing because His presence in us and with us has made us holy in spite of our sins. We need not fear His presence anymore like Moses and Isaiah did at first. We have had done to us what Isaiah had done to him in Isaiah 6:6-7. Our guilt has been taken away and our sin atoned for.

Now we live in His presence in reverent fear knowing that He has had mercy on us. We honor Him with our hearts, minds, and lives because He is our ever present help in time of trouble and He leads me through the valley of the shadow of death.

Prayer: Lord God thank you for being ever present in my life and for never leaving me or forsaking me. Holy Spirit, make me to honor you with my life! Amen.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: How many plagues were there and what were they? Good job Dianne! She's back on top!

Begins in Exodus 7:14 thru Exodus 12 10 Plagues in all

The Plague of Blood
the Plague of Frogs
The Plague of Gnats
The Plague of Livestock
The Plague of Boils
The Plague of Hail
The Plague of Locust
The Plague of Darkness
The Plague on the Firstborn

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What Moses' mom's name?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Choir 7pm
Sat- The Story Chapter 4 Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class on The Story Ch. 4 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- SOPHIE TINNIN; 11- Kailyn Blechle
Altar guild- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave WInter
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; Sun- Jennifer Figura
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP: THE STORY: CHAPTER 4 "Deliverance"

Come to worship and Bible Study to hear all about how God used Moses to deliver his people, Israel, out of the hands of slavery and gave them a new purpose.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
DID YOU EVER WONDER WHERE THOSE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS ON OUR ALTAR COME FROM??

They come from members who buy them in honor of someone or something or in remembrance of someone they love who has gone to heaven. Please consider doing this yourself! They are $25 each. The chart to sign up is on the bulletin board in the narthex and you can pay for them by putting a check in the offering plate with an envelope that says what it is for.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8am!!

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and learning HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE!! Let me know if you are coming!!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!!
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours! Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
TRIVIA NIGHT WAS GREAT THIS PAST SATURDAY!!   A big thank you to Lois Boeger for organizing the whole thing!!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________
WORK DAY WAS GREAT THIS PAST SATURDAY! A big thanks to all the guys who took time out of their Saturday to put new lights in the preschool!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page. yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together? There's help!

If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week. Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive. It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31. Check it out and tell me what you think. I think they are excellent!!
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm. This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)

DAVE CALLIES, as he recovers from knee replacement at DePaul Rehab.

JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.

DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.

WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery.

PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery.

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Creation VS Evolution DEBATE] SPREAD THE WORD! Awesome opportunity for...

-------- Original message --------

From: Ashton Stewart

Date:01/28/2014 4:18 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: Creation VS Evolution DEBATE

Subject: [Creation VS Evolution DEBATE] SPREAD THE WORD! Awesome opportunity for...

4:18pm Jan 28

SPREAD THE WORD! Awesome opportunity for Christians to hear a balanced conversation about the origin of our world from respected voices on either side of the argument.

View Post on Facebook · Edit Email Settings · Reply to this email to add a comment.

Tues. Jan 28, 2014

DEVOTION: "Now the length of time the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord's divisions left Egypt." The Story p. 52

Can you imagine, day after day, year after year, being burdened with slavery? Can you imagine being beaten day after day and hearing the stories of how your family used to be big shots in Goshen and had the best land and the best of everything? Sounds like a horrible existence, doesn't it?

There are many in our world who are going through just this kind of trouble. There are people who are living miserable lives, because of their own sin or because of the sin of others. There are Christians who are at this very moment being persecuted and even killed for their faith in Christ. There are children who are growing up as slaves. There are millions of people living in dire poverty.

What do they need? They need the love of Christ!! What does this look like? It looks like food and shelter for those who are starving and homeless. It looks like forgiveness for those whose own sin has caused their terrible situations. It looks like love for a hurting world in the form of the preaching and teaching of the pure Gospel of Christ's love and forgiveness. It looks like Jesus!

In the reading for today, the Lord heard their cry and delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. He does the same for all of us. We were in the slavery of sin and some of us still are. What do we need today and every day? WE NEED JESUS! We all need him to rescue us and give us Himself!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for delivering us from the slavery of sin and giving us an eternal FREE life. Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What did Pharaoh order to be done with every Hebrew male child? They were to be thrown in the NIle river and be drowned
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: How many plagues were there and what were they?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Choir 7pm
Sat- The Story Chapter 4 Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class on The Story Ch. 4 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Conner Figura; 11- Kailyn Blechle
Altar guild- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave WInter
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; Sun- Jennifer Figura
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP: THE STORY: CHAPTER 4 "Deliverance"

__________________________________________________________________________________________

MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8am!!

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and learning HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE!! Let me know if you are coming!!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mon. Jan 27, 2014

DEVOTION: "The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. The Story pg. 45

Do you ever think that maybe God forgot about you? Nothing seems to be going right, your plans aren't working out, your finances are dwindling, and you are just getting older and older with no hope in sight. We've all felt that way at times. The trouble with that is that it is out fault. It is our fault that it seems that way, because God hasn't moved, we have. We forgot about His promises to us, and we have forgotten about His will for our lives.

Contrary to popular belief, His will is not always that we prosper physically, that we have everything we ever wanted, or that we have nothing but ease and happiness in our lives. If that were the case we would be in real trouble. No, His will for our lives is that we remain faithful and that we grow closer to Him for the day of our salvation. Sometimes that means that we go through difficulties and struggles so we keep from straying too far away from the Lord.

The Israelites actually needed this time of slavery and hardship so that they would truly know and understand who their God was and what they needed for salvation. They needed it so that they would continue to be God's chosen people and not fall away completely.

The questions o ask yourself today are: What does God want me to do in this bad situation? What is He trying to teach me? Am I going about dealing with things in the right way? Am I being judgmental instead of godly? What does God think I need?

When you find the answers to these questions thank God for helping you through these situations and circumstances so that you can be closer to Him.

Prayer: Lord God help me to realize Your presence in every circumstance. Amen.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ: Which brother wanted to save Joseph from the pit when his brothers weren't watching? Reuben

______________________________________________________________________________________________

MONDAY'S QUIZ: What did Pharaoh order to be done with every Hebrew male child?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15

Wed- Choir 7pm
Sat- The Story Chapter 4 Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class on The Story Ch. 4 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- ???; 11- Kailyn Blechle
Altar guild- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave WInter
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; Sun- Jennifer Figura
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP: THE STORY: CHAPTER 4 "Deliverance"

__________________________________________________________________________________________

MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8am!!

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and learning HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE!! Let me know if you are coming!!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Lutheran Hour: January 26, 2014

-------- Original message --------

From: Lutheran Hour Ministries

Date:01/25/2014 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: The Lutheran Hour: January 26, 2014

Sermon Text for January 26, 2014

"Jesus in a Box" #81-21
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on January 26, 2014
By Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Copyright 2014 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: Luke 4:24

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! The world believes that it can minimize the Savior's work if it keeps Him boxed up and out of the way in a corner. By God's grace may the Holy Spirit touch those sinful souls and free them from the confines and clutches of sin, the devil, and death. Grant such freedom and faith in the risen Redeemer to us all. Amen.

Does the name John Reid mean anything to you? Think hard. John Reid. Nothing? OK. How about the name Kent Allard? Does the name Kent Allard ring a bell? Maybe it might jog your memory if I told you that the aviator Kent Allard faked his death in an airplane crash and when he came back to the United States, he used the name Lamont Cranston. Still nothing? That's all right. If I give you a few more names, I'm sure you will be able to figure things out. The next name I have is Bruce Wayne and then there's Peter Parker. If you still are having trouble, that will change when I tell you the last name on the list is: Clark Kent.

Yes, Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the great metropolitan newspaper The Daily Planet. Most people know that Clark Kent is the secret identity for Superman. Peter Parker is the web-slinging Spiderman, and Bruce Wayne is the Dark Knight, Batman. Kent Allard, aka, Lamont Cranston, was the famous Shadow who knew what evil lurked in the hearts of men. Which takes us back to the first name on the list, John Reid. Yes, John Reid, like the others I've mentioned here, has a secret side to him. According to the story line, John Reid is the only Ranger who escaped the ambush staged by the infamous Butch Cavendish gang. After his recovery John decided to fight crime under the name: the Lone Ranger. If you didn't get that one right, don't feel badly. Wherever John went people kept asking, "Who was that masked man."

Secret identities. For one reason or another, many of our fictional heroes have decided to compartmentalize themselves and are completely dedicated to keeping their personal lives and their professional persona totally separate. Indeed, their story lines indicate these superheroes are almost obsessive in their desire to keep the world in general, and the forces of evil in particular, from knowing who they really are.

