Daily Encouragement (5/12/21) "Pick-Up Truck Memories"
Published: Wed, 05/12/21
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Wednesday, May 12, 2021
 1959 Chevrolet El Camino on display at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, PA
Click to enlarge
"Pick-Up Truck Memories"
Note: Today's message has a bit more reminiscing than exposition. Scroll down to "Bible lesson" for exposition.
Message summary: A good name is not only passed on to us but is developed by how we live our life over time, really a lifetime, and the true judgment of good name success will not be known until this life is over and we personally meet the Lord. Having a good name remains one of our most precious assets that we must carefully nourish and guard. Listen to this message on your audio player. "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1). Yesterday we visited the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, PA which is now displaying a collection of old pickup trucks. For Brooksyne and me it brought back many memories of pick-ups in our childhood and the early years of marriage.  Brooksyne's dad was a truck driver, for many years hauling new automobiles for Auto Convoy, but he also, as long as Brooksyne can remember, always had a
pick-up truck. In fact it's hard to imagine him not having one. He was a part-time farmer and did custom field work in the area west of Tulsa. Having a pick-up truck is essential for that type of work since you're always needing to load items such as tools and machinery. In those days the kids piled in the back for a fun ride. Brooksyne recalls riding nearly 200 miles in the back of a pick-up from Tulsa to visit her grandparents in Arkansas, along with her sister and brother. Her long
hair was twisted in some pretty messy tangles by the time they finally arrived on Batson Mountain. I (Stephen) don't remember my dad having a pick-up truck for most of my childhood. His line of work either didn't require one or he would drive a company vehicle. But in 1970 he bought a used 65 Chevy pickup and, although at the time
he didn't own a business, he placed the lettering "E.C. Weber and Sons" on each door. My earliest driving and business experience were in that pickup. My "business" was cutting firewood and delivering it. I wish I had a photo of that pickup but in those days we took about 1/millionth as many pictures as we do now and I suppose it didn't occur to me at the time that fifty years later such a photo would be of any interest! The first vehicle we bought together after we married was a tiny Datsun pick-up that had been used on the Alaskan pipeline. We used it for the first year of our marriage when we
lived in a rural area outside of Springfield, MO. Our most memorable experience was when our dog, Enoch, fell out of it when we were driving on a country road. He liked to ride up on the wheel well looking out. We were cruising at about 45mph when we hit a bump and Enoch fell out off the side. In the rear view mirror we saw a tumble of fur rolling down the road and feared the worst; that he had died. He just got up, shook himself off and jumped back in the truck. We had Enoch ten more years.*My dad, E.C. Weber (the E.C. stands for Eugene Clark), was a heating and air conditioning/plumbing technician (although I don't think they used "technician" back then). For a time he owned his own business but most of the time worked for others. He had a good name, taking a loss if necessary, like many good, reputable business owners do to this day. After his death in 1998 I received a note from a businessman in Belton, Missouri commending him to me and informing me the Carrier system he had installed in the 1960's was still working. Though Daddy taught me the importance of keeping my word, doing good to others, and honoring the family name that customer's note told me more about Dad's character than any father/son conversation I remember from my childhood. Bible lesson: We use the term "good name" to describe a person or business with a good reputation, which interestingly was the first requirement for the first deacons (Acts 6:3). "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation..."  A good name in the daily text means a name that connotes a person of honorable character with a good reputation. The latter part of the verse elaborates, "to be esteemed is
better than silver or gold". For instance when we refer to a business known for its quality and integrity, we say "It has a good name". Having a good name is truly more desirous than great riches, although many don't live that way.A good name is not only passed on to us but is developed by how we live our life over time, really a lifetime, and the true judgment of good name success will not be known until this life is over and we personally meet the Lord. Having a good name remains one of our most precious assets that we must carefully nourish and guard. As in most things, having a good name is much harder to build than it is to destroy. Developing a good name requires patience, persistence, time, and other essential virtues, most of them included in the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). Yet a good name can be permanently tarnished with one very bad choice, though one devastating choice generally follows many other poor choices.
Consider your name. What do you suppose others think when they hear your name or read it in print? Does your name represent a person who has solid integrity based upon his or her virtuous character? Let us strive to hear the highest commendation by the Judge of all character, "Well done good and faithful servant". Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father God, the
name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, stands out among all the rest, for it is only in His name that we have power to combat the enemy as we come boldly to Your throne of grace. May our name, and all that we stand for, be respected among those who know us, including that of our family members who know us best, as well as those whom we work for. May the way we live and conduct our lives bring honor to You and blessing to our family, our community and to the kingdom of God. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"A Good Name (Proverbs 22:1)" Video (long intro!) Quiet Time Scripture Songs from Proverbs Lou, a friend from New Jersey who has been going through a challenging time sent us these songs which had ministered to him:
"Never A Time" Video The Perrys
"Walk Me Through" Video The Perrys * Years ago we wrote a story about Enoch recounting the truck incident and many other memories.
Today we share some photos from our journey in life yesterday
 Ruby Red Ford pickup
(Brooksyne's dad would have enjoyed seeing this beauty)
Click to enlarge
 Shiny Yellow pickup
(This would be a perfect pickup for "the man with the yellow hat" in the Curious George series.)
Click to enlarge  Early yesterday morning we visited Audrey's in Lebanon County. They have an outdoor patio with beautiful flowers and a decorative pond where the employees can eat lunch and take their break. A robin chose to raise her young in this area and they appear to be just about ready to fledge.
Click to enlarge
Finally today:
Yesterday our farming neighbors planted corn in the field across from our home. In several months it will be stand at least 6 feet tall.
 This morning a farm worker sprayed the newly planted corn field. We got up this morning and pulled back the curtains expecting to see an empty field but the appearance of this farm vehicle with long arms spread out on the field sure caught our attention. If you'd like to see a John Deere sprayer spraying a corn field and listen to some country banjo music click here. Worth watching
just for the music!!!
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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. 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 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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