Ridgell's Originals

 Our Jamie is 45 today.  So proud of her and I love her.  Here are just a few reasons why.

She is absolutely devoted to her family.  Loves Joe Don.  Invests in her kids.  Connects with all four parents.  Treats all the in-laws as if they were her true brothers and sisters.  

I love that she makes their home a place of welcome.  Family.  Friends.  All the kids friends are welcome.  Parties, hang-outs, sleep overs.  Church small groups.  Meals.  Movies.  Games.  Indoors and out.  Their home is open.  That is special.

Lives out her ministry.  Teaches.  Gives Godly advice.  Studies Scripture.  Prays.  Even her job at Pregnancy Resources is ministry.

I know it cannot be as easy as it looks, but Jamie gets more done than anyone I know.  Keeps up with all the kid's activities, pours into her marriage, connects with friends.  And she never seems rattled or stressed.  

Passionate Jesus follower.  Jesus really is the most impotant thing in her life.

Maybe that is why everything else works so well.

She is not perfect.  But she really is a blessing.

I am glad Joe Don picked her.

I am so thankful God got them together.

I am glad she is our daughter.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 It has been a hard life for Brian.  He is working on overcoming addiction.  He has not always been what he should be in his relationships.  He will tell you he hasn't lived the life he should have.  And he really never knew much about Jesus.  He did go to church camp for a week 2 or 3 years in a row when he was a teenager.  2 or 3 weeks of Jesus over an almost 50 year life.

But his friend Holly started coming to our Jesus Journey class on Wednesday nights.  Holly had been invited by a co-worker and enjoyed it.  Brian started coming also.  He listened to the Jesus stories.  He shared in our prayer requests.  Talked about our verse of the week.

Then ended up in the ER where they discovered he had a heart tumor.  And a valve that needed replacing.  Holly's co-worker Chris and I went up to the hospital to talk about Jesus.  His request.  He acknowledged that he was not ready to meet Jesus.  He knew he wanted a different life.  He was ready to die with Jesus and be reaised to a new life in baptism.

But he was in the hospital with a life threatening condition.  Facing open heart surgery and battling pnuemonia.  He was in a hospital that did not have a pool or any place to baptize someone.  Too sick to leave for a baptism and come back.  

We talked to some of the Doctors and it turned out that the plan was to combat the infection, let him go home for a day or two, then check him back in for surgery.  That was our chance to baptize him between hospital stays.  

Brian wanted it done immediately.  So lots of us started praying.  The Journey class, lots of groups at Hillcrest, even a church out in Jim Ned Valley where I spoke the weekend before.  We talked about God's love, grace, and mercy.  And we asked God for an opening to let Brian be born again.

His pnuemonia got better.  He was released from the hospital in a two day window before meeting with the surgeon to line up his open heart surgery.  

We scheduled his baptism.  Which clearly irritated Satan.  Immediately the heater in our church baptistry went out.  Water too cold to risk a set-back.  One of the members of the Journey class brought a horse trough up to our parking lot.  We filled it with water, including several pans of hot water.  

And last week a lot of us gathered to see Brian born again.

In spite of his illness, in spite of his pending open heart surgery, and in spite of a broken baptistry.  

God came through.  Lots of Christians did too.  And Brian is our brother.  

Whatever happens in his surgery, Brian is at peace.  The peace that only God gives through Jesus.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Sometimes I am struck by how God uses so many different people to grow the Kingdom.

I have recently been connected to two people who gave their life to Jesus.  I don't even know if the two people know each other, but they are connected. 

Joe came to see me because he wanted to be a better husband.  Someone I had helped before told his wife that I helped people.  We have spent some time meeting and  just sharing Jesus stories.  I am on staff at Hillcrest in Abilene as a local evangelist.  My job is to talk about Jesus.  Joe and his wife attend Beltway in Abilene. My elders are happy when I talk to anyone about Jesus, even if they don't end up going to Hillcrest.  They just want the kingdom to grow.

So as Joe and I are telling Jesus stories, he attended a men's event at Beltway.  As he shared with some of the men there about his journey, they encouraged him not to put off following Jesus but to make that decision the foundation for his life.  

It was about this time that Joe and I missed meeting for about a month.  When we got back together, he was anxious to tell me how "clean" he was.  And that is how I learned he had been baptized by one of the Beltway guys at their Men's Boot Camp.  Jesus stories, testimonies, baptism and a soul saved and a marriage getting better.

