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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell" (Isaiah 58:13).
About
a mile and ˝ from our home behind the Cameron Inn Estate is an old farm
with
this unusual sight for Lancaster County. An old stone barn wall
remains,
standing for many years after the barn burned down or was otherwise
demolished. (We first noticed this sight shortly after we moved to our
home in 2002).
Our region was settled in the 1700's so these barn ruins are nothing compared to the "ancient ruins" of the Middle East, yet the stone wall still brings to mind the daily verse which can be understood as the promise of rebuilding a torn-down Jerusalem.
However, in a spiritual analogy, it can also be understood as those who follow the Lord and keep His precepts. They will be the devout followers who rebuild the ancient ruins and raise up the age-old foundations of Biblical truth.
I believe this refers to getting back to the old, correct ways. Newer doesn't always means better. I am blessed by a verse in Jeremiah 6:16 that states, "This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it'".
One commentator notes, "Those who serve God with sincere hearts and actions also accomplish things for God's kingdom. They rebuild and raise up, and are 'called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell'. You can't build anything for God's Kingdom on the foundation of a superficial walk with God."
How there needs to be a rebuilding and raising up of age-old foundations today! Alan Redpath, a British preacher who lived from 1907-1989
wrote, "We live in a broken world. In every direction there are
breaches which
are wide and deep. There are broken hearts and broken homes, and that
which once was sacred is but a waste place. Whereas once there was a
carefully guarded fence around the sanctity of family life, sex life,
and the right to personal privacy, now there is just a waste place. The
wall of protection is in ruins, and (for many) life has lost all its
meaning." He surely wrote this a generation ago, yet his words are far
more greatly evidenced today than at the time of his writing!
A recent poll from the Culture and Media Institute shows that 74% of Americans believe our nation is in moral decline but only 36% believe we should live by God’s principles of right and wrong. (This astounding statement will be the basis for a teaching message later this week.)
Isaiah 62:6 states, "I
have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be
silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest." God is
always looking for people to take up His cause of righteousness. The
Biblical prophet, Ezekiel, lived for God at the time of the fall of
Jerusalem and the first period of the exile in Babylon about 2,600
years ago. His writings reveal the horrendous state of Jerusalem during its
final days; they were desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives,
sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols
to name just a few of their serious offenses.
Fast forward to our generation and consider how much our society parallels Jerusalem just before its fall. Modern man is desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives, sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols to name just a few of the present day serious offenses.
May God grant us strength to be the faithful remnant in our age who remain true to His ways, so that we witness a restoration of the age old foundations as prescribed in the Bible!
Be encouraged today and stay faithful,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father,
it
is through devout godly people that You repair, restore and rebuild
lives as they raise up the unchanging, ever relevant ancient words of
Scripture. It takes faithful watchmen who serve with great
vigilance, untiring in their ancient message of salvation to a world
that is continuously desecrating that which was once
sacred. Father, help us to be
watchmen for our families, co-workers, and friends as we carefully
measure the principles of this world by the principles established in
Scripture. Grant us courage to speak out when the foundations are
being shaken just as the watchmen were not silent night or day.
We do
not stand in the gap alone but You, our Father, are with us and we
stand
in Your strength! Amen.
Chili recipe: Thanks for the nice congratulations from our readers regarding our winning the community chili contest this last weekend. In response to the requests we have provided the chili recipe and notes on this page.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The copper flashing on this church steeple in Mount Joy PA really
shines since they've cleaned the copper! (Notice at the top where the
green patina or technically, copper sulfate oxidation, has not been
removed.) I took this photo on a
somewhat overcast day. On a bright day the shining copper actually
appears to be lit up!
Listen
to this
message on
your
audio player
"Rebuilding The Ancient Ruins"
Listen
to this
message on
your
audio player"Rebuilding The Ancient Ruins"
"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell" (Isaiah 58:13).
About
a mile and ˝ from our home behind the Cameron Inn Estate is an old farm
with
this unusual sight for Lancaster County. An old stone barn wall
remains,
standing for many years after the barn burned down or was otherwise
demolished. (We first noticed this sight shortly after we moved to our
home in 2002).Our region was settled in the 1700's so these barn ruins are nothing compared to the "ancient ruins" of the Middle East, yet the stone wall still brings to mind the daily verse which can be understood as the promise of rebuilding a torn-down Jerusalem.
