Eko, while reading your essay this sprang to mind:
Luke 6: 22-23: 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
During this experience you've found out who your true friends are. Congratulations, and bravo for not taking that false shortcut to "success" and for recognizing it for what it was. There are no shortcuts to walking with and learning from Jesus Christ.
Thank-you. Taking the time to read all that you write because it resonates with me & I share with those that I can. Always termed myself agnostic - my mother was abused by a Catholic nun in primary school & we never went to church or read the bible. But many of the local freedom group are Christians of your kind - of the teachings and Jesus not the "church" and many of them are wonderful people. One of them asked me if I had "faith". My immediate reply was yes. So I am still working on what in and your essays are helping me find that. From Australia with love.
Funny, but I signed up spedifically because of your essays on Jesus and the spiritual journey He was walking with you. (Yes, I realize most people turn that phrase around and say they are walking with Jesus, but the truth is, He accompanies us, even when we feel like walking away from Him.) I look forward to your posts about Jesus, even when I'm not sure I agree with your interpretation of His message. Iron sharpens iron, right? I pray God continues to bless you and the ministry you are pursuing through your posts. And make no mistake; it is a ministry.
I don't read every post as my life is FAST. But I also never delete your Substack notification emails, they are waiting patiently. I KNOW with deep recognition YOU GET IT. I am a subscriber to support you in your messaging - BIG Clarity. People need your words. And definitely, Jesus loves you ! 😃
I'm still here. I don't know where I found your writing. I can't remember. It hasn't been long. A short while ago I asked God to show me what I needed to see and put me where I needed to be so I could grow and reflect something decent back to the world...like when I feel helpless amidst all the chaos around me. Maybe all I can do is reflect goodness? Your work just showed up in my email one day and something moved me to open and read it. I haven't stopped and I'm grateful. What you write ALL resonates with me, but especially the spiritual words. I'm wary of 'organized religion' because the rules and rituals don't make sense to me. Man made. Not God made. Thank you for writing. Your words make sense to me and I need that right now. God put your words in my email. Pretty sure.
I think you’re mistaken; you didn’t walk away from religion. You’re a modern Paul on the Damascene Road and you speak to thousands. If even one of your listeners accepts Christ, you’ve done a marvelous thing.
Let's keep going! YOU Keep going! If it burns in your finger tips to write-that's a mission and a message-for somebody who needs to hear it. We don't always understand-aka the Bible. You have a great calling to make it understandable in ways no church ever could or does. That is what reaches souls. It's important work, especially in the days we face. I've said it before- you make crazy-sane. Tossing in such casual understanding in plain text! It's mind blowing how all these years, I took "standard teachings" from church, even WITH questions, as truth. You tore through the deception with exceptional grace and a very clear new understanding. Not just Jesus, many from a "taught" history. It's an incredible gift you have. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us.
Your balance of topics pleases me. I find the stories about Jesus, his family and life speaks to the point of it all. We are all on a journey through our lives. We need articles to recenter us. It is too easy to be distracted by the political, the wars and rumors of wars, by people and media telling us to hate, to act out, to send money to their causes. This includes the churches. What I call churchianity. The story of Jesus you are telling sweeps all that away. It clears the mind. Thanks for that. I also appreciate the illustrations that you make for your articles. Not everyone can do that.
Eko, while reading your essay this sprang to mind:
Luke 6: 22-23: 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
During this experience you've found out who your true friends are. Congratulations, and bravo for not taking that false shortcut to "success" and for recognizing it for what it was. There are no shortcuts to walking with and learning from Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Thank-you. Taking the time to read all that you write because it resonates with me & I share with those that I can. Always termed myself agnostic - my mother was abused by a Catholic nun in primary school & we never went to church or read the bible. But many of the local freedom group are Christians of your kind - of the teachings and Jesus not the "church" and many of them are wonderful people. One of them asked me if I had "faith". My immediate reply was yes. So I am still working on what in and your essays are helping me find that. From Australia with love.
Funny, but I signed up spedifically because of your essays on Jesus and the spiritual journey He was walking with you. (Yes, I realize most people turn that phrase around and say they are walking with Jesus, but the truth is, He accompanies us, even when we feel like walking away from Him.) I look forward to your posts about Jesus, even when I'm not sure I agree with your interpretation of His message. Iron sharpens iron, right? I pray God continues to bless you and the ministry you are pursuing through your posts. And make no mistake; it is a ministry.
I don't read every post as my life is FAST. But I also never delete your Substack notification emails, they are waiting patiently. I KNOW with deep recognition YOU GET IT. I am a subscriber to support you in your messaging - BIG Clarity. People need your words. And definitely, Jesus loves you ! 😃
No, Eko, Thank you for the words you share that speak deeply in my soul.
I'm still here. I don't know where I found your writing. I can't remember. It hasn't been long. A short while ago I asked God to show me what I needed to see and put me where I needed to be so I could grow and reflect something decent back to the world...like when I feel helpless amidst all the chaos around me. Maybe all I can do is reflect goodness? Your work just showed up in my email one day and something moved me to open and read it. I haven't stopped and I'm grateful. What you write ALL resonates with me, but especially the spiritual words. I'm wary of 'organized religion' because the rules and rituals don't make sense to me. Man made. Not God made. Thank you for writing. Your words make sense to me and I need that right now. God put your words in my email. Pretty sure.
Many, many of us are grateful for your honest versions and visions of life and living in a less than perfect world.
Thank you, EKO. I find your writing to be very captivating.
Thank you for your obedience. You have helped me in my walk with Jesus more than you will ever know.
We LOVE your work and we're proud of you for following the Holy Spirit and your convictions instead of chasing the money.
We pray that your work is paying you a fair wage. Thank you for what you do!!
Just be you.
I love this…non-institutional faith. All your writings and books have resonated with me…political or religious. I’m ready for Nixon.
You are one of the best writers I have read in a while!
I think you’re mistaken; you didn’t walk away from religion. You’re a modern Paul on the Damascene Road and you speak to thousands. If even one of your listeners accepts Christ, you’ve done a marvelous thing.
Let's keep going! YOU Keep going! If it burns in your finger tips to write-that's a mission and a message-for somebody who needs to hear it. We don't always understand-aka the Bible. You have a great calling to make it understandable in ways no church ever could or does. That is what reaches souls. It's important work, especially in the days we face. I've said it before- you make crazy-sane. Tossing in such casual understanding in plain text! It's mind blowing how all these years, I took "standard teachings" from church, even WITH questions, as truth. You tore through the deception with exceptional grace and a very clear new understanding. Not just Jesus, many from a "taught" history. It's an incredible gift you have. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us.
Your balance of topics pleases me. I find the stories about Jesus, his family and life speaks to the point of it all. We are all on a journey through our lives. We need articles to recenter us. It is too easy to be distracted by the political, the wars and rumors of wars, by people and media telling us to hate, to act out, to send money to their causes. This includes the churches. What I call churchianity. The story of Jesus you are telling sweeps all that away. It clears the mind. Thanks for that. I also appreciate the illustrations that you make for your articles. Not everyone can do that.
To me you are a gift that keeps in giving. a true blessing.