St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

The Lutheran Hour: March 2, 2014

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From: Lutheran Hour Ministries

Date:03/01/2014 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: The Lutheran Hour: March 2, 2014

The Lutheran Hour with Rev.Gregory Seltz

Sermon Text for March 2, 2014

"God's Reality Check" #81-26
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on March 2, 2014
By Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker
(Why Is The Bible So Important?)
Copyright 2014 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed and because of Him, we can live life boldly when it really matters most. Amen.

Have you watched a viral video recently? I love the one where the little baby brother, "Charlie," bites the finger of his big brother because the brother puts it in his mouth. Remember him saying, "Charlie, that hurts"? Well of course it did. Or, remember the mom who filmed her two boys the day after Halloween, telling them that she had eaten all of their candy. Those boys were precious, they even became somewhat of a national sensation because of how well they reacted. When something or someone goes viral, it is literally seen in mere hours and days by millions of people all around the world.

These days, people try to get things to go viral too. You might even be one of those people. I know, I know, you're probably not one who's looking for fame and a future from a viral video; but, maybe you're just that someone who forwards an e-mail, or reposts something on Facebook, or retweets a favorite link on Twitter just to see how many people will like what you like or like what you say. And, guess what, if enough people pass along that news item or link, it can reach millions of people in just minutes. If it's helpful information, it can be a great blessing.

But going viral is not just about being helpful or having fun. There are people who've found destructive uses of that process too. For example, if a rumor goes viral, something untrue or even damaging, lots of harm can be done in a very short amount of time. Confusion can take over if something inaccurate goes viral. And there are people who love to help make that happen too.

Here's just a few examples of people up to no good. Someone has started the rumor that Mr. Rogers, of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" television fame; they've said that he was a Navy SEAL sniper. That's not true, by the way. Another one that is even out to hurt our little ones; the rumor is that the animated television show "SpongeBob SquarePants" is going to be cancelled this year. Once again, this is not true. I don't want to panic any SpongeBob fans out there. Rumors, innuendo, false witnesses, public lying; it can be damaging in a world that can go viral in an instant.

So, in a world of viral half-truths and rumors, of spin-doctors and P.R. machines, how do you discover the truth? One helpful tool in that regard is the website "Snopes.com." Snopes evaluates rumors, myths, and urban legends to see whether they're true or not. Hundreds of thousands of people go to Snopes.com every day to check out whether what they've heard is true or false. The researchers of Snopes try to provide the real story behind the rumor. They dig around to find eyewitnesses and accurate data that can help clear up controversy.

Well, today, the Bible wants you to know the truth too; and we're not just talking about day to day rumors or urban legends; we're talking about the truth of the big questions of life, especially the truth of God at work in the world through Jesus Christ. With this word from Peter, he wants to be your "Snopes.com" for the things that ultimately matter in life!

Peter says, "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).

For truth and life, we need to know The Way, The Truth, and the Life. And the Bible says that anyone looking for those things needs to look to Jesus Christ alone for the answers. But already during the first century, about 30 years after Jesus' resurrection, some rumors and false teachings were threatening to go viral about Jesus. False teachers were trying to change the clear message of Jesus as the world's Savior. Some people were adding to the message by requiring special secret knowledge, knowledge they invented. Others were making up stories to discredit Jesus so that they could gain a following and make lots of money.

Some things never change, do they? The Christian faith is still subject to plenty of false rumors even today.

Even now, at this time in our culture, probably the worst false rumor about Christianity is that Christianity is a religious system of rules, regulations, and negativity formulated by human beings to restrict people's lives, drain the joy out of existence, and to churn out haters. The rumor makes the Christian faith about politics and prejudice, power and profit.

David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons surveyed non-church going sixteen to twenty-nine-year-olds and compiled the results in a book called UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity...And Why it Matters. When asked to describe the church, this age group responded with words like: "judgmental," "hypocritical," "boring," "insensitive to others," and "out of touch with reality." The authors reported that even young Christians ages 16-29 "worry that the message [of the church] has become one of self-preservation rather than one of world restoration."

But, dear friend, that story is ultimately a myth. There's all kinds of reasons why it has been propagated, some that even the church may have caused, but that rumor about the Christian faith is false.

So, if you're a believer who has been doubting your own faith, if you're a Christian who has been losing confidence in the purpose of Christianity, take heart. The Apostle Peter is your Snopes solution! He speaks up to debunk the myth. He goes on record, no matter the cost to himself, to separate truth from fiction. So, I'm asking you, my friend, especially if you may have been turned off by the Christian faith or maybe you've been one who has been hurt by people who claim to walk with Christ, please listen to the Apostle Peter as he clears the air and reports the real story, the truth about faith in Jesus Christ for your sake and for mine.

Peter says it plainly, "We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).

Did you hear it? Peter says it plainly, "The message of the Christian faith is about a Person!" Peter was not promoting a list of religious rules. He was not pushing an ideology. He wasn't trying to gain power. Peter was talking about a Person, unique in all human history, Someone he saw with his own eyes, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Peter tells you about Jesus as he recounts the actual events that he and his fellow disciples, James and John, the things that they witnessed when Jesus was transfigured before their eyes, displaying the complete glory of God. He said about Jesus, "The voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, 'This (Jesus) is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!'" (2 Peter 1:17-19).

Peter was there; saw it, he heard it all. That's why He goes on record for your sake and mine. He saw the glory, the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, not just on the mountain, but on the cross. Peter saw Jesus' majesty. It's interesting to note that the only other time this word for majesty is used in the New Testament for God's majesty is immediately after the transfiguration account in Luke, chapter nine. It is used in reference to the event where Jesus ended up healing a boy who was plagued by an evil spirit. After this miraculous healing we hear, "And all were astonished at the majesty of God" (Luke 9:43).

The majesty of Jesus was not seen in a list of rules or an institutional structure He set up. The majesty of Jesus was seen in His loving and miraculous help that He alone could give. He wasn't merely a Miracle Worker, a Healer, or One with authority, He was Savior in the flesh for all.

That's why people believed in and followed Jesus. He helped people. He healed them. He was a Friend of sinners. He showed mercy and brought hope. He did miracles. He spoke the truth. He forgave sins. Jesus was a Person unlike any other.

He declared clearly that He was the One who had come to "seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). And when He suffered willingly, crying out from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), people knew that they were in contact with a Person unlike any other. Even one of the soldiers who helped crucify Jesus shouted out, "Truly this one was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54).

And then, even after Jesus breathed His last, the real story didn't end. Jesus rose from the dead. Peter saw Him alive again. Hundreds witnessed the risen Christ. And they knew that this Jesus offered them something they could find in no other person.

Remember how clearly Jesus Himself spoke about these things. He said of Himself, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). So people followed Him. In His perfect goodness, He gave people the gift of life, real forgiveness from sin and guilt, and a hope that was not just for today, but forever!

That's the real story of the Christian faith. It's a message of, it's a relationship with, the Person of Jesus Christ. Have you heard that before? Did you know that being a Christian is first and foremost about receiving God's life for you as a gift by grace? I wonder if you really knew and believed that, just think about how such real good news would change your life.

Just three years ago, a young woman named Lyndsey McLaughlin was dying as her lungs failed because of Cystic Fibrosis. The twenty-six year old was on the organ donor list for months. She needed new lungs. Lyndsey's mother said, "I used to go to her apartment every day when she really got sick, and I would walk to work crying knowing that my daughter was dying before my eyes and there wasn't a thing I could do about it."

Then a phone call came notifying Lyndsey of an organ donor. Adrian Rodriguez, an eighteen-year old aspiring chef, slipped off a train platform in New York as he was on his way to school. He was rushed to the hospital, but after attempts to save his life failed, he was declared brain dead. Adrian's grieving mother made a decision. She would donate Adrian's organs.

That's how Lyndsey McLaughlin received new lungs. After the successful surgery, Lyndsey wanted to say thank you. Through the New York Organ Donor Network, she found out that Adrian's family was eager to meet her as well. So just a few months ago, Lyndsey McLaughlin met Diana Rodriguez. Lyndsey expressed her gratitude with a heartfelt "Thank you." She said she thinks about Adrian and gives thanks every day.

That's what happens when a person does something extraordinary and another person receives something incredible as a gift. When it happens to you, you cannot help but give thanks. You can't stop thinking about the person who made it possible. You can't stop thanking that person, their family from being a major part of your life going forward. Why, because the gift changed everything.

Well, that's the point about Jesus. His gift of life and salvation really changes everything for everyone.

He sacrificed everything for you and me. He loves you. He earned a new life for you when He died in your place and rose from the dead. In your baptism you received the "transplant" of His holiness, the outpouring of His gracious breath of life. It's no chore to follow this Person. How can you stop thinking about your Savior, your Friend, the One who gave you life, Jesus?

With the Person of Jesus Christ, there is good news for you and, incredibly, with the Person of Jesus Christ, there is also a plan for your life, too.

Peter says, "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Peter is describing a very good plan outlined in a book called the Bible. For every life struggling in darkness, for every person wrestling with confusion and a lack of clarity, the Apostle Peter lets us know that we have the trustworthy Word of God to lead us and guide us, God's light in our darkness.

Just last winter, two mountain climbers in New Zealand found themselves in terrible trouble. During their descent in a whiteout condition, the experienced climbers became trapped in a crevasse, a deep chasm found in ice and snow. No one could see them. No one could hear them. There was no communication available to the outside world. Desperate for help, the climbers tried the only thing they could think of: they jammed an ice axe in the snow, hung a headlamp from it, and flashed the light to try to attract attention. The climbers dangled in the crevasse for two days. Two avalanches rumbled over the chasm that held them. They shared their meager provisions in order to survive. From a hut on a plateau, rescuers saw the flashing light. A helicopter was called in. It lowered rescue personnel on a line and brought each climber to safety. The mountain climbers were saved because of a lamp.

The Christian faith is not so much a set of dos and don'ts; it is not ultimately a critical diatribe against behaviors and beliefs; the Christian faith is a shining light. It is a life-saving lamp in a world that is dark, treacherous, and deadly; a Godly way out, a Godly way through.

We hear about God's Word in Psalm 119:105; it says "Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path."

The lamp of God's Word unfolds His gracious and loving plan to save us from the crevasse of helplessness, brokenness, and sin. In the darkness of a world that hemorrhages bad news, that is filled with division and violence, that gives empty promises that fail us so easily, God provides a plan that brings us life and hope.

In fact, the Bible even says it clearly, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV).

Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). This is God's plan for you.

Sometimes you feel that you're hanging helplessly in the darkness. Family struggles, personal despair, grief in your heart, feelings of hopelessness, all these things can overwhelm you. You wonder if there are any answers. You crave some real insight, some help, and hope.

I want you to know, dear friend, that because of His love and grace, God speaks to you. He shines the lamp of His Word into your life. He lets you know that all is not out of control. He assures you that He is with you. There is a plan. His plan of grace will prevail. You can count on it. You have His Word and that means everything.

So, today let Peter bring us all a reality check. Lord knows we need that in a world of rumor, false piety, broken hopes and dreams. I hope that you can see the real story, the real story that holds today. I pray that you've encountered that in this message, the Person who really cares for you deeply, who gave His life for you, and who calls you to be His own--Jesus, your Savior.

So, with Peter today, I'm going to rejoice in the Person of Jesus and the plan of God that He has for your life and for mine. I hope you receive it. I hope you receive it and share it. Wouldn't it be great if that went viral today? I think that's exactly what God wants and I know that is exactly what we all need.

Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for March 2, 2014
Topic: Why Is The Bible So Important?

ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions from listeners. I'm Mark Eischer. Pastor, Christians are always talking about the Bible; but what makes the Bible so important?

SELTZ: Mark, I'm glad that Christians are talking about the Bible. I hope they do it so other people can hear!

ANNOUNCER: But, these days, many people are forgetting about the Bible, sadly even some churches!

SELTZ: And that's amazing, because we live in a day and age when people are looking for meaning and wisdom, and the Bible is still the most relevant and important resource around.

ANNOUNCER: Why is that?

SELTZ: Simply said, the Bible is God's Word. I know people say other holy books are, but there is no other book in the world like the Bible; and that's really just a fact. And the Apostle Peter says it plainly. It's not a book that people thought up and put together. He said, "No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV).

ANNOUNCER: So people wrote down the words of the Bible, but the Holy Spirit inspired and even gave them the words they were to record.

SELTZ: Exactly, it's called the inspiration of Scripture. The Apostle Paul talked about it when he said, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). Other translations of this verse say that the Bible is, "God-breathed" or "inspired." God caused the Bible to be written and formed as His Word for our lives.

ANNOUNCER: And that passage also mentions the benefits of the Bible.

SELTZ: That's right. Not only can we trust that the Bible is God's Word, but we can rejoice in the blessings the Bible brings. As the verse from 2 Timothy 3 says also, God's Word brings us what we need to be complete people, people who are filled with God's goodness and ready to serve Him and others.

ANNOUNCER: And there's even a greater purpose behind all of that.

SELTZ: There sure is. The main purpose of the Bible is to bring us the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Paul says, "it makes us wise unto salvation," and the Apostle John says: "These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31 ESV).

ANNOUNCER: And that's more than intellectual information.

SELTZ: Absolutely. In fact, God lets us know that this Word is living; it's active (Hebrews 4:12). So, God's Word, powered by the Spirit, goes deep into our lives. It changes our hearts. It renews our souls. It works, for lack of a better way of saying it. I love what Isaiah, chapter 55 says about the effectiveness of God's Word. It says, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; says the Lord, it shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that for which I purpose, and send it" (Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV).

ANNOUNCER: And here God promises that His Word will be effective and active. But sometimes that Word is difficult to understand.

SELTZ: The Bible is not always easy to read, especially certain books in it. But, sometimes, I like to say it this way; it helps to know a little bit more about the historical context and the like. But sometimes it's just because we are sinful and don't want to know what it plainly says. But here's the point; God promises that reading His Word will bring blessing. It's clear; it's understandable. Psalm 19 says it this way: "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalms 19:7 ESV).

ANNOUNCER: And the Bible is important, too, because it gives us something the world cannot give us.

SELTZ: That's right. In the Bible, we hear a unique, powerful message of a Savior who rescues us from sin and death. In it, we are assured of hope for and hope in heaven, a certain blessing found nowhere else. And, in it there's a Spirit-filled message that leads us, guides us, and gives us an abundant life that the world just can't give. There's no other way to say this; the Bible is an amazing blessing.

ANNOUNCER: And echoing once again the words of the Apostle Peter who says that the Bible is a "lamp that's shining in a dark place" (2 Peter 1:19).

SELTZ: Or as the Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalms 119:105 ESV). So, if any of our listeners want to get started reading the Bible today, I would recommend they start with the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament. They'll get acquainted with Jesus and hear words of life from their Savior.

ANNOUNCER: And, if you need more guidance concerning the Bible, please contact us here at the Lutheran Hour. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music Selections for this program:

"A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.

"God Has Spoken by His Prophets" arr. Henry Gerike. Used by permission.

"I Know My Faith Is Founded" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

"Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

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660 Mason Ridge Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
1-800-876-9880

Al services and activities canceled for tomorrow! COME TONIGHT INSTEAD!!

ALL ACTIVITIES (worship, Sunday school, adult Bible study and High school Bible study) ARE CANCELED FOR TOMORROW (Sunday)!!!!

PLEASE COME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL AND/OR ADULT BIBLE CLASS AT 4PM TONIGHT (Saturday) and WORSHIP AT 5PM!!

Here's why you should come TONIGHT!
1. You will hear God's Word and receive His body and blood in the Lord's Supper!

2. Aria Jane Holder, daughter of Nick and Kelli Holder (Spoede) is getting baptized tonight.

3. Sunday school kids will be making care packages for the homeless.

4. Cal and Betty Tameler have made cookies and brownies as treat for those who are coming for Bible Study and Sunday school!

Sunday school project tonight

At Sunday school tonight the kids are making care packages for the homeless. The will each take one with them and when they see someone they ( along with their parents) can give it to them. Here is what kids can bring : beef jerky, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, packs of gum or candy, socks, and gloves. See you tonight.

Make plans to attend worship Saturday night at 5pm

Let's break the attendance record for Saturday night worship! Let's fill God's house!

Sunday school and adult Bible class 4pm!!

Worship 5pm!!

There may not be worship Sunday morning so Saturday may be your only chance!

Prayer request

Please pray for a friend of Tony and Sandra Perricone, Marcie Woytus. She just learned she has breaat cancer.

Sunday school moved to Saturday afternoon at 4pm!!

With the impending snow and ice storm coming in Saturday night into Sunday morning we are going to move Sunday school to Saturday night at 4pm just like we did in January.

Please bring your kids and grandkids up to church at 4pm, stay for adult Bible class yourself, and then enjoy Saturday worship at 5pm!!

Please make a note of this and tell, text, email, and call everyone you know to let them know about it!!!

Two celebrations coming up!!

We have two things to celebrate in the coming months!

1. The congregation voted to pay off our Good Shepherd Mortgage and it has been done!! We are going to have a mortgage retirement ceremony and open house at Good Shepherd on Sunday, March 23 at 2pm!! Please make plans to join us and to see the place if you've never been there.

2. We have a wonderful flag pole with the American and Christian flags flying proudly. It was donated last year by Elaine Schauer in memory of all who have served our country and installed by Billy Woolf with help from several others! We will dedicate that flag and celebrate our freedoms in this country especially our freedom to worship as Christians the day after Flag Day, Sunday June 15! This is also Father's Day so we will incorporate that into it as well.

Please mark your calendars and join us to celebrate God's blessings!

Bookcase sponsors still needed

We are still in need of 21 more bookcase sponsors. A bookcase for a child is $55. If you want to aid in the literacy of children in your community and grow your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, this is an excellent way to do it!

Please make checks payable to "Warren County bookcase" and send checks to

First State Community Bank
C/O Kim Heimberger
1022 North Highway 47 Warrenton, MO 63383

Wed. Feb 26, 2014

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).

"Borders, Fences and Chasms"
February 26, 2014
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. Luke 16:26
In his poem, "Mending Wall," Robert Frost quotes his neighbor as saying, "Good fences make good neighbors." Mr. Frost doesn't much agree with that idea, and there was a time in my life when I didn't either.

Still, there is some truth in the idea that good fences and good borders make for good neighbors.

Sometimes, like the borders between Israel and the countries which surround her, they can mark real differences in religion, morality, philosophy and geographical claims. Then there are borders like that which separates North and South Korea. That border keeps separate two nations with two completely different political systems. And if you're wondering just how different are they ...?

Well, they are so different that for months those divergent nations have been thinking about talking about the possibility of allowing controlled reunions between a few of the families, which were separated when the border went up in the 1950s. Everyone involved with this process understands such a gathering is not guaranteed nor certain. Even so, the talks provide hope for members of the older generation who wish to see loved ones one last time before they die.

Of course, not all borders are earthly. Scripture speaks of another border: the chasm which separates heaven from hell. That border has been in existence longer than any other. To the best of my knowledge that chasm has only been crossed once, and that was on Resurrection Sunday when the Christ, having descended into hell, rose from the dead.

It would be impossible to list the differences that exist between those two places. One is filled with joy and jubilation, the other with sadness and sorrow. One echoes with songs of praise, and the other the moans of those who are in agony. The inhabitants of one place acknowledge the great love and grace of God, which has brought them there, and the other has souls that eternally long for a second chance, a second chance which will never come.

Understand, it is not the Triune God's fault that those lost souls languish as they do. It was His desire that all people be called to faith in His Son, who gave His life so all of humanity's sins might be removed and they might be forgiven. Not only did the Lord sacrifice His Son for our salvation, He also extended an invitation to "Believe, be baptized, be saved." (See Mark 16:16.)

It was an offer made without cost to the recipient and remains in effect as long as that individual is alive. Yes, God made a long-standing, but not an everlasting, offer to us. To share that offer to the world is why your denomination, your church, your school, Lutheran Hour Ministries does what it does.

We want to make sure no soul has to spend eternity contemplating and cursing the chasm that separates them from heaven.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that by Jesus' blood I have a home in heaven. Now may I reach out to those who are headed for the other side of the chasm. Bless my words and let these people see, while there is time, how bad things are on the other side. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

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: How many men went with Gideon to defeat their enemies? 300 men divided into three companies.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: How did Delilah take Samson's strength away?
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter
Sat- Bible class 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 8)
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Natalie McDowell; 11- Devin Miller
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean up- Pam Linke
Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Alan Hofeldt; 11am- Isabella Linstruth
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Charlie, Jason, Caleb, and Colton Figura
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NEWS:
CHRISTIAN FAMILY SKATE DAY AT SKATE QUEST IN MONTGOMERY CITY ON SUNDAY, APRIL 6!!
I would like to gather as many FAMILIES together to go roller skating on Sunday, April 6. If we get 20 people or more we can get a group rate of just $5 per skater.

We would all meet there around 1pm and skate as long as we want!

Let me know if you want to participate!!!
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PASTOR NEEDS SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE ACROSS KANSAS!!
I will be biking across part of Kansas, about 250 miles in all, on June 7-9 to raise money for Leadachild.org. Lead a Child is a LCMS recognized service organization that provides funding for kids to attend schools, many of them Christian schools, in third world countries. It has provided A LOT for ministries and missions to help kids who would otherwise have NO EDUCATION in places like Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Mexico, and many other places. Please consider supporting me so that we can continue to support children throughout the world! As of January 1, I am also on the board of directors for this organization.
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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!

Even if you haven't been there before, come and enjoy a hearty breakfast, some good fellowship, and even learn something about How We Got the Bible. Let me know if you are coming ASAP!!
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ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5!!!! Make plans to attend SUPPER at 5:30 and Worship at 6:30!!!

Our theme is "Forgiveness and Peace in the Psalms"

Come for supper! Our jr and sr hi youth are hosting the dinners!! All proceeds go to help the youth help others and be witnesses to the world!

Menu: Fried chicken and all the fixin's on Ash Wednesday!

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THIS WEEK: THE STORY: CHAPTER 8 "A Few Good Men and Women"
Come to Bible Study on Saturday night at 4pm or Sunday morning at 9:45 to get all your questions answered and to learn more about the time of the Judges and the constant back and forth between faithfulness and falling away.
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10 ST. JOHN'S KIDS AND 5 OF THEIR FRIENDS PARTICIPATED IN THE 30 HOUR FAMINE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!

If you see the following kids around town or at church tell them you want to donate to the 30 Hour Famine Fundraiser: Or you can call pastor at 636-359-1061 or stop by church to donate.   ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO FEED STARVING CHILDREN AND HELP PEOPLE SUSTAIN THEIR OWN WAY OF LIVING THROUGH FARMING, EARNING A LIVING, OR FINDING CLEAN WATER SOURCES!!
Cara Klaustermeier
Isabella Linstruth
Ian Brunson
Emily Brunson
Shawn Jaeger
Siera Jaeger
Sam Johnson
Austin Heitgerd
Kailyn Blechle
Conner Figura

Make checks payable to "World Vision"

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
DCE PLACEMENT DIRECTOR TO BE HERE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY!!
You may be wondering what is going on with that DCE Intern we voted on last year. The application has been received and now the director of placement from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska will be here to visit with us Thursday night and Friday during the day. We are drawing closer to the day when we will have more ministry help!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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

___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
WENDELL AND MARY ANN ROEHRS who lost their home in a fire this past Friday night.

THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.

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.

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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Pastor Klaustermeiers sermon from sunday

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

From: YouTube

Date:02/25/2014 1:32 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: Jeremy Klaustermeier

Subject: Congrats, your video is now on YouTube!

Way to go, Jeremy Klaustermeier!
Your video is now on YouTube.

Pastor Klaustermeier's sermon Feb 16, 2014 "The Battle Belongs to ...


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Tues. Feb 25, 2014

DEVOTION: Gideon said, "Alas, Sovereign Lord, I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!" But the Lord said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." SO Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it "The Lord is Peace." The Story p.109

Is it peaceful or troubling to know that you have the presence of the Lord with you and in you? Does it cause you great fear because of your sinfulness? Are you full of grief and anguish because of the trouble you have caused or the guilt that you are feeling because of a particular sin or a multitude of them too numerous to count?

We all get that way at times. It is just like when you say something bad about someone only to find that they were standing in the room right behind you and heard everything you said. It is a gut wrenching, heart burning thing. It is something from which you cannot escape or hide.

Knowing that God hears and sees everything should cause us great fear and trembling. It should cause the sinking feeling in our gut. At the same time, we should also know that even though we deserve to be struck down on a daily basis, we won't be because GOD IS PEACE!! We won't be, because God has chosen not to strike us down. We won't be because of the faith that He has given us and the fact that He has chosen us as His children.

We should never become too comfortable in our sinfulness. Our sin should always cause us great discomfort. Then we will not want to stay in it, but instead go to the great comforter , the great counselor that is God the Holy Spirit, who will fill us with His love, forgiveness, and peace

Prayer: Lord God, make me uncomfortable in my sin so that I can live in Your real comfort and peace! Amen.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What woman was judge of Israel? Deborah
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: How many men went with Gideon to defeat their enemies?
________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15;
Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter
Sat- Bible class 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 8)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Natalie McDowell; 11- Devin Miller
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean up- Pam Linke
Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Alan Hofeldt; 11am- Isabella Linstruth
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Charlie, Jason, Caleb, and Colton Figura
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!

Even if you haven't been there before, come and enjoy a hearty breakfast, some good fellowship, and even learn something about How We Got the Bible. Let me know if you are coming ASAP!!
________________________________________________________________________________

ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5!!!! Make plans to attend SUPPER at 5:30 and Worship at 6:30!!!

Our theme is "Forgiveness and Peace in the Psalms"

Come for supper! Our jr and sr hi youth are hosting the dinners!! All proceeds go to help the youth help others and be witnesses to the world!

Menu: Fried chicken and all the fixin's on Ash Wednesday!

