The Lutheran Hour: February 16, 2014

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From: Lutheran Hour Ministries

Date:02/15/2014 9:15 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: The Lutheran Hour: February 16, 2014

Sermon Text for February 16, 2014   "Living in God's Choice" #81-24 Presented on The Lutheran Hour on February 16, 2014 By Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker (What Is The Church's View About Racism?) Copyright 2014 Lutheran Hour Ministries Text: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Christ is risen. He is risen indeed; so trust Him, dear friend, when life gets tough. Amen. Use it or lose it. Perhaps you've heard that cliché before. Actually, it's more than a cliché for me right now. It's all too real. Right before Thanksgiving last year, I got in shape and ran a half-marathon with some of you, my friends and listeners; do you remember the "Run With The Rev" race in St. Louis? It was a great day. But, even on the day of that race, I wasn't really in that great a shape, but in decent shape. But guess what, through the holidays, with lots of traveling and speaking engagements, and wonderful potlucks with so many wonderful Lutheran folks around the country; well, I'm back to square one on the training front. If you don't use it, it is true, you can quickly lose it.  Well, in our text it seems to be more like choose it or lose it and it's way more important than something like just getting into shape, or eating right, or fulfilling some New Year's resolution. Moses gets right to the heart of it. He is at the end of his ministry, his leadership of the Old Testament people of God. He's worried about them. He knows how easily they can be distracted to do, to say, to be about things that really don't matter at all, or worse, to do things that could destroy their relationship to God. So he's saying, "I'm setting before you life and death. So do you want to choose life or death, good or evil?" Now, you might be saying, "Come on, Pastor, that's easy, who wouldn't want to choose life?" Well, you would be surprised. The Bible actually says that human beings, because of their sin are spiritually dead to God. They, and that's all of us by nature, we don't want to choose Him, we don't feel we need to choose Him, and even if we want to, we wouldn't; why, because that's what spiritually dead people do. Have you noticed today how more and more people seem to find joy in not choosing to trust or believe in God? The Bible says, "Don't be surprised; people have always been like that!" But God still comes in this word for all; making an invitation to you and me, my friend, for us to be able to have His life! So let me try to paint a picture of this Bible reading today so that you can choose life in His Name, so that you can put His life to use in your life, the life that you've been given by God as a gift. You see, Moses, he was a great prophet in the Old Testament. He was to lead a people who had been chosen by God to reveal His grace to the world; yes, to all people. But, they found themselves enslaved in Egypt, in bondage, threatened with extinction. But, God keeps His promises. He intervened for them, rescued, and delivered them through the parted waters of the Red Sea and set them on a path to freedom so that they could declare to the world the deeds of a God who saves all people, even those who have no power and strength to do so for themselves.  Now, at this time, they are at another water crossing, crossing the Jordan River into that freedom, that liberty to which God had rescued them. They are at the banks of the Jordan River ready to enter into the Promised Land as people who have already been chosen and saved by God.  You see, in Egypt, in slavery, they were trapped, powerless. When they arrived at the banks of the Red Sea, they were on the run, being chased by the powerful armies of Pharaoh, powerless before their captors, helpless now before the drowning waters of the impassable Red Sea, almost as good as dead; and then it happened. It happened. God miraculously rescued them and brought them to this moment in this text.  Now they're standing on the banks of a trickling brook; still dangerous, yes, but crossable, especially as they trust and follow the God who has already saved them. So, Moses is speaking to the people who have been chosen by God, saying, "Choose life" and when he says that, he's saying, "God has crossed the Red Sea for you and brought you to life in Him. Now, cross over into the Promised Land, cross over that Jordan River into the land where you can live that abundant life He redeemed you to live.  That's God's invitation to them; but that's His invitation to you and to me too. God crossed the uncrossable for you so that you and I can be saved and in faith, by the power of His Spirit, you can now follow Him wherever He leads. Choose life.  Let me give you another picture of that. One of the most dangerous rivers in the world is the Congo River or the Zaire River. Even when it is calm, there are predatory fish swimming just below the surface and there are places where the river is so deep, so fast, that crossing it would be suicide. One of those places is called, "The Gates of Hell." The river may be 2900 miles long, but the 75 miles of these waters provide more fear than all the rest combined! So, what would you feel like if you were standing at the bank of the "Gates of Hell" and you had to cross to live? Or, what would you feel like if you were laying there helpless with enemies on your tail and you had to cross it to live? Then imagine the joy if someone suddenly came out of those terrifying waters, lifted you, and carried you over a bridge that only he could build and brought you to safety on the other side.  Well, that's just a glimpse of the cross of Good Friday. Jesus literally crossed the real "Gates of Hell," to rescue you and me, to free us from the slavery to our own sin, the bondage to our own desires and failures, and brought us to the point of real, full life in Him. He crossed the Congo of life for you, now cross the Jordan and live with Him for others. He crossed the uncrossable so that you could step through the waters of new life in Him, with Him. So, don't get too caught up on this choice thing as if your choice makes God act more favorably to you. The most important choice is God's choice for you in His covenant, in His promise of grace. Then as now; God knows what He has in you and me, all of us. He knows that the world naturally is in rebellion to Him. He knows that human hearts are focused on themselves, and not the things that really matter. He knows that when it comes to choice, we choose ourselves every time, even when it means eternal death and separation. But, out of His love, He comes with a message that can still warm your heart; that can overcome your rebellion; that can bring you peace in the middle of your turmoil.  There are just some things that have to be done by the one person who can do it, aren't there? We kind of believe this deep down in our hearts already. The movies that really get us are those movies where that one person does what has to be done so that all might be blessed, right? War movies are like that because in war, things always seem to turn on one person's diligence or one person's faithfulness, one platoon's dedication to duty and honor. If you want to see some examples of that, just watch that HBO special, "Band of Brothers." There are some moments in that series that will make even the most hardened man cry real tears. Even as sinners, we know that it is noble for people to die so that others might live!  But when it comes to the price to be paid for real, abundant, eternal life for sinful, rebellious humanity, even our noblest efforts aren't enough. Choosing death so that rebels might have eternal life, that's not what we do. In fact, we recoil at that notion. But, that's the message of the Scripture for all. The Bible proclaims that absolute, infinite difference of God's loving rescue when it says in Romans 5, "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." So, choose life? It would be better to say since God has chosen you, since God has paid the price for your forgiveness, life, and salvation, since God has made this life available to you, by the power of His Spirit, trust in Him. Yes, and live that life for all its worth! Like the people in our text chosen by God's covenant promise, people of the promise called Israel; we, too, are being encouraged not just to have faith, but to live life faithfully in God's love and promise, now and forever. They were encouraged to choose good and not evil. And the word for good here includes the notion of both prosperity and salvation - both material and spiritual provisions. That's a lot of good! But, this isn't prosperity theology as if God is some kind of Santa Claus at our beck and call. But, it's also wrong to think that God is somehow stingy, as if He is the One who makes life hard this side of heaven. No, God is an abundant life giver and He promises to be with us, to bless us, to draw us close to Him in all things. We can trust that in worldly abundance or we can trust that in worldly scarcity for He fills His people with good things!  When we choose life in His Name, we are choosing to follow the Lord who has already loved us, just like He loved the people in our text. The Psalmist echoes that material good in Ps. 145:16. He says, "You, Lord, open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." That's just the kind of God He is. And I know then that it's hard to imagine but even in the face of the fullness of God's grace human beings still are the kind of people who still seem to love everything else but what God teaches and commands. We are a people still stingy with our love, our forgiveness, our labor, our effort, our resources. God doesn't make us pay, but we often make each other pay. Even believers at times, receive God's abundance and then treat each other very poorly. Moses says, "That would indeed be foolish to choose evil in the face of God's goodness for you."  I'm so amazed today when people blame God for the foolish choices that are so rampant in the world. We say that we are pro-choice and yet that euphemistically means killing the innocent and the helpless among us. We say we are for sexual freedom and sexual liberty, but that has spawned diseases, and brokenness, and hopelessness not just for the choosers but for the children who have to live with such choices. We say we are for equality, but as soon as the powerless get in power, the same degradation of others seems to follow.  