Of course you and I aren't superheroes, are we? We don't have to keep our identities hidden because some criminal mastermind might attack our families. We don't have to be worried about being endlessly hounded by the paparazzi or being asked by Barbara Walters to do an exclusive interview for her next prime-time special. The truth is most of us are pretty much just regular folk. Those superheroes like to keep parts of themselves hidden and boxed away and we want just the opposite. That's why we do our level best to stop people from pigeon-holing us; from trying to force us into some ill-fitting box which they have created.

It's quite possible that you have, at some point or another in your life, felt yourself being stuffed into a box. People who have lived in small towns tell me that they were boxed because of their parents. If their mother and father were industrious and successful, they were expected to be the same. On the other hand, if their folks were slackers, the children could overhear the neighbors whispering, "Well, we never expected those kids to amount to much, after all, take a look at their parents."

Have you been boxed? I'm sure your parents loved you dearly, but did their remarks ever lead you to believe they thought of your brother or sister as being the smart one, or the athletic one, the good looking one, the likeable one? Which, of course, meant you were the dumb one, the uncoordinated one, the plain one, the outcast child. Did a teacher ever indicate you ought to behave because, after all, your brother or sister were such good, well-mannered students? Did your boss ever pass you over for a promotion because he had put you in a box? Being boxed is terribly frustrating. Being boxed means you have been unfairly judged; you have been inaccurately measured, and you have wrongly been found wanting. Worst of all, since the box into which you have been placed is based on myth, mist, and imagination there's not much you can do about it.

Believing you understand the concept of being boxed, I think you probably can appreciate how Jesus felt the day He came back to His Boyhood home of Nazareth. He had, since He was a toddler, lived in that hamlet. It was there He had had His playmates and there He learned the carpenter's trade. Jesus would have known the homes and the names of the folks who lived in them. He would have remembered what the dads did to put food on the table. He would have recalled which mother had the reputation of being a good cook and which ones couldn't boil water. He knew who was pleasing and pleasant as well as those who were crabby and cantankerous. It must have been quite the walk down memory lane for Jesus as He wandered down the familiar streets, past the small shops, and, as was His custom, into the town's Synagogue.

If those were memory-filled moments for Jesus, they were no less so for the citizenry of Nazareth who must have stretched their necks to see the town's most famous Son. You can almost hear some of the senior citizens of the community saying, "I recollect back when He was just a little Kid." His contemporaries would have recalled fun-filled days of play and still others might have remembered the years He had spent as an apprentice in Joseph's carpenter shop. Most of those folks in Nazareth would have had their memories of Jesus from "way back when" and all of them would have been comparing those recollections with the things they had heard about Jesus since He had left town.

You see, they had put Jesus in a box. That box said Jesus was the Son of Joseph the carpenter. That box said He was just One of them and Nobody all that special. He was just One of their old neighbors who had been making a reputation for Himself in the outside world. In a spirit of charity the folks from Nazareth decided to withhold their judgment on Jesus. They decided to wait and hear what He had to say, to watch and see what miracle, if any, He might perform. Their wait wasn't a long one. Jesus entered the Synagogue, the Elders gave Him the book of Isaiah and He read words of prophecy which pointed to the Messiah. So far there had been nothing in Jesus' demeanor or deportment to upset anybody. All in all they were impressed by what He said and how He said it.

Then, having read, Jesus launched into what we might call a sermon. Referring back to Isaiah's words He said, "The promises God made years ago through His spokesman are being fulfilled right now in front of you." Well, those Nazarenes didn't have to be rocket scientists to figure out Jesus had just laid claim to being the Messiah. His words said He wasn't willing to be kept in their little confining boxes. "Well, it sounded good on paper," they said to themselves, "but we'll just have to see." Then they added, "It might help if He'd back up His words by doing a miracle or two. He doesn't have to do anything big. We'll be content with the healing of a leper or the restoration of sight to a blind person. We're not picky."

That's when Jesus, knowing His old acquaintances had doubted His words and were disinclined to think of Him as the Savior, said, "I guess it's true, a prophet doesn't get any respect when He comes home." Quickly He added, "Folks, you've probably heard about those miracles I did in Capernaum? Well, there isn't going to be any instant-replay of them here." Jesus said a few more things which amplified that thought about Him not doing any healings in His hometown. When He was done, there was a change of attitude in the hearts of His hearers.

If Nazareth had had a mayor, he would have folded up his "Welcome home Jesus" speech and put away the gold key to the city. Any plans for a ticker-tape parade, if they had had ticker-tape back then, were cancelled. If someone had put up a sign on the outskirts of town which read, "Welcome to Nazareth, the Boyhood home of Jesus," it was quickly taken down and any shopkeeper who was thinking of selling Jesus souvenirs immediately rescinded his order.

Don't think I'm exaggerating. The situation was even worse than I have described. Those folks were so incensed and irritated they said to themselves, "Just who does this Jesus think He is. He doesn't want us to put Him into the box which reads 'Jesus, the Son of the Carpenter' and He doesn't want to do anything which might put Him in the box of the Messiah. Well, that's just too much. He may not want to be put in a box, but we're going to put Him in a box anyway. We'll put Him in a pine box." And they started to do just that. They got up and drove Jesus out of the Synagogue, out of Nazareth, and to a spot where they could launch Him over a cliff. Indeed, that is what would have happened if Jesus hadn't performed a miracle. You see, Jesus doesn't like being put in a box and that's why He decided to perform a miracle after all. Sadly, the people of Nazareth were too angry to see it. The Gospels describe Jesus' miracle when they tell us Jesus walked through the middle of a mob intent on murdering Him. He walked through that bloodthirsty crowd untouched, unchallenged, unhindered. He walked through the crowd and did His work somewhere else.

Of course, just because He went somewhere else, that doesn't mean Jesus escaped the boxes into which people tried to stuff Him. The crowds which followed Him tried to put Him into the box which was labeled "Free Food"; while the Pharisees' box said, "Party-goer, Sinner, and Samaritan." The sick had a box for Jesus on which was painted, "Disease Curer," while the Sanhedrin's box was less complementary. That box read: "Blasphemer. Upsetter-of-the-Status-Quo and Trouble-maker." Even the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate, had a special box for Jesus on which he had written: "Insurrectionist and King of the Jews." Well, Jesus never allowed Himself to be confined to these man-made boxes. That's because they never accurately described Him or the divine work He had been born to perform.

It isn't any different today. Oh, most certainly the labels on humanity's boxes have changed in regard to Jesus. 2,000 years ago the Christ was crucified because He was too dangerous and too threatening to let live. Today people prefer to think of Him as a really nice Guy, an Individual who is mild, bland, and completely non-judgmental in His dealings with humanity's sins. He is a non-menacing Deity who is ready and eager to accept any crumbs which might fall from our tables. When Jesus walked the earth, He upset those who were in authority, but today He is considered be the greatest Promoter of keeping things just the way they are. Jesus' contemporaries thought of Him as an Individual who wanted only to establish a kingdom in this world while today many folks think of Him as providing "pie in the sky only after they die."

It doesn't make any difference. 2,000 years ago or today, Jesus doesn't fit our boxes. That's because Jesus, as the beloved Son of God, is too great and the furthest parameters which can be set by our mini-minds are too small to hold Him. Jesus doesn't fit our boxes. That's because He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. He is the heaven-sent Substitute who remained committed to being humanity's only Ransom and Rescue from the enemies calling for our eternal damnation.

Our boxes are too small to contain Him who was willing to offer Himself for those who didn't want Him, thought they didn't need Him, and continue to do all they can to minimize the power and force of His third-day resurrection from the dead. Do you want Jesus to be a Teacher? He was that and more. Do you want Him to be a prophet? He was that and more. Would you have Him be a leader? He was the greatest Leader this world has ever seen, but He was more. Do you see Him as a Healer? No disease was able to stand before Him, but He was more than that, too. Pick your category, label your box; none will hold Him other than that which reads: "God's Son, the sinner's Savior."

My friends, the other day I was called by a Republican Committee which asked me what I thought of our Democrate President. They informed me that his popularity poll had been falling in recent months. I was somewhat surprised by the conversation because, almost word-for-word it echoed a call I received a few years back from a Democrate Committee which asked me what I thought of the Republican President. At that time they informed me that his popularity poll had been declining. Both these groups seemed quite satisfied in being able to share that the boxes into which the voters were putting these presidents had changed. The pollsters seemed to be deriving a certain degree of enjoyment in saying our leaders have been moved from being in the box labeled "Loved" to the one which read, "Disliked"; from the box which said, "Trusted" to the one which said, "Disbelieved." Such stuffings and movings are common and natural for men who live in the public eye. One day he's a saint, the next day a sinner; one year a man of vision, the next a blind fool. Yes, sinful humans may be moved from box to box to box as opinions change. Men, yes, but opinions should remain the same when it comes to the high regard which should be given to our unchanging Savior.

