St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

(revised) Monday, February 25, 2013

Jim Rahn pointed out to me that the prayer at the end of the devotion wasn't done. I got cut off by the internet and then got distracted and forgot about it.

Here's the prayer: Lord God, help me to live a free life in Your peace and joy knowing that I am now free to do Your will because I want to and not because I have to. All I do for you I do out of thankfulness and praise for what you have already done for me. Oh, how love Jesus, because He first loved me. Amen.

DEVOTION:
These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean." Leviticus 12:8

Aren't you glad that when Jesus came, suffered and died for our sins. Can you imagine fulfilling all of the rules and regulations that the Israelites did? Can you imagine all of the trouble you would have to go through every time you had a baby to do what the law required. There were no exceptions. Everyone had to do it. If you were to remain in God's grace you had to fulfill the law.

Eventually the Israelites kind of gave up on that. They forgot all about the reason for their offerings which were to thank God and to atone for sin. They just did it without even thinking about it if they did it at all.

The good news is that Jesus fulfilled that law for us. We are free to live without the restrictions and the forced offering. Instead we are able to freely give our offerings out of love, honor and gratitude for God. We no longer have to give sin offerings to atone for our own sin. Jesus did that for us. What a great and wonderful gift!

In response to His gift of freedom to us we ought to live in that freedom! He died for our sins. Why would we want to live in them any longer? Therefore, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us!

Let us pray: Lord God, help me to live a free
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: How many times a year were the Israelites supposed to celebrate a festival to the Lord?

Exodus 23 14-16 Three times a year they were to celebrate a festival for God.... Feast of Unleavened Bread for 7 days.... Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you planted.... Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the crops (Wonderful job Dianne!)

_________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What was a mother, who had just given birth, supposed to give as a burnt offering and as a sin offering?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Mon- confirmation 5pm
Tues- quilters 9am-2pm; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Chili and hotdog supper 5:30; Worship 6:30
Fri- 30 Hour Famine begins at noon
Sat- worship 5pm; 30 hr famine ends at 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30- Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
__________________________________________________________________________________________
LENTEN SUPPER is Wednesday at 5:30!!!!
This week's menu is chili and hotdogs with all the fixings and toppings and dessert. Come and support your youth with a free will offering!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP is at 6:30 on Wednesday!
Come and hear all about the 40 days and nights that the water covered the earth.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANY BABY BOTTLES LEFT?
Bring them to church asap to make sure the money gets to where it has to go in a timely manner so babies can get adopted into a forever home!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
RURAL KING IS DONATING 5% OF TURNED IN RECEIPTS FROM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
There is a week and a half left! Get to Rural King and buy some stuff and bring your receipt to the church office!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS, PARENTS, AND KIDS!!! CHECK IT OUT!!
The kids have started a new program called CROSS EXPLORATIONS, that is very interactive and the kids say it is a lot of fun!! In our adult class we are working through a video based Bible study called "Foundations" with Ken Ham who is the founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS:
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF WIL PRITZEL who passed from death to life last Wednesday and whose funeral is tomorrow (Tuesday).

For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ANITA ALTHEIDE, (a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal) who passed from death to life this morning.

For AUSTIN HEITGERD as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

For LIL WINTER whose surgery was postponed to this Wednesday.

For CAROL KOHRS who is continuing to deal with pain due to severe arthritis and deterioration in her back and neck and recovery from gall bladder surgery.

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Warren County Bookcase Club needs ten more sponsors

For $50 you can provide a beautiful, solid oak bookcase and a bag full of books for an underprivileged preschool age child in Warren County.

Make checks payable to Warren County bookcase Club and send it C/O Warren County Bookcase Club to:

First State Community Bank 1022 North Highway 47 Warrenton, MO 63383

Thank you!
Pastor

Monday, February 25, 2013

For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ANITA ALTHEIDE, (a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal) who passed from death to life this morning.

For AUSTIN HEITGERD as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

baby items needed

Doug Herzog is looking for some baby items for a friend of his who is gong through some tough times right now. He needs a crib for sure along with other things to fill up a baby's room and provide for a baby's needs.