However, in a spiritual analogy, it can also be understood as those who follow the Lord and keep His precepts. They will be the devout followers who rebuild the ancient ruins and raise up the age-old foundations of Biblical truth.
I believe this refers to getting back to the old, correct ways. Newer doesn't always means better. I am blessed by a verse in Jeremiah 6:16 that states, "This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it'".
One commentator notes, "Those who serve God with sincere hearts and actions also accomplish things for God's kingdom. They rebuild and raise up, and are 'called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell'. You can't build anything for God's Kingdom on the foundation of a superficial walk with God."
How there needs to be a rebuilding and raising up of age-old foundations today! Alan Redpath, a British preacher who lived from 1907-1989
wrote, "We live in a broken world. In every direction there are
breaches which
are wide and deep. There are broken hearts and broken homes, and that
which once was sacred is but a waste place. Whereas once there was a
carefully guarded fence around the sanctity of family life, sex life,
and the right to personal privacy, now there is just a waste place. The
wall of protection is in ruins, and (for many) life has lost all its
meaning." He surely wrote this a generation ago, yet his words are far
more greatly evidenced today than at the time of his writing!A recent poll from the Culture and Media Institute shows that 74% of Americans believe our nation is in moral decline but only 36% believe we should live by God’s principles of right and wrong. (This astounding statement will be the basis for a teaching message later this week.)
Isaiah 62:6 states, "I
have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be
silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest." God is
always looking for people to take up His cause of righteousness. The
Biblical prophet, Ezekiel, lived for God at the time of the fall of
Jerusalem and the first period of the exile in Babylon about 2,600
years ago. His writings reveal the horrendous state of Jerusalem during its
final days; they were desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives,
sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols
to name just a few of their serious offenses. Fast forward to our generation and consider how much our society parallels Jerusalem just before its fall. Modern man is desecrating the Sabbath, shedding innocent lives, sexually immoral, unjust, corrupt in leadership, and worshiping idols to name just a few of the present day serious offenses.
May God grant us strength to be the faithful remnant in our age who remain true to His ways, so that we witness a restoration of the age old foundations as prescribed in the Bible!
Be encouraged today and stay faithful,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father,
it
is through devout godly people that You repair, restore and rebuild
lives as they raise up the unchanging, ever relevant ancient words of
Scripture. It takes faithful watchmen who serve with great
vigilance, untiring in their ancient message of salvation to a world
that is continuously desecrating that which was once
sacred. Father, help us to be
watchmen for our families, co-workers, and friends as we carefully
measure the principles of this world by the principles established in
Scripture. Grant us courage to speak out when the foundations are
being shaken just as the watchmen were not silent night or day.
We do
not stand in the gap alone but You, our Father, are with us and we
stand
in Your strength! Amen.Chili recipe: Thanks for the nice congratulations from our readers regarding our winning the community chili contest this last weekend. In response to the requests we have provided the chili recipe and notes on this page.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"This Little Child" Video Scott Wesley Brown This song is some 25 years old but seems prophetic in light of how conditions have worsened.
I belong to an organization called "Watchman on the Wall" which is championing pastors to transform America. I encourage my pastoral peers to look into this. They have a powerful conference each May in Washington, DC which I will be attending.
What is a Watchman Pastor? Answer. We get the name from Isaiah 62:6: "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest." We believe that a Watchman Pastor is called to do the following:
- Watch what is going on in the culture.
- Pray for the wisdom to engage Biblically, courageously, and winsomely.
- Sound the alarm from the pulpit.
- Take a bold stand with others to defend and advance faith, family, and freedom.
For the cartographically curious the stone barn wall shown in the message is here. Google map You have to walk the grounds behind the Cameron Inn to see it.
Finally today:
We received another comment from last Friday's message regarding disruptions in church from a friend: Your story reminded me of when Megan was a little girl and her "Woody" doll called out in church, "there's a snake in my boot". Of course if you care to listen to Woody say it, here it is on YouTube!
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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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