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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, April
13, 2023
The
water spilling
over the
Lebanon
Reservoir Dam
has a nice
artistic
pattern. The
sound of the
falling water
also provides
a natural
calming effect
making it hard
to walk away.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
"The
Time Of
Departure"
Message
summary:
Is your heart
right with
God? Have you
accepted His
glorious
provision for
your sin
problem? Are
you waiting
for Him?
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“I then, as Paul–an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Philemon 1:9b). "The time of my departure has come" (2 Timothy 4:6). “Just as man is destined to die…” (Hebrews 9:27a)
On
Tuesday we
took a bike
ride near
Swatara State
Park in
northern
Lebanon County
(actually we
may have also
been in a
portion of
Schuylkill
County). My
goal was to
see the dam
for the
Lebanon
Reservoir. So
we weren't on
a rail trail
but a remote
country road
leading back
to the dam.
We
arrived at the
bottom of the
dam as seen in
our lead
photo. There
was a very
steep paved
road leading
up to the dam.
I wanted to
see the lake
view so I
headed up but
very quickly
realized my
electric bike
wouldn't do
it. Brooksyne
zipped right
past me and
made it all
the way to the
top on pedal
assist, though
she was out of
breath from
the heavy duty
pedaling!
I
was still
determined to
make it to the
top so I
walked up,
along with my
very heavy
electric bike.
The last time
I had a
workout like
that was last
fall when I
climbed the
last several
yards up Mount
Washington in
a blizzard to
the summit. We
drove up most
of it to a
parking area
near the top.
I'm
not a young
man anymore
and realize my
time is coming
but hope to be
active either
to or near my
end. Now of
course I want
to use sense
and caution
but I told
Brooksyne and
Ester
afterwards
that if I died
doing
something
active which I
enjoy doing
that was OK
with me.
My brother shared an interesting experience that happened ten years ago in a church near Easton PA where he lives. A seventy-two year old man was standing before the congregation giving a promotional talk for Sunday School when he had a massive heart attack, slumped over and died. That’s a service people are sure to remember and hopefully a stimulus to be ready to meet God. As my brother and I talked we considered the blessing of a seventy-two year old still active in the service for the Lord and how his final message was more than likely his most effective.*
Let
us consider a
spiritual
application
Paul wrote to
Philemon “I
then, as Paul–an
old man
and now also a
prisoner of
Christ Jesus”.
The
Greek word for
"old man"
here,
presbytēs, is
used for men
between 50 and
56 years old.
Paul’s age
might explain
why he relied
on Onesimus’
help.
In
2 Timothy Paul
acknowledges
that “the
time has come
for my
departure”
(v.6). Most
interpret this
“time of
departure” to
mean his
impending
death. The
time of
departure will
come for all
of us.
“Just
as man is
destined to
die…”
(Hebrews
9:27a). We are
all destined
to die,
whether it’s
due to age, an
accident or it
may be
hastened by a
foolish act,
ours or
someone
else’s. It may
be violence or
for many it’s
a result of
conflict in
wars. It may
be “natural
causes”.
It may be what
has been
called an “act
of God”. We’re
not able to
schedule the
time or choose
the type of
way we will
die. But the
Scripture
clearly states
what we can
all,
regardless of
where we live,
acknowledge as
truth, “man
is destined to
die…”
The
real question
is, are we
ready to die?
Yes “man
is destined to
die once, and
after that to
face judgment,
so Christ was
sacrificed
once to take
away the sins
of many
people; and He
will appear a
second time,
not to bear
sin, but to
bring
salvation to
those who are
waiting for
Him”
(Hebrews
9:27,28).
Is your heart right with God? Have you accepted His glorious provision for your sin problem? Are you waiting for His soon return?
The
real question
is, are we
ready to die?
Yes “man
is destined to
die once, and
after that to
face judgment,
so Christ was
sacrificed
once to take
away the sins
of many
people; and He
will appear a
second time,
not to bear
sin, but to
bring
salvation to
those who are
waiting for
Him”
(Hebrews
9:27,28).Is your heart right with God? Have you accepted His glorious provision for your sin problem? Are you waiting for His soon return?
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, though
we’re
uncertain of
the date that
we will leave
this world, we
can be certain
of our
readiness to
meet You when
we depart.
Jesus
sacrificed His
life to take
away our sins;
to make
provision for
our
forgiveness
here and now
and to provide
for our
eternal
resting place
in heaven. We
leave an
example for
others to know
the way to
life eternal
by the
narrative of
our life. We
want to take
as many as
possible with
us, so we must
tell the story
of Jesus and
live in such a
way that we
show others
the way to His
love and
forgiveness;
and thereby
make proper
preparations
for their day
of departure.
Our time of
expiration may
surprise
others but You
have our days
numbered and
welcome our
arrival on the
other side. We
place our
lives in Your
hands and walk
in the power
of Your
resurrected
life. We thank
You, Father,
through Christ
Jesus our Lord
in whose name
we pray. Amen.Further
musing:
When we lived
in New England
we attended
the funeral of
a young man
who died in an
auto accident.
He had
received his
license only a
week earlier
and had just
registered his
car the day
before. He
invited his
schoolmate to
join him as he
drove his new
car while
"showing off"
his overly
confident
driving
skills.
Following the
fatality
police
indicated that
speed was a
factor,
alcohol was
not. The other
young man was
treated and
released from
a local
hospital. What
a sad time for
this young
man's family
and his
friends!
I recall another young man some 52 years ago speeding down a country road west of Belton Missouri at over 100 miles an hour in his dad’s Chrysler Newport within a short time after getting his license. This time it was me at a very fool-hardy stage in my young life. Nothing happened and I didn’t even consider how foolish it was till several years later. Now I get goosebumps just to think about what could have happened!
Why did a foolish moment end the young man’s life? The young man who died was a very pleasant teen who attended our church for a season. Why is the foolish teenager of 52 years ago and countless others still going on as adults? (I imagine many of you can identify some pretty reckless moments in your own life!) Of course I don’t have the answer to any of the lingering questions that I write about. We just need to be ready!
I recall another young man some 52 years ago speeding down a country road west of Belton Missouri at over 100 miles an hour in his dad’s Chrysler Newport within a short time after getting his license. This time it was me at a very fool-hardy stage in my young life. Nothing happened and I didn’t even consider how foolish it was till several years later. Now I get goosebumps just to think about what could have happened!
Why did a foolish moment end the young man’s life? The young man who died was a very pleasant teen who attended our church for a season. Why is the foolish teenager of 52 years ago and countless others still going on as adults? (I imagine many of you can identify some pretty reckless moments in your own life!) Of course I don’t have the answer to any of the lingering questions that I write about. We just need to be ready!
*
Another
musing: At
the time my
brother shared
this with me
72 was still
seemingly far
off for both
of us. He was
in his mid
60's and I was
still in my
50's. Now he's
in his mid
70's and still
active in the
Lord's work.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Come
To Jesus"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Gaither Vocal
Band
"Tell Me" Click to listen on YouTube Gaither Vocal Band featuring Janet Paschal
"I Wish We'd All Been Ready" Click to listen on YouTube Larry Norman
Here's
a view of the
lake from the
dam after
reaching the
top. It was
worth the
climb!
Click
on photo to
enlarge
Here's
the same lake
in a photo we
took three
years ago
along the
Stony Valley
rail trail off
Goldmine Road.
Due to the dam
the two trails
do not connect.
The lake is located here on a Google map.
The lake is located here on a Google map.
Click
on photo to
enlarge
Just
below the dam
is this relic
of industry,
the Swatara
Iron Furnace.
Old
stone homes
along Old
Forge Road.
Notice the
deer
deterrents
around the
trees.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
A
view down to
Mill Creek
which runs
below the dam
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
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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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