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  Follow Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter    The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, April 29, 2011  40 Day New Testament Reading/Listening Plan: We began a 40 day New Testament reading plan on April 3. If you want to participate and have not been following the reading schedule up to this point we suggest starting with today's reading and reading previous portions after this reading period ends. Here's the entire 40 day schedule. The links below will open to the selection to be read along with a built-in listening device.
"I'll Keep Believing" "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Corinthians 15:19). "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20). One of the benefits to aging is perspective. In my lifetime the attacks against my faith in general and the resurrection in particular have been ongoing and persistent. Yet as we study history we quickly find that such attacks are not at all unique to our age. Only days after Christ's resurrection the stolen body story was circulated. Every Easter articles by "scholars" with new research attack the Biblical teaching and traditional understanding of our faith. (Every Christmas there are "newsworthy" articles with the latest conjectures concerning His birth as well, generally discounting what we are taught in the Bible.) The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians is a powerful defense of the resurrection. What a despairing statement the Apostle Paul makes in our first two daily texts: "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain." "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." Despairing but true; for the Christian faith is absolutely dependent upon a resurrected, living Savior. Although we could still glean some ethical teaching from Jesus while He walked on the earth His resurrection is at the very heart of Apostolic preaching and teaching. But what I have really been pondering is the simple "fact or faith" equation. These theories and conjectures have come and gone even in my lifetime. Yet if it's an attack on the Biblical and traditionally held position it's usually framed as a "fact" proposed by "scholars" who have done extensive "research". I purposefully place the key words in quotation marks since the emphasis is in how conclusive their views are presented. The implication is, “What reasonable, modern, educated person could deny these findings?” Well, I'll keep on believing the Biblical teaching. I also predict that the most recent contrived "facts" will come and go and others will replace them. We all live life by faith. My faith is in Jesus Christ and the authority of the Holy Scriptures. I join millions who, for the last two thousand years, have believed and followed Him. But the secularist "unbeliever" also lives by faith, as much as he would ardently resist this claim. In my lifetime a noted secularist made the emphatic statement to the effect, "When I die it will just be my physical remains that will slowly decay, that's all there is." Whether or not secularists admit it, this is a statement of faith! He hadn't died when he said this. Since he hadn't been on the other side of death he didn't know as fact what it was like, however emphatic he was! God has ordained that we live by faith. The Scriptures declare that "the just shall live by faith" and "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Our faith is not blind nor unreasonable, but is solidly backed by what Josh McDowell calls, "Evidence that demands a verdict." The attacks will continue as long as we live on this side, but let us continue to believe wholeheartedly and faithfully serve the Lord! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, our faith is anchored in Your Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who died on the cross of Calvary and was resurrected on the third day. The cross and empty tomb are symbolic of the Christian faith and without them our Christianity is in vain. We place our compete faith in the finished work of Christ and the inerrant Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation. Thank You for releasing us from sin's effect – its guilt, power, condemnation and eternal damnation. Amen. David Wilkerson died this last Wednesday in a car accident in Texas. He had a tremendous impact for Christ in his generation as the founder of Teen Challenge, a ministry that has impacted scores of lives all over the world including many of our friends and ministry associates.For a very touching read see the unsolicited comments of tribute that are streaming into the CT Live blog. Here's a tribute from his son Gary on David's blog. Interestingly he shared inspirational messages right up to the day he died. David Wilkerson spoke at the conference in Kansas City Missouri where I got saved in 1971. However my most interesting association was that for many years I preached behind his pulpit. He pastored a church in Phillipsburg, PA when called to New York City to start Teen Challenge. Years later we started a church about 60 miles away (St. Marys, PA) and the pulpit was donated to us and is still being used in a church in northern PA.  Last night I went to a banquet and heard Josh McDowell, another longtime servant for Christ and contender for truth. The banquet was for a ministry called Associates For Biblical Research of which I am a member. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Rise Again" Video Dallas Holm An outstanding song and outstanding video graphics. This sure touches my heart. This last week I have used several Dallas Holm songs. Coincidentally, for many years Dallas Holm was associated with David Wilkerson. "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary" Video Gaither Vocal Band I believe in a hill called mount calvary I believe whatever the cost And when time has surrendered And earth is no more I'll still cling to the old rugged cross I believe that this life with its great mysteries Surely someday will come to an end But faith will conquer the darkness and death And will lead at last to my friend I believe that the Christ Who was slain on the cross Has the power to change lives today For He changed me completely A new life is mine And that is why by the cross I will stay I believe in a hill called mount calvary I believe whatever the cost And when time has surrendered And earth is no more I'll still cling to the old rugged cross "Glorious" Video Paul Baloche 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 4/28/11: $3,275.00 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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