Nathan Guy, in an article for Christianity Today titled, “Some of Christianity’s Biggest Skeptics Are Becoming Vocal Converts” writes…

"Tom Holland did not set out to defend Christianity. As a historian of the ancient Greek and Roman world, Holland assumed that faith was a relic—useful once, perhaps, but now intellectually unnecessary. Then history began to argue back.
 
Immersed in the brutal moral universe of the ancient world, Holland noticed something unsettling: the values he instinctively cherished—human equality, compassion for the weak, dignity for the suffering—were utterly foreign to pagan antiquity. In Rome, power defined worth. Mercy was weakness. The strong ruled; the weak endured.

And yet Holland felt those ancient assumptions were wrong. But why?

The answer, he discovered, was Christianity. The idea that the poor matter, that suffering can be redemptive, that every human life has infinite value—these were not self-evident truths of reason. They were historical consequences of the cross.

In 2016, Holland publicly admitted he had been wrong about Christianity. While he stops short of a traditional conversion narrative, he returned to church and confessed that, morally and imaginatively, he was “thoroughly Christian.” Secular humanism, he realized, was living off borrowed capital—Christian ethics detached from Christian belief.

Holland’s journey reminds us that Jesus does not merely shape private devotion. He reshaped civilization itself. Even those who deny him often reason, hope, and protest injustice using categories he introduced. Sometimes the road to Christ runs not through emotion, but through history—when the evidence becomes too strong to ignore."

Isn’t it ironic that many of those who protest Christian values, who try to marginalize Christianity, who speak out for godless ideas and affirm godless morality do not even realize that were it not for Christianity they would have no such perverse freedoms? Remind them that they can’t do in Iran, Syria, Russia, or China just to name a few, what Christian values have enabled them to freely do in America.

Community Prayer for the Nation… May the 7th is the National Day of Prayer. Ridgecrest has been asked to host a city-wide prayer gathering on Wednesday, May 6th at 6:00 PM in our worship center. Churches from all over the area will gather. As a result, we will have no other events going on that evening and I am asking for the RBC family to be a part of this night of prayer for our city, state, and nation. Let us remember the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Let’s be those people knowing that our nation is certainly in need of healing. And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray

Only God Can Give Soul Peace….

Kyle Zunker shared his testimony in a 2024 issue of Christianity Today… It is a story of anxiety, fear, atheism and redemption:

“Kyle Zunker began suffering terrifying panic attacks in his late teens, which only worsened over time. By 2015, desperate for answers, he underwent an MRI while clinging to anxiety medication and hope. The scan was clear, leaving doctors puzzled and Kyle still searching for relief.

Seven years earlier, Kyle had left home for college. Though raised Christian, his faith was nominal and quickly unraveled. He writes, “I wanted to be the most successful and important person in the world. The more self-oriented my life became, the more I subscribed to intellectual arguments against the existence of God. By my early 20s, I was a staunch atheist.”

As he chased achievement, his health collapsed. His first panic attack at 19 left him desperate and overwhelmed. Anxiety became a constant presence, and he bounced from doctor to doctor, self-medicating to cope. He pinned his hope on passing the bar exam and proposing to his girlfriend, Hannah. When both dreams came true, he was shocked to find no peace: “If those hadn’t brought peace, then what could?”

Before their wedding, Kyle and Hannah often passed Pearl Street Church in San Antonio. Hoping to boost his respectability, he suggested they attend. Expecting to scoff, he was instead moved by a sermon on Genesis 22. Kyle recalls, “God’s instruction to Abraham was not a sadistic test; it prophetically foreshadowed the work of Jesus… God did not require Abraham to pay that price but chose instead to pay it himself.”

Over the next months, he read the New Testament and kept attending church, but anxiety persisted. One sleepless night, exhausted and broken, he finally prayed, “Thy will be done.” He writes, “Everything changed that night. The peace of God… changed my life. It gave me power over anxiety and fear, and my body began to heal as joy and hope replaced depression and despair.””

Our world is full of anxiety producing circumstances of which the devil loves to use as weapons of chaos in our souls. On the other hand, God wants to settle our souls with His supernatural peace. It is a peace that only He can provide to the life that is surrendered to His will. That is why Peter writes… “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

And it is why Paul tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

Paul’s words are a command followed by a result! Are you struggling with anxiety, worry, or fear today? Take it to God in prayer, give it to God to carry, and let His peace guard your heart and mind. And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray

Image credit: Usnplash

Despite living in an age of advanced technology with an increasing confidence in human ability to solve problems, a growing number of people sense that history is moving toward a climactic and catastrophic conclusion. In a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, nearly one-third of Americans and Canadians believe that the world will end in their lifetime.

The study may be shocking to many who are not aware of the Bible’s teaching on these things, but for millions of Christians who have studied prophecy it is understood that history as we know it is indeed ending. The Bible clearly describes a creation event, a divine purpose through events and time (we call that history), and an approaching age that will culminate with Christ’s return and intervention.

The Bible describes that final era as one of global turmoil, wars, famines, and moral chaos. Even for those who do not believe the scriptures, it is hard to ignore how both modern headlines and advanced technology consistently affirm the prophetic teaching of the Bible.

Back to the study… The survey found that 28.9 percent of respondents believe that the world will end during their lifetime. And younger survey participants were more likely to hold that position. Those in the study who believe that the end will come at the hands of humans were also more likely to support drastic government measure to prevent it like enacting permanent martial law, devoting extreme amounts of national wealth, and even a willingness to overthrow existing political systems. On the other hand, Christians who live by the Biblical worldview and believe that the end will be the result of God’s divine redemptive plan were far less likely to support such radical responses.

What does all this mean? For Christians, where history is headed is not an apocalypse brought on through technology, environmental issues, or nuclear war—though these things may all play some part. The real culprit as taught by scripture will be what it has always been: the intensifying of human rebellion, spiritual deception, and global conflict until God steps in.

For secular culture, history’s direction is seen as a total catastrophe environmentally, technologically, and nuclear with no hope beyond. Christians, however, view the end as not the end of civilization but rather the culmination of God’s plan for history that ends with return, redemption, restoration and a renewed heaven and earth. Unfortunately, today many pastors avoid talking about prophecy out of personal ignorance or fear of controversy even though it is one of the most prominent subjects in the scripture. Pastors and Christian leaders must reevaluate the significance of teaching and talking about prophetic matters… it is “Watchman” work!

This is especially true since the secular worldview offers little hope. The survey also reminds us that even in our secular age, many people can’t help but feel that history is headed somewhere and that there is an end ahead. This increasing belief offers the Church an important opportunity to bring meaning to the future for those who do not know Christ: helping them see where history is really headed and helping them personally discover God’s plan of redemption.

