St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

St. John's Group Email a message from Kia Philips

Below is a message from Kia for anyone who is able to help. Please reply directly to her:

I am still looking for Christmas gifts for 4 kids. We were able to purchase gifts for the other 8. I have a 6 year old girl who would like anything, I have a 10 year old boy who would like a nerf gun that is approximately $33 dollars at Walmart. If you can help, please let me know immediately. Thanks. Every kid deserves something for Christmas. Let's make this happen.

Girl age 6

Boy age 10

Girl age 4

Boy age 12

Niakia S. Phillips, LVER

Department of Economic Development

Division of Workforce Development

Warrenton Missouri Career Center

111 Steinhagen Road

Warrenton, Missouri 63383

(636) 456-9467 or toll free (800) 264-5872

Fax: (636) 456-2329

niakia.phillips@ded.mo.gov

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. - Joshua J. Marine

You gotta do what you have to do in order to do what you want to do!

Aveteran, whether they be active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life" ( author Unknown)

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St. John's Group Email Monday, Dec 12, 2011

DEVOTION: (Jesus said) "But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for My Name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict." Luke 21:12-15

"He's making a list, checking it twice, going to find out who's ..."

Did you fill it in correctly? Of course, you did. You know the end of the lyric reads, "going to find out who's naughty or nice."

Of course, most people think the "he" in that song is Santa. Not anymore. Santa has been moved to the side, and the people making the good-bad decision are the atheists. It's true. This Christmas season, in select communities, billboards are going up which read "Bias Against Atheists is Naughty, Not Nice."

Excuse me? Did I miss something here?

Let's see, how many Christians have taken atheists to court this year because they didn't display a cross or because they didn't say a prayer or because they didn't put up a crèche set or because they didn't say "Merry Christmas"? Do you want me to go on? I can. The courts are filled with atheists, who are trying to rewrite our nation, our history, our traditions ... who are trying to eliminate all public worship of the Savior.

I don't think we're the biased ones here.

And if Christians fight back, if they take a stand, well, the word is out: we're being naughty, not nice.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised.

Jesus said it would happen. He said naughty folks would lay their hands on us, that they would deliver us to the people in authority.

He also said those were the moments we should bear witness. Even more, He told us He would be with us, giving us that which needed to be said -- giving us a witness that wouldn't be liked, but which would be incontrovertible.

For example, one such word of witness you could give might be this: The Lord Jesus grant you a blessed Christmas.

Then leave it up to the listener to decide whether the sentence is naughty or nice.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, shortly after You were born, King Herod said You were naughty, not nice. He tried to have You murdered. This Christmas there are those who think the same way and they would have You banished. In such a world may we proudly proclaim the grace of God who was born in Bethlehem to die, so we might live. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: According to Romans 10:17, how does faith come? Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Felix?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

CATECHISM:

6th commandment: You shall not commit adultery

Question: How do we lead a sexually pure and decent life?

Answer: We lead a sexually pure and decent life when we

a. consider sexuality to be a good gift of God;

b. honor marriage as God's institution, the lifelong union of one man and one woman;

c. reserve sexual intercourse for the marriage partner alone;

d. control sexual urges in a God pleasing way.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHURCH CALENDAR

Mon- Whispering Pines worship 10am; Confirmation test and part 5-6:15

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Little Lambs Christmas Program 7pm

Wed- Ladies Aid Luncheon noon; Supper 5:30; Bells 6; worship 7; choir 7:30

Thurs- nothing scheduled

Fri- nothng scheduled

Sat- 9:30-11 Children's program practice; worship 5pm

Sun- Bible study 8; worship 9; Sunday school and Bible study 10:15

________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:

WORKERS NEEDED IN JOPLIN

Immanuel Lutheran Church in in Joplin is taking workers to help with construction.

YOU CAN GO ON YOUR OWN IF YOU WANT or, I'd love to take a group for a couple days in January and/or February to work on some houses.

Trent Davis, Immanuel's director of disaster response sent the following:

"The Lord has blessed us with the ability to get five decent sized projects under roof before the weather has gotten too ugly here, however we have only a few teams committed from Dec-Feb. We need additional teams.

All help will be greatly appreciated. Types of skills we are looking for include: electricians, plumbers, HVAC, drywall, painters and interior trim.
Not everyone on a team needs to be skilled but we need enough skilled folks to give direction to the willing. Thanks and Blessings!"

Contact information for Trent is:
Director of Disaster Response Trent Davis
Immanuel Lutheran Church – LCMS; 2616 Connecticut Ave; Joplin, MO 64804;
417.624.0333 | fax: 417.624.2774;

If anyone wants to go with me for a few days let me know asap and I will set it up. I'm pretty sure that all we'd really have to pay for is food.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION

***SAVE THE DATE*** The date of the Youth Group Steak Dinner and Auction has been set for Saturday, February 11, 2012. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Please join us for a night of fun and fundraising. We will be having the old favorites: silent auction and 50/50 drawing as well as the new favorites: live auction, dessert dash, wine raffle, and the WILD HEARTS JACKPOT DRAWING where there is a chance to win $500.00.

Tickets for the WILD HEARTS $500 DRAWING are on sale now. Please ask a youth group member to get yours. The tickets are 1 for $10 but for an additional $10 you can get 10 more tickets and have 11 chances at winning!

The youth will begin selling dinner/auction tickets at the beginning of January in the narthex after services. Tickets are $15 per person. Bid only tickets are $5.00. You may also contact Marilyn to reserve tickets.

In order to guarantee that you get to sit with a special group of family or friends, you may want to consider purchasing a table of 8 for $120._______________________________________________

THIS WEDNESDAY, DEC 14 is our last Midweek Advent dinner and worship.

If your elder is Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, or Steve Robine you are responsible for bringing a side dish, and a salad or dessert for our first dinner. Your elder will be calling you in the days ahead.

We will be having a special interview with JACOB as part of our worship at 7pm!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GIVING TREE GIFTS ARE DUE BACK !!!

They will be distributed this week so please get them in pronto!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BUY A POINSETTIA FOR THE ALTAR FOR CHRISTMAS IN MEMORY OF OR IN HONOR OF SOMEONE!!

Please sign the sheet in the narthex by Wednesday, Deember 14. They are $12.50 each.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A MOMENT OF GRACE FLORIST IS DONATING 10% oF EACH ST. JOHN'S MEMBER'S SALE BACK TO THE CHURCH

Each time you purchase flowers and other gifts from A MOMENT OF GRACE and tell them you are a member at St. John's, the church receives a tithe from them. A Moment of Grace is located at 511 N Hwy 47 and the phone number is 456-9334.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM PRACTICE AGAIN THIS COMING SATURDAY 9:30-11am!!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)

For KEN SUTOR, Lisa Rausch's dad, who is hospitalized with kidney and heart troubles and is also dealing with dementia.

For the POWELL FAMILY, friends of the Vossens, as they lost their seven year old daughter in a car accident last week and as she is being laid to rest today.

For EMMA, seven year old granddaughter of Terry and Lynn Russell, and great granddaughter of Elaine Schauer, who has an unidentified growth near her abdomen.

For the FAMILY OF BILL SAGER, former member of St. John's who moved to Oklahoma about five years ago, as he passed away Sunday night after a stroke and who is being laid tor rest today.

For EARL AND PAT EHLMANN, former members of St. Johns, as Earl's father passed away at age 101.

For THE FAMILY OF RUTH CANTRELL as they mourn her passing from death to eternal life.

For the FAMILY OF LEONARD BASS as he passed away to Wednesdays ago and his funeral was last Friday.

For CHERYL HAZEL who is Lil Winter's, daughter in-law's cousin. She has Stage 4 bone cancer.

For BONNIE FRENZIA who is doing much better at home.

For RICH (son of Burket Fickle - she works for Dr. Brady DDS here in Warrenton). He has been, and is, very sick and keeps running high fevers and they don't seem to find out what is causing his illness.

For KEN WAGNER who is at St. Joes in St Charles, and is going through physical therapy after a fractured vertebrae in his neck.

For JANICE MCKENZIE who is having trouble w/ breathing and is undergoing tests.

For ED KOHRS who is at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield

For Robyn McNew's cousin MARY KUTRIP who is dealing with terminal cancer and has quit doing treatments for it.

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.

--
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St. John's Group Email prayer request

Below is an email I received from Eileen Smith re VERY SERIOUS health concerns for their son, Sean, who is a newly (Aug. 28, 2011) ordained pastor in Evansville, Ind. Please read the email and include Pastor Sean in your prayers.

Sean serves as Associate Pastor at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Evansville, Indiana. His home address there is 33 Williams Lane, Newurgh, IN 47630. !

Eileen has included Sean's email address at the end of her message.

God's peace on your day.

Sandy

----- Original Message -----

From: Eileen Smith

To: Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 6:41 PM

Subject: Sean

This past week and half has been quite a roller coaster. On Nov 29th at 4:30am we received a call from Sean, crying and saying he couldn't move his legs, walk or stand. He had called 911 and we stayed on the line till they got there. He was in ER for hours, lots of blood tests, MRI, x-rays etc. At first they found his potassium very low, then thyroid panel came back and is super hyper active. With the two that can cause temporary paralysis. They then admitted him for 24 hrs trying to regulate things, then sent home, feeling some better, at least could move legs, walk etc. Then sat. night we got a call again at 11:45pm, he was at a youth concert, went to stand up and fell down. They called 911, back to ER, same Dr. on, he said nothing they can do till he gets the Graves Disease test which they had scheduled for this past Tuesday and wed. He had the test, he is in the 1% of people that have a very critical super hyper active thyroid, he could stroke out, remain paralysied etc. He is to do nothing but sit around and relax till treatment. They wanted to start the radio active iodine stuff wed. after tests, but after talking with the Dr. he just isn't comfortable with that and wants a surgical consult, which he has next tuesday the 13th. With the radio active stuff he can't be around people for about a week or two, has to have someone with him that is familiar with clean up if he vomits or diarrhea etc. Plus may have to take 2 or 3 doses of this stuff and take up to 3 months off work.
We're heading there tomorrow-friday-after Ron gets home from work.
Right now Sean is staying with a family that is so sweet (they are the ones who flew him up to Evansville so he could find a place to live, meet staff etc. He stayed with them when his house had the water problems.
This time though he can't do steps, so Kay and Tim let him have their bedroom since on lower level. Sean has to use a walker to get around.
The church and senior pastor have been great. Pastor just said we'll put him on disability and not to worry. But you know Sean, can't sit still.
After seeing the movie on CFW Walther, Sean has decided to read thru Luther's Works like Walther did when he was so sick. Of course this knocks out the Navy for sure.
There is thyroid problems on both sides of the family. Ron and one sister of eight kids are the only ones without problems. My Mom had her thyroid removed in her 30's.

If you want to drop him a note, his e-mail is
stlseansmith@g-mail.com

We'll keep you posted
eileen and ron

St. John's Group Email Youth Group Dinner and Auction-- Save the Date

***SAVE THE DATE*** The date of the Youth Group Steak Dinner and Auction has been set for Saturday, February 11, 2012. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Please join us for a night of fun and fundraising. We will be having the old favorites: silent auction and 50/50 drawing as well as the new favorites: live auction, dessert dash, wine raffle, and the WILD HEARTS JACKPOT DRAWING where there is a chance to win $500.00.

Tickets for the WILD HEARTS $500 DRAWING are on sale now. Please ask a youth group member to get yours. The tickets are 1 for $10 but for an additional $10 you can get 10 more tickets and have 11 chances at winning!

In order to guarantee that you get to sit with a special group of family or friends, you may want to consider purchasing a table of 8 for $120.

Toni Mauch

Branch Office Administrator

Edward Jones

611 Salt Lick Road

St Peters, MO 63376

(636) 978-9665

www.edwardjones.com

If you are not the intended recipient of this message (including attachments), or if you have received this message in error, immediately notify us and delete it and any attachments. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from Edward Jones, please send this request to messages@edwardjones.com. You must include the e-mail address that you wish not to receive e-mail communications. For important additional information related to this e-mail, visit www.edwardjones.com/US_email_disclosure

St. John's Group Email Joplin

Immanuel Lutheran Church in in Joplin is taking workers to help with construction.

I'd love to take a group down to Joplin for a couple days in January and/or February to work on some houses.

Trent Davis, Immanuel's director of disaster response sent the following:

"The Lord has blessed us with the ability to get five decent sized projects under roof before the weather has gotten too ugly here, however we have only a few teams committed from Dec-Feb. We need additional teams.

All help will be greatly appreciated. Types of skills we are looking for include: electricians, plumbers, HVAC, drywall, painters and interior trim.
Not everyone on a team needs to be skilled but we need enough skilled folks to give direction to the willing. Thanks and Blessings!"

Contact information for Trent is:
Director of Disaster Response Trent Davis
Immanuel Lutheran Church – LCMS; 2616 Connecticut Ave; Joplin, MO 64804;
417.624.0333 | fax: 417.624.2774;

If anyone wants to go with me for a few days let me know asap and I will set it up. I'm pretty sure that all we'd really have to pay for is food.

Pastor

St. John's Group Email Jonas update

Jonas's Updates

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December 6, Tuesday

Posted 19 hours ago

I just realized that I never mentioned that we made it home! Sorry. I should have let you know that there were no complications (other than rain the whole drive) and we made it back to Kansas City just fine. As my big sister says, "There's no place like home, Dorothy." = )
Jonas went to Children's Mercy on Monday to get back into the swing of things. He has an appointment tomorrow for several things including a CT scan to see just what kind of progress has been made. He is feeling better and better. He is up and walking again, but is still taking very little (if any) food by mouth.
He told me before we left Houston that he really looks forward to decorating the house for the holidays, so today we got out all our decorations and started putting those up. The dusting of snow on the ground this morning made it just seem perfect timing. We were spoiled with that Houston weather. It's time to bundle up.

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10 Message(s)

Posted 3 hours ago

by Donna Everett

Welcome home Jonas and Kristen! You have definitely been missed. It is good to hear that you made it back safely and without incident. Jonas I hope you continue to feel better and get stringer. Praying from good news at Children's Mercy today and that much progress has been made. Enjoy every moment of the holiday season! It is my favorite time of the year, so awesome to be with family and to remember the REAL meaning of Christmas! Love you all lots!

Posted 7 hours ago

by Lorel Hoffmann

so glad you are home and getting ready for the holidays. loved watching the video of you ringing the gong and getting another jersey!

Posted 7 hours ago

by stephanie nolte

I am sooooo very happy for the whole family. I am sure that brette,blair and joel have missed you all tremendously.
Stephanie

Posted 8 hours ago

by denise landes

Glad to hear you are home, I'm sure the girls were excited. I will pray for the visit today at Chilrens Mercy. Jonas you are awesome, stay strong. Denise L

Posted 11 hours ago

by Shelli Cornell

We are glad you are home safe and sound. I hope he keeps feeling better and better. You are one tough guy Jonas.

Posted 12 hours ago

by Susan Klene

Happy you guys made it back safe and sound, and Jonas is feeling better! We'll be praying for positive test results!

Posted 16 hours ago

by marilyn koshland

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad you are home!!!!!
We are all so proud of Jonas and hope he will start feeling human again! More so every day!
Tell us when we can make a Ben and Jerry run!
Love from Merryland and Koshieland

Posted 19 hours ago

by kelly wells

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy that he is back with the whole family! Yeah Jonas...way to fight the fight with the proton treatments!

Posted 19 hours ago

by Jennifer Edick

So glad to hear you both made it back without complications. I'm sure you and Jonas are happy to be home in time for the holidays and as always I will be praying for a positive outcome from the upcoming tests!!
Lots of love,
Christy (Galate) Edick and kids

Posted 19 hours ago

by Kay Fox

Welcome home, Jonas! We've all missed you a lot and I know Cam has missed you.

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St. John's Group Email CHRISTMAS SALE AT THRIFT STORE 1/2 OFF *** EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS NEXT TWO SATURDAYS 9AM - 2PM

CHRISTMAS SALE AT THRIFT STORE 1/2 OFF

EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS NEXT TWO SATURDAYS 9AM - 2PM

Normal business hours:

Sat: 9-noon

Tues: 9-2

Thurs: 9-6

St. John's Group Email Thursday, Dec 8, 2011

DEVOTION: Jesus said) "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

The topic for today's devotion was suggested by Mr. Ian Adnams, consultant and information specialist for the Lutheran Church-Canada.

The countdown to Christmas has begun.

It is an exciting thing to see those dates being checked off our calendars, thrilling to watch the enthusiasm of our children and grandchildren as the special day of Jesus' birth comes closer.

With more than 25 years in the parish, I can remember one of my great frustrations was driving around town and seeing so many of my members remembering to celebrate Christmas -- but forgetting to worship the Christ.

By that I mean that while these folks had put up their trees, decorated their homes, attended a plethora of parties and had sent out Christmas cards by the bushel, I never saw them in church. If I managed to catch them and talk to them about their absence, the excuse they gave was almost always the same. They said something like, "Pastor, I'm just so busy! I'm at my wits' end. I'm certain I'll never get done all the things I simply have to do. I'm sure the Lord understands and will forgive me."

Yup, that's what they said.

And me? I tried to encourage them to come to worship.

Still, I wish I had the recent study which was made by Yeshiva University in Manhattan, New York. They visited with over 92,000 women over the age of 50. What they found was most revealing. They discovered that those folks who went to church faithfully were less likely to be depressed and more likely to be optimistic about life.

Now Christians have always known that's the way it is. When you know Jesus as your Savior, when you are forgiven of your sins and adopted into the family of faith, you have a different outlook; you have a Savior who gives rest to those who labor and are heavy laden.

That's exactly the kind of thing those over-rushed followers of the Savior needed. They didn't need God to understand or forgive their ignoring Him, they needed to have God grant them peace and a perspective that allowed them to worship their Lord.

So if the Christmas rush has run you ragged, I pray you will take time to visit with the Savior and you will see the same Christ who was born to save you from your sins is also the Lord who gives the weary rest.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, right now many of us are holding on to a long list of things that simply "must be done." May that list include that which is really important: worshipping the Savior who is born so we might have have rest and salvation. In our Savior's Name we pray it. Amen.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What does the phrase "Abba Father" mean? It is a term of endearment, kind of like calling your father daddy. It is also somewhat of giving approval to God.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ: According to Romans 10:17, how does faith come?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CATECHISM:

6th commandment: You shall not commit adultery

Question: What does this mean?

Answer:

We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHURCH CALENDAR

Thurs- nothing scheduled

Fri- Bible study at Hendershot's 7pm

Sat- 9-11 Children's program practice; 3rd-7th grade singers - 9:00; 7th & 8th grade instrumentalists - 10:00; worship 5pm; youth group Christmas party 6:30

Sun- Bible study 8; worship 9; Sunday school and Bible study 10:15

________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:

DON'T FORGET TO START WORKING ON YOUR PRAYER AND CARE JOURNALS.

If you weren't in church yesterday come next Sunday to see what that means.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEXT WEDNESDAY, DEC 14 is our last Midweek Advent dinner and worship.

If your elder is Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, or Steve Robine you are responsible for bringing a side dish, and a salad or dessert for our first dinner. Your elder will be calling you in the days ahead.

We will be having a special interview with JACOB as part of our worship at 7pm!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GIVING TREE GIFTS ARE DUE BACK THIS SUNDAY, Dec. 11!!!

They will be distributed next week so please get them in pronto!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE SCOTT'S this Saturday at 6:30pm

Hey high school kids, please come to Gary and Teresa Scott's house with a white elephant (funny joke gift) to share and to enjoy some good food, fun, and fellowship.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BUY A POINSETTIA FOR THE ALTAR FOR CHRISTMAS IN MEMORY OF OR IN HONOR OF SOMEONE!!

Please sign the sheet in the narthex by Wednesday, Deember 14. They are $12.50 each.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A MOMENT OF GRACE FLORIST IS DONATING 10% oF EACH ST. JOHN'S MEMBER'S SALE BACK TO THE CHURCH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM PRACTICE AGAIN THIS COMING SATURDAY 9-11am!!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)

For KEN SUTOR, Lisa Rausch's dad, who is hospitalized with kidney and heart troubles.

For the POWELL FAMILY, friends of the Vossens, as they lost their seven year old daughter in a car accident last week and as she is being laid to rest today.

For EMMA, seven year old granddaughter of Terry and Lynn Russell, and great granddaughter of Elaine Schauer, who has an unidentified growth near her abdomen.

For the FAMILY OF BILL SAGER, former member of St. John's who moved to Oklahoma about five years ago, as he passed away Sunday night after a stroke and who is being laid tor rest today.

For EARL AND PAT EHLMANN, former members of St. Johns, as Earl's father passed away at age 101.

For THE FAMILY OF RUTH CANTRELL as they mourn her passing from death to eternal life.

For the FAMILY OF LEONARD BASS as he passed away to Wednesdays ago and his funeral was last Friday.

For CHERYL HAZEL who is Lil Winter's, daughter in-law's cousin. She has Stage 4 bone cancer.

For BONNIE FRENZIA who is doing much better at home.

For KEN WAGNER who is at St. Joes in St Charles, and is going through physical therapy after a fractured vertebrae in his neck.

For JANICE MCKENZIE who is having trouble w/ breathing and is undergoing tests.

For ED KOHRS who is at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield

For Robyn McNew's cousin MARY KUTRIP who is dealing with terminal cancer and has quit doing treatments for it.

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.

--
You

St. John's Group Email A Good Evening Devotion

A good little devotional thought before you go to bed or when you get up in the morning.

Tommy

Definitely worth the read, . VERY touching!

Father John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long.

I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day. I was unprepared and my emotions flipped.

I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange... Very strange.

Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course.

He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?"

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.

"Why not," he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then I called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!" He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.

I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line -- He will find you! At least I thought it was clever.

Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was duly grateful.

Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer.

Before I could search him out, he came to see me.

When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe.

"Tommy, I've thought about you so often; I hear you are sick," I blurted out.

"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."

"Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked.

"Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied.

"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?

"Well, it could be worse.

"Like what?"

"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies in life."

I began to look through my mental file cabinet under "S" where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)

"But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class." (He remembered!) He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time. (My clever line. He thought about that a lot!) "But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God.And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven.

But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success?

You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit.

"Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said:

'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving..'

But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.

"So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him.

"Dad."

"Yes, what?" he asked without lowering the newspaper.

"Dad, I would like to talk with you."

"Well, talk."

"I mean. It's really important."

The newspaper came down three slow inches. "What is it?"

"Dad, I love you, I just wanted you to know that." Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him.

"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning."

"It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me."

"It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years."

"I was only sorry about one thing --- that I had waited so long."

"Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to..

"Then, one day I turned around and God was there.

"He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, 'C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give you three days, three weeks."

Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour.

"But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."

"Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love..

You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.

"Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell it.."

"Oooh.. I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class."

"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call."

In a few days Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me.

So we scheduled a date.

However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class.

Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed.

He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time.

"I'm not going to make it to your class," he said.

"I know, Tom."

"Will you tell them for me? Will you...tell the whole world for me?"

I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven --- I told them, Tommy, as best I could.

If this story means anything to you, please pass it on to a friend or two.

It is a true story and is not enhanced for publicity purposes.

With thanks, Rev. John Powell, Professor,

Loyola University , Chicago

St. John's Lutheran Church
Warrenton, MO

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