A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Thursday,
December 27, 2018
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Steel is an alloy, a mix of two metals to form one, with the goal of gaining some advantage that neither of the two originals could achieve alone. Steel is one of the most famous alloys. Unless we work around steel we may assume steel is just steel, but visiting a laser shop that works with steel I have observed there are many types. We have probably all heard of stainless steel but one of my favorite types is Cor-Ten which is a weathering steel that forms a layer of rust-like coating that prevents corrosion so the material never needs painting. Even if it gets scratched it reseals itself with a thin layer of protective rust.
I
remember first seeing
Cor-Ten steel during a
visit to Pittsburgh, PA
with Mike Matangelo, an
engineer friend. We
walked by the 64 story
US Steel Tower and I
just couldn't understand
why a world class steel
company would have a
headquarters building
made of what looked like
old, rusting steel. Mike
explained that it was
designed to be this way
which further puzzled
me. I wondered why
anyone would design
anything to look rusty,
a sign of decay and
aging? But since then I
have come to understand
that this is actually an
engineering marvel.
Daily
prayer:
Father, we take
comfort in the words
of Paul as we journey
here below, "Though
outwardly we are
wasting away, yet
inwardly we are
being renewed day by
day. For our light
and momentary
troubles are
achieving for us an
eternal glory that
far outweighs them
all. So we fix our
eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is
unseen, since what
is seen is
temporary, but what
is unseen is
eternal." May
we not lose
sight of the eternal
perspective in this
new year.
Help us to fix our
hope and cast our
vision beyond that
which we see with our
eyes, to that which
the Spirit is doing
within our hearts.
Through Christ we
pray. Amen.
Eugene Gifford Grace
became CEO of Bethlehem Steel in 1916
and served till 1957 when he had a
stoke, Even then while over 80, he
continued for a little while to run
meetings of Bethlehem's big board, 21
men strong. These meetings were
sometimes bizarre, according to
Bethlehem Steelmaker, an autobiography
written many years later by Edmund
Martin. Grace, reported Martin, would
on occasion nod off to sleep. The
world then stopped: "Sometimes an hour
would go by," wrote Martin. "We didn't
leave. We didn't continue with
whatever business was being discussed.
We just waited in silence until he
woke up and resumed the meeting as if
nothing had happened."
The New River Bridge in West Virginia is made of Cor-Ten steel.
The huge
blast furnaces remain at the shuttered Bethlehem Steel
Company Mill, in Bethlehem, PA. At one time this was
one of the largest steel mills in the world and during
its heyday in the 1960s, employed 31,000 people at
this very location.
"A
Lesson From Cor-Ten Steel"
Message
summary:
Another year is passing
by so instead of getting
gloomy about the
increasing years that
change our outward
appearance, "let us fix
our
eyes on Jesus, the
Author and Perfecter of
our faith"
(4:18). Outwardly we may
have more and more rust
but
inwardly our spiritual
being is renewed day by
day as we daily read and
apply Scripture and
commune with God!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
We
all have interests, some
perhaps a bit more
peculiar than others. I
happen to enjoy factory
tours and when we travel
we just may find a
factory to tour, which
means Brooksyne and
Ester tag along. They
patiently endure (I
think) but Brooksyne
tells me such settings
would not be a thriving
interest of hers and or
Ester's.
On Christmas
Day we traveled to
Bethlehem, PA and before
our visit with my
brother and family, I
wanted to take a walking
tour of the old
Bethlehem Steel Mill
pictured above. They
have a walking trestle*
built along the entire
length of the mill but,
likely to Brooksyne's
relief, it was closed!
Steel is an alloy, a mix of two metals to form one, with the goal of gaining some advantage that neither of the two originals could achieve alone. Steel is one of the most famous alloys. Unless we work around steel we may assume steel is just steel, but visiting a laser shop that works with steel I have observed there are many types. We have probably all heard of stainless steel but one of my favorite types is Cor-Ten which is a weathering steel that forms a layer of rust-like coating that prevents corrosion so the material never needs painting. Even if it gets scratched it reseals itself with a thin layer of protective rust.
I
remember first seeing
Cor-Ten steel during a
visit to Pittsburgh, PA
with Mike Matangelo, an
engineer friend. We
walked by the 64 story
US Steel Tower and I
just couldn't understand
why a world class steel
company would have a
headquarters building
made of what looked like
old, rusting steel. Mike
explained that it was
designed to be this way
which further puzzled
me. I wondered why
anyone would design
anything to look rusty,
a sign of decay and
aging? But since then I
have come to understand
that this is actually an
engineering marvel.Have you
considered aging itself
to be healthy? Now I'm
not recommending that we
don't seek to maintain
good health as we age
which is of course a
good thing, but rather
the process itself is a
design feature by our
Creator. We are
designed to age.
What a blunt
assessment the daily
text makes about our
physical condition,
"Outwardly we are
wasting away". I
believe the outward here
is speaking not only of
our visible appearance
but our entire physical
being. We probably don't
like this image in
regard to aging but in a
sense we are all
rusting, although some
look a bit more
weathered and rustier
than others.
Perhaps it's
helpful to consider this
rust like that on
Cor-Ten steel, a coating
that protects the inner
steel structure, which
is even more important
than the outer
appearance. Likewise,
over the years our
bodies lose their fresh,
youthful vigor, wrinkle
free skin, along with
other signs of aging.
But the Holy Spirit is
always at work within us
so that "inwardly we
are being renewed day
by day". We will
one day shed these aging
mortal bodies, but that
which is eternal is
being renewed daily.
Another year
is passing by, so,
instead of getting
gloomy about the
increasing years that
change our outward
appearance, "let us
fix our eyes on Jesus,
the Author and
Perfecter of our
faith" (4:18).
Outwardly we may have
more and more rust but
inwardly our spiritual
being is renewed day by
day as we daily read and
apply Scripture and
commune with God! That
should be encouraging
whether you're 9 or 90!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we take
comfort in the words
of Paul as we journey
here below, "Though
outwardly we are
wasting away, yet
inwardly we are
being renewed day by
day. For our light
and momentary
troubles are
achieving for us an
eternal glory that
far outweighs them
all. So we fix our
eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is
unseen, since what
is seen is
temporary, but what
is unseen is
eternal." May
we not lose
sight of the eternal
perspective in this
new year.
Help us to fix our
hope and cast our
vision beyond that
which we see with our
eyes, to that which
the Spirit is doing
within our hearts.
Through Christ we
pray. Amen.II
Corinthians 4:16-18
Special
Year-end Financial Appeal
We want to thank all who
have financially supported our
ministry this past year (and some for
many years!). We realize there are many
fine ministries and causes requesting
support at this time but if the Lord
would lead you we surely need and
appreciate the financial support from
our readers and listeners. Like
many ministries, we typically see a
spike in giving at the end of the year
for which we are most thankful.
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"
Thank you
Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
To donate directly online here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: WEBER,STEPHEN CHAP, Specialized Chaplaincy Ministry ID: 700001-237376
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due
to the convenience, for
international supporters, and for
those who may not be concerned
regarding receiving an official tax
deductible receipt.
Click here
to send an offering using PayPal.
This will open to a page that states
"Brooksyne Weber"Thank you
Stephen
& Brooksyne
Some
More Photos From Bethlehem, PA
The
old steel mill area has been
repurposed as an entertainment venue
called "Steel Stacks". Here is the
area on a Google map.
The
east end of the huge mill
Driving
through the historic part of
Bethlehem early in the evening on
Christmas day we passed this
recently restored stone building.
The old part of Bethlehem is very
beautiful.
The New River Bridge in West Virginia is made of Cor-Ten steel.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"We Do Not Lose
Heart" Video
Truth Songs This couple uses
their talents on their YouTube channel
to share Scripture verses set to
music. Very nice.
What is Cor-ten?
COR-TEN® is a trademarked name owned by U.S. Steel. Weathering steel, best-known under the trademark COR-TEN® steel, is a group of steel alloys which were developed to obviate the need for painting, and form a stable rust-like appearance if exposed to the weather for several years. Weathering steel has increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion when compared to other steels. COR-TEN® resists the corrosive effects of rain, snow, ice, fog, and other meteorological conditions by forming a coating of dark brown oxidation over the metal, which inhibits deeper penetration and negates the need for painting and costly rust-prevention maintenance over the years. In simple terms the steel is allowed to rust and that rust forms a protective coating that slows the rate of future corrosion.
COR-TEN® is a trademarked name owned by U.S. Steel. Weathering steel, best-known under the trademark COR-TEN® steel, is a group of steel alloys which were developed to obviate the need for painting, and form a stable rust-like appearance if exposed to the weather for several years. Weathering steel has increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion when compared to other steels. COR-TEN® resists the corrosive effects of rain, snow, ice, fog, and other meteorological conditions by forming a coating of dark brown oxidation over the metal, which inhibits deeper penetration and negates the need for painting and costly rust-prevention maintenance over the years. In simple terms the steel is allowed to rust and that rust forms a protective coating that slows the rate of future corrosion.
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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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