Ridgell's Originals

It is so easy to restrict our understanding of church.  Placing membership in a certain congregation.  Deciding what "church" to join.  Worship assemblies.  Ministers.  Programs.  Budgets.  Most of that list is not even in the Bible.  And worship assemblies are supposed to inspire us to go out and do loving good works.  They are not supposed to be the center of our faith.

So I needed to remember that church is people.  Family.  People that care for each other.

So John was on an outside the U.S. vacation with his family and he did not feel good.  Kept feeling worse.  Ended up in the hospital.  Everyone assumed they knew what the problem was and it could be fixed locally.  But it was not what they thought.  That's stressful.  Messed up vacation.  Trouble diagnosing the issue. 

They decided he needed to be care flighted to the States.  Stressful.  Insurance paperwork, calls, and approval.  More stress.  Gets to hospital and Miami.  Late night surgery.  Time in ICU.  Anxious.

This family has lots of church family that loves them.  In Abilene, not Miami.  Lonely.  Lots of prayers offered but no one to pray over them in person.

So their friend Karene took action.

I was in California preaching when I got the message.  Updates on John and his family.  Reminded me that since I travel all over the world, did I know any Christians in Miami that would visit and pray over John.

I know Jim.  Great conversion story.  Good preacher.  Loves the lost.  Loves God's people. 

So I contacted Jim.  Told him what was going on.  He had just gotten in from an overseas mission trip so I certainly would have understood if he could not help out. 

But he did.  Drove an hour to meet John and his wife.  Prayed over them.  Of course I was a mutual connection but found out he also knew one of the elders where John goes to church.

Meant the world to John and Robin.  Jim saw it as something family does.  Because John and Robin and I are church. Karene, John and Robin, and I are church. Jim and I are church.  So Jim and John and Robin are church.

That is a picture of what church really is.  Not congregations.  People. 

And I need to remember that.

Glad John is healing.

And thanks Karene.  And thanks Jim.

Church family.

Bigger than we know. 

It is one of those stories I just didn't pay attention to until recently. 

Joshua is on his way to defeat Jericho when he comes before a man holding a sword.  So Joshua asked him if he was for them (the people of God) or for their enemies.  The soldier replied that he was on neither side, but he was the commander of the Lord's army.

Wow.

God does not choose sides.

We do.

So be very careful about making decisions and choices.  It is easy for Christians -- and churches -- to make decisions and treat everyone who disagrees with us as enemies.  And of course we expect God to be on our side. 

But here is the thing.  God doesn't choose sides.

We do.

I realize what a fine line it is.  Do I decide what God wants and go to his side?
Or do I decide what I want and expect God to come to my side?

Our churches often reflect the division, anger, and arrogance that we see in our culture.  Even among ourselves we can easily convince ourselves that we are right and anyone who opposes us is opposing God.  So of course God will be on our side.

We make individual choices and expect God to take our side.  Anyone who opposes our choices becomes our enemy. 

I will not expect God to take my side.  I will do everything I can to understand God's will and instruction for my life.  And I will choose to be on the Lord's side.

As will you.  God's side.  Not your church, your preacher, your family, or your culture.

God.

So be very careful.

God does not choose sides.

We do.

Pick wisely.

God is not on your side.

You are on his.

Or not.

So I preached in Fredericksburg last Wednesday night and, as we have for the last three or four years, Marsha, granddaughter Avery, and I got up Thursday morning and climbed Enchanted Rock.  First we hiked one of the long loop trails and then we hiked up the Rock. 

Avery runs up and down it, Marsha hikes from rock to rock.  I tend to stop and look, then charge upward until I catch up with them.  So we don't really hike together. 

I had waited by one of the rocks enjoying the view when it happened.  I got up to continue the hike and could not catch my breath.  Felt clammy.  Even queasy.  Weak in my legs.  And so I sat back down and thought "well, this is it."  Part way up Enchanted Rock I am having a heart attack.  Except there was nt pain. 

I kept thinking I had felt this way before but couldn't remember when.  Reminded me of roofing houses in Texas in 100 degree weather.  And that made me thirsty so I took a drink.  All of a sudden I could breathe again.  Another sip and I didn't feel queasy or clammy.  One more and I didn't even feel weak. 

So I got up and hiked up the rest of way.  And back down.  No problems.  I guess I was dehydrated.  Drink water.  Problem solved.

So what did I think about when I first wondered if it was a heart attack?

First I was sorry that Marsha was going to have to drag my body off the Rock.  So embarrassing.  For her.  I assumed I wouldn't care by then.

Then I reflected on my life.  Realized I have had a really good run.  God has been way better to me than I could ever have imagined.  Great wife, kids, and grands.  Got to talk to a lot of people about Jesus.  Preached the night before. 

So I spent a couple of minutes thanking God.  And asking him to heal me if this was a heart attack.  But if he chose not to... well, I'd get to see Him soon.

Realized there really wasn't anything I panicked about not having done.  It was really OK if this was the end of this part of my life.

Then drank water and felt better.  Thought about how to use this as an illustration about living water found in Jesus.

You are wondering why I didn't get help.  Call 911.  Yell for Marsha. 

Well, I'm a guy and I'm me.  Figured it would be OK one way or another.  No cell service.  Didn't want to upset Marsha or Ave.

So drank.  Got up and caught up.  Told Marsha.  She had a slightly different opinion about my approach to this.  Drank more.

So water saved my life the other day.

Living water has saved me forever. 

I talk to lots of preachers about role models.  Identifying preachers they should want to learn from and be like.

So today I thought I would talk about Rick Atchley at the Hills church in Fort Worth.  And I want to tell you why you ought to be like Rick, and why I am a Rick Atchley fan.

You probably assume it is because he is such a great communicator.  No.  He is, but that is not why.

He always preaches out of the text... wherever that leads.  Yes he does, but that is not really why I am a Rick fan.

He has preached at the same church for 30 years.  Yes he has and that is amazing but that is not why I want preachers to use him as a role model.

You may even know my son and his family are very active at the Hills and think that is why I am a Rick fan.  While I do appreciate his influence on my family -- and I have told him so -- that is not it either.

Here it is.

Rick is an evangelistic preacher.  He passionately wants lost people to find Jesus.  I rarely hear Rick preach that he does not invite seekers into further conversation.  Their Summer Spectacular (VBS) is intentionally designed as a opportunity to invite non-believers to the Hills.  And they follow up on them.  They baptize a lot of people at his church.  Not just their own kids, but true non-believers who come to Jesus.

I have heard Rick talk to young preachers about being evangelistic so I know it is his heart.

So the Hills is not just better because Rick Atchley preaches at it.  It is bigger. 

Not growth by transfer. 

Growth by new births.

So preachers:  Be like Rick.  Commit to reaching those that do not know the Jesus who died for them.

Thanks Rick.

Thanks God for Rick Atchley.  Thank you for setting his heart to lost people.  Give him many years to help bring others to you.  And increase his tribe.

Duncanville High School class of '69 had our 50th class reunion last weekend.  So here are a few reactions.

There were lots of old people there.  I thought I was in the wrong place till someone called out my name.  Pretty stark reminder that life happens a lot faster than you realize. 

Most of my classmates are retired.  And a lot of them are trying to figure out what to do now.  Grandkids, hobbies, travel.  Really appreciated the ones who are being intentional about doing something significant with their golden years.

Pretty neat to see how many of my classmates are active believers.  Lots of affirmation for what I do.  Even from the ones surprised I am a preacher.  Evidently, preachers are supposed to be very serious.  Evidently, I was not very serious in school.  But also affirming to hear them say of course, not surprised, or I can totally see that.

Hurt to hear stories of how hard life has been for some.  Sickness, loss of mates, job crisis, child crisis, bad choices.

Also interesting to hear stories of faith, perseverance, and healing.  And how they learned to overcome.

Personality and character last.  Funny people were still funny.  Nice people were still nice. Smart people were still smart.  Just a reminder of what really lasts.

And of course it was fun to see Marsha interact with people that knew me before she did.

First girl she met immediately expressed her sympathy for the woman who married me.  But at least she laughed afterward.  :)  Another one told her it must so much fun living with me every day. At least Marsha laughed.

So all in all, I realized I was pretty proud of my class.  Lots of high achievers.  Most of those did not surprise me at all.

So people have asked if I saw any old girlfriends.  No.  But thanks for assuming I could have had a girlfriend in High School. 

Some ask if I got all nostalgic about what might have been the best years of my life.  Nope.  They were good years but these are the best years of my life.

And some asked if it made me think about getting old.  Nope.  I just don't think in those terms.  I know I am old.  I just don't think that way.

So any regrets?  I do wish I had done a better job of keeping up over the years.  I do wish I had done a better job of telling my friends how much I appreciated them.  And I wish I had been even more intentional about talking about Jesus. 

But all in all, well done to my classmates.  I am proud of you.  Your careers.  Your marriages.  Your kids and grandkids.   And I am especially proud of the believers among us. 

And if any of my classmates see this and wish you knew more about following Jesus, nothing would make Marsha and I happier than to sit down and have a conversation.  We'll even drive from Abilene to meet you.
 
So see you at our 55th.  And I'll have another fun time.  Unless I am already in heaven.

And then I'll be having an even better time.

Our daughter Julie turned 43 this past Saturday.  If you regularly read my blog -- and thanks to both of you -- you know that I always write about family members on birthdays and anniversaries.  I write about why I love them and am so proud of them. 

I do this for a couple of reasons.  One is selfish.  I need to always be reminded of how blessed I really am.  And I do it for them.  I want each of them to be affirmed and saluted.  I want them to see themselves the way I see them.  And I think the way God sees them.

So here are just a few of the reasons I celebrate Julie.

She is a survivor.  You wouldn't know it to see her now.  You couldn't always see it a few years ago.  But Julie went thru a horrible five or six years health-wise.  They could not get it diagnosed.  Thought it was cancer or kidney failure.  It was horrible.  And she battled right thru it.  Kept working.  Kept being a Mom.  Kept helping other people.  Fought off her fear.  Asked God to let her get her kids raised. 

She is amazingly better now.  Identified and treated some issues.  Got some help.  Had some significant life circumstances change.  But she will tell you it was God.  God who listened to her, God who answered her prayers.  God who saved her.

She is tough and she is a fighter.

She is a great nurse.  I don't mean just professionally, though she is amazingly competent and skilled.  But she loves people.  We have had people tell us how scared or nervous they were before a procedure until they saw Julie was there nurse.  She holds their hand, prays for them, stays till things are over.  Some of them she knows.  Some she recognizes as people we know and identifies herself.  People ask for her to be their nurse.  She has a presence and a peace that reaches people.

Loves her kids.  She would die for them.  She does live for them.

Great daughter.  We used to always say Marsha's Mom was #1, Marsha was #2, and Julie was number #3.  Then Avery was #4.  When Granny went home, they all moved up.  But those three are really connected.  Avery has good role models.

And a fun aunt.  Good sister.  Great friend. 

Our lives changed forever 43 years ago. 

Thanks Jules.

Because everything is better with you around.