Ridgell's Originals

We want to make a difference in the lives of our family, our community of faith, and in our world.  Elders want to shepherd their flock in real and meaningful ways.  Preachers want their words to have real and lasting impact.  We all want to give support, encouragement, and help.  Love one another.  Be there for each other.

So if you really are serious, here is a suggestion.

Show up.

Isn't that what Jesus did?  Came right into the middle of this world.  The Holy Spirit lives in us and among the church.  So show up.

Visit a shut-in.  Be at their games.  Sit in the courtroom.  Be at the hospital. 

But what do I do when I go? 

Short and sweet.  Don't stay long.  Cry with them.  Cheer with them.  Pray.  Prayers can be short and sweet.  Touch.  Give the hug.  Hold the hand.  Touch the shoulder.

You don't have to have all the answers.  I love you is a great thing to say.  Speak truth into lives.  Read a Scripture.  Sing a song.

Your family and your faith community have people in them right now who need support, love, forgiveness, acceptance, a listening ear, encouragement.

If they need real spiritual advice, get an elder (or an elder and his wife) to go with you.

But you need to know this.  It will cost you.  Takes some time.  Sometimes money.  Sometimes it is fun.  Sometimes it is not.  The blood may be flowing.  Literally sometimes.  Tears may fall. 

Be there.

We promised our family we would.  We tell our church family we will.

So be there.

Literally. 

Christians are good neighbors, good citizens, and good people.  Neighborhoods are better when Christians move in.  Neighborhoods become better when families become Christians. 

But why?  Why are Christians good neighbors?

Is it because we are good people?  Yes.  Jesus has made us holy and righteous.  We Christians live to a different standard.  We put other people ahead of ourselves.  We love people in concrete and meaningful ways.  We are nice.  We help our neighbors.  We have loving hearts, open homes, and willing hands. 

Are we good neighbors because of Jesus?  Of course.  We love the unlovable.  We use our time, our energy, and our resources.  Because that is what Jesus did.  That is how Jesus lived.  We try to see people and treat people the way Jesus would.  We pledged to be his disciples, his followers.  So we try and be his hands and feet among our neighbors.

Are we good neighbors because we want to make them into disciples of Jesus?  Certainly.  We are Christ's ambassadors in our neighborhoods engaged in the ministry of reconciliation.  Our neighbors are people for whom Christ died.  They need to know that good news. 

All of these are reasons we Christians are good neighbors. and they are all valid.

We are good neighbors because the Jesus way changes people.  Old becomes new.  So we are good people and that makes us good neighbors.

We are good neighbors because Jesus was a good neighbor and we are his disciples.  So we serve and help our neighbors. 

We are good neighbors because we desperately want the opportunity to speak a word about Jesus.  The way we live and serve opens doors of opportunity to share our faith.

Good neighbors.

Because of Jesus.

Because of what he has done for us.

And because of what he can do for them.   

Nettie Blaisdell died last week at the age of 104.  You probably never met her.  Might never of even heard of her.  But you need to be like her and here is why.

She lived a long time.  I don't mean her years here on earth.  She was a Christian so I think she is still living, but I am really thinking about how her influence is still going strong.  And will for a long, long time.

She raised two children who are faithful Christians.  And they raised kids who are now raising kids.  Lot of spiritual heritage in her generations.

She helped raise me in a way.  Her son Richard and I were best friends.  Met in the church nursery at the old Trinity Heights church in Dallas.  I spent a lot of time in her home.  It was a great place to hang out.  She and her husband Walter were quiet people, which I'm sure made it exhausting to have me as part of their family.  But they always put up with me, made me feel welcome, modeled Jesus.  And I have faithful kids and grandkids.  Thanks Nettie.

Richard is a preacher like I am.  We have touched a lot of lives, many of whom never heard of Nettie.  And if you add in Charles Smith, another preacher that is an "honorary" Blaisdell, you have even more of her influence.  Thanks for always believing in us and encouraging us.

She taught Bible class (usually the nursery class) for ... well , who knows.  Seventy or eighty years. 
That's a lot of babies to be held, sung to, and prayed over.

She would hate this blog.  Would say she never did anything special.  Wouldn't want any attention or fuss.

Just wanted to follow Jesus and do what she could.  With her life and in her home.

She died in the Lord and she is blessed.  Her work here is over, but her deeds will follow her.  For a long, long time.  Forever even.

Thanks God for Nettie Blaisdell.  Thank you for her example for me and for Richard, and so many others.  Thank you for giving us someone to love us, pray for us, and always encourage us to follow you and to tell others about you.  Give us more Netties.

So our oldest and youngest grandkids have birthdays just about a week apart.  Austin Ridgell turned 9 last weekend.  Here are just a few of the reasons I love him and am so, so proud of him.

I am speaking Wednesday nights at an independent living retirement center this summer.  It is the one my Mom lives in so she was thrilled last week when the grands came with us to church. 

Austin was awesome.  He went around the whole room introducing himself and shaking hands.  He was polite, engaging, and friendly.  Those skills alone are going to take him far in life.  And when I spoke he sat by himself on the front row.  Paid attention.  Repeated most of my lesson to us after it was over. 

So Austin loves God and loves people and that is what matters.

And he is fun.  Loves doing stuff with others or content to play by himself.  Enjoys people.  Doesn't have to have people to be content. 

Hyper active.  Loves to do, be, go, and play.

Gotta love a kid who decorates his tent for cousin camp.  And who invites the dogs in to sleep with him.

Fearless.  He will try anything.  He enjoys wake boarding, water skiing, fishing, sushi, sports, and video games.

Loves his family.

Very generous with hugs and smiles.

Austin really does light up a room. 

So thanks God for giving us Austin.  He brings joy to so many people.  Help him always to bring joy to you also.  Protect him and use him to your glory.   

So our oldest Grandchild is now 14.  So here are just a few of the reasons I love her and am so proud of her. 

She still calls her Mimi and Pops.  Well, she texts us.  Doesn't have to.  No one makes her.  She just loves us and keeps us in the loop.  Always hugs us when she sees us, even if she does go past me to hug Mimi first.

She is family oriented.  Loves her Mom and Dad.  Actually enjoys them serving as church small group leaders and having them sponsor activities.  Loves her brothers -- even when they are being... well, brothers.  Loves her cousins.   

She is smart.  Very organized and intentional about schoolwork.  Studies.  Makes excellent grades.  She will be able to do whatever she chooses academically.

Good athlete.  Very good volleyball and basketball player.  Her form and technique are strong.  She is smart and makes the right play.  And she hustles. 

Popular.  Lots of friends.  Quick to forgive. 

But here is why I am most proud of Anna Claire.  She loves Jesus.  Involved in her youth group.  But she is kind, sweet, and polite.  It is not just church.  It is Jesus.  Even likes to hear her Pops preach.

And yes, she is pretty.  But her inside beauty is the best part of her.  And that is exactly how we would want it.

So thanks Anna Claire for being you.  Keep it up.

And thanks God for giving us Anna Claire.  Use her in growing your kingdom.  Protect her from evil.  Let her glorify you.

 

We knew Patty because she grew up with my wife at Southern Hills.  So we eventually got to know her husband Joe.  And that is how we met their granddaughter Destiny.  They were raising their grands so we would see them at church.  Destiny was sweet, shy, and quiet.

Life wasn't always for this family, and it got worse.  Patty died of heart complications.  But Joe hung in there.  Kept coming to church.  Kept raising those grands. 

Life is hard all over this world.  It is hard in Peru.  Which is why a bunch of Christians started supporting an orphanage there.  Not just money.  Christians would make trips down there to love on those kids and to talk about Jesus.  As those kids grew up, many of them became Christians.  Eventually a church was started there. 

Christians from Southern Hills got involved.  You have to love a Mission Committee that doesn't just raise money to support missions, but that encourages church members to go do missions.  So a group started going to Peru every summer.  Parents, kids, couples.  The church provided some support but those going were responsible for raising at least half.

My favorite Bible class in the world has met for years together.  I have never taught it, tho my wife has on occasion.  I have never even attended that class.  It is a Ladies Bible class made up mostly of "older" women who are single, widowed, divorced, or church widows (you know, they come but not their husbands).  They study the Bible with great intensity.  They support each other.  They even do mission trips together.  How cool is that.

So Destiny heard about the Peru mission trip when she was 14.  She loved kids and wanted to go.  Pretty young to go overseas without family support.  And Joe didn't have the money to send her.  But we all encouraged her to apply to the mission committee.  So she did.

They prayed about it.  Arranged so a couple of families would "adopt" Destiny for these trips.  Our awesome Ladies class had helped Destiny some on other projects and they took it on themselves to raise the money to cover her part of the trip. 

So Destiny started going to Peru every year.  Loving on those kids, hanging out with Christian families, watching a church be planted.  Came home every year so excited and happy.  Joe kept right on bringing her to church. 

And this summer, in the ocean off the coast of Peru, Destiny found her destiny.  She was baptized into Christ by one of her mission trip Dads.

Great God story. 

Took a mission place where Christians were committed to share the love of Jesus.  And a mission committee that wasn't afraid to think outside the box.  A Ladies class that was real serious about their faith.  And a granddad who did the best he could do to let Destiny see and experience Jesus.

Now Destiny will never be the same.  Neither will this world.

So thanks God for showing us how you weave us into the lives of those who need you.  Bless Destiny always.  And thanks for your people who care.