Beatitudes - Blessed are the poor in spirit...

Matt. 5:3 Blessed is the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

I think that the reason that the Beatitudes are so misunderstood is because of a wrong interpretation of key translated words or phrases. In the case of the first Beatitude, it is “poor in spirit.”

This phase is not attractive to us. We are conditioned in our society to be achievers, winners. Being “poor in spirit” insinuates that we are blessed if we feel bad about ourselves. This is not at all what this really means.

“Poor in spirit’ has nothing to do with our abilities, gifts or achievements. It means that we recognize our poverty before God as it relates to our ability to save ourselves. We know what we lack and that we don’t have what it takes. We may be talented in many ways but before Him we have nothing to offer. We stand before God in our need, not in our abundance. The Law brings us to a place of being “poor in spirit” as we recognize our inability at uphold it. This is where Jesus meets us.

The closer we get to God, the easier it is to see our poverty. We look much better at a distance by comparison. His purity exposes our imperfections. The proud can only live at a safe distance from God. People who live far from God make much of themselves. The “poor in spirit” are humble people that live close to God. People who live near to God boast only in the Lord (Gal. 6:14).

The “poor in spirit” are not afraid to ask for things from God. They don’t believe that God owes them anything; they just live in dependence upon Him. They are in a position to receive with open hands - receiving hands. The self-sufficient don’t feel the need to ask.

The blessing of being “poor in spirit” is gaining the Kingdom of heaven. …their’s is the kingdom of heaven. Notice that the verse says theirs “is” and not “will be.” The means that we have a portion or a taste of heaven right now. This comes through a felt awareness of God in our lives. He dwells in us. Heaven is with the humble before the humble are in heaven.

We wouldn’t need Easter if we weren’t “poor in spirit.” This first beatitude is the true cornerstone of our faith. We can’t go any further in our walk without it. Everything else in our Christian faith is dependent upon it. Blessed are the poor in spirit.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Beattitudes - Part 1

I do not recall ever truly studying the Beattitudes. We have all read them a number of times but they seem a little uncomfortable and confusing. As the preamble to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, we tend to gloss over them and move on to the parts of Jesus’s sermon that are easier to digest. However, given that the Sermon on the Mount is the longest recorded teaching of Jesus, it’s probably be a good idea for us to pay attention to the messages contained in these nine verses. We are going to take a deep dive over the next several weeks in doing so.

In the Beattitudes, Jesus is describing what a life looks that is “blessed.” Blessed is a word that gets thrown around in a lot of different contexts these days but the real context that matters is - a life that sits under the blessing of God. We get to hear this description of what a blessed life looks like directly from Jesus. What we we hear from Him, we also will see in His life.

The Beattitudes are the identifying marks of a Christian. They are how we can be recognized as followers of Christ. It is not enough that we just believe because “even the demons believe - and shudder.” James 2:19. It is also not enough that we have a great resume of works etc… Followers of Christ experience transformation in their lives and produce identifying marks that distinguish us as His people.

The Beattitudes are not the pathway to becoming a Christian. Instead, they tell us what a Christian looks like. However, we don’t need to be discouraged because none of us are finished products. We should all have “pardon our progress” signs hanging from our necks. The Beattitudes provide a measurable key to progress - a way to see if the life of Christ has taken root in our hearts.

The Beattitudes comprehensively cover our life as Christians. They are written in a progression that builds upon each another. Like swinging from monkey bars, we gain momentum as we grow into the next one. The first three give us our foundation - the roots of a godly life. The next three provide a picture of a life of godliness. The final three show us the fruit of our faith.

I have found some amazing teaching that has really helped me understand the Beattittudes in a way that I never have before. I am excited to share these truths with you about these nine verses. I am confident that you will see them in a whole new light and be encouraged and challenged by your newly found understanding of them.

Matt. 5:3-11 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Five Smooth Stones

I just finished teaching Sunday School on 1 Samuel. I have had the opportunity to teach my way through it several times now and it is definitely one of my favorite books of the Bible - certainly in the Old Testament.

The class that I taught is the oldest community at MBCC. They are great people. Very spiritually mature and full of comments and questions. I really enjoyed that interaction with them. Last week one of the ladies that always asks insightful questions asked me why the Bible specifically mentioned that David took “five smooth stones” for his battle with Goliath. I really didn’t know the answer but told her that I would look into it and get back with them this week.

