A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Monday,
March
8,
2021
Yesterday we had lunch in a dining car at the Casey Jones restaurant beside the Strasburg Railroad track and we saw this view from our window. I fought the urge to jump up out of my chair and view the train at its crossing for a close up shot.*
Click on photo to enlarge
"Not
Neglecting To Meet Together"
Message summary: According
to this Scripture we are not to not neglect
meeting together, as is the habit of some, but we
are to encourage one another, and all the more as
we see the Day drawing near.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"Let
us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And
let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works, not neglecting to meet
together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you
see the Day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Were
you able to make it out to church this last
weekend? All over the world Christians gathered in
groups large and small as they have since
Resurrection Day. One of the many casualties of
this ongoing "pandemic" has been its impact upon
the local church gathering.
We attend a larger church and did not gather in person for several months last year (although we could watch those who led from the platform of the church via computer). We resumed literally congregating in June. Because more and more people are attending each week, multiple services have been added to accommodate.
Yesterday
it was announced a distancing restriction would be
lifted on two sections in the sanctuary and the
people clapped enthusiastically! We clapped in
part because it was the two sections (near the
front) in which we find ourselves sitting week
after week, year after year. Sitting in every
other row has made it hard to find our seats in a
timely fashion before the service starts. (There
will still be sections with masks only for those
who are more vulnerable to health risks and for
those who choose this approach.) Since the
re-opening in June parishioners have been asked to
wear masks in the foyer area and before sitting
down in their pews.
I
spoke to a friend who serves a small church in an undisclosed location in New England who told me his
congregation has not ceased meeting together
through the entire pandemic. They have used common
sense and reasonable precautions and of course
some of the people have not been comfortable
gathering in person. I use "undisclosed location"
designation since it seems now there are many
government bureaucrats in some places who seem to
love to meddle in local church affairs and I would
expect his state would be among them.
Some
have paid a heavy price for seeking to be obedient
to God and specifically our daily text. A pastor
in Canada is in jail for leading his congregation
in church services and another church is facing
heavy fines, probably quite a few for that matter.
What's wrong with Canada! But some of our states
have been very oppressive as well, such as
California. Frankly the inconsistencies infuriate
me. Other places can be open such as casinos, pot
shops and abortion killing grounds. But according
to the "experts" it's dangerous to gather in
church.
The
same ideological side (progressive) that denies
certitudes of science such as gender, claiming a
man can be a woman and vice versa, that an unborn
baby is not really a human of worth, that marriage
can be between anyone you want it to be, tells us
to "follow the science" in regard to these
dictates which are constantly changing!
But
increasingly it is seen that great harm comes from
isolating people, not only in regard to the
church, but other social structures as well,
notably schools. The first "not good" in the Bible
is man being alone. God designed marriage between
a man and a woman to fundamentally meet this
loneliness. But the principle of it not being good
to be alone extends to all relationships that
enrich life.
Yesterday
we saw and visited with friends, both at church
and as we dined over lunch. These social
interactions are vital to health. Especially
harmed are people isolated in nursing homes, those
who have severe cognitive and/or physical
disabilities who need daily support services,
those who live alone, and tragically thousands and
thousands who have died, the family being
forbidden to remain at their loved one's bedside,
due to the fear of spreading covid. Thankfully,
the latter situation seems to be improving in many
regards.
One
of the first verses many Christians memorize is "not
neglecting to meet together" often used as a
teaching verse as to the importance of attending
church. Up until last year the ability to meet
together in church was available for most of us
although our free wills might create the habit of
not participating, "as is the habit of some".
According
to this Scripture we are not to neglect meeting
together, as is the habit of some, but we are to
encourage one another, and all the more as we see
the Day drawing near. Though I present some of the
harsh realities we face today seen in the extremes
of governmental intervention or overreach, I do
want to encourage you never to lose sight of what
God has designed in His plan for us to be in
faithful fellowship with our brothers and sisters
so that we spur one another in love and good works
through Christ.
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, this pandemic and those in
authority who have responded to it,
has presented many long term
ramifications that will likely not disappear even
when the contagion factor is no longer widespread.
Some families have taken positions that have caused
division, government officials have wrongly
politicized the disease, many churches have
splintered, church leadership in some locales has
been persecuted, and devastating heartbreak remains
for those whose loved ones died without loving and
proper good-byes. We need healing in our local
settings and we need healing in the nations since
this is a global pandemic in need of a global answer
to prayer. May we, as Your children, be used as a
healing balm to the nations, a healing balm to the
people of the earth, till the whole world knows
there's salvation in Your name, may Your healing
flow through us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.Prayer
contains a portion of "Song for the Nations" by Chris Christensen
(V. 4, adapted)
Today's
message might rankle a few people. So I (Stephen)
might as well express a bit more! People need
human touch. Now of course I mean appropriate
touch! One of the first casualties of the pandemic
was being told to stop touching one another such as
a handshake, let alone a hug. Though it was likely a
well meaning prohibition we consider the brutally
painful setting of those who are ill and
isolated from even the touch of a loved one.
What
Bible verses might we consider in this regard? When
Paul departed Ephesus we read, "And there was
much weeping on the part of all; they embraced
Paul and kissed him" (Acts 20:37). Many of the
epistles end with a phrase such as, "Greet one
another with a holy kiss" (2 Corinthians
13:12). Now, according to the cultural norms in the
circles I have been in, most of us do not kiss but
we do embrace (hug). However I know some churches
and cultures that still do practice the holy kiss. The
principle though is the normalcy and healthfulness
of touch.
Today
we want to share several of our most meaningful
"hug" photos through the years.
We sure
hope you have photos and memories like this!
Joey was a troubled teenager when this
photo was taken. But he loved my Mom and my Mom
loved him.
This photo is taken from Joey's wedding
about ten years later. Lorna led our youth group
during a time in Joey's life when he was
rebellious but she was determined to show the love
of Christ to this troubled young man. Looks like he's
showing his deep appreciation!
Joseph, is now an ordained minister
and serves at Philadelphia Christian Center,
a large church in Philadelphia. He married Lori,
the daughter of Phil and Carol Menditto, who
pastor the church and Joey and Lori now have two
children.
Connie getting her pastor's hug from John Keefer at the end of a service.
This
photo show Mike and Joe, two friends from
Northern PA giving each other a bear hug at a
wedding reception. Mike had moved from that area
and they had not seen each other for awhile.
This is a special photo to me because of what it
represents. Mike is a college educated
electrical engineer, Joe a millworker from a
socially disadvantaged background. Joe got saved
in our church and Mike had a longterm mentoring
role in his life demonstrating the power of
brotherhood in Christ over "class" distinctions.
Are
you a hugger? The act of hugging varies in
families and in various regions of our country
and world. In the South hugging is pretty
common. Our church in northern Pennsylvania,
which we established as a young married couple,
became a hugging church, even though hugging in
church wasn't common in that region. In New
England which has the reputation of being the
"frozen chosen" we assumed an older heritage
type church and the congregation wasn't all that
accustomed to hugging, but that changed while we
were there.
*
Brooksyne's note: Funny "Choo Chew" Moment
Yesterday: The
Strasburg Railroad train usually rolls down the
tracks two to three times while we're dining at
Casey Jones which is part of why we enjoy eating
there. Also, they play many railroad songs as
you dine such as "Chattanooga Choo Choo",
"Petticoat Junction" theme song, "Workin' on the
Railroad" and many others. As we were eating it
sounded like the train was approaching during
our dining experience. Stephen couldn't resist
jumping out of his seat and heading out the
nearest exit to get an up close photograph. We
who stayed in our seats looked out and saw no
sign of a train so we listened more carefully to
the train whistle and realized it was coming
from the speakers, not from a real train. After
several minutes Stephen came back in a bit
exasperated and informed us that he never did
see the train come through, "I could hear it but
I never did see it!" We laughed so hard which
mystified him until we had to let him in on the
truth, "That wasn't a train whistle, you only
heard the train whistle playing on the
restaurant soundtrack!"
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"This Is The Place" Video Gaither Vocal Band Watch this
video and see which scenes and words you can
identify with.
This is the place where we pray
This is the place where we cry
This is the place where we start
"'Til death do us part"
Where we say "goodbye"
Here we leave all our pain
Find forgiveness and grace
Here we walk down the aisle
Dedicate every child
Here in this sacred place
This is the place where we cry
This is the place where we start
"'Til death do us part"
Where we say "goodbye"
Here we leave all our pain
Find forgiveness and grace
Here we walk down the aisle
Dedicate every child
Here in this sacred place
(We have prayed regarding these
matters)
Finally
today:
Yesterday after our church service
we visited with Ammon Graybill, a Lancaster
County realtor, who was seated next to us in
church. Ammon is nearing 90 years old. Since
1954 he has held a weekly Bible Study in a
restaurant for local businessmen which lasted
till last March when the lockdowns started.
Stephen spoke at this gathering several times.
That is over 65 years of faithful leadership!
When the choir starts up again, hopefully in
the next couple months, Ammon will surely join
in again as he has in the past!
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".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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