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Wednesday, December 2, 2015


Entrance to American Pickers Store in Nashville 11/28/15
Brooksyne and Ester at the entrance to the Antique Archaeology store in Nashville.

"Faultless To Stand Before The Throne"

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"Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him" (Colossians 1:21,22). "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).

American Pickers
For many years I (Stephen, not Brooksyne) have enjoyed a show on the History Channel called "American Pickers". Perhaps you have seen it as well and a few may even enjoy it.

Mike and Frank are two colorful characters who scour the backroads of America rummaging through old barns and storage sheds picking out interesting items many would deem junk. However they have devised an interesting scientific sounding term to describe their work as "Antique Archaeology". When they find something they want to purchase they dicker with the owner for the item(s). We have been to several places that the American Pickers should see and I have actually written them with suggestions such as the Right Barber Shop in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia. (So far I've never heard back.)

While in Nashville we visited the
"Antique Archaeology" store where they end up selling some of the stuff they find (along with another store in Le Claire, Iowa where the show is based). We arrived at the store a few minutes before it opened last Saturday morning and waited in line to gain entry. Based upon the crowd it must be pretty popular.

The items for sale were quite pricey and of no interest to me apart from looking at them and soaking in the feel of the old automobile factory where the store is housed. It seemed that most of the items in the store were sold in an "as picked" condition with no restoration. However on the show they speak of restoring items, which can be a lengthy and expensive process. The goal is to restore the item to its original condition.

You've probably heard the statement, "God doesn't make junk" which is true. However people can sure junk their lives and even sadder are those who are treated like junk by those who should value them most. A regular encounter in ministry is dealing with people who feel their lives are nothing more than a pile of junk. But the divine picker does not see us that way. He sees us as His own unique creation, fearfully and wonderfully made.

Today's Scripture portions contain a powerful before and after.

Before redemption we were alienated and hostile in our minds because of our evil actions. We might read this description and compare ourselves with those in far worse condition than we are rather than using God's standard. But we must use God's standard of measurement. Prior to redemption we were all alienated and hostile in our minds because of our evil actions. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

After redemption He reconciled us by His physical body through His death and resurrection, to present us holy, faultless, and blameless before Him. God restores junk-filled lives, even those who may seem hopeless. That's the heart of the gospel! Now we have been
made new in the attitude of our minds; and have put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness".

Yesterday we wrote about our visit to the Loveless Cafe near Nashville which prompted a consideration of words with the suffix "less". Most of these words are negative such as thankless, joyless, hopeless, heartless, etc. But a line from an old hymn came to mind that makes "less" a glorious positive; in Christ we who are redeemed are faultless to stand before the throne!

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. *


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, when we come to terms with who we are, the choices we've made and the direction in which we're headed we're forced to realize there is nothing in us that merits Your favor, Your forgiveness, or an inheritance in eternal heaven. But for grace we would not receive the "PAID IN FULL" standing that comes through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His all to put us in right standing with a holy God. There is no covering that will remove the junk and tarnish of our lives, so we will stand before You faultless through Christ's righteousness alone. Thank You for receiving us, though unworthy we are we come to You through the worthy Lamb of God. Amen.



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American Pickers Store in Nashville 11/28/15
The interior of t
he Antique Archaeology store is crowded with tourists and stuff.

American Pickers Store in Nashville 11/28/15
This old crossing guard went for $3,000 and someone bought it while we were there. I watched the couple load it in a truck and asked if they were going to put in in their driveway. He told me it was going inside! (The back side is a Coca Cola promotion that states the speed zone has ended.)

Live music at the American Pickers Store in Nashville 11/28/15
All around the Nashville area there is live music, including this young lady who entertained as we walked through the Antique Archaeology store.

American Pickers Store in Nashville 11/28/15
The Antique Archaeology store is housed in an old automobile factory for Marathon Automobiles. Other stores use the former factory but the long hallways have photos, signs and equipment from the manufacturing process.

Old tractor at Loveless Cafe near Nashville 11/28/15
This old tractor was on the grounds of the Loveless Cafe. It sunk into the ground quite a bit but not as much as one we saw in Iowa many years ago near the Amana Colonies. (see photo)



Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

* "The Solid Rock"  Video  Mark Murchison  Just a simple acoustic version by someone appearing to record from his home.

"Something Beautiful
"  Video  Gaither Vocal Band

"Glorious Freedom"  Video 
Gaither Vocal Band

"In Christ Alone"  Video 
Travis Cottrell  with nice transition to the Solid Rock.

American Pickers

Finally Today:

Right Barber Shop, Lynchburg, VA 4/8/10
Several years ago we walked through downtown Lynchburg Virginia and struck up a conversation with the barber who has owned a downtown Barber Shop for over 50 years. It was filled (over-filled, I should say) with relics, snake skins, antiques, an amazing assortment of stuff -you name it!!  We commented on his unusual setting and he said, "You ain't seen nothing yet. I have two stories full of stuff above my barber shop and 40 acres where I live." He told us he watches the American Pickers show regularly. His barber shop would be an excellent site for an airing of the television show and that was the suggestion I made to the show, as mentioned earlier! However they still haven't taken me up on it.


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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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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