Ridgell's Originals

I hear a lot of Christians talking/complaining about the government.  And many Christians insisting they know exactly the right -- or the wrong -- way to vote.  It is easy to get caught up in politics.  Or to get disgusted with politics.  

So I thought I would remind us all of three things I am thankful for as a Christian living in America.  

There is no law against the Biblical definition of marriage.  I do not live in fear that my wife and I might be arrested for being married to each other for 50 years.  I am free to practice the Biblical model of marriage.  Including the responsibility for taking care of my family.

I am free to have and to raise my children.  I am even free to adopt children.  I can help struggling families.  I can provide financial and emotional support to families in need.

But here is the one I am most thankful for...

There is no law against the fruits of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives in Christians.  And over time, we will produce fruit from that Spirit.  We will be kind, and happy, and at peace.  We will be patient and gentle.  We exercise self-control.  We love.  We love our God.  We love each other.  We love the people in this world.

And that is all legal.  No government will arrest us for being people with that kind of character.

Yes, I do know that in some countries you can be arrested for believing in Jesus.  Or more accurately, not believing in gods the government establishes.

But that is a different issue.

Today I am just thankful I can do lots of Jesus things that make the world a better place.

And they are not illegal.   

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 We all have core convictions about people.  Things we believe to be true about everyone.  Things we do not believe are true about everyone.  Convictions about how we should, or should not, treat people.  It takes constant effort to live to our convictions because it is easier to write a blog or teach a Bible class about how to relate to people than it is to actually do life with people.  Because we live in a fallen world and life is hard.

But here are a few things I believe about people.

God made everyone of them in His image.  

People are not my enemy.  Satan is.

Jesus died for every person I have, or will, meet.

Every person is lost without Jesus.

I have to try and treat everyone the way Jesus would.

Sometimes they will not like it.

There is never an excuse to be mean or hateful to people.

Loving people does not mean I endorse or accept all their behaviors.

I don't have to like every person.

I need to help everyone I can.

I especially need to help those in my community of faith.

I wonder if some people I encounter are angels and I am not aware of it.

People I meet may have been put in my life so I can tell them about Jesus.

People are not perfect.  Including me.

Everyone I meet gives me a chance to move them closer to God.

    Or to push them away from God.

I have a clear priority on time, energy, and resources.

    My family, the family of God, the family of mankind.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 I speak at a lot of church retreats and it seems like almost all of them are by lakes or rivers.  So the natural theme becomes Down by the River or The Water's Edge or Jesus at the Lake, etc.  I just spoke at my own church's retreat and the theme was... well, you guessed it.

But I like it.  Not just because I already have the material ready, tho that is a real bonus.  But because there are so many stories about Jesus and water.

Jesus baptism.  Great way to talk about God's affirmation and a model for how we affirm.  Launching his public ministry.  Setting an example for us, though obviously Jesus was not baptized for forgiveness of sins.  Of course, he didn't pray the Sinner's prayer either. Jesus did not need saving.  But he was baptized and God was proud of him.

Nicodemus, Jesus, and being born again.  Of water and the Spirit.  Great lesson.  You will not be in the Kingdom of God unless you are born again of water and the Spirit.  We tend to emphasis the first part of being born again:  the water baptism.  But the Spirit part should be talked about more.  We become Spirit people when we are baptized.  Lives in us.  Produces fruit in us.  

Living water and the woman at the well.  Jesus as the water that quenches the desperate thirst in us for something more in life.  The Jesus that knows everything about us and still loves us.  Still wants us.  Still offers living water that never dries up.

Jesus that calms the sea storm.  Such a rich reminder that with Jesus everything will be fine.  He does calm the storms in our life.  Power over nature.  And Jesus has not lost his power.

Jesus and Peter walking on the water.  Get out of the boat.  Do something great for Jesus.  Keep your eye on him and not on the waves.  He will always be there for us, even when we sink.  

Peter, Jesus, and the amazing catch of fish.  We are sinners.  Jesus still wants us.  Don't be afraid.  Have courage.  Follow Jesus.  Catch men.

Jesus.  Water.  Life.  And we are part of that.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Tomorrow we will have been married 50 years.  And yes, we were kids.  Marsha was pretty mature for her age.  I was not.  But here we are 50 years later.  And what do we have to show for it?

When we talk about what we have accomplished, it is not about the stuff.  Not even the ranch.  Not the careers.  Not the honors and awards.

It is about the people.

Starting with the kids.  We raised two good kids.  They love Jesus.  They make a difference.  They are not perfect, but we look at them and think "wow, we sure did a good thing for this world with our kids".  And they both have mates that we love like our own.  Because of Jesus.  Watching them live their faith.