___________________________________________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK: THE STORY: CHAPTER 8 "A Few Good Men and Women"
Come to Bible Study on Saturday night at 4pm or Sunday morning at 9:45 to get all your questions answered and to learn more about the time of the Judges and the constant back and forth between faithfulness and falling away.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 ST. JOHN'S KIDS AND 5 OF THEIR FRIENDS PARTICIPATED IN THE 30 HOUR FAMINE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!

If you see the following kids around town or at church tell them you want to donate to the 30 Hour Famine Fundraiser: Or you can call pastor at 636-359-1061 or stop by church to donate.   ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO FEED STARVING CHILDREN AND HELP PEOPLE SUSTAIN THEIR OWN WAY OF LIVING THROUGH FARMING, EARNING A LIVING, OR FINDING CLEAN WATER SOURCES!!
Cara Klaustermeier
Isabella Linstruth
Ian Brunson
Emily Brunson
Shawn Jaeger
Siera Jaeger
Sam Johnson
Austin Heitgerd
Kailyn Blechle
Conner Figura

Make checks payable to "World Vision"

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
DCE PLACEMENT DIRECTOR TO BE HERE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY!!
You may be wondering what is going on with that DCE Intern we voted on last year. The application has been received and now the director of placement from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska will be here to visit with us Thursday night and Friday during the day. We are drawing closer to the day when we will have more ministry help!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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

___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
WENDELL AND MARY ANN ROEHRS who lost their home in a fire this past Friday night.

THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.

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.

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.

Tues. Feb 25, 2014

DEVOTION: Gideon said, "Alas, Sovereign Lord, I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!" But the Lord said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." SO Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it "The Lord is Peace." The Story p.109

Is it peaceful or troubling to know that you have the presence of the Lord with you and in you? Does it cause you great fear because of your sinfulness? Are you full of grief and anguish because of the trouble you have caused or the guilt that you are feeling because of a particular sin or a multitude of them too numerous to count?

We all get that way at times. It is just like when you say something bad about someone only to find that they were standing in the room right behind you and heard everything you said. It is a gut wrenching, heart burning thing. It is something from which you cannot escape or hide.

Knowing that God hears and sees everything should cause us great fear and trembling. It should cause the sinking feeling in our gut. At the same time, we should also know that even though we deserve to be struck down on a daily basis, we won't be because GOD IS PEACE!! We won't be, because God has chosen not to strike us down. We won't be because of the faith that He has given us and the fact that He has chosen us as His children.

We should never become too comfortable in our sinfulness. Our sin should always cause us great discomfort. Then we will not want to stay in it, but instead go to the great comforter , the great counselor that is God the Holy Spirit, who will fill us with His love, forgiveness, and peace

Prayer: Lord God, make me uncomfortable in my sin so that I can live in Your real comfort and peace! Amen.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What woman was judge of Israel? Deborah
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: How many men went with Gideon to defeat their enemies?
________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15;
Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter
Sat- Bible class 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 8)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Natalie McDowell; 11- Devin Miller
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean up- Pam Linke
Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Alan Hofeldt; 11am- Isabella Linstruth
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Charlie, Jason, Caleb, and Colton Figura
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!

Even if you haven't been there before, come and enjoy a hearty breakfast, some good fellowship, and even learn something about How We Got the Bible. Let me know if you are coming ASAP!!
________________________________________________________________________________

ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5!!!! Make plans to attend SUPPER at 5:30 and Worship at 6:30!!!

Our theme is "Forgiveness and Peace in the Psalms"

Come for supper! Our jr and sr hi youth are hosting the dinners!! All proceeds go to help the youth help others and be witnesses to the world!

Menu: Fried chicken and all the fixin's on Ash Wednesday!

___________________________________________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK: THE STORY: CHAPTER 8 "A Few Good Men and Women"
Come to Bible Study on Saturday night at 4pm or Sunday morning at 9:45 to get all your questions answered and to learn more about the time of the Judges and the constant back and forth between faithfulness and falling away.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 ST. JOHN'S KIDS AND 5 OF THEIR FRIENDS PARTICIPATED IN THE 30 HOUR FAMINE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!

If you see the following kids around town or at church tell them you want to donate to the 30 Hour Famine Fundraiser: Or you can call pastor at 636-359-1061 or stop by church to donate.   ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO FEED STARVING CHILDREN AND HELP PEOPLE SUSTAIN THEIR OWN WAY OF LIVING THROUGH FARMING, EARNING A LIVING, OR FINDING CLEAN WATER SOURCES!!
Cara Klaustermeier
Isabella Linstruth
Ian Brunson
Emily Brunson
Shawn Jaeger
Siera Jaeger
Sam Johnson
Austin Heitgerd
Kailyn Blechle
Conner Figura

Make checks payable to "World Vision"

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
DCE PLACEMENT DIRECTOR TO BE HERE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY!!
You may be wondering what is going on with that DCE Intern we voted on last year. The application has been received and now the director of placement from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska will be here to visit with us Thursday night and Friday during the day. We are drawing closer to the day when we will have more ministry help!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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

___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
WENDELL AND MARY ANN ROEHRS who lost their home in a fire this past Friday night.

THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.

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.

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.

The generosity of St. John's!!

With our door offering collection this weekend we raised $1,075 for Wendell and Mary Roehrs!!! Thank you all for your caring attitude and generosity!

Mon. Feb 24, 2014

DEVOTION: After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord not what he had done for Israel.   The Story, p. 103

How important is it to teach your kids about the Lord? Just read chapter eight in The Story to find out.

There is no more important thing than to teach your children to know the Lord and His ways, to know His law and His Gospel. You can teach your kids to work hard, and that is good for some things, but it isn't going to get them to heaven, nor is it going to help them to get through the most difficult times in their lives. It isn't going to help them deal with the loss of a loved one, to deal with the guilt of a great sin they commit, to have good relationships with their spouse or their children, or just live in God's grace.

When people don't know the Lord or what He has done for us they tend to live lives the way they want to instead of the way God wants them to. They hurt others and themselves without care, concern, or guilt.

Simply put, when people don't know the Lord or simply forget Him their lives get messed up and they lose hope!

Do you want that for your kids or grandkids? Probably not! What do you need to do? Get them to worship and Sunday school, pray for them, do devotions with them, and live your own lives the way God wants you to live them. Very simple isn't it?

Use chapter eight as your motivation this week!

Let us pray: Help us to help our children and grandchildren know You more and more each day and in so doing help us to know You better ourselves. Amen.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ: How many men and women were killed at Israel's battle with Ai? 12,000 men and women died in a single day.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What woman was judge of Israel?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15;
Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter
Sat- Bible class 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 8)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Natalie McDowell; 11- Devin Miller
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean up- Pam Linke
Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Alan Hofeldt; 11am- Isabella Linstruth
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Charlie, Jason, Caleb, and Colton Figura
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5!!!! Make plans to attend SUPPER at 5:30 and/or Worship at 6:30!!!

Our theme is "Forgiveness and Peace in the Psalms"

Come for supper! Our jr and sr hi youth are hosting the dinners!! All proceeds go to help the youth help others and be witnesses to the world!

Menu: Fried chicken and all the fixin's on Ash Wednesday!

___________________________________________________________________________________________
THIS WEEK: THE STORY: CHAPTER 8 "A Few Good Men and Women"
Come to Bible Study on Saturday night at 4pm or Sunday morning at 9:45 to get all your questions answered and to learn more about the time of the Judges and the constant back and forth between faithfulness and falling away.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 ST. JOHN'S KIDS AND 5 OF THEIR FRIENDS PARTICIPATED IN THE 30 HOUR FAMINE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!

If you see the following kids around town or at church tell them you want to donate to the 30 Hour Famine Fundraiser: Or you can call pastor at 636-359-1061 or stop by church to donate.   ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO FEED STARVING CHILDREN AND HELP PEOPLE SUSTAIN THEIR OWN WAY OF LIVING THROUGH FARMING, EARNING A LIVING, OR FINDING CLEAN WATER SOURCES!!
Cara Klaustermeier
Isabella Linstruth
Ian Brunson
Emily Brunson
Shawn Jaeger
Siera Jaeger
Sam Johnson
Austin Heitgerd
Kailyn Blechle
Conner Figura

Make checks payable to "World Vision"

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
DCE PLACEMENT DIRECTOR TO BE HERE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY!!
You may be wondering what is going on with that DCE Intern we voted on last year. The application has been received and now the director of placement from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska will be here to visit with us Thursday night and Friday during the day. We are drawing closer to the day when we will have more ministry help!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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

___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
WENDELL AND MARY ANN ROEHRS who lost their home in a fire this past Friday night.

THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.

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.

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.

Fwd: The Lutheran Hour: February 23, 2014

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

From: Lutheran Hour Ministries

Date:02/22/2014 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: The Lutheran Hour: February 23, 2014

Sermon Text for February 23, 2014

"The Walls, the Moats" #81-25
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on February 23, 2014
By Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
(God Is A Failure)
Copyright 2014 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: Matthew 28:20

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! Jesus lived and died in loneliness so the walls and moats which separate sinners from their heavenly Father might be torn down and filled in. Today the risen Redeemer continues to dispel our loneliness as He keeps His promise, "Behold, I am with you always." God grant we be given faith to believe in Immanuel. Amen.

In 1937, the Nazis arrested, tried, and imprisoned the Lutheran Pastor, Reverend Martin Niemoller. The Pastor was permitted to take into captivity only the clothing he was wearing and his small New Testament. As the heavy iron gates slammed shut behind him, the world-renowned Christian leader reached his hand into that pocket where God's Holy Word was being carried. Facing an unknown future and even the possibility of no future at all, Niemoller ran his fingers over the edges of that precious book. As he did so, he whispered to himself, "Even here I am not alone, for the Lord is with me."

Compare that story with the one which was carried some time ago by the United Press. The story told of an old man from New York City. Although the neighbors didn't visit with him that much, they still, very slowly, became aware they hadn't seen him come and go from his apartment during the last few weeks. After a few more days of watching, the neighbors called the police. An officer knocked at the man's door, no answer. Finally the apartment's custodian used his key and let the policeman in. The aged widower was in a coma, close to death. An ambulance raced him to the hospital where the doctors did a thorough examination. They reported their most unusual findings. The old man was starving. That caused some speculation for both the officer and the emergency personnel who agreed the man was hardly penniless. Moreover, there was food in the refrigerator and on the cabinet shelves. No amount of reviewing or rehashing could explain the mystery man's condition. Indeed, an answer had to wait until, a few days later, the man regained consciousness. His physicians asked, "Why? Why have you not eaten? Why have you been doing this to yourself?" His reply was simple, short, succinct. He said, "I didn't eat because I didn't have anyone to eat with."

This Lutheran Hour message deals with loneliness. For ten years I have been answering emails and letters from listeners. While those letters have come from young and old, married and single, men and women, loneliness has been the thread which has run through much of that correspondence. Now you may not be able to understand the loneliness of the man I've just described. It's difficult to comprehend the level of distress and depression a person can endure. Still, you may accept my pledge that this man is hardly an isolated incident. Loneliness comes as a dark plague upon people in every generation, in every financial situation. Loneliness is the wall we build to keep ourselves safe and it is the moat others dig around us to keep us confined.

Now those of you younger members of the Lutheran Hour audience may be inclined to think loneliness is an occupational hazard of growing older. You may believe that loneliness naturally happens when a person ages and outlives his family, friends, and contemporaries. Of course, you are right in feeling this way. But I could produce many millions who would agree that loneliness is not limited to nursing homes and prisons. Yes, there are lonely residents in a nursing home, but there are also staff people working there who daily live with loneliness. There is loneliness among those who are shut away in prison, but that same loneliness can also burden the guards and workers at that facility. In truth, loneliness has little to do with a person's chronology or the presence of other people. Loneliness is a state of mind, it is a wall which is built by us and at the same time it is a moat which others dig around us.

Here is an example. A few weeks ago I went out and spoke at a very nice church. The congregation had gone to some lengths to assure a crowd would be present. They had no idea how large a crowd there would be. The planners of the event were shocked to see people show up an hour early. A half-hour before the service began there was no room left in the pews. Fifteen minutes before service, with many people standing in the back of the church, the planners asked me to make a request of those who were already seated. I said this, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here. There are many more in the back of the building who also want to be here. For that reason I am going to ask you to do a very unLutheran thing. I would like you to squish together. That's right, I would like you to slide closer to the person who is sitting next to you."

You would have thought I was asking them to share a used toothbrush. Most of the folks started looking at their hymnal or worship folder or counting the pipes in the organ. To them I was talking to someone else. Seeing this mini-rebellion I got particular and began to point. " Let's see," I said, "we've got some room right here in the fourth pew on the left, the sixth and eighth pew on the right. Pews ten and twelve on both sides If you are in one of those pews, please squoosh." Realizing they couldn't escape, the people moved... but they didn't like it and they didn't move any more than they absolutely had to. And the event planners? Well, they had a Goldilocks moment. They had wanted a crowd which wasn't TOO big and wasn't TOO small. No, they wanted a crowd which was JUST RIGHT.

It's not the first time I've seen church people behave in such a way. Look at the way most folks act when they go to Communion, an event which is, by definition, a fellowship thing. When we step up to the Communion rail, we squirm and contort ourselves to avoid touching anybody else. We don't want to invade somebody's personal space. When the minister suggests the worshippers move out of our pews to greet each other in the Name of the Lord, for some it is a painful experience. The best those guys can do is turn to their spouse or children and mumble, "Good morning." It's so sad. We're afraid to be together and we are afraid to be alone. You see, loneliness is a wall which we build around ourselves, a moat which others dig around us.

And if you're not a church person, don't get yourself all smug and self-satisfied. You're not off the hook. Watch what happens when people get on an elevator. The first person goes to the back; when he's joined by a second, they immediately go to separate corners. Individuals three and four also get their very own corner. But anyone who gets on the elevator after that is in a fix. Next time watch what they do. They step on the elevator, their eyes quickly scan the passengers who are already there and they evaluate which of those passengers appears to be most acceptable and least threatening.

Loneliness is a wall we build, a moat which others dig around us. Loneliness is there for the child on the playground who is always picked last to be on a team. Loneliness is the junior-high kid who is forced to get a "practical haircut" for the summer. See if he doesn't look all alone. Observe the 8th grade girl who is not allowed to do, or wear, or have the things "everyone else has." She may be surrounded by other 8th grade girls, but she feels alone. Sit with a teen who is being bullied by classmates on Facebook. The onslaught can be so demoralizing, so unrelenting, so overwhelming that some young folks embrace suicide rather than dealing another day with such devastating loneliness. Watch the married man who is disappointed with his spouse. He was hitched to the most lovely woman in the county, but he has been saddened to find she is not the woman of his dreams. After a few years the only thing they have in common is the electric blanket which keeps them warm at night. Which is okay with her because, quite frankly, she long ago discovered her groom wasn't any Prince Charming.

No matter our race, creed, color, or political disposition loneliness can reach out and throttle us. Watch the face of the mother after the last of her kids have headed off for kindergarten. You stand by her side after she shuts the door and with tears in her eyes wanders around the house which is quiet for the first time in years. Sure, there were times when she had prayed for a little "me" time, for a little peace and quiet, but at that moment the silence is deafening. Stand with a man or woman by the side of an open grave which has been dug to receive the remains of a beloved and life-long helpmeet. That is loneliness. Loneliness is all around. Which explains why many social functions serve liquor. The alcohol flows at parties so revelers might, for a while, knock down the walls of isolation which they have built so others might manage to cross the moat of separation which they have dug around others.

It is to our deep, debilitating, destructive loneliness that Jesus came. Before His birth the Lord instructed that humanity should "call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us) (Matthew 1:23b). God's Son was with us and dedicated His life to saving us. It was a painful process which meant He was, in ways we cannot begin to understand, permanently isolated and perpetually alone. His family, those who should have been a solid source of support, sometimes thought He was unbalanced. The people of His hometown, His Boyhood friends and neighbors tried to murder Him. His disciples, the ones who walked with Him, heard His teachings, and observed His mighty miracles misunderstood His mission; misinterpreted His words, and then they betrayed, deserted, and denied Him. The crowds which followed Jesus tried to reshape Him into an earthly King rather than letting Him be their soul's Redeemer.

Herod, the ruler of Jesus' nation, tried to get Him to perform like a Las Vegas magician and the priests and scribes, those who were best acquainted with the prophecies concerning the promised Messiah, refused to embrace Him and at the end they were responsible for pushing Him to the cross on Calvary. As Jesus carried our sins to His cross, as He was dying for you and me, the people who passed by His place of execution laughed at Him; the spectators who stayed to watch Him die made mockery of Him and one of the thieves who was crucified next to Him managed to throw out a few taunts of his own. Jesus' loneliness was a terrible thing and hard to bear, but when His Father in heaven turned away, Jesus was truly alone. It was a loneliness He endured so you, and anyone who is brought to faith in Him as Savior, might be forgiven, might be guaranteed eternal life and would know they could never, really, truly be alone.

Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, carried our sins and after hours of incredible physical suffering and dark, depressing loneliness, He died. A Roman spear thrust into His heart confirmed what they had observed: Jesus, God's Son, was dead. Quickly, hastily His corpse was placed into a borrowed tomb. So there would be no question that Jesus was dead and was going to stay dead, a guard was placed at that tomb and the entryway was sealed shut. For any other person this would have been the end of the story. But Jesus is not any other Person. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is our Savior, and as our Savior, He did that which only God's Son could do. Three days after He had been buried, Jesus became unburied. That is to say Jesus, a living Jesus, emerged from that grave and, in numerous appearances showed Himself to hundreds of His people.

Then, when there could no longer be a question that He had conquered death, Jesus ascended into heaven. The apostles told how Jesus, Immanuel, was lifted up in front of their eyes and taken from them, taken from us. You know, I'll bet almost every Christian who has ever lived has had a day, a week, a lifetime when He wished Jesus was still physically with him, still around to visibly listen to our problems, our prayers, our petitions. Here to heal our diseases, give us direction in our uncertainty and put His arm around us when we are lonely.

Now this is where the story gets wonderful. Jesus is with us. Not just with one person, one country, one race. He is here with all of us. I know that because He said it was going to be that way. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the last thing Jesus said before He ascended was: "I am with you always, even until the end of the world." Believers should know that even when every friend has forsaken and deserted them, Jesus has not. When a person is tired of going to the cemetery and weary of saying earthly farewells, he can still be confident Jesus will never leave nor forsake him. When all of life seems to have turned sour, believers can be confident, Jesus remains. When death comes to take us on that last, lonely trip from this earth, believers can be confident, even then Jesus will be with us. "I am with you always" are the risen Redeemer's words which knock down the walls of isolation we have built. "I am with you always" is His promise which fills in the moat which others have dug around us to make us isolated and insecure. Because Christ is risen and has promised to be with us always, believers can be assured they will not make death's journey alone. As David assured: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Immanuel is with me." It is an amazing promise.

And it is at this point I need to stop and speak to some of you believers who are thinking, "Pastor, all you say may be true, but I don't feel Jesus' presence. I still feel lonely." I understand. That's because, far too often, we believers measure God's love and presence by how we are feeling. If we are feeling fine, things are going well and the bills are paid, then God loves us and is with us. But when we're feeling lousy, things are falling apart, and the wolves are howling outside the door, we wonder, "Where has God gone?" My friends, do not assume Jesus has deserted you because You don't feel Him. Do not assume He has stopped loving you because everyone else has. Do not think Jesus has banished you because your employer has fired you. Jesus is with you and you will see Him if you look at Him with eyes of faith.

