Thursday, November 26, 2020
My Mom turns 90 tomorrow
My Mom, Juanita Ridgell, turns 90 tomorrow. Amazing. Here are a few of the many reasons I love her and am proud of her.
She is still sharp mentally and active physically. She does senior Yoga and walks on the treadmill at her Retirement Center. She reads a lot of books, and still studies her Bible.
She lives in the here and now, not the then and there.
She passed on a love of learning. Her family legacy has preachers, teachers, nurses, lawyers, and very succesful business women.
She loves Jesus and passed that on to the generations after her all the way into her great grandkids.
She still serves other people. Helps out with new move-ins at the Center. Does for people who need help.
She is really proud of her grands and her greats. And prays for all of them often.
Takes advice even when she doesn't want to. Some older parents do not. She does.
I don't think I will live as long as my Mom has. In fact, she may outlive me. But if I do get that old, I would like to handle it like she does.
Grace and faith. That's a great way to live even now.
So thanks Mam for all you have done, and still do, for your kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
You are blessed, and you still bless us.
Love you.
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Putting Our -- and Your -- Money Where Our Mouth Is
I absolutely believe that one of the great tragedies of our time is the enormous number of abortions in our nation. Not just allowed, but even encouraged and celebrated. It breaks God's heart and it should break ours. The decision about abortion is a difficult and agonizing decision for many mothers. And even fathers.
It is not enough to just take a stand. As Christians, we have to be involved in doing more than just voting that conviction. Or expressing it in social media. Or even blogging about it. You know, like I am now. We have to be involved in the lives of those deciding to give life. Helping navigate the process, helping extend grace and forgiveness, and helping to see those babies raised. After all, birth is not the end of life.
Foster care, shared life, hands-on help, and lots of tangible support.
But we also need to put our money where our mouth -- and our hearts -- are.
So at this time of year, many of you make decisions about charitable giving. Here are three organizations Marsha and I support that are actively involving in choosing life.
Pregnancy Help 4 U. They come alongside mothers, and families, in crisis pregnancy. They provide life-affirming solutions. They provide resources to succeed in these decisions. And they share Jesus. They are making a difference and saving lives. Full disclosure: our daughter-in-law, Jamie Ridgell, is a staff nurse at PH4U. Help them. We do. www.ph4upartners.org.
Christian Homes and Family Services. They change lives and families through maternity care, foster care, and adoption services. Because when a mother chooses life for her baby, she often needs help in the next steps. I know the people that run this organization, that work there, that serve on the Board, and that volunteer there. They will put your money to good use. That is why we support them. christianhomes.com
Timothy Hill Children's Ranch. Sometimes it is the older children, 10-18 years, that need help. Timoty Hill Ranch provides a Christ centered community where troubled teens and young adults can be renewed and restored by love. I know and love the founders, Jerry and Fern Hill. I know many of the people involved in this organization. I have spoken at the Ranch. We help them financially. You should too.
I know there are many other fine organizations that are involved in helping children to live. From conception to adulthood. I cna give you other names. But these are the ones we personally support with money, prayers, and personal involvement.
I encourage you to do the same.
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Andrew Ridgell is 13 today
My grandson, Andrew Joel Ridgell, turns 13 today. Here are just a few reasons I love him and am so proud of him.
He lives out his faith.
I have walked across the Fort Worth Christian campus and he knows everyone. By name. And acknowledges every one we meet. All the high school kids (and yes it does help that his sister is in High School). All the elementary school kids (and yes it helps that his brother is in elementary school). And they all know him. He really treats everyone the same.
He stands up for people. He will not let anyone be bullied. Impressive when you find this out from other people, not from him.
He does the right things.
I am proud that he is popular. I am proud he is on the honor role. I am proud that is a really good athlete. And even proud that he can control his hyper-competitiveness.
He is going to be the man Dads will trust with their daughters and Moms will invite in for pie.
And he is a good outdoorsman. Really good fisherman.
Already mows yards to make money. Doesn't spend it all on himself.
Loves his family. All of us. Aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family.
Loves his Pops. Still talks to me. Texts me. Sits with me.
And God will do great things thru -- and with -- Andrew.
So keep the faith Andrew. You are loved. And you share that love with lots of others.
I am glad I get to be your Pops.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The future of preaching
I am old enough that most of what I think about the future of preaching will not affect me. At least not much. But it will have an impact of my family for the next few generations.
God has always used preachers and He always will. I am a big believer in the power of preaching.
But it is going to be different. Not in purpose or content, but in how it happens.
So here are a few things I wonder about concerning the future of preaching/ministry.
Much more preaching for non-beleivers. Less preaching to the converted.
Professional ministry is going to look very different.
Much more preaching for non-beleivers. Less concetration on how to preach to the converted.
I think there will be a lot more lay preaching and part-time preaching for the church.
The day of specialized ministry may be ending. Youth ministry, children's ministry, involvement ministers, etc.
Discipleship ministry may have a role. Perhaps there will be more community outreach ministers.
I do think you will see some churches begin to hire evangelists. I think paid elders may be utilized more.
I think team preaching (instead of one voice preaching) may grow.
I think preachers will be more like the old circuit riders. They may rotate thru house churches or smaller churches, rather than just speak at one place.
Video preaching will continue to grow for a while.
The days of lectureships and workshops may be winding down.
But there may be a revival of revivals. More preaching events for non-beleviers. Just in much smaller venues that before.
Publishing will be different. More self-publishing.
Professional preaching is a fading job opportunity.
More mentoring. Less official training. More practical. Less theory. More Bible. Less theology.
But there will always be a place for preachers and preaching. It just may not look like it has in America the last few decades.
And that might be better. The future of preaching may be better seen in Africa, China, or Cuba.
Multiple churches. Lots of Scripture. More preaching to 10 groups of 30 than one group of 300. Lots of preaching for non-Christians. Lots of teaching each other for Christians.
Maybe even more like -- well, more like it looked in Acts.
Or I could be completely off base. Who knows?
And yes, that is rhetorical. Because God does know. Always has.
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Praying for Mitch Wilburn
A lot of you will know Mitch Wilburn. I want to give a living tribute to Mitch and ask a favor.
I have known Mitch since he was at ACU. He used to hear me preach when he was in college. Mitch went on to be a highly effective youth minister and I knew a number of students who interned under him. They learned a lot.
He is the preacher for the Park church of Christ in Tulsa. Doing a great job. I have been up there to speak several times. That is a church that wants to make a difference. But of course they would or they wouldn't have Mitch as their preacher.
Oh yeah. And we have both been Alumnus of the Year for the same Fraternity at ACU.
Loves Jesus, loves people, loves making a difference.
And... he is a cancer survivor. Puts some real perspective into his preaching. Loves BarBQue too.
So now Mitch has Covid. Been in the hospital a little over a month. In ICU much of that time. Off and on the ventilator. He is really sick. His wife Shannon has had Covid too. Just not as bad. She recovered and is keeping us all up to date on Mitch.
So pray for Mitch's healing. He has a lot of Kingdom work to do. He will help Park do amazing Kingdom things in Tulsa.
But here is what I want you to know right now about Mitch.
He is doing some of his best preaching from that hospital bed.
He is living his faith with praise in the midst of a horrible and uncertain storm. Not a doubt in his mind but that God is completely in control. Absolutely trusts God to take care of him.
Actually looks death is the eye and trusts God to heal him. Really -- not just preacher words but really -- is fine with whatever God does with him.
Because he chooses faith over fear.
He and Shannon are really preaching what a Christian marriage looks like.
Really demonstrating what it means to choose faith no matter what. Livng out "Blessed Be Your Name".
So I believe God will heal Mitch. I ask Him to every day. And He will.
So if you are reading this, take a moment to give a prayer of thanks for Mitch and Shannon. And ask God to go ahead and heal Mitch now.
One last thing I want to say. If you are one of my non-Christian friends reading this, or one of my friends who is struggling to live your faith, what you are reading about Mitch is really what the Jesus life is.
I would love to help you figure out how you can have this kind of faith. So hit me up and we can talk.
And in a few weeks I think Mitch will be glad to help you also.
Because of Jesus.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
So how does a Christian give to the poor?
Jesus cared about the poor. We are to remember the poor. There are hungry people to feed. Shelter and clothing are needed. And the poor are always going to be with us. So this is not a discussion on eliminating poverty, hunger, or homelessness. It is not written to convince you that Christians have a responsibility in this area. But here is what I want to talk about: how do we help the poor.
I have generally seen three approaches.
One is to let the government do it. Tax those who have in order to help those who do not. I do believe Christians should pay taxes to the governing authorities. And I do. But I do have a couple of problems with this being the best way for Christians to participate. One is that I have never seen a government -- past or present -- that has done this efficiently. It is clearly not a heart issue. It is coerced. So it is not done out of love. In fact, you can give to the poor in this way and never even meet or see a poor person. And the government gets the credit. Not God. The government.
Another way is for the institutional church to be active in this area. Budget line items. Special contributions. Volunteer at non-profits. Food pantries. Clothing drives. At least money given this way can very much be a matter of the heart. Though obviously it can be very impersonal. Well, except for the deacon in charge of benevolence, or maybe the preacher or church secretary. And if not careful, the church gets the credit and not God. But you would hope the two are connected in the minds of the needy. Much better option for the Christian than government assistance. But budgets and programs still do not seem to be the way Jesus operated.
Hoverer, I should say this about church benevolence. We Christians have an obligation to take care of our own. That obligation to love each other is greater than my obligation to those outside of my spiritual family. I do think churches can help in these circumstances when members have needs.
But it seems to me that the real Jesus commitment is to see and to assist the poor in your world. Help those you encounter or know who are in need. This is very much a direct heart issue. Eye to eye contact. Not impersonal. Don't hope a government program will connect with them. Don't necessarily call on the church benevolent program. Just you help. And that gives the opportunity to minister in other ways. Gives an opportunity to share the good news. That is what Jesus did. He went around healing people and speaking the good news of the Kingdom.
So Marsha and I very much prioritize our helping those in need.
We take care of our physical family first. Scripture says we are obligated to do that.
We take care of our spiritual family second.
We do good for our "neighbors" after that. People we meet or know in our world.
So in practical terms, we pay as little in taxes as possible so we have resources to use personally and to be sure God gets the glory.
We ask God to bless us financially so we can help directly.
Jesus saw needs and met them. Thanked God for resources. And talked about the Kingdom.
That's the model I want to follow.
So pay your taxes and hope some government programs help. Give to your church.
But mostly... be generous to those in need in your personal world. They are there.
Thursday, November 05, 2020
Charles Hodge, grace, and the mule sermon
Charles Hodge was one of our preachers.
He was at Rosemont church of Christ in Fort Worth for years. Marsha and her family went there for for her early teen years while her parents owned a Bar B Que joint near there. Herttenberger and Hodge were good friends. Partly because they loved sports, partly because they loved Bar B Que, but mostly because they loved Jesus.
My wife Marsha even babysat the Hodge kids some. He was her preacher.
And Hodge preached at Duncanville where my Dad was an elder. And they become good friends. Hodge told me many times what a great elder my Dad was. And my Dad told me many times what a great preacher Hodge was.
He was loud, boisterous, and full of life. His style wasn't for everyone. I mean ... his most well-known sermon was about a mule. That always made him grin.
I am looking at my bookshelf right now and seeing my two favorite books that he wrote.
Amazing Grace. He taught and preach a lot about grace.
Will God Run? About the Prodigal Son and the answer was that of course God would run. Run to the prodigal coming home. More grace.
Hodge -- and that is what everyone called him, and even what he called himself -- never really cared about crowds or fame. Never cared about crowds or reputation.
He cared about Jesus. And he cared that every one else learn to care about Jesus too.
He loved people. Everyone thought they were his best friend and that you were his favorite.
Great man who was a great preacher because he knew a great Savior.
So Hodge. Thanks for loving Marsha and me.
Enjoy hanging out with my Dads.
Thanks for letting me know I was your favorite preacher. :)
See you soon.
Tuesday, November 03, 2020
Election Day Is Finally Here.
Election day is today.
So for my Christian friends, here are ten things to remember (and a bonus).
The next President only won because God allowed it.
God is still in charge when this is over.
Pray for the President, Congress and the Senate, and the Supreme Court.
There are still lost people in your world.
Live like all lives matter.
Treat everyone the same. No matter their age, race, or nationality.
Live the greatest commands.
Go into your world and serve in the name of Jesus.
Make more disciples.
JESUS IS STILL THE ONLY ANSWER.
How you act tomorrow will impact your witness and testimony for Jesus.