Moses lays it all before them. He says, "This day I call the heaven and the earth against you as witnesses that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life!" He says, "Don't lay there in your bondage; don't try to choose life on your terms, trust in the One who has done it all for you, and then live the life that He has in store for you too."  God has crossed over the Congo Rivers of our life. We get to cross the Jordan of our fears in faith and hope to live life following the footsteps of the One who always goes with us and goes on before us.  That's why Moses also can say to them and to you and me, "Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven.....Nor is it beyond the sea.....No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." It's too hard for us to choose life on our terms; but, it's not too hard for God who is our life to choose us and then to invite us to live that life by His Spirit. As Moses reminds us, our faithfulness is determined by God's faithfulness. He asks 'who's going to ascend to heaven to bring this to us?" The Bible says, "God Himself in His Loving faithfulness actually descended from heaven all the way to us, in Jesus Christ. As the Bible says, "For [God] chose us in him [that's Christ] before the creation of the world" (Eph. 1:4) and then He sent His Son into our flesh to bring us His blessing and salvation.  Luther's famous Christmas hymn "From Heaven Above To Earth I Come;" it revels in this Biblical teaching as he writes, "Welcome to earth, O noble Guest. Through whom the sinful world is blessed! You came to share my misery that you might share your joy with me."  That's a near word from God, a life-giving word, one available to you and to me right now.  Yes, my friend, as incredible as it sounds, you have the promises of God even more sure today than those Children of Israel and Moses himself. You don't need to cross the Red Sea, because Jesus Christ brings the very blessings of that crossing, indeed, the ultimate blessings of the cross of Calvary, all the way to you in the waters of Holy Baptism in His Name. Do you want to experience the blessings of that Red Sea salvation? Do you want to know the certainty that Christ's saving death was for you? Then let Him splash you with His grace with the water that's connected to His Name. That Word of life that Moses spoke of, it is even more near to you today. When you go to Christ's church, especially of the Lutheran persuasion, you are not going to hear dry sermons about merely being good boys and girls; you are also not going to hear false, empty promise sermons about "living life to its fullness on your terms alone." No, you are going to hear a Word that comes to bring you life, and as believers, you will even come to His Table, His Supper, where you will taste and see that the Lord is good to you personally. Choose that! Choose life! Jesus has crossed the eternal Congo Rivers of Hell itself, so that we can cross through the Jordan Rivers of promise, living life by His Spirit for one another! We can choose life because Jesus, the Life of the World, has chosen us by His cross and resurrection. Jesus said in John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit." Christ chose us. That is good news. But we see here a connection between being chosen and choosing, between being chosen and bearing fruit, between being chosen and obeying God's ways, commandments, statutes, and rules. Now that's choice worth choosing, right? Choose life from the One who made life possible for you again. The same God who breathed life into Adam at creation breathed new life into us, by breathing life into us through His Spirit-filled Word.  And we need that new breath of life in Christ. His Word is literally the oxygen mask of eternal life; I like that. Let's say it again. His Word is literally the oxygen mask of eternal life to those who need it more than just a breath of fresh air, but to those who are gasping for breath who need that oxygen of His forgiveness and grace for life. Read His Word, be baptized into His Name, believe in Jesus Christ, the One who fulfilled the very words of Moses for you, and follow Him to the other side of your Jordan River and live life to His glory, by the power of His Name.  Breathe in His life-giving Word today and choose life. Breathe that breath of life and choose good. Breathe that breath of life and choose blessing for others in your thoughts and prayers. The joy of being chosen produces the joy of choosing life so that others might know the One who saved and redeemed you as His own.  Right after these words, Moses brings some encouragement to those who will live life following the Lord in a rebellious world. He says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear......for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you." What words of encouragement for them and for us; for God sets before you again life and good and blessing. Choose His life for you. Don't lose it. You can do it because it's been done for you. And the One who chose you is with you. And He will never leave you, never forsake you.  Amen. LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for February 16, 2014 Topic: What Is The Church's View About Racism? ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions. I'm Mark Eischer. Today, the question is, "What is the church's view concerning racism?"  SELTZ: What a timely question, Mark. I think it's crucial for the church to be heard about this issue, leading the way in creating an environment of love, acceptance, people who share the same faith in Christ, no matter where we come from, what language we speak, or what color our skin happens to be. ANNOUNCER: And it's a serious issue not only for us in society, but also, I think, in the life of the Church. SELTZ: Right, it is; but we don't take the lead on this because of the world's opinion or even the pressures of our own society. No, we seek to be a people who are open to others because we serve a Savior who died for every person on the planet, for all nations. Remember what Jesus said as He prepared His followers for His ascension into heaven: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." He said. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-19 ESV).  ANNOUNCER: And He didn't say make disciples of only a favored few or a certain ethnic group. SELTZ: No. No way, He mandated that the Gospel message is for all nations. Any racism or oppression based on the color of someone's skin is absolutely unbiblical and not Christ-like. It is totally counter to Jesus' love for us and His calling for our lives. ANNOUNCER: The Bible is very clear on this. We read in Colossians, chapter three, "Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free; but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11 ESV).  SELTZ: Wow! Isn't that great? God's Word does not compromise when it comes to treating all people not only fairly, but generously and graciously. In fact, God doesn't treat us fairly, He treats us graciously, loving and forgiving us even though we don't deserve it.  ANNOUNCER: Sadly, we sometimes do the opposite. SELTZ: We do. Even as Christians, we're still weak and broken sinners. It is easy to prejudge, to discriminate, to harbor fearful feelings for people who look different, speak a different language, or do things differently than we do. Even the Apostle Peter himself had problems with this, remember? ANNOUNCER: God confronted Peter with it through a vision. SELTZ: That's right, Acts, chapter ten. Peter was a Jewish man. He believed that Gentiles were unclean and unworthy to receive the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. But God sent Peter a vision of unclean food.  ANNOUNCER: And in that vision God commanded Peter to eat things that were forbidden according to Jewish law.  SELTZ: That's right; and right after that dream messengers from a Gentile leader, Cornelius, came to ask Peter to come to their home. God overcame Peter's false superior attitude, and a humbled Peter went to Cornelius' home and said something that set the pace for the Christian Church for the ages. He said, "Truly I understand now that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34-35 ESV). ANNOUNCER: So Peter understood that God's love for all people meant sometimes putting his feelings, his habits, and his fears to the side. SELTZ: And God's heart, then, is for all people. In 2 Corinthians, chapter five, the Apostle Paul describes this new vantage point we have. He says, "For the love of Christ controls us.... he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him. So, from now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh" (2 Corinthians 5:13-16 ESV). ANNOUNCER: So as Jesus fills us with His love, He also changes the way we look at others and how we treat them. SELTZ: That's right. There's a new life that's been given, that's how we get to live. But I have to be honest. The church, God's people, not always done this very well; and, to be completely honest, we still don't. There are plenty of racial divides still out there. It's been said that Sunday morning is still the most segregated time in our nation.  ANNOUNCER: How can we help the church to become more in line with the Spirit of God? SELTZ: The first thing I would recommend, Mark, is that every one of us falls on his or her knees in prayer, repenting of any hatred of that kind, asking God to make every church a reflection of its community, a unified, loving gathering for all nations and people. We are the people who get to welcome the stranger, the foreigner, as God welcomes us. The second thing I would recommend is action. As God's people, we need to be, by the power of His Spirit, the best at befriending people around us, putting aside the foolishness of racism and shining the love of Christ to those that God gathers in our midst. ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Seltz. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Music Selections for this program: "A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission. "Lord, 'Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee" (public domain) "The Church's One Foundation" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) Print this sermon Sign up for LHM news Daily Devotions Visit lutheranhour.org Change my email Contact Us subscribe / unsubscribe / visit our website 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141 1-800-876-9880

Watch "Pastor Klaustermeier's sermon from 2/9/14" on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwk8XGEshGs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thurs. Feb 13, 2014

DEVOTION:  Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.  The Story p. 73
 
Humility is a virtue that often goes unnoticed.  It goes unnoticed, because people who are humble never like to make a big deal about themselves.  People who are humble don't brag, they don't let other people know what they are good at.  They are very seldom leaders, but when they are, and when they do speak up, people take notice and listen. 
 
I love that Moses was the most humble man among all the Israelites.  It show me that the  qualities God looks for in a leader aren't necessarily the same qualities the world looks for.  It shows me that a lot of times, as it says in the Scripture, "God opposes the proud and give grace to the weak." 
 
The reason for this is that God wants people to know that it is by His power and His Almighty hand that He does miraculous things.  He wants people to see that He can bring water out of a rock, that He can bring plagues upon a whole nation, and that He can bring a whole nation out of a land of oppression and into a land flowing with milk and honey. 
 
God doesn't want a man to ever think He has power within himself to change the world or be a leader, but that He is the one who is ultimately in charge of all things.
 
Have you been humble or arrogant lately?  Have you looked to the needs of others or yourself?  Have you shown by your words and actions that God is in charge of your life or that you are?  Think about it and repent if you need to.
 
Let us pray:  Lord God, thank you for raising up a leader like Moses to show us that you appreciate and honor those whoa re humble.  Amen.

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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  If you number the commandments differently than you do in our Lutheran catechism, what would the second commandment be?  (Many other Christian denominations have a different way of listing and numbering the ten commandments.)
 
Some take the "You shall have no other gods" and "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God" as one  command.
 
Other take "You shall have no other gods" and "You shall not make for yourselves any graven image" as two different commands and take the 9th and 10th commandments as we have them about coveting and make them one commandment. 
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ: Who buried Moses?
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CALENDAR:
Fri- Youth set up for Steak Dinner and Auction starting at 3pm; Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Youth set up for Steak Dinner and Auction at 9am; Steak Dinner and Auction (doors open at 5pm); worship 5pm  NO BIBLE CLASS
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 6); VOTER'S MEETING 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Devin Miller; 11- Cara Klaustermeier
Altar guild- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Terry McKenzie
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer; Sun- Steve Robine;  11am- Austin Heitgerd
Sat. Pianist- Tim Sherman
8:30 Ushers- George Hoelscher, Brent Davis, Gary Hoelscher, Walt Schirr
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:

THIS WEEK:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 6  "Wandering"
Since there is a Steak Dinner Saturday night and a Voter's Meeting Sunday morning there will not be any adult Bible class this week.  There will still be Sunday school for the kids! 
 
Be on the look out in the days ahead for questions that you can use for your own Bible study time at home! 
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STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!! 
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours!  Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
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QUARTERLY VOTER'S MEETING
The big item is that we will be voting on whether or not to pay off the Good Shepherd mortgage to free up income for our DCE intern.
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT WILL OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES ON MARCH 1ST!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee.  Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1.  Enrollment for the community will be gin April 1.  For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
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HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

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NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
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PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
 
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
 
MARY AUBUCHON AND FAMILY as they are mourning the loss of her brother Floyd.
 
Sandy Robine's friend Patrice who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
 
JAYME VESSEL, an "almost" member of St. John's who is due to have a baby girl on the 17th, but it may come sooner due to frequent contractions.

COUGAR CLIFFORD, 15 year old who had an accident playing in the snow on Jan 7 and broke his neck.  He has undergone extensive surgery and is recovering but is still unable to move his legs.   

Terry McKenzie's cousin's sister-in-law who has a bad brain injury.



 

JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
         




           

Wed. Feb 12, 2014

DEVOTION:  When Moses went and told the people all the Lord's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the Lord has said we will do."  Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.  The Story p. 62
 
Have you ever gotten "zealous" for doing God's will only to very shortly afterwards realize that you have failed?  Maybe you read the Ten Commandments in last week's reading and thought like the Israelites did in the passage above that you could do them.  You got very pious, started to pray five or ten times a day, read your Bible constantly, and did everything just right, and then you woke up from your dream.....
 
We all would like to be better, to do all the right things, to keep from sinning, to live completely according to God's will. 
 
At the same time, maybe you see the real truth behind this passage, especially when you read about one failing after another among the Israelites or how they continually seem to be grumbling against the Lord, Moses, and Aaron, and you realize just how impossible it is to do all the law of the Lord.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
 
That is why God sent His Son Jesus to die on that cross for you.  He knew you couldn't fulfill the law perfectly.  The biggest use of the law is to show us our sins.  Once you get that straight and acknowledge your inability to keep the law you are finally on the right track.  Then you can truly fall at the feet of the Lord and repent of your sinfulness, of your self righteousness, and of your pride and truly begin to lead a truly humble, repentant, and peace filled life. 
 
I urge you today to take the lesson God has shown us through the story of the Israelites and plead with God to forgive you of your sins for Jesus' sake, knowing that what He has promised, He has done!
 
Let us pray:  Lord God, help us all to get off our high horse, to quit judging others for the same sins we commit, and to humbly fall before you and receive Your forgiveness.  Amen.
 

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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What is the fifth commandment?  (Depends on how you number them.)  It is either "Honor your father and mother" or "You shall not murder."
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  If you number the commandments differently than you do in our Lutheran catechism, what would the second commandment be?  (Many other Christian denominations have a different way of listing and numbering the ten commandments.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Youth set up for Steak Dinner and Auction starting at 3pm; Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Youth set up for Steak Dinner and Auction at 9am; Steak Dinner and Auction (doors open at 5pm); worship 5pm  NO BIBLE CLASS
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 6); VOTER'S MEETING 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Devin Miller; 11- Cara Klaustermeier
Altar guild- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Terry McKenzie
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer; Sun- Steve Robine;  11am- Austin Heitgerd
Sat. Pianist- Tim Sherman
8:30 Ushers- George Hoelscher, Brent Davis, Gary Hoelscher, Walt Schirr
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:

THIS WEEK:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 6  "Wandering"
Since there is a Steak Dinner Saturday night and a Voter's Meeting Sunday morning there will not be any adult Bible class this week.  There will still be Sunday school for the kids! 
 
Be on the look out in the days ahead for questions that you can use for your own Bible study time at home! 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!! 
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours!  Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
QUARTERLY VOTER'S MEETING
The big item is that we will be voting on whether or not to pay off the Good Shepherd mortgage to free up income for our DCE intern.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT WILL OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES ON MARCH 1ST!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee.  Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1.  Enrollment for the community will be gin April 1.  For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
 
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
 
MARY AUBUCHON AND FAMILY as they are mourning the loss of her brother Floyd.
 
Sandy Robine's friend Patrice who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
 
JAYME VESSEL, an "almost" member of St. John's who is due to have a baby girl on the 17th, but it may come sooner due to frequent contractions.

COUGAR CLIFFORD, 15 year old who had an accident playing in the snow on Jan 7 and broke his neck.  He has undergone extensive surgery and is recovering but is still unable to move his legs.   

Terry McKenzie's cousin's sister-in-law who has a bad brain injury.


 
JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
         




           

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Tues. Feb 11, 2014

DEVOTION:  Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.  How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?  What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?  The Story p. 67
 
What is it that makes you stand out from the crowd?  Is it your spectacular good looks?  Is it your wit?  Is it your knowledge and intellect?  Is it your unusual ability to play an instrument or play a sport?  What is it?
 
Hopefully, as you read the passage above, you were able to say that what makes you stand out from the crowd is the Presence of the Lord God in your life.  But how is that seen?  Ahh, let me count the ways..
 
1. Humility-  Scripture says that Moses was the most humble of all the Israelites.
2. Accountability (self control)-  You know that you are accountable to God and so you act like it, because you want to honor Him.
3. Peace- There is usually an unusual presence of peace that surrounds you even in times of crisis and pain.
4. Love- You love people despite your differences with them.
5. Joy- Joy doesn't mean that you are walking around with a smile on your face all the time, but it does mean that your joy is constant and doesn't depend on your circumstance but only on Christ's love for you.
6. Kindness- You are always willing to help.
7. Patience- You are patient with people, waiting on the Lord to do His work.
8. Faithful- You are faithful to God and to others. 
 
You might have recognized this list as the list of the fruits of the Spirit.  If the presence of God is with you, that means the Holy Spirit lives in you.  By virtue of your faith given to you when you heard the good news and when you were baptized, the Holy Spirit lives in you!  Rejoice in that today!  Live with the knowledge that the Lord is WITH you always to the very end of the earth!
 
 
Yet, even when we don't exhibit all of these qualities God is still with us and He shows His presence in us through the Word and the Sacraments.  These are the marks of the church and the marks of God's work.  Whenever we are partaking of these and living in God's grace we can know that God is with us even when we don't feel like it!  Trust in that today!
 
Let us pray:  Lord God, thank you for your continual presence!  Amen.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
LAST TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was it that told the Israelites to give him all their gold jewelry so that he could make a golden calf?  Aaron
____________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What is the fifth commandment?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2pm; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Trustees meeting
Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Youth set up for Steak Dinner and Auction starting at 3pm; Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Youth set up for Steak Dinner and Auction at 9am; Steak Dinner and Auction (doors open at 5pm); worship 5pm  NO BIBLE CLASS
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 6); VOTER'S MEETING 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Devin Miller; 11- Cara Klaustermeier
Altar guild- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Terry McKenzie
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer; Sun- Steve Robine;  11am- Austin Heitgerd
Sat. Pianist- Tim Sherman
8:30 Ushers- George Hoelscher, Brent Davis, Gary Hoelscher, Walt Schirr
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:

THIS WEEK:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 6  "Wandering"
Since there is a Steak Dinner Saturday night and a Voter's Meeting Sunday morning there will not be any adult Bible class this week.  There will still be Sunday school for the kids! 
 
