Ridgell's Originals

 The Ridgell Rules are a series of practices I live by.  They include things like:  no secrets from my wife, Marsha has access to every password for any communication devices, no meals or conversations one on one with the opposite sex.  Absolutely no secrets from my wife.  None.  Those kinds of things.  I developed them several years ago to help me live in a way that honored God.  

It was later that I found out that Billy Graham had rules he lived by.  And when Mike Pence was Vice President, he took heavy ridicule from the media for these same kinds of practices.

My rules are not spelled out in the Bible, though they very much reflect my understanding of Biblical principles and practices.

I find it helpful to remind myself why I live by these practices.  There are three very good reasons and I think they are reasons every Christian leader should consider when thinking through their own best practices for living.

So here are the three reasons behind my Ridgell Rules.

Protect me from temptation.  Every Christian needs to know their weak spots spiritually.  Satan sure knows and I want to be protected.  Do not fall into temptation.  Don't be led into temptation.  But up boundaries that keep you safe.  Be intentional about your Jesus walk.  You will develop some rules for living that are unique to your struggles and sin issues.

As a Christian leader, your flock needs to know they are safe.  These practices/rules ensure that your flock is safe.  Safeguards for protection.  I have helped many church leaders develop safe practices so that their flock knows they are safe and protected.

Finally, these rules protect us from false accusations.  He said, she said issues are never good for your community of faith.  Rules for living help protect you from lies.

I periodically remind myself of my rules and why I have them.  I have done them for so long now that they are second nature.

And they have helped my live the way I want.  And more importantly, the way God wants. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 I love older Christians.  And not just because I sorta am one.  But in talking to older saints I realize some of them wrestle with what that value to the Kingdom is.  And churches do not always do a good job of communicating worth and value.  So here are three reasons I love and value what older saints bring to our community of faith.

Living examples to the goodness of God.  They have stories of battles faced and won.  They have long-term marriages for us to see and be encouraged.  The continue to follow God year after year after year.  And they show us how to die with faith and anticipation.

They have lots of wisdom, individually and collectively.  They have seen so much.  Church issues.  Sin issues.  Relationship issues.  Life.  We need to ask them to tell their stories.  Ask them for advice.  Ask them what they have learned.

Prayer warriors.  They have learned how to pray and they know the value of prayer.  They have the time and the faith to pray.  And if prayer is as important as we say it is, they are among our greatest ministers.

So I love our older saints.  I value them  I learn from them.

And they bless my life.

They help grow the Kingdom.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Bill Humble lived a long life and recently made his journey to his forever home.  He was a professor of Restoration History at Abilene Christian University for many years and led many trips to the Holy Land.  He was one of my favorite professors.  I grew up in churches of Christ and I loved history.  So the study of our roots and early history were especially meaningful to me.  

Restoration history.  Bill Humble taught the who, what, and when.  But he also helped you see the why.  And of course, that led to a lot of insight into the ministry I have spent my life doing.  

I learned so much from him that I wanted to do my Master's work in Restoration History.  ACU really didn't have the faculty for a Master's program so Bill Humble designed a program just for me.  Classes in church history under Dr. Ferguson.  Guided study projects under Bill Humble.

But he was so much more than a historian of our movement.  He thought everyone should have a chance to understand the life and times of Jesus so he started taking guided tours to the Holy Lands.  Explaining where Jesus lived and how it impacted our study of the Bible.

But I also went to church with him for a number of years.  He would send cards and notes of encouragement often.  Went out of his way to speak words of encouragement.

It is easy to find professors who can encourage more scholarship and Dr. Humble did that.  Helped me get into a doctoral program at Baylor.  It is rarer to find professors who can encourage someone who decides they would be in the middle of doing restoration than studying it. And he encouraged me when I dropped out of that program.

So thanks for feeding my love of the Christians of my heritage in the United States who went before me.  And for encouraging me in the practical ministry of bringing people to Jesus.

Appreciation for the past and how if can shape the future.  Appreciation of the time and place where Jesus lived in this world.  And a participant in a local faith community.

I learned a lot from him.

Well done.  

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 1 comments

 So it has been a couple of weeks now since Jim went to heaven.  He was just a few years older but we did a lot of ministry together in the early days of youth ministry.  Spoke at the same events.  Did retreats for each other.  And I spoke every few years at the church where Jim stayed for decades.

But those are not the things I remember about Jim. 

I remember how much Jim loved his family.   Loved his wife Sue, and his kids.  Adored his grands. And Jim loved his church family.

Jim loved using life stories to talk about Jesus.  I remember his telling how he made his car his god when he was in high school.  And then one day his car died.  So did his god.  It was a good way to talk about the real God.

Jim was loyal to his church.  They really were his family.  Thru good times and bad, he loved his people.  

And wanted everyone he met to know that Jesus loved them.

And Jim died well.  He knew it was coming and it was OK.  In some ways quick, but certain it was coming.  And he was OK.  Lots of people can live well.  Some can preach well.  Few die well.  But Jim died just like he lived.  Looking at Jesus.

Well done, Jim, well done.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Richard Burch left this world a couple of weeks ago.  He had battled sickness for a while but this was rather sudden and not expected.

He was not a famous preacher.  In fact, I hadn't even heard of him until a few years ago.  But I came to value his faith, his heart, and his ministry.

He was preaching at the church of Christ in Atascadero, CA when I met him.  The churches in the Central Coast region of California were working together to reach their world for Jesus.  Richard and his congregation were heavily involved in this campaign.  Richard was focused, insightful, and very committed to reaching his community for Jesus.

We would visit periodically about ideas, projects, and plans for serving and talking about the Kingdom.  

And he did all of this as a part-time preacher.  He had to supplement his salary and he did so by working construction.  While he was battling illness.  While being a husband and father.  Preaching, teaching, reaching into the community, leading his church, working hard.  

As I learned more of his story, my appreciation for his faith grew.  Life had been hard.  Relationship issues that could really have soured him on life.  Figuring out where and how God wanted to use him in Kingdom business.  He never seemed bitter or disappointed.  Just really happy about his life now.  His marriage.  His ministry.

Richard was not afraid to talk about death either.  Didn't dwell on it, but realized it was possible at any time.  And still lived life for Jesus every day.

So thanks Richard for a life well lived in the service of the King.  I'm glad we got to be friends.  Your example and influence will last a long time.  

And I look forward to seeing you in heaven.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 So in two days, my wife Marsha turns 71.  Doesn't look it or act it, but it's true.  So here are a few of the reasons I love her and am so proud she is my wife.

She doesn't act her age.  Doesn't talk about getting old.  I don't mean that she is unaware of the reality of her years, but she just doesn't think about it.  She is still active on the ranch, she still does lots for people, and she is really good at taking one day at a time.

She is still up for new things.  We moved to the ranch and she wanted to.  We are going on a mission trip to the Philippines in a few weeks.  Our Journey class at Hillcrest is one of the most exciting ministries we have ever been involved in.

She is the emotional center of our family.  Our kids and grands adore her.  She still gives advice, makes holiday gift bags, shows up to support, texts, and just generally lets them all know they are loved.

She is still chasing Jesus.  She was born again almost 60 years ago and is still growing in her faith.  She keeps with lots of people in our faith community.  Takes them to Drs.  Texts to check on them.  Sends cards.  Visits.  Talks about Jesus, forgiveness, and following him.

She is well worth celebrating.  And she would tell you she is nothing special.  Which is just one more reason to celebrate her.  She doesn't know how remarkable she is.

So we all love you Mimi.

God, thanks for Mimi and we pray you will bless her, use her, and give her many more years to serve you here.  

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 This is the remarkable story of my friend Donna and how she came back home.

She was baptized/born again years ago at Hillcrest by Bill Luttrell.  Active enough to even help in the Children's ministry.  But, as sometimes happens in church, someone said something hurtful and Donna stopped going.  She will tell you now it doesn't matter what was said or who it was.  But it mattered when it happened.

Over time she just lost focus.  Months away turned into years.

Jenny, the Children's minister at Hillcrest lives next door to Donna and they became friends.  When Jenny lost her husband, Donna was right there to see Jenny's grief journey up close.

Then Donna was diagnosed with a serious illness, a life threatening illness.  And it made her think.  Not about herself yet, but about her brother, Scott.  She and Scott were close and she worried that since Scott had no other family, that when she passed he would not have a circle of friends.

So as she and Jenny talked about church and Jesus, they convinced Scott to come to our Wednesday journey class.  He did and enjoyed it.  Started meeting people.  He had (and still has) lots of questions about Jesus and the Jesus journey.  But Donna was not interested in talking about her own spiritual journey.

Then Donna's husband got sick.  Really sick.  Jenny was right there with her.  Lots of us were praying for Donna and for her husband.  I went up a few times to hospice to visit Donna and her kids while her husband was dying.  Jenny was with her right thru her husband's passing.  Scott kept our Journey class up to date on everything.  Jenny and I showed up at the funeral.

That's when Donna decided to take Scott up on his invitation and come to class with him.  Sunday mornings were hard to attend because of her illness but she managed Wednesday nights.  I asked her several times if she wanted to visit about her spiritual journey.  One night she said yes and Marsha and I got to start talking with her. 

We learned of her journey.  We talked about her baptism and what happened.  Talked about her illness and prognosis.  Talked about her husband.  And talked about what she wanted out of life.  

We heard her let go of past hurts.  And heard her talk about coming back to her faith.  Talked about forgiveness.  Talked about others in our class who returned to faith as they were dying.  Talked about Jesus who came after the one lost sheep.

She agreed to let us tell the church that she was coming home.  That she had been a believer and lost her focus.  That she wanted, and needed, her church family.

It has been a remarkable return to faith.  

Our sister Donna is home.  She has help on her grief journey and on her sickness journey. 

And she is helping us.  Inspiring others to pursue Jesus.  Helping others renew their faith.  

And Scott is still asking the hard questions.  Talking about what his faith journey could look like.  

Jesus, Jenny, illness, grief, and lost sheep coming home.   

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments