Part of the benefits of being a pastor is that I get to share in some of the most significant times in a person's life. Last Saturday, I had the honor of officiating the wedding of James Ratica and Megan Smith. I met with them for three premarital sessions at my favorite office, Starbucks. It's always exciting to see a couple dream together their future. James and Megan are most likely returning from their honeymoon today or tomorrow. Good advice for any marriage, including mine: pray together, keep Christ in the center of your home. Best wishes James and Megan and I look forward to being your pastor for many years to come.

Congratulations to Darren Gaddis who was elected President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention today! Darren is Pastor of Central Baptist Church in Corbin, Kentucky. He and I met the first few hours I arrived on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. I was moving in to the dorm and he introduced himself. We became instant friends and we were roommates for a semester or two. I was in his wedding, he was in mine. Darren and I were able to hook up in Greensboro, NC this past summer at the Southern Baptist Convention for a few hours and it was great to catch up with him. I always have a great laugh when I see him. He is one of the funniest guys I know. I am grateful that he sent the student ministry of their church down here a couple of summers ago to help me out with outreach at Ridgeview. He will do a great job as KBC President and I will continue to pray for him as he leads.

Ephesians 4:32 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." What a morning we had at our second single mom's oil change! The first time we did this last May we had 12 ladies. Today we had 17! It's an awesome feeling to forget about myself for a couple of hours and serve others in the name of Christ. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because according to Ephesians it's what God created me to do and prepared in advance for me to do. Thanks to everyone from Ridgeview who gave up their Saturday morning to serve Christ by serving others. I love you guys!

Pastor Rick Warren says that you judge a church not by the seating capacity but by the sending capacity. Our church each month has a designated "First Saturday of Service." This month we are sponsoring a single mom's oil change. I got a call this morning from a single mom who will be bringing her car Saturday for the free oil change. I love it! It gets my juices flowing to serve my community. I truly believe that good works become the bridge upon which the good news can travel. I want our focus as a church not to be on how many butts we have in the seats but how many butts we have serving in the streets!

"Seeking to be a bridge of God's love to all people so they may experience His purpose for their lives." I've been preaching that, teaching that & living that for the last 3 years at Ridgeview. I had breakfast this morning sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship here in Greenville. They wanted to thank pastors whose churches are sponsoring Good News Clubs in the various public schools. Our church sponsors a club that meets after school on Thursday at Mountain View Elementary. That's where we meet for church on Sunday as well. We've been sponsoring a club now for 3 years. This year our coordinator is Liz Niles. She's doing an excellent job! I got word last week a young boy named Joshua placed his faith and trust in Jesus. I understand he has no church home. I am following up with him. That's a beautiful picture of the church in action. I'm so glad I get to be part of a church like Ridgeview. I thank the Lord everyday!

Some things I've read this morning. Great reminders! 1. Application is very important in communicating, especially preaching. One must think about the entire audience when applying the principle and how it applies to them. Really get specific. Don't just broadbrush- "You need to practice integrity at your job." Apply a specific example.

Children's Ministry

Last summer our children's leaders started a ministry called C4C (Champions For Christ). They met at Rock's Country Store in the patio area and then headed over to the field across the street for sports activities. As the school year has rolled around, we've moved the C4C over to our home and gone with a more in depth discipleship time with our kids. It is really going well!

I love children! They are so real! They tell you what they're really thinking. That's always refreshing. I am enjoying studying the Bible with them each Wednesday at our home and hanging out and having a good time. We have some incredible people working with our children on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. I thank God for them!

This Sunday I'm sharing a message entitled "Planting gardens and taking walks." In Mark 4, Jesus shares a parable about sowing seedings of the word of God. I'm convinced now more than ever that we as churches (including Ridgeview) have got to do more seed throwing. We can have the best of the best things on Sunday morning in worship, but if no sharing, investing, and caring in the lives of those who don't know Christ, what effect is it having in our community? I like how Neil Cole describes it: all we have is a mudpit and not a garden if we haven't planted seeds. I am planting each week. I always can do a better job. But, I can't make seeds in a garden grow no matter what I do or how I work. There are some things only God can do.

Last Sunday I had the opportunity of baptizing 3 people at Ridgeview. We have baptized 15 people at Ridgeview this year. God is doing so much around my little community and around the world. It's awesome to be a tiny part of His Kingdom. I want to spend the rest of my life being a bridge of God's love to all people so they may experience His purpose for their lives. Hmm, sounds like a good purpose statement for a church!

This morning I met with a brother in Christ for breakfast at 6:15 am. I've been meeting with him for about a month. We sit and share together for about an hour. He encourages me in the Lord. He prays for me. I pray for him. Hopefully, I encourage him as well. Jesus says, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20) I've been an education minister in charge of small group Sunday School classes and have helped implement small "home groups" at my currrent church. They are wonderful parts of a church. However, I think there is something really special about two or three gathering together for encouragement, accountability, challenge, prayer, etc. It is the ultimate "small group" and well worth one's time. I know it has been for me!