Articles by Steve Ridgell at Heartlight

Parable of the Pencil

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Someone asked me the other day if I could remember my first sermon. I can. I was fourteen years old and spoke at the Hickory Grove church of Christ in Arkansas. I preached on The Parable of the Pencil. I can even remember most of the points I made.

Pencils come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just like people. No matter what they look like on the outside, they all have one thing inside them that is the same: the lead core. Just like we all have a soul.

Pencils are made to write. That is their purpose. That purpose is only accomplished when there is a guiding hand around the pencil. We also were made for a purpose that is accomplished with the help of a guiding hand.

Pencils have erasers in case of mistakes. As Christians, God allows us to "erase" our mistakes. Pencils need a sharp point and we need to remain sharp in our spiritual lives.

You may be wondering by now what is the point of this article. Is it about starting to preach when young? Is it to show how we grow up as Christians so that my sermons have more depth now? Is it to make a point about pencils and Jesus?

Actually, it is to help me remember how to view the world. I still see parables and applications about Christian living in pencils, cars, televisions, pets, and sports. It is a natural process. Try it. Think about what you learn about God from everyday things. I enjoyed remembering that first sermon, and I want to keep that same perspective.

I want to see lessons about God in everything I do in this life. That's what Jesus did. He saw spiritual application in birds, farming, fishing, and family life. I love being in a relationship with God that is so intense I see him everywhere and in everything. It is a great life.

You too can have that life. Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

Repair Men Love Me

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It's true. Repair men love me, at least the ones who charge by the hour. Any one hour repair job can become a four hour job at my house. The reason is always the same: before I call the repair experts, I fix it myself. So the one hour job is now complicated by the two hours of work to undo my repair.

By now you may think I am an idiot. My wife would sometimes agree. Why waste so much time and effort on what is obviously a doomed attempt to fix something myself. I really have no expertise to apply to most of my do it yourself efforts. The manufacturer obviously has specifications and procedures for their product. You would think my track record would even discourage me from future efforts.

So why do I keep attempting to repair appliances, cars, and house problems? Am I too proud, too stubborn, or too ignorant? Maybe I just like the idea of being in control. I know it will not turn out well, but I do it anyway. It will be time consuming, expensive, frustrating, and stressful.

Maybe this is a metaphor for life. Why are we so compelled to try to fix things in our life by ourselves? Most of us have a track record that proves we do not do well when we are in charge. So many things are out of our control anyway. Yet we persist in believing we can fix even our broken relationships. We do it as mates, parents, and friends.

There is someone who can repair broken lives. God made us and he knows how we work best. He even gave us a repair manual that explains our relationship with him. He knows what he is doing. I have seen the results in my life and in others. And I have seen the results of our efforts to fix things. If I had just realized this earlier, I would have saved a lot of heartache and not wasted so much time.

God can repair the most important relationship of all … our relationship with him.

If you want to know how to let him repair your broken relationship, write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

A Dog's Life

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Remington is my Golden Retriever, and we have a good life together. I know it sounds odd to some of you, but we really have a good relationship. I take care of him. I have since he was a puppy. I provide shelter, food, and watch out for him in ways he does not even understand. I really do love him.

I also should confess that I like the way he treats me. He adores me. I can see it in his eyes. I can do no wrong. He completely trusts in the fact that I will take care of him and do what is best for him. He is so excited to see me when I get home. His tail wags so hard he shakes all over. Sometimes he even has to bark just to let me know how happy he is.

Remington is completely devoted to me. By extension, he is completely devoted to my wife, to my grandkids, and to anyone I let in the house. He is protective of our house. He even warns the birds and squirrels to stay away. He would do anything I ask him to do. He would die for me.

I know he is not my equal. He cannot think on my level. I doubt he understands why he has to stay in a backyard. Yet he minds me. He is not a perfect dog. Sometimes he needs a little correction and a little discipline. But he is my dog, and I love him.

It occurs to me that Remington has helped me understand my relationship with God. In that relationship I am like Remington and God is my master. He takes care of me, provides for me, disciplines me for my good, and loves me unconditionally. He is so far superior to me that I do not even recognize it sometimes.

And I can learn from Remington how to treat my Master: with love, adoration, obedience, and trust.

It is a dog's life, and I would say that Remington and I both have it better than we deserve. You can too.

steve@hopeforlife.org

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

Old Houses

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
I often see them out in the country. They are often falling down. They have sagging roofs, broken windows, and overgrown yards. Sometimes all that is left is an old chimney, or a cracked foundation. You may have seen them too. They are old houses -- abandoned, useless, good-for-nothing, unoccupied old houses. But they were not always that way. At one time they were new, freshly painted, and alive with the hopes and dreams of their families.

I sometimes wonder what the plan was for these homes when they were first built. Did they envision generation after generation living in the family house? Was this house the DREAM house? How much did they sacrifice to build it? When did the dream die? When did it cease to be a home and when did it become abandoned? What I see now cannot be what it was made for.

What if this scenario were reversed? What if houses could look at us? What would they see? I believe we were created with a purpose. I believe God made us for a reason. God has dreams and plans for each one of us. We were created to live in relationship with him and help others to see him more clearly. If we do not live in relationship with our Creator, then are we like an old abandoned house? Have we failed to fulfill our purpose in life?

There is a wonderful verse in the Bible that says we are "[C]reated in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Jesus came to this earth to put us back into relationship with God. God has a plan and purpose for us here. When I commit myself to him, I find meaning and purpose. I am doing what I was made to do.
You can fulfill the purpose for which you were created. It starts by being in a relationship with the one who "built" you. He is the one who has a plan for your life. It will keep you alive ... both now and forever.

steve@hopeforlife.org

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

What Good Is an Appendix?

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
It was a question doubters, agnostics, atheists, seekers, or smart-alecks loved to ask: “If God is so wise, why did he create an appendix?” I thought it was a good question. After all, the appendix served no real purpose. I was never much of a science student, but I remember how it was described. It was an organ for which there was no apparent function. Unless you count needing something to burst so you could have emergency surgery. It was one of the trendy ways to mock the concept of God.

Guess what? Scientists and doctors are now saying the appendix serves a useful function in immune protection. It is a place for gut bacteria to reside and helps prevent diarrhea. So much for my science teachers. It now seems perhaps science does not know everything. Of course, real scientists will tell you that up front. So why would anyone use science to try to disprove the existence of God?

It appears that there is a reason why we humans have an appendix. I am not really surprised. I believe God made us and that He knew what He was doing. Am I simplistic? Maybe, but I think the appendix question is like many of the other things in my life. There are things that I do not understand. But I need to trust that someone does. This world, and my life, makes sense when I trust there is someone who knows me and who understands everything going in my life. For me, that someone is God.

Most of you reading this have made that same decision. This just reinforces your conviction. But perhaps you know someone who wrestles with the concept of God. Maybe this will give you something to talk about with them. Or send them this article. Or send them to www.hopeforlife.org. Or have them write me. I would love to discuss where I have found hope, meaning, and purpose.

It is not that I have all the answers … and not just about my appendix. I do believe I know who does have the answers. After all, he knew what he was doing with the appendix.

Write me at tim@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

Radical Surgery

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600
When the doctor asked if I had noticed whether the spot on my chest had changed in the last few months, I hadn’t even realized there was a spot. So she took a sample for tests. Then she called back with good news and bad news. The bad news: it was melanoma. The good news: it was confined to the surface. So I asked what we do about it. The answer was quick and aggressive. Act quickly, cut it out and excise the area around it so it is completely removed, and check back every few months to be sure no more occur.

Then it dawned on me that this was a blueprint for how to handle sin in my life. When you find something in your life that should not be there, get aggressive in treatment. Act quickly. Sin will only wrap you deeper and deeper. It does not go away on its own. Cut it out. Do not fool around with sin. Remove it. Be radical. Cut off inappropriate relationships completely. Take any steps necessary to rid yourself of sin. Be preventative. Ask people to watch for danger signs in your life. Be on guard for situations that may lend themselves to temptation. Know your weakness.

For some of you, this may sound harsh, but I am talking to those who are ready to live radical lives for Jesus. Christianity is not a hobby, or a habit, or one of the important things to do. It is life. Real Christianity is being sold out to Jesus.

This approach works. So far I am cancer free. And this approach works spiritually. I know because I have been there. I have done radical surgery on my life to battle the cancer of sin. I have people who help me guard against its recurrence. Even more than my physical health, my spiritual health is real life. Now and forever.

I know this may not be the view of Christianity that some of you may have seen, but it is the call of Jesus: to die with him ... and then live in him forever.

If you have wondered about becoming a radical Christian, write me at steve@hopeforlife.org. We’ll talk about it.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

End of the Year Farewells

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Every magazine and newspaper does the same thing in early January. They publish the "Farewell" section listing all the notable people who died the previous year. The list for 2007 was interesting. There were politicians (Boris Yeltsin, Kurt Waldheim). There were entertainers (Luciano Pavarotti, Marcel Marceau, Beverly Sills). Writers were listed (Arthur Schlesinger, Sidney Sheldon, Norman Mailer), as were athletes (Phil Rizzuto, Bill Walsh). Then there were the people who were famous (Lady Bird Johnson, Evil Knievel, Anna Nicole Smith).

Of course, my hometown newspaper lists five to ten people every day who have died, plus another fifteen or so from surrounding areas. And I live in a fairly small city. I conducted several funerals this year, and attended several more.

So what is the connection between the people in the first paragraph and those in the second? They all died. Some were famous, some not; some were rich, some not; some were mourned, some probably not. But they did all die. And so will you and I. Maybe not this year, or next, but someday. This life does not last. Most of you recognized many names above, but your kids would not. One hundred years from now, few will be remembered. And one thousand years from now, only a few will have a footnote in some out dated book.

So what is the point of life? If we are all going to die, and no one will remember us, what is the point of fame, money, accomplishments? It is to give yourself to something that matters long after you are gone. It is to make a difference for ever. It is to know that your life means something. It is to know that someone will know you for a hundred, or a thousand, or a thousand, thousand years.

If you want to know your life matters, I can tell you how. It will not surprise you to hear me say I have found meaning and purpose for my life that will last forever. And it has nothing to do with me.

Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

The Power of Names

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600
Just a few weeks ago I welcomed my fourth grandchild into this world. Now you think this is another article about grandkids, family, and a heritage of faith. That would be a good article, but not this time. Actually, this child is my only son’s first son. So now you may think I am going to talk about fathers and family blood lines. Those are good points, but this child has an even better story.

His name is Andrew Joel Ridgell. What makes that special is that his father is Joel Don Ridgell, I am Stephen Joel Ridgell, and my father is Joel Wesley Ridgell. He is the fourth generation Joel Ridgell. He will grow up hearing stories of the three men he is named after. He will hear of the great things the Lord has done in our lives and in the lives of others through us. By virtue of his name he will have blessings, legacy, and responsibilities. It will be easy to identify his family. He will have lots to live up to, and some things to live down.

I like this Joel tradition. It is my second favorite name. I have a name that I cherish even more. It was given me when I was adopted into the family of God. I am called a child of God. I am sometimes called Christian, the name of my older brother … Jesus Christ. This family has nothing to live down. In fact, I am in no way worthy of belonging to this family. It is a holy family, and I committed far too many sins to be called holy. Except, God the Father sent his only son to die for those sins. He invited me into his family. Then when I was born again, he forgave those sins, and gave me his name.

Someday Andrew Joel will choose to join the family of God. Then we will be part of the only family that lives forever. He will no longer be just my grandson, but my brother.

You too can become the brother of Jesus and wear his name.

Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

Real Community

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
We all want to be part of real community: a place where we are loved, accepted, and taken care of in times of stress and struggle. We live in a world where it is increasingly difficult to find this kind of community. Our physical families are sometimes split and often are scattered across a wide geographic area. We barely know the people where we work. We rarely know our neighbors. However, I saw community in action the other day.

I went to a funeral. As a minister, that is not unusual. In fact, I conduct more funerals than many people attend. But this funeral was different. A couple had lost their thirty-two year old, single son to a hit and run accident. The parents arranged the funeral and five men conducted it. None of them were preachers, though they all went to church together. Three of the men were part of their fellowship group at church. One of the men was an elder of the church they all attend. The other man was in an accountability group/recovery group with the Dad.

The service was not very polished. It was not very professional. It was different than most. But it was real community; not just words, but in action. These men were brothers. There was a physical family present at the funeral, but I was struck by the “real” family. The community that cried, prayed, gave, hurt, hugged, and together sent one of their family home. That was the term they used: home. They didn’t talk about death, or the grave. They talked about seeing their son again and living forever.

Just in that group of men there were ones that had lost children of their own, men who had marriages fail, men who battled addictions, and men facing incurable illness. But what I saw was Jesus. That is the community I want to be a part of…and I am.

You can be too. I can put you in touch with people committed to being that kind of community in this world. They would love to have you join them.

Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

KEEPING THE CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600
The Christmas season is here and I already hear some of the Christian community beginning the annual discussions. Who took the Christ out of Christmas? Or, “Jesus: the reason for the season”. So maybe it is time for a few reflections about this time of year. I do not think that most people view Christmas as a religious holiday. After all, most people are not really Christian. I know that most of the world sing the religious songs (Silent Night, Away in a Manger, O Holy Night), and many people go to church the Sunday before Christmas (second in attendance only to Easter). We even see lots of manger scenes and hear talk about baby Jesus and his birthday.

I am afraid that it becomes very easy and convenient to focus on the Christ in Christmas and then live like every one else the rest of the year. Christianity is not the celebration of a season, but a commitment to a lifestyle. We are about peace on earth, giving and family every day of the year. Maybe Christians are the ones that do not need to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. Jesus is the reason for December 25, and July 12, and March 5, and September 22, and every day of my life as a Christian. Celebrating a birthday does not make a family. The other 364 days together make a family.

The real good news for our world is not that we should celebrate this special time of thinking about Jesus, but to hear that Christmas is just one of a lifetime of days to celebrate. And if the world is thinking about Jesus during this time, then we have even more opportunities to testify to the real good news.

So will I think about Jesus this Christmas? Yes I will; just like I will think about him and celebrate his life, death, and resurrection every day till he comes back to take me home. If you want to make Christmas a religious holiday, be sure it is not the only time you celebrate Jesus.

If you want to know more about the Jesus of life, not just a holiday, write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Email info@hopeforlife.org for information.)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!