A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Monday, February
18, 2019
Historical
homes in Lititz, PA
The log cabin
home is the John Phillips House built in 1796.
"A
One Hundred Year Perspective"
Message
summary: Choose
this day and every day
to serve the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him" (Genesis 35:29). "A time to be born and a time to die" (Ecclesiastes 3:2).
Yesterday was February 17, a date on which we both have sentimental memories. It was my dad's birthday and the date that Brooksyne's dad died in 2000. Although my dad, Eugene Clark Weber, died 20 years ago I realized that yesterday was his 100th birthday. He was born on February 17, 1919. On that date can you imagine how far in the future 2019 seemed!
"Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him" (Genesis 35:29). "A time to be born and a time to die" (Ecclesiastes 3:2).
Yesterday was February 17, a date on which we both have sentimental memories. It was my dad's birthday and the date that Brooksyne's dad died in 2000. Although my dad, Eugene Clark Weber, died 20 years ago I realized that yesterday was his 100th birthday. He was born on February 17, 1919. On that date can you imagine how far in the future 2019 seemed!
He was a star
hurdler in high school,
setting a state record
and then went on to
serve in
WW2,
training as a pilot in
the Army/Air Force. He
married Georgia Mae, my
mother, in 1944 and
together they created
some "baby boomers". He
was a faithful husband,
attentive father and a
hard worker, doing
whatever he needed to do
to provide for his
family. Then he became a
loving grandpa.Now that I'm getting up in years I do something that others surely do as they grow older. I often consider how young I was when Daddy was my current age and consider my relationship to him at that time period. But there came that day when my dad, being old and full of years, was gathered to his people, and then buried on a windswept hill west of tiny Schell City, Missouri where my grandparents are also buried. Some seven years later we also placed my mother's remains beside him.
A small church in Marietta, PA displayed a sign that asked, "Where will you be 100 years from now?" which really got me thinking. A more familiar expression often used in witnessing is, "Where will you spend eternity?" But to me the 100 year question packs a very powerful punch. It's a measurement of time I can comprehend. I find it helpful to look back 100 years and perhaps you can do the same. We all probably have known someone who lived 100 years ago.
So, where I
will be 100 years from
now is not some esoteric
question, since I
personally knew someone
who lived one hundred
years ago. And many of
you have as well. A few
of us may even know
(present tense) someone
who lived 100 years ago.
When we first moved to
Lancaster County we got
acquainted with Menno
Brubaker, who lived to
be 102 years of age and
we knew him at that
point.There are basically four different possible answers to this vital question, "Where will I be 100 years from now?":
- Perhaps
with medical
advances I will be
living at 164 years
of age! (I am not
counting on that
though).
- The secular response is that I am merely a physical entity and when I die that's it. As a mere physical being my flesh, which is all I am, will rot in the ground. In this view there's no spirit or soul to live on and certainly no future resurrection of the body.
- The common dominant view held by many, including those who should know better, is that everyone (except perhaps the notoriously evil) goes to a very pleasant place at death. This view is based on sentiment, not Scripture and is often expressed by even the most ardent secularist at the death of a loved one. It seems humans have an innate sense that there is something more after death and this view basically asserts, "The good in life always outweighs the bad. Things work out all right in the end". However this view has no basis in Scripture.
- The
Holy Scriptures
truthfully inform us
of a coming judgment
and there are two
very distinct
options at death,
depending on our
response to Christ,
during our present
lifetime.
The daily text is just a simple record of the passing of one man (Isaac) who lived nearly 4,000 years ago. He was 180 years old and full of years. The powerful phrase "gathered to his people" is first used at the death of his father Abraham (Genesis 25:8) and is repeated throughout the Scriptures to the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:50). One day you and I will most certainly be "gathered to our people".
We want to be prepared to join the people of God throughout the ages, including those in our own generation. We encourage each of you today to commit your life to Christ. Express your faith in His redemption plan, confess, and repent of your sins. Choose this day and every day to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be encouraged and prepared today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, daily
there are
questions
looming; some
trivial and
others essential
to our existence
here on earth.
But the most
vital question
we must answer
in a timely
manner and in
adherence to
Scripture has to
do with our
eternal destiny.
Just as the
patriarchs of
old lived long
lives and then
were buried by
their children,
our bodies too
will return to
dust, while our
souls live on
for eternity. We
want to "be
gathered to our
people" who've
made their
pilgrimage here
on earth with
You as their
Shepherd. We
choose to commit
our ways to You
and follow Your
commands so that
our room and
board is forever
paid up in the
great beyond
where Christ
sits at Your
right hand. Keep
us faithful till
that day is
fulfilled in our
lives. In the
precious name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Brooksyne's note on Presidents Day: Stephen's great grandfather, in the mid 1800's, emigrated to the U.S. from Germany and named his son who was born in Missouri George Washington Steincross (Stephen's grandfather). I just learned last week that I also have a grandfather (way back) whose name was George Washington Baslee, born in Kentucky about 1814. All this time I thought it was neat that Stephen had a grandfather named George Washington and I now learn that I also have a grandfather with the first president's name! (Trivia you didn't necessarily need to read, but I have fun writing about it.)
Brothers Michael, Stephen and Pat at the burial service near for my Mom in 2006 in Schell City, MO
(Click on photo to enlarge)
This
weekend we
visited the Fire
and Ice
Festival
in Lititz PA and
walked through
the quaint,
historic village
founded in the
1700's.
Lots
of ice
sculptures,
including this
airplane, were
created Friday
night but with
the warm weather
on Saturday many
didn't last
long. Some
already fell
apart or the
etching was
compromised
which made it
more difficult
to identify some
ice sculptures!
We had
our dinner at
the Tomato
Pie Cafe
in this restored
home.
We both have come to enjoy Tomato Pie, whether it's Brooksyne's homemade recipe or eating it at the Tomato Pie Cafe - both are scrumptious!
We both have come to enjoy Tomato Pie, whether it's Brooksyne's homemade recipe or eating it at the Tomato Pie Cafe - both are scrumptious!
The
stately Lititz
Mutual Insurance
Company office
building with an
ice sculpture in
front.
The
red caboose sits
next to a
restored train
station. In the
background is
the former Wilbur
Chocolate
factory which is
being renovated
as luxury
condos. Wilbur
chocolates
predates the
more famous
Lancaster County
chocolate maker,
Milton S.
Hershey. Open here
for more info
about Milton S.
Hershey who only
completed fourth
grade and
started numerous
confectionery
businesses that
failed before
his great
success with
Hershey
Chocolates.
Here's another
interesting
historical tidbit.
Amish
traffic always
adds to the
charm of living
in Lancaster
County!
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Finish
Well" Video
Karen Peck & New River
Our choir is preparing for a
spring concert on the afternoon
of March 24th and this is one of
the songs I'm excited to sing
since we hear it often on the
radio. It is truly a clarion
call for believers to stay
faithful:
Finish
well for the glory of His name.
Finish
strong, until the Savior finally
calls us home;
Give
it everything we have; finish
well!
"One
Day (When We All Get To
Heaven)" Video
Matt
Redman Here's
another of my new favorites that
we are singing on March 24th as
well. Such a great message for
young and old alike!
Recent
Feedback:
- Our friend Bob shared a suggestion regarding dry hands, prompted by the story in Friday's message: O'Keefe's Working Hands Hand Cream.
- Regarding
Friday's photo
Nancy,
another
friend, wrote, "Perhaps they
need to publish the sign in
Pennsylvania Dutch." (a
language the Amish speak)
Finally
today:
We
stopped by to visit with Wilma
Dourte whose husband, Jesse,
died several weeks ago.
She now lives with her daughter,
Maxine, and looked wonderful. If
I (Brooksyne) live to be 94 I
would be pleased to do as well
as she has done. I want a heart
that follows hard after Jesus no
matter my age, just like Wilma!
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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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Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA