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Welcome to
Daily
Encouragement Net!
Stephen
and
Brooksyne Weber
"We
want to encourage
you daily in your walk with Christ!"
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weekday this
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prepared by Stephen and Brooksyne.
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Ministry Update
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prayers:
A selection of prayers written by Brooksyne used in these
messages. Listen
to WDAC "Music for the Heart"
Photos:
A listing of many of the photos used in the daily
messages. (Please note - Photos used in the daily
messages are
not necessarily kept in this directory long-term. Desktop
Scripture Images: Scenic images
with a Scripture verse ready
to use on your computer or print out.
Speaking
Ministry:
We enjoy sharing the message of encouragement in various churches and
conference settings. We have spoken in many different denominational
groups and bring an uplifting message of hope based on the Bible. When
possible we come together, as we enjoy serving together. Please
contact us Daily
Encouragement chaplains: Information about our
chaplain ministry.
Agora:
Articles concerning ministry at work. Resources
for Ministers:
Helps and ideas for pastors and others in
ministry.
Hymn
Story Net: Stories and
backgrounds behind the great
hymns. Scripture Memory Songs: A
selection of Scripture verses we
recorded in our home with
some friends. The words are
set to familar music
as an aid to memorization in a discipleship training class. Music:
Songs recorded in my home studio.
Perspectives:
Articles on various contemporary issues.
"A
Little Foolishness" I
invite daily encouragement readers to visit our new
blog which will be a collection of humorous and satirical
stories
drawn
mostly from our years of ministry, as well as my sometimes fertile
imagination. We also welcome submissions from readers. Humor:
Have a laugh based on real experiences we have had as well as stories
submitted
by readers.
These are a
selection of books that Brooksyne and I have read that have impacted
our walk with the
Lord and we especially recommend to others!
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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 honor God through my
faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for
eternity."
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495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA
17552 USA Contact
Us
Lancaster County Farm We passed this farm west of Mount Joy yesterday.
Notice the trees in the back are beginning to change.
Listen to
us share this message on your
audio player.
"Bad Apples"
"Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Our
pastor preaches colorful sermons often using his own experiences in
life as illustrative material. Yesterday he told a story that will not
soon be forgotten. He was headed home from several days of vacation
with his family and stopped for a cup of coffee. As they got on the
interstate they ran into several major traffic jams. The longer they
sat in idle traffic the more pressing the need was to find a bathroom.
Most
all of you've been in that situation and will quickly identify with our
pastor's dilemma. After passing several exits with no bathroom
facilities Bob was greatly relieved to spot a row of port-a-potties off
to the side of the interstate. Making a beeline for them he went to the
first one and as he opened the door he was blasted back by the strong
foul odor. As we would say in Missouri the smell was bad enough to "gag
a maggot."
He stated that he "galvanized" himself to go in and
take care of business and wasted no time in running back to his car.
As soon as he got into the driver's seat his grown daughter looked at
him and said, "Ooh, Dad, you smell awful!" It seems the strong smell
from the port-a-pottie lingered in his clothing and it did so all the
way to their house. Upon their arrival home the clothes were
immediately placed in the laundry. After the church service we had a
good laugh about this experience with Luanne, Bob's wife, and his
mother-in-law who was also riding in the car.
His point was the malodorous effects of sin.
The
title of his sermon was "A Good Apple In A Bad Bunch" based on the life
of Lot. He began his message by observing the effects of one bad apple
in a bunch of good apples. Of course the bad apple will spoil the good
apples so you must get rid of the bad apple if you want to keep the
good ones. The reverse is true as well. Placing one good apple among
a bunch of bad apples will cause the good apple to rot. Such is the
corrosion of unchecked sin in our lives.
Lot made a critical
choice when he chose the more lush grazing land in the valley for his
flocks (Genesis 13:10). This led him to pitch his tent near Sodom
(Genesis 13:12). Even at that time the Scripture describes, "The men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord"
(V. 13). But Lot prospered and in time, married and had two daughters.
By Genesis 19 he had moved in closer and now had a house in Sodom.
Genesis
19 is one of the most pathetic chapters of Scripture. Lot, who had been
raised under the influence of godly Abraham, was so immersed in the sin
of Sodom that his judgment was completely gone. Sodom had become his
home and leaving was very difficult. But God's appointed time of
judgment had come (it always will) and, in answer to his Uncle
Abraham's fervent prayers, he and his family would be delivered.
