Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Daily Encouragement (09/30/08) "Warn Them"

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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Photo of Highland Lighthouse on Cape Cod
Highland Lighthouse on Cape Cod

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"Warn Them"

"I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment" (Luke 16:27,28).

Brooksyne and I both enjoy lighthouses. Since we now live away from the ocean we don't see them as often as when we lived in New England nearer the coast. Our views of lighthouses are generally from land looking out to sea. We see them for their architectural and historical value as well as their sheer beauty. It's also an inspiring sight to see a structure whose foundation is laid in or near the deep sea that has weathered many a storm and yet stands erect year after year.

But first and foremost lighthouses were built for a specific function, to warn.

Jesus told a powerful story in Luke 16:19-31. Since only Luke tells this story it may not be as familiar to many as other stories that are repeated in all four gospels. Jesus tells the story as an event that actually took place, not as a parable, although it is often interpreted as a parable.

Essentially two men live out their lives: the first, an unnamed rich man had a wonderful life, "dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day." He is traditionally named "Dives", which is actually the Latin word for "rich" used in the Vulgate translation. The notion that this was the name of the man emerged in medieval times. The other was a poor beggar named Lazarus who lived in physical affliction and abject poverty, "covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."

In time they both died. Lazarus ascended to "Abraham's side" but the rich man descended to hell where he was in great torment. After seeking some relief from his torment he pleads in the daily verse for Lazarus to go back to earth to warn his five brothers of their impending doom.

The rich man's perspective had drastically changed. What once seemed so important now meant nothing and what once held little importance now was vital. "Warn them" was the urgent plea from the suffering rich man as he pondered the fate of his brothers who were presumably living in the same earthly manner as he.

This story provides us with a perspective of what really matters in life. Although I am aware that most receiving this encouragement message are followers of Christ, having accepted His forgiveness through the plan of salvation, I feel compelled to warn all. A powerful verse in the book of Hebrews states, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (2:3).

I urge you all to examine the state of your soul today. Are you saved from your sin and living to please the Lord? If so, are You shining your light for Jesus as He has commanded, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Today's text is abundantly clear: we must live upright godly lives here on earth, warn others and seek to win them to Christ in this life. It will be too late in the life hereafter since the kingdom of earth and the kingdom of heaven are eternally separate. Let's spread the life-saving message of salvation to all who will hear, here and now.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, the story that Jesus shares about the rich man who took no thought for his life after death is a picture of so many who live for the here and now. They store up treasures that don't transfer to eternity and dismiss the truths that do prepare us for eternity. May this illustration bring comfort and peace of heart to those who suffer in this present life, as Lazarus did. May they be reminded of the joyous life yet to come where there is no pain, sorrow, or alienation? And help us to be faithful to warn others to prepare not just for this temporal life, but for eternal life. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.



Here is the complete text of today's Scripture portion: Luke 16:19-31



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

(Click on the link to play)

Today we want to share two songs based on the Lighthouse theme.

"The Lighthouse" Video

"Let The Lower Lights Be Burning" Video
This hymn has an interesting background. You can view the hymn text and read the brief background story here.

Info about the Highland Light (pictured above)

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
32nd anniversary photo
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber - May 6, 2008
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 04/15/08

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net through 9/25/2008: $15,149.00)

SUBSCRIPTION INFO
Free email subscriptionWere you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.
Cancel:
We respect and value your time and privacy. If this newsletter no longer meets your needs we will be happy to remove your address from the list immediately. To remove your address merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version:
The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address.
(To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass these messages on!





Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message.
"A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination.
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.


Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.


© Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us
Chaplaincy logo

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

www.dailyencouragement.net

Monday, September 29, 2008

Daily Encouragement (09/29/08) "The Eternal Source Of Help"

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Monday, September 29, 2008

Photo of mountain view in the Yukon
Mountain view in the Yukon
Click here to enlarge
(Photo by Rick Steudler)

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"The Eternal Source Of Help"
"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1,2).

I really like mountains. We see a small mountain ridge across the Susquehanna River from our front lawn. But as we move farther west or north we hit the real mountains in the Appalachian ridge. Tomorrow I'll share a photo I took several years ago off the Appalachian Trail.

