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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, June 10, 2011  Old order Mennonites in open cart Yesterday our travels took us to an interesting part of Lancaster County called Martindale where the old-order Mennonite communities are dominant. This area is less traveled by tourists and driving on these roads takes you back at least 50 years! There are numerous self-serve produce and flower stands that we frequently patronize.  Listen to this message on your audio player."Job's Job Description" "I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal" (Job 27:11). For twenty-five years beginning in 1976 till 2001 my professional identity was primarily that of a local pastor, with Brooksyne serving right alongside me. For the last ten years our ministry has been multi-vocational; that is, we serve as business chaplains, we write these daily messages, and we've been involved in part-time pastoral work in several churches. We presently serve a small congregation in Mastersonville, Pennsylvania, a quaint village in a rural part of Lancaster County, about ten miles from where we live. Through the years I've wondered how children perceive my work as a pastor and periodically asked, "What does a pastor do?" Their answers range from "He cleans the church"; "He takes cares of the church"; "He prays for the sick"; and the obvious answer, "He preaches to the people." But my most memorable description of what I did happened about 25 years ago in a church we served at that time in a small town in upstate Pennsylvania. Brooksyne and I have had many children living in our home through the years, both short-term and long-term. Foster children rescued from troubled families lived with us as well as critically ill children from third world countries who were receiving life-saving major medical treatment.  For many years we also participated in the "Fresh Air Fund", a program that brings needy children from the inner city of New York City to suburban and rural areas during the summertime. They stay for several weeks to get some fresh air and a taste of life outside the city. One summer our designated child was Joseph, who was about eight years old. He arrived on a Wednesday evening so Brooksyne picked him up and brought him directly to the church where I was leading a Bible Study. Other activities were also going on throughout the church for children and youth. Several other fresh air kids also arrived who were staying with various families in our church. Since many of them were black it was easy to identify them in our all-white congregation. The following Sunday a church board member tried to strike up a friendly conversation with Joseph and asked, "Who are you staying with?" He pointed up to me and responded rather proudly, "'Da boss of 'da church!" (I don't recall what type of church background if any Joseph had, but in his mind I was the boss!) But my most heartening job description came from little six-year-old Jeffrey in the church we served in New England. He knew I was the pastor so I asked him what the pastor does. He replied, "Teach people to believe in God". Now that's a very good, succinct answer that properly describes the greatest responsibility of pastors. Job is responding to his three "friends" in the daily text. I like to consider it Job's job description and it provides a pretty good job description for all believers. Today, let us faithfully teach about the power of God and not conceal the ways of the Almighty! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, we are deeply grateful for the inner work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that is changing us from a sinful self-serving people to a holy, compassionate, and generous people. It is Your almighty power released in us that can accomplish such miraculous change for the betterment of here and now and for the Kingdom of heaven as well. As we relate to others may the working power of the Holy Spirit be evident in our attitudes, actions, and ambitions of life. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.Another memorable experience we had with Joseph was during a meal at McDonalds. Like many Christians we offer a brief blessing of thanks for our meals not only at home but also in public restaurants. After ordering our food we sat down at the table, joined hands, and I asked that we bow our heads. Knowing what was coming next Joseph reluctantly obeyed, but before doing so he carefully scanned with his darting eyes the people eating around us before he nervously exclaimed, "We ain't gonna do that in here are we?" We did, of course, and I hope that he, as an adult, might be doing the same with his family!  We passed this tidy farm near Martindale. The crops are late this year due to the very wet Spring but right after we passed this scene we saw the Mennonite farmer working the fields with his mule team.  We passed this farm south of New Holland and observed the slow pace of field work as this Amish farmer worked the soil with his son walking along behind him.  We passed these windrows as we moved back toward Lancaster off Horseshoe Road. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Tell Me The Story Of Jesus" Video Carman We first heard Carman about 30 years ago and he has had a very interesting ministry. He's still around. "Carry The Light" Video An interesting composition of various artists that were "contemporary" 25 years ago. I suppose I must admit that watching this sure reminds me that my age is progressing! This song has a great message. The "Fresh Air Fund" is still active. 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 6/9/11: $4,225.00 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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