Tuesday, November 26, 2019
So my Mom is turning 89...
My Mom, Juanita Ridgell, turns 89 tomorrow. Here are a few reasons that I love her and am proud of her.
She keeps herself mentally and physically in shape. Reads all the time. Walks. Does yoga.
We did not have to make her move to Abilene and live in a Retirement Community. She made the decision herself. Not sure it was exactly what she wanted to do but she decided it was best for everyone. A lot of my friends have parents that are stubborn, refuse to listen, and will not change. It is stressful and painful. So thanks Mom.
She is an evangelist. She prays for lost people. She has Jesus discussions. She does Bible studies.
She is a helper. Sits with people. Visits sick. Takes meals to them. Checks on people.
She took care of my Dad by herself in their home for the last eight years of his Alzheimers. Great role model of love and faithfulness.
Prays lots for her kids, her grands, and her greats. Keeps up with all of them and with their accomplishments.
She is a Jesus follower. She has stayed the course faithfully. Still moving forward in faith.
So thanks Mom for not teaching us to be faithful, but for showing us how to love our God, our family, and our friends.
Love you.
She keeps herself mentally and physically in shape. Reads all the time. Walks. Does yoga.
We did not have to make her move to Abilene and live in a Retirement Community. She made the decision herself. Not sure it was exactly what she wanted to do but she decided it was best for everyone. A lot of my friends have parents that are stubborn, refuse to listen, and will not change. It is stressful and painful. So thanks Mom.
She is an evangelist. She prays for lost people. She has Jesus discussions. She does Bible studies.
She is a helper. Sits with people. Visits sick. Takes meals to them. Checks on people.
She took care of my Dad by herself in their home for the last eight years of his Alzheimers. Great role model of love and faithfulness.
Prays lots for her kids, her grands, and her greats. Keeps up with all of them and with their accomplishments.
She is a Jesus follower. She has stayed the course faithfully. Still moving forward in faith.
So thanks Mom for not teaching us to be faithful, but for showing us how to love our God, our family, and our friends.
Love you.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Happy 12th Birthday to Andrew Ridgell
So my grandson Andrew turned 12 today. Here are just a few of the many reasons I love him and am so proud of him.
He is a really popular guy, and for the right reasons. Andrew is everyone's best friend. His peers want to hang out with him. Parents love him. Polite, kind, encouraging, generous. To everyone. Walking around school with him is amazing. Everyone knows him and he literally says hi to everyone we pass. Younger than him, older than him, teachers, support staff. Everyone.
Great athlete. Not sure what the future holds since he is just now 12 but he has that "it" factor. Understands the game. Hustles like crazy. Good point guard in basketball. In baseball he is a good fielder and also pitches. And hits the thunder out of the ball. Hyper competitive. Clutch.
Loves to fish. And starting to love hunting. Could spend all day on the lake in his canoe. Makes my heart happy.
He is a leader. Andrew is going to be a real influence on people. They already ask his advice. He does not persuade people to do things. They just follow him.
Best of all, he is all in on Jesus. Always has been. And wants everyone else to know Jesus. Already a pretty good preacher.
He is not perfect, and he even knows that. But he makes me a better Pops and a better follower of Jesus.
I love him, I am proud of him, and he is an incredible warrior for the Lord.
Can't wait to see what God will do thru him and with him this next year.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Cancer, Surgery, Sin, and Jesus
So I have a hole in my head now. Well, it is sewed up with about 60 stitches. Melanoma. Found it in Abilene, took it out at UT Southwest in Dallas. Mohs surgery which is not done by anyone in Abilene. It has been a week now. Sore. Ugly. Get the stitches out next week. Here is the good news. They got it all. This is the second go-round. I had a Melanoma cut out of my chest about 10 years ago.
Even weirder. Two days before the surgery I got a horrible bacterial infection in my eyes. Sorta like pink eye. But worse and in both eyes. So thanks Dr. Steven Ezzell for seeing me and helping out. Got it cleared up just in time for surgery.
