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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A flower-filled table. There's no spare room for the food, but then this wasn't a food show, after all! A requirement of the Philadelphia Flower Show organizers is that all flowers and plants be real!
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"Hungering For Righteousness"
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:11). "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
Yesterday we enjoyed going into Philadelphia to attend the flower show. Over the next several days we will share some photos and reflections from our trip. We took the train from Mount Joy into the city and then walked one mile from the 30th Street train station to the Convention Center down Market Street through the heart of Center City Philadelphia business district. Although neither Brooksyne nor I are city folks we enjoy a periodic walk through a big city. It was on this walk that we saw a marquee signboard over the entrance to a rundown theater that prompted today's message.
It reminded us of the advertised decadence prevalent in cities when we saw this theater offering "triple X" movies (one can only imagine how vile they must be). Shortly thereafter we passed a work of "public art" that I would be unable to place on this site due to its pornographic image. Yet these are examples of what so many in the world hunger and thirst for.
The Bible says, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). Among the signs of a culture's moral decay and downfall is a failure to uphold the Creator's standards. This leads to great confusion as to what even constitutes evil. That's just where we are right now. My, my, there has never been so much confusion in my lifetime!
We are being flooded with perversions and a great danger is the confusion regarding what is good and what is evil. Evil is being called good and good is being called evil. In man's "wisdom", the holy standards of God's Word are often mocked. But here is God's assessment of fallen man, "Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
As followers of Christ, we are called to overcome evil. I've seen a bumper sticker that says, "Real Men Don't Do Porn." That's true. Real men and women of God daily seek to live their lives to serve God, hungering and thirsting after His righteousness. Today let us determine that we will not hunger and thirst after the wickedness of this world but rather the righteousness of God's Kingdom.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father,
help me to remember that my character reflects that which I pursue
daily. When I reflect that which is good it is because I am
pursuing the Kingdom of God that is full of righteousness, peace, and
joy. Help me to diligently exercise the gift of discernment so that I
will always recognize the kingdom of darkness which is full of evil,
deceit, and chaos. Because of Your Holy Spirit abiding in my life I
know that Your good in me is greater than the evil that is in the
world! By Your grace I will recognize and overcome the
destructive forces of evil as I am in daily communion with
You! I pray this in the loving and holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Brooksyne's further reflection: Our readers may be aware of the media attack on Kirk Cameron who simply expressed his views when asked about them during a CNN interview about homosexuality. We are grateful for his courageous and biblical response. In addition I opened my email this morning to a story regarding Dawn Hawkins recent flight where she was exposed to pornography by a fellow passenger. What was troubling about the encounter was the response not only by the man watching pornography, but also the airline attendant and one female onlooker who responded, "No one cares!" What is further troubling is that Dawn is an advocate for child human trafficking and yet this is the kind of disrespect she is given. How I pray for a revival of repentance to sweep across our land. I greatly respect those who give a public witness for biblical righteousness, especially when they are willing to undergo ridicule as a result.
"Really, really wicked": Several years ago we passed a huge billboard near Reading, Pennsylvania advertising a "men's club". It showed a photo of one of the women (actually giving her a name) and announced, "really, really wicked". At least I will give them credit for truth in advertising for indeed this is really, really wicked.
We arrived home late last night from the Philadelphia Flower Show. Due to chaplain work today we didn't have time to prepare many photos for posting but we expect to share some more in the next couple days, as well as at least one message prompted by the show itself.
My favorite photo from the Philadelphia Flower show was actually not of flowers but these colorful canned goods in a "window" surrounded by a huge wall of lettuce.
Can any reader identify what this is and identify its setting? Share your answer here and we will post the correct answer tomorrow, along with some videos. It is an outstanding sight to behold!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Holiness Is What I Long For" Video Micah Stampley
"Take My Life And Let It Be" Video Christ For The Nations choir
"Take My Life, A Living Sacrifice" Video Chris Christian
Send
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Brooksyne
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A flower-filled table. There's no spare room for the food, but then this wasn't a food show, after all! A requirement of the Philadelphia Flower Show organizers is that all flowers and plants be real!