Our five grands.  They are good looking, smart, athletic, and have great personalities.  But that's not why we smile when we see them.  We smile because they are all on a Jesus journey.  Still figuring it out.  Learning how to live Jesus on their own and not because it is the family tradition.  It makes us happy to see Jesus things done by them.

Because all this means this world will have people being Jesus followers and making a difference long after we are gone.

Sometimes we are reminded of the people we have helped find their Jesus journey, or come back to their Jesus journey, or stay on their Jesus journey.  

Those are the things that make us happy.  The things that make us smile about 50 years.  

People connecting to Jesus.

And we can't imagine stopping.  

Until Jesus calls us home. 

50 years.

Thank you God.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Marsha and I will have been married 50 years on May 19.  So I am writing some about what makes that special and what you should see in us.

Living example.  50 years.  Any couple that makes 50 years is worth watching.  How did they make it?  What did they do?  So here are a few things you will see in us that will help you.

We are at church.  Jesus.  Jesus is absolutely the reason we are celebrating.  Being involved in church is just a reflection of our love for Jesus.  I am convinced that living your faith in community will increase your ability to celebrate 50 (or more) years of marriage.

We hold hands.  Our granddaughters especially think that is sweet.  Maybe our grandsons but they don't really talk about it.  :)  Holding hands.  Connected.  Needing each other.  Depending on each other.  Teamwork.  Love.  It takes us both.  We are so much better together than we would be on our on. 

We talk about each other.  The right way.  No gripe sessions from either one of us.  Not to our friends. Not to our family.  Not to any one.  So we never have fights or get upset?  Of course not.  But if we gripe, it is to each other.  Because we get it out and get over it.  And do better.  But to any one else, they hear the best about us.  And we really do believe what we say about each other.  Proud.  Love.  Happy.  All true.

You won't see or hear us living in the past.  Part of that is because we move past our past.  No use looking back at the hard times, or the bad times.  Part of that is because there is no point to looking at the "good old days."  We are older.  We are different.  Life is different.  And it is exciting to see what God will do.  Even after 50 years.  

So if you want to have a long marriage... if you want to celebrate milestones... if you want to be happy after a lifetime together...

Love Jesus and get involved with church.

Hold hands with your other (in my case, better) half.

Talk about each other the right way.

Don't live in the past.

Thank you God. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 1 comments

 It is about to be Mother's Day and so I need to say thanks to my Moms.

I love my Mom.  92 and still going strong.  She still supports me, encourages me, loves me, is proud of me, and sets a great example for me.  She has shown mercy and grace.  She has been consistant and steadfast in her life and in her love.  She taught me about Jesus.  I am so thankful that God gave me to her.  

I am thankful for my maternal grandmother.  Mamma Ruth had a hard life.  It is hard to be warm and loving when you never saw much of that in your own life.  But she did love me.  And she helped instill faith in me.  She had a strong faith and a deep love of Scripture.  Her faith in the midst of hard things did much to form my own convictions.

My mother-in-law was never an in-law.  She was a real mother to me.  Loved me, believed in me, and never gave up on me.  She was warm, loving, happy, and she raised my wife.  So I will always be thankful for her and look forward to seeing her again in heaven.

My wife Marsha.  I know she is not my Mom.  I know she is my wife.  But we went thru a lot of years where she was Mom.  One of the greatest things she ever did for me was to raise our two kids.  And she does take care of me.  My kids absolutely hit the jackpot with her.  I am still amazed at all she does to make a home and a life for us.

My girls.  Julie is our daughter by birth.  Life has not always been easy.  To be a Mom while in an abusive relationship is hard.  To be a single Mom is hard.  But I see her kids and I know she managed to pull it off.  Now she is happy with Tim, and I am getting to see her form relationships with his kids and grands.  And I see a lot of Marsha in her.  That is high praise.

Jamie is our daughter because she married our son.  Watching her raise their three kids is special.  She is faithful, loving, patient, and it is remarkable to watch her give time to each of them, to JD, to her extended family, to us, and to our extended family.

The common thread in all these remarkable women is Jesus.

Love, faith, life.

All because of him.  

So if you ever want to know the secret of being a great Mom...

They would each tell you it is not them, it is Him.

Two of these are already home.  They did well for Jesus.  The others would tell you their main job as a Mom is to keep passing down their faith.

