A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
September 7,
2021
Antique truck
at the AACA Museum in Hershey
(click on photo to enlarge)
(click on photo to enlarge)
"John
The Baptist"
Message summary: May the Lord empower us today to stand as John did no matter the consequences! As the apostle Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain".
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey" (Matthew 3:4).
Each evening, now that we've entered late summer, we hear the distinct sound of hundreds, or more likely, thousands of insects. As the days get shorter and nights get cooler the sounds are fading compared to the volume heard in August. It's a sound I recall hearing wherever I have lived. There is actually a field of science devoted to these sounds known as bioacoustics.
One
of the critters making the noise is the locust which land on our deck.
Our little dog Sadie likes to play with them and who
knows, she may even eat them. We had some friends over
the other day and I picked up a locust and asked Eli
James if he would like to eat it followed by a Bible
quiz based on the daily text, who in the Bible ate
locusts? He knew the correct answer, John the Baptist.Probably what we find most interesting in the
daily verse is that John the Baptist ate locusts. After
all, we still wear clothing made with animal hair and
leather belts. In fact when purchasing belts I always
look for genuine leather since I want to follow John's
example! Also, for me, anyway, they last longer than the
fake stuff. Most of us also enjoy the sweet taste of
honey (which is essentially bee spit). We spread honey
last night on some corn muffins that Brooksyne made that
I toasted. My, was it good!.
But most, in our culture anyway, draw the
line at eating locusts. Entomophagy is the scientific
name for insect eating. There are more than
1,450-recorded species of edible insects, many of which
are lower in fat, higher in protein, and have a better
feed to meat ratio than beef, lamb, pork, or chicken. So
locusts were actually a good diet choice for an active
prophet!
John the Baptist is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. His start in life was unusual and his death gruesome. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a godly infertile couple, who were both "well along in years" or as the KJV colorfully puts it "well stricken in years".
Zechariah was a priest who had a mighty encounter with an angel of the Lord informing him that he would have a son. I've wondered what in the world his wife thought when her speechless husband got home and had that twinkle in his eyes! Anyway, she became pregnant and they received a blessing they surely hadn't planned for.
John's mission was very clear and he fulfilled it well in his brief lifetime. His purpose statement was summed up in the words, "Prepare the way for the Lord".
John the Baptist is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. His start in life was unusual and his death gruesome. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a godly infertile couple, who were both "well along in years" or as the KJV colorfully puts it "well stricken in years".
Zechariah was a priest who had a mighty encounter with an angel of the Lord informing him that he would have a son. I've wondered what in the world his wife thought when her speechless husband got home and had that twinkle in his eyes! Anyway, she became pregnant and they received a blessing they surely hadn't planned for.
John's mission was very clear and he fulfilled it well in his brief lifetime. His purpose statement was summed up in the words, "Prepare the way for the Lord".
And yet in the providence of God John would
lose his freedom and soon thereafter his life after
rebuking Herod for his sinful behavior. (Matthew 14:10).
Jesus commended John with these words, "Among
those born of women there has not risen anyone greater
than John the Baptist".
John's story provides perspective to the whys
each of us ask when things don't make sense or when the
painful matters in our lives seem more than we can bear.
They are the same whys people in the Bible times surely
had when John's life was taken, similar to why was
Stephen taken so early.
On this day, as we live out our lives and seek to please God in a world filled with many Herods, let us recall the faithfulness of John the Baptist. Note particularly his bold declaration to Herod, renouncing his sin. He was not interested in being liked or living on the politically safe side but rather in speaking out God's truth. And for that he literally lost his head.
May the Lord empower us today to stand as John did no matter the consequence! As the apostle Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
On this day, as we live out our lives and seek to please God in a world filled with many Herods, let us recall the faithfulness of John the Baptist. Note particularly his bold declaration to Herod, renouncing his sin. He was not interested in being liked or living on the politically safe side but rather in speaking out God's truth. And for that he literally lost his head.
May the Lord empower us today to stand as John did no matter the consequence! As the apostle Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we count our lives on earth as
nothing compared to the glory of heaven where we
will worship You for all eternity. Among us will be
John the Baptist who will tell us of the way He was
used to prepare the way for Christ's mission on
earth. We'll listen with keen interest as Elizabeth
tells of how the disgrace she felt among family and
peers due to her barren state was lifted after
learning of her miraculous pregnancy. Zechariah will
speak of his amazing nine month silence before baby
John arrived. Heaven will be filled with people
through all the centuries who have amazing stories
to share. We will be in personal fellowship with
each of them; no longer will the time line separate
us nor the geographic location. What a glorious day
it will be when we come together around Your throne
singing Your praise with every generation blending
our voices together. We give glory to the Holy One
of Israel right now and for all eternity. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Tomato pie We never heard of tomato pie till we ate it at a restaurant in Lititz PA called the Tomato Pie Cafe. It is delicious! Of course Brooksyne learned to make it and since tomatoes are now plenteous she baked one yesterday.
Initially "tomato pie" did not sound
very appetizing since we associate pies with
dessert and sweets. However this pie is great!
Today Brooksyne will share her own original
recipe and if you, like us, have an abundance
of tomatoes you may want to try it out!
"Yes I Will" Video
Vertical Worship
Nick,
a longtime reader, shared this thought based on
yesterday's message about work:
In a discussion I had recently with an
individual who was vying for complainer of the
year award, I mentioned casually that I
absolutely loved washing windows. What???? Are
you crazy, came the reply. My response is that I
love washing windows because some people have no
windows to wash and God has blessed me with
windows.
I then went on to say I love (absolutely love) doing the laundry and vacuuming the house and taking out the trash, and . . . . . For all the same reasons. Some people have no laundry or a floor to vacuum or trash to remove. I'm constantly living a life of profound thanks for God's grace and mercy. His love for us knows no bounds.
I then went on to say I love (absolutely love) doing the laundry and vacuuming the house and taking out the trash, and . . . . . For all the same reasons. Some people have no laundry or a floor to vacuum or trash to remove. I'm constantly living a life of profound thanks for God's grace and mercy. His love for us knows no bounds.
Nick's
wife of 60 years, Conny passed away this last
weekend and I will be conducting the service
this Thursday at the Fort Indiantown Gap Veteran
Cemetery. He has requested "This World is Not my
Home" and I dedicate this version to him in
memory of Conny today. May God grant peace and
comfort to Nick and his family.
"This
World Is Not My Home" Video Karen Peck
& New River · Jessy Dixon
This
last weekend we visited the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA
where the current featured vehicle is the pickup
truck! This has become our favorite local museum
since we both enjoy antique cars and trucks and
the displays vary through the year. The next
feature will be unrestored vehicles so it will
be interesting to see them before they undergo
the extensive restorations as seen in our photos
today.
The
first vehicle we bought as a married couple in
1976 was a pickup truck. Brooksyne's dad always
had a pickup truck and my dad had one that read,
"E.C. Weber and Sons" on the doors even though
at that time he didn't have a business.
How
would you like drive this classy looking pickup!
(click on photo to enlarge)
(click on photo to enlarge)
(click
on photo to enlarge)
(click
on photo to enlarge)
A
real truck in front of a fake background
(click
on photo to enlarge)
Brooksyne's
dad, Brooklyn, was a Ford man through and
through and we recall him having one like this,
a '77 model one year after we were married. It's a bit sobering seeing a truck
built during your adult years that is now
considered an antique!
(click on photo to enlarge)
(click on photo to enlarge)
Finally
today:
Tomato pie We never heard of tomato pie till we ate it at a restaurant in Lititz PA called the Tomato Pie Cafe. It is delicious! Of course Brooksyne learned to make it and since tomatoes are now plenteous she baked one yesterday.
Brooksyne’s Tomato Bacon Pie
9” or 10” Pie Crust
Approx. 6 Tomatoes (Sliced)
½ Medium Onion (Thinly sliced)
¾ C. Mayonnaise
¾ C. Greek Yogurt
¾ C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or your choice)
¼ C. Parmesan Cheese (optional)
¾ C. Bacon Crumbs
1 Sleeve Ritz or Town House Crackers, crushed
¼ C. Butter, melted
• Prepare Crust. (I pre-bake mine.)
• Slice tomatoes ahead and lay out, both sides, on paper towels to drain juice.
• Mix Mayo, Greek Yogurt & Shredded Cheese & set aside. (I use Greek yogurt in place of additional mayonnaise since it tastes great in recipe, saves calories, and adds protein.
• Layer half of tomatoes over bottom of pie crust.
• Spread half of sliced onions and bacon crumbs over tomatoes.
• Carefully spread half of mayonnaise mixture with spatula over tomatoes.
• Repeat steps above for tomatoes, onions, bacon crumbs and mayo mixture.
• Sprinkle crushed crackers over top of tomato pie, drizzle butter over crackers.
• Bake at 350 degrees approximately 30 minutes or until crackers are lightly browned.
• Let pie sit for about ten minutes so it sets up when cutting.
(So far I have not had a soggy tomato pie, so be sure to drain tomatoes as directed above.)
9” or 10” Pie Crust
Approx. 6 Tomatoes (Sliced)
½ Medium Onion (Thinly sliced)
¾ C. Mayonnaise
¾ C. Greek Yogurt
¾ C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or your choice)
¼ C. Parmesan Cheese (optional)
¾ C. Bacon Crumbs
1 Sleeve Ritz or Town House Crackers, crushed
¼ C. Butter, melted
• Prepare Crust. (I pre-bake mine.)
• Slice tomatoes ahead and lay out, both sides, on paper towels to drain juice.
• Mix Mayo, Greek Yogurt & Shredded Cheese & set aside. (I use Greek yogurt in place of additional mayonnaise since it tastes great in recipe, saves calories, and adds protein.
• Layer half of tomatoes over bottom of pie crust.
• Spread half of sliced onions and bacon crumbs over tomatoes.
• Carefully spread half of mayonnaise mixture with spatula over tomatoes.
• Repeat steps above for tomatoes, onions, bacon crumbs and mayo mixture.
• Sprinkle crushed crackers over top of tomato pie, drizzle butter over crackers.
• Bake at 350 degrees approximately 30 minutes or until crackers are lightly browned.
• Let pie sit for about ten minutes so it sets up when cutting.
(So far I have not had a soggy tomato pie, so be sure to drain tomatoes as directed above.)
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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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