Monday, July 15, 2013

Daily Encouragement (07/15/13) "We Will See Each Other Again"

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Monday, July 15, 2013

Oklahoma "see through barn" near Talequah
A "see through barn" near Tahlequah Oklahoma. We especially enjoy the climbing trumpet vine reminding us of another abandoned barn we saw last year in northern Indiana.

"We Will See Each Other Again"

ListenListen to this message on your aud
io player. We were able to prepare a podcast today
and expect to do so the next several days.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Cherokee making arrows 7/12/13We visited the Cherokee Heritage Center near Tahlequah Oklahoma this last weekend. Since Brooksyne is part Cherokee it was interesting to observe a historic part of her heritage. We took a guided tour through "Diligwa" a 1710 Cherokee Village to observe what life was like at that time. Steve (left in photo), was our very colorful Cherokee tour guide who explained and illustrated various features of Cherokee life at that time.

He shared with us some of the Cherokee language explaining that
the Cherokee word for "Hello" is o-si-yo! But he told us there is no Cherokee word for "Goodby" rather they use the expression, "We will see each other again" which is expressed do-da-da-go-hv-i when speaking to two or more people and do-na-da-go-hv-i when speaking to just one person.*

We are seeing a lot of family during this trip. Thursday-Saturday we were at a reunion at a lodge on Fort Gibson Lake from my mom's side. Yesterday Brooksyne and Ester went to Arkansas to see many of her kinfolks on her dad's side and tonight we will gather with family from her mom's side. 

Many times as we depart a reunion we use a phrase similar to the Cherokee expression, "See you next year." But one inevitable feature of multi-generational family reunions is that at the next gathering you can't be certain as to who won't be present.

Our Steincross reunion began in 1975 after my grandparents died. Their children (my mom and her siblings) set up an annual gathering to stay in touch. Now that entire generation has passed on and two years ago we lost our oldest cousin, Jeannine, who was the first member of my generation. At the reunion the summer before she died we celebrated her 80th birthday and I recall the wonderful tribute her children gave her (she had been a widow for many years). Being in a family where many live in their nineties we didn't expect this to be her last reunion on this side.

But for the Christian there's a spiritual lesson in the same manner in which the Cherokees express at their time of departure, 
"We will see each other again". Though in reality we can't be certain that we'll see each other again on this side.

One of the glorious truths in Scripture is expressed in our daily passage, which is often referred to as the "Rapture passage", although the word rapture is not used in the Bible. This describes a future even when first those who have died in Christ (as His followers) and then those who are alive are "caught up in the air". This teaching has been brought into disrepute by specific date setters but nevertheless is part of the Scripture report as to future events.

But today let us observe one comforting detail in the passage which was written as a means of assurance to those whose loved ones had died; "And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them" and even more specific those three words "together with them."  Those living at the time will be together with those who have died.

So for the Christian we can part company with this expression, "We will see each other again!" And be fully assured that we will; if not here, then in the air.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber


Praying manDaily prayer: Father, in the words of Paul we're taught that we who are still alive when Christ returns will be caught up together with believers in the clouds to meet You in the air, and so we will always be with You. We encourage each other with these words of Scripture reminding us that as our Christian friends and family go before us we will see each other again at Your appointed time. Keep us faithful, hopeful and always watching for that glorious everlasting reunion. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.



Some scenes along our journey:

Anna Lee with Stephen at Steincross reunion 7/12/13
A photo with Anna Lee, my oldest living cousin from Tulsa, taken at our reunion on Fort Gibson Lake. Anna Lee, 80, was the oldest cousin at the reunion. Her older sister Jeannine is the one whom we referred to that passed away early last year. I was the youngest first cousin at the reunion this year and my sister Genelle who did not attend is 56 so we have quite an age span.

Group photo at Steincross reunion 7/12/13
A group photo of our Steincross reunion.

Cherokee archer 7/12/13
During our (90 degree plus) tour at the Cherokee Heritage Center we watched a full blood Cherokee elder skillfully make arrows and shoot them at a bull's eye in a round bail of hay.

Cherokee turtle shell rattles 7/12/13
These turtle shell rattles (filled with small rocks) are tied around the knees of Indian women during Cherokee stomp dances which are still held in that area. This bundle has only 9 turtles where most rattles have 15. Just lifting these shells was a good 15# or more so you can imagine what 6 more rattles would add in weight. I (Brooksyne) don't believe I could even raise my knees much less stomp my feet with these heavy, bulky weights.

Cherokee log cabin used in late 1800's
This log cabin is from a reconstructed village know as Adam's Corner set in the 1890's.

Fish's BBQ in Talequah, OK
Years ago my older brother Pat and I had some great BBQ in Tahlequah Oklahoma. I had a hard time finding the place again since it's in an old auto body shop off the main road with very poor signage.  We found Fish's BBQ after inquiring among the locals.
They just left the overhead door on and the dining area is behind it. I suppose it relies on reputation among the locals since it does a good business. The BBQ meal was outstanding (one customer described it as "awesome")!

Fish's BBQ in Talequah, OK
Fish's BBQ had quite an interior decor as well.

John and Bonita Watts 7/14/13

Yesterday morning while Brooksyne and Ester were visiting her relatives in Arkansas I went to church in Tulsa with some Daily Encouragement friends, John and Bonita Watts.

Only Jesus... poster at Parkview Baptist Church, Tulsa OK
This powerful poster was in our Sunday School classroom.

Mike at Gilcrease Museum Tulsa OK 7/14/13

My oldest brother Mike joined me yesterday afternoon and we toured the Gilcrease Museum.



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"If We Never Meet Again"  Video  Booth Brothers

"We Shall See Jesus"  Video  Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

"Cherokee Heritage Center"  

* For a page about the Cherokee language see here.

Gilcrease Museum


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Stephen, Brooksyne and Ester Weber 04/21/13
Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

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