After researching her question, I found that there wasn’t a clear answer but there was basically two theories that are suggested - both with an interesting common denominator. The one thing that seems to be clear, however, is there is no indication that by picking up five stones instead of one that David was doubting God. He never wavered in his belief that he would win this battle against the giant. He even had to passionately convince King Saul to let him fight. King Saul’s throne and the freedom of the whole Israelite nation depended on David’s success. It was the highest form of ‘winner take all.’

The first theory assumes that David was simply being prepared. David was an experienced hunter in his role as shepherd. He had defended his flock against all sorts of wild animals. He couldn’t have known that one stone would be enough to kill the giant. God had not promised that David would kill Goliath with the first stone. He trusted God with the result and believed that God would tell him exactly what to do and how - which is exactly what happened.

Others speculate that David chose five smooth stones because Goliath had four brothers and David was readying himself to have to contend with the other four after he killed the first. While this did not happen, we do know that David and his men faced four other giants in later battles.

The common denominator in both of the theories is the readiness of David. God had prepared and equipped David for this moment. As a man of great faith, David trusted in God’s preparation. He had experienced God’s faithfulness and had come to rely on it even as a young man. The Lord had delivered him out of dangerous situations in the past, proving His power and trustworthiness, and David relied on Him to deliver him from the Philistine. Whether it took one stone or five, David recognized that the power was not just in his sling but in the Lord.

Like David, God equips and prepares us for battles in life. We will all face them. We have walked with you through some of them. We don’t know the timing, scale or battleground we will be confronted with but David’s story is a great reminder that God will not put more on us than we can handle if our faith is in Him.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

The Armor Bearer

Jonathon was the son of King Saul - the first king of Israel. While Saul was deficient in godly character, Jonathon was not. He was a courageous man of faith. He helped lead Israel to several military victories but also was very close to another man of God - David. They were like brothers.

In 1 Samuel 14, we are told of a time when Jonathon and his “armor bearer” take on 20 Philistines and slaughter them. This was at the same time that Saul and the rest of the Israelite army were afraid and in hiding because they were so outnumbered by the imposing Philistines. The rout by these 2 brave and faithful men led to God’s intervention and a total victory that day for the Israelites over the Philistines.

An “armor bearer” was not just a random person that was selected to assist those in the royal family with their armor. They were selected because of their bravery, trustworthiness and savvy as warriors. They were the best of the best and were charged with arming, protecting, and guiding their master in the battlefield.

In this particular story the “armor bearer” is mentioned several times but his name is never given. He is a nameless hero doing his duty with excellence. It struck me that this nameless person is like most of us. While our names may not be in the history books one day, we all have a role to play as “armor bearers.” We also have “armor bearers” of our own - those that bear arms for us.

While there aren’t physical armor bearers today like Jonathon had - think of them in a figurative sense. Armor bearers are brave and loyal. They are prayer warriors who offer support, guidance, protection and encouragement. In that light, for whom are you an armor bearer? Spouse, children, friends, other family members? We should all “bear armor” for others. How are we doing in this role?

We also have those that “bear armor” for us - both past and present. Have we shown gratitude to them for this important role in our lives. The impact and example that these “armor bearers” have set enable us to go and do the same for others.

Bear arms for those in your care and show gratitude for those who “bear arms” for you.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

NIL - Name, Image & Likeness - 3 of 3

Likeness is the word for the day as we complete our study on Christian NIL - name, image & likeness. Likeness is similar to image but goes further into the specific attributes of Christ.

The word Christlikeness was created to describe how we should model and "live like Jesus." But what does that really mean? We know Jesus in two different ways - the documented stories on His life in the Bible and from our personal relationship with Him. How do we craft all of that into a “likeness” that we should try to resemble?

The Apostle Paul does this for us. He summarizes Christlikeness in Galatians 5:22-23 in nine words: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These "fruits of the Spirit" provide some very clear definition around the qualities which Christians are called to cultivate. These nine traits don’t simplify the sanctification process for us, but they do provide recognizable character targets we should aim for. We really don’t have to look any further than these.

In contrast are the “sins of the flesh.” They are outlined in the verses immediately preceding the “fruits of the Spirit” passage. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Which of these sets of qualities best define our lives - the fruit of the spirit or the sins of the flesh? While we all have some of both of them present, hopefully we are growing more in Christlikeness and the fruits of the Spirit. We’ll never be truly Christlike in this life but there should be a good trajectory of growth if we are pursuing the things of God.

Aim at heaven and you get the earth thrown in, aim at earth and you will get neither. C.S. Lewis

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt 5:6

NIL - Name, Image & Likeness - 2 of 3

Image. We are made in the image of God. This is not a readily easy concept to understand. The only physical sightings that anyone has of God are His son Jesus - 2000 years ago. Being made in the “image” of God means that we were made to resemble God. This seems confusing because “God is spirit” and therefore exists without a body. How could we be made in His image?

On the last day of creation, God said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” What this means is that he is distinguishing humanity from the other parts of his creation. Unlike the rest of the material earth and animals, humanity has both a material body and an immaterial soul/spirit.

Our likeness to God refers to the immaterial or spiritual part of humanity. It sets humans apart from the animal world. God gave us dominion over the earth and enables us to have a relationship with Him. No other part of His creation has that. The likeness to Him is mentally, morally, and socially.

Mentally, human beings are able to reason and choose. This reflects God’s intellect and freedom. Being made in God’s image gives us freedom to make free choices. Although they were given a righteous nature, Adam and Eve made an evil choice to rebel against their Creator. In so doing, they marred the image of God within themselves, and passed that damaged likeness on to all their descendants. Today, we still bear the image of God, but we also bear the scars of sin.

Morally, humanity was created in righteousness and innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness. God saw all He had made and called it “very good”. Our conscience (moral compass) is a legacy of that original state.

Socially, humanity was created for community. This exists on two levels - fellowship with God and with others. The Christian life is intended to be lived in fellowship with both God and His people.

We are now in a fallen state in need of a Savior. The good news is that when God redeems us, He begins to restore in us the original image of God. Scripture tells us that we put on the new self, created in God’ image.

Ephesians 4:22-24 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

NIL - Name, Image & Likeness - 1 of 3

NIL which stands for - Name, Image & Likeness - is all the rage in college athletics right now. It is a new ruling that allows college athletes to receive money for their stardom. There are some good things about it but, like so many things in this world, it is completely out of control. That is another topic for another day.

Name, Image & Likeness “NIL” is also a spiritual issue for each of us to consider. Christian NIL is the version that deals with the core of who we are as people. For the next three weeks I want to dive into this very relevant topic.

Name. We were all named as newborns. In some cultures, names were given because they had specific meanings. In our culture, we are typically given a name either because we are being named after someone or the parents just happen a like a certain name. Our names don’t define our identity, they merely identify us as individuals.

Identity is something that we all have to work out for ourselves. What do we want our identity to be? How do others see our identity? People try many things - consciously and sub-consciously. Some get their identity from their favorite school. For example, they claim to be a Clemson man (keeping things neutral, ha.) Or maybe one’s identity comes through their career or a hobby like golf. Identities are created out of our passions. What are we most passionate about?

There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying our school, hobbies and career, but we can’t allow these things to define our identity. None of these false identities travel well with all of the varied roles that we have in life - sons/daughters, husbands/wives, workers/students, parents etc… It would be absurd to try connect one of of the false identities to these roles. A Clemson husband or a golfer Dad doesn’t give appropriate identity to the role. It would even diminish the role in many cases.

As followers of Christ, we have been given a name - Christians. We all take on this same name as part of our walk with the Lord. The name gives is an identity. It identifies us with Christ both publicly and privately. As our core identity, it travels with us in every role throughout our lives - Christian son/daughter, Christian husband/wife, Christian worker/student, Christian parent.

A Christian identity travels very well. Unlike the other aforementioned identities, it also enhances every role we find ourselves in. It creates a stable, unchanging and consistent identity that doesn’t rise and fall on worldly achievements or performance. If Christ is our ultimate passion, then our identity is always rooted in him.

It’s a lot of pressure to try to build and sustain an identity on our own. When the performance of those identities don’t go well, we are crushed under the weight of the collapse. That is why there is so much despair in our culture - apart from Christ. An identity in Christ is received not achieved. What a relief!

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Showing Up

The theme at this year’s Lifeline retreat was “showing up.” It was about answering the question of “how can we show up for vulnerable children and families?”

This event always impacts me in a few different ways. I come away inspired by the selflessness of the staff that pours their lives into trying to answer God’s call to care for vulnerable. I come away with great respect and admiration for the families that have taken on the lifelong commitment of adoption. I come away with gratitude for the amazing family that I have and all of the blessed opportunities that I have had in life. Lastly, I come away with a burden. A burden to show up and help those that cannot help themselves.

Jerry Leachman is the dynamic former Chaplain for the Washington Redskins. I have heard him speak a few times and my favorite quote of his is - “You can fake caring in life, but you can’t fake showing up.” How true - and convicting.

There are many “concerns” that we hear about on a regular basis. Prayer requests, the latest crises, and ongoing injustices like the global orphan epidemic are just some of the things that hit our radar on a daily or weekly basis. We can all feel overwhelmed with the volume of items that should occupy some level of interest on our part.

We ultimately all have to decide “who and what” each of us want to show up for. These aren’t always easy decisions but no one can make them for us.

God doesn’t always work through those that have the most ability. More often he works through those with the most “availability.” Are we available for those that we want to show up for?

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Game of Thrones

Lordship can big a big issue in our quest for spiritual growth. We can recognize Jesus as the Ruler of the universe but not, necessarily, Lord of our own lives. We can be converted but not submitted.

Lordship is a daily issue for us - a never ending game of thrones. Who is going to sit on the throne in our lives? One of the reasons that it is such a challenge is that we have to be willing to dethrone ourselves.

Would we really want to trust ourselves with the throne anyway? It’s a huge responsibility. We’ve probably all tried that at different points in our lives. I know that it’s never worked out very well for me.

Where do people turn when they realize they can’t handle the throne? We live in the most prosperous and developed nation in the history of the world and yet, drugs, alcohol abuse and suicide are at all time highs. These are people that have full control of the throne, yet are unfulfilled and unsatisfied.

We battle over the throne because we think we know what is better for us than God does. We see this play out with children sometimes. We give them boundaries because we love them and are trying to protect them. Why do we resist God when He tries to do the same thing for us? There is a purpose behind His call for obedience.

Lordship is not a requirement for salvation, it’s the evidence of salvation. A saving faith produces a new Lord in our lives. That is not to say that we won’t battle over authority at times, but ultimately, followers of Christ recognize Jesus as Lord.

We will struggle to grow if we are locked in a throne war. On the other hand, a submissive and humble spirit produces fertile ground for growth.

Stay humble & hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Growth

We all want spiritual growth in our lives. We go about it in different ways with mixed success. I am teaching on this subject for a few weeks and wanted to revisit it as it relates to “how” we grow. There are three keys points I want to make that help us understand what growth in Christ really means.

First, I love this quote about growth - “Healthy things grow and growing things change.” Notice that it all begins with health. A good lesson for us here is that our sights should not be set on growth, they should be set on health - spiritual health. If we are healthy, we will grow. And if we grow, we will see change. Our focus needs to be on health.

Secondly, we must realize that growth is not a destination - a place where we will arrive. Growth is a direction - a trajectory. If we combine this thought with our first point, it’s a healthy trajectory in our faith journey.

Lastly, let’s see what the Bible tells us about growth:

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

Peter instructs us to grow both “in grace” and “in knowledge” of Jesus. Growing in grace means that we will become more Christlike. Others will see in us more of the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace…) than the sins of the flesh (anger, envy, lust, sins of the tongue.) We won’t be perfect but that healthy trajectory will be evident to those around us.

Growing “in knowledge” speaks to a greater understanding of His Word, works and ways. This knowledge helps fuel our growth “in grace” as we seek to be imitators of Him.

True growth is centered in relational time with Jesus. Behavior management, sharper theology and better worship experiences are all great things but they are all moreso the results of a closer walk with Jesus than the path to get us there.

We have a call to holiness as followers of Christ. Holiness comes through growth. We should remember that holiness is not the path to Christ but Christ is the path to holiness.

Stay healthy,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Wintley Phipps

Wintley Phipps was born in Trinidad before his family immigrated to Canada at an early age. He became a profoundly gifted, yet unknown, baritone (bass) singer. In his early years of trying to launch a singing career, he recorded a few Christian songs with the hopes of getting discovered.

One day Wintley was on an airplane where he met a flight attendant. He noticed that she seemed particularly down so he gave her a cassette recording of his very first song – It Is Well With My Soul – with the hope that it would lift her spirits.

Soon thereafter, that same flight attendant had a man named Cliff Barrows on another one of her flights. She knew that Mr. Barrows was the Musical Director for the Billy Graham Crusades. She asked him if he had heard of Wintley and, unsurprisingly, he had not. She then reached in her purse and gave him the same cassette that Wintley had given her.

A few weeks later, Wintley received a call from Mr. Barrows and he offered him a job as a soloist with the Billy Graham Crusade. With one phone call Wintley went from an unknown artist to one who was heard around the world. His act of kindness and concern to the flight attendant had been repaid a thousand times over.

We are at our best when we are serving others. God made us that way. He uniquely gifted each of His people to be able to serve others. The joy that comes from blessing others can never be matched in serving ourselves.

Here is some great wisdom on serving others:

• The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. Billy Graham

• Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily. Saint Frances de Sales

• If you aim for only wealth, beauty, fame, & power, you aim too low. Humility, gentleness, gratitude, & service is aiming high. LeCrae

• The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Gandhi

• We can do no great things. Just small things with great love. Mother Teresa

Do yourself a favor and listen to Wintley Phipps on Spotify or You Tube sing It is Well With My Soul and His Eye Is on the Sparrow. You won’t be disappointed.

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Godly Leadership - Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A

I recently had the opportunity to go to a leadership conference at Highlands College and got to hear three great speakers give some thoughts about godly leadership. The speakers were Dan Cathy, President of Chick-fil-A, well-known author/speaker John Maxwell and Pastor Chris Hodges from Highlands. I thought that I would share some highlights from each over the next three weeks on the critically important topic of leadership. First up - Dan Cathy.

We all have great respect for CFA. We know that they serve great food but we also know that they have a culture that might be even more impressive than their food. This doesn’t happen by accident. CFA has been built over decades with godly leadership by godly people who operate under godly principles. As a result, they have been voted as the best fast food restaurant in the US for the umpteenth year in a row.

Here are three key thoughts about leadership and culture that Dan Cathy shared:

Caring shepherds smell like sheep. CFA has a culture of caring. This starts at the top of their organization and plays out all the way down to the point of service with their customers. This is the difference that we see each time we go. Each employee in encouraged to think of themselves as shepherds. Executives shepherd managers, managers shepherd staff, and staff shepherds customers. The concept of “smelling like sheep” helps make the point that in order to be an effective shepherd, one must care enough to be amongst their flock. You can’t shepherd from a distance.

Make the second mile - second nature. Going the “second mile” for others is based on the verse in Matthew 5:41 Whoever asks you to go one mile, go with him two. Doing more than expected wins customers for life. It also has a multiplication effect by setting a godly example for others to go and do the same. The Second Mile a powerful principle that shines brightly in a world that mostly wants to do just enough to get by.

Balancing Biblical values that never change with a world in constant change. CFA doesn’t rest on their laurels. They have 3000 locations and are in 48 states along with Puerto Rico and Canada. Yet, they are now headed to Singapore in 2024 and are making a big investment in technology to be able to do so. CFA is not afraid of progress, yet they are going to hold fast to the timeless Biblical principles that have guided them this far. While many other organizations have drifted away from their spiritual roots, CFA is just as grounded as ever to their guiding principles to take them forward.

I believe this prompts some key questions for each of us as we enter the new year:

1. Who is in your flock that you need to get closer to for you to effectively shepherd?

2. What does the “second mile” look like in the shepherding process for you?

3. Do your growth plans allow you to effectively adapt to the changing world around you but also maintain a Biblical foundation as the platform for your growth?

   Stay Hungry,

   Big E

   Matt. 5:6

A Fond Farewell to 2023

2023 was a special year. Some years will be remembered as more challenging than others but 2023 will go down as one of the best I can remember. It was a year of great health, milestones met and healthy change. Before we turn the page for 2024, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on some of the meaningful moments and thoughts from the past year.

Moments & Milestones

• Julie and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. A great marriage is a gift that keeps on giving. Julie is God’s gift to me. I passed the 30 year mark at McGriff starting at the ripe ole age of 29. We have been been in our wonderful home at 2022 Country Ridge Place for 25 years - moving in the year that Emily was born. Lastly, we found a new church home at MBCC that we are really thankful for.

• Paul is thriving at Eli Lilly and leading the charge on a very impactful new weight loss drug for his territory. Holcomb Ministries is flourishing with impact and growth under “Supermom” Catherine’s leadership (with Paul’s help) and expanding into new cities. Annie and Emma love their school and Emma is making great strides in her speech therapy. Bo had so many “firsts” that it’s hard to pick but catching that first fish with his Daddy is a forever memory.

• Will and Kate welcomed baby Charlotte into the world back in March. There is nothing like the first year as parents and they are both doing a fantastic job. God has now blessed them with baby William who is to be born late next Summer. Will has really excelled at his work at SSP and made “partner” at a very young age. Kate is a natural and is thriving as a stay at home mom.

• William and Emily are now homeowners and moved in to their beautiful new home in December. They have also found a new church home at Church of the Highlands. Emily is a rock star at Briarwood Elementary as a permanent sub. All the kids want her to teach their class of course. William has a great job at H2 but is also a flurry of activity in looking for businesses to invest in which God will lead him to at the right time.

• Lauren loves Samford. She has an amazing friend group and is doing extremely well in school. She has fully embraced the charge of “getting an education and not just a degree.” She is also involved in many activities both on and off campus and using the many gifts she has to work with children. She has also found a church home at Redeemer and will be going with them on a mission trip to Cuba for Spring Break.

  7 Best Thoughts from 2023

• Reject lukewarm living by staying near the fire.

• We are “saved” which brings us joy. We are “being saved” which brings us refinement. We “will be saved” which brings us hope.

• We can rationalize our way into sin but we cannot rationalize our way out of the storms that our sins bring.

• Family never gets in the way - family is the way.

• If you are too busy to pray then you are busier than God wants you to be.

• Idolatry is the folly of asking that which is a gift to become a giver. Idols are takers not givers.

• Our biggest problem in communication is that we don’t listen to understand; we listen to respond.

  Stay hungry in 2024,

  Big E

  Matt: 5:6

Are You Ready for Christmas?

During the Advent season, each of us will be asked a certain question on probably at least one occasion: “Are you ready for Christmas?”

On the surface, it doesn’t seem to be a question of any real depth. We know the answers most people are looking for when they ask. Have you finished buying presents, decorating the house and getting the food ready?

If we take that question deeper as it relates to the real meaning of Christmas and the Advent season - what should our answer be as followers of Christ?

The word “Advent” originates from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” - the coming of Christ. The Advent season is actually designed not only for us to celebrate Christ’s birth but also to anticipate the fact that He is coming back again one day.

I think that the “coming back” aspect of the Advent season gets a little lost on us. His birth is certainly to be celebrated but the fact that He is coming back is as well.

Jesus’ birth brings our Savior to this world. His return will bring us to His world.

In light of His return, how then should we be prepared to answer the question - Are we ready for Christmas? As mature believers, we could respond with our theology - what we believe and why. Or maybe we can respond with our list of good deeds over the past year – our resume.

One of the beautiful things about the Advent season to me is the purity and simplicity of the message that it brings. The lessons from The Little Dummer Boy hold many of the answers:

Lesson 1 - We are all called to seek Jesus with a childlike faith.

Matthew 18:3-4  And Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Lesson 2 - We must come to Jesus in our poverty.

The boy came to Jesus in his poverty and identified with Jesus as “a poor boy too.” Two poor boys - a beautiful connection between him and the King of the universe. Neither had any earthly possessions at all – so simple, humble and pure.

We may have a nice resume of good deeds and try to live the “good Christian” life but we are all inadequate, broken and desperate for a Savior. This is our poverty.

Lesson 3 - The boy gave the best of all that he had to the King - his talent.

Do we do that? Do we give the “first fruits” of our time and talent to our Savior? God has blessed us and equipped us each uniquely. Do we fully understand our unique giftedness and how to use those gifts as the hands and feet of Christ?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Lesson 4 - Each of our lives a certain tenor to them. We are all beating our drums each day as we live our lives. What are others hearing from us? How are our lives speaking to them - the flavor, message and substance.

Are we ready for Christmas?!? Hopefully, we all have some “Little Drummer Boy” in us.

Merry Christmas,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

The Sounds of Christmas

We all have our attachments to the sights and sounds of the Christmas season. Christmas music is certainly one of the key pieces for each of us. Personally, I have to be really ready for Christmas music before I can listen to it. My timetable is a little different each year but when I’m ready, I’m ready.

While I definitely love a great rendition of my favorites like O Holy Night, the unquestionable peak of the Christmas season is Hallelujah in Handel’s Messiah. There is nothing like the power and majesty of that song. The Christmas season just wouldn’t be complete without hearing it a few times - especially with a live choir.

The lyrics of the Messiah come, primarily, from the following passage in Isaiah that point prophetically to the coming of Christ over 700 years before His birth:

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This verse introduces the “throne names” for Christ - Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each name is very important in our faith and are interdependent yet interconnected. In other words, He is either all of them or none of them. Only God’s son could fill this throne.

As our Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is not our therapist, but instead is our “Helper” who comes along beside us. We are told this in several places in scripture - particularly in the Gospel of John. As our “Helper,” He provides trustworthy wisdom and daily direction in our lives through that guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Though Jesus would be a descendant of the mighty warrior, King David, he would not be merely a human king but a divine ruler. The name Mighty God means “God is a warrior.” God himself would step into the battle and fight for his people. We need the strength found in a Mighty God to fight these battles. Left to our own, we could not win against such forces of evil, but with Christ we are more than conquerors.

In ancient times, a king was considered the royal father of the nation. The name Everlasting Father does not mean the Father of the Trinity, but a father in terms of being a caring protector of his people. This ruler-to-come would watch over and protect his people. And unlike any of Israel’s previous kings, this king’s dynasty would never come to an end; his is an everlasting rule.

The Christmas season brings songs of peace - something all humanity longs for. Ever since the fall in the Garden, the world has hungered peace. While most earthly rulers strive to maintain peace, this Prince of Peace will usher in real and lasting peace. Through his perfect life and sacrificial death, Jesus Christ would bring peace between man and God. He makes a way for God’s people to come into his presence once again.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

Peace,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

The Light of Christmas has Dawned

Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the Messiah over 700 years before Christ’s birth. The most well known scripture is the foretelling of the Messiah is found in Isaiah 9:6-7:

9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end

However, it is in verse 9:2 where Isaiah introduces the idea of a new King:

9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah is using the sun as an illustration for the coming of Christ. Teachers and writers often use familiar objects like the sun to help us understand unfamiliar concepts. Here are a few important points to consider from the passage:

• People were “walking in darkness.” Darkness refers both to evil in the world and the ignorance of those who lived in it. It’s really not much different than today. We have an abundance of evil in the world but there is also a lot of ignorance as to what can save people from the darkness.

• “A light has dawned.” The light did not originate from the earth. It came from the outside - just like the sun comes from outside to illuminate the earth. The critical connection to make here is that the Light that we all need is not sourced from the earth. People look to all sorts of things for answers and to “save them” - intellect, technology, finances etc… But, none of those things provide the lasting peace and illumination that they are looking for. Each may offer some temporary measure of hope but their flame will eventually fizzle out.

• Jesus is the Light. The message of Christianity is that things really are dark on this earth and we can’t save ourselves. However, there is hope - “A Light has dawned.” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Darkness cannot overcome light - Light wins!

Jesus is the Light for us when all of the other earthly lights go out. We get to stand on His record and not our own broken one. God sent the “dawn” - His son Jesus - to the earth to move closer to us. What can we do this Christmas season to move closer to Him?

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Today

Someone posted this new Holiday season video from Chevrolet. It’s the best TV commercial that I have ever seen. I don’t know if it will be played on TV because its about 5 1/2 minutes long. Even though it’s not an overtly Christian message, it contains many truths of the Christmas season. A Holiday to Remember - Chevrolet

Today is all we have. Life is a gift. This is a great reminder to be fully present in all of the moments of life. I hope you enjoy it and wish you a super blessed week.

Love, Big E

An Unshakable Future - Part 2 of 2

Barnsley 2023

There was a well known ad campaign back in the 90’s by American Express - Membership has its Privileges. It was one of those catchy slogans that has stayed around for a long time. I’m going to borrow it for this blog.

Regarding our theme of an unshakable future, membership does have its privileges as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Since we are saved, we know that we will go to heaven when our time on this earth ends. But, citizenship in God’s kingdom has many benefits that we get to enjoy now - the forgiveness of our sins, Christian community, our Helper (Holy Spirit) and wisdom from God. We are also promised that we cannot be separated from God’s unconditional love.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire.

For these blessings, this passage from Hebrews tells us that we should live in continuous “gratitude” for this incredible gift. It also tells us that we should also offer to God “acceptable worship with reverence and awe.” So, is a life of gratitude and acceptable worship a requirement for salvation? No, it’s the evidence of salvation.

Do our lives reflect a grateful and worshipful heart? We might be uncertain as to exactly what that is supposed to look like for each of us. However, it is something that we recognize in others. We know it when we see it. Do others see it in us? Membership has its privileges but membership also has its responsibilities. Live gratefully - worship deeply.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

An Unshakable Future - Part 1

It was such an amazing weekend at Barnsley! Julie and I are so thankful to have had these days with yall. Thanks for being there and making it such a special time!

We didn’t have the opportunity for our devotional this AM so I thought that I would just write it out for the blog this week and next. Here is the passage that I wanted to reference:

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire.

There is a lot going on in the world right now - including the latest instability of the war in Israel. I can imagine that each of you have pondered the thought of what our nation and world is going to look like in the future - both for yourselves and your children. Every generation asks these same questions but it seems like a more compelling question than at any point in my lifetime. Regarding our nation and the world, no one really knows the future of course. However, as Christians, we take comfort in knowing how the story ultimately ends. Scripture tells us this. What we don’t know is how things are going to play out between now and then.

Traveling gives you a richer perspective of time and place. By learning more about the past, we get a more accurate view of the present. With our recent travels, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about many great civilizations - the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Spanish Empire, the British Empire, the Persian Empire and so on. I can only imagine that each of these civilizations could never have envisioned a time when their role as the dominant nation would end. As Americans, we have difficulty imagining a time when we are not the dominant global nation. The thought of it is unsettling to us all.

This passage above from Hebrews acknowledges the fact that every civilization that will ever exist on this earth will fall one day. It will either fall before Jesus returns like so many of them already have, or it will fall when He returns. God’s kingdom is the only one that “cannot be shaken.”

From a personal standpoint, its’ important to look at the areas in our lives that captivate most of our time and attention - relationships, health, career, possessions, hobbies/interests. All of these can and will be “shaken” at some point. That doesn’t mean that they are bad things but it does mean that each of them need to be held in proper balance with a kingdom mindset. Are any of these things idols in our lives? Or do we treat them as gifts that are under our godly stewardship.

It’s interesting that the same thing can be a gift in our lives or an idol. Gifts that we steward are blessings bringing us joy and fulfillment. Idols are takers that drain us. Idols promise but ultimately fail to deliver and what they do deliver comes with diminishing returns. We’ll eventually need more than they can provide before moving on to something else offering the even greater deceptions.

What are you clinging to that is “shakable” in your life? Do you view it as a gift to be stewarded or have you made it into an idol that drains us? In order to live with a kingdom mindset, we all have to continually assess and make adjustments on these from time to time.

Stay hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6

Barnsley

Well, we have all traveled a few miles in our lives since this picture from our first family Fall gathering at Honeywood. Julie and I are very excited about all getting together at Barnsley in Adairsville, GA this coming weekend. It is a beautiful property and it should be a fabulous Fall weekend up there. The weather forecast looks fantastic!

I wanted to give you an overview of the weekend. We are staying in the Kingston Cottage which is a 6 bedroom house right in the main village. There are tons of activities at Barnsley. Please look on the website and see if there is anything that you want to book in advance like a spa reservation. Let me know ASAP on this please. The schedule right now looks like this:

Friday (keep in mind that this is Eastern Time)

12:30 Golf (Mark, Will, Paul, William)

4:00 Check in at Kingston - We will try to get an earlier check-in

7:00 Dinner at Woodlands Grill

Saturday

8:10 Golf (for those that want to play)

11:00 (or best time based on nap schedule) Family Meeting - topics to cover: Amelia, Lifeline, Holcomb Ministries, LIV update, prayer requests

Day/Night - Any activities that anyone wants to do, lots of football to watch, plenty of food to graze on.

Sunday

AM Devotional - An Unshakable Future, Hebrews 12:28-29

See yall on Friday!

Stay Hungry,

Big E

Matt. 5:6