Walking With Jesus

Love One Another

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” (John 13:34:35 NLT)

Some of my deepest hurt and most long-lasting pain has been inflicted by fellow believers. And the frightening thing to me is, it’s not that uncommon in the Body of Christ, but why? A couple possible scenarios come to mind.

First, could we be so focused on the lost we lose sight of how important it is to treat our fellow believers with respect and dignity? A similar thing can happen in our literal families. We can get so engrossed in our service to people we hardly know, we lose sight of those in our families that are needing our attention and “ministry”.

It’s a common phenomenon in Pastoral ministry, especially in small churches. Constituents see the Pastor as their personal “concierge” believing the Pastor should be at their beck and call any hour of the day or night. And the tragedy is, many Pastors of small churches fall prey to their selfish demands, as I did, believing it is our sacred duty to “serve the flock.” It saddens me because it took me so long to learn how to deal with that.

But secondly, in the Body of Christ it seems we feel we’re in competition with our fellow believers, that if they get recognition, so should we; after all, “Isn’t our service to Christ just as important as theirs?” It’s a sad commentary on our understanding of Biblical Truth. Jesus said clearly in the above verse that the way He loves us is our goal and ambition in loving others, not our comparative performance.

As a Pastor I loved to recognize the hard work and effective service of those in my congregation, but it was always at the risk of alienating someone who might feel that slighted. It was never my intention, but it seemed to always be an issue. But I’m also reminded of the effect our “hurt feelings” have, not only on others in our own congregations, but on those who are watching from a distance.

Phil Wing reminds us that “Loving other Christians is one of the most missional and evangelistic things a Christian can do.” We often lose sight of who might be watching, not only our individual lives, but the corporate lives of our church. The first congregation I served as a Senior Pastor was surrounded by homes in a small neighborhood in Kentucky.

As I knocked on door after door of my neighbors it was revealing how much they knew about the church and of our “comings and goings”, some accurate, some not so much. Unfortunately, people outside the church are often looking for excuses to stay away and the slightest morsel of gossip they can stir up regarding conflict among the “saints”, is fuel for their “fire”.

The truth is, loving one another well begins as we humble ourselves before the Lord, seeking His strength, courage, wisdom, and guidance in loving others like He loves us – unconditionally, openly, freely, with grace, wisdom, and understanding. He doesn’t judge us at the first sign of misunderstanding, but guides, informs, equips, and walks with us as we live out the implications of whatever issue it is.

The more we personally seek to live and walk in the likeness of our Savior, the easier it will be to love like Him. And the better job we do at loving others in the Body of Christ, the more effective will be our witness to those who are watching from the proverbial “fringes”.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

A Letter to My Neighbor

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”’” (Mark 12:29-31 NLT)

Today I will share with you a letter I wrote to a neighbor with whom I’d had a conversation a few days before. He is an atheist and very closed to anything regarding the Christian Faith. I had a brief video by an atheist who had committed his life to the Lord that I wanted to show him, but he shut me down and said: “I’m not interested in seeing it.” We talked for several minutes, but I continued to be frustrated by my inability to formulate my thoughts and respond to his questions. Afterwards, I felt like I’d failed God and literally cried over my “failure” to get through to Him.

But after my brief “pity party” ended, the Lord explained to me that while our conversation was disappointing to me, it went exactly as He’d planned it would and that I should just trust Him to do what only He can do in my neighbor’s heart and life. What follows today is what the Lord gave me as a follow-up to that conversation. It’s lengthy, but I believe it’s better to let you read it in its entirety than to break it up over two days.

I’m sharing it for two reasons. First, the Lord prompted me to share it, but, secondly, I believe it may give you some material to use in reaching those who are lost in your spheres of influence. I sincerely appreciate the time you take to read these articles and pray this letter will prove helpful to you. Blessings, Ed 😊

So, here is what I wrote:

Thanks for the time you took to speak with me a few days ago, it was disappointing to me in some respects, but very helpful. As you quickly learned, I don’t think well on my feet and struggled to make sense of any kind of reasonable answer to your many questions. But as I ponder our conversation, it seems odd to me that you shut down the idea of God so easily, as He is the One who gives you the capacity to question Him in the first place.

Just because you don’t believe something doesn’t make it not true. For centuries people thought the earth was flat, but it didn’t make it true, there were just things they didn’t yet know or understand. One day, on this side of eternity or the other, you’ll understand. I sincerely hope and pray it’s on this side.

Of all of God’s Creation, mankind is the only one who has the capacity to think, to reason, to question and to decide our own fate. And the irony is, our ability to ask is only half the equation. We fail to have the ability to understand the overall plans of God. They can only be given by revelation of His Spirit. An answer you don’t yet believe but is nonetheless true.

You asked me where hell or heaven is? While this isn’t the whole answer, there is a sense in which they are extensions of what we choose to believe while we’re here on earth. What does that mean? It means, on the one hand, though I have a debilitating illness, I choose to believe that’s just part of the deal. Why shouldn’t I get sick? I’m a human being, and human beings are all going to die…of something! Why not Alzheimer’s? But sickness, suffering, and death here on earth are only a very small part of the equation which will be explained and eliminated on the other side. I don’t question the Lord; I’ve learned to trust His judgment and believe what He says in the Bible is true. I’m staking my eternal life on it and so should you.

But, unlike other species of creation who will also die, we have a choice as to what happens, not only after we die, but before. Many people, like yourself, are walking, talking dead people. You have physical life, but your soul is dead. You can’t understand spiritual truth because it’s only given to those who are willing to believe God exists and ask for His revelation of what is true.

I know, that seems hard and, in some respects, seems like a copout, but it’s Biblically accurate and fully true. The whole of Scripture is a picture of life on planet earth and the forces of good and evil and what happens when evil wins (in this life) and when good conquers (in the next). We’re not basically good as some people believe. We’re evil to the core and incapable of sustaining any measure of goodness without God. The Bible says, as you may recall: “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10) (He had mentioned to me that he’d read the Bible)

Why is that? Because we’ve chosen our own way over God’s and the sad truth is, hell isn’t some horrible place God makes us go when we die, it’s the eternal state of life we choose for ourselves in this life that extends into the next. The only difference will be, after we die our spiritual “eyes” will be opened, and we’ll finally understand what we ignored and rejected when we had the chance in this life. If you want a picture of this, check out Luke 16:19-31. It’s not pretty, but it’s where you’re heading and that breaks my heart. If you don’t have a Bible, Google it.

Please don’t allow Satan to blind you to what’s true. What you believe is the accumulation of a lot of information you’ve gathered and accepted as true over the years as you’ve sought to deal with a lifetime of things you haven’t liked and didn’t understand and you’ve turned to human reasoning to find answers. There are no lasting answers except in God’s Word, the Bible. Don’t allow the pain you’ve suffered to harden your heart to the only true and living answer – faith and hope in the Lord Jesus.

Please read the Bible again, beginning in the Gospel of John in the New Testament. John was Jesus’ best earthly friend, the one to whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mom when He was murdered. John’s writings reflect His firsthand account of what life was like when Jesus walked the earth. He’s the only one of the original twelve disciples who died of natural causes, but he’s also the author of The Revelation, the last Book in the Bible that explains in figurative language what’s going to happen when life ends on this planet.

The other 10 original disciples, besides Judas who hanged himself because of his betrayal of Jesus, all died as martyrs, unwilling to deny that Jesus was exactly who He said He was – God’s Son, God poured into human flesh who walked among us and showed us firsthand what God is really like. Those men were not morons; they were men ignited by a love of God that only comes through faith in what and Whom is True. Would you die for something you knew was a lie?

Please read John, then go back to Matthew (also an original disciple who gives his firsthand account of Jesus’ life and gave his life in death for his faith), the first book in the New Testament, then read straight through the New Testament, including John again, in a modern speech translation. The New Living Translation is the best, it’s the one I use for my daily reading. I will gladly buy you a new Bible if you’ll agree to read it or you can download a free Bible app that has multiple versions. As I said, I like the NLT.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Please. What if I’m right? (You know in your heart that I am 😊)

It may seem corny to you, but I love you and it grieves me to think of being in heaven without you. I’ve walked with the Lord for more than 60 years. I’ve heard all the arguments for and against belief in God and I’ve chosen to put my faith in the One whom I’ve come to know as real, alive, and trustworthy. You’ve asked me, “How can I be sure?” Because I speak with Him every day and He speaks to me, primarily through the Bible, but in more personal ways also. He’s the One who has guided me in writing these words for you.

With love and respect,

Your neighbor and friend,

Ed 😊 (I also included my phone number)

P.S. I have one small favor. When I die, will you come to my funeral? It’s all I ask. I believe it will give you insight you can gain in no other way why I believe what I believe and why I’ve been so persistent in wanting you to believe it too. My wife will let you know when that time comes. I can’t wait! 😊

Pastor Son’s Trial and the Crisis in South Korea

By: John Stonestreet

*Realizing I’m using the Colson Center a lot lately, please understand two things: (1) the vital nature of this article and (2) the privilege we have to respond in support of this man of God and his family, but also (3) to become better informed as we pray for him and our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering across our world today. It is coming to the U.S.A. and in some ways is already here, but if we neglect to support our Faith family across the world today who will there be to support us tomorrow? And “yes” I signed the petition. Blessings, Ed 😊

A few thousand worshippers at last week’s Sunday service at Segero Church in the city of Busan South Korea sang loudly, “All my life, you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good …. I will sing of the goodness of God.” The song is appropriate for a congregation that has grown so dramatically from about 20 members a few decades ago to a 23-acre campus buzzing with life and activity. After the service, dozens of church members prepared free lunch for everyone who wished to stay, as they do every week. This practice, an elder told me, makes it possible for the church to also offer meals for the wedding celebrations that take place at Segero Church nearly every weekend, at no charge to the marrying couples. It is an essential way for the church to address the crisis of the nation’s declining marriage and fertility rates, among the lowest in the world, though you would not know it from the hundreds of young people gathered at the stage to sing each service. Last year, the church also started a Christian school.

And yet, since August, the lead pastor of Segero Church has been in prison, accused by the government of election interference. I visited Pastor Son, hoping to encourage him. Instead, he encouraged me, and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word. He gave me courage, like he has for his three children, who advocate on his behalf; the elders and pastors of the church, some of whom are also being targeted by the state; and his wife, who spends most nights sleeping and praying at the church. Meanwhile, during the time he has been imprisoned, Pastor Son has written a book and is sharing the Gospel with his fellow inmates.

It may be that Pastor Son, in his zeal to speak out against the current administration’s progressive, socialist, and pro-LGBTQ platform, violated the letter of South Korean law. At best, that might merit a fine. Instead, he has been arrested, threatened with 16 charges, held in jail pending his trial, and faces significant prison time. The intent of the government is clear. Like the state of Colorado did for Jack Phillips, the process is the punishment. It is meant to elicit fear and silence dissent.

I asked if the government’s attempts at intimidation was working, or if other pastors and Christians were speaking out. Many had spoken out, I was told. But many others had not. They, like many Americans, believe that Christians should avoid politics altogether.

Of course, Christians just across the border in communist North Korea have no luxury of even having an opinion. There, I learned from a tour guide, a Bible will earn you a lifetime sentence in a hard labor camp. There is no freedom, religious or otherwise. There’s also not enough food.

South Korea, on the other hand, is an economic miracle. Industry, infrastructure, and innovation abound. Seventy-five years after the communist North invaded the free South, the results are in, and it’s not even close. South Koreans have every reason to sing of the goodness of God. And that is why they also have every reason to be concerned by the outrageous treatment of Pastor Son, as well as the many other ways the current party in power is compromising religious freedom.

Years ago, Chuck Colson warned of alarming language being used by certain American political leaders. Instead of “religious freedom,” they referred to “freedom of worship.” There’s an essential difference, said Colson, between the freedom to order one’s public life around their deeply held convictions and merely allowing someone to believe what they want in their own heads, hearts, homes, and houses of worship. Thankfully, in the years since, American courts have consistently upheld true religious freedom, but not because progressive lawmakers, politicians, and judges haven’t tried their best to chip away at it.

This seems to be what is currently happening in South Korea. If it does happen, it will be because of both progressive lawmakers who hope to sideline any religious resistance to their agenda and because of Christians who were willing to have their convictions sidelined. And it would be a tragedy.

Please pray for Pastor Son, his wife, and his children. Please pray for the leaders and members of Segero Church, that they would remain faithful and courageous during this time. Please pray for his trial and sentencing, which is scheduled for the end of this month. And please consider signing the petition launched by the Christian Broadcasting Network, asking our government to speak out on behalf of Pastor Son.

Are we losing our civilization?

John Stonestreet joined Dr. Al Mohler on “In the Library” to discuss the crisis of truth in our society, the Truth Rising project, cultural engagement, the life and impact of Chuck Colson, society’s manhood crisis, surrogacy, the apologetic of Christian marriage, religious liberty challenges, and more.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPxpk-9JJyc

When Life Caves In

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (John 16:20-22 NLT)

A dad told the story of his little boy, maybe six years old, who upon seeing his old neighbor sitting alone crying on his porch following the death of his wife, told his dad he was going to go over and visit his neighbor. He was gone for quite a while, but upon his return his dad asked him: “Son, what did you say to our neighbor?” To which the little boy responded, “Oh, nothin’, I just sat down beside him, held his hand and helped him cry.”

When times are hard and pain is deep, we don’t need explanations, we need someone to comfort us with presence, not words; after all, isn’t that what the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, does? Paul addresses this in Romans 8:26-27 when he writes: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

Photo by Karolina Grabowska http://www.kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

And the beauty of this process is, the Holy Spirit, as He did with the little boy above, guides, empowers, and enables us to sit with those who are hurting and keep our mouths shut, except to silently pray. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4: “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Bob Benson, who died much too soon, whom God had filled with sensitivity and wisdom far beyond his years wrote: “When life caves in, you do not need reasons – you need comfort. You do not need some answers – you need someone. Jesus does not come to us with an explanation – He comes to us with His presence.” Some of his books are still available on Amazon and I highly recommend you check them out. My favorites were “Come Share the Being”, “Laughter in the Walls,” “He Speaks Softly,” and “Something’s Going on Here.” Shortly after his passing his publisher made available “The Stories Bob Benson Used to Tell” that is also still available.

Reading books that point us to Jesus is important in our growth and development as a believer. Even as my Alzheimer’s progresses, I’m always reading at least two good books in addition to my daily reading and searching Scriptures. What are you feeding your heart, mind, and spirit? What’s the focal point of your thoughts when no one is looking? What we think about comes about, so whatever it is, it will show up in how we speak and live. It’s a law, we can’t prevent it, for good or ill.

Why is this important? Because when life caves in we have a reflex mode to which we retreat that will either lead us straight to Jesus, despair or someplace in between. Where is it for you? If it’s not immediately into the arms of your loving Savior, why not correct that right now. Tap on this link and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through a brief, but powerful explanation of how to know you’re walking with the Lord. You’ll be eternally grateful.

Blessings, Ed 😊

30 Distinguishing Marks of a Godly Home (Part 3 of 3)

By Trent Griffith

*If you missed parts 1 or 2, please go back and read them before going further. Blessings, Ed 😊

18. Where local church participation is a priority.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

19. Where hospitality is offered generously.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9).

20. Where all God’s image bearers are welcomed and honored.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

21. Where joy and laughter are abundant.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

22. Where thankfulness occasionally produces spontaneous singing and dancing.

“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

23. Where tears are allowed without shame.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5).

24. Where learning never ends.

“Know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

25. Where the first portion of the family income is given back to God.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

26. Where every family member contributes to the care and keeping of the home.

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).

27. Where families seek the well-being of their neighborhoods and communities.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

28. Where families use their resources to meet the needs of those who are under-resourced.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

29. Where every family member’s unique design is celebrated and utilized.

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5).

30. Where a family uses its home to build other godly homes.

“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

*Trent is the Vice President of Content Development for FamilyLife and speaks frequently with his wife, Andrea, at Family Life’s Weekend to Remember^® marriage getaways. Prior to joining FamilyLife, he planted and pastored Gospel City Church in Granger, IN for 13 years. He and Andrea also spent 15 years as conference speakers with Life Action Ministries. Trent is a graduate of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis. They have four children and live in Orlando, FL.

30 Distinguishing Marks of a Godly Home (Part 2 of 3)

By Trent Griffith

*If you missed part 1, please go back and read it before going further. Blessings, Ed 😊

6. Where covenant love builds intimate and durable marriages.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (Hebrews 13:4).

7. Where godly husbands love their wives by laying down their lives.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

8. Where godly wives love their husbands through support and encouragement.

“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).

9. Where godly parents raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

10. Where children are welcomed as a gift from the Lord.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3).

11. Where humility and dependency on God are expressed.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10).

12. Where family members attempt to outdo one another in showing honor.

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).

13. Where widows and orphans are cared for.

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).

14. Where truth is spoken in love.

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25).

15. Where patience and kindness permeate the attitudes and atmosphere.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

16. Where sin is frequently confessed.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

17. Where forgiveness is frequently sought and granted.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

360 DEVOTIONS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE ON THE DAYS YOU FEEL LIKE IT (AND THE ONES YOU DON’T)

30 Distinguishing Marks of a Godly Home (Part 1 of 3)

By Trent Griffith

*This 3-part series from Family Life is literally packed with Scripture-driven help for marriages and families. Please avail yourself of this wealth of information and share it widely. Blessings, Ed 😃

A godly home is like an embassy of heaven. Whoever steps into a godly home should sense the influence of Christ. They should see evidence of other-worldly power. They should hear words and music that reflect words and music currently filling heaven. A godly home should make those who live and visit there homesick for heaven.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis put it this way, “We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort.” The sort of homes God wants are godly homes.

There are no perfect homes because there are no perfect families. Godly homes are often occupied by blended families, single parents, and husbands and wives facing difficult realities. But God can turn any home into a godly home when He is passionately pursued.

Godly homes are…

1. Where there is a foundation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

2. Where Jesus is worshiped above all competing loyalties.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

3. Where the Bible is read, spoken, and obeyed.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

4. Where prayers for one another and with one another are offered and answered.

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).

5. Where the Holy Spirit fills those who live there.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).

*Continued in tomorrow’s post.

Victorious Living

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NLT)

While our ultimate victory in Christ won’t be achieved until we pass from this life to the next, our ongoing oneness with Jesus now, in this life, gives us victory over sin and the hope of eternal life that motivates and enables us to live with hope and wholeness in this life. Does that mean we’ll never sin? Ideally, that’s our goal, but as long as we have flesh and blood, we’ll have the capacity to disobey God.

That’s why we must maintain vigilance in our walk with the Lord, ever sensitive to His leading, His Spirit’s presence working in and through us. But how is that even possible? It’s only possible if it’s our hearts longing and desire. When we determine to intentionally, joyfully, and enthusiastically make Jesus our central focus and center of our desires then everything else will take its place behind Him.

Is it easy? Of course not! Nothing of eternal value is ever easy. Will it take ongoing effort? Absolutely! Perseverance can only be developed through persevering 😊. What constitutes whether I’m victorious or not? How close are you to the Lord? Is your intimacy with Jesus ongoing, moment by moment, or are you constantly struggling to keep your focus on Him? Some teach it’s a “one-and-done” process, but I’ve not found that to be true in my life.

A term that has proven helpful to me is Surrender. Satan will hound us, especially in our mind, to think and ponder things that are displeasing to the Lord, but when we quickly surrender our inability to change our thoughts, the Spirit will intervene and refocus our attention on the Lord’s presence with us whatever we are doing. To me, that’s key, to never lose awareness of the Lord’s presence no matter what I might be doing, whether writing, working around the house, driving, in a meeting, speaking with someone, or anything else.

But isn’t it hard to concentrate on something and be aware of the Lord’s presence at the same time? At first, but over time we can deliberately remind ourselves to seek the Lord’s help during whatever it is. He will give us clues, particularly at a point of difficulty in whatever it is, or when it’s completed, we turn our thoughts to the Lord giving Him thanks for enabling us to finish the call, the project, or whatever it is. A simple question might be, how often would you forget your spouse was in your presence? Or your parent? Child?

Do we always succeed? No, we don’t, at least I don’t. It’s an ongoing process that demands continued effort. Does it get tiring? Not to me, it’s actually invigorating because each failure reinforces my desire to not fail in the future. Is it all on my shoulders? Of course not. It’s a partnership between me and the Spirit. It’s His holiness, not mine; His strength and empowerment, not mine; it’s His nudging and encouraging that keeps me on track.

Trevin Wax gives us insight when he writes: “The victorious Christian life isn’t the sinless life; it’s the repentant life.” Repentance is turning from whatever is causing separation between us and the Lord, whether it’s a thought or behavior, bringing it under submission to the authority of the Lord through believing prayer.

Victorious Christian living isn’t a goal we pursue; it’s a Person we love and enjoy. Jesus IS our life, so to the extent we grow ever closer to Him, to that extent we’ll be victorious in our life as a believer. But just to be crystal clear, victorious living isn’t accomplished through human endeavor, it’s a gift given in full cooperation with the Spirit.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The 12 Holocausts of 2025

By: John Stonestreet and Dr. Thaddeus Williams

*This article spoke to me, breaking my heart, but also challenging me to see things differently and think more clearly about how I must respond. Please read with an open heart. Blessings, Ed

The leading cause of death in 2025 was not heart disease, or cancer. In fact, it’s something entirely preventable.

According to the World Health Organization, 73 million humans died at the hands of a greedy abortion industry worldwide. That’s the equivalent of 12 Nazi Holocausts in a single year, more than two victims per second. That’s about 10 million more casualties than cardiovascular disease, cancer, Covid-19, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and indeed every other cause of human death combined in 2025.

An argument you’ve probably heard before is often used to justify this mass genocide: The preborn are merely a “clump of cells” and therefore don’t have the same right to life. This rhetoric has a long history. In Germany in the 1930s, Hitler and the Third Reich popularized Lebensunwertes Leben, “lives unworthy of life” to justify their mass extermination of Jews, dissenting Christians, and anyone else they deemed. This distinction between lives worth living and lives not worth living is always made, of course, by those who place their own lives in the “worth living” category.

The Tutsis in Rwanda were called Inyenzi, or “cockroaches.” KKK literature reduced blacks in the U.S. to “gorillas.” The two million victims of Khmer Rouge were deemed “microbes” who must be “swept aside” and “smashed.” White supremacists at the Unite the Right rally spoke of the “anti-white vermin.”

It’s not a jump then to call the 73 million victims of abortion mere “clumps of cells” instead of fellow humans to be dignified and protected as lives worth living. It’s a dark page torn from the same dehumanizing playbook.

The dehumanizing clump of cells argument—our generation’s version of Lebensunwertes Leben—has helped justify the elimination of nearly 100% of preborn humans with Down syndrome in Iceland, with up to 90% of those precious image bearers aborted in the U.S., over 160 million tiny female image bearers in Asia, with sex selective abortion rampant in the U.S., along with the termination of one-third of black image bearers in America since Roe v. Wade. Do we take Jesus seriously when he commanded (not suggested) that we care for “the least of these”?

The “clump of cells” rhetoric only works if we practice one of four forms of deadly discrimination. First, size-ism: I have more right to live than a preborn human because I am bigger. But as leading ethicists point out, “. . . the underlying science is clear. At fertilization a sperm (a male sex cell) unites with an oocyte (a female sex cell), each of them ceases to be, and a new entity is generated… .This is why it is correct to say that the developing human embryo is not “a potential human being” (whatever that might mean) but a human being with potential.“

The second form of discrimination is space-ism: I have more right to live than a preborn human until they are outside the mother’s womb. However, the only difference between a baby five seconds prior to and a second after birth is space—the location—which is an arbitrary foundation for personhood.

Third is what could be called self-sufficiency-ism: a human has no right to live if he or she cannot yet survive independent of the mother’s body. Yet a premature baby viable in a Los Angeles hospital may not be viable in the Amazon rainforests, given the availability of life-sustaining technologies. The level of technological sophistication in a given society seems to be an indefensible criterion for when human rights apply. And as a Christian perspective, considering a life worthy of life only when it can self-sustain is exactly backwards. The more dependent, the more vulnerable, the more helpless a human being, the more we should do to protect it.

Fourth is sophistication-ism: a human’s rights only kick in when the brain becomes sophisticated enough to experience consciousness states like pain. This confuses harm with the capacity to feel harm. If I am under heavy sedation, I am still harmed if someone cuts my arm off, regardless of whether I am consciously aware of that harm. And so are millions of tiny humans who have their lives snuffed out at the hands of abortionists, millions of which, we must acknowledge, can feel pain.

Society would hopefully zealously oppose saying some lives aren’t worth living because of their skin tone, social status, or sex. Differences in size, space, self-sufficiency, and sophistication should never override a human’s right to exist.

Christians must stand against the dark and deadly logic of Lebensunwerten Lebens, especially right now where the commitment to the unborn is being tested by political loyalties. Our commitment must be unwavering, uncompromised, and kept a priority. The fundamental truth that all life is worth living is the bedrock of a healthy and flourishing civilization.

*For the full exposé on the 12 Holocausts of 2025, follow the Shed & Beam podcast here.

Why Are We Saved?

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10-11 NLT)

Foremost we are saved for intimacy with our Savior. What does that mean? Sin separates us from the Lord and from all that is holy and righteous. Knowing Jesus unites us with Him and fills us with His Holy Spirit who sets us apart for sacred service and empowers us to live righteously. None of that is possible without a relationship with Jesus, but unless and until we understand that salvation isn’t just about enabling us to escape hell and get to heaven, we’ll never really understand why we’re saved.

In some ways it’s like beginning a new job or school. We can’t know how it will change our life, through the new people we’ll meet and the new opportunities we’ll experience; the new things we’ll learn and how it will shape our life in ways we never realized existed. Similarly, there is a process in growing in our relationship with the Lord that unfolds over time, but the process doesn’t happen accidentally, it must be an intentional pursuit of what God is calling us to.

Photo by Elu012bna Aru0101ja on Pexels.com

Thinking about Salvation there are three major categories that come to mind. First, Wholeness that includes purity. What is “wholeness”? Wholeness in Jesus is essentially completeness as a human being. Without the Lord Jesus we are divided and incomplete; torn in our loyalties and fragmented in our efforts to find life and health in our lives. Sin separates us from God and from one another causing us to look in all the wrong places to find peace, hope, harmony, satisfaction, forgiveness – in short, wholeness.

When we open our lives to the Lord Jesus, He completes us, in the sense, He brings harmony to our lives. He gives us a purpose we never had; He forgives us and sets us on a mission we never knew existed; He empowers us by His Spirit to see our whole life in new and life-transforming ways; but most importantly, He opens to us a whole new dimension of relationship with Himself.

That relates to the second, but central reason we’re saved: Intimacy with the Lord Jesus and with our heavenly Father. Please don’t confuse intimacy with sex. While sex is certainly an intimate act, on many levels it doesn’t and can’t compare with the intimacy we can have with the Lord. It’s what Paul was describing in the verses above. It’s a closeness that is beyond human understanding and can’t be attained apart from a relationship with the Creator.

It’s a oneness of mind, heart, and purpose that leads to an intentional and growing desire to please God more than we want to please ourselves. Intimacy with the Lord will free us from our bondage to selfishness and sin because we find more pleasure in submitting to His authority and following His directives than accomplishing our own evil desires.

Then, thirdly, we’re saved for Fruitfulness in reaching those in our spheres of influence for Jesus. Fruitfulness, however, entails far more than giftedness or even outreach to others but is the means whereby reaching our lost loved ones and friends becomes possible. Fruitfulness begins with the formation of godly disciplines like prayer, reading/studying/memorizing Scripture, faithfulness in serving others in and through the Church, finding community with other like-minded believers, and sharing what we’re learning with others in our spheres of influence.

Obviously, this is just scratching the surface but hopefully can broaden our understanding, enabling us to see that our walk with Jesus is much more than a free ticket to heaven.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