He is and always will be the Redeemer and Rescuer of lost souls. The only question which remains is the one which asks: "Is Jesus your Savior?" Has the Holy Spirit convinced you of your need and moved you to the box of saved souls or are you still in the one which is marked, "Lost For All Eternity?" I cannot answer that question for you, all I can do is say the Savior who cannot be limited by anything humanity and the forces of darkness can do, wishes to meet you.

If you would like us to introduce the two of you, please, call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for January 26, 2014
Topic: Happy Unbelievers

ANNOUNCER: Now Pastor Ken Klaus answers questions from listeners. I'm Mark Eischer.

KLAUS: Hello, Mark. And what questions do we have today?

ANNOUNCER: Something different. Actually, one I've never even thought about. Christianity claims to be the only true religion, the only one that saves. If that is the case, then why do so many followers of other religions seemingly get satisfaction from what they believe?

KLAUS: I'm smiling here for a number of reasons, mostly because of the question our listener didn't ask. And I think that question is far harder than the one he's put before us.

ANNOUNCER: We'll get to that unasked question in just a bit. First, let's take a shot at the one that's here on the table.

KLAUS: Okay. First I'd like to touch on something which is implied in the question.

ANNOUNCER: And that is...

KLAUS: That people derive comfort out of any religion because all religions are the same and one is as good as any other. That's the unspoken assumption. Well, they're not. Now I will grant that every religion can provide some degree of peace, comfort, satisfaction. That's because every religion teaches a morality that may in fact coincide with what the Triune God actually expects of us all. Furthermore, every religion gives people some kind of security that they are somehow moving toward God rather than away from God.

ANNOUNCER: But you say that is a false security.

KLAUS: Yeah. What is false is this: all religions are not created equal. They may or may not all believe in a divine being, they all may teach right from wrong. They may all have some system of punishment for those who are bad and a corresponding blessing for those who are good, as their religion defines good.

ANNOUNCER: But Christianity doesn't work that way. Christianity teaches that we cannot work our way closer to God. That makes Christianity unique among all other religions.

KLAUS: Exactly. We believe by nature we're all lost and condemned. To change that condition, God sent His Son into this world to rescue and redeem us. So that we might be saved, Jesus fulfilled the law, resisted temptation, died the death we had coming. With His resurrection from the dead, all who now believe on Him as Savior are forgiven and promised eternity in heaven.

ANNOUNCER: But then, why do believers of other faiths still feel good about their faith?

KLAUS: Because, when that is all you know, it still seems to be a good thing. And faith in something is, as far as feelings are concerned, a better thing than having no faith at all. Still, such a faith is a poor thing when it is compared to the absolute joy which belongs to those who know, beyond any doubt, that they have been saved by grace through faith.

ANNOUNCER: I suppose it's something like a woman who was married to a man who wasn't really such a good husband. She thinks she's happy, she doesn't know any different. But after he passes away and she remarries; this time to a really good guy, she realizes for the first time how poor that first marriage had been.

KLAUS: Yeah. That's it. You may like your god... until you really get to know Jesus.

ANNOUNCER: Now, you said there was also an unasked question. Could you touch upon that for a moment or two?

KLAUS: Glad to. The question is: "How come so many Christians who know Jesus don't act happier than they do?" I mean we just said, "All other religions pale in comparison to that of knowing the Christ." I think more Christians ought to act like they've been wonderfully, undeservedly blessed. I know somebody who narrowly escaped being in a terrible auto accident. Afterwards, that's all they could talk about. I've met people who were in love. That love was all they could talk about.

ANNOUNCER: Why do you suppose it isn't that way for many Christians?

KLAUS: There is an expression: "familiarity breeds contempt." Another says, "Out of sight, out of mind." I think both of those apply here.

ANNOUNCER: I think I understand. If people have put their faith on the back burner, it's easy to forget all that God has done for us, in Christ. But what about familiarity and contempt?

KLAUS: Using our previous example... a person who is newly in love may gush about the person who is the object of that love. But it's a rare person who is still gushing about that love when they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They've grown accustomed to each other. They may have begun to take each other for granted. The same is true in regard to the Lord. Which is why, when it comes to our earthly or heavenly relationships, we regularly need to think about and appreciate the exceptional gift we've been given.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music Selections for this program:

"A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.

"Beautiful Savior" arr. Fred Baue. From The Great Dance by Fred Baue (© 2007 Wildstone Audio)

"Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)