Keep up with the weekly musings of Reverend Schafer here, new articles will be updated weekly. Also, don't forget to check out Reverend Phelps' blog on the Highland Baptist website - here.
Dear Church Family,
The last several years have been a period of transition for Ridgewood. As many of you know, since we partnered with Highland, the way we “do church” has not lined up with our Constitution and Bylaws. We have operated in a bit of a gray area. You may be asking, “Why are we wasting time with the bylaws when there is more meaningful work to be done? Are the bylaws really that important? Can't we be informal and act like a family here at Ridgewood?” I have shared those concerns over the years. However, congregations that pay little attention to their bylaws tend to act like highly dysfunctional families who practice “sloppy agape”.
Borrowing an illustration from Anthony Robinson, congregations who are not clear about their constitution and bylaws “often function like six-year-olds playing bunch-ball soccer. In this game, everyone runs to the ball, creating a scrum where kids flail about in the direction of the ball. What happens is that shins get kicked, kids start to wail and the ball doesn't move much. When the ball does happen to pop out from the pack of kids, there's no one out beyond the pack to pick it up...However, when team members play their positions, they are much more effective in moving the ball down the field. But this requires two things: knowing your assigned position and discipline.”
I have found that bylaws become extremely important any time there is a crisis. When the deacons and Ministry Planning Team disagree over a decision, what do you do? Check the bylaws. When two groups disagree over how to spend church money, what do you do? Check the bylaws. In an effort to bring clarity to these and other questions, an RBC ad hoc committee has worked diligently to update our Constitution and Bylaws. During the month of July, all active members of RBC will receive a written copy of the suggested revisions. On Sunday, July 24, there will be a special called business meeting directly after the worship service to give you the opportunity to discuss the revisions and ask questions. On Wednesday, July 27, RBC will vote on the revisions at Quarterly Church Conference.
Our Constitution and Bylaws help us have order, avoid disorder, and function fairly and openly. Only when we understand our roles, can we fully function as the Body of Christ, both inside and outside the walls of our church. With lovingly effective rules, boundaries, and yes, bylaws, our congregation can be a safe place where faith, hope, and love may flourish.
Peace,
Steven
July 2011
Dear Church Family,
I'm not sure if you have noticed, but there are a lot of political ads on TV. Each advertisement tries to “sell” you on a particular political candidate. There seems to be a lot of name-calling and finger-pointing. Candidates are identified by their party affiliation and their platform. If you support a particular candidate, you are automatically divided into one group or the other.
In the midst of an election season, it almost seems strange to consider the words of Paul that in Christ, there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, (Republican or Democrat?). When we gather together in Christ, we enter a suspended space. Worship is a time when we can get beyond our differences. When we worship together, we don't forget our gender or our ideologies. We don't pretend that these things are unimportant. However, gathering each week reminds us that Christ transcends the labels and the boundaries that divide us. We need 1 hour each week where we can live in the reality of the Kingdom of God. A place where all are equal, valued, and loved.
Blessings,
Steven
October 17, 2010
Dear Church Family,
In another week, it will be October! Can you believe it? In many ways it seems that 2010 has flown by. October is a busy month in the life of our congregation. On top of all of our regularly scheduled activities, our various ministry groups are planning for the coming year. As a church, we are discerning God's direction for Ridgewood during 2011. However, before we look to the future, we need to take a look at the past year.
During the month of October, we will celebrate “Ministry Highlight Month”. During each of the worship services, you will hear a presentation from one of our ministry groups concerning what God has been doing at Ridgewood. These presentations will guide us towards Commitment Sunday on October 31. On this day, we will gather as a community of faith to celebrate what God has done over the past year and to commit ourselves to follow Jesus in 2011.
We serve a God who makes a habit of doing amazing things. At the same time, we are invited to be a part of God's transforming work of love. This is an exciting word! We participate in many different ways: serving, teaching, praying, giving. Thank you for your continued support of Ridgewood Baptist Church. I am looking forward to an exciting year together as we follow God's leading and participate in making God's dreams for PRP come true. I hope that you are excited as well.
Blessings,
Steven
September 26, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
I don't know about you, but I am always amazed and challenged by Jesus. He loved people in radical ways. As I read through the Gospel of Mark this past week, Jesus stood out to me in a new way. Throughout his ministry, Jesus revealed a beautiful picture of God's love. Often, Jesus stopped teaching and preaching in order to heal or minister to someone in need. The miracles in the gospels reveal that Jesus is not someone who is inaccessible or detached. He reached out to the outcasts. He is willing to touch people who are sick and hurting...those folks that society deems “untouchable”. Jesus broke the religious rules in order to meet the needs of people.
So here's the question for us: who are the “untouchables” in our community? But we can't stop there. We also have to ask if we are, as a church, reaching out to the down and out of our community. Are we following Jesus by putting people before religious rules and rituals? Are we sharing God's transforming love with those around us in tangible ways?
Blessings,
Steven
September 12, 2010
Dear Church Family,
* * * * * * * * * *
Have you ever come to a decision and not known what to do? You talk to friends and family members, but you still have no clear direction. You bring your decision before God and ask for guidance. But here is my question; do you go to the Lord with any expectation of hearing a word from the Lord? Many times, we pray and tell God about our struggles because that is what we are supposed to do. We quickly go through our laundry list or requests and struggles, say “amen”, and go throughout our day.
We read stories in Scripture about God speaking to individuals in miraculous ways. We longingly wish for God to speak to us in these ways! Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 2). Gideon receives a sign to confirm God's will (Judges 6). An angel coming to Mary (Luke 1). Ananias receiving a vision about Paul (Acts 9). We assume that these people must have been spiritual giants. But, truth be told, most of them were not. Moses was a murderer hiding out on the back side of the desert. Gideon was the youngest member of the weakest family in his tribe. Mary was a young girl from a no name town. And the only information we have about Ananias is that he was a disciple. These folks were regular people just like you and me. Being a normal, everyday type of person does not prevent you from knowing and interacting with God. God still desires to speak to you today.
Blessings,
Steven
September 5, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
I mentioned last week that Linsey and I joined a gym. Well, on Monday, I had my first session with a personal trainer. Before the workout, I sat down with the trainer. He wrote down my weight and body fat percentage (which I will not share with you at this time). Then we talked about what I was trying to accomplish through working out at a gym. From that information the trainer was able to develop a plan to help me achieve my goals of being a healthy and active person. This strategic plan involves more than lifting weights and doing aerobic workouts; it addresses what I eat, when I eat, and how often I eat. Before I left the trainer's office, he said, “The most important thing is consistency.”
I believe that similar principles can be applied to your relationship with God as well. Many of us struggle with consistency in our time alone with God. We have good intentions, but something always comes up. So let me ask, do you have a plan to develop your spiritual life? Let me be more specific. Do you have a specific time and place where you read Scripture and spend time in prayer? Your time with God can be early in the morning or late at night. It can be on your lunch break or while the kids are sleeping. Your place can be in your study or in your bedroom. It can be outside on your porch swing. Let me encourage you to find a specific time and a place to spend time with God. Commit to meeting God in that place on a daily basis where you will be challenged and refreshed and changed.
Blessings,
Steven
August 29, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
Last Monday evening, my wife and I joined a local gym. We walked into the establishment, heard the sales pitch from the guy in charge of selling gym memberships, and decided to sign on the dotted line. We are both excited to have a place to work out on a regular basis. As we drove home, I began thinking, “Will we still be excited a month from now? How long before we are no longer excited about working out? Are we going to make a New Year's resolution to cancel our gym membership?” I realized that the newness and excitement is going to fade. But for Linsey and me, the decision to join a gym is not about some emotional feeling of excitement. It’s about a commitment to staying healthy.
We face a similar dilemma here at Ridgewood. We have just hosted an amazing outreach event where we had the privilege to meet the people of our community and share the love of God with them. It was an exciting event with live music, balloons, and snow cones. The event is over, but a new stage of outreach begins. It's time to follow-up with the people who came to our event. It's time to welcome them when they come through our doors for worship. It's time to meet their physical and spiritual needs as we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ. Wait a minute, I'm still excited! Maybe the excitement doesn't have to fade just because the event is over. Let us celebrate what God is doing at Ridgewood, and further commit ourselves to continue sharing the love of God with our friends and neighbors.
Blessings,
Steven
August 22, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
I hope that you are excited about the Community Lawn Party coming up on Saturday, August 14th. The planning team has been hard at work figuring out details, buying food, and reserving snow cone machines. And now we need your help! There is still time to volunteer to help with the event. Sign-up sheets are in the foyer and the breezeway. Even if you feel unable to volunteer, I hope that you will make a priority to attend the event in order to meet our neighbors. You are such a wonderful and loving congregation. I can't wait to see you share that love with our community this Saturday.
I hope that you saw the write-up in the Southwest Neighborhood section of the Courier Journal this past Wednesday. There was a full article on Ridgewood and the August 14th event. If you missed the article, you can find it online.
Blessings,
Steven
August 7, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
Have you ever felt that you have nothing to offer to God? Maybe you see yourself as being too young or too old. You think that you don't have enough money to really make an impact for the Kingdom. You don't have enough influence to help things change for the better.
Richard Foster, in his book entitled Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home, writes of a woman in Christian History named Therese of Lisieux. She was a simple woman known by those around her as “the little flower”. She devised a prayerful approach to life called the Little Way. It is so beautiful and simple. She encouraged those around her “to seek out the menial job, to welcome unjust criticisms, to befriend those who annoy us, to help those who are ungrateful.” Therese was convinced that Jesus may be more pleased with the little things in our walk with him.
The exciting thing is, we have the chance to please God in the “little things” every day. We can listen attentively to the boring story of a co-worker. We can smile to the worker at the bank or the supermarket who is having a bad day. We can share a random act of kindness to a someone who really gets on your nerves. The opportunities are endless.
Often, we think that these little acts of obedience are not even worth mentioning. No one sees these tiny acts or even seems to pay attention. But God sees and he is pleased when you choose to follow in the Little Way.
Blessings,
Steven
August 1, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
What does it mean to be a successful church? Growing up in my home church, success was often determined by the three “B's”. Buildings, Budgets, and Baptisms. But, is this a biblical measure of success? If we focus solely on numbers, we must raise another question: How big do we have to be to impress God?
I asked the “success” question of the folks at Ridgewood and at Highland as I explored this associate pastor position. I received a lot of different answers to this question. Some people focused on pew-sitters, others on finances. For me, success is defined by changed lives. The real question is "Are lives being transformed by the Gospel?" Another question that is important to me is "If our church disappeared, would anyone in the community care?" This inquiry addresses whether or not we are being the hands and feet of Christ in our community. Are we serving our neighbors and making a difference?
These are some questions for us to chew on as we move forward together. Give it some thought. What is your measure of success?
Blessings,
Steven
July 25, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
Jesus had a lot to say about what the Kingdom of God is like. It is like a farmer who plants a crop. The Kingdom is like a shepherd who lost a sheep and leaves the rest of his flock to find the lost sheep. The Kingdom is like a loving father who runs to meet a wayward son. I often wonder why Jesus spoke in parables. Why couldn't Jesus be more direct? Even Jesus' disciples, 12 men who had the privilege of physically walking with Jesus for three years, had trouble interpreting his parables. If parables are difficult to understand, what is the purpose of all these stories?
From the calling of the first disciples, Jesus calling individuals to “be with him” in an interactive relationship. He wasn't merely conveying information. If the goal is relationship, then parables succeed where easy answers fail. If Jesus simply provided a formula, then you and I could learn the formula and be independent. Yet, the parables invite us to ask Jesus questions. They invite us to be creative and to approach Jesus like little children. They invite us to depend on Jesus.
Blessings,
Steven
July 18, 2010
Dear Church Family,
Today, we have the privilege of worshiping the Lord through believer's baptism. We observe this ordinance because of the teachings of Jesus; he spoke of this water rite on several occasions. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus includes baptism in a command to his disciples. Matthew 28:19, Jesus sends out his disciples with the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Baptism is an important event for new followers of Christ. Today, Todd and Robin Corbett have the privilege of publicly declaring that Jesus is Lord. They get to proclaim what God has done in their lives. At the same time, this is a day of celebration and remembrance for the people of Ridgewood. As we participate in baptism by saying the words of Trinity together, we reflect on what God has done in our lives and in our church, and we say, “Thanks be to God!”
Blessings,
Steven
July 11, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
I want to welcome our youth back from Passport. I trust that you experienced God's presence in a very real way over this past week. My prayer is that you will build on the experiences of the past week as you seek to grow in your walk with Jesus. May Jesus be more real to you today than He was yesterday. Thank you for the energy and life that you provide to our church. And thank you to Stephanie for all of your hard work over the past several weeks leading up to camp. You are greatly appreciated.
I hope that you all will be in prayer for Linsey and me. I am leaving after the service today to fly back to Dallas. Linsey and I will drive back to Louisville on Monday and Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, our worldly possessions should arrive either Wednesday or Thursday in a large moving truck. It will be a busy week for us. Pray that we will experience the peace of Christ in the midst of all of the hustle and bustle.
Happy 4th of July! I hope that the holiday weekend proves to be a wonderful time of family, food, and fireworks.
Blessings,
Steven
July 4, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
Thank you all for your warm welcome this past Sunday. I feel truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful and loving congregation. Linsey and I want to thank you for all of your prayers and support during this period of transition.
Praise God for adding a family to our community of faith last Sunday. We welcome the Corbetts, Todd, Robin, Joshua, and Nicholas. They are a precious family and I am delighted that they have decided to unite their hearts and lives with Ridgewood Baptist Church.
This is an exciting time for our congregation. My prayer is that we would take advantage of this unique opportunity and live out our faith in tangible ways.
“Live as if Christ died yesterday rose this morning and is coming back tomorrow” - Martin Luther
Blessings,
Steven
June 27, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
At last, I am in Louisville! It has been a long road for both of us. There have been many months of meetings, phone calls, and preparation to get to this point. I take comfort that God has been guiding this entire process. Thank you for your continued prayers over these past few weeks. In the midst of this busy time, Linsey and I have experienced the peace of Christ.
As I thought about this occasion, I was reminded of the story of Nehemiah. After the children of Israel returned from Exile in Babylon, Nehemiah felt a call from God to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It was a massive undertaking. During the project, the workers experienced a wide variety of emotions. The people were excited when the project began. They experienced fear when they encountered opposition and the threat of failure. The people also experienced incredible joy when the wall was finished. The children of Israel were able to complete the task that God had placed before them for two reasons. First, they relied on God's provision and protection. Second, the entire community of faith got involved in the project.
I am excited about what God is going to do through Ridgewood Baptist Church. I look forward to working with you as we build on this church's rich history. Let us be confident that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Blessings,
Steven Schafer
June 20, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *
Dear Church Family,
Linsey and I want to thank you for your warm welcome this past weekend. From our first conversations with the search committee, we have felt a connection with Ridgewood. I thank God for all He has done throughout this process. He has been so faithful.
I want to update you on the timeline for our return to Louisville. Linsey and I have lots of loose ends to tie up in Texas over the next couple of weeks. I will be driving back to Louisville on June 14-15 and my first Sunday will be the 20th. Linsey will stay in Texas to finish the school year and will join me once we close on a house. We covet your prayers during this busy period of transition in our lives.
We are excited about the journey that lies ahead. My prayer is that we will work together to discover what it means to be a Thinking, Feeling, Healing, Community of Faith in the Pleasure Ridge Park area. May we learn from the past and press on towards the future as we seek to become more active participants in the Kingdom of God at Ridgewood Baptist Church.
Blessings,
Steven & Linsey Schafer
June 6, 2010
* * * * * * * * * *