✝ Daily Encouragement (5/30/25) "Bitterman"
Published: Fri, 05/30/25
Updated: Fri, 05/30/25
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Brooksyne
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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Friday, May 30, 2025 
Inscription
on the "Wall
Of Martyrs" at
The Voice of
the Martyrs
headquarters
in
Bartlesville,
Oklahoma
"Bitterman" Note:
Today's
title is a
name (similar
to Antipas and
Bonhoeffer in
the two
previous
messages).
It's not about
a bitter man! Message summary: The apostle Paul's perspective on life and death is so liberating! Listen to our message on your audio player. "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
I
have attained
the age of
Εβδομήντα and
Brooksyne will
reach it this
year. (that's
threescore and
ten)*¹. We've
lived a
peaceful life
in regard to
persecution
and certainly
have not been
martyred. We
were talking
about this and
realize we do
not personally
know anyone
who has been
martyred for
their faith.
The most
suffering I've
had is some
sheep bites.
Dennis taught
at a seminary
in the central
part of the
country and
surely taught
those who
would later be
persecuted and
martyred.
We
often pray for
and speak of
our spiritual
brothers and
sisters who
are suffering
in persecution
with some
becoming
martyrs for
Christ. Let's
consider one
today.
His older brother Chet Bitterman was my age and was raised here in Lancaster County in the same church we now attend, Calvary Church. Like Brooksyne and I, he prepared for ministry in a Bible College (Columbia Bible College in South Carolina). He was called to work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and moved with his wife and two children to Columbia in 1979. In early 1981 he was kidnapped and later murdered by M-19 guerrillas.
I
first heard
about his
story in the
early eighties
long, long
before I ever
even thought
about residing
in Lancaster
County, let
alone, that we
would attend
the same
church as
Chet. We link
to his story
below.*³ Chet prayed, "Lord, the tribe that's the most remote, the most difficult to reach because of location and culture, the tribe no one else might select because of those reasons, Lord, if it's okay with you, that's my tribe".
We
sang a song
during our
spiritually
formative
years in Bible
College called
"Jesus Use Me"
which has a
line, "I'll
follow Thee
though death
should come my
way". Since it
was a popular
song during
our Bible
School days
Chet probably
sang it as
well. Before
leaving for
Columbia he
wrote, "I find
the recurring
thought that
perhaps God
will call me
to be martyred
for Him in His
service in
Columbia. I am
willing".
The
apostle Paul's
perspective on
life and death
is so
liberating.
After his
conversion on
the Damascus
road he began
experiencing
the great joy
that comes in
living for
Christ. He
testified in
our daily
text, "For
me to live is
Christ".
His was not by
any means an
easy life but
millions since
have testified
to the joy of
serving the
living Christ.
Indeed "life
is worth the
living just
because He
lives".
And yet Paul also had the perspective, "to die is gain". The word translated "gain" has the sense of advantage. In fact a few verses later Paul says, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far" (Philippians 1:23). Several years later Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy with this awareness; "The time has come for my departure" (2 Timothy 4:6). What solid resignation I see in these words as he faced the martyr's death and made this proclamation, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). Today, what a joy it is to follow Christ and have a deep, abiding assurance of His love. When the time comes for our departure, whether by natural death, an accident or martyrdom, we will exchange our frail, aging, mortal body for an imperishable one. We also have an address change as we are removed from this world that is day by day sliding into increasing decadence and destruction.
We
will "gain"
and be better
off by far
with our
immortal,
ageless, and
healthy bodies
along with our
permanent
residency in a
place that is
timeless,
ageless, and
sinless. Just
consider that
every breath
we take down
here brings us
closer to that
first breath
in heaven.
That's what we
live for!
Praise
the Lord,
today I am a
child of the
King with my
home address
on earth, but
eventually, as
a child of the
King, my home
address will
be heaven.
Won't you join
Brooksyne and
me there as we
finish well
here.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
*¹
That would be
70 years! *² An Upsurge of Terror in Nigeria – Part I (Part 2) These articles are very interesting. The second demonstrates the lies and deception of the "religion of peace" (as Islam is often characterized).
*³
Stories
of Christian
Martyrs:
Chester A.
“Chet”
Bitterman III
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"My Labour is Not in Vain" Watch on YouTube CityAlight Dedicated especially to those who serve in hard places and experience persecution.
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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."
© Copyright 2025 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |
Craig
Bitterman is a
friend of ours
who attends
our Crossroads
ABF class
(Sunday
School). He
owns a scale
company and
several years
ago gave me a
tour.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
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495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
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