And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

Frank Jacobs in an article titled, Mongolia’s Forbidden Zone Is Guarding an 800-Year-Old Secret writes… When you drive north toward Ordos City in China’s Inner Mongolia province, you can’t miss the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan. The massive complex, rebuilt in the 1950s in the traditional Mongol style, houses genuine relics and is an important sanctuary for the shamanic worship of the legendary Mongol leader. But the Khan’s tomb is properly called a cenotaph—a monument to someone buried elsewhere—because it is empty.

While we can be certain his mortal remains are not there, we’re completely uncertain as to where they might be. And that’s odd. In life, he was the most powerful person on Earth. He was the Universal Ruler (“Genghis Khan”) of an empire that would eventually stretch from the Pacific Ocean into Eastern Europe, encompassing large swaths of present-day China, Russia, and the Middle East. Yet his grave is unmarked and remains undiscovered.

This is by design. Despite his exalted status, Genghis Khan retained the frugal, itinerant lifestyle of his youth, and indeed of most Mongols. So, it makes sense that he would want a humble, anonymous burial in his homeland. “Let my body die, but let my nation live,” he is supposed to have said.

In contrast, Jesus said…  “…Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” (John 2:19–22)

Just like He said, Jesus was raised from the dead, and eyewitnesses testified to His resurrection. People like Mary, Simon, John and the disciples as well as more than 500 people as referenced by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” And Acts 1:3 says, “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

So this Sunday we gather to celebrate the good news of eternal life that is offered to us because Christ is alive and seated at the right hand of God the Father. But listen, the power of the resurrection isn’t just for victory over the grave, it also provides power for you to live your life here and now… And his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”  (Ephesians 1:19-20)

But this mighty power is only available to those who have trusted Christ as their Savior. Have you? Would you like resurrected power in your life? Call on Him, put your trust in Him, and be born again to a living hope on this Easter Sunday. And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

Christ is Risen!
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

How important is blood to life? In his digital work from Amazon, Doctor Horace Smith describes the importance of human blood:

Each drop of human blood contains over 5 million red cells … In an average lifetime, a person's red cells arranged in single file would reach from the earth to the sun and back five times!
Our bodies contain approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels … Through this delivery system, blood provides everything our cells need to live, and they take away waste that would poison us. At the cellular level, capillaries are so small that they are about the size of a single red blood cell … To connect with all the cells in the body, capillary walls cover an area of about 70,000 square feet … The circulatory system is the epitome of consistency. Every day, the heart beats 100,000 times, and over an average lifespan, this amazing machine beats 2.5 billion times, pumping 60 million gallons of blood. During this time, the heart never takes time off. We can't afford for it to take a break—even a few minutes without blood supply causes severe brain damage or death. Virtually all other cells in the human body are stationary, but blood is mobile tissue, carrying nutrients to every part of the body … protecting us from harm and healing our wounds.

No wonder the Old Testament says that "The life of every creature is its blood" (Lev. 17:14). Today, we understand the significance of this truth even more deeply. There are no cells in the human body that can live without continual contact with life-giving blood. Every type of cell, from the ones that survive only moments to those that live for many years, owes its life to the flow of blood. All three types of cells in human blood—red cells, white cells, and platelets—perform functions that are essential to life.

Sunday, we begin “Holy Week”, celebrating the blood of Christ shed for our sins and culminating in our resurrection celebration next Sunday. Why are these two events so important? It is because the cross and the empty tomb are ever-present reminders of our need for redemption… “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22), and our value to God and His love for us… ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

Because this is true, I hope you will join us for the various Easter celebrations between now and next Sunday. Sunday at 5 PM our choir and orchestra will bring a very powerful message in song titled, Majesty & Glory. On Friday we will gather at 10:30 or 12 noon, your choice, for our annual Good Friday luncheon. On Friday evening at 6:30 our contemporary worship team will present a night of worship. And then of course next Sunday morning we will fill this place for our great Easter celebration at 8:15 and 10:50 AM.

I pray that you will take it all in as we exalt and honor the greatness of our Savior. And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

Joel Halldorf in an article for Christianity Today titled, “Not So Secular Sweden” describes some good news about the “Good News.” Halldorf, a Swedish historian describes a surprising resurgence of faith in Sweden which in the past several decades has been a picture of the secular future. Church attendance had hovered around five percent and belief in God had all but collapsed. Halldorf writes that religion wasn’t angrily rejected—rather, it was gently dismissed.

But things are changing. In recent years, Sweden has seen unexpected signs of change: open conversations about faith at intellectual dinner tables, and most surprising of all—young people showing up in churches. The author continues…

Across the Western world, similar signals are appearing. In Britain, journalists speak of a “quiet revival.” In France, the Catholic Church reports a stunning surge: more than 7,400 teenagers baptized at Easter in 2024. In the United States, Pew Research notes that the long decline of religious affiliation has flattened, especially among younger adults.

Globally, Gen Z is now more religious than their boomer parents—a reversal once thought nearly impossible. Musician Nick Cave observed that a decade ago, talking about God at a dinner table would get you laughed out of the room. Now, he says, people listen. There is “a kind of need” in the air.

Halldorf argues that there’s an erosion of faith in secular progress itself. When reason, technology, and prosperity stopped delivering hope, people didn’t stop longing. They started searching again. And in the Western world that search is becoming visible.

While we often hear pundits and pollsters reporting on the decline and death of faith, new indications, especially among the younger generation, are defying the expectations of the many who have predicted the end of Christian faith as we know it.

And that is especially significant given the fact that we have been told that the “good news” is as good as gone for most Americans… but it’s just not true. According to The Wall Street Journal in an article this past year titled “Are Americans Really Losing Their Religion”… “The biggest story in American religion is the dramatic rise of the “nones”—people who say they are atheist, agnostic or have no particular religious faith. Last year we conducted the largest-ever survey of nones, with 12,000 participants.

One-third of nonreligious people fall into a category we call the “dones,” because they are finished with religion altogether and want nothing to do with it. Then there are the “zealous nones,” because they are evangelical about their unbelief.

But the majority of nonreligious non-Americans have a more complicated attitude toward spirituality. 21% are called “nones in name only”: over half of this group says they pray daily, and a third attend some kind of religious service at least once a year. And 66% say they feel drawn toward spirituality.

The researchers conclude, “The majority of nonreligious Americans do yearn for some kind of connection with a higher power. This suggests that a religious revival is certainly possible in the U.S...” So don’t believe all the misinformation by those who wish to see the demise of religious faith. It’s not happening like they’d hoped. God has always had a people and always will! And remember that God is always trying to take His people someplace new! I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

I know you’ve heard about the National Spelling Bee. But have you heard about the National Bible Bee? In terms of memorization and recitation, it makes the National Spelling Bee look like a game of tidily winks.

