St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

Thursday, July 18, 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).

"Does It Sound Like God?"
July 18, 2013
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

"Chutzpah" is a Yiddish word used to describe someone who is shamelessly bold. Usually, chutzpah is not a compliment.

Dr. Mark Barclay of Mark Barclay Ministries has chutzpah. I say that because in May Dr. Barclay sent out a letter asking his supporters to contribute $79,000. Seventy-nine thousand dollars is a lot of money. Still, it takes a lot of money to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those in prison.

Sadly, Dr. Barclay was not going to use the 79-thou for the hungry, the naked, or the prisoner. He needed the money to do a complete paint job on his ministry's private jet. No, that's not right. With considerable chutzpah, Dr. Barclay said, "Actually, the airplane does belong to Him (God) and not me and is used for His ministry and not personal use."

In our text above, the apostle John said we should tests the spirits to see if they come from God. Well, let's take a look at the legitimacy of Dr. Barclay's request: First, why would the Lord need a private jet? When Jesus walked this earth, well, He walked this earth. Second, if this really is God's jet, why doesn't He say the word and make the rust go away? Third, if I look at the jet's passenger list, I wonder whose name will appear more often: Dr. Barclay's or God's.

In this particular request, Dr. Barclay gets an "A" in chutzpah and an "F" in faithfulness.

Is that sour grapes on my part? Not at all.

God's ministers have been given the charge to share God's gracious message of salvation. We are privileged to tell a lost and dying world about the salvation that has been won by God's sinless Son through His life, His death, and His glorious resurrection from the dead.

The message of forgiveness-of-sins-made-possible-through-Jesus'-blood is the heart and soul of every sermon that is preached. When that gracious truth is accompanied with encouragement for God's people to leave their sinful lives behind and do everything in thanksgiving to the Lord, the pastor has preached -- and the people have heard -- a pretty complete sermon.

But when a pastor goes beyond that message of salvation, when he wanders far from the directives contained in the pages of Holy Writ, he is on thin ice. That preacher may have chutzpah, but that doesn't mean he has done what His Lord has asked. Indeed, he may even be working at cross purposes to what God expects.

This is why this devotion encourages every one of you to test the spirit of every message you hear. If the preacher promotes his ministry more than that of the Savior, if he says, "This message comes from God," but it doesn't sound like anything your God has ever said in the Bible, then, my friends, it is time to run like the devil.

Or maybe I should say it's time to run from the devil. That's not chutzpah, that's just plain smart.

THE PRAYER: "Dear Lord, Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word. Curb those who fain by craft and sword, would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son. And set at naught all He hath done." In Jesus' Name. Amen. (Taken from The Lutheran Hymnal, 261, verse 1)

Pastor Klaus

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What modern day country is where Babylon was located? Irag (Good job Dianne and Pam!)

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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Where is the verse "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord." found?

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CALENDAR

Sat- worship 5pm

Sun worship 8:30; Sunday School 9:30; worship 11; Car Rally noon

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AVENUE OF THE SAINTS IS HERE THIS SUNDAY AT 11AM!!
Be there or be square!! Make sure you invite your friends!!!

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MINISTRY GROWTH PRESENTATION WENT GREAT LAST NIGHT!

Even though attendance was low as some are out of town on vacation and others were working, it was still a good start to our program!!

Danielle Mizel, the DCE from Holy Cross, spoke very well about what she does. Jennifer Figura and Allan Dreyer did terrific leading the last portion of the presentation, and the cookies from Lani Heitgerd were terrific!

Those in elder groups 4, 5, and 6 are up for next week!!

ALL OF YOU need to be at church to hear and see a very important presentation by your Ministry Growth Committee on the need for a DCE to help to grow our young people in the faith.

The gathering shouldn't take more than an hour and will be jam packed full of information. Refreshments will be provided!!

Please plan on coming!!

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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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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 LIL WINTER as she continues to struggle greatly with diverticulitis and it is keeping her from doing just about anything.

For WILMA WEIGLE who is recovering from a slight stroke and will have to have surgery soon.

For a grandchild of a friend of Sandy Robine, 9 year old ANNA STETZEL, who is having her 3rd heart surgery today, July 16th, at Cardinal Glennon Hospital.

For TONI MAUCH'S SISTER IN LAW JoAnn Knoll, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be having a lumpectomy and treatments in the next few weeks. JoAnn is a survivor of colon cancer. Please pray for her and my brother, Ray

For WILMA SMITH who is hospitalized with problems due to dementia.

For JILL JACOBSMEYER as she recovers from knee surgery at home.

A prayer of thanksgiving for DAVE CALLIES who seems to be out of pain after a brief hospitalization due to back pain and medication troubles. (It may be a genuine miracle!!)

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).

Spaghetti Dinner for Missionary Denise Schlesselmann, Saturday, July 27 at 6pm

Make plans NOW to attend a special "sending" dinner for Denise Schlesselmann. She will soon be heading to the Czech Republic for a year and most probably two to teach ESL classes at an elementary school.

Part of the purpose of the dinner is to commit to providing both prayer support and financial support for her while she is a missionary.

Please make every effort to attend!!

RSVP to the church office or to pastor.

Peace be with you all!
Pastor

FW: From Sandy Robine - Update on prayer request for 9 year old Anna - To God Be The Glory!! Thanks to our prayer warriors!

PRAISE GOD that 9 year old Anna came through her open heart surgery today! Thank you to all of you prayer warriors that prayed for her.

As you woud probably expect, we need to keep praying for her and healing.

Her Grandma Ann told me this evening that after they put her heart "back in" her body after surgery (lasted most of the day) that it began beating on it's own pretty quickly. That was a good sign for sure. Also the doctor was encouraged by how quickly after surgery they were able to take out her breathing tube. Another good sign.

She will be in intensive care though for awhile which is normal for this type of surgery. With the heart disease she was born with, they expect the repairs they made today to last until she is about 17 years old. At that time, she will probably have another surgery. I'm thinking since that is 8 years down the road, quite possibly many new breakthroughs for her health condition can be made.

We are all just so thankful that today had a positive ending. Little Anna has quite a healing and re-hab journey ahead of her and she will still need all of our prayers. So, if you would, please keep her lifted up in prayer, along with her Mommy & Daddy and sisters and grandparents. Thank you all so much on behalf of Anna and her family.

I have to share one more thing with you all. Below I have copied and pasted Anna's note she left for her little sister, Gracie, before she left the house very early this morning for her surgery. Her Grandma Ann sent it to me in an email early this morning.

Dear Gracie, I will miss you.; Please visit. You may play with my Lego
set. Love, Anna PS Don't worry.

Yeah, I know...I went straight for a tissue myself while reading this. Anna is always thinking of someone else no matter what she is going through.

God's peace on your day,

Sandy Robine

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

"Good in All Things"
July 16, 2013
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Sammie Wallace was a disturbed and mentally-ill individual.

Recently, that illness came to a head when, in Midwest City, Oklahoma, Wallace reached into the cart of a young mother, picked up her baby, and held a knife to the child's throat. While the mother was pleading for her daughter's life, Wallace started walking away.

Pastor Terry Parker blocked his path.

Using his cart and body as a barricade, the preacher stopped Wallace from making an escape. It was a decision that might have had tragic consequences. Wallace might have turned his attentions from the child to the adult, who was blocking his way.

That might have happened, but it didn't.

What did happen was this: Pastor Parker's delaying tactics gave the police time to arrive and talk to Wallace. It was only when Wallace began a countdown, which he said would end in the death of the child, that the negotiator took a point blank shot and killed Wallace.

Now let me ask, if you had been Pastor Parker, what would you have done that day?

Remember, you only have a second to make your decision.

Although I can't hear your responses, I have to believe there are many different, well-intentioned and reasonable points of view. That's understandable because in this situation the Bible is silent, and you have no guarantee that what you are doing will end up positively.

This is why we should listen carefully to what the Lord said to us through St. Paul. In Romans 8:28, the apostle says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."

What that means is this: God is in control, and He has the authority and ability to fix that which humanity does.

Indeed, doing just that is His specialty. When Adam and Eve sinned and brought corruption to His perfect universe, God stepped in and -- in the Person of His Son -- made things right. Now, because of the Savior's sacrifice all who believe on Him have their sins forgiven and are blessed with hope, peace, joy and an eternity in heaven.

Now if the Lord has managed to fix up that sinful catastrophe, I imagine He can take care of those times when our bumbling has not worked out as well as we had hoped or intended.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks You are in control, and we are not. Grant us direction and wisdom to do that which is right and, when we do wrong, correct us and our errors. In Jesus we ask it. Amen.

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MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who are Bel and Nebo? They were images of false gods. (Great job as always Pam!)

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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What modern day country is where Babylon was located?

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CALENDAR

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm

Wed- Ladies Aid Salad Luncheon noon; Ministry Growth Campaign Meeting 7pm; newsletter deadline

Sat- worship 5pm

Sun worship 8:30; Sunday School 9:30; worship 11; Car Rally noon

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LADIES SALAD LUNCHEON AT NOON ON WEDENSDAY!!

All ladies of the church are invited to join the members of the Ladies aid for a fabulous salad luncheon and fellowship time! The members of the ladies aid are providing the lunch!! Visitors do not need to bring anything! Just come as you are!

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MINISTRY GROWTH PRESENTATION THIS WEDNESDAY AT 7pm!!

Those in elder groups 1, 2, and 3 need to be at church to hear and see a very important presentation by your Ministry Growth Committee on the need for a DCE to help to grow our young people in the faith.