Great Doctors and care. Lots of prayer. From all over the world. Grandkids prayed lots. So I appreciate the great medical care. But it was all God. He gets the glory. And would have if it hadn't gone well.
Full of Jesus. Empty of cnacer.
And all of this made me think about Melanoma and sin. Radical physical and spiritual surgery. Recovery.
Sometimes we think sin is no big deal. Like a little spot on your head. That gets worse. And worse. If you do not get rid of it, it will kill you.
So listen when people warn you about things in your life that can be dangerous. So I'm glad I minded Marsha and went to Dr. Ramalia. Glad I listened to him.
Cut the sin out. And be careful. Because it may show up again. Different place. Looks different. Still sin. It was radical surgery. But its gone.
Getting healthy hurts. Lots of big needles. Lots of weird sounds. Deciding to get spiritually well requires making hard decisions. Sometimes it is painful. Consequences.
Lots of blood. And I look ugly right now. Just like a life with sin.
It takes help. Doctors, meds, family, community of faith. Prayers, food, hugs, skillful surgery. Elders, Scripture, community of faith, people that love you.
It'll leave a scar. Wounds into scars. That is what forgiveness and faith does to our sin. Turns wounds into scars.
And I do not want it coming back. I wear hats. I look for suspicious signs. So does my wife. And with sin I am careful. I take precautions. I have trusted friends who watch out for me.
Catch it quick and cut out what you need to.
Turn wounds into scars.
It works with cancer.
And it works with sin.
So thanks God. For a lot of things.
Even weirder. Two days before the surgery I got a horrible bacterial infection in my eyes. Sorta like pink eye. But worse and in both eyes. So thanks Dr. Steven Ezzell for seeing me and helping out. Got it cleared up just in time for surgery.
Great Doctors and care. Lots of prayer. From all over the world. Grandkids prayed lots. So I appreciate the great medical care. But it was all God. He gets the glory. And would have if it hadn't gone well.
Full of Jesus. Empty of cnacer.
And all of this made me think about Melanoma and sin. Radical physical and spiritual surgery. Recovery.
Sometimes we think sin is no big deal. Like a little spot on your head. That gets worse. And worse. If you do not get rid of it, it will kill you.
So listen when people warn you about things in your life that can be dangerous. So I'm glad I minded Marsha and went to Dr. Ramalia. Glad I listened to him.
Cut the sin out. And be careful. Because it may show up again. Different place. Looks different. Still sin. It was radical surgery. But its gone.
Getting healthy hurts. Lots of big needles. Lots of weird sounds. Deciding to get spiritually well requires making hard decisions. Sometimes it is painful. Consequences.
Lots of blood. And I look ugly right now. Just like a life with sin.
It takes help. Doctors, meds, family, community of faith. Prayers, food, hugs, skillful surgery. Elders, Scripture, community of faith, people that love you.
It'll leave a scar. Wounds into scars. That is what forgiveness and faith does to our sin. Turns wounds into scars.
And I do not want it coming back. I wear hats. I look for suspicious signs. So does my wife. And with sin I am careful. I take precautions. I have trusted friends who watch out for me.
Catch it quick and cut out what you need to.
Turn wounds into scars.
It works with cancer.
And it works with sin.
So thanks God. For a lot of things.
Friday, November 01, 2019
For the Christians Who Worry About America...
I sure hear a lot of Christians -- from all political persuasions -- that are worried/stressed/concerned/panicked about the future of the United States. Not just supporting one candidate or party, but more often against a candidate or party. It is among Christians that I hear fear, anger, doubt, and even hatred.
So hear are a couple of reminders for Christians.
Our kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of God does not consist of borders and politics. It does not belong to any one race or nationality.
Our kingdom was here a long time before the United States and it will be here a long time after the United States is no more. Forever to be exact.