Jessie works at a local business that does a Bible study on Saturday morning before work.  I know of the leaders of that study is Chris, a very active member at Hillcrest.  One of the other leaders is active at Beltway.  Jessie kept noticing that the people in this study had a real peace in their lives.  And she didn't.  As they talked about it last Saturday, the group told her the answer to a different life was found in Jesus.  Just a few minutes later she wanted to give her life to Jesus.  

So Chris called us to use the baptistry at Hillcrest.  My wife helped Jessie get ready.  Chris baptized her into Christ in front of about 15 of her co-workers.  I don't even know where they all go to church.  I just know the leaders are from Hillcrest and Beltway. 

I don't really even know the guys helping Joe or the Bible study leaders at the business.  I know Chris.  And I know me.  And my wife Marsha.  Got to know Joe.  Just met Jessie at her baptism.   

I don't think any of the Hillcrest or Beltway staff or elders have any big plan to work together.  I do know they are both in a very small but growing number of churches in Abilene committed to reaching people and growing the Kingdom. 

But obviously God was at work.  My brother Joe and my sister Jessie will never be the same.

So thankful for all the heart preparers, seed sowers, and seed waterers.  From wherever they are. 

God will give the increase/

The Kingdom explosion is coming in Abilene.  And maybe all over West Texas.  Or all of Texas.  Maybe all over the U.S.  And even the world.

Go God. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 1 comments

 Let me honest here.  I am a preacher.  I love preachers.  I enjoy preaching and I think God uses my preaching to move people toward the Kingdom.  Anything I say here is not about hearts.  Or passion.  But it is about fixing a broken model.  A model that I am not sure reflects Scripture. 

I also get that our church/preacher model is very cultural.  It is part of the American culture to value a pastor, a leader, a shepherd.  Right along with buildings and budgets.  

And I get our church culture.  We are preacher centric.  Hence the pressure to have a designated preacher.  Or to get a better preacher.

I am not sure you can find this model in the Bible.  Doesn't nake it automatically wrong.  Unless you insist we have to follow the Biblical pattern and example.  Then the preacher centric model is dead in the water.  

You have traveling evangelists.  And temporary short term preachers.  Antioch may have had a preacher staff that took turns doing mission trips.  

You may even have a located preacher in Phillip.  But he was an evangelist.  You even have paid elders.  And paid teaching widows that teach younger woman and do good works.

What you don't have is one man doing the bulk of the teaching and most of the leading.

So who preaches if this is not the right model?

The men of the congregation.  Maybe you hire an evangelist who preaches some.  Maybe the elders preach.  Maybe you bring someone in from another church occasionally.  I know a lot of gifted teachers and preachers that will never be in front of their church.  I mean, we pay someone to do that.

I am beginning to hear of this model being tried.  Often in smaller churches, but sometimes in larger ones as well.  

Of course, we may have to redefine what is a good sermon/preacher.  Good Bible foundation.  Good character.  Be nice if a good communicator.  We often put this last requirement first when looking for the next preacher.

There are a lot of Doctors, policemen, plumbers, ranchers, teenagers, and lawyers who are good preachers.  

But who leads a church like this?  The elders.  At least that seems to be what the early church did.

But who is responsible for the content?  Elders.

But what about training?  No professionals in charge?  

So has that model really worked?  Maybe the problem is that we think the pros have all the answers and so they should be in charge.

Is that really the model God gave us for the church?

But who will do all the work?  Deacons, members, us.

But most churches may want to keep the present model.  Most resources in the Sunday morning assembly.  Very preacher centric.  So get a good one.  Hire one from your sister congregation if he is better than the one you have.

Preachers keep feeling the frustration of being treated like an employee.  But at least get the biggest paycheck you can.

Personally, I would put staff money in evangelists, elders, and older women.  

Let the shepherds lead by example and teaching.

Get a bunch of deacons to be sure our needs are met.

Expect everyone of us to be active ministers.  

Stop the show up, shut up, pay up model.

And we might just see unprecedented growth.

Or... I might not have a clue.

But I do know our current model is not working and we are dying.    

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 1 comments

 There are lots of people to be aware of on today -- Valentine's Day.

My wife Marsha.  Of course we want to to remember THE one.  Always grateful she chose me.

My Mom.  My Dad has gone several years now.  Marsha and I get her flowers and candy.  Take her on a lunch date.  Maybe there are older people in your life that don't have their Valentine anymore.  Remember them.

