Neighbors

Over the past few years we have been quite travelers. We have been to Ireland (twice), England (4 times), Scotland (twice), Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. While a few other trips have gotten cancelled, we have been very blessed to get out and see some of the world beyond US borders.

It’s always interesting to hear from the locals about their thoughts on a variety of subjects. The history of their respective countries shape their views of neighboring countries just like it does for us in the US. For example, neither the Irish nor the Scottish particularly care for the English. The English don’t like the French. Spain and Portugal can’t seem to get along and, supposedly, the French don’t really like anyone. Italy seems to go on their merry way without worrying about neighboring rivalries so much - maybe it’s the wine…

As we have encountered all of these nationalities and cultures, I have to say that they were all nice to us. I guess that when one is not part of the neighboring rivalries, you get a free pass from border hostilities. With the current war in Israel, you can feel a little tension in the air as it relates to Christian/Muslim relations - but that it also true in parts of the US. Religious wars are fierce and have shaped history for thousands of years. Spending time in Europe is a constant reminder of that.

Jesus said that the second greatest commandment, after loving God with all of our heart, is to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is a very challenging command and it begs the question - Who is this neighbor that I am supposed to love?

This same question was asked by a Jewish scribe to Jesus in Luke 10. Jesus’s response came through the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus then told the Scribe to “go and do likewise.” Applying the teaching in this parable, our “neighbor” would be anyone that God puts in our path. Does that extend even to people that don’t like us? Jesus answered this as well in Matthew 5:44-48:

Jesus said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”

This is the high call of being a follower of Christ. We love people by genuinely seeking what is best for them from a Christian worldview. Loving others does not mean always agreeing with or accommodating them but it does means that we have concern for their physical and spiritual needs. God places people in our path that we are uniquely equipped to help. Are we paying attention? Are we available? How can we help a “neighbor” this week?

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

The Rooster

A friend of mine recently went on a river cruise through Europe. He told me of the incredible churches that they saw and also pointed out that many of the churches had a rooster sitting on top of the cross atop the steeple. I’ve never noticed this before but was interested in digging in on why.

I discovered that there were multiple reasons that churches made reference to the rooster, In some cultures, the rooster’s habit of crowing at the dawning of each new morning made it a symbol of the Christian’s victory of light over darkness and the triumph of life over death. Other churches see in the rooster’s heralding of a new day a symbol of the church’s responsibility to proclaim the message of Christ to a darkened world. Some see the rooster as a symbol of Christ Himself, the One whose coming brought the true light to the world. It is the rooster who announces the morning, and it is Christ who announced an end to spiritual darkness.

The most universal “rooster reference” would be Peter’s denial of Christ. The Gospels record Jesus telling Peter, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter was astounded to hear Jesus make this prediction and then was distraught when it came true. As such, the rooster serves as a visual reminded that we are not to deny the existence of Christ.

Like Peter, we may be shocked at the notion that we could ever have such a denial. However, if we think about this a little deeper, we might realize that we can be guilty of the same thing. To deny knowing someone is to refuse to acknowledge a connection with them. In Peter's case, he refused to acknowledge that he was a disciple of Christ. Since Christ is no longer physically walking on earth today, Christians can deny knowing him in their attitudes, behaviors, words, actions, and even lifestyles.

Not talking about openly about our faith - We talk about the things we love, that excite us and that mean a lot to us – our faith should be no different. Jesus told his disciples, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33. Just because we might have never vocally renounced our beliefs, doesn't mean that we've never denied Jesus. Not speaking out can be just as much a form of denial.

Not defending elements of our faith because of what others may think - When we're put in a position where we have to defend certain elements of our faith, a refusal to do so can be a form of indirect denial. Peter denied Jesus because he was afraid to be associated with him at a time when Jesus was in danger and close to death. He was afraid of what people might have said about him or done to him if he admitted that he was one of Jesus' disciples. Just like Peter, we can also avoid associating ourselves with particular aspects of our faith in situations where we're faced with unfavorable consequences.

Denying Christ through our acts and words - Our lives should reflect the impact Jesus has had on us. This doesn't mean that everything is perfect, but it does mean that we should try to live as followers of Christ. Do our actions match up with Jesus' teaching? Do we love your neighbor? If our words and conduct are in opposition to how Jesus lived and taught his followers to live, then we're denying him through our behavior.

The rooster is a good reminder of Christ’s victory over darkness and to seek to live as “imitators of Christ” while we wait for His return.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Final

This journey through the book Deeper has been great. It’s given me a new perspective on how to grow in my faith and in my relationship with God. This week we are going to return to where we started in Week 1.

We already have everything that we need for the deeper relationship we are looking for - a saving faith through Jesus Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit living within us and 24/7 access to the God of the universe. Purer behavior, sharper doctrine and richer emotions are all wonderful offsprings of a “closer walk with thee” but they don’t provide the sole path to get us there.

The Holy Spirit is a universal gift to all of God’s people. Jesus spoke if his departure being necessary so that the Spirit could come in John 16:7. The Spirit is our ever present “helper” in our faith journey. God ordains salvation to us, Jesus accomplishes salvation for us and the Holy Spirit helps us apply our saving faith in Christian life. Everything we “experience” of God is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Because of the Spirit, we are able to grow. The Spirit gives us life by turning our beliefs into power. As possessor’s of the Spirit, it’s not just ourselves in our own strength. We are “supernaturalized” by our helper.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you

Authentic Christianity is actually enjoying God. Growing as a disciple of Christ isn’t just adding Christ to our lives but having Him become our lives with Christ at the core of everything we do as husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, workers and students. As a result, our lives will have the flavor of Christ in every setting.

Growing closer to God isn’t the multi-step sequential process that we are prone to believe - like trying harder to become more obedient. It’s a daily relational pursuit of God through His Word, speaking to Him in prayer and growing in dependence on the Holy Spirit. It begins on the inside through our relationship with Him and then it is reflected on the outside. Our focus is not on growth but on Christ. Proper focus will produce growth. Exposure to the love of Christ everyday will have a “greenhouse” effect on our spiritual lives. Healthy things grow and growing things change.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Part 8

The definition of breathing is: the process of taking air into and and expelling it from the lungs. It’s the most common of all bodily functions - so much so that we don’t ever think about breathing until we struggle with it. As a swimmer, I ofter hear from people in perfectly good shape that have a hard time swimming laps. I know that it is always because they don’t know how to breathe properly while swimming.

Breathing consists of two parts - inhaling and exhaling. They work interdependently to keep us alive. Life cannot exist with only one or the other. The author of Deeper makes a great illustration using breathing in our spiritual lives. Inhaling is taking in the Word of God through Scripture. Exhaling is speaking to God through prayer. A reason that one might not be experiencing the spiritual growth you expect could be due to a “breathing” problem.

Inhaling - An except from the introduction to the Gideon Bible states this: The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

Everything around us changes over time. People, jobs, houses, and even churches all come and go. However, the Bible is an unchanging constant in our lives. His Word never changes through all of the comings and goings of life. The reason that the Bible does not shift and move like everything else is because God doesn’t shift and move. We can count on its timeless truths throughout the entirety of our lives - until our last breath.

The Bible is not a list of “do’s and don’ts” or a just a “pep talk” to get us back on track when we falter. It is Good News. Scripture reports on what has happened, what is happening and what will happen one day.

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

If we are serious about a deeper walk with the Lord, we will make Bible reading a part of our daily ritual. It should become as normal to us as anything we do on a daily basis. We should feel malnourished without it. Reading the Bible is inhaling.

Exhaling - Prayer is exhaling. We take in the life-giving words of God in Scripture and breathe them back out to God in prayer. Breathe in, breathe out.

This is one reason why our prayer lives have to be more than just presenting our wish lists to God. Yes, it can certainly include them but prayer is a worshipful acknowledgement of who God is. It’s how we treat God - as God. Prayer is His chosen way of how we communicate with Him.

P. R. A.Y. E. R. - Prayer Releases All Your Eternal Resources.

The Bible is God speaking to us. Prayer is us speaking to Him. Proper breathing (inhaling and exhaling) - will produce spiritual growth in your life. You may not feel the growth day to day but you will be transformed over time into a “radiant” man or woman of God. Your life will have the “aroma of Christ” that will be evident to others and enjoyed by you.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Prepare to Stand

Prepare to Stand was the name of our conference at The Cove this past week. Our speaker was a missionary who was imprisoned in Turkey for two years after being falsely accused of terrorism. The topic was basically how to stand strong in the face of persecution. While none of us may ever have to face what he did, religious persecution on certainly on the rise in the US and is something that we all will face in one way or another. Maybe we already have.

At one time in the US, Christian morality was the societal standard of behavior. Even if you weren’t necessarily a Christian, most still understood certain norms of behavior - honesty, property rights and sanctity of creation/life. While these were often violated, there was never really a question of whether they were right or not. They were just accepted as true and, in some cases, were the law.

This is not the case anymore. Not only is Christian morality in question, it is even viewed as hostile by some. Strict beliefs of Christian morals can make one an intolerant “hater.” Biblical standards can be called hate speech. As such, there are many who believe that those holding such views need to be silenced and even cancelled.

We naturally think that there will be a political rescue from all of this at some point. We’ll get the right administration elected and they will fix everything. While a morally sound administration would be wonderful, our issues go far deeper that that. We need to be aware of the incredible control that is exercised by a few in our economy. The elite in our country are largely anti-Christian and they have the largest platform of influence.

There are three very large financial investment forms in the US that control about 20% of the stock in the companies that make up the S&P 500 - basically the 500 most influential companies. 20% ownership gives them a lot of control including the ability to remove their leaders. This means that a total of about 12 people from these 3 firms have a strong say in the agendas for these companies. This is arguably more power than our Gov’t has.

As AI (Artificial Intelligence) becomes more of a mainstay in our culture, the influence of the big tech companies will grow even greater. They are the ones developing and programming the “brains” for the information that AI will produce. China is already using AI to help the Gov’t identify citizens that stray from Communist ideology. You can get flagged by the Gov’t and lose all sorts of rights if you don’t conform to their ideals. AI finds you out.

Could this happen in the US? You could argue that we are already in the early stages of this. Christians have already been persecuted by refusing do things that are against their beliefs. Small businesses have been targeted and major banks have already dropped certain clients because of their religious beliefs and refusal to jump on board with the banks progressive views. Social and financial pressure will likely increase.

I am not trying to be an alarmist. I just believe that this topic is real and is going to have to be addressed one way or another. However, we do not need to live in fear. The Christian faith is one of hope and hope builds courage in all of us. Our “fear” of God must be stronger than our fear of man.

With all of this in mind, it’s more important than ever to know what we believe and why. Following Jesus comes with a cost. Not following Jesus carries a far greater cost. One of the things that our speaker said that stood out to me was that he didn’t want to stand before Jesus as a coward. Neither do I.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Part 7

We all have obstacles in our search for a deeper walk with God. These obstacles look different for each of us but we all likely share one - a natural aversion to pain. You may ask - why in the world would I have anything but a strong distaste for pain and a desire to avoid it at all costs? It’s understandable to think that way but let’s take a deeper look.

Our natural aversion to pain. None of us seek out pain in our lives. However, to the extent that we live our lives to avoid pain, we may struggle equally with growth. Pain is a means to spiritual growth. It will foster growth like nothing us can.

Think about growth in our muscles. The only way they will grow will be pushing through certain levels of pain. No pain - no growth. If fact, the opposite is true. If we don’t push them to and through pain, they shrink and provide less support for our overall physique. Spiritual muscles work the same way.

Through pain God is inviting us into an opportunity to grow in dependence on Him and strengthen our faith. We can all look back and point to times where this has been true in our lives. We see the fruit of it once we get to the other side. The author of Deeper says it best:

…A crucial building block in our growth in grace is a humble openness to receiving the bitterness of life as God’s gentle way of drawing us our of the misery of self and more deeply into spiritual maturity. Dane Ortlund

Through pain God is weaning us from the love of this world and freeing us from its counterfeit pleasures. God wants to remove the idols from our lives - rooting out the garden of idols that we tend to keep. We all have a tendency to look for things in this world to quench our every desire. Money, success, hobbies, and even sports teams can all be turned into idols. Idolatry occurs when to try to make that which is a gift - a giver. We expect them to give us an identity or security. Ironically, idols are not givers, they are takers. They take our time, our attention, our passion and focus. Idols will always end up letting us down. God alone can provide lasting fulfillment.

When pain shows up in our lives, we immediately think we are losing at life or being punished in some way. That could be true if we have brought this pain on ourselves. Often it just arrives on its own. Either way, we must learn to recognize this time as an opportunity to press into our relationship with God. Our “professed theology” must become our “heart theology.” Lean into the Holy Spirit which is fully available to us and find that path to a deeper walk with the Lord.

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Part 6

When we become Christians, we are given the ultimate verdict of “not guilty.” We are fully acquitted for the sin in our lives. In terms of growing “deeper” in our faith, we instinctively believe that we must then move on to other more advanced spiritual matters to achieve growth. However, we can actually grow by going deeper into our own acquittal. This is the topic for the day. Yes, it is somewhat of a theological lesson but it is one that is critical for us to understand.

Our acquittal is not a hotel to pass through but a home to live in. Dane Ortlund, Deeper.

Justification is a theological term for our “not guilty” verdict. It is not a process but a single moment in time when we experienced our true conversion. It comes from the outside-in from Christ to us. Any thoughts of it happening from the inside-out is faulty theology because we cannot save ourselves with our good works or personal holiness. Through salvation we are given’s Christ’s perfect record and He is given ours. Think about how awesome that is for a moment…

Sanctification is a lifelong process of growing in grace and holiness. Unlike justification, it comes from the inside-out. However, the quality of our sanctification journey is influenced greatly by how well we grasp the theology of justification. We must know that it is Christ within us, and not ourselves, that is our engine for growth. Our dependence must be on Him and not our own strength. The was one of the mistakes that Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees:

Matthew 23:25-26 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

We can all put on a show and have an appearance of godliness by making sure the outside of the cup is clean. Jesus is instructing us to clean the inside first. The tree creates the fruit, the fruit does not create the tree. Our internal realities are what drive our growth in Christ.

The Gospel frees us not only from the judgment of God in the future but also from the judgment of people in the present. Dane Ortlund, Deeper

One of the signs of growth in our lives is the lessening of our need for the approval of others. Human approval is a common idol. However, the more real the Gospel is to us - the less we need the affirmation of others. Yes, it’s nice to be affirmed, but it is not what sustains us. Nor does their rebuke destroy us. Our security comes from elsewhere because we are complete in Christ.

I know that there is a bit of heavy lifting in this blog but it is really important to have clarity on justification and sanctification for spiritual growth. If it makes sense to you, then that is great. If not, please call me and let’s discuss. Have a blessed week!

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Intermission

Since we are at the midpoint of our series on Deeper, I thought that we’d do a little something different this week. I read an interesting article called The Grace of Good Books which is about how C.S. Lewis viewed the value and pleasure of reading. Given that this series is basically a summary of a really good book, this seems like a very appropriate time to address this subject.

“We read to know we are not alone.” This was a quote from the movie Dead Poets Society back from the late 80’s. I’ve always remembered those words from the first time I heard them. While they were spoken in a secular context, I believe the quote has very solid spiritual application to it. There is a comfort, and even a sense of community, that comes with reading. Through it, we find that others deal with the same questions and issues that we do.

Books are like meals. You enjoy some, but not all. Some are life-changing - like Rosie’s :-). Books strike people in different ways partly due to the content but also because of the timing in which we are reading it. Different messages are needed in different seasons. Deeper has been a book that I needed in this season of life.

“But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself… I see with a myriad of eyes, but it is still I who see. C. S. Lewis

Few people have the gift of writing illustrative and penetrating words like these. Books provide the means for us to be able to enjoy the words of the gifted. God gave us His words through Scripture but He has also divinely gifted those who can illuminate spiritual truths to help us in our faith journey. Books help us understand theology, culture and the thoughts of others who may come from a completely different background and perspective. Reading helps us understand ourselves.

Books can entertain, inspire and challenge us in ways that aren’t experienced anywhere else. The discipline of reading has a lifetime of benefits waiting for those that make the commitment to be a continuous learner through the written word. What are you reading right now? Don’t miss out on the nourishment that comes from the meals provided by a good book.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt 5:6

Deeper - Part 5

The way that we physically embrace others reveals a lot about our relationship with that person.  A friendly wave, a warm handshake or a hug are all expressions of how we feel about them.

How do you feel God’s “embrace?” Is it like a pat on the back when you perform well or maybe a side hug that shows love but stops short of full approval. What about the running, open-armed sprint of a two-year-old coming to welcome their Mother or Father home? Isn’t that what we all want to feel from God?!?

As Christians, we were created so that God could love us. His embrace of us is the whole point of our lives. Our vision of His love needs to be not just heard but seen and felt. Job 42:5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.

God wants us to not to just “know of” His loving nature but to truly experience it. Think of those closest to you.  Don’t you want them to know your love for them? His love for us surely even exceeds that.  

We sometimes think that our sinful lives cause God to question His love for us. However, the fact that we are not always very lovable never diminishes His love for us. It is not conditional based on our behavior - though He may decide to discipline us at times and/or suffer consequences. It’s our messiness that makes God’s love so powerful and transforming. Knowing God’s love never makes us sinless but creates a desire in our hearts to “sin less.”

A saving faith allows us to have the love of God. Spiritual growth allows us the “know” the love the God. Knowing God’s love is not attaining it, it is receiving it. The more that we accept and believe this truth, the more we are able to wade more deeply into this endless ocean of the love of God.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Part 4

As I continue to study my way through the book Deeper, I came across a somewhat simple but very profound way to explain how we each view our “union” with Christ. It is truly one of the foundational aspects of our faith and one that is very important to understand. We are united with Christ but, what does that really mean? There are basically four different ways we may look at this union - 1. God then me 2. God not me 3. God plus me & 4. God in me. Each of these mindsets has aspects of truth to them but only one is completely on target.

God then me. This thinking begins with the correct notion that God alone saves us. We then earn out our salvation by living for Him and showing how grateful we are for our salvation. The problem with this is that it doesn’t fully account for the ongoing sin we have in our lives. Yes, we have been saved but we continue to be saved because of Christ’s work on the Cross and not our own.

God not me. This approach wrongly places all of the responsibility of our sanctification upon God. It is a very passive approach to our walk. The mantra of “let go and let God” doesn’t apply to every aspect of our faith journey. There is human responsibility in our sanctification. Our behavior should be a reflection of a saving faith.

God plus me. This philosophy gets closer to the truth but doesn’t quite get there. It correctly assumes the joint responsibility we have in our sanctification but it wrongly gives us too much credit for being able to hold up our end of this partnership. We just aren’t capable of delivering the goods in our own strength.

God in me. “In” is the operative word here for making this the right answer. This mindset rightly acknowledges the presence of God in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that unites us to Christ. He is our “helper” in this life. This relationship binds together the human responsibility and the divine sovereignty of our spiritual growth.

I hope this is helpful to you in understanding this key piece of theology. If we aren’t clear on this, it can be a real hindrance to our growth.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Part 3 - The fruit is in the valley

“Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.” Billy Graham

This may be my favorite quote from Billy Graham. It captures the essence of the topic of this blog which the author of Deeper calls “self-despair.” I know that doesn’t sound like a very enticing subject but take a closer look and you will come to understand and appreciate its great value.

Sometimes the “valleys” in our life occur because of our own doing. Other times there are circumstances beyond our control that put us there. In either case, we do not choose to be in the valley. However, the valley can be the most fruitful time of growth in our lives. It is there that we learn to become more dependent upon God. As the quote says, everyone loves the view from the top of the mountain but that is not where true growth occurs.

In trying to understand the concept of “self-despair,” we must first realize that this is basically an understanding and acceptance of our true fallen position as sinners. It is the full realization that we are at the complete mercy of God for salvation. Nothing that we do gives us the ability to earn it. We are depraved and unholy beings. This may sound somewhat defeatist but we truly have nothing without Christ. The fullness of Christ can only be experienced after the emptiness of despair. Think of it like the Prodigal Son who hit rock bottom after he was given complete freedom and then experienced the immense joy of being welcomed back into the fold by his father.

To get to a place of self-despair, we must learn that we cannot construct our entire lives around the throne of self. Dying to self is part of our faith journey. It is a valley that we must walk thru to come to a place of spiritual health. Jesus pointed this out to the Church at Laodicea in Rev. 3:17:

“You say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, poor, pitiable, blind and naked.”

As we mature in Christ, we gain in awareness of our own sin. The closer that we get to God, the more we can see our own flaws. It seems counter-intuitive because we might be sinning less but our awareness of our sin is heightened. Our growth allows us to see the purity and holiness of God which, in contrast, humbles us. Pride is a sign of spiritual immaturity that chokes out growth while humility provides fertile ground for growth.

Self-despair is not a destination or a place to dwell. It is a stop along the way to spiritual growth that cannot be bypassed. We must go there but we don’t need to reside there. What we find is a place of honesty and realness with ourselves. We are also met there by Christ who extends His goodness to us. We accept His goodness knowing that we don’t have it ourselves.

The only sin Jesus ever had was ours. The only righteousness we will ever have is His. A.W. Tozer

This is a path we must take in order to live victorious Christian lives. The acknowledgement of defeat leads us to victory.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Deeper - Part 2

In Part 1 of this series on going deeper in our faith, we established the fact that our growth is not based on personal improvement. Personal growth is the result of a deeper walk with the Lord but it is not the path to it.

True growth is centered in growing in Christ. For us to grow in Christ, we need a clear picture of this person in whom we want to grow. We all have assumptions as to who Christ is but it is entirely possible that we have a downsized view of Christ. Our view of a reduced Jesus may be the main reason for our lack of growth and continued struggle with sin. Have we fabricated Him into comfortable and predictable proportions to fit our lifestyle. We need to take an honest assessment here.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:8 referred to the unsearchable riches of Christ. There are wondrous depths and realities awaiting for us to discover. How hard are we looking? We get panicked when we can’t find our cellphones – what about Christ are we missing? Studying the historical figure of Christ has great value but encountering the Christ that is alive and well today is relational. We don’t just study the life of Christ, we experience His presence in our lives.

The author of Deeper outlines several key facets of Jesus that are critical for us to understand to help bring clarity to our view of Him.

Ruler: Jesus exercises supreme authority over the universe. Before His ascension He said in Matt. 28:18 that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” The world’s attempt to sideline Him of that authority does not diminish the reality of that authority. We might perceive His authority to come and go as world events unfold but that would be a mistaken perception. His rule holds steady no matter the circumstances.

Savior: We aren’t just in need of help from a higher power for wisdom to navigate life. We flat out need saving – full scale deliverance. We often forget what a great debt we owe for our salvation. That might be because, by comparison, we often look pretty good compared to others in our culture. We forget that Jesus knows all of our thoughts and motives and not just our deeds. All sin separates us from God.

Friend: Jesus said in John 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants….but I have called you friends.” Jesus should be our closest and truest friend. A friend that delights in us, listens to us, bears burdens with us and is always available. Jesus is a friend of sinners, like us.

Intercessor: If our conversion changed us to the extent that we never sinned again, we wouldn’t needed Jesus interceding for us. But we all know that is not the case. He continues to work on our behalf as our biggest “advocate.” 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 

Promise Keeper: Jesus is going to return one day. We should live expectantly of that time. It’s far easier to spend our time trying to make heaven out of this world but scripture cautions us against that. We have to keep an eternal perspective to avoid that.

Gentle and Lowly: Jesus describes himself in Matt: 11:29: Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Whatever we think of when we think of Jesus, we must know that at the core, His spirit is one of gentleness and meekness. Hs isn’t offended by our fallen state. He is drawn to us with all of our imperfections and baggage. He is approachable, available and expectantly looking for us to pursue Him.

Jesus “unsearchable riches” for us to discover. We don’t have to run on the Christian treadmill to find them. We already have full access if we just stop and take the time to pursue them.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6   

Deeper - Part 1

Two Summers ago, I did a series on Deeper Water. Both my “aqua-holic” and self-improvement sides thoroughly enjoyed that experience. I am currently reading a book entitled Deeper and it is excellent. The book is about how Christians grow deeper in their faith. I love this quote about growth because I believe that is captures the essence of what we all want in our lives - health, growth and refinement.

Healthy things grow and growing things change.

The author of Deeper contends that we instinctively, yet incorrectly, take one of three approaches to spiritual growth. The first is the “outward behavior” approach. This approach come with the notion that the more we do for God and the less that we sin, the more that He loves us. In other words, improved outward behavior is the answer for growing closer to God. While it is somewhat natural for us to believe that, it is actually the other way around. When we realize that He already unconditionally loves us and we pursue a deeper relationship with Him, it will eventually result in changed behavior and a more intense desire to serve Him.

The second approach is referred to as “intellectual addition.” This belief tells us that if we understand the doctrines of our faith better, this will lead us to a deeper relationship with God. Again, the reverse order is more true. As we draw closer to Him in a deeper relationship, the doctrines of our faith will make more sense to us. Stronger doctrinal awareness is a result of going deeper not the path to going deeper.

The third approach is through “felt experience” where the path the growth comes in worship experiences like praise music or “mountaintop time” like JH Ranch. The problem is that as wonderful as these experiences can be, they aren’t always present in our lives. They are experiential and not a constant. “Felt experiences” can lead us to a desire for a deeper walk with the Lord but are not the sole pathway to getting there.

Hear me when I say this please - each of these three approaches are critically necessary in healthy Christian development. However, none of them are singularly reliable for a deeper walk with the Lord. If fact, if we are missing any of these or if one is way out of proportion in relation to the others, we may not grow in Christian maturity.

All of us would likely agree that we have a desire to grow spiritually. Part of our view of our own spiritually maturity is at least somewhat flawed because it is based on comparing ourselves to others. We seem to be doing pretty well based on what else we see out there so we must be doing most everything right. But, are we leaving something on the table? Maybe even the best part?

Hopefully, the question for you is not “if” but “how.” How do I grow?

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Deepening is about what we already have - a saving faith through Jesus Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit living within us and 24/7 access to the God of the universe. We already have everything that we need for the deeper relationship we are looking for. Purer behavior, sharper doctrine and richer emotions are all wonderful offsprings of a “closer walk with thee” but they don’t provide the sole path to get us there.

I am excited about going on this journey with you over the rest of the Summer in this six-part series. There are several other great concepts to discuss as we walk the road to true spiritual growth. It might just turn out to be the best Summer trip we’ve ever taken.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

SOS

SOS is a universally recognized signal for someone under distress and needing help. It was created around 1905 and replaced another code that was less ambiguous. SOS is 3 dots, 3 dashes and 3 more dots on the telegraph which made it easy to send and recognize back in that time. We have other ways of communicating now but SOS is still a constant that is understood worldwide.

Another constant for each of us is that we all face distress and need varying forms of help from time to time. We have all experienced the blessing of both receiving and giving help - with both parties being blessed in the process. Some of the times that we need help, the situation is unavoidable (i.e. a sickness). Other times we find ourselves in the ditch by our own doing. Either way, the face of help coming our way is a grand sight.

Our Pastor at Amelia today preached a sermon on SOS and I wanted to share some thoughts from it. I believe that following this simple pattern of SOS in our lives will help us to avoid some distressing situations as well as prepare us to help others in their time of need.

S - Study the Word. This seems so elementary to mature believers but yet we all struggle with consistency in doing this. There are a million reasons why it doesn’t happen but the bottom line is that if we are too busy to dive into the written Word of God, then we are too busy. Reject lukewarm living by staying near the fire. God’s Word is alive and ready speak to us. The discipline of doing it will grow into desire.

O - Obey the Word. The desire to live a life of obedience is the evidence of a saving faith. It shows that we have both a Savior and a Lord. Disobedience is a Lordship issue - a fight over control in our lives. The law provides the standards for our behavior, the gospel provides the motivation for our behavior.

S - Share the Word. We cannot give away what we don’t already have. If we have it, then we will want to give it away. Sharing God’s truths looks different for all of us. We have different platforms, different personalities and are provided with different opportunities. We all have a role in the Great Commission and sharing the source of joy in our lives with others is a part of our faith journey. The stronger our faith, the bolder we will be.

Apply SOS in your life this week. Study - Obey - Share.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Tender Warrior

My father, Warren Edwards, passed away in 2002 at the age of 69. I wish so much that all of you had the chance to get to know him. He was a great man and would be so proud of each of you. I am glad that he and Julie had a special relationship and that he got to enjoy Catherine and Will early in their lives.

Since he died suddenly, I had never given any thought to his funeral. As I was driving down from Birmingham to Moultrie that day, God put it on my heart to speak at his service. I wanted to honor him as the great man that he was but, what would I say?

The small group that I was in at the time had just gone through a book called Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart. The book was a sequel to another one written by Stu Weber entitled Tender Warrior. As I thought about it, I realized that this is exactly who my father was - a “tender warrior” who modeled these “four pillars” so well.

My father was the first person in his family to ever go to college. He grew up in Sebring, FL and got a football scholarship to go to Gordon Military Academy in Barnesville, GA. He would get to and from school (450 miles each way) by hitchhiking. After finishing his two years there, he served in the Army on the GI Bill - which would pay for the rest of his college. He then went to the University of Florida and graduated from the Business school. He got a job in Atlanta with Royal Insurance Company and moved into a boarding house where he met a lady named Sandra Stokes who became his wife, my mother and your Grand.

In the book Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, the “pillars” are identified as King, Warrior, Mentor and Friend. I spoke about these roles at my father’s funeral and I believe that are an excellent profile to consider for our own lives as men. Ladies, you can encourage your men in these roles. They are the qualities you want to instill in a son and look for in a man.

King: This is a Servant-King - a man of vision, humility and character. He doesn’t “lord” over his family but serves them by providing for them and lovingly leading them. He points his family to Christ by submitting his own life to the true King. Matt. 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Warrior: This is a man of courage and conviction. He protects his family spiritually, physically and emotionally. He is willing to man his post and not seek to excessively escape into trivial pursuits that bring no benefit to the greater good of his family. Men stand tallest when they are protecting and defending. Others know where a warrior stands because of his character. However, he is willing to speak hard things in love when it’s right and appropriate. 1 Kings 2:2-3 So be strong, and prove yourself a man. Do your duty to the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,

Mentor: He is a teacher that is empowered by the wisdom of God. He is also a learner. He is able to teach most effectively because he is willing to be a lifelong learner. Be a mentor - have a mentor. Ecclesiastes 7:12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.

Friend: He is an intentional connector. He is always available for and faithful to those under his care. He prioritizes time with his family and friends at the expense of his own interests. One of the great memories that I have of my father was his love for growing flowers in our yard and for his woodworking. My parents friends would come over and cut flowers from our yard all the time. In his shop, he built doll cradles for Christmas that we would give to the underprivileged. Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

My father was all of these things but, like the rest of us, he wasn’t perfect. All of us wish we were better at some of these pillars than we currently are. The important thing is that while we might know failure, we don’t accept defeat and while we might know disappointment from time to time, but we don’t engage in despair. The pillars are never a destination to be reached but a worthy journey to pursue.

On the cover of the Tender Warrior book it reads - Every Man’s Purpose, Every Woman’s Dream and Every Child’s Hope. What more of an inspiration do we need to take on that journey!?!

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Fake News vs. Good News

Growing up in Moultrie, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Moultrie Observer newspapers were delivered to our house every day. From the time that I was in 5th or 6th grade, I looked at the front page for meaningful news and then scoured the Sports section from cover to cover. Our other source of news in those days was the 6:00 and 11:00 news on TV. This is how we kept up with the events of the world and the “sports world.”

 The thought of something being “untrue” in the newspaper or evening news never would have occurred to me. I had complete trust in everything that I read or saw without any question at all.  It would have been devastating to me to believe otherwise. The newspaper and TV news were trusted sources I could believe in.

 In June of 1980, the first 24 hr. news station was born – CNN. I remember when it first came on and thinking to myself – what could they possibly have to talk about 24/7? Turns out that I was somewhat right since they just seemed to have a lot of replays with the same content throughout the day. However, if something big happened, they could break in and tell us about it so that was very useful.

CNN and the other 24/7 news channels have evolved since then. We now have several 24/7 news outlets fighting for our attention. The better their ratings, the more money that they can charge for commercials. This forces them to continually produce “original content” to fill up the space. As a result, they aggressively try to lure us in with real news along with their political spin and partial truths. This is essentially how we got to the “fake news” environment that we are in now.

It makes me sad that we lost the purity of the news. We now must sift through what we hear and try to assign some level of truth to attach to it. However, I guess that is much like everything else we hear in life with all the voices that are speaking to us. We must be able to discern truth from deception.

I was encouraged this week when I read Psalm 19. Here is a great passage on truth:

Psalm 19:6-9 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold.

No fake news to sift through here! Powerful words to give us confidence in the truth of God’s Word in our deceptive culture.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Raising Daughters

Everyone reading this blog has a vested interest in daughters. Each of you either are a daughter, have one or are married to one. Daughters are quite a predominant blessing in this family for sure.

You always meet interesting people when you travel. One afternoon in France while sitting on a terrace looking out over the Mediterranean Sea, we met a young American couple from California. They were a really neat conservative, Christian couple and we hit it off with them right away. We found out that the young lady was a well known speaker and consultant with a large following on social media. She advises successful women in the workforce on how to date and find the right mate. It turns out that she stumbled into this profession by having the same struggles that these other women are having.

One of the things that she told us was that many driven women don’t know how to be vulnerable and be led by a man. Since men are looking for a woman to lead, this creates an inherent problem. She experienced this in her own life and received some good counsel on how to change her mindset. Once she received this revelation, she began sharing it with friends and it just took off from there. She now is able to help others on a broad scale.

As we were sitting there talking in that incredible sitting, I starting thinking about all of the daughters in our family. You all turned out so well and now there is a whole new generation of daughters you are raising - Annie, Emma and Charlotte. Raising children is a complex task but a thought occurred to me in that moment that summed up my thoughts about raising daughters:

We don’t raise our daughters to conquer the world, we raise them to be conquered by the Word.

This quote might be original but the concept is straight out of the Bible. Daughters whom are conquered by the Word know how to manage careers, school and relationships because they have submitted to the ultimate handbook that tells them how to do so. This approach produces the amazing young women that each of you are. It’s certainly not limiting or passive in any way but produces great freedom in pursing the lives that God intended for you.

This submission to the Word is apparent in each of you and it’s a beautiful to see. It’s the most important thing that you can use to govern your life and pass on to the next generation of daughters. They will be very blessed to have someone showing them the way.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Impressions of France

Luxembourg Gardens - Paris

Every country has its own identity. Some of it is likely well earned, while some might be a little off base. Since I had never been to France, all I had to go on were my preconceived notions based on perception. People often refer to the French as aloof, somewhat lazy and they don’t really like Americans - or anyone else for that matter.

The English and the French don’t particularly like each other and that was reinforced to us during our time in London. That rivalry is understandable given the history of conflicts between the two countries over centuries of time. After spending 10 days in Paris, Provence and the French Rivera, I believe that I have enough of a “body of work” to draw my own conclusions about France.

The people of France are very proud of their country. It’s not a coincidence that it is the most visited country in the world. The US is 5th - which I found interesting. Specifically, the French are very proud of their art, food, natural beauty and architecture. I think that people confuse this pride with arrogance. I believe that their frame of mind is similar to our own attitude as Southerners towards the rest of the US. We are very proud of our Southern heritage and culture and as long as you are here to enjoy it like we do, we’re Ok with that. Just leave your “Jersey” at home. :-) This is how the French are. They want you to enjoy everything about their culture. They don’t mind Americans coming to France, they just don’t want you to try to bring America to France. Sound familiar?

With regard to being “lazy,” there is a different sense of urgency in France. In reality, this is somewhat true anywhere you go outside the US. We have a “drive thru” culture in a lot of ways and it’s just not that way in most other parts of the world. It’s a bit of a shock to our system when we experience the difference in pace. It’s frustrating at first until you see the value of slowing down a bit. This ties in to my next points…

The French take extreme pride in the quality of their food, art etc… We have more of a profit driven mindset in the States. In France there is a real emphasis on quality and process where we tend to be more production and results oriented. Capitalism and artistry often conflict with one another. It’s nice to think that there is room for both.

One of the many great things about traveling is learning from other cultures. I certainly love America but there are some things that we can learn from the French that might enhance our quality of life. One of the impressions that I’ll never forget is from an afternoon we spent in a stunningly beautiful park in Paris called Luxembourg Gardens (pictured above). Their are chairs scattered all over this park - something you wouldn’t likely see in the US. People are sitting and visiting, reading, painting or just enjoying the surroundings. We may know how to get things done here in the US, but the French know how to really enjoy the moment - and that is never a bad thing. Put me down for more of that.

The events of the past couple of weeks provide a heavy reminder of the brevity of life. None of us can be sure of our tomorrows. We’ll do pretty well with this mindset:

Learn from the past, live in the present and keep our eyes on eternity.

Pull up a chair,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Preachers & Teachers

This has been a heavy week. Three of the teachers that have been in varying parts of our lives through the years have all gone on to heaven - first Jenny Burdick, then Pastor Reeder and Tim Keller. I had planned to write about France this week but must put that off to recognize these great servants of God and man.

At the core, they were each teachers. Though not a teacher by trade, I get teachers. I imagine that the good ones are all also givers. To me, teaching is about giving - giving knowledge and inspiration to others. Each of these were gifted teachers and our lives have been touched as a result. I am very grateful for the marks that each left on our lives.

The best teacher is not the one who knows the most but the one who is most capable of reducing knowledge to that simple compound of the obvious and wonderful.

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself for the benefit of others.

Teachers often are planting trees that they will never see fully grown.

A teacher affects eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops.

By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.

We all teach and are taught. What are parents but teachers? Children come into the world without knowledge of how to do anything. We are their teachers.

I have probably learned more spiritually from Pastor Reeder and Tim Keller than anyone else over the past 20 years. I don’t have the words to communicate my gratitude for their influence. Their loss leaves a big hole in the Christian community that must be filled by others.

I am thankful for those that dedicate their lives to teaching - our preachers, authors, professors, kids teachers etc… We owe them more than we can repay. Words of appreciation and encouragement will go a long way.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Kings - Part Deux

I didn’t plan to stay on the subject of “kings” again this week. Yet, after spending three days in post-coronation London and now history-rich France, the topic is hard to escape.

There are many different opinions and perspectives on the value and history of kings. The issue brings me back to 1 Samuel where the people of Israel had no “man king” and began to demand one. Their true king was God but they wanted a “man king” that they could see - one who could protect and care for them. All of the threatening nations around them had kings so they wanted one as well. Basically, they were choosing to live by sight instead of faith.

The English, along with their fellow Commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada, have a man King. They may not fully understand what he does but I imagine that they take some comfort in a Monarchy that they can see. It’s definitely part of the culture whereas matters of the faith seem to be of declining interest.

The French used to have kings but the people decided that they didn’t want them anymore. The last monarchy was overthrown in the French Revolution in 1793. King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antionette lost their lives as a result.

The picture above is from a cathedral that we visited tonight for a concert - Sainte Chapelle. It was built in 1248 and has some of the most incredible stained glass in the world depicting scenes all throughout the Bible. There were 22 holy relics kept there for centuries including what was believed to be the crown of thorns, fragments of the Jesus’s cross and Moses’s staff. What is left has since been moved to the nearby Cathedral of Notre Dame.

Despite the incredibly rich spiritual history of Sainte Chapelle, they no longer hold any worship services held there. It was been completely secularized despite housing some of the most treasured Christian artifacts in the world for centuries. It has gone the way of many places of worship in Europe - now museums and concert halls.

Christianity requires a life of faith that puts our trust in One we cannot see. Some have a “belief” barrier to our faith. They only want to trust in things they think can be seen like image, money or power. Others have a “lordship” barrier that keeps them from submitting their will to anyone but themselves. Both are obstacles that have to be overcome to have a saving faith.

As I was sitting in the concert, amidst all of the Biblical images in the stained glass, it reminded me of this truth - our life of faith should reveal King Jesus to others. Others should be able to see glimpses of Him in us since we are now made in His image. A saving faith will produce this fruit in our lives. We truly have a King that can be seen after all.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6