Listen
to this
message on
your
audio player"Hungering For Righteousness"
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:11). "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
Yesterday we enjoyed going into Philadelphia to attend the flower show. Over the next several days we will share some photos and reflections from our trip. We took the train from Mount Joy into the city and then walked one mile from the 30th Street train station to the Convention Center down Market Street through the heart of Center City Philadelphia business district. Although neither Brooksyne nor I are city folks we enjoy a periodic walk through a big city. It was on this walk that we saw a marquee signboard over the entrance to a rundown theater that prompted today's message.
It reminded us of the advertised decadence prevalent in cities when we saw this theater offering "triple X" movies (one can only imagine how vile they must be). Shortly thereafter we passed a work of "public art" that I would be unable to place on this site due to its pornographic image. Yet these are examples of what so many in the world hunger and thirst for.
The Bible says, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). Among the signs of a culture's moral decay and downfall is a failure to uphold the Creator's standards. This leads to great confusion as to what even constitutes evil. That's just where we are right now. My, my, there has never been so much confusion in my lifetime!
We are being flooded with perversions and a great danger is the confusion regarding what is good and what is evil. Evil is being called good and good is being called evil. In man's "wisdom", the holy standards of God's Word are often mocked. But here is God's assessment of fallen man, "Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
As followers of Christ, we are called to overcome evil. I've seen a bumper sticker that says, "Real Men Don't Do Porn." That's true. Real men and women of God daily seek to live their lives to serve God, hungering and thirsting after His righteousness. Today let us determine that we will not hunger and thirst after the wickedness of this world but rather the righteousness of God's Kingdom.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father,
help me to remember that my character reflects that which I pursue
daily. When I reflect that which is good it is because I am
pursuing the Kingdom of God that is full of righteousness, peace, and
joy. Help me to diligently exercise the gift of discernment so that I
will always recognize the kingdom of darkness which is full of evil,
deceit, and chaos. Because of Your Holy Spirit abiding in my life I
know that Your good in me is greater than the evil that is in the
world! By Your grace I will recognize and overcome the
destructive forces of evil as I am in daily communion with
You! I pray this in the loving and holy name of Jesus. Amen.Brooksyne's further reflection: Our readers may be aware of the media attack on Kirk Cameron who simply expressed his views when asked about them during a CNN interview about homosexuality. We are grateful for his courageous and biblical response. In addition I opened my email this morning to a story regarding Dawn Hawkins recent flight where she was exposed to pornography by a fellow passenger. What was troubling about the encounter was the response not only by the man watching pornography, but also the airline attendant and one female onlooker who responded, "No one cares!" What is further troubling is that Dawn is an advocate for child human trafficking and yet this is the kind of disrespect she is given. How I pray for a revival of repentance to sweep across our land. I greatly respect those who give a public witness for biblical righteousness, especially when they are willing to undergo ridicule as a result.
"Really, really wicked": Several years ago we passed a huge billboard near Reading, Pennsylvania advertising a "men's club". It showed a photo of one of the women (actually giving her a name) and announced, "really, really wicked". At least I will give them credit for truth in advertising for indeed this is really, really wicked.
We arrived home late last night from the Philadelphia Flower Show. Due to chaplain work today we didn't have time to prepare many photos for posting but we expect to share some more in the next couple days, as well as at least one message prompted by the show itself.
My favorite photo from the Philadelphia Flower show was actually not of flowers but these colorful canned goods in a "window" surrounded by a huge wall of lettuce.
We enjoyed a very tasty
pretzel at the
Miller's Twist Pretzel stand at the Reading Market before going into the Flower Show.
Yesterday Ester also went to the Flower Show with a friend and took this nice photo of the Schuylkill River and Philadelphia skyline from their bus!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Holiness Is What I Long For" Video Micah Stampley
"Take My Life And Let It Be" Video Christ For The Nations choir
"Take My Life, A Living Sacrifice" Video Chris Christian
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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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