Be on the look out in the days ahead for questions that you can use for your own Bible study time at home! 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!! 
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours!  Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
QUARTERLY VOTER'S MEETING
The big item is that we will be voting on whether or not to pay off the Good Shepherd mortgage to free up income for our DCE intern.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT WILL OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES ON MARCH 1ST!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee.  Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1.  Enrollment for the community will be gin April 1.  For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
 
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
 
MARY AUBUCHON AND FAMILY as they are mourning the loss of her brother Floyd.
 
Sandy Robine's friend Patrice who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
 
JAYME VESSEL, an "almost" member of St. John's who is due to have a baby girl on the 17th, but it may come sooner due to frequent contractions.

COUGAR CLIFFORD, 15 year old who had an accident playing in the snow on Jan 7 and broke his neck.  He has undergone extensive surgery and is recovering but is still unable to move his legs.   

Terry McKenzie's cousin's sister-in-law who has a bad brain injury.

JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
         




           

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The Lutheran Hour: February 9, 2014

-------- Original message --------

From: Lutheran Hour Ministries

Date:02/08/2014 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: The Lutheran Hour: February 9, 2014

Sermon Text for February 9, 2014   "You're Still in the Game" #81-23 Presented on The Lutheran Hour on February 9, 2014 By Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker (Can Acts of Kindness Deliver the Gospel?) Copyright 2014 Lutheran Hour Ministries Text: Matthew 5:14-20 Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). Christ is risen; He is risen indeed and because of Him, we can live life boldly when it really matters most! Amen! Have you ever suffered the winter blahs? Growing up in Michigan, here in the United States, the cloudy, snowing days never seemed to end this time of year. I always yearned to see the sun about this time; because without that light and warmth, I could easily suffer the winter blues, the winter blahs. Do you feel like that sometimes? I mean, why can't we go right from Christmas to spring? Why this darkness of winter, stretching into February? The snow is dirty and gray. The cars are caked with salt. It leaves a person feeling sluggish and tired. Wouldn't it be great to open the windows and let the fresh air of springtime just rush in? I know that winter can be fun. Sledding and skiing and snowball fights can bring lots of enjoyment. But winter can be long, hard, and draining, too. I was just thinking about a Pastor friend of mine, Pastor Sol Grosskopf. He's a pastor in Norway. That's right, Norway. And I thought about him, because I read about a town in Norway that has sixty polar nights in a row! That's when the sun does not peek above the horizon because the location is above the Arctic Circle. At noon a slight dawn appears, but from November through February the darkness of winter takes hold. Wow!  I don't think that's happening where he lives, at least to that degree. But, Sol, my prayers are with you, if they are. I don't think I could handle that. One Norwegian town, located in the valley, has installed three giant computer-controlled mirrors on the mountains surrounding the town. The town rarely gets any sunlight during the year. These mirrors will shine a 6500-square foot ray of light directly into the town square. I have a feeling that sunbathing spots in that town square are going for a high, high price. It's hard for human beings to deal with the absence of light. In fact, when there's an absence of light, when people have to experience the darkness too long, they can suffer something called Seasonal Affective Disorder, aptly named SAD. Symptoms of this depressive disorder caused by lack of sunlight include: fatigue, craving sweets, feeling sad or irritable, and wanting to be isolated from others. These symptoms can also lead to gaining weight over the winter--another reason to feel disheartened by the winter blahs! But maybe today, it's not the winter blahs of weather that you're feeling. Maybe it's the winter blahs of your heart, even your soul. You may feel sidelined today, immobilized and washed up because of the season of life you're in. You may feel like you're too old or too young to make a difference anymore. At this time of your life, you may feel invisible, as if no one listens to you or hears you. Or, maybe something you've done in your past is hanging over you like a long, long winter night, maybe you're struggling with an illness that's overwhelming, making you feel like there will never be a dawning horizon for you. You had dreams of doing special things in life, now this. How can you make any difference at all? You may believe that your life is in a wintry season of inactivity, not useful to God or anyone else. You may be experiencing the sadness of thinking you're a non-factor, washed up, out of the game. If any of that applies to you, then listen up, listen in, because Jesus has something to say to those of us who are experiencing the winter blahs of darkness, either physically or emotionally; to those of us who feel like the game of life has passed us by or left us helpless on the sidelines. In the midst of that reality Jesus incredibly declares: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus doesn't consider you sidelined. He doesn't think you're washed up. He knows you're not useless. He understands that your failures do not stand in the way of the most important mission on this earth. Jesus knows that His saving work for you on the cross and His life-giving work for you in His resurrection from the grave; He knows that brings you new life right now! Jesus knows that the forgiveness of sins He earned for you brings the springtime of new purpose to your life, the fresh air of being God's shining light in this world!  Jesus says you're still in the game!  Just six months ago, photographers captured basketball great Michael Jordan dunking at his Flight School Basketball Camp in Santa Barbara, California. He's still got it. Last summer, spectators watched another basketball great, fifty-six-year-old Larry Bird; make fifteen long-range jump shots in a row. To top it off, Julius Erving, the famous "Dr. J" of the NBA, is still able to dunk the ball at sixty-three years of age! They're still in the game! But so are you. And I'm not talking about basketball. I'm talking about something bigger. In Christ, because of Jesus, you are the light of the world, no matter what your age! You, who are believers in Christ, you all are the light of the world. So, it's not about whether you are the most talented, most famous, most connected person in the world! No, if you are a believer in Jesus, you and all of His people are the light of the world. Jesus died and rose again to redeem us from sin, and death, and the power of the devil. Jesus calls us by name in baptism. Jesus appoints us to go and bear fruit that will last. Jesus uses our lives to shine His light! In Him we are the light of the world. You are the light of the world, He says, and that isn't in the past tense. It wasn't just true of you in your prime. It isn't a statement about the future one day when you get all the right credentials, or when the kids grow up, or when you feel better. You are the light of the world; right now, where you're at, in the current season of your life, you are the light of the world. You shine the life-giving light and love of Christ in just the way He needs it shined right now. Your purpose is important. Your mission is irreplaceable. You don't even know all the ways that Jesus is working through you and for you right now. But you need to trust that this time in your life, where you're at and who you're with, that you are the light of the world, making God's Kingdom impact in more ways than you can imagine. Do you get the picture? Do you really see the big picture? Jesus assigns you the status of being the light of the world. He lets you know that, while on this earth, you are serving the most important purpose and meeting the greatest need of all humanity. You help vanquish darkness.  Astronauts say that they never realized what darkness really was until they were in outer space. You may have experienced total darkness in your lifetime. Perhaps you took a tour of a cave and they turned the lights out. You couldn't see the hands in front of your face! Maybe you've spent time in a remote place, far away from the city lights, and stumbled in the blackness. Oh how we need light! And it's not just the absence of sunlight that sends us into panic and desperation. It's the darkness of life when the Good News of Jesus is absent. The world is dark with tragedy and violence. People's lives are dark with hurt and hopelessness. They need the light of Christ. You might remember a few years ago when miners in the country of Chile became trapped in a mine 2000 feet below ground for more than two months. 700,000 tons of rock collapsed, trapping the men nearly one-half mile below. The men spent most of their time in the darkness with 90-degree temperatures. For the first two weeks, they ate only spoonfuls of tuna, half a cookie, and half a glass of milk every two days. But then came the miraculous rescue. After drilling a hole just big enough to fit a man-sized capsule into it, miners were brought to the surface one by one. They were given dark glasses to wear as officials feared that the months of darkness would make light intolerable to their eyes. As the miners emerged on the earth's surface, crowds of people cheered. A worldwide audience was transfixed on the rescue. Chilean officials greeted the miners by saying, "Welcome to life!" Onlookers commented, "It is as if they have been born again."  After emerging on the surface, sixty-three-year-old Mario Gomez fell to his knees and bowed his head in prayer. He knew the True Light! That's what we need more of today! Rescue from the darkness is what our world needs. It is what people crave. And Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." Like the rescued miners, you declare to the world God's rescue from the darkness for all people. As His people, you show the world that new life is possible, that being born again through the living Word of God is a real gift and blessing. For a world trapped in the rubble of sin and heartache, you are the light of the world! Of course you may be saying to yourself, "Me? How can I be the light of the world? How can God use me?" Let me tell you, friend, the devil wants you to feel that way. He wants you to believe that you could never fit into God's plan of bringing the light of salvation of Christ to a sin-darkened world. And, to be totally honest with you, in your own weakness and sin, you and I wouldn't shine any light at all anyway. We would be children of darkness. But God's Word gives you Good News today. You have received the gift of new life! Ephesians, chapter five says, "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. By His grace and strength you're still in the game! Moses was an eighty-year-old man running from his sin, but God made him a deliverer. He was still in the game! Daniel, in the Old Testament, was an exile for most of his life, even imprisoned for a time, but God used him to shine the light of salvation to the world. He was still in the game! The Apostle John was exiled on an island, banished from society for a time as an old man, but Jesus used him as a messenger of encouragement for all believers. He was still in the game! As believers in Jesus, you and I have a grand purpose in whatever we are doing in this life right now. You reflect Him to others. You are the light of the world; like Jesus says, so that people "may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). That's the goal. That's our goal together, to allow others to see God, to extol Him, to give Him glory as their Helper, their Savior, their Friend.  