In an article for the New York Times titled "Memorize Nearly 1,000 Bible Verses? For These Young Christians, It’s Game On.", Ruth Graham, (not to be confused with Billy Graham’s wife) writes…

“Daniel Chew, a 9-year-old from Sugar Land, Texas, memorizes Bible verses. Lots of Bible verses! At the National Bible Bee finals (Nov. 2024) under spotlights on a stage in Orlando, Fla., Daniel smoothly recited 19 verses from the New Testament book of Romans to win the finals for his age group at the 16th annual National Bible Bee.

He was one of about 360 children and teenagers assembled this week for a competition whose slogan is ‘To know God’s Word and make Him known.’

The Bee … demands astonishing feats of memorization that make the televised National Spelling Bee look like a game of tic-tac-toe. Competitors at Daniel’s level memorized more than 570 verses, which they were expected to be able to recite on command.

At the senior level, ages 15 to 18, participants memorize 938 Bible verses, adding up to more than 20,000 words. In some rounds of competition, making even a single error in a long passage — an errant plural or wrong verb tense — leads to elimination.”

It’s really an amazing accomplishment by these young people, and it gives new meaning to the passage that says… “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:11–16)

Memorizing scripture is not just for the young. Each of us benefit when we hide God’s Word in our heart. So let me suggest a few steps to help you either begin that process or renew the process if you have gotten away from it.

1.Purchase a scripture memory card set if you would like an already organized process… the “Bible Verses Card Deck” available on Amazon.
2.Make your own 3x5 cards with verses you love or desire to learn.
3.Set a consistent time to daily review the verse or verses you are memorizing.
4.Put the verse card on the refrigerator, at your desk, on the mirror, etc. Any place that will keep it in front of you.
5.Don’t worry about the pace. It is better to learn a verse well before moving on to another. It may require a few days or even a few weeks. The important thing is, stay at it.
6.File the verses you learn and periodically pull them out for review.
7.And if you’re not afraid to hear your own voice, speak or sing the verse… it is amazing how well we learn songs, so apply the same repetition to memorization.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get started this week. And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

Well, not an odd person by the normal definition. Brian Watman, in an article titled, "'Have a Nice Day,' the Conversational Irritant", posted in The Boston Globe wrote… “A psychological counselor reported an “ODD” experience with a client. The therapist had tentatively diagnosed the patient with ODD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder. You probably don’t have a psych dictionary on your apps, so here’s the Google definition of O.D.D., “A behavioral condition characterized by a persistent pattern of angry, irritable mood, argumentative and defiant behavior, or vindictiveness.”

At the end of the counseling session, the therapist had said innocently, “Have a good day.” The client responded angrily, “Don’t tell me what to do!!” That was the moment the therapist nailed the diagnosis!”

You may not have experienced an “O.D.D.” person, but we all may deal with a difficult or draining person from time to time, and of course, we’ve never been difficult or draining, right?

Paul writes to the Colossians reminding them that there was a time in their lives before they knew Christ when they walked in the ways of the world which are at odds with the ways of God. He reminded them and us that even in Christ we can drift back into the odd ways of our old life.

There is a lot of stress out there! And apart from the Lordship of Christ, it can squeeze us and capture our hearts and minds and cause to revert to the odd ways of the old life. It can make us defiant, angry, and irritable, among other things. I wonder, have you allowed the rebellion, defiance, and nature of the world to capture your heart and mind?

If so, take the counsel of the apostle Paul to the Colossians… “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:8–10) This is more than a suggestion; it’s a command to counter the ever-present war with our old nature.

Notice Paul says to “put” old things off, and “put” new things on. It is the idea of changing your wardrobe. And implied is the fact that you can do it, and you must do it as a follower of Christ. But he doesn’t stop there, he goes on to tell us what to put on in verses 12-17… “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

So, if you’ve been feeling a little ODD lately, counter it by renewing your spiritual wardrobe and allow Jesus to be Lord of your life. And remember God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

After the fall of the Syrian regime in December 2024, CNN reporter Clarissa Ward was led deep into a Syrian prison where the Assad regime imprisoned, tortured, and killed thousands of people. This particular prison held men condemned to death, usually for reasons they knew nothing about.

Ward and her guides came upon one locked cell with what looked like a pile of blankets against the wall. When the soldier carefully poked at it, a man emerged, frightened, hands in the air.

“You’re ok. You’re ok.” Ward tells him over and over as he grips her arm tightly with both hands. They start to walk outside.

The soldier says, “Thank God you are safe. You are free.” The man says he’d been in this, his third prison, for three months. His captors had fled four days before, leaving him without food or water.

Then they lead him outside. The reporter says, “After three months in a windowless cell he can finally see the sky.” “O God, the light,” he says, “O God, there is light! O God, there is light!”

A rebel fighter says, “There’s no more army, no more prisons, no more checkpoints.” The astonished man says, “Are you serious?” A paramedic came and another man who says, “You are safe. Everything you are afraid of is gone!

And that is what God has done for us! From slavery and bondage and from condemnation to death and hell. He delivered us. He set us free. And as Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

There are many fearful things in this world, especially the fear of death. But we do not need to live as captive to these things. We no longer need to live under the control of fear because Jesus has overcome the grave. John put it this way in Revelation 1:17-18… “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Did you get that? Our savior holds the “keys of death and hades.” That means He is in control of life, death, and eternity! We were once captives to sin, and we were once condemned to death. But in Christ our shackles were unlocked, and our freedom was purchased… and everything you are afraid of is gone. Put your trust in Him today, give your fears to Him today, and renew your faith in Him today.

And remember that God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,


Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

I love books! I’ve been a reader since I was a 10-year-old boy. That’s why I love to encourage others to read. Reading will inspire you; it will instruct you, and it will inform you. The fact is, not all readers are leaders, but you can be sure that all leaders are readers. In fact, a good leader will generally read between 2-3 books a month. Maybe you are not there, but if you want to keep growing why not make a goal of reading at least one book a month this year. So, with that in mind, I thought I would suggest some of my recent favorite books, in no particular order, for you to pursue in the months ahead.

The Bible should be at the top of your list… reading just 4 chapters a day will enable you to read the entire Bible in one year. (reading plans are available on our website)

Jim Cymbala’s FRESH WIND, FRESH FIRE.

R.T. Kendall’s DOUBLE ANOINTING. Kendall is one of my all-time favorite authors. He is very good at applying Biblica truth to practical Christian living.

R.T. Kendall’s THE PRESENCE OF GOD.  

Erwin Lutzer’s THE ECLIPSE OF GOD. Anything by Lutzer is worth reading. He is another of my favorite authors.

Ron Dunn’s SURVIVING FRIENDLY FIRE. Dunn was one of my favorite bible teachers.