In World War I, a soldier asked his officer if he might go into "No man's land" that separated the trenches of the warring armies. The private's purpose was to bring in one of his comrades who had been grievously wounded. "You can go," said the officer, "but it's not going to be worth it. Your friend is probably dead, and in going you will be throwing your own life away." The private went. Somehow he managed to get to his comrade, hoist him onto his shoulders, and stagger back to his own line. He just managed to make it back and stumble into the trench with his friend. The officer looked at the private with compassion and then he commented. "I'm sorry, I told you it wasn't going to be worth it. Your friend is dead and you going south yourself." "But, sir, it was worth it," the private whispered. "I know he's dead, but when I got to him, he was still alive and he managed to gasp out: 'I knew you'd come.'"

That story, my friends, is Jesus' story. As we lay lonely, deserted, dying in our sins, Jesus came and gave His life for us. He came so we might be cleansed of our sins and given heaven for all eternity. But He also came so the walls of loneliness we have built around ourselves might be torn down, so the moats which sin, Satan, and the world have dug to keep us from God and each other might be filled in. Such a Savior is Someone you ought to know and trust.

To that end, if we can be of assistance, please call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for February 23, 2014
Topic: God Is A Failure

ANNOUNCER: I'm Mark Eischer, here once again with our Speaker Emeritus, Pastor Ken Klaus.

KLAUS: Good to be here.

ANNOUNCER: Pastor, today for our Q and A segment we have a rather interesting challenge. It certainly represents a different point of view from what we might be used to.

KLAUS: Assuming that most of our questions come from Christians, I would assume that this one, then, does not.

ANNOUNCER: That would be correct; although I'm not exactly sure our listener is even looking for an answer. I think it's more along the lines of, "Here's my point of view. You deal with it!"

KLAUS: Then maybe we had better begin!

ANNOUNCER: All right. Our listener says, "Why do Christians worship a God who is such an apparent failure? If you read the Bible, you will see the Lord run up a string of impressive failures. Of course, He doesn't admit they're failures. Instead, He blames everything on someone else."

KLAUS: I'd say that person is throwing down the gauntlet. Does he do us the favor of listing some of those failures he claims God has made?

ANNOUNCER: He does. For example, God failed when Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit and then had to be kicked out of the Garden of Eden. God failed, our listener claims, when sin kept on increasing and God, then, had to destroy the entire world in a flood. God even failed after the flood when humanity got together to build a big tower, deciding they didn't need the Lord and He had to then confuse them by giving them all different languages so they couldn't work together and understand each other."

KLAUS: Our listener is on a roll.

ANNOUNCER: Then, of course, there were the lesser failures, such as when God turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt; or when He punished the Children of Israel for being afraid to go into the Land of Promise. That was a failure; and then when they wandered off and worshiped other gods, another failure.

KLAUS: Was he done with his list yet?

ANNOUNCER: Almost. Our listener concludes by saying, "In all of these things, the Lord should have known what was going to happen. Then, when it did happen, He became angry at the people and not Himself. Why didn't He just set things up so that these folks wouldn't be tempted to do the wrong thing? If they weren't tempted, they wouldn't sin. If they didn't sin, God wouldn't have gotten angry. And if He hadn't gotten angry, He wouldn't have needed to punish them and everybody could have lived happily ever after."

KLAUS: Wow! This guy has thought it all through.

ANNOUNCER: And what will you say in reply?

KLAUS: I would say he's wrong.

ANNOUNCER: Well, we do have time left. Would you care to amplify?

KLAUS: Surely. He is wrong because he starts out with a wrong assumption. Our listener believes that God's chief purpose in creating the world, in selecting the people of promise is to make and keep things perfect. If that were the case, humanity's rebellion and error could be laid at His feet and God did fail.

ANNOUNCER: So, if God's real purpose was not to keep us perfect, what was He shooting for?

KLAUS: Very simple. Again and again He tells us: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." That's what the Lord wanted.

ANNOUNCER: Okay, explain further.

KLAUS: Okay. When the Lord set Adam and Eve up in the Garden, He wanted them to listen to Him, follow His single instruction; that is not to eat of the forbidden fruit, and love Him as much as He loved them.

ANNOUNCER: And couldn't He have made sure that would happen by not putting the forbidden fruit in the Garden in the first place?

KLAUS: Well, yes and no. Yes, He could have removed all temptation and forced people to respond to His love.

ANNOUNCER: That wouldn't have been good.

KLAUS: Not good at all. Mark, do you remember the man from Cleveland who kidnapped three women and kept them locked away in his house for ten years?

ANNOUNCER: Ariel Castro.

KLAUS: Yeah, that's the guy. Ariel Castro tried to force those women to love him. He did that by keeping them under lock and key and chain. Would you say that that was a healthy relationship?

ANNOUNCER: Absolutely not. Forcing love like that really isn't love at all. It's more like slavery.

KLAUS: Good. If God had forced people to love Him, it would not have been love. Instead the Lord kept trying to win us over; kept giving us choices; kept giving us opportunities.

ANNOUNCER: But we were the ones who failed to respond.

KLAUS: Yeah, we failed; which is precisely why we needed a Savior to succeed where we had messed up. Jesus did this for us by living, suffering, dying and rising so that all who believe on Him might be saved.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. And we thank you, the listener, for making this program part of your day. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music Selections for this program:

"A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.

"My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker" arr. Henry Gerike. Used by permission.

"In God, My Faithful God" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

"Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

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Please help Wendell and Mary Roehrs

Many may know already, but for those who don't, the home of Wendell and Mary Roehrs burned down last night. It is a total loss. They have lost everything they own that was in that house.

Wendell and Mary are long time members of St. John's.

In order for St. John's to help them, we are going to have a door offering this evening and tomorrow to help with their immediate needs.

Please give as you are able!!

Thank you!!
Pastor

St. John's Lutheran Church
Warrenton, MO

The Lutheran Hour: March 2, 2014

Sermon Text for March 2, 2014

The Lutheran Hour: A New Look ... But the Same Message. Learn More!

Al services and activities canceled for tomorrow! COME TONIGHT INSTEAD!!

Sunday school project tonight

Make plans to attend worship Saturday night at 5pm

Prayer request

Sunday school moved to Saturday afternoon at 4pm!!

Two celebrations coming up!!

Bookcase sponsors still needed

Wed. Feb 26, 2014

Pastor Klaustermeiers sermon from sunday

Tues. Feb 25, 2014

Tues. Feb 25, 2014

The generosity of St. John's!!

Mon. Feb 24, 2014

Fwd: The Lutheran Hour: February 23, 2014

Sermon Text for February 23, 2014

Please help Wendell and Mary Roehrs

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