This coming week, the United States will celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Lincoln is regarded as, perhaps, the greatest President in U.S. history. He also faced some of the most monumental challenges ever encountered by a president. Lincoln is well known for his periods of melancholy, depression that laid him low and made him feel useless. But Abraham Lincoln was also a man who trusted in Jesus Christ as His Savior. Even when he felt completely incapacitated, Lincoln said: "Nevertheless, amidst the greatest difficulties of my Administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance on God, knowing that all would go well, and that He would decide for the right (Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, VI:536)." Abraham Lincoln, by the grace of God--even through all of his struggles, was still in the game. And through him, people saw the love of God.  Jesus made it very clear; He didn't come to let evil have its way as long as everybody played nice together. The Savior didn't say to Satan, "You can believe whatever you want to believe and I'll believe what I want to believe. We'll coexist together." No, no, Jesus didn't come to cancel the contest against darkness. He came to win it. He came to overcome it. Jesus said, "Do not think I've come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). Through His perfect life lived on your behalf, and through His death on the cross for you, Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly. He hung on the cross to pay for your failures, your imperfection, your sin. He shouldered your most terrible burdens and conquered them in His resurrection from the dead. People thought that the hope of salvation was over when Jesus breathed His last; but Jesus was still in the game as God accepted His death as an atoning sacrifice for your sin. Jesus won the battle. He pushed back the darkness of hopelessness and gave the gift of light and life and He keeps you in the game that matters most, your eternal, holy life with Him. Jesus said of Himself, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." How can we be the light, when He is the Light of God? How can we be righteous and holy examples of godliness in this world when we ourselves are sinful like everybody else? 2 Corinthians 5 says it clearly, "For our sake [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). Jesus says in John 3... "Whoever follows me will have the light of life!" It's because of Him that we can be God's reflectors in this world. By His grace, you are the light of the world in Him--even now! That is why you are still in the game. It is what Abraham Lincoln depended on too: the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  So, if you think that your life has no purpose, that you're playing the waiting game, doing nothing, in the winter season of your life, don't believe the devil's deception, dear friend. You're still in the game. You have purpose in God's Kingdom. Your prayers bring blessing and hope. Your words of encouragement and witness bring faith. Your kindness brings the love of Jesus Christ. With every heartbeat you shine Christ's light. You're still in the game. Through every trial and struggle, you can say with Paul, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:14). You're still in the game through your Savior Jesus. Austin Hatch understands this amazing gift of God. In June of 2011, the small plane his father was piloting crashed. Both his father and stepmother died and Austin suffered injuries that kept him in a coma for eight weeks. This wasn't the first tragedy for Austin. Eight years earlier he was in another plane crash that killed his mother and siblings. But through it all, Austin still has hope and confidence. He said, "I feel like God has his hand on me; I feel like there's a plan for my life." You see, before his most recent crash, the 6 foot, 6 inch Austin Hatch had just committed to playing basketball at the University of Michigan. Just a couple of months ago, Michigan coach John Beilein announced his 2014 recruiting class. It included Austin Hatch. He was still in the game. Hatch said, "Beilein told me that he wouldn't offer me a scholarship if he didn't think I had a role on the team that would help them win. He said, 'Austin, whatever you are able to do, whether it be manager, or practice player, or whatever, you're on scholarship no matter what.'" Wow! Well, no matter what you're up against today, my friend, you're on the team that matters, you're in the game that counts. Austin Hatch, injured, battered, recovering from traumatic brain injury that changed his life, all true; but he is still in the game. So, whatever you face today, you face it as God's child in Christ on His team. By grace, you're on the field; you're on the court now and forever. And as His light in this world for others, you're in the game that lasts; not just for yourself, but for those you love in His Name. To that end, may God bless us always.  Amen. LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for February 9, 2014 Topic: Can Acts of Kindness Deliver the Gospel? ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions. I'm Mark Eischer. A listener asks, "Pastor, is it possible that showing love for people can bring them to faith in Christ? Can acts of kindness deliver the Gospel?"  SELTZ: Wow, what a good question, Mark! And, it's a very important one, especially as many Christians serve others through mission projects and acts of love in their communities.  ANNOUNCER: I've heard it said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." So it would seem that serving others is a very important part of the life of faith. SELTZ: I think that's what Jesus said in Matthew 5, "Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16 ESV). And the Apostle Peter said, "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God" (1 Peter 2:12 ESV). And, then I love what the Apostle John says in 1 John, "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:12 NIV). ANNOUNCER: Clearly, when we show love, it has a big impact. SELTZ: It sure does, and we can't minimize acts of service and kindness as we share the message of Christ. Even Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35 ESV). Anyone who tries to minimize showing Christ's love in actions and words is not really listening to what God tells us. ANNOUNCER: So you say, then, that sharing the Gospel is not simply an academic or an intellectual exercise.  SELTZ: It never is and it never was, Mark. As the writer of the book of James said, we are not to be hearers of the Word only, but doers. Sharing the Gospel is always a both/and proposition. ANNOUNCER: Because it's not just an action of love thing either.  SELTZ: No, it is always word and deed. Showing the kindness of God in a sincere way establishes genuine relationships, it displays the character of our merciful and caring Savior, and then it allows for those deeper conversations to develop. ANNOUNCER: Have you ever heard that saying, "Preach the Gospel, if necessary, use words."  SELTZ: Yeah, I've heard that.  ANNOUNCER: I think that goes too far. SELTZ: I think it does too, but it is a sobering quote. It emphasizes that our words can be very hollow--and even hypocritical--if they're not backed up by our actions. But that doesn't mean that we eliminate the Word of the Gospel as we reach out with Christ. In fact, the Bible says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17 ESV).  ANNOUNCER: But, does that mean every interaction we have with people should include preaching as well as acts of love and service?  SELTZ: Well, we should always be thinking about both. If you're doing a mission service project, we should always be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have--to share the Good News of our Savior. If we're going to speak to someone about Jesus, we should always be ready to serve that person according to their needs. We need to be very conscious of the fullness of God's love in actions and in words. But, realistically, not every situation will allow us to do that all the time. We need to trust that God has many workers out there and that He can fill in the gaps. ANNOUNCER: As St. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 ESV). SELTZ: That's right on target. There are times when we will just be a part of God's work in people's lives. Our loving service may be preparation for another to bring the Word of the Gospel. Our verbal sharing of faith may be reinforced by someone who serves that person with amazing love. God is the One who changes hearts; He grows His Kingdom. We don't control the movement of the Spirit.  ANNOUNCER: But, does that mean that people who are uncomfortable talking about Jesus can just let someone else handle it? SELTZ: We probably can ask the converse, too. Does it mean that people who don't like to serve others can leave that to others and stay on the intellectual and conversational level? No, each one of us as God's people has unique gifts in the body of Christ. Each is inclined to different ways of sharing the Good News of Jesus.  ANNOUNCER: But a preference is not an excuse.  SELTZ: That's right. Each one of us, according to the Scriptures, then, is called to shine the light of Christ through loving and caring actions toward others--especially the least of these. We need to really get good at that word and deed stuff. And each one of us is called, then, to be ready to tell of Jesus' sacrifice for us. So, it's words and deeds, both, as we share the greatest gift one could ever give.  ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Seltz. And we thank our listener for that question. We hope you'll join us again next week. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Music Selections for this program: "A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission. "When I Suffer Pains and Losses" arr. Henry Gerike. Used by permission. "Hail to the Lord's Anointed" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia  Publishing House) Print this sermon Sign up for LHM news Daily Devotions Visit lutheranhour.org Change my email Contact Us subscribe / unsubscribe / visit our website 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141 1-800-876-9880