I've travelled to the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the Rockies in Colorado, Mount Rainier in Washington and the Andes in both Central and South America.

Mount Washington bumper sticker
But the most astounding mountain I've ever visited is Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Although it is not nearly as high in elevation as many other mountains, its steep incline is very prominent since the difference in elevation at its base and peak is well over a mile. Anyone who has ever driven the auto road to the top is likely to remember it. It's quite harrowing! And for those who've climbed it, well, my hat is off to you.

Any given day as we prepare these messages there are issues that concern or distress us. Some are at the personal level while others are international and affect all of us. For instance today we wonder what in the world is going on in regard to the economy. How we will be affected? Generally, in our decision as to what to share in this encouragement series, we do not let these issues guide us since most every day there is some current tragedy or crisis headlining the news. Additionally, we have many faithful readers from other countries.

The power of Scripture is that the message is timeless and speaks to people all over the globe. Today's text is an example. The human author of Psalm 121 is unidentified. Some Bible versions include this interesting designation in the heading of Psalm 121: "A Song of Ascents" or "Pilgrim Psalms" as do all the Psalms from 120-134. Most believe that these Psalms were sung by those who journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem for the annual feasts.

The Psalmist begins by giving us a word picture in verse one, "I lift up my eyes to the hills." You may be surrounded by flat lands, but I hope you're able to occasionally enjoy the splendid view of distant hills.

The Psalmist then asks a question that I believe he is prepared to immediately answer. "Where does my help come from?" This is one of life's most important questions.

As the Psalmist lifted his eyes to the hills he may have been thinking about enemy invaders or those who were bringing slander against him (Psalm 120). Allegorically speaking we might also consider the steep hills we face and see the many potential and real forms of invasion. We might also cry out: "Where does my help come from?" The answers vary greatly. For some it's the bottle, for others it's a pill. Some believe it'll be that big hit at the casino, still for others it's the miracle diet. And the list goes on and on.

The only right answer has not changed. Dear believer, whatever your trying circumstance, join with the Psalmist who is inspired by the majesty and splendor of God's creation. He looks beyond the visible creation to the invisible Creator who gives the needed help when facing distressing times. Let us declare together, "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!" He alone is the "The Eternal Source Of Help."



Be encouraged today,


Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, our assurance and hope is in Your protection day and night. You made the mountains and the hills, the valleys and the streams. You do not leave us to fend for ourselves, but Your help is constant and ever-sufficient for all our needs. Our help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth, who watches over us both now and forevermore. Amen.

The first part of today's text presented an interpretive challenge as we prepared the message. In one sense "I lift up my eyes to the hills" may be a look of distress in considering enemies who are in the hills poised to attack. But in another sense (and the sense we tend to usually take it and did so in the message) it may be one of assurance as we look upward toward God.

Matthew Henry's commentary interprets it as such: "We must not rely upon men and means, instruments and second causes. Shall I depend upon the strength of the hills? Upon princes and great men? No; my confidence is in God only. Or, we must lift up our eyes above the hills; we must look to God who makes all earthly things to us what they are. We must see all our help in God; from Him we must expect it, in His own way and time. This Psalm teaches us to comfort ourselves in the Lord, when difficulties and dangers are greatest."

Warren Wiersbe comments, "Where does your help come from? The Psalmist lifted his eyes to the hills. The most stable, secure thing the Jews knew were the mountains around Jerusalem. Then the Psalmist lifted his eyes higher and said, 'No, I don't get my help from the hills. I get my help from the heavens. God is my Helper.' Whatever your need or task is today, your help will come from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. A God big enough to make this world and keep it going is big enough to help you with your problems today."



Photo of Lois Hess and Andrew Samuel
In Friday's message we shared about Lois Hess and Andrew Samuel. Here's Andrew's audio testimony (about 30 minutes long) given at a CBMC meeting (mp3). It's well worth the listen although the audio quality is rather poor.