"When
he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of
his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was
merciful to them" (Genesis 19:16). But my, was it hard for Lot
to leave. As destruction of the city loomed, consider two telling
words in the daily text, "he hesitated" (KJV "he lingered"). Matthew
Henry's commentary notes, "Lot lingered; he trifled. Thus many who are
under convictions about their spiritual state, and the necessity of a
change, defer that needful work."
Lot had grown very comfortable
in the wicked city of Sodom. Perhaps he had grown so accustomed to the
wickedness that he no longer even saw it. What a tragic spiritual
condition to be in. Perhaps his prosperity and position had blinded
him to spiritual truths. His moral values were wretchedly twisted and
later in the chapter we see this twisted condition in his wife and
daughters as well. Genesis 19 is indeed one of the saddest chapters in
the Bible, showing man's depraved actions in a sin-ridden society.
Fast
forward to our own generation where we are witnessing similar attitudes
and actions in our day. Recently a young popular singer received much
publicity and media attention when he announced his homosexuality. A
man, famous in the Hollywood circles, who helped him rise to fame was
asked what he thought of the announcement. This was his response: "Good
for him. If he said it, it's the right thing for him. Good for him. I
don't think anyone cares. Let's face it: It's 2008. You know. Who
cares?"
Popular culture does not determine what is right and
wrong, God's Word does. I don't want to get comfortable in "Sodom". I
don't want to hesitate when God directs me to act. I don't want to
follow the mindset of this present world but rather the timeless
message of God's eternal truth, "Flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:11). What about you?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, You make Your truths known to us through the ancient
words of Scripture; truths that do not change with time or the
ever-changing "truths" of humankind. With the Holy Scriptures as our
guidebook we align human philosophy with Your truths rather than adjust
Scripture to affirm the viewpoint of man. When Scripture brings
conviction we call upon You for strength and courage to make the
necessary changes so that we live holy lives set apart for Your
intended purpose. Then we can more clearly distinguish light from
darkness and will keep the forces of evil from overtaking our heart's
affections. We pray for our loved ones who are in bondage to sin.
They've sought the world's approval and forsaken Your commands, seeing
them as out-of-date and no longer pertinent to our day. Satan has
corrupted their minds, but I pray that You would sensitize their hearts
to godly teaching. Bring them to repentance and righteous living. In
the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we pray, amen.
On
Saturday we attended my niece Heidi's wedding in the Lehigh Valley
(about 100 miles northeast of us). My brother Pat, who is a
pastor, both gave away the bride and conducted the service. It was a
beautiful day and festive occasion as the couple departed sitting on
the tailgate of Ryan's pickup.
My
sister Genelle and her husband Cesar attended the wedding and
reception. They came to our home Saturday night for an overnight visit
before departing Sunday morning. They live in North Carolina.
Recently
Ester got her first real job at TJ Maxx and here she is holding her
very first paycheck she got on Friday! It's only a part-time job but
she is very excited thus far. It blesses us to see her maturing and
learning responsibility.
Yesterday
afternoon we took our country walk and our neighbor was pleased to show
us her newborn goat Pixie born on Friday. (I'm afraid the goat blended
into the background, but we got the photo in nonetheless.)
Looking
for photos of portapotties to illustrate today's message I found this
creative solution to the travelling bathroom problem!
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Last
night at our church we heard Jay Smith, who has a very interesting
ministry among the radical Islamists in London. Here's an introductory video
of his work. One of the interesting points he shared from his
perspective and observation is the rapid growth of Muslims moving from
nominal to radical. It was a very sobering assesment. He recommends and is a contributer to this website Answering Islam.
Several years ago I used today's Scripture verse "Bad
company corrupts good character" and requested readers suggest
descriptive words to fill in the blanks for the following:
Bad company ___________ bad character
Good company ________ bad character
Good company ___________ good character
And received the following suggestions:
Bad company reinforces bad character
Good company repels bad character
Good company reinforces good character
Bad company stimulates bad character
Good company rebukes bad character
Good company accentuates good character
Bad company breeds bad character
Good company defeats bad character
Good company strengthens good character
Bad company gives an individual bad thoughts to possess bad character
Good company can improve someone's bad character which can encourage and build up bad character
Good company can encourage/love and hold someone accountable to possess good character
Bad company gifts with bad character
Good company mends bad character
Good company enhances good character
Bad company ADDS TO bad character
Good company SUBTRACTS bad character
Good company MULTIPLIES good character
Bad company attracts bad company;
Good company influences bad company;
Good company encourages good company
"Bad company ACCELERATES bad character."
"Good company SHAMES/INFURIATES bad character."
"Good company ENCOURAGES good character.
Info about multi-media files used
on daily encouragement.
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