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Thursday, March 10, 2011
Foggy morning drive
Photo by Doris High
"Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
My parents modeled good character to their children. The longer they're gone the more I increasingly realize and value the example they were in this very important virtue. After Mom died I read through some of her old stuff. I regret to say that it didn't mean much to me when she was alive, although she wanted to show me and it would have meant so much to her if I had shown more interest.
But since her promotion to heaven
the sentimental value has greatly increased. All her life she kept
recognition notes from her grammar school teachers from the little
school she attended in Harwood Missouri that housed grades 1-12. As I perused the material I see the unapologetic attempts to instill character by the public education system. My Mom was in the last graduating class as the school closed in the late thirties. However
to this day (at least up till several years ago when I was in Harwood)
the school still stands out on the
edge of town with the windows all boarded up.
2) To determine to have a part in making this life possible for all college people.
3) To seek to understand Jesus and follow Him.
Hope was an elderly lady in our church in Massachusetts who has gone on to be with the Lord. She shared with us how she recalled her teacher reading aloud daily to the students from the Bible in a public school in Massachusetts! Now in most cases even posting the timeless, character building Ten Commandments is illegal and deemed unconstitutional! Schools had a vital role in developing character and I recall this even in my school years back in the sixties.
Now there is a renewed emphasis on teaching "character" in schools. But whose character will be taught and what will this character be based on? If we understand "character" in both a negative and positive sense as a "way of life" or "moral habits", we see that plenty of character is already being taught! In most cases, the message is loud and clear; reject God, established moral authority, and do your own thing. *
Consider
the effect 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. It will not cause the bad apples to be
good!!! Such is the corrosion of unchecked sin in our lives.
Meaningful godly character development must be focused in the home and church, daily stressing the timeless truths and application of God's Word. Indeed, "bad company corrupts good character." Is your home a "safe haven" from the evil influences of the world? Are you actively participating in a Bible-believing and Christ-honoring church?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus,
I can't hide the fact from you that too much of my time and energy is
spent being concerned about how others perceive me. I fuss about
my appearance, am preoccupied about my weight, try to be "with it" so
others might think highly of me and at times try to surround myself with just the
right people, saying just the right things. I realize, in light
of Your Word, that these entrapments don't speak of godly character
whatsoever. It's not how others perceive me that counts at all
– but it is how You see the very person I am when no other human
is looking. As I spend quiet, reflective, and alone time with You
I become more like You. Help me to develop and guard my daily
gathering with You! In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
* We know many public school teachers and we bless you. Many of you receive these daily messages and I want to encourage you as you seek to let your light shine. Even though the public sector denies opportunities for Christians to speak freely in the classroom, devoted Christian teachers will, by their godly character, reveal Christ in their attitudes and actions. So far, to my knowledge, that's not illegal.
Thank You! Ester has received many birthday greetings from friends from all over the world. She was touched. Each one of you who took the time to share a note made her day extra special. Thank you again!
"Give Us Clean Hands" Video Mark Schutz
"Ancient Words" Video Michael W. Smith
For the terminally curious Harwood, Missouri is located here (Google map)
Today's photo of the foggy morning was taken by our friend Doris High and is a part of her photo collection taken this last weekend at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in northern Lancaster County. During this season thousands and thousands of Snow Geese stop by the mountain lake during their migration north. Note: Yesterday I had a photo of snow geese and Brooksyne mistakenly edited the caption and stated that the snow geese were migrating south. Of course they migrate north in the Spring as an alert reader pointed out. My fault for not re-editing her work and she embarrassedly chuckled as she does know her north from south. We're delighted that they're headed back north to our neck of the woods.
Finally today: Riding on this portable ever-ready outdoor toilet would be an excellent Mothers or Fathers Day gift and it will certainly be unlike other gifts you've given in the past.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Foggy morning drive
Photo by Doris High
"Good Character"
"Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
My parents modeled good character to their children. The longer they're gone the more I increasingly realize and value the example they were in this very important virtue. After Mom died I read through some of her old stuff. I regret to say that it didn't mean much to me when she was alive, although she wanted to show me and it would have meant so much to her if I had shown more interest.
But since her promotion to heaven
the sentimental value has greatly increased. All her life she kept
recognition notes from her grammar school teachers from the little
school she attended in Harwood Missouri that housed grades 1-12. As I perused the material I see the unapologetic attempts to instill character by the public education system. My Mom was in the last graduating class as the school closed in the late thirties. However
to this day (at least up till several years ago when I was in Harwood)
the school still stands out on the
edge of town with the windows all boarded up.She
went to college in a nearby town across the state line in Kansas. Among
her activities in her 1941 public college yearbook was participation in
a campus group that had three main objectives:
1) To unite in a desire to realize full and creative life through a growing knowledge of God.2) To determine to have a part in making this life possible for all college people.
3) To seek to understand Jesus and follow Him.
Hope was an elderly lady in our church in Massachusetts who has gone on to be with the Lord. She shared with us how she recalled her teacher reading aloud daily to the students from the Bible in a public school in Massachusetts! Now in most cases even posting the timeless, character building Ten Commandments is illegal and deemed unconstitutional! Schools had a vital role in developing character and I recall this even in my school years back in the sixties.
Now there is a renewed emphasis on teaching "character" in schools. But whose character will be taught and what will this character be based on? If we understand "character" in both a negative and positive sense as a "way of life" or "moral habits", we see that plenty of character is already being taught! In most cases, the message is loud and clear; reject God, established moral authority, and do your own thing. *
Consider
the effect 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. It will not cause the bad apples to be
good!!! Such is the corrosion of unchecked sin in our lives.Meaningful godly character development must be focused in the home and church, daily stressing the timeless truths and application of God's Word. Indeed, "bad company corrupts good character." Is your home a "safe haven" from the evil influences of the world? Are you actively participating in a Bible-believing and Christ-honoring church?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Jesus,
I can't hide the fact from you that too much of my time and energy is
spent being concerned about how others perceive me. I fuss about
my appearance, am preoccupied about my weight, try to be "with it" so
others might think highly of me and at times try to surround myself with just the
right people, saying just the right things. I realize, in light
of Your Word, that these entrapments don't speak of godly character
whatsoever. It's not how others perceive me that counts at all
– but it is how You see the very person I am when no other human
is looking. As I spend quiet, reflective, and alone time with You
I become more like You. Help me to develop and guard my daily
gathering with You! In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.* We know many public school teachers and we bless you. Many of you receive these daily messages and I want to encourage you as you seek to let your light shine. Even though the public sector denies opportunities for Christians to speak freely in the classroom, devoted Christian teachers will, by their godly character, reveal Christ in their attitudes and actions. So far, to my knowledge, that's not illegal.
Thank You! Ester has received many birthday greetings from friends from all over the world. She was touched. Each one of you who took the time to share a note made her day extra special. Thank you again!
Each
year Ester pays a visit on her birthday to Patty at Longwood Manor who
was also born on March 9. Patty was delighted with a little cake
Brooksyne decorated for her and the hymn DVD's Ester gave her.
Patty loves to sing hymns for the Lord as best she can.
Little
Miss Molly found the most comfortable bed available; Ester's lap.
Ester is so thoroughly enjoying her new pup and Stephen is
enjoying the fact that she's already fetching a frisbee at 9 weeks of
age.
Today's
Suggested Music
and Supplemental
Resources
"Give Us Clean Hands" Video Mark Schutz
"Ancient Words" Video Michael W. Smith
For the terminally curious Harwood, Missouri is located here (Google map)
Today's photo of the foggy morning was taken by our friend Doris High and is a part of her photo collection taken this last weekend at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in northern Lancaster County. During this season thousands and thousands of Snow Geese stop by the mountain lake during their migration north. Note: Yesterday I had a photo of snow geese and Brooksyne mistakenly edited the caption and stated that the snow geese were migrating south. Of course they migrate north in the Spring as an alert reader pointed out. My fault for not re-editing her work and she embarrassedly chuckled as she does know her north from south. We're delighted that they're headed back north to our neck of the woods.
Finally today: Riding on this portable ever-ready outdoor toilet would be an excellent Mothers or Fathers Day gift and it will certainly be unlike other gifts you've given in the past.
Send a message to Stephen &
Brooksyne
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4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.)
5) Print!
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.
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."
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Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
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