St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

"Like a Roaring Leopard"
July 9, 2013
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The unnamed woman in Charlestown, Indiana, was sure an animal was harassing the pets in her neighborhood.

She was pretty sure the harasser was a bobcat.

The woman was incorrect. When she spotted a "dark shadow" near her pool, she had her boyfriend grab his shotgun and let loose on the unknown beastie. It turns out the woman was really wrong in her identification of the critter. It wasn't a bobcat.

When the lights were turned on, it was obvious the man had shot and killed a leopard.

Yes, that's right. The guy had shot a leopard. Now I'm not an expert on leopards, but I do know a few things about them. I know the leopard is a big cat, which is known for its ability to adapt to changing situations; it is known for its hunting skills and its ability to climb trees.

Oh, I also know you don't find leopards in Charlestown, Indiana, or the particular place where you live. Even so, this news report shows that it is possible for a leopard to come sniffing around your backyard.

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised.

After all, Peter once wrote that, like a roaring lion, the devil was wandering around our backyards and neighborhoods. Moreover, the devil's visit was not a friendly one. According to the apostle, the devil was looking for some sad, sorry, sinful soul to devour.

The prospect of a leopard, a lion, or the devil wandering around and near us is a frightening thing. It is frightening because the devil, like these cats, is adaptable, powerful and stealthy. They all have the ability to strike and do their damage, before you realize you are in danger.

Knowing the dangers of the devil's temptations, Peter warns us to be alert, watchful and prepared for a confrontation. Thankfully, we know we are not alone as we make our plans for protection. We are blessed to have Jesus by our side.

That truth is incredibly important. After all, Scripture points out that Jesus is most experienced in dealing with and defeating the devil. Indeed, the Savior is the only person who has ever managed to completely and totally confront the devil and walk away from those temptations unscathed.

Now the Christ who has conquered sin, death and the devil has promised He will grant that same victory for all those who have been given faith in Him as their Lord and Savior.

This is good news because you just never know when a leopard, a lion, or the devil will show up.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, leopards are not likely to show up in our lives. Not so with the devil whose appearances, although almost always unexpected, are pretty consistent. Help us, with faith in the Savior to emerge unhurt from those confrontations. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Shalmaneser? King of Assyria at the time they took Israel captive.

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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What and where is Cush?

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CALENDAR

LITTLE LAMBS SUMMER CAMP-- Science Camp 9-noon all week

VBS-- Tell It On the Mountain!!--5:30-8pm all week

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Trustees Meeting 7pm

Wed- Ministry Growth Campaign Committee meeting noon at El Jimador;

Fri- Bible Study 7pm at Hendershots

Sat- Men's Breakfast 8am; worship 5pm

Sun worship 8:30; Sunday School 9:30; worship 11; Elder's meeting noon

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JEANETTE KOEHLER'S VISITATION AND FUNERAL

Visitation- Baue funeral Home 6th and Jefferson, St. Charles, Wednesday, 4-8pm

Funeral-- Baue Funeral Home also 6th and Jefferson, St. Charles, Thursday 10am

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL WAS WONDERFUL LAST NIGHT!!!!

We had 55 kids and about 20 big kid helpers, along with all of the adults there to help. It was a wonderful evening of learning all about how God gave Moses the Ten Commandments because He loves us and wants to keep us safe, protect us, and to show us how much we need Jesus!

Come and help out tonight to see what it's all about as we learn about Elijah's experience on the mountain!!

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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY, JULY 13 AT 8am!!
Rich Boeger, Steve Robine, Kent Jacobsmeyer, and John Hachtel will be our cooks!
Come and enjoy a hearty breakfast, fellowship, and Bible Study as we grow together as men in the faith! We would like to get a good head count of who will be there, so please RSVP by replying to this email! Thanks!

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Summer Sunday School will be 9:45am -10:45am with Mrs. KLAUSTERMEIER this Sunday!

Like last year with a fun mini VBS type theme.

We will be doing the Fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Parents do you see a quality you would like your child(ren) to have more of. Come join us for some fun lessons, games, and snacks.

We will meet in the preschool room the whole time.

Also I will take any big kid helpers who want to show up too!!!

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LITTLE LAMBS SUMMER CAMP/ SCIENCE CAMP THIS WEEK

Our Little Lambs is offering four week long summer camps this summer for 3-5 year olds. You may call the church office this week for more info or to register!! Call 456-2888 for more info!!

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GOLF OUTING (4 person scramble) TO SUPPORT LITTLE LAMBS IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY MORNING AUGUST 10th.

$60 per person includes- 2 mulligans, Special hole contests, Cash prizes by flight, Lunch with pork steaks and sides.

7am- Registration begins

8am- Shotgun start

1pm Lunch and awards

$15 per person for Lunch only

Hole Sponsorship (tee box sign) $50 per hole

Entry flyers with all of the details are available in the narthex or the office!!

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PRAYER REQUESTS:

For the FAMILY OF JEANETTE KOEHLER as she passed from death to eternal life Sunday night.

FOR DAVE CALLIES who remains hospitalized with complication due to pain meds and will be having back surgery soon to permanently install his electric impulse stimulator.

For NANCY SPINIOLAS who is still dealing with a lot of pain as the electric stimulator isn't working for her. .

For RUTH WALTERS who is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.

For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is recovering from bladder surgery due to cancer.

For JESSE ULERY as he is suffering from a very painful muscle strain.

For RICK SPINIOLAS who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and continues to go through treatments. .

For DOMINIC GENTILE, a friend to many at church and in the community, who is suffering with brain cancer and is recovering from surgery.

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, and Pat King's cousin on your prayers today as well. .

PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICEMEN

I have been compiling a list of servicemen who are members of St John's so that we can pray for them. Below is a list of them and where they are currently stationed. Please note that their stationing changes quickly, so this may not even be up to date, but it is the last known whereabouts that I have of these guys.

Danny Dreyer- Army- 2nd Lieutenant- Ranger, GERMANY

Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training

David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO

Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time

David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Jacksonville, Florida

Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam

Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO

If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list.

Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!

Pray for these guys. Some of these guys are in harm's way right now, others are training to put themselves in harm's way. All of them have volunteered to serve and protect their country (which is you).

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Monday, July 8, 2013

Devotion From LHM:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

When tourists pick a destination to visit, the most popular country in the world is France.

Last year alone the city of Paris welcomed more than 29 million visitors. Of course, there are those who say that the word "welcomed" is a stretch. They say it is a stretch because, at least in some places, the French have a reputation for being rude, standoffish and surly.

Recognizing they have a very good possibility of losing the tourist trade to friendlier cities like London, the Paris Chamber of Commerce has put out a booklet, Do You Speak Touriste? The booklet, which is to be distributed to waiters, taxi drivers, and sales staff, gives advice on how they, as individuals, can improve the city's image.

The booklet gives some very down-to-earth, practical advice. For example, it says, "The British like to be called by their first names, while Italians should be shaken by the hand, and Americans reassured on prices."

With one in ten jobs in Paris dependent on the tourist dollar (or yen, lira, pound or mark), it is important the Parisians get this tourist thing right.

I wonder if anybody has ever thought about writing a similar book for Christian congregations. We could call it, Do You Speak Visitor? Every year our churches have many guests who have been brought to that point in their lives when they long for a relationship with their Savior. Sadly, many of these people come away thinking we are unfriendly, uncaring and cliquish.

There are two problems with that conclusion. First, many times the eternal spiritual destinies of these visitors are dependent on how they perceive the church.

The greater problem is that when they think we are indifferent to them, they assume our Savior, who gave His life so they might have life, feels the same way.

You and I know nothing could be further from the truth.

Because the Lord wants people to acknowledge His Son as their Savior, He has, in Scripture, given us many practical pieces of advice on how we are to deal with outsiders. Repeatedly, the Savior told us to do unto others as we want them to do to us. He said we were to follow Him and be a servant to others.

And St. Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, said we were to count others as being more important than ourselves. That, along with a sincere smile and a pleasant, "Good morning," will do much to advance the Savior's story of salvation in the hearts of humankind.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, even as there is joy in heaven over a sinner who repents, may there be joy in our churches over a soul that comes through our church doors to see the Savior. Grant that we be good ambassadors of faith. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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LAST WEEK'S QUIZ: What is an ephah? An ephah is a dry weight measurement that equals about a bushel.

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MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Shalmaneser?

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CALENDAR

LITTLE LAMBS SUMMER CAMP-- Science Camp 9-noon

VBS-- Tell It On the Mountain!!--5:30-8pm M-F

Mon- Whispering Pines worship canceled, rescheduled for next Monday, July 15

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Ministry Growth Campaign Committee meeting 12:30 at El Jimador; Trustees Meeting 7pm

Fri- Bible Study 7pm at Hendershots

Sat- Men's Breakfast 8am; worship 5pm

Sun worship 8:30; Sunday School 9:30; worship 11; Elder's meeting noon

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL BEGINS TONIGHT WITH SUPPER AT 5:30pm

We still could use any helpers that are available!!! Just show up at 5:30 and we'll put you to work. We really need all the helpers we can get, especially the first night!!

A very big thank you to all who donated food items and have already volunteered to help! Your dedication to our children is always appreciated!!

Tonight's story is God gives Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai.

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NO WHISPERING PINES WORSHIP TODAY
It will hopefully be rescheduled for next Monday at 10am, rescheduled for Monday, July 15.

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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY, JULY 13 AT 8am!!
Rich Boeger, Steve Robine, Kent Jacobsmeyer, and Dave Callies will be our cooks!
Come and enjoy a hearty breakfast, fellowship, and Bible Study as we grow together as men in the faith! We would like to get a good head count of who will be there, so please RSVP by replying to this email! Thanks!

______________________________________________________________________________

Summer Sunday School will be 9:45am -10:45am with Mrs. KLAUSTERMEIER this Sunday!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LITTLE LAMBS SUMMER CAMP/ SCIENCE CAMP THIS WEEK

Our Little Lambs is offering four week long summer camps this summer for 3-5 year olds. You may call the church office this week for more info or to register!! Call 456-2888 for more info!!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GOLF OUTING (4 person scramble) TO SUPPORT LITTLE LAMBS IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY MORNING AUGUST 10th.

$60 per person includes- 2 mulligans, Special hole contests, Cash prizes by flight, Lunch with pork steaks and sides.

7am- Registration begins

8am- Shotgun start

1pm Lunch and awards

$15 per person for Lunch only

Hole Sponsorship (tee box sign) $50 per hole

Entry flyers with all of the details are available in the narthex or the office!!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For the FAMILY OF JEANETTE KOEHLER as she passed from death to eternal life last night.