David Barton’s THE AMERICAN STORY. This comes in two volumes—“The Beginnings” and “Building the Republic.”

Andy Andrews' THE SEVEN DECISIONS.

Tom Elliff’s A PASSION FOR PRAYER.

Os Guinness’ OUR CIVILIZATIONAL MOMENT.

Joe Rigney’s THE SIN OF EMPATHY.

Michael Youssef’s NEVER GIVE UP.

In addition to these, read a biography or two of great Christians to discover what made them great. Read thematically and categorically in areas like holiness, history (secular and Christian), relationship building, leadership, cultural analysis, and theology among others. Also, read a few trusted news sources to stay aware of what’s going on around you. I regularly read the Wall Street Journal, World Magazine, The Washington Examiner, and The Epoch Times, along with trusted web sources like the “Christianpost.com”, “foxnews.com”, and “WND.com” among others.

Here’s a revelation…If you do not read, you will never love reading. Reading is a discipline for growing Christians. I read multiple books at a time in different categories, that is my own system. Doesn’t mean it has to be yours. Find your own reading plan, just read! And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash 

For the past 25 years of ministry together. It has been pure joy. It feels like yesterday when we were starting here at RBC. Like Paul, I can say, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,” (1 Timothy 1:12).

Alison and I were overwhelmed by the kindness expressed to us last Sunday from the church and through your gifts, beautiful cards, encouraging words, and messages. There are so many, it is going to take us weeks to get through them all—we are reading and cherishing each one of them, Thank you! It continues to be my honor to be your pastor, and Lord willing our journey together will continue for some time to come.

As I was contemplating all the years of ministry, and in particular these last 25 years, I reflected on some things that the Lord has done and taught me, and since I am currently preaching on “Lessons for Life…” I thought I would share a few things that I’ve learned through these years.

1. I’ve learned that a God-given vision is vital for traveling with God. God really did put us here on purpose. Capturing that purpose and living according to the plans of God is the most important life ambition we can have.

2. I’ve learned that all things really are possible with God. I’ve had a front row seat that has allowed me to see God do things that people told me could not happen. During these years I’ve seen God do the miraculous. I’ve seen Him heal the sick. I’ve seen Him save those that some thought were hopelessly lost. I’ve seen Him restore marriages. I’ve seen Him miraculously provide resources to accomplish ministry when we did not know where the funds would come from. I have seen Him call out young and old to the ministry and mission field. And so many other expressions of our miracle working God.

3. I’ve learned that the Church of God really is the greatest institution on earth. With all its frailties and all its imperfections, the church is still the most powerful army God has established for accomplishing His work.

4. I’ve learned that there is no substitute for Worshipping God. It is true that God inhabits the praise of His people. Spirit-filled corporate worship lifts our soul, exalts our Savior, and soothes our heart when we are weary.

5. I’ve learned that the people of God are good. They are not perfect, but they are good and willing to serve each other, love each other, trust each other, and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.

6. I’ve learned that years together makes the shepherd and the sheep’s hearts grow fonder. It is true that the journey is made sweeter by the company you travel with. I still love getting up each day and coming to the church to do the work of ministry.  

7. I’ve learned that the Kingdom of God advances with the help of a great team. As someone said, “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” I have been blessed with a wonderful team. Including a wife who has been behind the scenes to strengthen, pray, and encourage me in the work.

Well, I could go on with more and there is certainly more ahead, but space does not permit. So, for now, thanks again for 25 years and remember, God is always trying to take us some place new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

It is not unusual today to hear someone say when disagreeing with another, “that’s your truth,” or “I have my own truth, and you have yours.” It sounds so tolerant and even affirming of someone else’s opinion. But that kind of supposed “truth” is purely subjective and only works until it conflicts with someone else’s subjective version of “truth.” In reality, truth cannot be subjective at all. Logically, something is either true, or false. It cannot be true for one person and false for another.

Why, then, has the idea of subjective truth become so popular, especially among those living in ways that reject biblical principles? Simply put, it allows people to live as they want, to write their own rules, and to avoid accountability. Subjective truth removes boundaries, enabling everyone to “do what is right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Charles Colson, in his book Against the Night, illustrates this through Robert Bellah’s research: 81% of Americans believe that “an individual should arrive at his or her own religious belief independent of any church or synagogue.” Many who claim to be Christians embrace faith on their own terms—terms with no demands on their behavior. One woman, Sheila, famously said in Bellah’s Habits of the Heart, “I believe in God. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. But my faith has carried me a long way. It’s ‘Sheila-ism.’ Just my own little voice.”

The point is, God sets the rules, and He has the authority to do so. We do not vote on His commands or nullify them by preference. Colossians 1:15-17 tells us... “He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Paul explains that God sets the rules because:
1.He created all things—everything! All of creation belongs to Him, including us, and everything exists because of Him.

2.He is the sustainer of all things—everything operates and holds together by His will and were He to remove His influence all things would disintegrate.

3.He is the reconciler of all things—only He restores creation to its intended order. Paul said that He accomplished that through the cross of Jesus.

For these reason’s God gets to set the rules, you can like or dislike them, you can receive or reject them, you can adopt or ignore them—but what you cannot do is nullify them, nor escape accountability for them—because the truth is never subjective and the rules of God are not up for debate.

Remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

We’ve all witnessed the ongoing, and arguably, professionally funded protests (one woman was interviewed on camera and asked if she had a job she need to get to, for which she replied, this is my job, I get paid for this.) going on in Minnesota in recent days. But have we actually picked up on the message of Minnesota? By that I mean the real cultural and moral message being reflected in what is another event seized by left-leaning activists hoping to further undermine moral norms and constitutional law.

While cultural degradation and decline can be slowed, and thank God that He often does restrain evil, the current bent is to destroy everything that is rational, sane, scientific, and morally upright. Erwin Lutzer illustrated this when he wrote, “When I see deep divisions in this country, I am reminded of a sign I saw in a Muslim demonstration: ‘We will use the freedoms of the Constitution to destroy the Constitution.’”

In our woke and cancel culture age, we are seeing how the radical left cannot and will not tolerate disagreement. Their arguments are not rational, they are emotional. They are not based on critical thinking; they are purely irrational and argued by feelings rather than facts. As the old saying goes… “don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up” seems to be much of the current culture’s modus operandi. Adolf Hitler declared that with the right use of propaganda, or I might add, the left leaning media elite, heaven can be made to appear like hell and hell like heaven.

Consider New York’s recent election of a Muslim mayor who has unequivocally stated that he is a democratic socialist, which is just another term for a cultural Marxist. And cultural Marxism insists there must be equality of outcomes for every individual and nation that can only be accomplished by destroying personal freedoms which is the exact opposite of Judeo-Christian values that emphasize personal responsibility among other essential moral imperatives. If you haven’t forgotten, it was just a few short years ago when saying that a boy could become a girl and a girl could become a boy was laughably absurd and considered unscientific and a biologically dysfunctional fact. But saying that today regardless of the facts labels you as the problem in society and a bigot, all because, again, leftists cannot tolerate disagreement no matter what the facts are.

How does this kind of social revolution happen? One of my favorite theologians from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, Francis Schaeffer explained it when he said, “in one era the unthinkable becomes thinkable; and with time, a new unthinkable will become thinkable.” Lutzer writes, “Remember, when God is evicted out of the consciousness of a person or nation, demonic darkness rushes in—and this darkness has no boundaries, no limits, and no restraints.”

So, what does this mean for the Church? It means several things that I leave you with:

1. We must not lose heart… the church can actually grow stronger even while the culture declines. St. Augustine said, “the city of man can be in decline even as the city of God gains strength.” Our strength doesn’t come from the culture of man, but from the Kingdom and power of God.

2. We must not shrink back… the voice of the church is more important for our age than ever before. Let’s not be ashamed of the gospel and let our light shine bright.

3. We must understand the “darkness” will most likely get more intense… This is spiritual war. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:11 that prior to the coming of the Antichrist people will experience a “strong delusion.” It’s happening, so stay alert and awake.

4. We must remember that God rules above the culture and is available to give us divine power from on high… let’s not live in fear, but walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And remember, God is with us and always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!
For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

Next Sunday, February 1st, we will once again affirm God’s Word through obedient biblical tithing. We’ve been doing this annual affirmation of tithing for over a decade now and have watched God bless and honor the promise of His Word in our lives. God’s Word tells us to give back to Him from our income at least 10% and watch how He opens the flood gates of heaven to bless us. Where, you say?

In Malachi 3:10 God says… “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” That is both a command and a promise. And did you notice that God says that you are to “test” Him in this? Wow! This is the only place in all of scripture where God commands us to test Him.

So, next Sunday, let’s all once again practice His command, with our entire RBC family tithing. I am not asking you to bring an extra offering or special offering as we sometimes do for various reasons. No, I am simply asking you to tithe on that day and obey the Word of God. Many of you, like me, have been tithing for years in obedience to God’s Word and can testify to God’s faithfulness to provide and bless. Let us continue to obey. Others, perhaps, have never attempted to tithe and may even perceive it to be a little scary. I urge you to begin this important Biblical act of obedience on February 1st and watch how God honors His promise to open Heaven’s windows to provide and bless you. You cannot out give God!

I know this to be true. And I say these things not just as your pastor, but because I have been obeying God in this since I was a teenager receiving my first pay-check, and long before I was a pastor. To this day, Alison and I still give a tithe and more back to God from each pay-check we receive. God’s Word is true and His promise to care, provide and bless you is reliable.

I love the caption I read on a bumper sticker that said, “Tithe if you love Jesus. Any fool can honk". Enclosed you will find a special envelope you can use for our “Prove the Tithe” Sunday. Of course, you can always use your regular offering envelopes if you prefer. You may also give online or through text. It’s just up to you. In any case, let me encourage you to join the entire RBC family with your tithe on Sunday, February 1st. And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!


For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

In an article for The Wall Street Journal titled “The Sprinter Who Hasn’t Lost in 11 Years,” Rachel Blackman writes about sprinter Grant Holloway.

“It might be the most precarious race in sports. To win the 60-meter hurdles, a runner has to start strong, clear five barriers taller than a kitchen counter and then outsprint everyone else—all in less than eight seconds.

It’s the sort of unforgiving endeavor where even the smallest mistake or tiniest hesitation can prove fatal. Unless you’re Grant Holloway. He’s won it 75 times in a row.

What makes Holloway so good? For starters, he’s tall—standing at 6-foot-2 and with long legs. But he also embraces routine, stays humble, and keeps improving. Holloway lives two doors down from his coach. Even with his pile of titles, he is working on tiny improvements to his form, like lifting his trailing knee higher over the hurdle and keeping his foot tucked closer to his body.
‘He doesn’t take anything for granted,’ said his coach, Mike Holloway—no relation. ‘He challenges me to challenge him daily.’”

What a perfect picture of discipleship… repetitious routine, humility, and a commitment to keep on improving. Think about how different your relationship to Christ can be in 2026 if you apply the practices of a champion athlete to your walk with Christ. Considers Paul’s insight in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Here are some practices to make part of your “spiritual” training routine that will help you improve your walk with Christ…

1. Consider reading through the Bible this year… you can find a reading plan to guide you through the year on our website at Rbcdothan.org/resources.

2. Start memorizing scripture… pick a verse to learn each week, or 2 weeks, or month. Just get started. Write it down, repeat it daily, sing it, pray it, or whatever helps you get it in your heart and head. You’ll be amazed at how God can bring it to mind when you need it the most.

3. Make a prayer card and keep it with you… I keep a 4 x 6 card with the most pressing prayer matters on my heart each week. It’s portable, mine sits in a vertical tray on my study desk… it is always in front of me and enables me to pray for matters and people all through the day.

4. Read… read, read, read... First and foremost, your Bible (see #1), but also books on spiritual growth, books that will help you improve in some specific spiritual area. Reading just 10 minutes a day will enable you to read up to 12 books a year.

5. Make your own list of growth areas and then create a plan to follow… use a journal or notebook to outline your “game” plan and record insights along the way.

Prove the tithe Sunday is coming on February 1st… you’ll be receiving a letter from me this week that explains what it’s all about. And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray

Amanda Geffner reporting for Fox5NY said, “Saying farewell to yesterday might be a challenge for some, but not for the numerous New Yorkers who bid a traditional farewell to [each year] in Times Square ahead of the big New Year's Eve celebration. At each annual Good Riddance Day…, bad memories are burned – literally.

Good Riddance Day is inspired by a Latin American tradition in which New Year’s revelers stuffed dolls with objects representing bad memories before setting them on fire.

In Times Square, attendees wrote down their bad memories on pieces of paper. ‘COVID,’ ‘Cancer,’ ‘Our broken healthcare system,’ ‘Spam calls and emails,’ ‘Bad coffee,’ and ‘Single Use Plastics,’ were some of the entries.

Every December 28th, this event gives people the opportunity to write down everything they want to leave in the past and destroy any unpleasant, unhappy, and unwanted memories – so that they can toss them into an incinerator and watch them vanish.”

While that may have some symbolic meaning, which may help a person in some kind of esoteric way, the truth remains that there is really only one way to deal with our past painful memories or consequences of sin. It is to give them over to Jesus who is merciful and compassionate. In fact, Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” (CSB)

As you enter the new year what are some things that you simply need to leave behind? Things that have become weights upon your soul and your spiritual well-being. As the writer of Hebrews put it, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1, ESV)

And while you’re leaving some things behind, why not also consider what things need to be added to your life in order to realign it, if necessary, with God’s will. Things like my current sermon series is addressing, Worship, Discipleship, and Stewardship. These are not burdens to carry out, they are soul strengthening disciplines that we clothe ourselves in so that we can effectively run the race appointed to us by Christ. So, in this new year, I encourage you to contemplate what to leave behind and what to take on and do so with the assistance of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Thank you Ridgecrest… for your recent generosity toward our annual Reach the World Offering. You gave a record breaking $200,000 plus which has already blessed our mission partnerships. The work of God will flourish, and lives will be changed because you gave!

Sign Up starts Sunday for the next semesters of RAD, Man Church, and Kingdom women. You will find the various registrations located in our Welcome Center. Also remember this Sunday we begin our new once a month Discover Ridgecrest class in the Parlor at 9:45. If you are new or you’ve been here for a while and want to know more about who we are, our mission, and our ministries, this meeting will help inform and inspire you… you don’t have to sign up, just show up. And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

“Christmas by the numbers: 34 hours untangling lights, 36 hours cleaning up pine needles over a lifetime,” reflects the results of a 2024 study on how our time is spent on Christmas matters during the course of a lifetime. It reports the following…

“Christmas might be a time for vacations, but it sure does require plenty of work. It turns out families are dedicating a staggering amount of time to Christmas preparations over their lifetimes. A survey of festivity enthusiasts reveals that holiday preparations consume almost five years of their lives.

The most substantial chunk of time goes to planning Christmas dinner, consuming nearly two-and-a-half years of preparation over a lifetime. In addition to meal planning, hosts spend a remarkable 164 weeks cleaning and tidying before welcoming holiday guests.

The decorating process itself presents its own time demands. People spend more than two days adorning their Christmas trees, and 34 hours untangling lights. For those with real trees, an additional 36 hours are spent picking up or vacuuming pine needles over a 63-year period.

The research also highlights the stress associated with holiday preparations, with 60% of respondents finding the season stressful and 45% wishing for ways to make it less so. The cost-of-living crisis has amplified these concerns, with 41% expecting this Christmas to be more stressful than last year.

Despite these challenges, people maintain their enthusiasm for the season. The survey revealed that spending time with family and friends (44%), enjoying festive food and drink (41%), and giving presents (34%) rank as the nation’s favorite aspects of Christmas.”

Maybe you can identify with some of those numbers. Regardless, they remind us that as we prepare for Christmas it is wise to reflect on where our time is going. Are we dedicating our time to the things that really matter like family, friends, fellowship, and most importantly our Faith. Christmas is a wonderful season, but it can also be a time of stress and distractions from the things that are most valuable. So, don’t let another one slip by without with regret.

Let’s allow the coming week to be filled with joy about our Savior and full of devotion to Him as we approach the new year!

Speaking of this week, I hope you will join us for one of our two Christmas Eve services. This year our first will be at 4:00 PM, the second will be at 6:00 PM. These are cherished traditions of worship and celebration.

January Book Study… I am excited about our forthcoming book study titled, “The 7 Resolutions: Where Self-Help Ends and God’s Power Begins.” What a perfect book for the New Year. You can pick up a copy for $10 in the Welcome Center and get an early jump on reading.

And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new.” I love being your Pastor!

Merry CHRISTmas,

Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

In an article by Chris Melore titled, You shouldn’t have! Holiday shoppers spending $10.1 billion on gifts nobody wants. Melore reveals the results behind a 2024 study that indicates how many Christmas gifts are actually unwanted. He writes…

“This holiday season, take a moment to ask yourself, ‘Does this person really want what I’m buying them?’ A new survey finds the answer is likely no! Researchers have found that more than half of Americans (53%) will receive a gift they don’t want.

It turns out that everyday Americans are throwing away tons of money. According to a survey, unwanted presents will reach an all-time high in both volume and cost this year, with an estimated $10.1 billion being spent on gifts headed for the regifting pile.

Overall, the annual holiday spending forecast finds that roughly 140 million Americans will receive at least one unwanted present. Shockingly, one in 20 people expect to receive at least five gifts they won’t want to keep. The average cost of these unwanted items is expected to rise to $72 this holiday season, up from $66 last year. That represents a billion-dollar surge in wasteful holiday spending.

Saying ‘you shouldn’t have…’ might be a more truthful statement than ever when it comes to certain gift ideas. Topping the unwanted gift list are:
Clothing and accessories (43%)
Household items (33%)
Cosmetics and fragrances (26%)
Technology gifts (25%)
So, what happens to all these well-intentioned but unwanted presents?
Regifting is the most popular solution (39%)
Return the item to the store to exchange for something else (32%)
Sell the unwanted gift (27%)

So, if you’re still looking for last-minute gifts this holiday season, choose wisely. There’s a very good chance the person you’re buying for won’t like your choices anyway.”

I don’t know how reliable this study actually is, but most people probably receive a gift or two at Christmas that they either do not need or cannot use. But this season also serves as a reminder of one gift that everyone needs, but not everyone receives it. John writes in chapter 1:11,12,14 “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The gift of Jesus Christ is unprecedented in scope, nothing has ever come close to its value, and it is matchless in its impact on humanity bringing eternal hope and salvation. The best news is that while it cost God His Son, it is a free gift to all who will receive it. Have you received it? If not, you can today. The Bible says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

Merry CHRISTmas,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

Let me give you an interesting take on the need for gratitude (aside from the hundreds of biblical injunctions of course). The magazine Inc. ran an article titled "Listening to Complainers Is Bad for Your Brain." Apparently, neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long gripe session. And the news isn't good.

The article summarizes the research:
"Being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity—including viewing such material on TV—actually peels away neurons in the brain's hippocampus. That's the part of your brain you need for problem solving. Basically, it turns your brain to mush." The research essentially points to the fact that too much complaining, whether listening to it or giving it out, does something harmful to your brain. That’s why thanksgiving is so important.

Chris Pappalardo, in an article for CT magazine titled, “This Thanksgiving, I’m Thankful for Difficult People, writes about how the first thanksgiving holiday came about… “It was in the fall of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued two landmark statements. The first was the famous Gettysburg Address in which Lincoln commemorated the battlefield of Gettysburg. The other statement, made just weeks before, may be a bit more surprising. On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln instituted the first official Thanksgiving holiday.

Lincoln wrote, “It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the gracious gifts of the Most High God] should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.” Thus, Lincoln set apart the last Thursday of November as “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father.” Apparently, in the midst of the worst war our nation had ever seen, Lincoln thought the time was ripe for gratitude.

