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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday, March
16, 2022
We travel in the dark during the
winter months to get to several of our companies early in the
morning. We always look forward to seeing these lighted cupolas
and other lighting on this barn just before we get to Manheim on
our way to Lebanon County. Yesterday we drove off the main road
to take a closer look. It's already getting light so all the
lights were not nearly as dramatic, but that's OK since we're
enjoying natural light from the sun as days are now getting
longer!
Click to enlarge
"Understanding
Spiritual Things"
Message
summary: Most of us have
abundant exposure to spiritual truths. However Paul makes
the following assertion after citing the words of Isaiah:
"For this people's heart has become calloused; they
hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their
eyes. Otherwise they 'might see with their eyes, hear
with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn,
and I would heal them'" (Acts 28:27). Help us to
hear and understand; to see and perceive.
"Be
ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing,
but never perceiving" (Isaiah 6:9).
Ever since the Tower of Babel
humans have dealt with a language communication problem.
In the course of our chaplain service we encounter people
from a wide variety of language backgrounds. Some have
learned enough English that we can converse simple
thoughts, but with others we have a very limited ability
to communicate. We smile and sometimes use hand motions to
speak a brief message to them seeking to speak the actions
and language of friendship, hoping to bring a pleasant
moment to their day.For many
years we visited with a group of middle-aged to older
Vietnamese ladies who can scarcely understand any English.
But they nevertheless seemed to get excited seeing us and
although we are unable to communicate well we sought to be
a cheerful face in their day of hard and monotonous work.
It's our desire to let the Lord's love shine through us
though our words are very few.
Even within our own language, depending on where you live, folks in other parts of the country may "talk funny". Shortly after we took a pastorate in Massachusetts back in the early nineties, Jean stood up at the conclusion of an evening church service and asked, "Does anyone want to go to the potty with me?" Now I've heard women in a restaurant ask if anyone wanted to go to the restroom with them, but this seemed very inappropriate to give such an invitation in this setting! I didn't know what to say, but I'm sure I exchanged looks with Brooksyne wondering what we'd gotten ourselves into, with our new congregation.
I sure thought it strange that she would ask such a personal question publicly in a church setting. Well, if you are familiar with the New England accent you probably have guessed by now, the "r's" sort of disappear in the New England states and she was actually speaking of "going to a party, not potty".
In "The Grapes of Wrath" John Steinbeck wrote about these regional accents through the character of Ivy who said, "Everybody says words different: 'Arkansas folks says 'em different, and Oklahomy folks says 'em different. And we seen a lady from Massachusetts, an' she said 'em different of all. Couldn't hardly make out what she was sayin!" Interestingly, Brooksyne has connections with all three of those states and agrees that their accent certainly sets their English apart from many other states.
We eventually came to understand the local folks in New England a lot better the longer we lived up that way. After living there over seven years even Ester would say, "Let’s get in the caw" or "Let's go to the pawk.”
Far more important than the challenges of understanding other people’s languages or working through their particular accent, is coming to understand spiritual concepts. In ancient times Job's friend Elihu wisely said, "But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding” (Job 32:8). Fundamentally we all need the breath of the Almighty to understand the simple and complex truths God has established in His word.
Even within our own language, depending on where you live, folks in other parts of the country may "talk funny". Shortly after we took a pastorate in Massachusetts back in the early nineties, Jean stood up at the conclusion of an evening church service and asked, "Does anyone want to go to the potty with me?" Now I've heard women in a restaurant ask if anyone wanted to go to the restroom with them, but this seemed very inappropriate to give such an invitation in this setting! I didn't know what to say, but I'm sure I exchanged looks with Brooksyne wondering what we'd gotten ourselves into, with our new congregation.
I sure thought it strange that she would ask such a personal question publicly in a church setting. Well, if you are familiar with the New England accent you probably have guessed by now, the "r's" sort of disappear in the New England states and she was actually speaking of "going to a party, not potty".
In "The Grapes of Wrath" John Steinbeck wrote about these regional accents through the character of Ivy who said, "Everybody says words different: 'Arkansas folks says 'em different, and Oklahomy folks says 'em different. And we seen a lady from Massachusetts, an' she said 'em different of all. Couldn't hardly make out what she was sayin!" Interestingly, Brooksyne has connections with all three of those states and agrees that their accent certainly sets their English apart from many other states.
We eventually came to understand the local folks in New England a lot better the longer we lived up that way. After living there over seven years even Ester would say, "Let’s get in the caw" or "Let's go to the pawk.”
Far more important than the challenges of understanding other people’s languages or working through their particular accent, is coming to understand spiritual concepts. In ancient times Job's friend Elihu wisely said, "But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding” (Job 32:8). Fundamentally we all need the breath of the Almighty to understand the simple and complex truths God has established in His word.
The daily
verse was a part of Isaiah's call to ministry and is twice
repeated by Jesus and once by the apostle Paul: "Be
ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing,
but never perceiving" (Isaiah 6:9). It describes a
sad spiritual condition endemic in the human race.
Most of us are abundantly exposed to spiritual truths. However Paul makes the following assertion after citing the verse: "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" (Acts 28:27).
Most of us are abundantly exposed to spiritual truths. However Paul makes the following assertion after citing the verse: "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" (Acts 28:27).
Does this
not describe our world today? What about you? Have you
understood with your heart, turned and received His
spiritual healing? We sure hope so! If not, without
hesitation, please do so today. Help us to hear and understand; to see and
perceive.
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, help our ears to
be alert, our eyes to be open, and our
hearts to be perceptive as we follow in
Your ways. May we be eager to hear Your
teaching and apply it to our lives so
that we may be found blameless before
You and experience the joy You give to
those who follow Your commands. When
Your meaning is clear help us to seek no
other meaning to satisfy our own desires
or to change the clear meaning of Your
message. Align our desires with Your
own, that we might find genuine peace
and respond to Your commands with
wholehearted obedience, so that we might
also experience spiritual maturity and
growing faith. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen. Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Open My Eyes"
Video
Fountainview Academy
My, aren't these pleasant looking
young people!
"Love
in Any Language Virtual Choir"
Video
Sons & Daughters Alumni
1995-2004" This song
became very personal to us during the
late 80's when we were taking in
children from Guatemala who spoke
Spanish, as young as eighteen months
and old as eight years. They each had
life threatening illnesses and came to
the U.S. to have surgery from
hospitals and doctors who donated
their services. These children left
everything familiar to them, including
their parents and families, to live
with total strangers. Before their
arrival we learned basic words like
bano (bathroom) so that we could meet
their basic needs but we did a lot of
playing charades, for lack of a better
explanation, to figure out what they
were saying and vice versa for several
weeks after their arrival. But one
thing we could easily communicate was
love, as it is viewed the same in any
language, not by what we say but what
we do. These children were so very
special and we are still in touch with
them today though they now have
families of their own. Our love
continues to be expressed by our
smiles, pictures, and when we do use
words translations are now provided
via online.
This
employee we visited with yesterday at
White Oak Display is assembling a rack
for displaying fishing rods that will
used by Bass Pro Shops. It's neat to
see products made by companies we
serve in the store!
The
Shenks Mill covered bridge is near a
rail trail we enjoy riding on. With
our ebikes we can get off the rail
trail and ride on the country roads a
bit easier than a non-electric bike
due to less exertion riding up the
hills. On an electric bike you still
pedal but the motor provides
assistance and can be adjusted
depending on how much you want to
exert.
Click
to enlarge
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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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