First, I saw an amazing amount of boldness. Wow! What a breathtaking thing to witness as a leader, that is, seeing students decide to take up the call and dive head first into the work of ministry. With our VBS activities, I witnessed students put aside differences and love on kids in an amazing way. I also observed a fearlessness in sharing the gospel; even sharing to children can be a frightening prospect. Way to go guys! With our homeless ministry endeavors, I was floored by the willingness to reach out to others and talk to those who are often shunned from our society. Handing someone some water and asking to pray with them is a huge deal, something that shows a willingness to obey God’s command for believers. With these observations, my challenge to students is to continue doing that work. Now that I know you can do it, the real challenge begins! Can we continue doing that work in the midst of a busy school semester? Are you willing to go up to someone in your school who is outcast and ask to pray with them? This is the kind of work we are called to do; this is what we are made for! Are you willing to continue doing the work of God’s Kingdom in order that others will be brought in?

Second, I saw an overall unity in our group. I don’t have illusions that we are all best friends who hold hands and skip down the street together, but I do know we are called to be unified. Putting differences aside and deciding to do work for the glory of God is a major step in the life of a believer, especially a student. I know we are tempted to criticize one another and talk down through joking and other such things, but I saw a general release from that attitude over our week in Dallas. I also know none of us are  perfect but I want to challenge everyone to continue in the mentality of unity. Remember our RidgeStudents focus verse: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13.35 NLT). Continue to pursue this! Paul tells Timothy to be the example is love, faith and purity (1 Tim. 4.12) and I call us all to do the same! Others will be intrigued by the love and submission we show to one another. Will you choose to do that even when the other person may not deserve it? That is our call as believers!

Lastly, I was blown away by the leadership I saw this past week. I felt like every student wanted to step up and lead an activity or a game or another task throughout the week. We all have different gifts but I feel as if those gifts were used mightily in a leadership fashion during Mission: Dallas. Not all of us are called to stand up and physically lead others, but all of us have gifts and talents that God desires for us to use for his glory. Don’t neglect these, rather, pursue and harness these gifts. Abide in God’s word and in prayer and ask him to further grow you in your gifts and abilities, and ask him to give you opportunities to use them. Again, set the example. Don’t be afraid to step out and use what God gave you, he will equip you and strengthen you when you do. Pray that you will be filled with the Spirit and ask him to give you continued boldness and opportunities to lead others.

Thanks to all who poured in their time and energy during our Mission: Dallas project. No doubt we will continue to return to the area, as well as plan for Mission: Dallas 2011. This Saturday, July 31, we will return to the Dunbar area to play with kids and share the gospel from 9AM-1PM. Please consider joining us for this student service opportunity. We will also be serving with Christian Community Action in Lewisville on August 6 from 1-7PM (movie afterward) so please consider this service occasion as well. Ephesians 2.10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We were made to do this! Mission is our calling. As a body we encourage one another through prayer, worship and fellowship but all that should lead us to our main task of mission. Without mission, we are not the church. As students, you have a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ with others. We will continue to emphasize the importance of mission and look for more opportunities to use the gifts God has given to all of us through mission opportunities. Next summer is going to be even greater as we look to serve in an international context. Stay tuned for more information regarding that and other moments to serve. Thanks again for your continued encouragement to me and let’s continue the work that God has placed before us as we give him glory through serving others. Take care and have a great week in the Lord!

Peace in Him,

Coleman

First, we need a study diet of God’s Word this Summer.  If you are not currently on a Scripture reading plan take the beginning of Summer as an opportunity to hit the refresh button and start anew.  Be intentional and put a plan together with what you are going to read.  Our problem is that we aim at nothing and we hit it every time.  Have a plan and put it into action.  May we be able to testify as the Psalmist does, Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You (Psalm 119.11).

Next, we need community with other believers.  I know some will be on vacation and it will be challenging at times to get together often this Summer, but I want to encourage you to fight for community.  Make some changes to when you meet for LIFEgroup if need be.  Be flexible and place community with others as a high priority.  We need each other.  Solomon says, A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart (Ecclesiastes 4.12).  We need the Summer strands of community.

We also need corporate worship this Summer.  The discipline of praise is so important to the constant life of worship of Christ that we are called to.  Corporate worship encourages each other in our praise and in our walk with the Lord.  The writer of Hebrews says, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10.25).  We need the habit of assembling together this Summer.

Lastly, we need the discipline of giving to continue through the Summer months.  I don’t know about you, but when I am not giving selfishness, greed and lack of concern for others creeps in.  Giving keeps me other focus.  I want to encourage you this Summer to stay faithful in the area of giving.  When it specifically comes to financial giving during the Summer things tend to drop off while expenses for ministry rises.  I pray that we would be consistent and even more abounding in the discipline of giving this Summer.  The Lord says, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this (Malachi 3.10).  I pray we would test the Lord this Summer in the area of giving. 

I pray the Lord would bless you and keep you this Summer!

Hello friends,

With a 13-hour van trip ahead of us, it is difficult to gather my thoughts about all that has taken place. Camp is always that undefinable event where any number of things can happen. It can be encouraging and distressing, uplifting and unsettling, ground-breaking and heart-breaking all at the same time. Needless to say, worship and teaching have been outstanding this week. Here is a quick rundown of daily occurrences:

We've had the privilege of two camp pastors, David Nasser and Darren Whitehead. Its so hard to pick a favorite, and its probably not necessary to do so. Overall, I believe the students connected most with Darren. I'm sure the Australian accent helped. Aside from that amazing factor, Darren's message of a call to action and a Gospel-centric substance truly left an impression on the hearts of our students. Most if not all were visibly stirred to one degree or another. Whether it was a re-focus on what is important or a fresh dedication to the faith, every student responded in some tangible way this week.

Here are some highlights from the week and I'll close this last camp entry with a few final words.

Overall, I leave camp with a burden to grow. I desire that we would know Christ more and become active in the calling that he has placed on our lives as believers. We are called to display the kingdom of heaven here on earth by setting things right within the world and sharing the awesome power of God's word. I leave here with a refreshing view of students and their ability to perceive truth and apply it to their lives. I leave here with a renewed dedication to be on my knees for the faith of our students. And lastly, I leave here with hope. A hope in Christ, yes, but a hope in the possibilities and potential for our students. These young men and women have so many special gifts and talents and its our job as older leaders, parents and mentors to expose those gifts and encourage these students to use them for God's glory and the advancement of his kingdom. Thanks to all who have supported this cause and a special thanks goes to our incredible leaders who gave up time and family to join us this week. Take care and have a great week in the Lord.

Peace in Him,

Coleman

This is what Jesus asked the Pharisees.  The Pharisees responded and said, The son of David (22.42).  The Jewish leaders believed the promised Messiah would be a human in the royal line of David, but not deity.  Some others at the time of Jesus Christ, accused Him of being an illegitimate son, a child born out of wedlock, the son of a Roman soldier who cohabitated with Mary, and Mary was an adulteress, and thus Jesus was an illegitimate child.

Mormons believe that Jesus’ birth was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. Mormons believe Jesus is a god, and that any human can also become a god.  Jehovah’s Witness and Muslims believe that Jesus was a created being, not eternal and not God.  CS Lewis said about Christ, He was a liar, a lunatic or Lord.

One of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, said to the question, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16.16). Another of Jesus’ disciples, Thomas, after Christ’s resurrection was unbelieving and upon putting his finger into the holes in Jesus hands and his hand into His side said, My Lord and My God (John 20.28).  May the question be asked and may our answer be as Peter and Andrew say, He is My Lord and My God!

Matthew begins his gospel writing announcing Jesus as the promised Messiah (Christ), which means anointed One.  The prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before looked forward to this saying, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners (Isaiah 61.1).

Matthew also refers to Jesus as the son of David and the son of Abraham.  These titles speak volumes of Jesus the promised Messiah and His kingdom.  First, Jesus is the son of David.  Because of God’s covenant love His promises made to David were that His dynasty would never be terminated, that His kingdom and throne would endure forever through a greater Son to come after Him, Jesus.  Here is the promise in Psalm 89.29, So I will establish his descendants forever and his throne as the days of heaven (Other texts to look into concerning this subject: Isaiah 9.6-7; 2 Samuel 7.12-16; 1 Kings 2.1-4).

Next, He is the Son of Abraham.  With the promises that God made to Abraham (Genesis 12.1-3; 15.1-16) we see the beginning of His dealing with a special people, the nation of Israel.  God promised them land, descendants that would issue in the Messiah and a people He would rule and that they would be blessed spiritually with forgiveness.  God deals with Israel to bring her to a place of spiritual blessing, so that she will be an agent for God to bless the nations of the world.  

So, Christ is the rightful heir of the promises made to David and Abraham and the One who they point to and who fulfills them.  Praise Him as Messiah, the son of David and the son of Abraham.

I love the promise attached to this verse when we commit our works to the Lord.  He says, your plans will be established.  I love what established means.  It means directed aright.  I like this first thought.  It means as I roll the days tasks and concerns to the Lord I am moving in the right direction, seeking His will and trusting Him.  It also means that He will make our plans firm, stable, ordered and enduring.  What a promise. 

Our time is precious.  May we use it wisely (Ephesians 5.15-16).  Roll, so you don't waste your time and your life.

So, what about slavery (in short)?  Scripture does not condone it, but it does address the relationships and how a new creation, whether a slave or a master is to function.  As studying I found these great words by Pastor Sam Storms that helped me.  Here they are: 

First, Scripture is known to regulate undesirable relationships without condoning them as permanent ideals (see Mt. 19:8; 1 Cor. 6:1-8). Paul’s recommendation for how slaves and masters relate to each other does not assume the goodness of the institution.

Wayne Grudem (“Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth”) explains: “The Bible does not approve or command slavery any more than it approves or commands persecution of Christians. When the author of Hebrews commends his readers by saying, ‘You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one’ (Hebrews 10:34), that does not mean the Bible supports the plundering of Christians’ property, or that it commands theft. It only means that if Christians have their property taken through persecution, they should still rejoice because of their heavenly treasure, which cannot be stolen. Similarly, when the Bible tells slaves to be submissive to their masters, it does not mean that the Bible supports or commands slavery, but only that it tells people who are slaves how they should respond” (341).

Second, the institution of slavery is not grounded in creation but is a distortion resulting from the fall.

Third, on several occasions in the New Testament the seeds for the dissolution of slavery are sown. This is especially seen in Paul’s words to Philemon (vv. 12-16; cf. also Eph. 6:9; Col. 4:1; 1 Tim. 6:1-2).

Fourth, no permanent moral command is used with reference to the institution of slavery in Paul’s writings. He is obviously adapting to a temporary and ultimately repugnant social construct.

Fifth, and finally, Paul explicitly envisions and endorses the possibility of a slave obtaining freedom (1 Cor. 7:21).