We may be tempted to think Lincoln’s statement of gratitude was inappropriate, naïve, or even offensive. Reading the entire text of Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, however, disabuses the modern reader from the conclusion that he had (somehow) forgotten about the Civil War. Lincoln candidly addressed the horrors of the Civil War, a war “of unequaled magnitude and severity” that had transformed tens of thousands of Americans into ‘widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife.’ But he coupled this hardship with hope, recognizing the hand of God guiding him through the valley of the shadow of death.”

Conflict and gratitude. Hardship and hope. Lincoln wasn’t confused. He was seeing thanksgiving through a biblical lens. That is the reason Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) No matter what is going on in or around you, find somethings to thank God for this week.

Reach the World… our offering continues to grow! Join in as we bless our mission partners. Also, join in as we bring food to help fill the pantry of Love In Action ministries.

Prayer Summit… Sunday from 5:00-6:00 PM in our worship center… these are special times of guided prayer and one of the fastest hours you’ll experience. Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Make this a priority—I’ll see you at 5:00.

And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

Each year we make a significant gift from our “Reach the World” offering to the “Lottie Moon” Christmas offering. In fact we consider this element of our mission giving as one of our major mission partners. Why? Because it goes 100% to help keep more than 3200 International missionaries on the field, some that have come from our own congregation. There is no other mission organization in the world or in Christian history that has sent out as many missionaries to the world as Southern Baptist have. That’s why part of our world mission offering goes to this cause. But maybe you wonder, why is it called “Lottie Moon”? I thought you might enjoy knowing a little bit about that.

Charlotte Digges "Lottie" Moon (1840-1912) was an influential American Southern Baptist missionary who dedicated nearly 40 years of her life to serving in China. Born in Virginia to a wealthy Baptist family, she received a strong education, becoming one of the first women in the South to earn a master's degree. Initially indifferent to her Christian upbringing, Lottie experienced a spiritual awakening in her teens, which led her to pursue a life of service and teaching.

In 1873, Lottie was appointed as a missionary to China, where she joined her sister Edmonia at the North China Mission Station. Lottie quickly became passionate about direct evangelism and worked tirelessly to educate and minister to women and girls in the region. She opened a girls' boarding school and frequently traveled to rural areas to share the Christian faith, often facing significant challenges and resistance.

Lottie Moon is also remembered for her advocacy for women's roles in missions and her efforts to encourage Southern Baptists to support international missions. Her legacy continues today through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which raises funds for missionaries worldwide. Lottie's life exemplifies dedication to faith and service, making her a significant figure in the history of American missions.

And through offerings like our Reach the World gifts, she continues to impact lives for the Kingdom of God. Just thought you’d like to know! Thank you for your gifts to our Reach the World offering. I believe it could be the largest ever if we all join in. Already we have surpassed $140,000! And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

In his book The Body, Charles Colson wrote… “At one time, Francis Schaeffer says, he shared a platform with former cabinet member and urban leader John Gardner, during which Gardner spoke on the need to restore values to our culture. After he finished, a Harvard student asked him: "On what do you build your values?" Gardner, usually articulate and erudite, paused, looked down, and said, "I do not know."  I repeatedly encounter the same reaction. When I have contended before scholars and college audiences that in a secular, relativistic society there is no basis for ethics, no one has ever challenged me. In fact, in private they often agree.”

The answer to where our values come from is the transcendent truth of God’s Word. At Ridgecrest we have a mission statement based on 3 key letters—RBC. Reach the Lost, Build up the believers, and Connect God’s people to their purpose. But behind that mission statement are the core Biblical values that shape our tasks and purpose. Let me remind you of what they are:

1. Worship… We have been designed to worship our creator, and in doing so we find connection and direction with His purposes for our lives.

2. Stewardship… We recognize that we are stewards of the gifts, talents, and treasures that belong to Him and that have been entrusted to us here on earth.

3. Fellowship… We are created to know our creator and to walk in relationship with Him and with other believers. In this we find encouragement and comradery in the work of God’s Kingdom.

4. Discipleship… We are to reach the lost and build them up in the Faith so that they may know God deeply and serve Him faithfully.

Part of our discipleship outreach is the great commission… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19, ESV) This is not only our commission, but also God’s command to us. With that in mind we have set aside this Sunday as a special service to remind you of the many mission partners we work with locally, nationally, and internationally. Sunday is also the launch for our annual “Reach the World” offering emphasis that will continue until the end of the year.

You’ll be blessed as you hear live and video testimonies of what our partners are doing to reach the world and build believers, and by extension, through your going and financial giving, Ridgecrest is an active and substantial part.

By now you should have received a letter from me, and a special “Reach the World” envelope in which you can help us achieve this year’s goal of $150,000, all of which will be distributed to our partners. This is our largest goal ever, and already we are well on our way toward reaching it and, I pray exceeding it.

I want to invite you to join me and Alison with a special gift above and beyond your regular tithes, building (freedom fund) gifts, and offerings to continue the mission of God to the world through Ridgecrest. Thanks in advance, and remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor.

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

Image credit: Unsplash

This week on The Journey, we explored the tension between extending grace to those struggling and enabling destructive patterns. We discussed how the church often falls into two camps—those who emphasize repentance without restoration, and those who walk alongside people through the messy journey of redemption. The discussion challenged us to consider: How long do we help someone before we’re simply enabling them? How do we balance Christ-like compassion with healthy boundaries? And why does vulnerability remain so difficult in many church circles, particularly in Southern Baptist culture?

Key Takeaways:

1. Restoration is messy and requires long-term commitment. Real transformation rarely happens on our timeline. Some organizations succeed because they’re committed to the journey, not just a quick fix. We need to call people to something more while walking patiently alongside them through setbacks and failures.

2. The enemy uses deception to keep people stuck. Whether it’s convincing someone in addiction that they can’t change, or making them believe the church will only judge them, Satan works to prevent both the hurting and the helpers from experiencing God’s redemptive power. We must recognize these lies in ourselves and others.

3. Early Christians changed the world through radical, self-sacrificing love. During plagues in the third and fourth centuries, Christians walked directly into danger to care for the sick, viewing even death as a worthy sacrifice. Their lack of concern for self-preservation caused the church to explode in growth and forced even pagan emperors to take notice. We should ask ourselves: are we willing to love at that level?

I grew up during the late 60’s and early to late 70’s, a period that has come to be known as the “Jesus Revolution.” It was during these years that thousands of young people, particularly the “hippie” generation, began looking for answers that drugs, free love, and eastern mysticism among other things had not provided. The time was ripe for the gospel message to fill the vacuum that these things had created. As a result, a move of God, some church historians say, swept across America that was larger than any of the previous spiritual awakenings our nation had ever experienced. Including the awakenings under the preaching of George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards.

