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ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
October 17, 2023
The
"ole 7 holer"
outhouse is on
the grounds of
the
Tulpehocken
Manor near
Myerstown, PA.
It was built
in 1883 with
separate
entrances for
men and women.
On the women's
side you will
find 4 holes
in varying
heights with
an enter and
exit door to
accommodate
large hoop
skirts common
in that day.
On the men's
side you'll
find the 3
other holes
with only one
door.
"A
Consideration Of
The Toilet"
Message
summary:
Today
when giving
thanks and
counting your
blessings,
naming them
one by one, be
sure to
include the
toilet and
your own
digestive
health!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"In
everything
give thanks"
(1
Thessalonians
5:18).
Yesterday
I was thumbing
through the
latest Costco
sales flier
and noticed
they had a
"Smart Toilet"
for sale. We
are in the
process of
buying a new
toilet so I
wondered
what's this
"smart" all
about. I'm
pretty
accustomed to
seeing the
adjective
"smart" in
front of about
any product
these days but
I wondered how
a toilet could
be "smart" so
I looked it
up.*ąAmong
helpful
features in a
smart toilet
that are
missing in the
old fashioned
"dumb" toilets
I've used
throughout
life are:
- Motion-activated,
hands-free
opening/closing
of cover (I
wonder if it's
smart enough
to tell
whether a man
or woman is
approaching
it?)
- Heated seat with adjustable temperature settings
- Automatic deodorization system
- LED lighting illuminates the bowl to serve as a nightlight
- Automatic
flushing after
every use;
flush can also
be controlled
by the remote
control or
backup button
Wow,
after reading
this I am
flooded with a
deep sense of
discontentment
when I
consider all
I've been
missing,
especially not
having another
remote control
to lose!
One
of the
perspectives
of aging is
experiencing
how things
change, not
just reading
about it.
When
I was about 4
years old my
family moved
into a tract
home in
Belton,
Missouri, a
suburb south
of Kansas
City. It had
one toilet for
a family of
six and we
thought
nothing of it.
Several years
later Daddy
put in a
second half
bath and we
thought we had
moved uptown.
After
all during my
childhood my
grandparents,
George
Washington
Steincross and
Nellie Mae
Steincross,
still had a
working
outhouse
beside their
house in
Harwood,
Missouri. An
improvement
was when
someone had
the bright
idea to place
a modern
toilet seat
over the wood
holes. They
also had
indoor
plumbing
installed by
my dad, who
was a plumber,
but not till
they were in
their 60's. I
suppose they
kept the
outhouse just
in case the
newfangled
indoor
bathroom
stopped
working.
Now
in most places
outhouses are
illegal and
used for
decorative
purposes only.
In fact
Marvin, my
neighbor
across the
road has one.
In
the course of
our chaplaincy
work I often
visit with the
plumbers at JK
Mechanical. To
the right is
Dave and
Casey,
although Dave
is now
retired.
Plumbers are
at the
forefront of
public health.
No matter how
advanced or
affluent a
country is if
the plumbing
goes down we'd
all, both rich
and poor, be
in deep
trouble, real
fast. Every
November there
is a "World
Toilet Day".
This year it
will be on
Sunday,
November 19,
2023. Be sure
to mark your
calendars.
Toilets
are very
important yet
we take them
for granted.
"Right now,
there are 3.5
billion people
still living
without safe
toilets. 419
million people
still practice
‘open
defecation’.
In these
situations,
diseases
spread,
killing 1,000
children
under-five
every single
day. This
global crisis
poses a threat
to nature and
everyone’s
health,
particularly
women, girls,
and other
vulnerable
groups."
*˛
"In everything give thanks". Today let us give thanks for two likely under-considered blessings:
1)
The blessing
of our own
internal
plumbing
system, also
known as our
digestive
system. We
easily take it
for granted
but it's a
wonderful
design and
anyone who has
had serious
digestive
problems know
that any
alternative is
not nearly as
good as the
original
design. Indeed
we are
fearfully and
wonderfully
made.
2) The blessing of our home's plumbing system. The Bible doesn't say much about bathroom practices. In the Law it refers to a primitive hygienic method in Deuteronomy 23:12, "Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself". This is followed by some rather frank instructions in v.13. Although modern toilet technology is different, this was indeed an effective practice long before humans were aware of microscopic germs.
2) The blessing of our home's plumbing system. The Bible doesn't say much about bathroom practices. In the Law it refers to a primitive hygienic method in Deuteronomy 23:12, "Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself". This is followed by some rather frank instructions in v.13. Although modern toilet technology is different, this was indeed an effective practice long before humans were aware of microscopic germs.
"In
everything
give thanks".
Today when
giving thanks
and counting
your blessings
and naming
them one by
one be sure to
include the
toilet and
your own
digestive
health!
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank you for
the grand
design of our
human bodies.
And we give a
hearty amen to
the Psalmist's
assessment and
proclamation,
that indeed we
are fearfully
and
wonderfully
made! When we
are strong and
healthy, we
often take it
for granted
and even
expect it, but
when a part(s)
is out of sync
or
dysfunctional
we soon
realize how
wonderful it
is (was) to be
healthy and
functioning
properly. In
addition to
our health,
You provide us
with comforts
and
conveniences
that make life
easier
including our
houses that
provide
privacy, that
protects us
from the
elements and
extremes of
heat and cold.
We also thank
You for indoor
plumbing that
makes clean
sanitation
possible both
in the kitchen
and bathroom.
We're grateful
for plumbers
who come to
our aid when
the need
arises. For
all these and
more things we
are grateful.
Amen.
"Count Your Blessings" Listen on YouTube Country Church
Four years ago I wrote a message: "The Value Of The Plumber"
These outhouses for sale near New Holland, PA
(We never know what we will come across in our travels!)
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank you for
the grand
design of our
human bodies.
And we give a
hearty amen to
the Psalmist's
assessment and
proclamation,
that indeed we
are fearfully
and
wonderfully
made! When we
are strong and
healthy, we
often take it
for granted
and even
expect it, but
when a part(s)
is out of sync
or
dysfunctional
we soon
realize how
wonderful it
is (was) to be
healthy and
functioning
properly. In
addition to
our health,
You provide us
with comforts
and
conveniences
that make life
easier
including our
houses that
provide
privacy, that
protects us
from the
elements and
extremes of
heat and cold.
We also thank
You for indoor
plumbing that
makes clean
sanitation
possible both
in the kitchen
and bathroom.
We're grateful
for plumbers
who come to
our aid when
the need
arises. For
all these and
more things we
are grateful.
Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Count Your Blessings" Listen on YouTube Country Church
I
couldn't think
of any songs
related to the
toilet!
Four years ago I wrote a message: "The Value Of The Plumber"
We
pass this
"repurposed"
outhouse near
New Holland,
PA.
(Click on photo to
enlarge)
These outhouses for sale near New Holland, PA
(We never know what we will come across in our travels!)
On
a final,
non-toilet
note:
We
always enjoy holding a baby goat on
the Old Windmill Farm.
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WEBER -
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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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