BREAKFAST TOMORROW!

Come and enjoy a hearty warm breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage and stick around for some good fellowship and a study on "How We Got the Bible" . 
 
 
Let me know if you are coming!
 
 
In Christ,  
Pastor

Anyone need help shoveling snow?

Message from Lani Heitgerd.......

The boys want to advertise that they are shoveling driveways and sidewalks tomorrow to make a little money while off school. Call Alex at 359-5214 if interested.

Fwd: [Creation VS Evolution DEBATE] Due to the amount of accumulating snow, we're...

-------- Original message --------

From: Ashton Stewart

Date:02/04/2014 2:11 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: Creation VS Evolution DEBATE

Subject: [Creation VS Evolution DEBATE] Due to the amount of accumulating snow, we're...

Ashton Stewart posted in Creation VS Evolution DEBATE Ashton Stewart 2:10pm Feb 4 Due to the amount of accumulating snow, we're canceling the livestream at the Church. But you can still tune in at home simply by logging on at www.debatelive.org! (Please help spread the word by sharing the pic...) View Post on Facebook · Edit Email Settings · Reply to this email to add a comment.

Tues. Feb 4, 2014

DEVOTION:   When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come make us gods who will go before us.  As for this fellow Moses who brought us out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."  The Story, p. 64
 
I don't know why people keep having such trouble believing in God.  I have never been able to figure it out.  Maybe it is because God is taking so long to come back.  Yeah, that must be it.  It is God's fault for taking so long. 
 
Sounds silly doesn't it?  Yet, because Moses took so long coming down the mountain, the Israelites soon forgot all about God and decided to make their own gods.  How crazy is that?  Just because God wasn't making himself known in their time and for their purposes, He must not exist.  So let's make our own gods.  Makes perfect sense......
 
That's exactly what the world has done.  The world has gone after other gods, and even made many gods for themselves, because they don't see God and He hasn't done for them exactly as they want. 
 
Same has happened when it comes to the theory of evolution vs. creation.  Because that creation story is so "old" and because it doesn't fit with what the world wants to believe we have made up our own story and made science fit it so that it makes sense to us. 
 
IT IS TIME ALL OF US GET BACK TO GOD'S WORD AND TO HAVING ONE TRUE GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT!!!!
 
That is the first commandment after all.  Funny how, even while Moses was up on the mountain receiving instructions for the Lord, the people were already breaking His commands. 
 
And so we pray, COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS! Amen.
 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What chapter and verses in Exodus contain the 10 commandments?  Exodus 20:1-17  (Good job Dianne!)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was it that told the Israelites to give him all their gold jewelry so that he could make a golden calf?
 
 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2pm; Bible Study 11:30-12:15;  Debate between Ken Ham and Bill Nye 6pm at Warrenton Christian Church
Wed- Jonesburg Nursing Home Worship 10:30; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers Support Group Meeting 1pm
Sat- The Story Chapter 5 Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school  and Adult Bible class on The Story Ch. 5 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Siera Jaeger; 11- Hannah Johnson
Altar guild- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean up- Wanda Turnure
Greeters- 8:30- Marv and Molly Hendershot; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; Sun- Tim Linke;  11am Ian Brunson
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
8:30 Ushers- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Paul Klover, Kent Jacobsmeyer
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
I IMAGINE THAT THE LIVE STREAMING EVENT, THE DEBATE BETWEEN KEN HAM FROM THE CREATION MUSEUM and BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY, AT WARRENTON CHRISTIAN CHURCH WILL BE CANCELED FOR TONIGHT.  YOU CAN STILL WATCH IT FROM HOME VIA YOUR COMPUTER.
 
Go to debatelive.org   It is that easy. 
 
Stay safe at home and learn all about CREATION SCIENCE!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 5  "New Commands and a New Covenant"
Come to worship and Bible Study to hear all about how God took care of His people in the wilderness, how they disobeyed them, how they faced judgment, and how God had mercy on them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST WAS POSTPONED THIS PAST SATURDAY TO THIS COMING SATURDAY!!
This is an open invitation to all men to come and join us for a wonderful breakfast, fellowship, and Bible study!

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and learning HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE!!   Let me know if you are coming!!____________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!! 
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours!  Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
 
DAVE CALLIES, as he recovers from knee replacement at home.

Terry McKenzie's cousin's sister-in-law who has a bad brain injury.

JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.
 
WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery. 
 
PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery. 

 

 

 

 

 
 
         




           

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Warren County Health Fair and Fun Walk/Run April 5!!

 

Warren County Health Fair April 5, 2014 will again have a 5K Run/Walk!

 

See attachment for details.

 

Please post/share for others to see.

 

Thank you,

 

Peggy Privett
Warren County Health Dept.
636-456-7474

Mon. Feb 3, 2014

DEVOTION:  "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me."  The Story p. 61
 
This first commandment is the greatest of commandments and all the other flow from this first one.  If you don't have God as the first, foremost, and only God in your life none of the other commandments will matter to you.  You will follow them if you want to, or not, it will be all up to you. 
 
If the Almighty God is first and foremost in your life, then all of those other commandments will matter.  You will see those commands as the utmost authority and when you don't follow them and are reminded of them, you will realize your sinfulness, weakness, and inability to control yourself at all times.  The you will run to the Lord, fall at His feet, and ask for forgiveness. 
 
In chapter five of The Story you will see that the Israelites had trouble with this command over and over again, and when they did things went really bad for them.  When we have other gods before the one true God things often go badly for us too. 
 
I want to encourage you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make the Almighty, Triune God Lord of your life and your only true God today!  Realize that you haven't always done so, and repent of your sin so that you may experience the grace and peace of Christ for your life. 
 
Let us pray:  Lord God, bless us with the ability to keep You first in our lives this week and always.  Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ:  Who (or what) was traveling in front of the nation of Israel and leading them until they got to the Red Sea and then went behind them to protect them? The angel of the Lord 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What chapter and verses in Exodus contain the 10 commandments?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15; Steak Dinner meeting 6:30pm
Tues- Quilters 9-2pm; Bible Study 11:30-12:15;  Debate between Ken Ham and Bill Nye 6pm at Warrenton Christian Church
Wed- Jonesburg Nursing Home Worship 10:30; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers Support Group Meeting 1pm
Sat- The Story Chapter 5 Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school  and Adult Bible class on The Story Ch. 5 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Siera Jaeger; 11- Hannah Johnson
Altar guild- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean up- Wanda Turnure
Greeters- 8:30- Marv and Molly Hendershot; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; Sun- Tim Linke;  11am Ian Brunson
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
8:30 Ushers- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Paul Klover, Kent Jacobsmeyer
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
PLEASE GO TO THE BROADCAST OF THE DEBATE BETWEEN KEN HAM OF THE CREATION MUSEUM AND BILL NYE "The Science Guy" Tuesday night at 6pm at Warrenton Christian Church!!
 
This is a once in a lifetime event that those who are interested in creation science and believe in what the Bible says about creation shouldn't miss. 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK IN BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 5  "New Commands and a New Covenant"
Come to worship and Bible Study to hear all about how God took care of His people in the wilderness, how they disobeyed them, how they faced judgment, and how God had mercy on them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST WAS POSTPONED THIS PAST SATURDAY TO THIS COMING SATURDAY!!
This is an open invitation to all men to come and join us for a wonderful breakfast, fellowship, and Bible study!

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and learning HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE!!   Let me know if you are coming!!____________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 BEGINNING AT 6PM!! 
Tickets are on sale in the narthex before and after worship or you can call the church office during the week to get yours!  Come and enjoy a wonderful time, wonderful food, and get lots of good deals and on stuff that you will really use and need!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
 
DAVE CALLIES, as he recovers from knee replacement at home.

Terry McKenzie's cousin's sister-in-law who has a bad brain injury.
 
JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.
 
WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery. 
 
PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery. 

 

 

 

 

 
 
         




           

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "St. John's Group Email" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to stjohnswarrenton+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
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