 A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives ·  Archive/print editionFriday, January 23, 2009  We passed this old bank barn in Berks County Pennsylvania. Bank barns are common throughout Pennsylvania with the typically uneven terrain. The design allows direct access to both levels. I sure enjoy old barns!  Listen to us share this message on your audio player."Graphic Images" "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" (Galatians 3:1). I enjoy studying history and have visited many museums. By far the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC is the most graphic and solemn museum I've ever visited, or maybe I should write "experienced". Hundreds of people slowly walk through the multiple floors of the museum, which depict the various stages of the holocaust. Apart from the slow shuffling of feet on the hard floors one hears only periodic gasps followed by "Oh, my." Those attempting to suppress quiet sniffles are heard throughout the corridor. Probably the most moving part of the experience is observing a display that shows photos of the most horrible aspects of the holocaust. To see it you have to make an effort because the designers put a privacy wall around it. You have to look over this wall and down to view the monitors and the grainy early video. Man's inhumanities to his fellow man are astounding. Amazingly, just 65 years ago Hitler and his minions sought to keep these activities in the concentration camps secret. And now there are many who want to deny it ever happened in the first place. This inhumanity continues today. A news clip showed several martyred, bloodied Christians being stomped on by gleeful Muslim fanatics. Angry Hindu mobs in the Orissa state of India are actively persecuting the small Christian remnant. Graphic posters show dismembered and chemically scalded preborn children; "products" of abortion. The abortionists and their deluded supporters hate these images, claiming they incite violence! What astounding hypocrisy. We have no photos of the crucifixion of our Lord, only the visual depictions of artists, who generally understate the likely horror of the scene. Several years ago the "Passion of the Christ" film more accurately conveyed the images of the real historic event. The Galatians had not been there and most certainly had not seen any movies. Yet Paul declares to them, "before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified." What descriptive preaching this must have been! This makes me wonder had Paul himself been a witness at the Crucifixion? Had Peter or an earlier eyewitness been to this region and shared the story clearly portraying Jesus Christ's crucifixion? Today let us continue to serve our crucified and risen Lord. And let us continue to remember our suffering brothers and sisters all around the world, the unborn children, and others subject to violence. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, we pray that with unveiled faces we will reflect Jesus' glory as we are being transformed into Your likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord Jesus. May we not be lacking in zeal but keep our spiritual fervor as we serve You. Keep us joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer as we share with God's people who are in need and the world that is even needier as they lack a relationship with You. Amen. See II Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:11-13a  Thank You: We are very pleased and grateful to God that total 2008 contributions to the Daily Encouragement Net ministry were $21,791.00. Brooksyne and I want to express thanks to all who support this aspect of our ministry for Christ. Offerings came from over 80 separate sources from all over the world. Here's information about supporting our ministry and here's a current ministry update revised to 1/20/09. We have always been very open with disclosing our monetary resources in our pastoral ministry with the finances of our churches. We also practice this in our online ministry. Current 2009 YTD total offerings are placed in the footers in each of these posts. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources  Voices of the Faithful, Inspiring Stories of CourageBy Edited by Beth Moore & Kim P. Davis / Thomas Nelson In the face of uncertainty and danger, the courage of Christian missionaries remains largely unsung. Now these faithful servants tell their own stories - and you're invited to "listen" in! Endorsed by the International Missions Board, this collection of 365 readings will bless you with strength and inspiration to fulfill your own call from God! 480 pages, hardcover from Integrity. Brooksyne's Note: I purchased this book last week since I enjoy reading true stories of faithful believers (like the "Christian Heroes" book below.) It is laid out in such a way that you read one a day for the year. Already, I have been touched by the brief stories of faithful believers, those in missionary work and from those whom they are reaching for Christ.  Read the story of Abuk Ajing, a fellow believer in Sudan, from the book The Complete Book of Christian Heroes By Dave & Neta Jackson/Tyndale HouseAre there any true heroes? Discover the remarkable stories of those who have suffered for the cause of Christ throughout the course of history. This book reveals what inspired the great heroes of faith and drove them to give their all. Featuring such gripping accounts of each hero's life, this book gives the historical and cultural information as well as quotations and Scripture passages that amplify what each hero stood for. You will learn about John Bunyan, Mary Dyer, Brother Andrew, Todd Beamer and over 200 more heroes of yesterday and today. This is an excellent resource for any home library. For more information or to order click here. |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update Revised 01/20/09  Each 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. 2009 YTD financial offerings through 1/22/09: $245.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "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 these messages no longer meets your needs (providing encouragement) you can remove your address by merely use the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. Weekly Version: The weekly version is designed for those who may 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! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "A Little Foolishness" - A humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) I haven't had time or "inspiration" for this for awhile but it has several stories that get regular page views. "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one.  Daily 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."  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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2009 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us |
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