Location, Location, Location

www.ridgecrestumc.com

The last five days have been soooooooo strange. Snowed/iced in for two solid days is almost surreal. I actually slept in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (until 10:00 one day). I am normally up and going at 5:30...yes, that's correct, I said 5:30 am!!!!

I was very impressed with the Ridgecrest family yesterday (Sunday, Dec. 3rd). I expected our attendance to be way down. But we had 72 (about normal) in Sunday School and 103 in worship (just a few less than average). As bad as the north parking lot was (ice), I am impressed by the family's commitment to God and worship.

When I got to the church this morning, I had an unusual job ahead of me. I decided to move all of the plants from the hall way (next to the office door) into one of the offices up stairs. While the big window by the office door provided a lot of light, the cold temperatures (especially when the office door opens) were hurting the plants. Hopefully, up stairs in a warm room with lots of sun, the plants will bounce back.

As I was lugging the plants up the stairs, it hit me that we are kind of like the plants. We can get plenty of sun (or Son) and lots of water (the Word), but if we are in the wrong location or climate, we won't thrive. We need to be surrounded by warm, caring people who will love us into health, wellness and spiritual growth. I pray that Ridgecrest will always be a place of warm, caring, friendly people. If the climate ever turns cold, we will all die! I have heard recently about a number of people who won't come to church (any church) because of the wounds and abuse they received from a church experience. I encourage you to insure that we aren't a family of faith that turns our back on anyone--visitor or member--or is rude or cold. We are seeing lots and lots of visitors each week. And many of them come back. The major reason they give is that the people are genuinely loving and caring. The church--the people, not the building--is a place they feel comfortable and loved. Don't ever let that change.