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Brooksyne Weber
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Monday, April
10, 2023
Easter
Monday
Easter
sunrise 2023
Click on
photo to enlarge
"Risen
Indeed!"
Message
summary: Today
let us
faithfully
serve the
risen Savior.
“It
is the Lord
Christ whom
you serve”
(Colossians
3:24). Let
us boldly
declare to the
world that our
Lord is risen
indeed as we
walk daily in
the
resurrected
power of our
Lord Jesus
Christ!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“The Lord is risen indeed” (Luke 24:34). “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:24).
“The Lord is risen indeed” (Luke 24:34). “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:24).
I
serve a risen
Savior, He's
in the world
today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
What
a joy to
gather
yesterday with
other
believers and
proclaim our
faith in the
glorious
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ. We
were both up
early as
Brooksyne
reported for
"duty" at 7 am
for choir
warm-up at our
church before
they sang at
8:00, 9:30
& 11:00
services. I
reported for
"duty" at
Mount Joy
sunrise
service at 7
am where I had
the privilege
of sharing the
Resurrection
message to the
hearty ones
who chose to
come out that
early hour.
Afterwards I
headed to
Lancaster to
our church
where we sang
a lot of songs
expressing our
faith in the
resurrected
Christ, both
traditional
and more
recently
written. In
our sunrise
service, the
hymn classic
"He Lives" was
one of the
selections and
it, like so
many songs,
has an
interesting
background.
It
was in 1932
that Pastor
Alfred Ackley,
met a Jewish
man to whom he
began
witnessing in
evangelistic
meetings, but
the man
resisted the
Christian
faith. He
asked, “Why
should I
worship a dead
Jew?”
That statement played on Alfred’s mind as he prepared his Easter Sunday message. Rising early to prepare for the day, Alfred flipped on the radio as he shaved and was astonished to hear a famous liberal preacher in New York say, “Good morning – it’s Easter! You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!”
Alfred wanted to fling the radio across the room. “It’s a lie!” he exclaimed. His wife rushed into the bathroom, asking, “Why are you shouting so early in the morning?”
“Didn’t
you hear what
that
good-for-nothing
preacher
said?” Alfred
replied. (Brooksyne's
note:
Sounds like
something
Stephen would
say when truth
is being
attacked and,
yes, I can
hear it when
I'm in another
part of the
house.)
That morning, Ackley preached with great vigor on the reality of Christ’s Resurrection and he did the same at the evening service. But later that night, he was still worked up about his friend’s question and the morning’s radio sermon. “Listen here, Alfred Ackley,” his wife said at last, “It’s time you did that which you can do best. Why don’t you write a song about it and then maybe you’ll feel better?”
Alfred went to his study, opened the Bible, and re-read the Resurrection account from Mark’s Gospel. A thrill went through him, and he began writing the words to “He Lives.” A few minutes later he was at the piano putting it to music, not dreaming it would become one of the church’s most triumphant Easter hymns still sung many times each Easter in churches all over the world. (Story from “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan.)
Consider the words of that liberal preacher, "You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not." That’s a sentiment many hold today about the resurrection and many other core Christian doctrines. But most certainly it does matter!
It
was in 1932
that Pastor
Alfred Ackley,
met a Jewish
man to whom he
began
witnessing in
evangelistic
meetings, but
the man
resisted the
Christian
faith. He
asked, “Why
should I
worship a dead
Jew?”That statement played on Alfred’s mind as he prepared his Easter Sunday message. Rising early to prepare for the day, Alfred flipped on the radio as he shaved and was astonished to hear a famous liberal preacher in New York say, “Good morning – it’s Easter! You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!”
Alfred wanted to fling the radio across the room. “It’s a lie!” he exclaimed. His wife rushed into the bathroom, asking, “Why are you shouting so early in the morning?”
“Didn’t
you hear what
that
good-for-nothing
preacher
said?” Alfred
replied. (Brooksyne's
note:
Sounds like
something
Stephen would
say when truth
is being
attacked and,
yes, I can
hear it when
I'm in another
part of the
house.)That morning, Ackley preached with great vigor on the reality of Christ’s Resurrection and he did the same at the evening service. But later that night, he was still worked up about his friend’s question and the morning’s radio sermon. “Listen here, Alfred Ackley,” his wife said at last, “It’s time you did that which you can do best. Why don’t you write a song about it and then maybe you’ll feel better?”
Alfred went to his study, opened the Bible, and re-read the Resurrection account from Mark’s Gospel. A thrill went through him, and he began writing the words to “He Lives.” A few minutes later he was at the piano putting it to music, not dreaming it would become one of the church’s most triumphant Easter hymns still sung many times each Easter in churches all over the world. (Story from “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan.)
Consider the words of that liberal preacher, "You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not." That’s a sentiment many hold today about the resurrection and many other core Christian doctrines. But most certainly it does matter!
Years
ago Brooksyne
directed an
Easter musical
that had
narration
declaring,
“It’s not a
fable nor a
fairy tale but
a true
accounting of
Jesus Christ,
God’s only
Son.” AMEN!
The
first daily
text is an
ancient
declaration of
faith which
can too easily
become a mere
cliché. "The
Lord is risen
indeed".
In just five
words it
expresses the
bedrock truth
of Christian
faith, “The
Lord is risen
indeed”
and we, like
Ackley, need
to feel it
with strong
conviction
deep within
our soul. This
is especially
important as
true believers
testify of the
message of
their
resurrected
Lord to the
world.
Some may smile and say regarding the message of Christ, “That is a touching story isn’t it?” Others, like the liberal preacher, think it doesn’t really make any difference whether it’s real or not. (In fact too many in our increasingly postmodern world truth doesn’t matter on many issues. We sure see that in politics.)
Many have "Easter faith" expressed by those who "believe" when they attend church on Easter or other such special holy days. But then they go about their lives ignoring God, at least until the next special church event.
But authentic, saving, faith is life transforming in the lives of believers 365 days a year – for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a genuine, historical event, validated by clear accounts of eyewitnesses. The Scriptures strongly denounce any notion of it being merely a touching story, a fable or a fairy tale. "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
Two early eyewitnesses declared to the disciples, "It is true! The Lord has risen". For forty days after His resurrection, Christ showed Himself and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive (Acts 1:3). And many years later a mightily transformed Peter reminds us that, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
Today let us faithfully serve the risen Savior. “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:24). Let us boldly declare to the world that our Lord is risen indeed as we walk daily in the resurrected power of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Some may smile and say regarding the message of Christ, “That is a touching story isn’t it?” Others, like the liberal preacher, think it doesn’t really make any difference whether it’s real or not. (In fact too many in our increasingly postmodern world truth doesn’t matter on many issues. We sure see that in politics.)
Many have "Easter faith" expressed by those who "believe" when they attend church on Easter or other such special holy days. But then they go about their lives ignoring God, at least until the next special church event.
But authentic, saving, faith is life transforming in the lives of believers 365 days a year – for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a genuine, historical event, validated by clear accounts of eyewitnesses. The Scriptures strongly denounce any notion of it being merely a touching story, a fable or a fairy tale. "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
Two early eyewitnesses declared to the disciples, "It is true! The Lord has risen". For forty days after His resurrection, Christ showed Himself and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive (Acts 1:3). And many years later a mightily transformed Peter reminds us that, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
Today let us faithfully serve the risen Savior. “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:24). Let us boldly declare to the world that our Lord is risen indeed as we walk daily in the resurrected power of our Lord Jesus Christ!
He
lives, He
lives, Christ
Jesus lives
today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, Your
Word declares
that Jesus
rose from the
dead. The
eyewitnesses
to this
glorious
miracle were
initially in
disbelief but
when they were
face to face
with Jesus
they were
filled with
jubilant hope.
It is because
You live that
we live also.
You’ve put our
sin nature to
death and
raised our
spiritual
nature to
life. And one
day our
physical
nature will
give way to
death but
because of
Your power
over the grave
we will be
resurrected to
eternal life.
Praise be to
God, the Lord
is risen
indeed! Amen.One more reflection: For many, many years I have appreciated the story of a young child who believed in the Lord Jesus. A proud and ungodly professor who said to her: “My dear little girl, you don’t know whom you believe in. There have been many christs. In which of them do you believe?” “I know which one I believe in,” replied the child. “I believe in the Christ who rose from the dead!”
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"He
Lives"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
David Phelps
"All
Hail King
Jesus"
Click
to listen on
YouTubeClick
to listen on
YouTube
Harborside
Music
This was our
opening song
yesterday at
Calvary
Church.
Preaching
at the
community
Easter sunrise
service. It
began a bit
chilly in the
the low 30's
but the sun
warmed us up
as the service
progressed.
Choir
and orchestra
at Calvary
Church
yesterday.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Good
Friday
service
Click
to watch on
YouTube
Easter
service
Click
to watch on
YouTube
(At
the time
today's
message is
posted these
videos still
have the
introductory
"live stream"
material at
the beginning
thus I cannot
link to
specific songs
since they
later clip
this
material.)
Moses
and Jackline,
two readers
from South
Sudan, Africa
send us Easter
greetings and
this depiction
of the scene
at the empty
tomb. Consider
this scene in
Revelation, "And
they sang a
new song,
saying,
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9,10)
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9,10)
Though
Brooksyne sang
with the choir
in all three
services, I
attended only
the 9:30
service where
Brooksyne
joined Ester
and me after
the choir led
in worship.
Sitting in
front of us
was a young
family with
four
well-behaved
boys all
dressed
identically,
which
especially
caught our
attention. In
our
conversation
after the
service we
learned that
they are
recent
Ukrainian
refugees.
On
Saturday we
got a call
from the Lapps
to be sure and
stop over on
Easter Sunday
so we headed
over to the Old
Windmill Farm
after church
to visit the
family. Jesse
had placed
this tractor
across the
road to
indicate the
farm was
closed to
tourists! They
had a very
busy day
Saturday and
Jesse
estimates they
had some 500
farm visitors,
surely a
record
attendance!
They also
expect to be
very busy
today with
many Orthodox
Jews coming
down to
Lancaster
County from
new York City
for the
Passover
holiday. It's
a beautiful
day here and
we expect
temps near 70.
These
baby goats
were born on
Friday.
Visitors to
the farm today
will surely
remember them
as a highlight
of their
visit!
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Today we quoted a story from Robert J. Morgan's hymn background book, "Then Sings My Soul". He's a prolific writer that we have enjoyed for many years. We met him at The Donelson Fellowship Church where he has pastored over 35 years, near Nashville Tennessee.
One year Brooksyne shared the story of "He Lives" when she was leading the congregation. Ester took this was photo when she was emphasizing a point in the hymn story and it was likely this part of the story: "Didn't you hear what that good-for-nothing preacher said? It's a lie!" he exclaimed.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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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