If you think you can help, call him at 456-9006

Help needed with funeral luncheon on Tues

Ladies Aid will oversee the funeral luncheon for Wil Pritzel. If you can donate a hot dish, salad or dessert please call

Lil Winter at 636-585-2525 or Libby Pailer at 636-456-7164 or respond to this e-mail. Food should be to the church by 11:00-12:00 on Tuesday, 2/26. We need volunteers to help in the serving and clean up also. We thank all who have helped us in the past as well as now. We couldn't do this last kindness if it wasn't for the generous people here at St. John's.

Thank you and God bless, Linda Callies

RE: Wil Pritzel's visitation and funeral will be on Tuesday, Feb 26

Everything will be at church.

From: revklaus@hotmail.com
To: stjohnswarrenton@googlegroups.com
Subject: Wil Pritzel's visitation and funeral will be on Tuesday, Feb 26
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:51:43 -0600

Almost immediately after I sent the last email, the family called and told me the arrangements.

Tuesday, February 26

Visitation- 10-11

Funeral- 11

Burial at Warrenton cemetery immediately after funeral.

Luncheon back at church immediately after burial.

Wil Pritzel's visitation and funeral will be on Tuesday, Feb 26

no update on Wil Pritzel's funeral

The family can't meet with the funeral home until 1pm tomorrow. I will notify you all about it after that. Thank you!

Wil Pritzel has passed from death to eternal life

Please pray for the family and friends of WIl Pritzel as he passed from death to life early this afternoon from a heart attack.

Arrangements are pending and may not be made till Friday due to out of town family being delayed because of the storm.

Blessings and peace to all who mourn!

Pastor

Hilda Heichelbech's 90th birthday party this Saturday at 1pm

Hilda would like to invite her friends from St. John's to her 90th birthday party this Saturday beginning at 1pm. It is at the community room at the Homefield Villas across from T.R. Hughes ballpark in Ofallon.

We'll see you there!

Peace on your day y'all!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

DEVOTION: (From Lutheran Hour Ministries)

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:17

Having spent 20 years working with North American congregations, Thomas S. Ranier has come to some conclusions -- conclusions about what "happy" churches have in common.

Happy? Where did "happy" come from?

Thinking back, I was pretty positive none of my church constitutions had happy as a priority, and none of my call documents asked me to be a happy pastor, who would try to establish a happy congregation. Even more, after a quick search in my Bible's concordance, I was assured nowhere had the Lord commanded, "Thy church shalt be a happy place."

Even so, I imagine most people would rather attend a church filled with happy worshippers than one which features pews packed with sour-pussed parishioners.

Now, if you're interested, I can share just a few of the nine features which Mr. Ranier says are shared by most happy congregations. For example, he says a happy church is one which has a pastor who is authoritative but not dictatorial. Another rule says, "The pastor shows love for the congregation ... no matter how they feel about him." Happy congregations, according to Mr. Ranier, have a staff that likes each other and works well together. They also have a high percentage of the congregation actively involved in ministry.

One of Mr. Ranier's rules I liked was, "Happy churches have business meetings, which are brief and friendly." Another rule worthy of note was, "In most happy congregations many of the people were involved in small group Bible studies or Sunday school." Mr. Ranier came to other conclusions, but space doesn't allow me to share the rest.

As a Lutheran pastor, I was surprised to see none of the items on Mr. Ranier's list spoke of Word and Sacrament. None touched upon proper preaching of Law and Gospel, and nowhere did he reference the Savior who said, "If ye know these things, ye are happy if ye do them."

Do you remember when Jesus said that? It was after He had washed the disciples' feet, after He had said, "If I do this for you, you ought to do the same for others." It was after Jesus said we should make sacrifices for the greater good of God's people.

That was, after all, what Jesus did. His leaving heaven and being born in Bethlehem was a sacrifice. His rejection by fickle hearts and souls was a sacrifice. His years of ministry where He was misunderstood, maligned and hated was a sacrifice. His betrayal, His unfair trial, His carrying our sins, His unjust crucifixion were all sacrifices made, so we might be saved.

Sacrifice -- that is what Jesus did for us, and it is what He encourages us to do for others, if we are to be happy.

Honestly, I like Jesus' list better than I do that of Mr. Ranier.

Maybe I should say, the Savior's sacrifice for my salvation has made me forgiven, saved, peaceful and, yes, it has made me happy.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, sin and Satan try to ruin the fellowship of the faithful. Today I pray You will do what is necessary to defeat them so peace, contentment, joy and happiness may be found in the hearts of Your people. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What inheritance did the Levites get in the and that was given to the Israelites by God (the Promised Land)?

"The priests, who are Levites, indeed the whole tribe of Levi, are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on offerings made to the Lord by fire, for that is their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their brothers, the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them." Deuteronomy 18:1-5

"The Lord appointed the men of the Levi tribe to be in charge of the Covenant Box & to serve him as priests. That is why the tribe of Levi received no land as the other tribes did. What they did receive was the privilege of being the Lord's priests as God had promised." Deuteronomy 10:8-9 (Thanks Dianne!)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: How many times a year were the Israelites supposed to celebrate a festival to the Lord?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30
Fri- 30 Hour Famine begins at noon for those participating
Sat- worship 5pm; 30 hr famine ends at 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30- Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
__________________________________________________________________________________________
LENTEN SUPPER is Wednesday at 5:30!!!!
This week's menu is spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Come and support your youth with a free will offering!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP is at 6:30 on Wednesday!
Come and hear all about the 40 days and nights that the water covered the earth.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANY BABY BOTTLES LEFT?
Bring them to church asap to make sure the money gets to where it has to go in a timely manner so babies can get adopted into a forever home!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
RURAL KING IS DONATING 5% OF TURNED IN RECEIPTS FROM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
There is a week and a half left! Get to Rural King and buy some stuff and bring your receipt to the church office!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS, PARENTS, AND KIDS!!! CHECK IT OUT!!
The kids have started a new program called CROSS EXPLORATIONS, that is very interactive and the kids say it is a lot of fun!! In our adult class we are working through a video based Bible study called "Foundations" with Ken Ham who is the founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS:
For LIL WINTER who is having back surgery today at 10:45.

For THANKSGIVING FOR the birth of a healthy baby to Jon and Kim Stetzel, friends of the Robines.

For CAROL KOHRS who is recovering from gall bladder surgery at SSM rehab in Wentzville.

For JOSIAH TULEY, a son of friends of the Hances who is going through chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is still at the Cedars, but should be going home this week.

For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal, MO, who has been put on hospice care.

For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.

.

Prayers of thanksgiving requested

Prayers of thanksgiving to our Lord for the birth of a healthy baby to Jon and Kim Stetzel. Their new daughter is Janie Rose and was born EARLY this morning at 12:21 AM. Thanks to all who kept Kim and Janie Rose in their prayers these past weeks. The family really appreciates them. Just FYI, Kim is a 3rd grade teacher (and former student!) at Kennerly School in the Lindbergh School District.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 (revised)

I forgot to add this important prayer request. Please pray for Austin Heitgerd who is having surgery to repair his knee after a motorbike accident yesterday.

From: revklaus@hotmail.com
To: stjohnswarrenton@googlegroups.com
Subject: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:47:55 -0600

DEVOTION: Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. Exodus 15:19a

When you are writing out your bills and thinking about what you have to spend money on, Is your offering an afterthought or is it the first thing you think about? If you are like me a lot of times the offering is one of, if not the, last thing you think about. What do you think God thinks about that? Is it sinful to always think last of God's offering?
      The reading for today is just one of the many laws of Israel regarding offerings. Here is another one, "The priests, who are Levites-- indeed the whole tribe of Levi- are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the offerings made to the Lord by fire, for that is their inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them." Here is another one, "The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock..... No one is to appear before me empty handed."
         Seems like God takes offering pretty seriously. In the New Testament we are free from the law, and so we are "slaves" to Christ. That means that we don't have to give offerings, we don't have to do anything. We GET to do things that please and honor God.   Here's a verse from the New Testament. "Everyone should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
      When you realize what the Lord is doing with your offering, that He is doing His will, then you can give cheerfully. The Lord is doing great things w2ith your offerings here. People are being helped that need help. The building, St. John's Lutheran Church, and it's pastor are being cared for so that the Gospel can be proclaimed and people can be confronted with the law and comforted with the Gospel, people are being brought to faith, baptized confirmed and growing in their faith. All this and so much more is what your offering helps to do.
      I want to encourage you to look into your heart and truly DECIDE what to give, knowing that your offering will produce fruit! I want to encourage you to give the firstfruits of what you have as an offering to the Lord knowing that God will bless it and you through it. Mostly though, I want you to give joyfully so that God can bless it and you beyond your wildest imaginations!

