Ridgell's Originals

So Marsha and I recently got to tour the Ben and Jerry Ice Cream factory in Vermont.  It was fascinating.  Free samples.  Got to watch a film that highlighted the three core convictions for their business. 

Make really good ice cream.  The best you can.

Treat your workers really well.

Use your profits to make the world better (as they define better).

That is a great business model. 

So as I often do, I thought about how that blueprint applied to the church.  And here is what I think.

Keep the main thing the main thing.  Jesus is the head of the church.  We are collective followers of Jesus making our way thru the world.  Jesus.  Not buildings, programs, or budgets.  Not even doctrine or ministry.  Jesus, Jesus, or Jesus.  The main thing.

Take care of each other.  We are family.  Provide for each other.  Financial support, meet emotional needs.  Pick each other up.  Pray for each other, speak truth.  Do life together.

Change the world.  And you do that by being on mission.  Make disciples.  That is what makes the world a better place.  Get more Jesus followers. 

So simple.  Not easy.  But simple.

Keep Jesus the core.  Take care of each other.  Make more disciples.

So a couple of weeks ago I turned 68.  Here are a few reflections.

Let's get the obvious out of the way first.

I am closer to the end than I ever have been.  The productive years are not as many as they were.

So in view of that... I am going to keep going as hard as I can.  I want God to use me as long as I am able to serve Him.  Not going to retire.  Not going to slow down.  Not going to take it easy.

I want to follow Jesus and draw others to follow him.

Whether that is for one more day, week, year, or decade.

But I still don't know what the future holds. 

Not sure if next year I will still be working for Herald of Truth, for a church, some other non-profit, or for myself.  Because I don't know the future.  And don't have to.

I will be doing what I do. 

Life still gets better every year.  Life with Marsha is awesome (we were hiking the rim of the Grand Canyon on my birthday).  Kids are faithful.  Grands are amazing. 

But still...68.  I could have a heart attack tomorrow.  Or get cancer.  Or dementia.  I could pull out in front of a car.  My airplane could crash. 

So I have no idea what this next year for me will bring.

But I will be loved by God.  I will tell of his love. 

Until I get to go home. 

And then I won't even have birthdays.  Just life forever.

God wants me and everyone else to go to heaven.

Sin is real and it separates me from God.

Jesus came to live among people like me, yet did not sin.

He became sin for me and died on the cross for my sins.

He was raised from the dead never to die again.  I will be too.

Jesus is my only way to God and the only name by which I can be saved.

Faith led me to die with Jesus in baptism and be raised to a new life.

The greatest thing I can do is to love God with all I have.

I am to love my neighbors (the people in my world) just like I love me.

I am God's representative in my world to make other disciples.

I got to know John in Concord, NH when I was up there telling Jesus stories as part of our Herald of Truth campaign.  John's wife and mother-in-law are an active part of the church of Christ congregation in Concord.  John would visit with them from time to time. 

Like many people, John did not grow up in a religious family.  But he always had a sense there was something better.  Curious about the Jesus way. 

I was there on a Sunday thru Thursday night.  The crowd was not what we hoped.  Half of that small congregation came down sick.  It was frustrating.  But John was there every night with his family.  Stayed locked in.  Hearing stories he didn't really know.  Getting a glimpse of the Jesus who loved him and died for him. 

We had good conversations.  His wife and her Mom prayed for him, encouraged him to explore the Jesus way.  John wanted a better job, especially a better working environment.  But not getting any leads or call-backs from applications.  So the church started praying for his job situation.  And he started getting better leads.  Getting some call-backs.  Gave God the credit for the increased activity.

Jay is the preacher in Concord.  He asked John if he wanted to visit more about Jesus.  Told him he would do his best to answer his questions.  Invited him to study the Bible more. John learned a lot about Jesus.  Asked for a deeper understanding of what baptism meant. 

So Jay studied with him.  Jesus and how to die with him in baptism and get a new life.  John understood what he needed to do and why.  He just had to decide what he wanted to do.

Jesus seed planted by family that loved Jesus and loved John.

Watered by a traveling preacher telling Jesus stories.  Watered by a local minister committed to making disciples and willing to study and answer questions from Scripture.

Then waiting for God to give the increase.

So last Sunday Marsha and I got the video.  Saw Jay baptize John into Jesus.  Saw the new birth of my friend John who is now my brother.

Because John is loved by God, his family, and a community of faith who want to make disciples in their world.

Good decision John. 

Go God.