Ridgell's Originals

Great Dad.  His kids -- all three -- adore him.  They want to hang out with him, be with him.  He is intentional in speaking -- and showing -- love to them.  Models forgiveness.  Holds them accountable.  But there is no doubt that they know they are loved.

Great husband.  He really loves Jamie.  Works hard to help her.  Does projects to enhance their home and backyard.  takes time to be with her.  She is his Queen.  He listens, loves, and cherishes her.

Great son.  He is really good to Jamie's folks.  Treats them like he does us.  And he is great with us.  Calls -- tho not as much as Jamie.  :)  He does stuff for us.  Changed our car battery just this last weekend.  

Will be the extended family patriarch someday, and will be good at it.  Siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews all want to be with him.  All ask him for advice.  Will come to him when they are in trouble.  My time as the leader of our family will pass someday.  He will -- already is -- ready to take that mantle.

Loves Jesus.  He is 100% sold out to Jesus.  Good Bible teacher.  Good shepherd already.  Will make a great elder someday.  Generous.  

Every Dad wants his son to be a better man than he is.  

Mission accomplished.

If you are a follower of Jesus -- and if you are not but might be interested, hit me up -- you better decide what your answer is to three questions.

Are God and Jesus real?  You would assume anyone claiming to be a Christian has answered that.  But you better be sure.  Because I think our culture is going to get increasingly antagonistic toward God and Jesus.  Our brothers and sisters have faced persecution and death in many places in this world.  We have had it easy as a church in this country and it shows.  We are lazy, out of shape, and not always serious about our faith walk.

Is the Bible true?  Don't let your church or some preacher decide this for you.  You need to decide what you believe about Scripture.  Because the Bible and the values of our culture are going to be at war.  I think that has probably always been true, but at least there was lip service played to believing the Bible.  Not anymore.  You are going to be attacked if you believe the Bible is actually the Word of God.  

What kingdom do you belong to?  The kingdom of God is not synonymous with the United States of America.  Never has been.  The United States as you have known it may be changed for ever.  Good in some ways.  Bad in others.  The Kingdom of God remains the same.  And that is a good thing.  Always.  Decide what Kingdom you want to represent.

I have said for some time that it is going to take great courage for my grandkids to follow Jesus in this culture.  And I think they will be a part of a Kingdom growth explosion.

The difference between us and the world will be dramatic.  People will be drawn to what Jesus has to offer.  And we will help them.

And then we get to go home.  

Forever.  

1.  We are together.  No ballgames, no preaching, no other friends to keep up with.  Just the ten of us.  It keeps us connected.  Legacy stories are told.  Lots of laughs.  Lots of conversations.  

2.  The ocean.  We don't see the ocean often so it always amazing to us.  Just majesty and power of the ocean.  Marveling at God's creation.  In awe.

3.  Fishing.  The guys charter a boat every year and fish one morning.  Love it.  This year we limited on trout the first hour.  :)  I can see the day coming where it will not be me being sure the boys are doing OK.  It will be them seeing if Pops is doing OK.  And that is the way it should be.

4.  Food, games, and movies.  We love to hang out.  Nice that we great cooks and grillers in our family, including some of the grands.  Jigsaw puzzles, lots of beach games.  Talking and laughing thru the movies.

5.  Family worship.  My favorite church service every year.  Listening to my grands.  Sharing communion.  Knowing when I die that faith will go on in my family.  

So you see the common themes.  Lots of God.  Lots of family.  Being together.  Loving each other.  

Not too far off from what I think heaven might be.

So find your beach, mountains, retreat, farm, place for family get-away.

Be intentional about conversations and listening.  

Make memories.

Thank God.

Share faith.

We do it every year and it is a blessing.

So...  thanks God. 

Here is why.

From a sermon by Paul recorded in Acts 17:26

You do not want to tell God he did a wonderful job on your people but he has a manufacturer defect in other people.  God made us all.

From a sermon by Peter in Acts 10:34-35.

God does not play favorites.  Not by countries or by race.  Do not play God.  You are not him and you are not going to be very good at it.

And from a vision John had as described in Revelation 5:9-10.  It is a praise song to Jesus sung in heaven by God's people around his throne.

If you cannot worship, fellowship, do life with people that are of different races and nationalities here on earth, I cannot imagine how miserable you would be in heaven.  

Of course, all of this is rooted in my conviction that following Jesus is the answer to the hate in this world.  

God is love and he demonstrated that love by sending his Son to die for us.  All of us.  And for those that believe, we are a truer family that any earthly tribe, color, or nation will ever be.

So for Jules...

She is tough.  Life has not been easy.  Abuse survivors have to be tough to make it thru.  Single Moms have a hard time.  Teenagers make it tougher.  Nurses have it hard during pandemics.  You have to be tough or you don't make it.

She is a faith fighter.  We all struggle with our faith, but Julie has learned the most important thing.  Never give up.  She is not perfect.  But she fights to hang on to her faith.  Prays.  Treats people like she should.  

Loves her family.  Loyal to her friends.

Hard worker.

Her heart is good.  Still trusts and believes in people.  Doesn't see color.  Or money.  Sees people.

People helper.  Being a nurse fits her heart.  She prays for -- and sometimes with -- her patients.  Friends count on her.  Gives advice and listens well.

Our family celebrated her birthday last week and we all said things we love about our Jules.

Here are just a few.

Always had -- and has --your back.  Happy.  Fun.  Works hard to take care of her family.  Never gives up.  Loves.  Faith.  And variations of these themes.  

So Jules... here's to the future.  Better every day.  A lot of people learn how to face tough times by watching you.  And I am one of them.  So thanks.

Thanks God for our Julie.  Bless her and her kids.  Use her to help others in a hurting world.