I appreciate these notes on the issue of slavery. 

In closing, a brief warning because some in different theological camps have been tempted with this.  One thing we must do is never take the issue of slavery and how Scripture deals with it and apply it to marriage.  These are two different institutions that do not correspond at all.  Marriage is grounded in creation and a good institution that is to be permanant.  Slavery has been abolished, but it does not mean the husband's role of headship is abolished.  The complementary roles in marriage that God has ordained are not to be abolished due to slavery being rightfully abolished.  The argument does not correspond.       

Resources:

Journibles, The 17:18 Series by Rob Wynalda, www.heritagebooks.org ($10)

Truth and Grace Memory Books, www.founders.org ($15 for a set of 3)

The questions I ask myself as I ready this:
Who or what is your life?    
Is Christ your life? 

I  love the amazing truth that Paul speaks to as he says, your life is hidden in Christ with God.  What great meaning this statement has.  Those who have received Christ Jesus the Lord (2.6), have died with Christ (2.20; 3.3), and been raised up with Christ (3.1) have had their life hidden with Christ in God.  They share a common life with the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, as well as with the Holy Spirit.  Here is a glimpse of what this means:

(1)    When we are hidden with Christ we are first identified with the Risen Lord.  1 John 3.2 says, Beloved, now we are children of God.

(2)    When we are hidden with Christ He is our security and protection with Christ in God.  Hidden deep in the shelter of God.  He is our refuge and according to the prophet Nahum, He knows those who take refuge in Him (1.7).

(3)    When we are hidden with Christ He is our nurturer and by secret springs our roots that are firmly rooted are watered (Colossians 2.7).

(4)    When we are hidden with Christ we do not hide, but instead our life reflects and reveals the glory of God.  We are to be the light of the world (Matthew 5.14-16).

So, some questions:

Is Christ our identity?  Do we let Him define who we are or are we relying on something else? 

Is Christ our security?  Are we resting in something else to make us secure or is Christ the refuge we run to? 

Is Christ the nurturer of our life?  Or are we trying to fill our hunger and quench our thirst with something else?

Is Christ being revealed in and through our life?  If not, what is being revealed as that which is of utmost value and worth to us?

May Christ truly be our life!

Now actually I had visited right after the Christmas holiday 2006 but it was about the beginning of 2007 that Alex and I decided to start going to church again. I had been out of the church for a long time and I had a pre-established idea of what church was and what it meant to go to church. All that was shattered when I came to The Ridge. Something was different. The message was different, the people were different, and it smelled different too. How was it different?

For the first time I realized it was not about going to church; it was about being the church. We are a people, "a chosen race, a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2.9). It is about people changed by the grace of God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and who desire to make His name known for His glory and for the joy of believers worldwide. I had never heard a message like that preached in any church I had ever been to. Mostly I heard messages about the attributes of God and sermon after sermon of 3 point applications (none of that is bad, by the way) but I had never heard a message regarding what the church is and what we are called to do.

The reason I post this blog for anyone and everyone who might read it is this: do you remember that moment? Do you remember the "A Ha!" moment when you got it? We can't lose this message, we are the church and we are called out to do the will of God in the world through missions and the proclamation of His truth to all! I invite you to download this sermon from 2007 from Jerry entitled "Creating a Missional Culture" and re-stir your affections for the purpose of the Church and the called out ones of Christ. May this increase your joy and make your heart overflow with a desire to serve and make His name known.

In the sentence above the apostle Paul is telling the church at Ephesus a consistent prayer request that Paul makes to the Father on their behalf.  His prayer is that the church would grow in the incomprehensible knowledge of Christ.  Paul wants this church in Ephesus and our church today to know intellectually, experientially and intimately the love of Christ.  Christ loved us first and gave up His life for us on the cross while we were still sinners (Romans 5.8).  I pray that we would embrace and be filled with such knowledge. 

C.T. Studd, pioneer missionary to China, India and Africa, responded to the love of Christ in saying, If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him (Strauch, Alexander, Love or Die, p. 34).  What if we thought the same way?  If so, our love would not grow cold or stagnate.  Instead it would be ever increasing and dynamic both for God and for others.  We must be ever growing in the love of Christ.  We cannot stop or think that we have attained all we can when it comes to loving Him. 

My greatest encouragement to you this week is to pray that you would be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.  Pray that we as a church would walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us (Ephesians 5.2).  Let it begin in the home.  Let it grow in community.  Let it be toward all people.  Have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Palm Sunday, March 28 (9 and 11 am)
On this day we remember the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  This will be the last days before Jesus’ crucifixion, but it is rightfully called the triumphal entry because the beginning of the next week will begin with Jesus raised from the dead as He promised.  This will be a normal Sunday schedule wise. 

Maundy Thursday, April 1 (7 pm)
On this night we look back to the Lord’s Last Supper. Maundy Thursday, gets its name from the Latin word mandatum —commandment, remembering Jesus’ words to the Apostles during the Last Supper, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).  Our gathering this night will be a 45 minute service for everyone.

Good Friday, April 2 (7 pm)
On this night we look back to the cross.  The cross has always been a means of one making a powerful statement.  The Romans used it to kill criminals and God uses to kill His Son.  The cross of Christ is triumphal over sin and its debt.  Through the cross, Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities of the domain of darkness.  We come to celebrate Jesus and His crucifixion on this night as we gather in corporate worship.  This service will be for everyone. 

Easter Sunday, April 4 (9 and 11 am)
This morning will culminate Holy Week with a celebration of Christ and His resurrection.  We thank God on this morning that we have been crucified with Christ, that we have been buried with Him and raised up with Him in faith.  What a glorious time of worship this will be.  These services will be for those in kindergarten and up.  We will have spiritual care for infants through preschoolers.

For all of our worship gatherings we encourage you to bring family, friends and neighbors.  All are welcome.  My prayer is that God willing, you would know what is the riches of the glory of this mystery, that is among us which is Christ in you, the hope of glory and that we would proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ (Colossians 1.27-28). 

Last night, Grace and I were going through her bible study and it was on Noah and the flood.  We were going through the story and some questions fairly easy.  Then all of the sudden when we started to talk about how high the water was on the whole earth something started to sink in for my five year old.  She looked at me and said, Daddy, where are all the people? 

It started sinking in that if Noah, his wife, Noah's three sons and their wives along with the animals were all that were safe on the ark that something dreadful was happening to all the other people on the earth.  I responded to her questioin simply saying, They all died.  It was at this moment that I believe the seriousness of Noah and the dreadful flood sunk in with her.  Before I think it was a cute little story with animals, a big boat and a beautiful rainbow at the end.  Now I think she realizes that the world was wiped clean of human life except for those on the ark.   

This was Jesus' response to Pilate when Pilate asked Him, What have You done (18.35)?  Jesus is not of this world.  He is of the Kingdom of Heaven.  As His followers we are as well.  Jesus said in His prayer to the Father, They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world (John 17.16).  Those who have repented and trusted in Christ are of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Like our Savior, we are not of this world. 

So, what does that mean according to what Jesus says to Pilate?  Don't fight.  The apostle Paul says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6.12).  This is why Jesus prays to  the Father, I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one (John 17.15). 

So, pulling a sword out and cutting an ear off a soldier, like Peter did is not the answer.  Slapping someone after they slapped you is not the answer.  In fact, Jesus says in such a case to turn the other cheek.  So, this kingdom has on its throne a King that was handed over.  He was handed over in great love by the Father to earth.  He was handed over to His own, the Jews.  He was handed over to death, but this King's kingdom is heavenly.  This earth and it's garden grave could not hold Him.  The constraints of flesh could not hold Him.  He is not of this world.  He conquered sin, death and the enemy through the victorious cross.  He was handed over so He could win the ultimate fight in conquering the evil forces in the heavenly realm.  He did it!  Praise God He did it. 

Now as the apostle Paul tells us He sits at the right hand of God with all supremacy and with the name above all names, Lord (Philippians 2.11).  Oh, confess that today.  Live for the Lord of Heaven and Earth.  Live not for this world, but live now for the world to come. 

Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6.10). 

This semester, the student ministry is taking a journey through the Book of Acts. We are looking at four spiritual essentials that come forth from the early church: prayer, community, God's word, and missional living. We have spent the past four weeks on prayer, going through what prayer looks like and taking some serious time to be in prayer for each other's needs. It's been a great journey so far.

This week we look at prayer in Acts 12. We see Peter imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa I. At this point, he has already put James, one of the twelve disciples, brother of John to death. When he saw that the Jews were pleased, he arrested Peter with the hopes of putting him to death after Passover; a scene that would somewhat mirror the death of Christ just a decade or so earlier. Herod, being a strict observer of Jewish law (more for show than anything else) sought to advance himself any way he could. At this point, in the midst of persecution and turmoil, the church began praying. Scripture says, "earnest prayer for him (Peter) was made to God by the church" (v. 5). The Greek word here for "earnest," ektenoœs, refers to a continuous and constant action. Out of hope, they continuously pleaded their case to God, entreating Him to release Peter. We see here that God responded in a big way.

God sent an angel to free Peter. What a sight this was! So unreal was it to Peter that he thought it a vision. No guards disturbed, no commotion, just an easy escape led by the messenger of God. God does answer prayer in big ways. Certainly He works in miraculous ways too! Are you praying expecting God to work in such a way? Does your hope mirror the hope of this early body of believers? In the midst of trials, sometimes the only hope we have is to pray. I would say this should always be our first thought regardless of the situation. And oh how God uses and responds to such prayer. God uses the prayer of His children in order to inact His divine will. So what else happens in this story?

As Peter comes to, he does a sort of double take. "Wait a second! That WAS real!" He hurries to the house where the believers are gathered praying. This is Mark's mother's house, the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark. Neat. Anyways, he knocks, hoping someone will quickly let him in. So surprised is the person who answers that she doesn't even let him in! Rhoda is so excited she just leaves him outside. Weird. Have you ever been so excited about something that you just had to immediately tell someone without thinking about it? Rhoda is that person. While Peter says, "Dude, what's up? Let me in," Rhoda runs around looking to tell someone that Peter is here! The others told her, "Girl, you are out of your mind!" They literally call her insane! She is so joyful that the others call her a mad woman!

Now I don't know what she looked like when she got excited or if in fact she acted like a crazy, but the word here implies that she was furiously insane so I like to imagine that her joy of seeing Peter, and seeing her prayers answered, was so great that the others were taken aback. Does this kind of joy describe you? I know my joy is often contained and regulated, rather than infectious and insane. What a picture! We should have insane joy, especially when we see that God has proven Himself faithful. How is your joy-meter? Are you overjoyed like Rhoda, or contained like the rest of the household? I look forward to when people think I'm so joyful that they consider me insane!

So what? Why be hopeful and joyful in prayer? Because God DOES come through. He is faithful to those whom He calls His children. Our joy is to be fulfilled in God alone. Rather than finding our pleasure in the temporary, divert your pleasures to Him and nothing else. Like Jerry said this past Sunday, God is not a divine killjoy, rather, He is the source of true joy and fulfillment. Do you believe this? Do you believe that all your pleasures are most satisfied in Him? I pray you will. God is faithful to His children and their prayers. This should move us to pray hard and pray often. Join me in praying for each other, the Church worldwide, our leaders, pastors, families, communities, country and nations. God will honor the prayers of His people and work all things together for good.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Asaph does not depend on his feelings.  He knows very well that they can deceive and fail him.  There will be times of feeling down, depressed and even times of self-pity.  In those times Asaph declares though, that He is willing to trust in the Lord and walk with Him even though his feelings may be weak.  Asaph declares the Lord is strong and all that he needs and therefore he will trust Him. 

May we trust the Lord completely, aligning ourselves with His will, loving Him with our thoughts and our feelings.

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2.7). 

David says, You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139.13).

Jesus says, It is the Spirit who gives life (John 6.63).

Whether 70 years or 99 days it is precious.  Watch the link below on one who lived 99 days well:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/01/21/99-balloons-2/

WORLDWIDE
Number of abortions per year: Approximately 42 Million
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 115,000

Where abortions occur:
83% of all abortions are obtained in developing countries and 17% occur in developed countries.
© Copyright 1996-2008, The Guttmacher Institute. (http://www.agi-usa.org)

UNITED STATES
Number of abortions per year: 1.21 Million (2005)
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,315

It makes you think about the size of such a tragedy.  The recent earthquake in Haiti has taken somewhere around 100,000 lives or maybe as high as 200,000 according to some estimates.  Look how many abortions occur each day worldwide.  There is a great tragedy happening in the world each day as thousands are being killed in the womb. 

Why is John the Baptizer's joy full?  According to John it is because of this: He who has the bride is the bridgegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice (John 3.29).  Jesus is the bridegroom who has the bride.  The bride is the church.  What a beautiful picture this is.  Jesus has truly come as a bridegroom sweeping us off our feet in great love. 

What a joy it is that we can be friends with the bridegroom.  He comes to love us unconditionally forever.  Those who were once enemies of the bridegroom now have been brought into union with Him by grace through faith (Ephesians 2.8-9).  John also is filled with joy because he has stood and heard the bridegroom's voice.  Oh to hear the sweet voice of the Savior that calls us out of darkness into light.  The loving and gentle voice that says come away from death into life.  This is why John rejoices.  This is how our joy can be made full.  May it be so today.

May we cry out this week for the innocent children of the womb.  They have no voice.  We must be their voice of what is just and right.  Our state, from Dallas to Houston, is making some bold and evil moves. 

Planned Parenthood is building the 2nd largest abortion clinic in the world in Houston, Texas. This 6-story, 78,000 square foot abortion supercenter has one floor (3rd floor) dedicated to do long-term abortions (it is an ambulatory surgical center which is licensed for these types of abortions). This building is being planted in the center of four minority neighborhoods.  Planned Parenthood is targeting these minorities (Black and Hispanic communities). 

Pray for our state.  Pray for Houston and its leaders.  Pray for church leaders to take a stand.  Pray against the movement of Planned Parenthood.  Pray that women would choose life instead of death.  Pray specifically that women would rather have their baby and give it up for adoption rather than having it killed.  Pray for men that they would have an active role as well and that God would direct the rivers of their heart to what is right.  Pray that this building in Houston does not get built. 

John the Baptizer had those who followed his teaching about repentance.  Here we see John pointing two who followed him to the Lamb of God.  This was John's purpose in life.  This is what John was destined for.  He was the one to come and prepare the way.  Here we see him living out God's purpose for his life in pointing people to the Savior.

These two disciples that John passes on to Jesus are Andrew and then his brother Peter.  They were looking for the Messiah and now they had found Him.  Through who?  Through John.  Who is finding Jesus through your life?  I pray that we would point people to Jesus and find that which we were created for.

Today is the day of salvation. 
Today is the day of obedience.

When the Word of God accuses us.  Let us confess.
When the Word of God condemns us.  Let us plead guilty.
When the Word of God holds out hope.  Let us grasp it with all that we have.
When the Word of God commands us.  Let us obey. 
When the Word of God guides us.  Let us follow. 

Not tomorrow, but TODAY!

 

Last night I made a milk run and on the way there I was tuned into the radio and brother KP of Gospel for Asia was preaching.  It was good to hear his voice and the challenge from God's Word that He delivered.  But there was something that stuck out that struck me. 

He shared about a picture that was some newspaper.  It was a picture of a boy in the Bombay slums of India laying next to a female dog.  The title over the picture read this, His Mother. 

Why such a title?  KP shared that the boy would get his milk from this female dog.  Oh, my heart was struck at this.  Here I am going to the store to get milk and there are millions of children in the slums of India drinking from the nipples of female dogs.

The Lord's still, small voice simply said to me as I was driving home, Don't forget the nations.  Don't lose sight of the lost world and the great need that people have for the gospel.  You have much and as a result much is expected from you. 

Let us not lose sight of the world, the lostness of people and the need to share the hope of the gospel.  Much is expected and required of us who have much.   

What a great image of how life is done in community. I love to see people's needs being addressed and Christian brothers and sisters holding each other accountable. Acts 4 shows us a similar picture of the early church:

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." - Acts 4.32-35, ESV

What we see here is a church that took some drastic measures to be of one heart and one soul. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they addressed one another's needs and did what they could to bring healing and refreshment. I imagine this took the form of helping those who couldn't afford food for their family that week, or perhaps helping repair a leaky roof, or maybe taking some time to open their home to another family for a meal and conversation. These are the kind of actions I am challenging us with this year. Is this kind of biblical-standard for community evident in your life? What things need to change?

How is your LIFEgroup when it comes to emotional healing? Does everyone know each other's life story? Is your group the kind of group where someone feels safe and loved enough to share whatever might be going on their lives, no matter how messed up it might be? We all have to come to a point, I feel, where we say, "This is me. I'm not perfect, but I want to grow and the only way to do so is Christ." That's what the Church is all about! Bringing healing and restoration to people's lives is one of the primary functions of the Christ's body. First by salvation through faith, then through the journey of sanctification. Our community of faith is meant to be a vital element to that journey.

For The Ridge in 2010, I challenge us all to look at what our current involvement in LIFEgroups looks like and how it can be better. Are we effectively addressing the needs of our body as well as the community around us? Do people in your neighborhood know what's going on at your home on Sunday nights, or do they just see all the cars in the street as a nuisance? Has you group extended themselves into the greater community to offer hope and healing? Is your LIFEgroup aware of the needs of the neighborhood in which you meet? I pray that this year, these kind of questions will not just linger, but rather call us all to action.

I pray that as we take a fresh look at LIFEgroups for 2010, you will be convicted to make small but necessary changes and begin modeling your group to be the kind of place where Christ is glorified and people are healed and refreshed. Begin by sitting down with your LIFEgroup and asking some of these questions. If your not in a LG, I strongly urge you to step out in faith and begin by attending a couple different ones, settling down on one where you feel you can grow and particpate most effectively. If your LG is dead or stagnant, take some time to restructure your group and breathe some life into. Maybe you need to change the time, or maybe you should combine with another group. Do whatever is necessary to establish and maintain this Acts 4 picture of community! I truly believe your spiritual life depends on it. The staff and elders are here to help in whatever way we can. Take care this week and have a great new year!

Peace in Him,

Coleman

God sending Jesus from heaven to earth
Jesus dying on the cross for us
God raising Jesus from the dead
God allowing us to make much of Jesus with our dear friends at The Ridge Church
Giving us nearly ten years of marriage (April 22, 2010)
Our oldest, Noah, who turned seven this year
Noah being saved by God through Christ on August 13
Noah obeying Christ and being baptized on October 18
Our princess in the middle, Grace, who turned five this year
Grace’s smile which lights up a room
Watching Grace as she uses God’s gift of nurturing
Our youngest, Pierce, who will turn two in February
The joy that Pierce spreads through the entire family
Pierce’s bedtime kisses and hugs
Sustaining our family through the passing of Jerry’s stepfather in March
Continuing to give us sweet memories of Annette’s Papal
All the people who helped us move into our new home

Thankful for the love of God this Advent!
Jerry and Annette

Chandler King:  Chandler is in my LIFEgroup, along with the rest of his family.  He is one year of age.  He was admitted to the hospital today due to dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting.  Pray for this little guy and his parents, Paul and Stephanie (who had knee surgery this morning) and his siblings, Audrey and Carson.

Harriet Dockins:  Lift up Harriet this week.  She is a widow in our congregation.  She has been battling some high blood pressure recently and it has affected her sight.      

Jennifer Denson:  She is the wife of our chidlren's pastor to elementary children.  She had her thyroid removed last week and is still recovering at home.

Matt Chandler (Pastor of The Village Church):  Matt will start in-patient rehab on Wednesday, which will include speech, occupational and physical therapy, and will extend his hospital stay between one to two weeks.  His recovery will take longer than originally anticipated, but everyone is encouraged by his daily progress.  The pathology report of Matt’s tumor is still not available from Dr. Barnett. We will continue to provide updates as information is made available; please be patient because updates may not be daily.  Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for him, Lauren and the kids. If you want to send the Chandlers a card, please send it to 2101 Justin Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028. Your prayers and written notes are encouraging to the family.

Andy McQuitty (Pastor of Irving Bible Church):  His latest PET scan revealed good news. The lymph node where the cancer had spread has diminished in size from 10.2 mm to 2.2 mm. This 80% reduction shows that my cancer is responsive to chemotherapy. The other good news was that there is no more spread of the cancer. It seems to be limited to that one spot.  HIs doctor is strongly advising that Andy undergoes major surgery ASAP to remove the lymph node and then follow that with another four to six months of chemotherapy. His reasoning is that even if the next three months of chemo makes the rest of that cancer disappear on subsequent scans, it’s possible that cancer cell concentrations could still be there, albeit smaller and undetected.  Best to remove the concentration of cells surgically and then “mop up” with more chemo. The doc says this aggressive approach would give him the greater chance of survivability over the long term.  Andy says, Though another surgery and then virtually starting over again with the chemo are not what we’d hoped for, Alice and I are inclined to go with this plan.  Pray for wisdom and strength.

In the above passage Elizabeth uses the word blessed three times.  In our day we use it often.  When someone sneezes we say, bless you.  We also will say things like, be blessed.  Also, very common today is for politicians in the closing remarks of speeches to say, God bless America.  So, what does blessed me?

In English it does not have quite the punch as it does in Hebrew and Greek.  According to Tim Keller the word blessed means to bring you back to full shalom, full human functioning; it makes you everything God meant for you to be.  To be blessed is to be strengthened and repaired in every one of your human capacities, to be utterly transformed (Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, The Gifts of Christmas, Tim Keller p. 36).  The context of Elizabeth’s exclamation to Mary is the incarnation.  This is how God would make a blessed life possible.  This is how transformation and restoration will take place.

Man is in need of being restored.  We are not right with God.  God wants the relationship restored, so He drops His defenses, His shield and becomes vulnerable.  God becomes human (Philippians 2.5-8), in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Christ never loses any of His deity.  He is very God of very God, but He also is fully human.  This is a costly act to redeem a relationship with man, but He is willing to be hurt and broken.  He is willing to die a sinner’s death so we can be transformed and restored.  To be restored to such a relationship with God is to be blessed.

If you don’t know the blessing of knowing God through Christ I urge you to open the Christmas gift of Jesus Christ.  He is freely given to you.  All you must do is believe (Romans 10.9; Ephesians 2.8-9).  Then you will be blessed and then you can be a blessing to others by being vulnerable to others.  We don’t want to be hurt or take the blame, but as Jesus models to us this is the blessed life.  Let your defenses down, take the barriers down and see what God does as you act like His Son.  May we be blessed this season.       

The picture Paul is painting is the triumphal entry of a military hero into the city of Rome.  The victorious Roman general marched into the city in a long procession preceded by the city magistrates.  They were followed by trumpeters, then the spoils taken from the enemy followed by white oxen intended for sacrifice, then the captives headed by the king of the conquered country, then officials of the victorious army and musicians dancing and playing, and at last the general himself in whose honor the whole wonderful pagent was taking place.  The fragrance or sweet smell would accompany the triumphal procession in the streets from burning of spices.

I love the smell of many things.  Just to name a few:
-my wife
-coffee
-the febreze Christmas air freshner in my kid's bathroom
-the smell of my youngest after he takes a bath
-patchouli soap
-roses
-a fresh Christmas tree

These smells are great, but the greatest smell of all according to the apostle Paul is the sweet aroma of a Christian's life.  The sweet smell is of victory.  It is the victory of Christ.  He is victorious over sin, death, the grave, the enemy and demons, and over all things He is victorious.  The cross of Christ was not a defeat for Christ.  It was the greatest victory ever.  The grave did not hold Jesus.  It couldn't.  Nor could the enemy hold Christ down.

Those who have trusted in Christ are united with Christ's death and resurrection.  Therefore, those in Christ are victorious.  They are heirs of the same triumphs of Christ.  Paul says in Romans 8.37, But in all things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, a lost job, or a struggle in a relationship.  These things will come, but we can have the sweet aroma of Christ in spite of them.  As we continue in faithfulness through such struggles we overcome and smell like Christ.  We are obedient no matter the circumstance and the fragrance is oh so sweet.  We are loving to all people, even are enemies and the smell of forgiveness and unconditional love even reaches their nostrils.  As we put the interest of others as being more important than our own we put off the sweet aroma of Christ.  

I pray this advent season we would smell like the gospel.  May people smell the sweet aroma of Christ through our life.      

On this day you turn seven
I pause to thank heaven
For God has given you
A precious gift to us

From the boy who said, Nanni
This was your cry for your paci
To strumming the guitar
Singing, Holy is the Lord
And also singing, Blessed be the name of the Lord
Don’t forget the line that says, You give and take away

To the one who became the older
Not just of one, but two
Two who you love very much
Whose eyes are on you

Quickly you have grown
You can write, read and spell
Math you can do as well

You have a special place
In the heart of Dad and Mom
Seven years of knowing you
Have been special indeed

What a joy it is to keep holding
Your hand as you tarry on
But what greater joy to know
That you’re held in the hand of the Christ above

I thank heaven for seven
Seven years with you
My boy

Today, our princess is five
It is hard to believe
Today, our little girl is five
It is hard to fathom

Yet it is true
On this day that your age turns to five
There are five things to point out about you

Your smile
You got it not doubt from your mom
Like her, you light up a room

 Your laugh
It is unlike any other
Filled with joy is your laughter

Your love
In your eyes you can see it
Your love for many
Especially those two boys who surround you

Your girlhood
God made you wonderfully and fearfully
He made you all girl
And all girl you are

Your God
Just days ago you said,
Do you know who my best friend is?
With your answer you said, God.

 Praise God for this day
The day you turn five
You have been a blessing
We are so thankful for your life

He shared what church he went to and I am well aware of this church.  It is a great church with a pastor who is a solid bible teacher.  I know some others who attend there and I asked about them.  I asked about one family and his response about knocked me to the floor.  He told me they had switched over to Catholicism.  I was floored.  I about needed to be picked up off the floor!  I said, are you kidding me?  He said, no.  He was just as surprised by the change with this family as I was.

All these questions are swimming through my head.  How can you go from believing by grace alone through faith alone to believing that you have to work for your salvation?  How can you go from believing in Jesus as the Great Hight priest to believing in a man who acts as a priest here on earth?  What about the priesthood of believers?  What about Christ being the Mediator between God and man?  How can you start believing in a man to be your mediator?  How can you just get up and go worship at another altar?  I was quickly reminded with that question that we all do that every day at some point.  There is so much more, but I will stop with the questions. 

Especially, on this very day when Martin Luther was born 526 years ago (November 10, 1483) this rattles me.  But even more when we have a Savior, who is God has humbled Himself taking on the form of a man and becoming obedient to death even death on a cross.  Not only that, but that He then was exalted.  That He rose again, that He ascended, that He was coronated as the Lord at the right hand of God and that He is the one and only Great High Priest. 

Oh God awaken the eyes of those blinded by the darkness.  Break through the heart that must depend on the flesh.  Our works are as filthy rags.  Even on our best day.  For we were saved by God through Christ not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness (Titus 3.5).  Open our eyes to Your grace.  Keep us walking by grace.   

As Grace and I were talking about Zaccheus I asked her who her friends were.  She shared a few names of people in our local church and also those at her school.  Then she said, Dad, do you know who my best friend is?  I said, Who?  She said, God. 

I know as an adult this might seem cheesy, but is God your best friend?  Do we still have that childlike faith that says, God is my best friend?  I pray that you do.  I know that I was encouraged to have that kind of faith today. 

This came from the Christian News Wire:
The House version of the health care reform legislation narrowly passed with the vote of 220-215 late Saturday evening, but it was done without provisions for the funding of abortions.

Luther changed the course of human history with his nailing of the 95 thesis on the Wittenberg Church door, accusing the Roman Catholic church of heresy upon heresy.  This would be one of the important pieces to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. 

We see Luther’s heart in his first thesis, When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, Repent, he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.  This should be our continual posture as a Christian.  We see that from his first words in his thesis to his last words on February 16, 1546, which were, We are beggars!  This is true, Luther clung to the cross.  It was his hope, salvation and life.

Thank God for Luther!

What is the issue?  The Legislative Arm of Americans United for Life bring it to light in the following:

Speaker Pelosi has now unveiled the new pro-abortion House bill, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards wrote to her supporters rejoicing that “every version of the bills out there right now is free of the dangerous amendments anti-choice members of Congress tried to attach to health care reform.” She claimed “more than 18,000 phone calls” from Planned Parenthood supporters contacted Congress. 

Unfortunately, she’s right. The new health care bill explicitly allows federal funding of abortion and permits federal subsidies to go to private insurance plans that cover abortion.  The bill also ensures that at least one health insurance plan in every area of the country covers abortion. 

These provisions create a dramatic change in federal law - currently NO federal dollars are used to pay for elective abortions or insurance plans that cover abortion.

So, what can we do?

First, we must pray.  Remember our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6.12).  The Apostle Paul says, Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm (Ephesians 6.13).  Paul mentions a few elements of the armor of God that we are to put on.  Remember this is putting on literally Jesus.  He is our Warrior in Armor and He is victorious.  Paul says in this same section, With all prayer and petition pray at times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints (Ephesians 6.18).  We must pray, filling up the bowls in Heaven, longing and crying out for God act as He so wills. 

There will be a prayer gathering in Dallas this Saturday, November 7 at 4:30 pm in front of the Fairmont Abortion Center at Fairmount Street and Cedar Springs Road near Uptown.  This is very important for our area right now.  I encourage you to go.  This center is just the beginning for one doctor in the area who plans to do 2,000 second trimester abortions in the next year at a new location in Dallas.  This doctor has already done 300,000 abortions in this area since 1973.  I encourage you to watch this news link about this new clinic: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa091103_mo_lateterm.280b5b454.html.

Next, we must act.  I believe that if 18,000 Planned Parenthood supporters can make phone calls the church can do better.  I called Kenny Marchant’s office this morning and talked to a worker in his office and he encouraged us to, pray and pick up the phone.  He said the most practical and effective way is to call blue dog democrats.  These are moderate democrats who need to hear the pro-life voice.  Click on the contact list for numbers along with emails if you would rather do that.

Let’s not be silent.

I listened to my sermon from this past Sunday and realized again something I said in the 11 am worship gathering. When trying to encourage those who have had trouble having children I actually made an insensitive comment. I wanted to apologize for that to anyone it offended. I did not mean to use the phrase pity party when speaking about that. It simply just came out and was not intended. I do apologize. I am reminded of what John Calvin says when he speaks of preaching having at least one percent of fallibility. I do appreciate your grace to a fallible man attempting to honor and be diligent with the infallible Scriptures for the glory of God.

Yesterday I was reading Job 26.5-14. In the midst of rebuking one of his friends Job speaks of the greatness of God. He speaks of the mighty power of God. He speaks of His creative power. He speaks of His ability to quiet the sea and literally by His breath the heavens are cleared, which means to make beautiful (Job 26.13a). Think about that for a minute or two. After all of this reflection Job says, Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; and how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand (Job 26.14)? This is a stunning verse. When we sit back and consider the power of God and all that He has done from one generation to the next we are merely observing the edges of His garment. Professor Ron Allen asks, What would happen to us if ever He were to thunder?

Today I got to sit with two different gentlemen from our church and just hear what the Lord is doing in their lives. One is truly experiencing the blessings from the promises of God to those of the redemptive covenant. He was saved one year ago or so and the blessings we talked about Sunday from Deuteronomy 5.9-10 and 7.9 is gloriously evident. I praise God that He is a faithful God and I praise God for one of our single young men who is passionately pursuing Jesus. I walked away with the feeling that the two of us had seen God as we talked and shared coffee together. These are but the fringes.

Then as I shared lunch with the other I was greatly blessed to hear of a husband and father whose heart was truly focused on leading his family in the ways of the Lord. God is once again showing His covenant keeping nature in the life of this family as they love and obey Him. Again, these are but the fringes.

I pray this week you are experiencing the fringes of God as you love and obey Him.