And I am thankful. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 I am reading in Numbers these days and I really been struck by something.  The Passover, the Exodus, the incredible feeling of God's deliverance.  Followed by complaining.  Some even looking back at their time in Egypt and thinking it was good.  Aaron and Miriam getting jealous of Moses.  They too had done much for God and His people.  But not getting proper recognition.  Even when they get to the promised land, ten out of 12 leaders insist they cannot take the land God has promised them.

Some things never change.

Excitement in church after a retreat or revival.  Several baptisms.  A new preacher.  Everyone is excited and invovled.  Till the excitement wears off.  Then you are into the every day struggle.  Just like the people of God coming out of Egypt.

Some will complain.  Crowded out of their seats.  Youth program no longer catering to the member's kids.  The new people are needy.  Their kids don't act we think they should.  Maybe it was better in the old days.

Jealousy among the key leaders.  One person getting credit when you are sure you have worked just as hard, been just as faithful.  Resentment.

Fear among the leadership in general.  Let's just slow up a minute.  Take a look at the budget.  Do we really know where this will end up?  Where is the plan?

I am convinced God uses pivotal moments to move his people.  The Exodus.  Pentecost.  Revivals.  It still happens today.

But the hard work and the growth of the Kingdom happen after the initial excitement wears off.  The every day work of growing new disciples.  The realization that you are in a marathon not a sprint.

But God works.

I love the exciting, emotional moments.  I have been in many of them.  They are essential for real growth.

But the hard work comes after. It always does.

Because Satan wants to stop us.  Because it is hard.  

So just be aware.

Don't let what God is doing die because of it.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 They died a couple of weeks apart.  I am not even sure they knew each other.  But I knew them both well, and I have learned a lot about following Jesus by watching Melba and Carolyn follow Jesus.  In life and in death.

They were both sweet, kind, friendly, and happy.  Character matters.  More than career or accomplishments, it matters how you live.  Fruits of the Spirit are evident when you live in the Spirit.  They were both happy right up until the end.  

The Scripture is right (of course) that says the death of His saints is precious to God.  Because their deeds follow them.  Melba's husband Bill was an elder for a long time.  I served with him and saw how much he and Melba cared for their flock.  A hug.  A visit.  A card.  Wise advice.  Great example.  That was what they did.  Their influence will last well, forever.

They same for Carolyn and David.  Missionaries to Brazil.  Preacher and wife.  So many people brought to Jesus by their life and teaching.  They lived across the street from us for many years.  My favorite Carolyn memory is that she would bake cookies every year for our grandkids at Cousin Camp.  Influence for the Kingdom.

And they both died well.  You felt better after you visited them.  Even at the end.  Singing.  Praying.  Looking for the home that the rest of us don't yet see.  Influence and example right up to the end.

So thanks Carolyn and Melba.  Thanks for the life you lived, the lives you touched, and the death you died.  You showed us how to get home and we look forward to seeing you again.  Till then, enjoy visiting, laughing, and worshipping.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 1 comments

 I got asked this question again just the other day.  Why is Hillcrest growing so much?  Most of the people I hear this from are not affiliated with Churches of Christ.  

And it is true. We are growing.  Some of that growth is from making new disciples.  We are intentional and focused on that.  Some are believers coming back to their faith.  We do seek lost sheep.

But their are a lot of people asking to join with us.  Some moving in from elsewhere and they like what is going on at Hillcrest.  Serving people on the margins.  Making a difference.  Being a part of something bigger than themselves.  Wanting to be a part of something that matters.

Some are people that didn't abandon their faith, but they did sort of drop out of church.  Maybe they had a bad experience.  Or got their feelings hurt.  But they ended up visiting Hillcrest and found what they were looking for.  I don't mean that the singing is just like they enjoy.  Or the preaching is exactly the style they love.  Not the building.  Or the youth program or children's ministry.  Or even the seniors ministry.  

But there a sense of belonging.  And of being welcome.  Churches have a vibe that people pick up on.  I personally would call it the Holy Spirit.  But there is something happening.

And finally, there are people coming from other churches in town.  You may think this is where I am going to point out what is wrong with other churches in town.  And how we are so much better.  Actually it would be easier to talk about what is wrong with Hillcrest.  I know our church and we are not perfect.  And I really don't know enough about most of the other churches in town to say if anything is wrong.

But I do know that sometimes people really, really want to be part of something amazing that God is doing.  They want to help change the world.  Change Abilene.  

And we are doing that. 

And here is the best part.  I don't think it is strategic at all.  I am not sure the ministry staff has a master plan.  Other than asking God to let us all be part of what He is doing.  Not sure the elders have a grand vision.  Other than praying for God to use us all to advance the Kingdom.

So why is Hillcrest growing so much?

I don't know.  But God does.

I am just glad to be part of the ride.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments