Monday, August 13, 2007
New Website
We've transferred to a WordPress website. Please visit us at http://ritchieramble.com !!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
From the heart of a weary traveler
Seek and ye Shall find.
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
If you ask the Lord for anything, take the time to Listen...or you may find it the hard way. The Lord has blessed my life abundantly, as he has promised in his Word. However, I had failed on my end of the deal to continue to seek his face as we are all instructed to do.
By faith, God will lead us to show the World His glory; by sight we lead ourselves to a road of disappointment. By faith, we trust in the Lords guidance throughout all of life's endeavors; by sight we take the bull by the horns and plow our own path to destruction. By faith, we thank the Lord for all that he has blessed our lives with; by sight we take the blessings and run, and run, and run, and run, and eventually grow tired. The Lord tells us that we will soar on wings like Eagles, run and not grow weiry, walk and not be faint; Our selfish pride tells us to call upon the Lord when we can't do it any more, until then do it on your own.
Right now I feel like the workers in Babelon, trying to build myself a tower all the way to Heaven. I'd spent a good time workin on this tower, acctually I hadn't done much work, but i've studied and planned a whole lot about how I'm going to build this tower. Now the good Lord has scrambled my language and trashed my plans. He's told me that the only way to Heaven is to "build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ" like the good Sunday School song teaches us.
God doesn't like fakes. He doesn't like people who call on his name, but don't trust him completely. God doesn't like people who take ownership for His incredible works. Jesus didn't have much favor for the Pharisee, but he loved them anyhow. It'd be good for me to learn the lessons of the Pharisee's taught by Jesus and Paul; I tend to be like them in so many ways. In fact most the people I know tend to be like them in so many ways. Its a shame I don't take the things Paul and Jesus said more to heart.
"more to heart"
Coming more to the heart of things, the Lord has spoken and Sara and I will be post-poning our plans for the mission field until further notice. In fact I don't even know what being called to the mission field means anymore!!! We've all be called to Jesus Christ. What more is there? Where we fulfill that calling could be anywhere in the world! But its the most important calling any human could recieve.
I'm just now learning that through our pursuit of the Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, all things will come to the Glory of the One who sent even him, Jesus that is. We need not work all our lives to attain a result expected of great plans and preparation. We only need to know the Lord that we may attain a result greater than our expectation from a God more magnificent of our own minds.
Paul was a fool for Christ. I want to be a fool for Christ. All that I have and all that I am is only worth as much as my oneness with my Savior. My Savior is not found in my Job, my education, or my mission. My wife is not my savior, my church is not my savior, my social status is not my savior. My car is not my savior, my talents and skills are not my savior. I can not save myself, for I did not even create myself. My mother and father, whom I came from, can not save me either. For their bodies will pass as well.
My Savior is Jesus Christ, the King. None of those things I listed above can compare to a King like my Jesus. He lives in my heart, which has been sanctified by his innocent blood which that shed on a cross for all the world. Sounds crazy right? well I think Paul was pretty crazy, so I'm ok with that. In fact Jesus was even a little crazy, so I'm def. ok with that.
I'm tired of the talk, I'm tired of the advances in my own human wisdom. I dream to feel, I feel to love, I love so that I can experience the surpassing greatness of my Lord, the King of all the world. He's given me a wife and He has called us one. I've never seen two become one before. Is it really just supposed to be metaphorical? I hope to find out.
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
If you ask the Lord for anything, take the time to Listen...or you may find it the hard way. The Lord has blessed my life abundantly, as he has promised in his Word. However, I had failed on my end of the deal to continue to seek his face as we are all instructed to do.
By faith, God will lead us to show the World His glory; by sight we lead ourselves to a road of disappointment. By faith, we trust in the Lords guidance throughout all of life's endeavors; by sight we take the bull by the horns and plow our own path to destruction. By faith, we thank the Lord for all that he has blessed our lives with; by sight we take the blessings and run, and run, and run, and run, and eventually grow tired. The Lord tells us that we will soar on wings like Eagles, run and not grow weiry, walk and not be faint; Our selfish pride tells us to call upon the Lord when we can't do it any more, until then do it on your own.
Right now I feel like the workers in Babelon, trying to build myself a tower all the way to Heaven. I'd spent a good time workin on this tower, acctually I hadn't done much work, but i've studied and planned a whole lot about how I'm going to build this tower. Now the good Lord has scrambled my language and trashed my plans. He's told me that the only way to Heaven is to "build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ" like the good Sunday School song teaches us.
God doesn't like fakes. He doesn't like people who call on his name, but don't trust him completely. God doesn't like people who take ownership for His incredible works. Jesus didn't have much favor for the Pharisee, but he loved them anyhow. It'd be good for me to learn the lessons of the Pharisee's taught by Jesus and Paul; I tend to be like them in so many ways. In fact most the people I know tend to be like them in so many ways. Its a shame I don't take the things Paul and Jesus said more to heart.
"more to heart"
Coming more to the heart of things, the Lord has spoken and Sara and I will be post-poning our plans for the mission field until further notice. In fact I don't even know what being called to the mission field means anymore!!! We've all be called to Jesus Christ. What more is there? Where we fulfill that calling could be anywhere in the world! But its the most important calling any human could recieve.
I'm just now learning that through our pursuit of the Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, all things will come to the Glory of the One who sent even him, Jesus that is. We need not work all our lives to attain a result expected of great plans and preparation. We only need to know the Lord that we may attain a result greater than our expectation from a God more magnificent of our own minds.
Paul was a fool for Christ. I want to be a fool for Christ. All that I have and all that I am is only worth as much as my oneness with my Savior. My Savior is not found in my Job, my education, or my mission. My wife is not my savior, my church is not my savior, my social status is not my savior. My car is not my savior, my talents and skills are not my savior. I can not save myself, for I did not even create myself. My mother and father, whom I came from, can not save me either. For their bodies will pass as well.
My Savior is Jesus Christ, the King. None of those things I listed above can compare to a King like my Jesus. He lives in my heart, which has been sanctified by his innocent blood which that shed on a cross for all the world. Sounds crazy right? well I think Paul was pretty crazy, so I'm ok with that. In fact Jesus was even a little crazy, so I'm def. ok with that.
I'm tired of the talk, I'm tired of the advances in my own human wisdom. I dream to feel, I feel to love, I love so that I can experience the surpassing greatness of my Lord, the King of all the world. He's given me a wife and He has called us one. I've never seen two become one before. Is it really just supposed to be metaphorical? I hope to find out.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Numbers are Up!
I wish I had the patience to take the time to write about all that is going on with our team right now. We've begun having weekly meetings using Skype, that usually last about an hour and a half. That along with our daily correspondence through email has allowed us to get so much accomplished.
Last week we stated some tangible documents that we wanted to begin writing. Chris is working on a team Overview. We set an agenda for our meeting next weekend that Jill typed up for us. We also decided on 5 core values that will represent this mission in Rwanda. They are:
Humility
Compassion
Joy
Community
Submission
Over the next week we will each spend time on one of the values and be able to tell what it means to us. All the things we are working on now will be leading up to the meeting we have on the 17th.
The meeting preparation has been incredibly exciting! We have enjoyed talking and sharing with others the dream that is Rwanda. Initially we were excited hearing that about 15 others will be joining us for the meeting. However, we are now thrilled to share that almost 50 people will be in attendance at this meeting, including our team. God is faithful.
Without saying much more, please be in prayer about this meeting. Who knows what God has in mind, but our will is to do the will of He who sent us.
ALSO... I have begun another blog about a new chapter in Sara and I's life. the site is
knownbyGod.blogspot.com
Last week we stated some tangible documents that we wanted to begin writing. Chris is working on a team Overview. We set an agenda for our meeting next weekend that Jill typed up for us. We also decided on 5 core values that will represent this mission in Rwanda. They are:
Humility
Compassion
Joy
Community
Submission
Over the next week we will each spend time on one of the values and be able to tell what it means to us. All the things we are working on now will be leading up to the meeting we have on the 17th.
The meeting preparation has been incredibly exciting! We have enjoyed talking and sharing with others the dream that is Rwanda. Initially we were excited hearing that about 15 others will be joining us for the meeting. However, we are now thrilled to share that almost 50 people will be in attendance at this meeting, including our team. God is faithful.
Without saying much more, please be in prayer about this meeting. Who knows what God has in mind, but our will is to do the will of He who sent us.
ALSO... I have begun another blog about a new chapter in Sara and I's life. the site is
knownbyGod.blogspot.com
Friday, January 26, 2007
Counting the Cost
This past week, a brother in the missionary community was laid to rest. Adam Langford was a missionary to the Busoga people of Western Uganda. Adam's life represents one of true calling and passion for the work of the Lord. Prior to leaving the mission field Adam was a very successful business man in the North West. It wasn't but a few years into his career that he realized his money wasn't getting him very far. Adam dropped what he had going for him, and used his wealth to take himself to Uganda.
In Uganda he joined up with his brother Ben Langford and Ben's family. While I was visiting there in January of 2006, the third brother Johnny was also there visiting. Being able to spend time with the three of them was real special to me. They lived out true brotherhood among them, their dedication to the calling was real, their ministry was real, and their faith was real.
The sudden loss of Adam was not expected by many of us. There's a paradox of intention about missions I believe. It may go something like this...
Missionaries are willing to Sacrifice their lives for the cause of Christ, but few expect to lose their lives doing it.
I'm not sure if thats a paradox or not, but it's something I've realized over the past years. I think that's evident in the types of places we choose to minister. Most missionaries do a lot of necessary work to be sure the places they are going are reasonably safe. However, it is always understood that no matter how much preparation we do, our lives are always in God's hands. With that being understood, I pose the question in the subject...
Q: What is the cost of discipleship?
A: Far less than the cost of not being a disciple.
Praise God for Adam Langford, for he counted the cost of not following the Lord's calling, he ran the race of perseverance, and now he is resting in the House of our Lord.
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
-Jesus Christ
In Uganda he joined up with his brother Ben Langford and Ben's family. While I was visiting there in January of 2006, the third brother Johnny was also there visiting. Being able to spend time with the three of them was real special to me. They lived out true brotherhood among them, their dedication to the calling was real, their ministry was real, and their faith was real.
The sudden loss of Adam was not expected by many of us. There's a paradox of intention about missions I believe. It may go something like this...
Missionaries are willing to Sacrifice their lives for the cause of Christ, but few expect to lose their lives doing it.
I'm not sure if thats a paradox or not, but it's something I've realized over the past years. I think that's evident in the types of places we choose to minister. Most missionaries do a lot of necessary work to be sure the places they are going are reasonably safe. However, it is always understood that no matter how much preparation we do, our lives are always in God's hands. With that being understood, I pose the question in the subject...
Q: What is the cost of discipleship?
A: Far less than the cost of not being a disciple.
Praise God for Adam Langford, for he counted the cost of not following the Lord's calling, he ran the race of perseverance, and now he is resting in the House of our Lord.
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
-Jesus Christ
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Its COLD!
The new semester has gotten off to a Very chilly start. Since Monday afternoon when the temperature spiked at 36 degree's, it was not gotten above freezing. But it's winter, so the cold weather is welcomed. So far we have not seen any of the white stuff, but im hopin to see the snow before the season is over! Hope everyone is staying warm!!!
Classes have started out very well. A lot of the material from each class will tie in to both curriculum's. Both of my professors are also very good at what they do. They are encouraging me to find material from outside the classroom to research on for projects in the class. I hope to find some great material on educational systems and curriculum of African schools to learn about.
Let me know if You know of anything.
Classes have started out very well. A lot of the material from each class will tie in to both curriculum's. Both of my professors are also very good at what they do. They are encouraging me to find material from outside the classroom to research on for projects in the class. I hope to find some great material on educational systems and curriculum of African schools to learn about.
Let me know if You know of anything.
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