Daily Email: Thursday, May 4, 2017

DEVOTION:  John 10:1-10    English Standard Version (ESV)

I Am the Good Shepherd

10 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.³ To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." ⁶ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 

As most of you know, Karin, is one of the biggest dog lovers in the world.  Sometimes I think she loves dogs more than she loves most humans (including me when I get on her bad side).  She treats each dog she has ever had with special care.  You can tell this by the way they respond to her, compared to me, when she walks through the door. 

 

When I walk through the door the dogs don't even bark much less bother to get up off their comfy couch.  They will come and get petted by me after a while, when they know for sure that Karin isn't coming home right behind me, but my love and affection can't even compare to that of Karin's.

 

The dogs flip out when Karin comes home.  As she gets out of the car and starts to walk up the driveway they are about ready to burst through the window.  Sometimes they get so excited they actually make a little mess on the floor.  They know that she will provide them with every bit of love and support that they need and then some.  They never leave her side the whole time she is home.  As she goes from room to room, they follow her, even scratching up against the bathroom door to get in. 

 

I can just imagine how devastated she would be if one of our dogs would get lost, and how lost that dog would be without the constant care of Karin.  Karin would spare no time or expense in trying to find that dog.  She would not sleep until her beloved pet is found.  I am convinced that she would do everything right up to the point of dying for her dogs. 

 

That's where she and Jesus part ways.  Don't get me wrong, we aren't just pets to Jesus.  Jesus doesn't just feed us food and water and scratch behind our ears when we need it.   We are much more to him.  We are his own beloved children.  He loves us so much that He did the ultimate for us.  He sacrifice Himself. He gave up his own life for us.  Christ showed his true love for us in that while we were still lost and condemned sinners, while we were still His enemies and wanted nothing to do with Him, He died for us!

We can imagine God's love for us in the unconditional love that our pets have for us and we for them, but nothing can compare to the ultimate love that Jesus has for us!  Trust in that love today, tomorrow and forever!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are truly our Good Shepherd; better than any earthly shepherd and even better than the most loving pet lover.  You laid down your life for us while we were still lost in our trespasses and sins.  We did not love you first.  You loved us and gave yourself up for us.  Make us to be ever thankful and to be firsthand witnesses of that great love in everything we say and do.  Amen. 

 

 

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CALENDAR:

Thurs-  Alzheimer's Support group 1pm

 

Sat- TAILGATE SALE 7am-1pm; Worship 5pm

 

Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am

______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Dawn Sherman; 11- Lydia Miller

 

Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure

 

Altar- Set up- Jodi Baldwin; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie

 

Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- John Hachtel, 11- Jim Rahn
 
Greeters-  8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson

Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Jim Rahn

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher  8:30 and 11

 

Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer

Projectionists: No projectionists this week
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :

How is Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) ordered?  (I'll leave this up again today.)

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NEWS!!!!

TAILGATE SALE AND FLEA MARKET THIS SATURDAY 7am-1pm!!!

 

Still plenty of spaces available and I am sure there will be plenty of deals to be had that day!!

 

Make plans to get out and get some deals and support your church at the same time!!

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ARMED FORCES SUNDAY DOOR OFFERING NEXT WEEKEND, MAY 13 and 14!!

We will be a collecting a door offering to provide for Bible sticks for our soldiers.  Most armed forces personnel  can't take their phone or computers with them when they are deployed and paper Bibles are too inconvenient.  Bible sticks are just the right size and can fit easily into a pocket and carried wherever they go.  Each Bible stick cost $25 to make and to ship.  There have been over 800,000 of these Bible sticks given to soldiers since it began and thousands of more ready to ship.  They just need the funds to get them out the door. 

 

Here's one testimony from a soldier.  "I am coming back into the arms of the Father who has never forsaken me. This mp3 Bible came right on time, because I have been contemplating suicide." 

 

Please make a note for yourself to bring some money for this very worthy ministry next weekend!!!

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NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST WAS FANTASTIC THIS MORNING! 

We had a little bit smaller crowd than usual, probably because of the rain, but we definitely got our prayers in this morning!!

 

Please mark your calendars for next year, THURSDAY, MAY 3 to come and enjoy some great breakfast, fellowship, and prayer!!!

 

A big thank you to Randy and Kathy Fischer, Al and Karen Benton, Erv Yoder, and Cara and Gus  for helping set up and clean up! 

 

Thank you Steve and Sandy Robine, Alouise Marschel, Don Nolte, and about 5 others from our community who showed up to pray with us this morning!! 

 

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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!

 Student must be 3 for younger class  or 4 for older class by August 1.

$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.

Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours. 

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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS CANNED FRUIT!!

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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!

Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!

 

Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton.  Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.

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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS

Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!

GENERAL PRAYER

For PAT MANNESS as she undergoes more tests today.

 

For SPRING, Alan and Cheri Hofeldt's daughter, who is dealing with digestive issues and recovering from wisdom tooth extraction. 

 

For a FRIEND OF AL AND KAREN BENTON who is dealing with brain cancer.

 

For HUNDREDS OF OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE FLOOD. 

 

For THE PEOPLE IN UGANDA who are beginning to die from starvation due to drought and famine.

 

 For CAROL BRAZEE recovering from sinus surgery at home.

 

For KEN FOSTER recovering from back surgery at home.

 

For PAT KING, as she is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.

 

For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.

 

For PATTY SWEET'S MOTHER,  Virginia,  who is on hospice care and is nearing the end of her life.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it.  She had it for several years while in high school.  (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)

 

For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.

 

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH,  who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.