Note: Due to a busy day for both of us yesterday we did not post a message.

Message summary: The Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11) provides a graphic description of the torturing, suffering, and deaths of the people of faith. In God's providence some were delivered to have a slightly extended life but others were not. The words, "the world was not worthy of them" is a stinging indictment on the systems of this world and a truth that will be abundantly clear in eternity.

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"Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:36-40).

Bartlesville, Oklahoma is about 45 miles north of Tulsa Oklahoma where Brooksyne grew up. It has the unlikely distinction of having the only skyscraper, the Price Tower built in 1956, that was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. For many years it was a hotel where we stayed in 2017. (Quite an experience.) Now it's fallen on hard times.*

Bartlesville is also the unlikely headquarters of a Christian ministry, "Voice Of The Martyrs" which focuses on the plight of the persecuted. We took a tour in 2017 and entering the building there is a wall inscribed with the names of many who were martyred for their faith. Yes, there were many names inscribed, but just a very tiny percentage of those martyred over the last 2,000 years.

At fourteen years of age Bonhoeffer told his family, "I want to be a minister". They were quite disturbed at his announcement and his brother responded, "What a waste of time the boring church would be". It seems there are still many who see ministry this way!

Fulfilling his desires, Bonhoeffer became a brilliant theology student, prophet, pastor and accomplished pianist. He was ordained for ministry just as the Nazis were coming to power. His public stand against Hitler branded him an enemy of the state and his license to teach was revoked. Serving Christ and His church was far from boring for Dietrich Bonhoeffer!

He wrote in his classic and best-known book, "The Cost Of Discipleship", "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die". On April 9, 1945, Bonhoeffer was condemned to die as a traitor, without trial. He was stripped naked and hung with wire. But his devotion to God has not ceased to influence others as his writings then and even now challenge readers to answer God’s call and serve Him wholeheartedly, without fear of man.

Our daily text is from the Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11). It provides a graphic description of the suffering and deaths of those who were unwilling to deny their faith in Christ. In His providence some were delivered to have a slightly extended life but others were not. Those words, "the world was not worthy of them" is a stinging indictment on the systems of this world and a truth that will be abundantly clear in eternity.

B e encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13