A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Easy read/print edition Wednesday, October 24, 2007  in Yarmouth Maine  Click here to listen as we read this message on your audio player."Transforming Impact" "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too" (Acts 17:6). I really enjoy looking at maps and globes. As a matter of fact Brooksyne claims the biggest messes I leave around are over-sized atlases, unfolded maps and various geographical materials. One of my favorite places is the headquarters of the DeLorme Map Company near Freeport, Maine. In the lobby there is a huge globe completely made up of satellite images of the entire earth. They call the globe "Eartha", which sort of sounds like a feminine goddess to me! Eartha is the largest rotating and revolving globe in the world, measuring 42 feet in diameter and comprised of 140 gigabytes of information. When we are up that way along Route 1 we always stop by to see it. Brooksyne gets an opportunity to experience the boredom that I feel when we go to Yankee Candle (or for that matter most of the stores she likes to go to!) I can spend hours at DeLorme looking at the globe and then all the maps and gps devices in the store. Several years ago Ester and I walked around the globe and quoted from John 3:16, which is the clearest verse in the Bible stating God's love for the entire world. I have long wondered about something and have yet to find the answer. Globes and maps depict the northern hemisphere as "up" and the southern hemisphere as "down." Is this only the case from our conventional perspective or is there an objective reason this is so? Is there an "up and down" out in space? Can any reader help me here? I know, because of our customary view, that it would look strange to see a globe upside down which brings to mind the daily Scripture text. It is a powerful expression of the world's perspective on the mighty impact the early church had on the world. It is specifically referring to the ministry of the Apostle Paul and those who traveled with him as they proclaimed the message of Christ in Thessalonica. Apparently their reputation had preceded them. Their message was so absolutely transforming that it was said to "have turned the world upside down." The key Greek word here is "anastatwsantev" (listen) which means to "upset or unsettle". When Christians confront a world headed contrary to God's ways it surely is upsetting and unsettling. Indeed, wherever the true message of Jesus Christ goes, it has a transforming impact. This impact will be seen in individuals, families, churches, communities, countries and entire cultures. It's important to realize that the transformation is upside down from the world's perspective but right side up according to God's created design! That's why it is so important that we, as followers of Christ, spend time reading, studying, memorizing and obeying God's owner's manual, the Bible. I recall a special moment in my personal discipleship when a fellow believer shared with me a spiritual concept based on Romans 12:2. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." That was 34 years ago. The process of breaking conformity to the world and transforming into spiritual conformity to Christ continues in my life through the renewing of my mind. There have been many setbacks along the way but God continues the process and I am assured that He will carry it on to completion until the day He appears. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, as we live in daily communion with You, our presence will make a difference in a classroom, in a workplace, in a neighborhood, in a community and most especially in our families. With Your sanctifying seal upon our lives we no longer live according to the lust of the flesh, but the life of the Father who resides in us. Help us to make a difference and turn our world away from evil as they are transformed by Christ's redemptive power. It is in His name that we pray, Amen. Brooksyne's note: A devotional thought I read earlier this morning from "Daily Meditations on Golden Texts of the Bible" by Henry Gariepy compliments our theme this morning: "The vocation of all believers is the life of holiness, being set apart for God's use. A girl on her way to church with her mother asked, 'What is a saint?' The mother replied, 'I have to think about that one.' Then during the church service she saw the sunlight illuminating a hero of faith in one of the stained glass windows. The mother nudged her daughter, pointed to the illumined window, and said, 'There, that is a saint.' The girl replied, 'Oh, I see. A saint is a person the light shines through.' As incredible as it may seem, God calls you and me to be saints, to be those whom the light of Jesus Christ will shine through in a darkened world."    Here's info about the "Eartha" globe from the Delorme website. Today's suggested music: Several months ago I mentioned that Keith Green was one of my favorite musicians as a young Christian. I continue to enjoy his music. Phil Cochrane, a long-time pastor friend sent me a link to one of his songs. (Generally the video is poor but the audio sounds great) "Your Love Broke Through" "Make My Life A Prayer To You" "Create In Me A Clean Heart" "So You Want To Go Back To Egypt" (This song shows his creativity in relating Biblical truth with some humor! Notice the background sounds.) "Grace By Which I Stand" (Just listen to the audio, I have no idea what the pictures are all about) "No One Believes In Me Anymore" (A very creative video skit set to a Keith Green song)  My all-time favorite album cover was a Keith Green album called "No Compromise." This was from the old days when you had a lot of space for artwork! I doubt if Ester, our eighteen year old daughter, has any idea what an "album" is!In my study for today's message I discovered an interesting online resource, an interlinear study Bible. |
Administration Information  Stephen and Brooksyne "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update We share our hearts with you as we go forth in this online ministry.  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 encouragement ministry? Thanks! See here for details.Join: To receive these free "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. You can also subscribe to the rss feed. Cancel: To remove your address from this mailing list merely use the link placed 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 this message on! 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. Used by permission; and the King James Version.  © Copyright 2007 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved  |