Mark Pulliam photoFriday afternoon our longtime friend Mark Pulliam and his wife Carolyn stopped by for lunch and a visit. We met Mark when we worked for a national chaplaincy agency about ten years ago and for a year and 1/2 he was my immediate supervisor. Mark made pineapple pie about seven years ago when we had a chaplain gathering in his home and recalls that we found it quite tasty so whenever we gather he brings his home-made pie. We did enjoy it!!







Forry family
Two weeks ago we shared in a message about Jared, a 24 year old young man, who was having surgery for a brain tumor. He continues to recover from the surgery, but they were only able to remove a part of the tumor. Jared now faces radiation and chemotherapy. He is pictured with his mom and dad, Lynne and Gary Forry.



This weekend our church had a special outreach picnic and time of honoring local law enforcement. Here are some photos:

Police officers
Saturday evening the officers shared in a special panel discussion about their work and we really saw their heart and gained a new appreciation for their service. At least one specifically identified himself as a believer.

A humorous highlight came when a question was asked from a lady as to whether they thought the drinking age should be lowered (which is actually under consideration in our state as a means of defining morality downward.) After the question was asked and before the officer could even answer, a little three year old boy in the back shouted out "Yes". Brooksyne was sitting near the visiting mortified mother who quickly silenced her young son. After the laughter faded, the officer went on to answer with a well reasoned and emphatic "No".

Now this occasion brings to mind a similar experience that happened about ten years ago in the church I pastored in New England. See here for that story!

Jay with daughterAn effort is made to reach out to our neighborhood and community including fun activities for the children. Jay is our clown and I am not sure his infant daughter Janae knew what to think of her dad!











Redneck cooksA big BBQ meal was prepared and Fred, Nelson, and Lee are cooking the potatoes, peppers and onions outdoors over an open fire. They sure
were tasty and I wish I could can that wood smoke smell!








Mountain goats!
Yesterday afternoon we drove by our neighbor's farm on the way home from church. I suppose they're pretending to be mountain goats!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

(Click on the link to play)

"My Help" Video This song is by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and is based on today's text.


Rick Steudler photoToday's photo was taken by our friend Rick Steudler on a recent trip to the Yukon. Last week Rick showed me the photos he took during the trip and told me that today's Scripture text from Psalm 121 was among his late father's favorite verses.





Mount Washington - The elevation at the base where the auto road begins in Glen House, New Hampshire is 563' and the peak is 6,288'.

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
32nd anniversary photo
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber - May 6, 2008
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 04/15/08

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net through 9/25/2008: $15,149.00)

SUBSCRIPTION INFO
Free email subscriptionWere you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.
Cancel:
We respect and value your time and privacy. If this newsletter no longer meets your needs we will be happy to remove your address from the list immediately. To remove your address merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version:
The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address.
(To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass these messages on!





Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message.
"A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination.
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.


Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.


© Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us
Chaplaincy logo

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

www.dailyencouragement.net

Friday, September 26, 2008

Daily Encouragement (09/26/08) "Cups Of Cold Water"

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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Friday, September 26, 2008

Lois Hess and Andrew Samuel
Lois Hess and Andrew Samuel

ListenListen to us share this message on your audio player.

"Cups Of Cold Water"

"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward" (Mark 9:41).

Andrew Samuel is a bank president here in central Pennsylvania who takes a bold stand for the Lord. I met him when he spoke at a Lancaster CBMC function about a year ago. During his message he referred to the Hess family from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, who was a great blessing to him as a young man thousands of miles from his home in India. As we talked afterward I came to realize that he was referring to Lois Hess, a lady who attends our church here in Mount Joy. I told Lois about seeing him and she said, "Oh, I would just love to see Andrew" so I worked on setting up a meeting.

About thirty years ago Lois, and her late husband Wilbur, hosted Andrew when he first came to the states to attend Messiah College here in Pennsylvania. Andrew came to the rural Hess home when he arrived and then during holiday breaks since he didn't have family close by.

Yesterday morning Andrew was in the Lancaster area speaking to a group of students at Lancaster Bible College and stopped by to visit Lois on the way back to his office in Harrisburg. Brooksyne and I were present during their warm reunion. Lois has been very ill and only recently was able to return to her home after a long period of convalescence.

Andrew greeted Lois with a big hug and addressed her as "Mom" before we sat down and visited for a few minutes before departing and resuming our busy schedules. I think it's safe to say he made her day and refreshed her with a "cup of cold water".

The Lord Jesus is speaking in today's text. He begins with a solemn introduction very common in His discourses "I tell you the truth." (In fact in the NIV He uses this exact phrase 78 times.) This phrase stands out to me since we are flooded with lies from every direction. It seems especially so during this political season and in regard to so many current events. But we can absolutely rely on the truthfulness of God.

Many years ago Lois and her husband dispensed cups of cold water to Andrew (perhaps literally but most certainly figuratively.) Far from his family in India he found in the Hess home a place of refuge and as close to a family-like atmosphere as he was to experience. An enduring relationship was established, so much so, that to this day Lois is "Mom" to Andrew.

Jesus said in a similar passage, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).

Today we are all called by the Lord to dispense cups of cold water. Very likely we are both dispensers and receivers and, in some situations like Andrew and Lois, it can become a reciprocating relationship. Nearly thirty years ago Andrew as a young college student was a receiver and Lois was the dispenser. Yesterday Andrew, now a middle-aged businessman, was the dispenser and Lois was the receiver.

Let's all look for opportunities to dispense some cups of cold water in His Name today!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, since we belong to You we want to bless others in Your name. Help us to love without reserve and give generously of our resources. We will reap not only a reward in heaven, but we will also enjoy the spiritual fulfillment of being Your hand extended to those in need.



I called Lois this morning and she told me again how blessed she was by Andrew's visit! Andrew has a powerful testimony apart from the specific connection mentioned in today's encouragement and he shares it in churches and business meetings all throughout our region.



A Visit to an Amish Farm

Three little piggies
Yesterday afternoon we stopped and visited our friends Jesse and Anna Lapp on their dairy farm near Strasburg, PA. I helped Jesse feed the cows and when I walked by the pigs were eager to check the stranger out, probably hoping I had something for them to eat!

We collected rhubarb at the Lapp's neighbors and last night Brooksyne and I (mostly Brooksyne) cut up over 60 cups of rhubarb! Most of it will eventually go into her strawbery/rhubarb preserves.

Photo of toast with strwberry/rhubarb jam
Brooksyne's Strawberry/Rhubarb Preserves
16 Cups Rhubarb, chopped
11 to 12 Cups Granulated Sugar
2 large boxes Strawberry Jello
Cover rhubarb with sugar for several hours or overnight. Bring to boil. Take off stove and add dry jello. Can and seal 10 minutes in water bath or you may also freeze. (Makes 9 pints.)





Photo of Corner acre shed
I enjoy old farm sheds and Brooksyne thought it was pretty how the Hyacinth Bean vine covers this one. Sure saves on paint!



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

(Click on the link to play)

"I Thank The Lord For You" Lyrics Audio

"Love One Another" Lyrics Audio

Scripture Memory Songs - Last week we referred to a selection of Scripture verses we had recorded in our home with some friends. The words are set to familar music as an aid to memorization in a discipleship training class. Here's the full selection!

Graystone Bank (the bank that Andrew Samuel serves as president)

Info about multi-media files used on daily encouragement.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.
32nd anniversary photo
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber - May 6, 2008
"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update
Revised 04/15/08

DonateEach weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details. (2008 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net through 9/25/2008: $15,149.00)

SUBSCRIPTION INFO
Free email subscriptionWere you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed.
Cancel:
We respect and value your time and privacy. If this newsletter no longer meets your needs we will be happy to remove your address from the list immediately. To remove your address merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each message.

Weekly Version:
The weekly version is designed for those who do not check their email regularly. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.)

Please feel free to pass these messages on!




Our other blogs:
"A Daily Prayer" - The daily prayer from each daily encouragement message.
"A Little Foolishness" - A collection of humorous and satirical stories drawn mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile imagination.
"Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the church.

Christianbook.comDaily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!

Personal Mission Statement
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

Four Spiritual Laws

How to become a child of God



Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

© Copyright 2008 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

Daily Encouragement Net
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552
Contact us
Chaplaincy logo

"Living securely today anchored
in God's solid foundation"

www.dailyencouragement.net