Our family.  Julie, Joe Don, Jamie, Tim, Anna, Jake, Avery, Andrew, Austin.  Kids, in-laws, and grands.  Each one of them a special love to us in their own way.

My friends who are having a tough time today.  One of my best friends is living his first Valentine without his love.  He is not the only one.  Maybe reach out to those in your life who may be having a hard time today.  

My friends who feel betrayed by Valentine's Day.  By the mate that left them.  Or the hard break-up when they thought it was forever love.  Maybe they need a quick call or text that says I love you.

The friends who never got their Valentine.  Wanted love, came close maybe, but it just never happened for them.  Maybe they need to be reminded that they are loved.  And valuable.  And why.

So give a gift to those who need a little extra this year.  Lunch.  A call.  Text.  Send a card.  Flowers.  Candy.  

It matters.

And of course I always want to remember the greatest gift of love I have ever gotten.  The gift of Jesus.  I am always in awe that God gave me the gift of His Son.  

Come to think about, everyone of my special Valentines is a direct result of that one great gift.

So thanks God, Jesus and Marsha.  

and to all my Valentines

I love you 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 My church heritage is in the churches of Christ and we are in a preacher shortage.  It is real.  Preachers deciding it is not worth it.  Quitting from burn-out.  Not many young men being encouraged to preach.  Smaller churches are really feeling the crunch.  

And the way our churches operage this shortage is critical.

Because we are a preacher centric fellowship.

The preacher does 90% of the teaching.  The smaller the church, the closer to 100% that is.  The preacher serves as the face/spokesperson for the church.  He visits the hospital.  Does the counseling.  

And takes the blame if things do not go well. Criticism of him and often his family.  Pressure.

Hard to really be a part of the community of faith.  Because he is different.  

Everyone thinks they know how he should do his job.  Even if they can't.

Elders that can fire him when it is not going well.

Much like a coach, preachers are hired to be fired.  After all, they are they easiest "fix" for declining church membership.

But before we start criticizing elders and the way our churches operate...

Preachers bring much of this on themselves.  They want to be the lead pastor.  The senior minister.  They want to do the vast majority of the teaching.  They want to be the face and voice of the church.  They want to be paid well.  

And to be honest, most preachers are not that good.  You will not find many people that know the Bible, communicate it well, are insightful counselors, well-known and liked in the community.  

Unrealistic expectations from preachers and churches.

I know preachers quitting because of how they are treated by elders.  And I know men who will never serve as elders because of how they were treated by preachers.

Preachers.  There are not enough competant ones to go around.  

Almost everyone agrees we are in a broken system and that there has got to be a healthier way to do church.  And to do preaching.

I will share a few thoughts on a different way to do things in another post, but I do want to acknowledge that church as we know is probably on it's last legs.

You cannot have a preacher centric model without preachers.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 3 comments

 Matthew 5:19-20 and a few thoughts about what this means for teachers and the Kingdom.

19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

A couple of things seem obvious to me.

One, be very careful with God's commands.  Do not play fast and loose with what God says.  Stop "smoothing over" the rough parts.  And do not teach others that they do not mean what they say.  

Two, Jesus does not say these teachers are not in the Kingdom.  He says they are least in the Kingdom.

Evidently, there are degrees of salvation.  Or degrees of importance.  Or degrees of effectiveness.  

If you want to be great in the Kingdom, then teach what God says.  And Jesus makes it a point to say do what God says.  

It may be that our definition of great in the Kingdom does not always match what God says.

The key to being in the Kindom seems to be having more righteousness than the Pharisees.  Pharisees often did not accept Jesus, they tried to find loopholes to the commands, and they seemed much more interested in rules than people.

So... a word to all the teachers, parents, preachers, and church leaders.

Be righteous.  Because of Jesus.  And try to live the commands you teach.

Teach what God says.  Not what you think he should have said.  

Do not "relax" the commands of God.  Stop trying to explain why what God said is not applicable to today.

And when someone does not teach the way you believe they should, they are still in the Kingdom.  

And yes, this is good for me personally to remember.  

Teach what God says.  Try my best to live it.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

A note of explanation:

This was written over 10 years ago.  I occasionally go back and read old posts.  Sometimes I am struck by how I missed the point.  But sometimes I think I was spot on and would write the same thing today.

This is one of those posts.

 Here are some questions I think must be asked.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments