A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 A daily, Bible-based message of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Click here to support our ministry.The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archive edition Friday, July 19, 2013  The Cross At The Crossroads This large cross can be seen at the junction of I-70 and I-57 near Effingham, Illinois. It serves as a beacon of hope to the 50,000 travelers estimated to pass by each day. "So Despised By The World"  Listen to this message on your audio player. Note: Due to travel a podcast was not prepared for this message."For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18). "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14). Walker Moore is an evangelist who has set a goal of carrying an 89 pound cross to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa early next month. He shared about this in the church I attended on Sunday in Tulsa and is doing so as a witness for the Lord. The pastor spoke on "Carrying the Cross". When we departed the service each person was given a small wooden cross and encouraged to carry it as a reminder of what Christ did for us. Several years ago I saw a young man wearing a t-shirt that really caught my eye. It patently declared "Bad Religion" with the cross in a circle and a slash through it. The anti-Christian message brought to mind a phrase from one of my favorite hymns that refers to the cross, "so despised by the world". It makes me wonder what this man's heart must be like to wear such a blasphemous shirt, indicating such a blatant despising of the Cross. Paul wrote "Many live as enemies of the cross." He apparently repeated this frequently to the Philippians ("as I have often told you before") and now he reminds them again, with tears in his eyes. Surely, as he wrote this, he recalled the years that he lived as an enemy of the cross and those who bore its message of redemption. Years later he had a difficult time in his initial ministry in Philippi where he, along with Silas, had been severely flogged, imprisoned and later run out of town. But I believe Paul's tears were based on far more than this experience. Then, as now, so many lived in opposition to God's divinely appointed means of redemption. The cross was and is despised. Many have lived as enemies of the cross of Christ throughout the two thousand years since the Lord's great sacrifice. This opposition is expressed in various ways from contrary religious systems to decadent worldliness, from astute secularists to apostate "church" leaders. In the nineties there was a "ReImaging" conference held among apostates where the cross and the blood of Christ were despised and mocked. Today, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. The hatred toward Christ and the message of the cross continues and is increasing. "But I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain!" Today join me in holding firm to the Biblical and historic Christian view of Christ and the cross of Calvary. Let us, like the apostle Paul, declare "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Jesus, Your death on the cross was an act of barbaric cruelty that we would not, in any way, be physically attracted to. But we realize it was God's redemption plan for all humankind and because of that we can declare along with the hymnist that it indeed "has a wondrous attraction for me." Because You willingly took the weight of our sins upon Yourself it provided a precious cleansing fountain, a healing stream that flows from Your saving blood providing forgiveness for our sins. Such amazing sacrifice demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen.Some scenes along our journey: We've had two very full days of travel as we head home and are now in Central Illinois. We did not post a message yesterday morning since we got in late Wednesday evening and met my cousin and her family for breakfast Thursday.  On Wednesday morning we visited the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma. Brooksyne often visited this museum in the 70's since it was right off the turnpike when she drove to Springfield, MO for college. It's a museum that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling as you learn about humorist Will Rogers who never let fame or fortune corrupt his morals. A great philanthropist, he donated his Hollywood fortune to The Salvation Army, Red Cross, and other worthy causes.  We made a nostalgic trip to Harwood MO where my grandparents lived and my Mom grew up. As we drove into town these cattle were enjoying an easy fast food meal of recently harvested hay. We will share a selection of photos from this side trip next week. I am preparing it for my family to show them how Harwood looks today but will share the photo page as a link for any Daily Encouragement readers who may be interested.  A trip to the KC area always includes a delicious BBQ meal, and this was no exception! Rarely can I order burnt ends except in the KC area.  Yesterday we enjoyed a bountiful breakfast with my cousin Janet and her husband Tim, along with their daughter and her family. Brooksyne took this photo from a stairway.  They live next to a beautiful lake in the Kansas City area and took us on a boat ride. What a delightful morning we enjoyed with these good folks.  This is their cozy "beach home" located along the lake. "The Old Rugged Cross" Video Guy Penrod "I Will Glory In The Cross, The Blood Covered It All" Video Michael Harris "It's Still The Cross" Video The University of Mobile |
 Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (Click on photo to enlarge) "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/12)  Are our daily encouragement messages a blessing to you? Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. We ask you to consider an offering to Daily Encouragement Net so that we can continue to prepare and provide this daily resource which is accessed by believers and seekers all over the world. Daily Encouragement Net relies solely on the generosity and financial support of its readers and podcast listeners. See here for more information on supporting this ministry. Gifts are tax deductible. Click here to donate online. 2013 YTD financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 7/18/13: $11,253.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  If a friend forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here.These messages are never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR it was forwarded to you. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or as an email subscription through Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) Cancel: These messages are only sent from us to people who request it; please accept our apologies if it reached you in error. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time. 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! Our other blogs: "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!) (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. 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. Other versions are also occasionally used. © Copyright 2013 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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