By Brenda Cannon Henley
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking recently — Beware. The questions come to mind, “What in the world are we Christians doing here?” “Why are we here?” “What can we change or do to help ourselves and others because we are here?” I read a note from a friend that simply said, “If we are still here on earth, God has a plan for us to do something.” I am taking that statement to heart. Dolly Parton said something in an interview once that I have never forgotten. It is simple, but profound. “I ain’t dead and I ain’t finished.” Sure, she used poor English, but she is a brilliant woman. She does it for affect and effect (yes, I know the difference). So, if we are reading this column today in whatever media we like best, let’s take it to heart. If we are here, God has something for us to do.

There is so much fear, uneasiness, unsettledness, and downright discouragement in the world we live in today. People fear each other, disease, poor health, finances, relationships, and their own lack of productivity, but I do not believe for one minute God plans for His children to live our lives hidden, ashamed, frightened, and pitiful. He wants us to be happy and to shine for Him. What kind of advertisement are we for Him and His goodness if we can’t even love our own families, co-workers, neighbors, and those we meet?

Having worked for pastors and evangelists for much of my adult life, and having taught at a Christian college, I find I lapse into alliterating many ideas and thoughts into phrases using the same letter of the alphabet to gain and keep attention. I am doing that today. Here are five words all beginning with the letter “E” that can and will change our lives if we allow them to do so. They are exalt, encourage, edify, equip, and evangelize.

Christians are here to exalt the Lord in all that we do. We do not just live the Christian life on Sunday morning or during a meeting at our local church. We are to be Christians in our daily walk, among our family members, on the job, in business deals, and in the schools, industries, medical offices, and most of all, in our homes. If we are exalting the Lord, we have little time for meanness, unfairness, arguments, and sin. (Psalm 34:3).

What has happened to the art of encouragement? When did people stop encouraging each other? Every single human being needs to know the value of encouraging others. I witnessed an ugly example the other day when a grown man put down a teen in such a hateful way. In no part of his attitude could have been found the simple act of encouragement. Not only will the teen remember what happened, but also so will everyone who heard his silly and childish tirade. My grandmother had a wonderful saying that came to my mind. “Don’t think quite so highly of yourself. You are not all that special.” I would add, “And neither is the family you are bragging so on during this example.” Let’s learn to be encouragers. It will change our lives and the lives of those we encounter.

Edify is our third “e” word. Let’s learn to edify (or build up) each other and the Lord of Heaven. (Romans 14:19). The word “edify” is closely akin to encouragement. We don’t need ministries of tearing down, but of building up each other.

The fourth important word is equip. As Christian people, and pastors and leaders in our churches particularly, we need to be certain we are equipping our members and friends to reach out to others with sincere hearts and pure motives. Are we busy training those who will follow in our footsteps to live as much as possible in peace and kindness with those around us? Psalm 25:4 comes to my mind.

And then, our fifth word is “evangelize.” I know for some this is a strange word, but we, as Christians, must be concerned about reaching others. We must share what God has done in our lives with those we love and those we don’t love.

I trust we will remember these five simple words that begin with “e.” I never think of this method of learning that I don’t remember another involving a trivia contest I won one time. A person taught me to remember the five Great Lakes of our country in Michigan by a simple method. In fact, I won a nice prize by thinking of one simple word — HOMES — Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. I’ve never forgotten the example. Learn and retain information in whatever way that works for you.

(Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of each or most of the words in a sentence. Public speakers use this little trick often to help hearers retain the message by giving an easy outline by which to memorize the main facts.)

(published 10/21/2014)

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, at
[email protected], or by using the contact form below.

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