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ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
October 31, 2023
A
carousel
milking parlor
on a Lancaster
County farm.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
"Refusing
To Believe"
Message
summary: A
statement the
Lord made to
Moses in
Numbers 14:11
concerning the
rebellious
children of
Israel has a
broader
application in
our view,
speaking not
only to its
time but of
the overall
condition of
many in the
human race. "How
long will they
refuse to
believe in
Me". Rather
than refusing
to believe let
us most
assuredly
declare, “I
believe!"
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will these people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?’” (Numbers 14:11). “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way” (Acts 19:8,9).
Saturday evening we joined a group from our ABF class to have a fall gathering on the large dairy farm of one of our class members. We had a meal together along with fellowship and a wagon tour of the farm, where some 1600 Holstein cows are milked 3 times each day. We'll share some photos below.
Holstein
cattle are the
most prominent
of the seven
major dairy
breeds in the
United States,
easily
recognizable
by their
distinct black
and white
markings. Over
9 million
dairy cows
exist in the
U.S., with
approximately
90% of them
being of
Holstein
descent.Years ago I came across this photo of a Holstein. Most (I hope!) will recognize that the marking appears as a world map and immediately assumed it had to be photo shopped. I first saw the photo from a creation ministry with this thought-provoking comment:
“Was the cow
born with
these markings
or are the
spots the
handiwork of a
skilled
Photoshop
artist?
Obviously,
this cow’s
spots were put
there by a
designer. But
our question
for
evolutionists
is this: If
you agree that
the cow’s
spots are
designed, why
won’t you
agree that the
actual cow –
which is so
much more
complex than
the
arrangement of
its spots –
was designed
as well?”
Evolutionists and atheists will agree that the pattern of the cow’s spots was designed, but they will not agree that the cow itself was designed. That’s because they are committed to their faith – yes, faith! – a faith built on the premise that there is no Designer. Though they can see the complexities of nature all around them, they say that everything was the result of mindless, natural processes. And that’s why Darwinists have a cow, pun intended, whenever they hear a Bible-believing Christian say that things which appear to be designed actually are designed! If they weren’t so biased against God they’d know that the cow’s spots reveal the incredibly huge blind spot, pun intended again, in their own minds.”
Evolutionists and atheists will agree that the pattern of the cow’s spots was designed, but they will not agree that the cow itself was designed. That’s because they are committed to their faith – yes, faith! – a faith built on the premise that there is no Designer. Though they can see the complexities of nature all around them, they say that everything was the result of mindless, natural processes. And that’s why Darwinists have a cow, pun intended, whenever they hear a Bible-believing Christian say that things which appear to be designed actually are designed! If they weren’t so biased against God they’d know that the cow’s spots reveal the incredibly huge blind spot, pun intended again, in their own minds.”
A statement the Lord made to Moses in Numbers 14:11 concerning the rebellious children of Israel has a broader application in our view, speaking not only of the people of its time but also of the overall condition of many in the human race. Consider it being asked today by the Almighty God of the universe:
“How long
will these
people treat
me with
contempt? How
long will
they refuse to
believe in Me,
in spite of
all the signs
I have
performed
among them?”
Concerning the Kingdom of God in Ephesus Paul preached boldly and persuasively but “some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way".
Many
of you have
seen a sand
art bottle
filled with
various colors
of sand
carefully
arranged in a
pattern to
show a design,
such as a
desert scene
or sunset.
We’d think it
ludicrous if
someone told
us the design
was merely a
result of
randomly
shaking the
jar. No, we
sensibly
recognize that
such a design
takes
intelligence
and skill. A
few shakes
would destroy
the design and
no amount of
further random
shaking will
ever restore
it to its
original
design. That's
the 2nd law of
thermodynamics!
Yet many people believe in a scheme that is far more nonsensical. That is: the material universe with all it's obvious design and complexities is merely a result of random chance and time. Billions of years ago it just simply appeared out of nowhere, asserts the non-believer in God. In this outlook the origin of what we see and experience is not the work of the Creator God. Now that takes real faith from a far different source!
Last week I was at an apologetics banquet sponsored by the Associates for Biblical Research. The main speaker, Dr. Jason Lisle, who has a PhD in astrophysics, contended strongly for the veracity of the Creation account in Genesis, a foundation for our faith.
We urge you to accept the matter of fact statement from Hebrews 13:4, "God is the builder of everything". Many in the world mock at such a belief. “It’s too simple” or “it’s not scientific” or “it’s old-fashioned” they say. Atheists and agnostics vehemently deny it but they also have faith, placing their faith in the fallible, changing notions of human wisdom and refusing to believe in the overwhelming evidence for a Creator God. And as described in Acts 19 they malign those of us who do believe in God.
Concerning the Kingdom of God in Ephesus Paul preached boldly and persuasively but “some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way".
Many
of you have
seen a sand
art bottle
filled with
various colors
of sand
carefully
arranged in a
pattern to
show a design,
such as a
desert scene
or sunset.
We’d think it
ludicrous if
someone told
us the design
was merely a
result of
randomly
shaking the
jar. No, we
sensibly
recognize that
such a design
takes
intelligence
and skill. A
few shakes
would destroy
the design and
no amount of
further random
shaking will
ever restore
it to its
original
design. That's
the 2nd law of
thermodynamics!Yet many people believe in a scheme that is far more nonsensical. That is: the material universe with all it's obvious design and complexities is merely a result of random chance and time. Billions of years ago it just simply appeared out of nowhere, asserts the non-believer in God. In this outlook the origin of what we see and experience is not the work of the Creator God. Now that takes real faith from a far different source!
Last week I was at an apologetics banquet sponsored by the Associates for Biblical Research. The main speaker, Dr. Jason Lisle, who has a PhD in astrophysics, contended strongly for the veracity of the Creation account in Genesis, a foundation for our faith.
We urge you to accept the matter of fact statement from Hebrews 13:4, "God is the builder of everything". Many in the world mock at such a belief. “It’s too simple” or “it’s not scientific” or “it’s old-fashioned” they say. Atheists and agnostics vehemently deny it but they also have faith, placing their faith in the fallible, changing notions of human wisdom and refusing to believe in the overwhelming evidence for a Creator God. And as described in Acts 19 they malign those of us who do believe in God.
When
I was at the
banquet last
week I sat
near a nuclear
physicist who
attends my
brother's
church and is
a professor at
Lehigh
University, a
top ranked
research
university in
Bethlehem, PA.
He shared with
me how other
professors
malign him for
his faith but
he stands
strong as a
contender. In
fact in one
way or another
we are all
likely to be
maligned just
as the early
disciples
were.
Just store in your memory bank the painted Holstein cow and all the sand art bottles that have an original designer. Let us unashamedly place our faith in the God of the universe for He is indeed the builder of everything!
Just store in your memory bank the painted Holstein cow and all the sand art bottles that have an original designer. Let us unashamedly place our faith in the God of the universe for He is indeed the builder of everything!
Rather
than refusing
to believe let
us most
assuredly
declare, “I
believe!"
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Daily prayer:
Father,
You are great
and greatly to
be praised.
You are the
Builder of
everything we
see and so
much that
we’ve not yet
laid eyes
upon, both on
the earth and
the heavens
above.
We are looking
forward to the
future city
with eternal
foundations
where You are
the architect
and builder.
Our
everlasting
home in heaven
is not built
with human
hands, but by
Your divine
design. Keep
us faithful
till that
glorious
promotion day!
In the name of
Jesus we pray,
Amen.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father,
You are great
and greatly to
be praised.
You are the
Builder of
everything we
see and so
much that
we’ve not yet
laid eyes
upon, both on
the earth and
the heavens
above.
We are looking
forward to the
future city
with eternal
foundations
where You are
the architect
and builder.
Our
everlasting
home in heaven
is not built
with human
hands, but by
Your divine
design. Keep
us faithful
till that
glorious
promotion day!
In the name of
Jesus we pray,
Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"I
Believe"
Watch
on Youtube
Phil
Wickham
We opened our
worship
service with
this song last
Sunday. What a
great
expression of
expressing our
living
faith!
Here's the
version from
our church
service Watch
on Youtube
Bible
Science
Institute
(the
apologetics
ministry of
Dr. Jason
Lisle whom I
heard speak at
a banquet last
week).
Group
from our class
watching the
milking up
close.
In
the pit below
the carousel
parlor you
have a unique
view of
looking up at
the cows while
they are
milked. Some
of our group
chose to watch
from the
observer's
room.
We
had a tractor
driven wagon
tour of the
farm with Bob
the farmer
(front center)
narrating.
We
rode right
through one of
the large
barns where
the cows lay
on water beds!
Up
close with the
curious cows
(I assume
they're
curious!).
We
had a nice pot
luck meal
together after
the wagon
tour.
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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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