DEVOTION: Psalm 50:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
God Himself Is Judge
A Psalm of Asaph.
50 The Mighty One, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;[a]
before him is a devouring fire,
around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 "Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge! Selah
This is definitely a Psalm of judgment. We don't like to think of God as a judge. This, in fact, might be the number one reason that people don't want to believe in the God of Scriptures. They think he is too cruel and that a loving God would never send people to hell.
Here's the problem with that logic. He didn't create evil. He gave Adam and Eve the free will to love him forever, or to go against him and his will, which is the only way that real love works, and they chose wrongly. From that point on, there was no turning back. Evil and good could not coexist. He had to separate evil from good, and so he separated Adam and Eve from the garden and from himself. Later on, when Jesus would show his glory in the Transfiguration, we would see that the showing of his real nature as God would be too much for the disciples to handle. Good and evil cannot coexist.
At the last day, Jesus, the great judge, will do away with evil and those who choose evil, forever. He will not accept anyone or anything that has not been cleansed and made holy, which includes those who have rejected his holiness and cleansing.
This is hard for anyone who thinks that there is no such thing as an absolute truth. It is also hard for people who want you to accept their behavior and their way of thinking even though God calls it sinful. What God calls evil we cannot call good. It just doesn't work.
Just remember that if God is truly God, then what he says goes. We can reject what he says all we want, but that doesn't make us right. Just the opposite, that makes us damned forever.
Is there something in your life that you are struggling with that needs your repentance? Is there some way of life, some belief, or some behavior that God says is wrong but you disagree with God? Who's going to change? It isn't going to be God, so it has to be you! Turn from your sinfulness, repent, and believe the good news, so that when the righteous judge comes, he may find you faultless and free, because he died on the cross for you.
Prayer: Lord God, you are the righteous judge. Turn me, humble me, make me your child, your servant so that I may be found righteous when you return. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Stephen Ministry 6pm; Choir 7
Thurs- Basement reserved 11:30; Karate 6:15-7:30; Confirmation make up 6:30-7:30
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Abby Vossen; 11- Cierra Figura
Ushers- Sat- Marv Hendershot; Sun- Don Turnure, Don Nolte, Brent Davis, Larry Schulze; 11- Gary Scott
Altar- set up- Cheri Hofeldt; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Communion assistant- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Don Tunure, 11- Al Benton
Greeters- 8:30- Tom and Pam Linke; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Projectionists- Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Yoder; 11- Dulci Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- John Hachtel 11- Cierra Figura???
Organist- Pat Golden
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: When was the one time when there were too many offerings brought to the house of the Lord?
From Don Nolte- Exodus chapter 36 Moses had to tell the people to stop ringing offering for the Tabernacie.
From Pat King- Again with the easy quizzes! So, Dec 31 – which is the very last day you can get a tax break for the filing season. No lie!
But actually, it was back in the days of Moses, when they were constructing the great tent. Exodus 36: 4-6
…4And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, 5and they said to Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform." 6So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.…
New American Standard Bible
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NEWS:
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS SATURDAY, MARCH 10!!
Tickets will go on sale at church this weekend after services.
AUCTION ITEMS ARE NEEEDED!!
If you have any good items that they youth could use for the auction, please bring them by church any time we're open! If you leave something when pastor isn't here, please put a note on it to tell us that it is from you.
CHILI COOK-OFF AND BOARD GAMES ON SATURDAY, FEB. 17 @ 6PM!!
Do you think you have THE BEST chili recipe known to man? Do you like to compete? Then sign up for our chili cook-off and come and join us for a fun evening with your friends at St. John's!! Invite your friends! We'll start right after our Saturday worship!!
ALL PARENTS WILL BE RECEIVING A LETTER IN THE MAIL THIS WEEK!!
If you have any kids between the ages of 0-18 who are members of St. John's, I want you at a luncheon and meeting on Sunday, Feb 25 at noon to discuss the future of your kid's faith life and your involvement in it. The meeting will not take more than an hour, but will hopefully make a lasting impact on how you see your role in your child's faith life, what you can do to help it, and how the church and pastor can help you help your child. Let's grow our youth into the great Christian adults god intended them to be!
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NEWSLETTERS WILL NO LONGER BE MAILED!!!
This past week was the last week you'll receive your newsletter in the mail unless you are shut-in, in the military or live far away from home for some reason. You'll have to come to church to get it!
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RETIREMENT SEMINARS AVAILABLE. WHO IS INTERESTED?
Denny Hagan from eldercare associates would like to know how many people would be interested in attending one or more of the following seminars if he were to come out to St. John's to do them.
- Identity theft. With tax season coming, this is a serious concern to not only seniors, but to everybody that has a Social Security Number. As a matter of fact, the most profitable Information on the net, is for children. It takes much longer to catch the issue, due to lack of use of the children's numbers.
- Changes in how Medicare Part B, is billed to Seniors, It is more important than ever that one takes the time to plan their retirement. Medicare part B is billed based on one's income, and to make it even more confusing, it is based on your income of 2 years ago. Now, before we start scaring anybody, If they are already receiving benefits, this new rule, will not apply. All of these rules, are changes in Social Security.
- Understanding Social Security: how to get all that is coming to you and making the most of it.
If anyone is interested in any of these, please let me know, and if we get enough people interested, we will get Denny to come out and do a presentation.
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A NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR SOLDIERS HAS FORMED CALLED "WARRIORS' JOURNEY HOME"
It is a nonsectarian, nonpolitical group that will be meeting the second Sunday of the month at 2pm at Bridgeway Behavioral Health 1206 E. Veteran's memorial Parkway in Warrenton. Rev. Dr. Gary Ellul (retired from the Army, a licensed counselor, and pastor at St. Paul's In Jonesburg) will be leading the group. You can call his office if you are interested or know someone who is. Phone number is 636-224-1411. Pamphlets are on the counter in the narthex if you would like more information.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE SHELVES UNDERNEATH THE CHURCH MAILBOXES IN THE NARTHEX IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!
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OUR LAST DIRECTORY (Last updated in August of 2016) has a lot of outdated phone numbers. If your number has changed, please call the office 456-2888 and let Terry know!
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DUE TO SOME TROUBLES WITH OUR CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS WE HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ONE
Our new email address is sjwarrlutheran@gmail.com. Please change it in your address books!!
Pastor's email, revklaus@hotmail.com will remain the same.
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LITTLE LAMBS IS STILL SELLING CANDY BARS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!
If you'd like to help sell a box or two of candy bars as a fundraiser for Little Lambs preschool. Let Terry or one of the preschool ladies know. They'll hook you up right quick!
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES.
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PRAYERS:
For LIL WINTER as she undergoes several tests to find out what is wrong with her heart today.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH as he continues to recover from a broken leg and severely sprained ankle. He has to wear a boot for 4 more weeks, but can walk on it and use a cane to get around.
For GEORGE HOESCHER as his cancer has returned after a very short time of being in remission.
For GINA BOHNING (Roy Bohning's wife), BUCK HAMPTON, and DENISE HOOKER (Betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer.
PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For COLTON FIGURA deployed to Turkey, SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.
For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee. That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.
For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.
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