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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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A new message
is updated
most weekdays,
usually by
Noon Eastern
Time (USA).
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Thursday,
April 4, 2024
After
several days
of heavy rain
the contrast
this morning
is stunning to
us although
more rain is
in the
forecast! I
need some dry
weather to get
the lawn
mowed. In
spite of our
weather
forecast the
sun did
come out and,
oh, how good
it feels!
A church in rural California used their changeable sign to post a truthful but very culturally unpopular message. It became viral on the social media circus, and naturally some were offended by it and created such a stir that the pastor lost his position. The sign's message was blunt but true and just 25 years ago wouldn't have caused a stir. Some would have agreed with it, others would have disagreed but accepted, perhaps even respected, the church's right to express its beliefs.
One year during a "Sanctity of Life Sunday" we posted this simple, unambiguous, irrefutable, true message: "Abortion Stops A Beating Heart". A few days later a lady called our church office and told me she had seen the sign and was deeply offended and extremely upset about it. She thought there should be a law against posting such a message and threatened that she was going to check into it. She said her children were so upset they cried.
Daily prayer:
Father, we
learn from
Scripture and
we see by
Jesus' example
that we are to
speak the
truth in love,
even when it
is easier to
go along with
the crowd or
the trends of
our society
including the
post modern
thinking that
doesn't rely
on facts as
much as one's
personal
experience,
emotions, and
ideology. Help
us to be
courageous
believers who
consistently
live and speak
the truth.
Give us
strength not
to apologetic
or shrink back
when we're
attacked as
ambassadors of
Your
unchanging
truths as
presented in
Scripture. In
Jesus' name we
pray. Amen.
Several additional considerations on offending and being offended:
1) Of course this message should not be construed as an excuse to bully or intentionally offend others. But I refuse to lie or join in someone else's fantasy such as the trans deception sweeping our world. Last time I donated blood in early February I (69 year old Stephen, a male) was asked if I was pregnant! This was to fulfill someone else's fantasy and I refuse to play along and refrain from speaking the truth even if it might "hurt" someone. We donate again this Saturday and no telling what questions we will be asked. Another time we were asked whether we wanted to be a he or she.
2) All through life I have been insulted and/or offended. I think this has been virtually everyone’s experience. Sometimes the insults are intentional and mean, but most of the times unintentional, a misunderstanding.
3) And I have also insulted and/or offended others. I also think this has been virtually everyone’s experience. Most of the time these insults and offenses to others have been unintentional, or likely a misunderstanding. But frankly, especially in my pre-conversion days, I look back at my insensitivity and immaturity and admit that I was intentionally mean at times, such as getting a laugh at someone else's expense. In some cases I have sought forgiveness from those I hurt, in other cases such as a lost contact I must leave it in the Lord's hands.
4) Now "being offended" can be used to silence those with whom one disagrees and if lawyers get involved can be a potential source of big money.
Several years ago I recall when Daniel Riley, a singer with the Gospel group "Gold City" shared how that in his small town in Alabama, they had, as long as he could remember, a nativity scene on display. One person was "offended" by it and an outside group called the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" demanded its removal. Like so many small towns they complied rather than pay the legal fees to fight such an outrageous demand.
He shared that the same evil, Satan-inspired group demanded a town remove a sign often seen in smaller towns all across America. "The Churches Of ______ Welcome You". Now how in the world could that be offensive to anybody? When we drive by a sign or billboard with a message offensive to our faith (which we see a lot) we either disregard it or at times it prompts us to pray.
"When
The Truth
Hurts"
Message
summary:
God
speaks truth
and
righteousness
and so too
must we
faithfully
speak the
truth in love,
declare what
is right, and
live in
righteousness.
But be aware,
truth is hate
to those who
hate the
truth!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19). "We must speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
"I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19). "We must speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
Today's
message will
be a bit
longer. It's a
followup to
yesterday's
message that
emphasized the
importance of
the
resurrection
and how those
who may have
been hurt at
some time by
the church or
another
Christian need
to focus on
the
foundational
truth of the
resurrection
rather than
hurts brought
on by the
church or
other
Christians.
But
today let us
consider
another type
of hurt that
provides an
excuse to
abandon the
ways of
Christ, being
"hurt" by
truth. In my
observation
this is a
contributing
reason for
many
abandoning the
faith.
How
do we as
Christians and
the church
respond to
this?
1)
Some respond
by abandoning
the truth to
conform to and
be loved by
the world.
2)
Others respond
by being
silent lest
someone be
hurt or
offended by
the message of
truth.
3)
The right
response is to
boldly,
clearly and
lovingly hold
to and
proclaim the
truth.
A
song by the
southern
gospel group
Gold City
addresses our
times:
I
see a nation
on the brink
I see a people prone to think
That truth is like an ocean wave
Changing with the tide.
But for me there has to be
An absolute, a center line
And it's the Word of God eternal
The cornerstone of Christ
I see a people prone to think
That truth is like an ocean wave
Changing with the tide.
But for me there has to be
An absolute, a center line
And it's the Word of God eternal
The cornerstone of Christ
A church in rural California used their changeable sign to post a truthful but very culturally unpopular message. It became viral on the social media circus, and naturally some were offended by it and created such a stir that the pastor lost his position. The sign's message was blunt but true and just 25 years ago wouldn't have caused a stir. Some would have agreed with it, others would have disagreed but accepted, perhaps even respected, the church's right to express its beliefs.
In
fact 25 years
ago we used an
similarly
"offensive"
message on the
sign in front
of the church
we served in
Massachusetts
at
the entrance
to our parking
lot. Each week
we placed up
Scripture
verses and
short truths
expressed in
thought-provoking
phrases. Our
church was
located on US
Route 44, the
busy east/west
highway
passing
through the
city, so we
had lots of
traffic.
Through the
years we would
occasionally
get a positive
comment from
passersby
about a
message
posted. But my
most
informative
feedback
memory was not
positive.
One year during a "Sanctity of Life Sunday" we posted this simple, unambiguous, irrefutable, true message: "Abortion Stops A Beating Heart". A few days later a lady called our church office and told me she had seen the sign and was deeply offended and extremely upset about it. She thought there should be a law against posting such a message and threatened that she was going to check into it. She said her children were so upset they cried.
Well,
the truth
really hurts
and in this
case
illustrates
the awful
blindness that
sin causes.
However, that
was it and it
blew over and
we left the
message up
without
further
incident till
it was time to
put up a new
message.
But
we now live in
the age of
being easily
offended and
day after day
we read of
someone
causing a stir
because they
are offended
or hurt about
something.
With social
media this can
quickly become
"viral" and
mob-like. This
works
especially
well for those
offended by
conservative
views.
When reading about the California church sign I considered how different things might be today for posting "Abortion stops a beating heart" and similar type messages especially in Massachusetts! With social media as a catalyst someone would have twittered out a photo and in no time an offended group would have probably gathered around the sign at the entrance of our church in angry protest. They might have yelled at our church people as they entered the parking lot and no telling what else!
Today, whatever Biblical truth is being assaulted in your corner of the world, keep standing for and proclaiming the truth. A lie: no matter how it is packaged, no matter who repeats it or how often, whether a majority holds to it or not, it is still a lie! Let us commit to being proclaimers and examples of truth in the midst of a world that redefines or "modernizes" what is perceived as truth to promote its own truth-denying agenda.
God has revealed Himself so powerfully in the first daily Scripture portion: "I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19). Indeed He does and so must we! As faithful Christians we also must faithfully speak the truth and declare what is right.
When reading about the California church sign I considered how different things might be today for posting "Abortion stops a beating heart" and similar type messages especially in Massachusetts! With social media as a catalyst someone would have twittered out a photo and in no time an offended group would have probably gathered around the sign at the entrance of our church in angry protest. They might have yelled at our church people as they entered the parking lot and no telling what else!
Today, whatever Biblical truth is being assaulted in your corner of the world, keep standing for and proclaiming the truth. A lie: no matter how it is packaged, no matter who repeats it or how often, whether a majority holds to it or not, it is still a lie! Let us commit to being proclaimers and examples of truth in the midst of a world that redefines or "modernizes" what is perceived as truth to promote its own truth-denying agenda.
God has revealed Himself so powerfully in the first daily Scripture portion: "I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19). Indeed He does and so must we! As faithful Christians we also must faithfully speak the truth and declare what is right.
Today's
second text is
a phrase from
a verse that
we purposely
quote to make
us think. In
its initial
application it
was directed
to the church
in Ephesus and
addressed
their
interpersonal
relationships.
But
we feel the
principle
applies to the
church's stand
in the world
as well. "We
must speak the
truth in love".
Unfortunately
the concept of
love and hate
has been so
muddied that
this verse in
itself can
stir up
different
interpretations.
But simply
put, truth is
hate to those
who hate the
truth!
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
learn from
Scripture and
we see by
Jesus' example
that we are to
speak the
truth in love,
even when it
is easier to
go along with
the crowd or
the trends of
our society
including the
post modern
thinking that
doesn't rely
on facts as
much as one's
personal
experience,
emotions, and
ideology. Help
us to be
courageous
believers who
consistently
live and speak
the truth.
Give us
strength not
to apologetic
or shrink back
when we're
attacked as
ambassadors of
Your
unchanging
truths as
presented in
Scripture. In
Jesus' name we
pray. Amen.Several additional considerations on offending and being offended:
1) Of course this message should not be construed as an excuse to bully or intentionally offend others. But I refuse to lie or join in someone else's fantasy such as the trans deception sweeping our world. Last time I donated blood in early February I (69 year old Stephen, a male) was asked if I was pregnant! This was to fulfill someone else's fantasy and I refuse to play along and refrain from speaking the truth even if it might "hurt" someone. We donate again this Saturday and no telling what questions we will be asked. Another time we were asked whether we wanted to be a he or she.
2) All through life I have been insulted and/or offended. I think this has been virtually everyone’s experience. Sometimes the insults are intentional and mean, but most of the times unintentional, a misunderstanding.
3) And I have also insulted and/or offended others. I also think this has been virtually everyone’s experience. Most of the time these insults and offenses to others have been unintentional, or likely a misunderstanding. But frankly, especially in my pre-conversion days, I look back at my insensitivity and immaturity and admit that I was intentionally mean at times, such as getting a laugh at someone else's expense. In some cases I have sought forgiveness from those I hurt, in other cases such as a lost contact I must leave it in the Lord's hands.
4) Now "being offended" can be used to silence those with whom one disagrees and if lawyers get involved can be a potential source of big money.
Several years ago I recall when Daniel Riley, a singer with the Gospel group "Gold City" shared how that in his small town in Alabama, they had, as long as he could remember, a nativity scene on display. One person was "offended" by it and an outside group called the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" demanded its removal. Like so many small towns they complied rather than pay the legal fees to fight such an outrageous demand.
He shared that the same evil, Satan-inspired group demanded a town remove a sign often seen in smaller towns all across America. "The Churches Of ______ Welcome You". Now how in the world could that be offensive to anybody? When we drive by a sign or billboard with a message offensive to our faith (which we see a lot) we either disregard it or at times it prompts us to pray.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Anything
Bit Easy"
Watch
on YouTube
Casting
Crowns
Brooksyne's
Note:
As we were
reading the
podcast this
song came to
mind,
"Anything But
Easy". I can
so relate to
Mark's lyrics.
It's easier to
talk about the
weather but to
speak the
truth in love
- whether it's
sharing about
one's need for
salvation or
lovingly
confronting a
loved one
about the
wrong choices
they are
making.
Speaking the
truth in love
is not easy
but is
essential as
one who is
obedient to
the Spirit of
God.
It
would be easy
to look the
other way
But I love you too much to not say something
Without the truth my love means nothing
Sometimes love is
Anything but easy
Anything but easy
But I love you too much to not say something
Without the truth my love means nothing
Sometimes love is
Anything but easy
Anything but easy
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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.
You
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Encouragement
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Weber
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Church Road
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Joy, PA 17552
To
donate
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here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
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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 and a variety of other versions.
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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