Let us pray: Lord God, help us to give cheerfully! Help us to give according to what you want and not according to our needs or wants. Help us to give so that our offerings can honor you, but mostly just help us to give because that is what You want us to do. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY' S QUIZ: What was the misunderstanding that Moses had with the leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad when they requested the land of Jazer and Gilead instead of the land in the Promised Land?

He thought that they were going to stay there so they wouldn't have to fight with the rest of the tribes of Israel to take over the Promised Land, but really they just thought the land was good and they wanted safe place for their women and children to live in fortified cities.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What inheritance did the Levites get in the and that was given to the Israelites by God (the Promised Land)?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30
Fri- 30 Hour Famine begins at noon for those participating
Sat- worship 5pm; 30 hr famine ends at 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30- Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
__________________________________________________________________________________________
LENTEN SUPPER is Wednesday at 5:30!!!!
This week's menu is spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Come and support your youth with a free will offering!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP is at 6:30 on Wednesday!
Come and hear all about the 40 days and nights that the water covered the earth.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANY BABY BOTTLES LEFT?
Bring them to church asap to make sure the money gets to where it has to go in a timely manner so babies can get adopted into a forever home!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
RURAL KING IS DONATING 5% OF TURNED IN RECEIPTS FROM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
There is a week and a half left! Get to Rural King and buy some stuff and bring your receipt to the church office!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS, PARENTS, AND KIDS!!! CHECK IT OUT!!
The kids have started a new program called CROSS EXPLORATIONS, that is very interactive and the kids say it is a lot of fun!! In our adult class we are working through a video based Bible study called "Foundations" with Ken Ham who is the founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS:
For Karin Klaustermeier's family, as they mourn the loss of her aunt Alice, who was laid to rest yesterday.

For CAROL KOHRS who is recovering from gall bladder surgery at SSM rehab in Wentzville.

For LIL WINTER who is having back surgery on Wednesday.

For JOSIAH TULEY, a son of friends of the Hances who is going through chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is still at the Cedars, but should be going home this week.

For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal, MO, who has been put on hospice care.

For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.

For KIM, a friend of the Robines who undergoing a very difficult pregnancy.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Thursday, Feb 14, 2013

DEVOTION: Numbers 32:1-31

Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock. So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, the land that the LORD struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock." And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan."
But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here? Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them? Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the LORD had given them. And the LORD's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, 'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone. And behold, you have risen in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel! For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people."
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east." So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out. Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised." And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben said to Moses, "Your servants will do as my lord commands. Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead, but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord orders."
So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel. And Moses said to them, "If the people of Gad and the people of Reuben, every man who is armed to battle before the LORD, will pass with you over the Jordan and the land shall be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. However, if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan." And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben answered, "What the LORD has said to your servants, we will do.

My momma always told me, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Unfortunately too many times I haven't listened to her advice. Too many times I have had that dreaded foot in mouth disease. It is a terrible and awful thing that has done nothing but ruin relationships and cause problems.

I know this is a long reading about a rather obscure Bible story, but it is very interesting. Did you notice the misunderstanding here in this reading? The leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to give their women and children a safe place to live and a place for their flocks and herds to graze and grow, so they decided that it would be best if they took the land east of the Jordan, the land that wasn't considered the Promised Land but was still very good.

Moses thought they were just doing this so they wouldn't have to go over and fight all the people in the Promised Land. He thought they were chicken and didn't want to fight anymore, which wasn't the case at all. They really wanted that land and wanted to keep their families safe from the fighting.

Even good people like Moses have misunderstandings. Even good people fail to observe the part of the explanation of the 8th commandment that says that we should "explain everything in the kindest way" or as the old version goes, "put the best construction on everything".

Boy, do we need to observe this more often as Christians in our own world still today!! Even as Christians, we tend to expect the worst of people. We tend to put the worst construction on everything. We tend to be the first to criticize and judge when someone does something we think they shouldn't do. Then we get upset when someone does the same thing to us.

All of us need to keep from bearing false or unnecessary bad witness against our neighbor. We need to stop saying bad things about people! We need to emphasize the good and diminish the bad. We need to quit looking for the wrong things in each other or eventually the world isn't going to listen to us Christians at all anymore. . ALL OF US NEED TO DEFEND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, SPEAK WELL OF THEM, AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IN THE KINDEST WAY!

Let us pray: Lord God, when I don't know all of the facts, help me from speaking out of turn. When I have opportunity to say something bad about someone, help me to keep my mouth shut. And when I don't have anything nice to say, help me not to say anything at all. Amen.

____________________________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Who were the two guys who got to enter the Promised Land from the old generation of the Israelites?

The Lord told Moses to send some men to explore the land of Canaan. Moses sent 12 men. Ten men told lies about the new land but Caleb and Joshua told the truth. That is
why they were the only two men of the older generation to see the Promised Land. Here we go with the 40 years again. Israelites were forced to wonder the desert for 40
years. The children of the older generation , Caleb and Joshua were allowed to see the Promised Land. All the others died in the desert. Good job Dianne! Doug was close, but only got one right!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

THURSDAY' S QUIZ: What was the misunderstanding that Moses had with the leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad when they requested the land of Jazer and Gilead instead of the land in the Promised Land?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; voter's meeting at 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:

A WONDERFUL SUPPER AND WORSHIP LAST NIGHT WAS HAD BY A WONDXERFUL BIG GROUP OF FOLKS! KEEP COMING EVERY WEDNESDAY!!

Supper starts at 5:30 and WORSHIP STARTS AT 6:30. Tell your friends, neighbors, relatives and everyone else you know about this wonderful opportunity for food,fellowship and worship!

__________________________________________________________________________________
VOTER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY at 9:45!!

Agendas are in the office.

____________________________________________________________________________

RURAL KING is donating 5% of net total of receipts to our congregation for purchases made this week, Feb 10-16. Get your fertilizer, dog food, seeds, etc. Bring your receipts, no photocopies, to the church office by the end of Feb.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BRING YOUR BABY BOTTLES BACK TO CHURCH FILLED WITH MONEY!!!
We need to get the money in asap so that we can get it to Lutherans for Life!!!!
__________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS STARTED A NEW, EXCITING, AND FUN CURRICULUM CALLED "CROSS EXPLORATIONS".
There is a fun opening, a short study of the lesson for the day and then a fun time of science experiments and other activities!!
Come to Sunday school at 9:45am every Sunday to check it out!!! You won't be disappointed!!!
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A NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS HAS STARTED!!!
A video based Bible study by Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, will begin this coming Sunday. It begins with a study on the "Relevance of Genesis". Each study is about a half hour of video followed by a half hour of discussion. If you have been neglecting Bible study for a while, because of the subject matter, or for whatever reason, please consider coming back and joining us! You won't be disappointed!
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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.

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PRAYERS:

For CAL TAMELER who is recovering from eye surgery.

For CAROL KOHRS who is recovering from gall bladder surgery.

For LIL WINTER who is having back surgery next Tuesday.

For JOSIAH TULEY, a son of friends of the Hances who is going through chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

For SAM HARGROVE, who is still awaiting his commissioning. It was cancelled this past weekend due to the northeastern snowstorm.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who at The CEDARS nursing home in Chesterfield.

For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal, MO, who has been put on hospice care.

For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.

For KIM, a friend of the Robines who undergoing a very difficult pregnancy.

St. John's Lutheran Church
Warrenton, MO