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daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
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Wednesday,
April
1,
2020
Lancaster
County Farm Scene
This distant
view of a farm setting highlighted by an early pink azalea
and forsythia bush.
(Photo
by Lamar Dourte)
"What
Fools Say"
Message summary: "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy" (Job 8:21).
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1).
Today is April Fool's Day, a day of pranks and playing practical jokes on others. This is a custom in many countries all around the world. A rather obscure statement from Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's friends, is a fitting promise in these very hard times. It was originally given to Job in the very midst of his suffering, "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy" (Job 8:21).
I wonder how many of our readers have played a prank on a family member or co-worker already today? Or were you the butt of a joke? If not, the day’s not over! I’m the big tease in our family most of the time, but Brooksyne is usually the bigger teaser on April Fool’s Day so I'll share a memory from over ten years ago.
We were
nearing the end of a considerably disruptive ten
week kitchen renovation project and expected the
carpenter in the late morning to put on the
finishing touches. I showered early in the morning
and just as I stepped out of the shower, Brooksyne
called out to inform me the carpenter was waiting
at the door.His early arrival sent a little shock, the kind that makes your heart race quickly – you know the feeling. She then told me (on the other side of the bathroom door) that she was still in her robe and could not answer the door and that he’d been standing at the door for quite a while so I dressed myself quickly (though obviously half-dressed) to get to the door. APRIL FOOLS! she gleefully yelled as I ran out of the bathroom and of course no one was at the door! The shivers on my spine were all for nothing, only for the pleasure Brooksyne got out of making me look and feel very foolish.
Perhaps you’ve seen the bumper sticker that
states, "April 1, National Atheist’s Day". When I
first spotted the sticker I was intrigued and a
bit annoyed, but not necessarily surprised. They
now seem to have a day to commemorate just about
everything. Then I moved my car in closer to read
the small print. It was actually an attempt to be
a witness for the Lord, as it quoted the daily
verse (Psalm 14:1). It was then that I made the
connection, "O yeah, Fool’s Day is April 1"!
Now certainly there is a relatively small but growing segment of the population that is avowedly atheist, which is seen by some to be intellectual and reasonable, even cool. But atheism has existed at least since the time of David as is conjectured from our verse today.
An atheist would scoff at
faith but actually atheism requires a great deal
of faith! It’s not unbelief but belief in
something altogether different. It certainly takes
faith. In fact the title of a book is, "I Don’t
Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist".
The daily text is a great passage to use in illustrating the importance of context as we study and interpret the Bible. Ask someone, "Did you know the Bible says there is no God"? They might look at you as though you’re crazy or you’ve lost your faith in God (or if they’re an atheist they may smile assuming you’re finally see things their way!). However, in context the passage means something entirely different than I conveyed in the question.
However a far more common threat to Christ’s call to genuine discipleship, particularly here in America, is not atheism but ambivalentism. Now I coined this word and it’s not in a standard dictionary or spellchecker. But it really describes so many people. They are ambivalent toward God. This means they are irresolute, indecisive, weak-willed and wishy-washy. If pressed they would say they believe in God and deny being an atheist. Many have some religious affiliation or attend church, but God is really not a living reality in their lives. In fact I feel this is a more accurate description of life’s outlook for many people rather than the more common term "agnostic".
This coming Passion Week we will especially focus on the cross. The deadly virus continues to overshadow our days but the living Christ who overcame death prevails through sunshine or clouded days, and that will be our focus in the coming week. As Oswald Chambers observed, "All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning".
On this first day of April, putting foolish things aside, let us declare as people of godly wisdom that there is a God and I am created bring Him glory. Through His 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.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, if it takes a fool to
say there is no God, then I want to be
numbered among the wise who early on believed
this statement from You, "I am God in
heaven above and on the earth below; there
is no other." This is a declaration of
my faith that’s been thoroughly tested
throughout the centuries. During this
universally hard time I confidently pledge my
allegiance to You, an invisible God, but a
visible power in my life, in the lives of
others, and in the world. Amen.
Now certainly there is a relatively small but growing segment of the population that is avowedly atheist, which is seen by some to be intellectual and reasonable, even cool. But atheism has existed at least since the time of David as is conjectured from our verse today.
An atheist would scoff at
faith but actually atheism requires a great deal
of faith! It’s not unbelief but belief in
something altogether different. It certainly takes
faith. In fact the title of a book is, "I Don’t
Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist".The daily text is a great passage to use in illustrating the importance of context as we study and interpret the Bible. Ask someone, "Did you know the Bible says there is no God"? They might look at you as though you’re crazy or you’ve lost your faith in God (or if they’re an atheist they may smile assuming you’re finally see things their way!). However, in context the passage means something entirely different than I conveyed in the question.
However a far more common threat to Christ’s call to genuine discipleship, particularly here in America, is not atheism but ambivalentism. Now I coined this word and it’s not in a standard dictionary or spellchecker. But it really describes so many people. They are ambivalent toward God. This means they are irresolute, indecisive, weak-willed and wishy-washy. If pressed they would say they believe in God and deny being an atheist. Many have some religious affiliation or attend church, but God is really not a living reality in their lives. In fact I feel this is a more accurate description of life’s outlook for many people rather than the more common term "agnostic".
This coming Passion Week we will especially focus on the cross. The deadly virus continues to overshadow our days but the living Christ who overcame death prevails through sunshine or clouded days, and that will be our focus in the coming week. As Oswald Chambers observed, "All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning".
On this first day of April, putting foolish things aside, let us declare as people of godly wisdom that there is a God and I am created bring Him glory. Through His 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.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, if it takes a fool to
say there is no God, then I want to be
numbered among the wise who early on believed
this statement from You, "I am God in
heaven above and on the earth below; there
is no other." This is a declaration of
my faith that’s been thoroughly tested
throughout the centuries. During this
universally hard time I confidently pledge my
allegiance to You, an invisible God, but a
visible power in my life, in the lives of
others, and in the world. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"We
Believe" Video Newsboys Likely
not everyone's musical style (what is?) but a great
declaration of belief!
"In
Christ Alone" Video Taryn Harbridge
violin instrumental (suggested by Marsha Neizmik, a
long time friend from northern PA who points out this
musician is from that area and presumably the
background scenes are as well)
"Stand" Video Booth Brothers This song really ministered to me this morning and strengthened my resolve!
Today's
Focus on the Family program features Doctors David
Hager and Bill Lile provide a pro-life perspective
on the growing national controversy about whether
abortion should be considered essential healthcare
during the coronavirus crisis. Outstanding
perspective regarding unborn life! Listen to audio
By the
way, who is the shortest man in the Bible? The
shortest man in the Bible is Bildad the Shuhite
(Shoeheight)
Our
local Costco, like many stores, is out of toilet
paper. However a local farmer has generously donated a
truckload of corn cobs which Costco is providing at no
charge in several large bins in the aisle where the
toilet paper is normally sold. (That's my attempt at
an April Fool's joke!)
But
here's a true story heart-warmer: Ohio man uses his company's bucket
truck to visit mom quarantined on 3rd floor of
nursing home
Finally
today:
We are
pleased to see Ester continuing to develop her
photography skills with creative composition and
appropriate use of Scripture. This is a close-up of an
LED light on our deck.
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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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."
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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Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA