Comfort.

Comfort. The word resonates with most of us, especially if you have been or are currently going through a difficult time. There isn't a one of us who doesn't enjoy all the ideas that come to mind when someone mentions the word. Scripture has a lot to say about comfort and how God wants to comfort us and bring us rest.

On the other hand, we are constantly challenged to get outside of our "comfort zone" and not get "too comfortable" with our faith. The obvious implications being that comfort makes us lazy and apathetic about the call God gives to His followers. So, which is it that God truly desires for us--comfort or not, safety or not? Is God "schizophrenic" when it comes to His direction in regards to this area of our life?

Let me offer this explanation. Our picture of comfort nowhere resembles what God had in mind when He talked about it in Scripture. When the Savior promised comfort for His people, he wasn't talking about never facing the challenges of a real world. He didn't mean withdrawing to a "holy huddle" designed to keep us from facing danger.

Let me share two competing images. One view of the Christ-life is a gingerly stroll through a blooming meadow while birds flitter in blue skies overhead. Sweet. Not realistic in this world. The other image is the one more like what Christ has called us to--you and I in a rubber raft crashing through Class V rapids down the Colorado River...with no oars!! The difference? Christ is at the helm. And as we crash over every rapid and lean into every turn, we do so with an adrenaline rush for the life to which He has called us. Security comes not from what we are able to do in that "trip" but from knowing who "mans" the helm of our raft. He's made this trip a million times and he knows every bend of the river. He will guide us into each adventure and challenge with the promise that we do not go alone.

Here's the difference it makes--all the difference in the world. "Meadow walkers" do very little for the Kingdom that matters. Oh, they may fill a chair at church or throw in some significant cash at offering time, but their life in Christ is characterized more by how little danger there is. They do everything THEY are capable of and use their resources and gifts to the best of their ability.

"River riders" are the ones who crash the gates of Hell, who never met a soul that wasn't worth winning and who understand the meaning of the phrase "crucified with Christ." They, too, offer their gifts and talents but are continually asking God to stretch them and take them to deep places where only God can fulfill the plan through them (Luke 5:4) It is a life of comfort like you and I could never imagine on our own. It is the true "Christ-life."

One question remains. Which path will you choose?

I love my church.

I love my church. That's not news for most of you. But there are a lot of reasons for that. Thursday was just another example of why. Our staff and a few other members of our church took the afternoon to serve lunch to the faculty of Freedom Intermediate School on their last day of class. As usual, the people were blown away by your loving hearts and servant's attitude.

This isn't the first time I've watched our church family in action--serving meals, taking care of needs and loving on others. It's a perfect example of us trying to be a church without walls, a church with influence. Now, not one of those people may ever enter the doors of our church or become a member of our family. But they have been loved on and served by Christ followers who get what that phrase means.

One quick reminder for the readers who are Ridgies. Tomorrow is our corporate fast. This is for members who truly feel led by God to participate and it's only for those who are medically in a position to do so. I am inviting you to join others who will be participating in seeking out God's direction for each of us individually and as a church family. If you've got questions, let me know. We'll "break the fast" together as a family at our annual Memorial Day picnic where we already have over 200 signed up to join us. It's gonna be a great Sunday!! We'll see you there.

It's a bittersweet week that I'm living through right now.

It's a bittersweet week that I'm living through right now. And it makes me feel just a little bit older. On Monday, I watched as Abigail finished up fifth grade and was "promoted" to the sixth grade which means she will be in middle school next year. Today, I watched as Harrison was promoted from eighth grade into his freshmen year at Independence.

Can it really be that they are that old? That I am that old? Watching Harrison this morning caused a rush of emotions to come regarding these milestone moments in their lives. I thought back to the day that Abigail graduated from kindergarten (she was just "Abby" then). It was just a month after Sarah's death. I cried all the way through the event. The thought of Abby growing up missing her mom was crippling that day.

Today, thanks be to God, the emotions are still there--still very raw--but there is peace. I have peace knowing that she and Harrison are doing well. Both are good kids, good students and a joy to my life. I also know that, while Abby and Harrison will not have "their" mom at these events, they have been blessed to have a very good mom who stands by them and supports them.

As the eighth grade promotion wound down and I made the drive into the office, these thoughts were all swirling around in my head. In those few moments, God brought to mind this passage:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God... Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV

Love.

You know, Scripture talks about this character trait a great deal. Jesus told us how important it was and that it was the reason He came. Paul described what love is for us (1 Corinthians 13) and John said we had to love just like God or we were fooling ourselves about our relationship to Him (1 John). Yet, you look around at the world and you don't see a whole lot of love. And you walk into the doors of many churches and there are regular demonstrations of "untrue" love that abound.

I was giving some thought as to why it's that way. Why don't we do a better job of loving as Christ as loved us? Here are my thoughts:

• Christ's love was never self-serving. Christ loved for the benefit of those He loved upon. He wanted to see them in a better place. He wanted to love them away from poor choices. It was never about Him.
• Christ's love was more than a feeling. Christ didn't wake up one morning and say, "I feel like loving the world". You can't convince me that Christ "felt" like loving the soldiers on the cross or the mockers who stood at His feet. His love was not an emotion; it was a decision to do what was right and what would honor His Father.
• Christ's love was sacrificial--truly sacrificial. Not sacrificial like we want to describe it in our 21st century America. Rather, it's a true willingness to give our all for others so that they might be blessed. Just like Jesus...

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-7 NLT

Therein is where we miss it...just like Jesus. How can we possibly say we have loved our wife, our kids, our neighbor, our co-worker or the stranger on our street until we have done it just like Him? Jesus set the standard. Our job is to measure ourselves to see if we really can love like He does.

Goals.

Back a few weeks ago, my youngest daughter, Landon, celebrated a milestone occasion. She got her first soccer goal. Actually, she got two in the same game. I wish I would have had a camera poised for the very moment that the ball went in the net and she turned to face Lisa and me. Her smile was priceless.

You see, Landon had run hundreds of miles, kicked thousands of balls and rolled in the grass more times than I care to count in order to get to that first goal. She had worked hard, run fast and done everything the coaches had told her to this point but that first goal had avoided her till that moment.

As I reflected back on that moment this morning, it got me thinking about another goal. This one from Paul:

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14 Message

It's hard work getting there. Just ask Landon. But I don't think for a minute that she would trade all that hard work for the feeling of knowing she had made her goal. Pressing heavenward, you and I can know that same feeling. But we can't lose hope. What lies ahead, God only knows. And He has promised to "coach" you the entire way. Someday, you and I may know the feeling of what it means to have achieved all that God desires for you and me. Till then, we keep on running...and falling...and getting up again...

Proud of you, Landon. Don't ever stop giving it your all.