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Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday,
August 1, 2023
Hallmark
Cards
Headquarters
in Crown
Center in
Kansas City,
Mo
"An
Old Disciple"
Message
summary:
Do
you know some
old disciples?
I hope so! Let
them know you
appreciate
them and
invite their
input in your
life. Are
you an “old
disciple?”
God’s not
finished using
you on this
side, not till
He takes you
to your
eternal home.
And even then
the life you
lived
continues to
inspire others
for their life
span toward
faithfulness
until their
earthly
journey is
over. That
should make us
want to stay
faithful and
even desire
the title of
"old disciple"
(which we will
all have if we
stay alive)!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“I was young and now I am old” (Psalm 37:25). “There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge” (Acts 21:16). “I then, as Paul–an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Philemon 1:9b).
Last
Saturday we
had about an
hour before we
needed to
leave for the
airport so we
walked around
Independence
Center, one of
the last malls
still open in
the Kansas
City area. It
opened in 1974
after I left
high school.
Now it's just
hanging on
with two of
the three
anchor stores
closed as well
as many of the
smaller
stores. Being
old we
remember when
malls were the
"in" thing and
buzzing with
people! As we
were walking
along we
recalled
shopping at
this mall when
I purchased
Brooksyne's
engagement
ring in 1975.
While
Brooksyne
shopped I met
Richard
Ramirez
and struck up
a conversation
due to his
Scripture
witness shirt.
He told me he
was a retiree
from Hallmark
Cards in
Kansas City
where my mom
worked for a
short time in
the early
40's.Then
he elaborated.
He had worked
for Hallmark
from
1970-1976. His
life unraveled
with alcohol
and drug abuse
and womanizing
(his words).
He landed in
the United
States
Penitentiary
in
Leavenworth.
In
1978 he was
born again
while in
prison (he
shared the
exact date
with me) and
became a
changed man.
When he was
released from
prison a door
opened for him
to return to
Hallmark Cards
in 1980 where
he worked till
his retirement
in 2016. When
I met him he
was walking
around the
mall carrying
tracts looking
for an
opportunity to
witness. (He's
also holding
his Hallmark
cards
retirement
card!)
What
a blessing to
visit with an
old disciple
demonstrating
the
authenticity
and
perseverance
of a genuinely
changed life
from 45 years
ago.
Throughout
our Christian
journey we
have been
enriched by
the variety of
people God has
brought into
our
lives.
We've met a
lot of people
of all ages,
with different
backgrounds,
from various
locales and
each has a
story,
although some
may have more
dramatic
stories than
others.
All
through the
history of the
church there
are
those who stay
faithful
through the
course of life
and thus
become like
Mnason in our
second text,
who is
described as
an “old
disciple”
although it's
probably more
gracious to
call him a
mature
disciple! Its
sobering to
recognize how
quickly life
passes, but it
is also a
great reminder
to become
pillars of the
faith, which
is especially
evident in our
service to the
local church.
Mnason barely made it into the Scriptural record. His name only appears once in the Bible, here in the daily text. I’m intrigued by the phrase “old disciple”. Luke felt it fitting to call our attention to his age. (He would have a hard time as a journalist in America with such an “insensitive” description! We like to use more sensitive terms such as senior citizen, elderly, older.)
But the KJV is blunt and accurately describes him. (The Greek word for “old” is archaios from which we get the English “archaic”). Mnason's name means “remembering” and the older you are the more you have to remember while at the same time finding it harder to remember! He hosted Paul during his final trip to Jerusalem in 60 A.D. We have no idea of his spiritual background, but he was from Cyprus where Paul had earlier done missionary work and perhaps they had met then.
We need to honor and value "old disciples". Each generation has them and our lives are richer and fuller because of them. They have a great deal to “remember” as they’ve experienced so many of life’s trials and God’s providential care along the way. They teach us as we observe the challenges they have encountered and their response to them. Speaking of life’s trials Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4 (NLT), "We serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies".
As humans we recognize that we all live in "jars of clay" that physically weaken over the years, but our spirit grows stronger as it is being renewed daily by the resurrected power of Christ. I have a feeling that Paul and his associates benefited from the time they stayed with Mnason as he was “remembering” with Paul the times God had done great works in his life. After all, passing on the oral tradition is a great way to teach and inspire others in their work of spreading the Gospel.
What about you today? Do you know any old disciples? I hope so! Let them know you appreciate them and invite their input in your life.
Are you an “old disciple?” God’s not finished using you on this side, not till He takes you to your eternal home. And even then the life you lived continues to inspire others toward faithfulness until their earthly journey is over. That should make us all want to stay faithful and even desire the title of "old disciple" (which we will all have if we stay alive)!
Mnason barely made it into the Scriptural record. His name only appears once in the Bible, here in the daily text. I’m intrigued by the phrase “old disciple”. Luke felt it fitting to call our attention to his age. (He would have a hard time as a journalist in America with such an “insensitive” description! We like to use more sensitive terms such as senior citizen, elderly, older.)
But the KJV is blunt and accurately describes him. (The Greek word for “old” is archaios from which we get the English “archaic”). Mnason's name means “remembering” and the older you are the more you have to remember while at the same time finding it harder to remember! He hosted Paul during his final trip to Jerusalem in 60 A.D. We have no idea of his spiritual background, but he was from Cyprus where Paul had earlier done missionary work and perhaps they had met then.
We need to honor and value "old disciples". Each generation has them and our lives are richer and fuller because of them. They have a great deal to “remember” as they’ve experienced so many of life’s trials and God’s providential care along the way. They teach us as we observe the challenges they have encountered and their response to them. Speaking of life’s trials Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4 (NLT), "We serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies".
As humans we recognize that we all live in "jars of clay" that physically weaken over the years, but our spirit grows stronger as it is being renewed daily by the resurrected power of Christ. I have a feeling that Paul and his associates benefited from the time they stayed with Mnason as he was “remembering” with Paul the times God had done great works in his life. After all, passing on the oral tradition is a great way to teach and inspire others in their work of spreading the Gospel.
What about you today? Do you know any old disciples? I hope so! Let them know you appreciate them and invite their input in your life.
Are you an “old disciple?” God’s not finished using you on this side, not till He takes you to your eternal home. And even then the life you lived continues to inspire others toward faithfulness until their earthly journey is over. That should make us all want to stay faithful and even desire the title of "old disciple" (which we will all have if we stay alive)!
Daily
prayer:
Father, the
light and
power of Your
glory now
shines within
our jars of
clay, that is,
in our weak
and aging
bodies. You
plan it this
way so that
all can see
that any
glorious power
seen in us is
not our own
but from You.
In the midst
of our ups and
downs, we pray
that our
bodies
constantly
share in the
death of Jesus
so that the
life of Jesus
may also be
seen in us.
That is why we
never give up.
Though our
mortal bodies
may be
perishing, our
spirits can be
renewed daily.
Though we
suffer
unending
discomfort and
troubles the
time is short
when compared
to the time of
eternity, and
on the up-side
they produce
for us an
immeasurably
great glory
that will last
forever! As we
grow old we
seek to be
stalwarts of
the faith in
our homes,
churches and
communities.
Our resolve is
to be faithful
to the very
end. In the
name of Jesus
we pray. Amen.(Prayer
adapted from 2
Corinthians
4:7,10,16,17)
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Kansas
City is known
as the "city
of fountains"
with over 200
fountains
throughout the
city. Video
The
iconic
shuttlecocks
in the lawn at
the Kansas
City Art
Gallery. It
would take a
mighty wide
net, a
gigantic
badminton
racket, and
herculean
muscles to get
this birdie
over the net!
One
wing of the
Independence
Center Mall in
Independence,
MO. Brooksyne
used to work
at Dillards in
Tulsa and
Springfield so
she walked
through the
third level
for memory's
sake. Her
millinery
department has
been out of
commission for
probably 43
years since
hats and wigs
aren't sold in
department
stores
anymore.
Finally
today:
Speaking
of an
adventuresome
old (mature)
disciple, our
friend Nick
Nichols (80+)
took a walking
tour
of the catwalk
underneath the
New River
Bridge in West
Virginia.
The
New River
Bridge in West
Virginia.
Years ago we
crossed this
bridge. During
"Bridge Day"
in October
they bungee
cord off this
bridge! (That
wouldn't be
for me or
Brooksyne.)
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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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