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).
"Criticisms and Compliments"
October 22, 2014
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Well, Columbus Day, which is the second Monday in October, has come and gone.
The explorer did not escape the celebration with his name unscathed or untarnished. This year the Seattle School Board agreed that while Columbus Day is a federal holiday they were obligated to have their own celebration, a celebration they call, "Indigenous Peoples' Day."
The resolution, at least in part, said, the board "recognizes the fact that Seattle is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples ...." It also said the board has a "responsibility to oppose the systematic racism toward indigenous people in the United States which perpetuates high rates of poverty ...."
I could not discover if the board was willing to help reduce the poverty of the indigenous people upon whose land Seattle was built by paying them for the property which had been taken.
Now I would not have you think that Columbus is completely unappreciated in Seattle. Last month at a city council committee meeting, Italian Americans expressed their concerns about Columbus Day being replaced.
So there you have it, my friends.
Depending on who you ask, Columbus was a brigand, a pirate, a perpetrator of genocide, and a slaver -- or -- he is an intrepid explorer, a discoverer, a man who wished to bring lost souls to Jesus. Looking at him, Columbus is either a sinner or he is a saint.
The same could be said about each of us, since all of us do good things and we do bad things.
All of us, that is, except for the Savior. Because Jesus is God, He was perfect, and as the passage above tells us, He committed no sin. On the other hand, He carried all of ours. He took our trespasses to the cross and destroyed their penalties, even as He fulfilled God's laws and ancient prophecies, which had told how He would die.
Yes, Jesus was, is, and always will be perfect.
That doesn't mean this evil world will appreciate or applaud Him. It never has, it never will. When Jesus walked among us, He was labeled a Samaritan, a partyer, a devil. Today His teachings and work are contested, criticized and vilified. And what are the bad things people say about Jesus? Two thousand years ago they said, "This man receives and eats with sinners" (see Luke 15:2). Today they say Jesus is a "crutch for those who cannot stand on their own."
Amazingly, both criticisms are correct. Yes, Jesus did receive sinners and He does support those who recognize they are lost without Him. Yes, Jesus' critics are right in what they say, and all believers say, "Thank God they are right for if Jesus didn't seek and save sinners, how would we be saved?"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks You have suffered to save sinners such as myself. May the world realize that, in this regard, their criticism is accurate and they are really paying you a compliment. For all You have done for me, You have my everlasting thanks. In Your Name I pray it. 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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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What did Herod order done in Bethlehem when he found out that the "King of Kings" Jesus was born there? He ordered that all the babies 3 years old and younger be killed
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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).
"Criticisms and Compliments"
October 22, 2014
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21Well, Columbus Day, which is the second Monday in October, has come and gone.
The explorer did not escape the celebration with his name unscathed or untarnished. This year the Seattle School Board agreed that while Columbus Day is a federal holiday they were obligated to have their own celebration, a celebration they call, "Indigenous Peoples' Day."
The resolution, at least in part, said, the board "recognizes the fact that Seattle is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples ...." It also said the board has a "responsibility to oppose the systematic racism toward indigenous people in the United States which perpetuates high rates of poverty ...."
I could not discover if the board was willing to help reduce the poverty of the indigenous people upon whose land Seattle was built by paying them for the property which had been taken.
Now I would not have you think that Columbus is completely unappreciated in Seattle. Last month at a city council committee meeting, Italian Americans expressed their concerns about Columbus Day being replaced.
So there you have it, my friends.
Depending on who you ask, Columbus was a brigand, a pirate, a perpetrator of genocide, and a slaver -- or -- he is an intrepid explorer, a discoverer, a man who wished to bring lost souls to Jesus. Looking at him, Columbus is either a sinner or he is a saint.
The same could be said about each of us, since all of us do good things and we do bad things.
All of us, that is, except for the Savior. Because Jesus is God, He was perfect, and as the passage above tells us, He committed no sin. On the other hand, He carried all of ours. He took our trespasses to the cross and destroyed their penalties, even as He fulfilled God's laws and ancient prophecies, which had told how He would die.
Yes, Jesus was, is, and always will be perfect.
That doesn't mean this evil world will appreciate or applaud Him. It never has, it never will. When Jesus walked among us, He was labeled a Samaritan, a partyer, a devil. Today His teachings and work are contested, criticized and vilified. And what are the bad things people say about Jesus? Two thousand years ago they said, "This man receives and eats with sinners" (see Luke 15:2). Today they say Jesus is a "crutch for those who cannot stand on their own."
Amazingly, both criticisms are correct. Yes, Jesus did receive sinners and He does support those who recognize they are lost without Him. Yes, Jesus' critics are right in what they say, and all believers say, "Thank God they are right for if Jesus didn't seek and save sinners, how would we be saved?"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks You have suffered to save sinners such as myself. May the world realize that, in this regard, their criticism is accurate and they are really paying you a compliment. For all You have done for me, You have my everlasting thanks. In Your Name I pray it. 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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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What did Herod order done in Bethlehem when he found out that the "King of Kings" Jesus was born there? He ordered that all the babies 3 years old and younger be killed
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who baptized Jesus and what was his relationship to him?
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Karate 5:30-7:30; Praise band practice
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- Wedding 2pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11; Building reserved for 4H 1-9pm; Jr/Sr. Hi fishing 5pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Kailyn Blechle 11- Ian Brunson
Altar guild- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up-- Lois Boeger
Greeters- 8:30- Pam Linke; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier, 8:30- Christy Winn, 11- Bella Linstruth
8:30 Ushers- Scott Heitgerd, Tom Linke, Alex Heitgerd, Bob Linke
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Jacob Cluver
Pianists/organists Sat- Tim Sherman; Sun- Gene HIlgendorf 11am- Praise band
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Sat- Wedding 2pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11; Building reserved for 4H 1-9pm; Jr/Sr. Hi fishing 5pm
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Kailyn Blechle 11- Ian Brunson
Altar guild- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up-- Lois Boeger
Greeters- 8:30- Pam Linke; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier, 8:30- Christy Winn, 11- Bella Linstruth
8:30 Ushers- Scott Heitgerd, Tom Linke, Alex Heitgerd, Bob Linke
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Jacob Cluver
Pianists/organists Sat- Tim Sherman; Sun- Gene HIlgendorf 11am- Praise band
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NEWS
LET"S GO FISHING!!
The jr/sr high youth are invited to go fishing on Sunday, October 26!! We will meet at church at 4pm and head over to George and Phyllis Hoelscher's pond. Please bring your own supplies! Let Kelsey know if you are able to go. We also need parents to drive!! Let Kelsey know about that too!
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QUILT TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE QUILTERS!!
$1 each or 6 for $5!! The qult will be awarded to the lucky individual on Saturday, November 15!! Proceeds are given to several local charities!
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMUNITY GUIDES AND BUSINESS DIRECTORIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX
Support your local businesses! Pick up a directory and use it to call on your friends and neighbors to do the things you need to get done!
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TRUNK OR TREAT ON HALLOWEEN!!!
Bring your kids, bring a pot of chili, and your carved pumpkins to our 3rd annual Trunk-or-treat!! THis is a fun and safe environment to have your kids go trick-or-treating and it's fun for the whole family. We will also be having a chili cook off and a pumpkin carving contest! There will be prizes for thw inners. Event starts at 5pm with chili judging and then we will serve al the chili till 6:30. If you plan on being in the chili contest; please calling the church office, or emailing Kelsey at koverbeck@live.com. Trunk or treat will go until 8pm.
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PATRIOT PACKAGES WILL BE PACKED AT THE WARRENTON ARMORY ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15!!
You may donate small travel size personal hygiene items, gum, comic books, magazines, or cash. A full list of needed items will be available soon. These packages are sent to troops out on the front line and battle fields around the world.
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Kelsey updates our website weekly! Check it out!! www.stjohnwarrenton.org
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF RICK SPINIOLAS as he passed away this morning after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
For WYATT BROOCKE, a friend of Lisa Rausch and others in the congregation) who is nearing the end of his life due to pancreatic cancer.
For BEVERLY WAALEN who has been placed on hospice care and is nearing the end of her earthly life.
For RICK SPINIOLAS who is hospitalized with complications due to cancer.
For my aunt, LOIS RICHARDSON, as she remains hospitalized with heart issues due to diabetes along with many other health problems including kidney dialysis and seizures.
For DONNA HEITGERD as she continues to recover from hip surgery.
For SCOTT CLARK who is recovering from back surgery.
A prayer of THANKSGIVING for DERIK ROLOFF, who has been given a clean bill of health after his surgery. No cancer has been detected.
For THOSE IN DANGER, THOSE SUFFERING, AND THOSE MOURNING THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES DUE TO EBOLA, that the Lord would find a cure and an antidote for it.
For OUR CONTINUED FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SPEECH in the United States, that we would continue to be able to freely speak the truth even in the face of opposition.
For our NATION'S MILITARY LEADERS AND SOLDIERS as they figure out what to do about the imminent threats from ISIS.
For MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith.
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(Jesus said) "And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:10-13