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<Previous Message Next Message> Monday, April 15, 2013 ![]() Saturday morning we passed this perfectly manicured farm near Rothsville, PA (Click here for a larger photo) ![]() "A Lesson On Starts"
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1). ![]() We have a lot of starts in life. Our first start was at our conception and of course our birth. We started walking and we started kindergarten. The many different types of starts in life are far too numerous to mention but you get the overall idea. This weekend we witnessed a contrast in starts. On Friday night Brooksyne came alongside a friend as they witnessed the love of her life slip into eternity. For many years she devoted her life to caring for his medical and emotional needs, but she now starts a new chapter as she continues life without him. On Saturday we attended a wedding and saw a young couple start a new chapter in their life; the start of their lives together as a married couple. What an honor to witness their solemn exchange of vows. We'll share several photos and some reflections of this joyous occasion below our message. ![]() Starts can be joyful or grievous. Some we look forward to with joyous anticipation, others with sorrow, coupled with fear of the new start. Many of these "starts" become a defining moment on our timeline. So many are good, but others like he or she "started using cocaine", "started a prison term" are certainly not desirable! But God is with us in all the starts of life, both planned and unplanned, desirable and even the undesirable. A start which we can all share is our start as a new believer in Christ. John Newton described this start in his hymn, Amazing Grace, as "the hour I first believed". Some of us can pinpoint our salvation experience to a precise hour. In my experience I had rejected the notion of following Christ when my older brother first shared the gospel with me in May of 1971. That Summer I was persuaded to attend an evangelistic meeting and on Sunday evening, August 22, I believed and accepted the Lord about 9:00 PM. But many are unable to pinpoint the precise time they started their Christian life, especially those who came to Christ as children. Of course their experience is no less legitimate though I have spoken to believers who are bothered at their inability to pinpoint a precise starting point in their Christian walk. Today's Bible text is among my many favorites. In fact it was the first text I preached from as a Bible School student. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1). It speaks of the most important race in our life; our spiritual race that starts when we come to Christ, the surrendering of that which might cause us to drop out of the race, and the perseverance to stay the course till we are called home to be with the Lord. Have you started and are you faithfully running this race? Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() This Saturday we were blessed to attend the wedding of Justin and Ashley Eberly, a young couple living their lives for Christ. Ashley attended the small country church we served in Mastersonville, PA and became very special to us. ![]() Kerry Martin, the pastor of the church Justin and Ashley now attend, conducted the ceremony and I preached the message. He did a great job and I learned it was his first wedding to officiate. Since my credentialing in 1976 I have conducted many weddings and it is a blessed aspect of ministerial service. ![]() After the service we gathered with Justin and Ashley for a family photo. ![]() A member of the church who owns a used car lot let Justin pick his choice of car for the getaway. They roared off from the church to the reception hall in this Mustang! As you can see in the background the church is in a beautiful country setting. ![]() ![]() Jesse and Wilma were the oldest couple in attendance with Jesse being the 89 year old on the welcome poster. During an open mic time of sharing at the reception it warmed out hearts to see him slowly, with the aid of a cane, make his way to the front and speak words of commendation and blessing on the newly married couple. Jesse and Wilma recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. ![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "When I Say I Do" Video Matthew West The best man and one of the groomsmen sang this song during the time Justin and Ashley lit the unity candle and shared private communion together. This song represents the start of a marital union. Here are two interesting perspectives in song for those who now start the journey of life without their loved one: "Don't Cry, I Am Home" Audio Unseen This moving song caught Stephen's and my attention as it played on the radio. It's the first time we heard it and we both were deeply touched by its message. It will touch your heart as well, especially those enduring fresh grief. "Don't Cry For Me" Video Not specified "Till The Storm Passes By" Video Ben Speer and Homecoming singers We have some very special people on our hearts who experienced a double loss this last week and we prayerfully dedicate this song to them. On a lighter note: We gathered last night for some old-time gospel music by a men's group, quartet and duet. Curt, a friend of ours, along singing in a quartet shared a song that he said was his grandpa's favorite. Brooksyne reminisced that it was also among her dad's favorite songs and was sung often in her southern gospel upbringing. Video Send
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