I remember how the “Jesus Revolution” impacted my high school campus, I remember the “I found it” campaign and though I had already been called to ministry as a teenager, it impacted my life and subsequently my ministry. The Christian “hippies” became the Christian “baby boomers” and were used to build some of the greatest churches in our nation. We still are living under the blessing of their commitment and service to Christ. But interestingly a recent study by the Barna Group on the “State of the Church” revealed a declining interest in Church among the Baby Boomers and Generation X who have not returned to the church in the same numbers as before the COVID pandemic. While that is disappointing, the report also revealed some very good news.

The report’s headline read: “Young Adults Lead a Resurgence in Church Attendance.” While church attendance remains relatively flat for “Boomer” and “Xer’s”, Generation Z and younger millennials are attending church more frequently than ever before! The report stated that younger believers are also attending church much more often than Christians in older generations. What is stunning about this report to researchers and church historians is the fact that in previous reports it was suggested that younger generations of adults and students were significantly more irreligious when compared to older generations. But the current research completely discredits these previous studies. Further, and of particular interest, is the reported surge of younger men who are attending conservative evangelical churches in numbers even higher than women.

Why is all this important? Because in the history of national revivals and moves of God, almost all of them began with the younger generation. As historian Nathan Finn writes, “The Methodist Revival in Great Britain traced its roots to the Holy Club at Oxford University, which was founded in 1729 and included the Wesley brothers and George Whitefield. In the American colonies, Jonathan Edwards reported that one of the signs of spiritual awakening was that young people were being drawn to the faith. Yale University experienced the first tremors of the Second Great Awakening under the leadership of Edwards’ grandson, Timothy Dwight. The Student Volunteer Movement at the turn of the twentieth century was a missionary awakening that began among college students. Postwar evangelical ministries such as Youth for Christ and Young Life reached thousands of teenagers during the years when the percentage of Americans attending church reached an all-time high. Other ministries such as Campus Crusade for Christ, the Navigators, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship enjoyed a harvest among collegians.” And over the past several years, amazing moves of God are continuing to occur on college and university campuses all over America with record numbers of young people being saved, baptized, and called into the ministry.

Is Revival on the Horizon? I think so, and I think the embers are already glowing. God knows we need it, so let us be surrendered saints that fuel the flames for the greatest revival in history before the return of our Lord. And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray
 
Image credit: Unsplash

In last week’s message on Stephen, I talked a bit about miracles… this week, I came across an article from Emily Brown for Relevant Magazine titled, “Think You’ve Never Witnessed a Miracle? Think Again.” She writes…

“In his book, A Million Little Miracles, Mark Batterson believes we’re walking through a world brimming with the miraculous—we just don’t have the eyes to see it.

“There are miracles happening all around us all the time, hidden in plain sight,” Batterson says. “If you miss them, life can become a little bit of a chore and a bore. But if you rediscover the miracle that is life, it takes on a different dimension.”

It’s not just the big, cinematic miracles—the Red Sea parting or a blind man seeing. It’s the fact that we’re currently spinning at 1,000 miles per hour on a planet hurtling through space at 67,000 miles per hour, all while our bodies conduct trillions of biochemical reactions every second.

What if the real problem isn’t that miracles are rare—it’s that we’ve trained ourselves not to notice them? Psychologists call it “inattentional blindness.” If something is constant—like the sun rising, our hearts beating, or our lungs breathing—we stop paying attention to it. Batterson explains, “We should be startled by the sun, not the eclipse.”

The same is true of our own bodies. Batterson says:
Right now, you have 37 sextillion biochemical reactions happening inside of you. Your heart will beat 100,000 times today, pumping six quarts of blood through 60,000 miles of veins, arteries, and capillaries—that’s twice the circumference of the Earth. And yet, we go about our day saying, ‘Well, I’ve never seen a miracle.’ With all due respect, you’ve never not seen one. In fact, you are one.”

So how do we start seeing the miracles around us? Learn to take nothing for granted. To wake up each day and marvel at the ordinary. To stop waiting for the grand, spectacular moment and realize that the spectacular is happening all around us, all the time. And maybe, just maybe, if we start paying attention, we’ll realize that life itself is the miracle we’ve been waiting for.”

And then of course, we must never forget or take for granted what will ultimately prove to be the greatest miracle of all… that God reached down from heaven in the form of His Son Jesus and offered salvation rather than condemnation. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1–4, ESV)

So this Sunday as you worship, remember to celebrate the miracle of salvation with gratitude and praise. And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new! I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray

A recent study titled the "Average American Spends 138 Minutes Mired in Worrisome Thoughts Every Day" points out the relentless assault of worry on the average person each day. And the most surprising revelation is how pervasive it is among younger Americans.

Among the findings, 62% of Gen Z and millennial respondents report feeling constantly anxious, compared to 38% of older generations. On average, people spend two hours and 18 minutes each day caught in the grip of worrisome thoughts. This is a significant chunk of time that could otherwise fuel productivity, creativity, or personal growth.

The timing of these worry periods reveals interesting patterns. A third of respondents find themselves most anxious when alone. 30% are plagued by worries as they prepare to fall asleep. Another 17% are tormented by anxious thoughts upon waking. 12% experience peak worry while getting ready for bed.

When it comes to specific concerns:
53% of respondents cite money as their primary source of anxiety.
42% worry about their loved ones.
42% fret about pending tasks and to-do lists.
37% have health concerns.
22% have sleep anxiety (22%),
19% are concerned by political uncertainties.

For parents, the concerns extend far beyond personal anxieties. 77% express profound worry about the world their children are inheriting, with 34% specifically calling out climate change as a significant concern. One parent’s raw emotion captures this generational anxiety: “Honestly, I worry that there won’t be a world for my child to grow up in.”

Jesus knew how destructive worry can be so He told us in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Paul also understood anxiety and worry and wrote… “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

The opposite of worry is not sticking your head in the ground and pretending that there are no concerns in life. No, the opposite of worry is trusting Jesus every day and taking every concern to Him in prayer. So, don’t let worry rob you of “138” minutes each day, instead let the peace that passes all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Speaking of prayer… keep your antenna up about several prayer matters… First, we will soon begin enlisting additional prayer warriors for our War Room, and second, we are planning our next Prayer Summit for late November.  Also, you can be praying about our mission team in Vermont all this week, Baby Dedication on October 26th, our annual upcoming “Reach the World” mission emphasis and offering in starting November 2nd, “Corndodgers” Family festival on November 2nd, Ladies Night of Worship on November 16th, and all the Christmas celebrations in December… yeah, it’s a busy place around here! In the meantime, remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray