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 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Tuesday, March 15, 2011  Gordonville Mud Sale The carriage sale was a major source of interest to the Amish. "Contend Earnestly" "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). When we lived in New England our local paper had a section called "Church Briefs" which gave a brief preview of coming activities in local churches. In a stunning example of apostasy one local "church" announced "First Parish Church will have children dressed in costumes parade in the sanctuary Sunday. They will then sit down and hear the Rev. Bill Wagner read to them from the new Harry Potter book on how Harry learned to fly a broomstick." I recall speaking to a layperson who attended this church who told me that his church was really growing with young families in search of "religion". They apparently find the "faith" expressed in this "church" fits in well with what they already believe! Jude, who wrote a single chapter book near the end of the New Testament felt a compulsion from the Holy Spirit to write to the early church with the exhortation expressed in our daily Scripture verse. He was concerned about apostasy (falling away from the faith). We must heed Jude's warning today. The ongoing faithfulness to Christ's truth requires that each generation do so. We are urged to "contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the saints." "Contend" means to "struggle for" and indeed maintaining sound doctrine in the midst of Biblical error, prevailing philosophies or even political correctness can be a struggle. False doctrines, which are contrary to the Scripture, abound. Some are new, others are ancient errors resurfacing. Early in my ministry I recall Thomas F. Zimmerman, an older preacher respond to a popular, but unscriptural fad that was sweeping through the churches at that time. "Some of us are old enough that we have seen these errors come around, go away, and come back again." Now, all these years later, I too can say that I've seen the recycling of false doctrine over my over 35 years of ministry. We are to hold to "the faith that was once for all handed down to the saints." This is the Apostle's doctrine expressed in the Holy Scriptures. Faithful ministry in every age subsequent to the Apostles has been a declaration of this faith. Preacher friends, Bible teachers, and Bible students stay true to this faith today. Contend for it and declare it unashamedly to those whom you influence. Paul wrote, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:3). Faithful lay person, be like the Bereans, "who received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). We must all do our part to abate apostasy. Thank God for the faithful remnant who continue to proclaim "the faith once for all handed down." Let us be counted among them today as we stand up boldly for this faith and confront the heresies of our day. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, as we earnestly contend for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints, we recognize the great responsibility we have to carry out this command in our own generation. Doctrinal error, intentional or unintentional, brings confusion and division. It can very well lead to eternal damnation instead of eternal life in heaven when we force Scripture "to suit our own passions." We want to be conveyors of the pure gospel, accepting Your standard of truth, and live righteously through Jesus our Lord. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.Note: We expect to continue with a study from Jude in the next several messages dealing with the specific error he encountered and refuted. It still exists today. Brooksyne's Personal Note: Thank you for your prayers that went up on my behalf. I have been under the weather since Friday but today I was up at 6 A.M. and am starting to feel more like myself. Not there all the way, but thanking and trusting God that I soon will be. More photos from the Gordonville Mud Sale held this last Saturday You bought it, now you have to get it home!  The sale site is right next to the main rail line and every time a train went by a group would walk over for a look.  The Amish boys are ready to help haul the items purchased for a tip. They were kept very busy. The teenage girls helped out in the food booths or gathered like other American teenagers and fiddled with their cell phones.  It was a great outing for the family and these boys who enjoyed looking out over the sale site.  "Pom Pom" Flower This exotic looking "flower" is really not a flower! We had quite a number of thoughtful responses to a rather tricky question (somewhat rascally really!) We didn't think anyone would get it but, lo and behold, when I opened the computer this morning we had a correct answer from Patrick in Perth, Australia who wrote, "Looks like chicken wishbones to me! Could it be?" Indeed that is correct. Now Brooksyne shares the rest of the story! Jim Showers of Elizabethtown created this most unusual, if not unique, "flower" arrangement. It's a total of 225 wishbones from chicken, duck, turkey and geese that his Aunt Catherine Fry saved following the special holidays she hosted for her family. She gave them to Jim recently and suggested he find something to do with them, and he did just that. Of course the pom poms are the wishbones and the two stems are made of pliable electrical cord. Once the arrangement was painted and placed in the lovely piece of pottery one would think it to be a flower. I was visiting Catherine at the nursing home and she said, "What kind of flower do you think this is?" I had no idea and when she told me I knew we had to share this with our readers. Catherine is a devout woman of faith who, along with her husband, raised a godly family on a large farm near Elizabethtown, PA. Jim told me this morning, "She was a Martha Stewart of her generation...housekeeping, decorating, baking, and gardening." Jim has had many years of experience in gardening himself as he worked at Longwood Gardens and headed up many projects there including the beautiful topiary gardens. He presently works at a nursery near Hershey. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "I Believe In Jesus" Video Marc Nelson Gordonville Mud Sale Video Video 2011 Lancaster County Mud Sale schedule for any who may be interested! This coming Saturday we plan to go to the Penryn Mud Sale which is closer to us. Like many of you we continue to pray for the people in Japan. Here's a prayer by John Piper that Brooksyne and I prayed together this morning. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/10)  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. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 3/14/11: $2,220.00 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 by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. 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! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "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!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.  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 2011 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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