God is in control. Kingdoms rise and fall at his command. He may desire for this country to be exactly as the party you support would have it to be. Perhaps America will reflect the principles and desires of God. Tho to be honest, it never has. Racial and social injustice, abortion, approval and support of sinful conduct, rampant greed. Or maybe God will allow the party you despise to be in office so that his people will be sharpened and refined by fire. Maybe the more evil this country becomes, the more opportunity for the church to grow and flourish.
Our kingdom cannot be destroyed. Rome fell. The sun does set on the United Kingdom. And the United States will not last forever.
Christians are not to live our lives in fear.
Many of our spiritual forefathers were persecuted -- even gave their lives -- for the Kingdom.
So if you really want to do something, get after it.
If you are bothered by how refugees are treated, find the refugees in your community. Help them. Invite them into your home. Bring them to church. Tell the story of Jesus. Extend the invitation to be part of our Kingdom.
If abortion concerns you, adopt a child. Write a check to an organization that offers life and support. "Adopt" a single Mom and her kids. Extend grace and mercy to the unwed mother. Walk alongside them. Do not just oppose evil but engage in the right.
Our kingdom does not favor any one race or nationality. Money does not buy access to our King. So as representatives and ambassadors of the kingdom of God be sure that you reflect those values. Let your home be an outpost of righteousness. Treat everyone as you want to be treated.
So your party may -- or may not -- have power in this country. But Jesus does.
So vote if you wish, give to the party of your choice, lobby your friends to vote your way. But remember you are expending resources of time, money, and energy on a kingdom that will not last.
As for me, I am going to invest all I am and have in the kingdom that will last forever. I will live boldly and courageously. And if it comes to pass that persecution comes to me, I will count myself blessed to suffer for the name of the one who died for me. And now lives forever. I will be radically subversive in opposition to the culture and kingdoms of this world. For the greater good of growing the only kingdom that will last.
Let the revolution continue.
So hear are a couple of reminders for Christians.
Our kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of God does not consist of borders and politics. It does not belong to any one race or nationality.
Our kingdom was here a long time before the United States and it will be here a long time after the United States is no more. Forever to be exact.
God is in control. Kingdoms rise and fall at his command. He may desire for this country to be exactly as the party you support would have it to be. Perhaps America will reflect the principles and desires of God. Tho to be honest, it never has. Racial and social injustice, abortion, approval and support of sinful conduct, rampant greed. Or maybe God will allow the party you despise to be in office so that his people will be sharpened and refined by fire. Maybe the more evil this country becomes, the more opportunity for the church to grow and flourish.
Our kingdom cannot be destroyed. Rome fell. The sun does set on the United Kingdom. And the United States will not last forever.
Christians are not to live our lives in fear.
Many of our spiritual forefathers were persecuted -- even gave their lives -- for the Kingdom.
So if you really want to do something, get after it.
If you are bothered by how refugees are treated, find the refugees in your community. Help them. Invite them into your home. Bring them to church. Tell the story of Jesus. Extend the invitation to be part of our Kingdom.
If abortion concerns you, adopt a child. Write a check to an organization that offers life and support. "Adopt" a single Mom and her kids. Extend grace and mercy to the unwed mother. Walk alongside them. Do not just oppose evil but engage in the right.
Our kingdom does not favor any one race or nationality. Money does not buy access to our King. So as representatives and ambassadors of the kingdom of God be sure that you reflect those values. Let your home be an outpost of righteousness. Treat everyone as you want to be treated.
So your party may -- or may not -- have power in this country. But Jesus does.
So vote if you wish, give to the party of your choice, lobby your friends to vote your way. But remember you are expending resources of time, money, and energy on a kingdom that will not last.
As for me, I am going to invest all I am and have in the kingdom that will last forever. I will live boldly and courageously. And if it comes to pass that persecution comes to me, I will count myself blessed to suffer for the name of the one who died for me. And now lives forever. I will be radically subversive in opposition to the culture and kingdoms of this world. For the greater good of growing the only kingdom that will last.
Let the revolution continue.
