I know in our hectic lives its easy to sleep in on Sundays. I have done it before to, but you don’t want to miss church this Sunday.  Our band is still off taking a much needed break so were bringing in singer/songwriter Joshua Lambert from Florence Alabama. (my hometown well Sheffield) Joshua or Josh is passionate about Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. He has a strong desire to uplift and encourage believers, as well as non-believers, toward a stronger relationship with Christ. Josh believes that music is one avenue by which to accomplish this. In the end, he still knows full well that ministry is much more than music; its loving and serving the people he ministers to.  Check out Joshua’s MySpace page. Oh and Ill see you on sunday!

There are a lot of places in the Bible where it tells us to use our gifts and talents for God. It tells us to stay away from unbelievers. Where are we going to meet believers or use our talents if we don’t go to church? When you get to dating age, are you going to find a Christian husband or wife at a party? You have a better chance in a church!

 Paul said in our scripture that we are being built together as a dwelling place for God. If we don’t become a part of the church we will be weak. We will not be built up on the foundation of the church. (Imagine that all Christians are bricks. All of the bricks are being put together to form a building. Those that attend will be cemented together and strong. If you are not cemented with the others, you will still be a brick, but just thrown out in the yard. Since you are not cemented with the others, it will be easy for someone to steal you, drop and break you, or just be covered with dirt and grass that builds up. Either way, it’s hard for you to be close to God. The bricks that are cemented together have a lot better chance of standing the test of time and weather. What do you think?

Several months ago we came up with the crazy idea to give away free gas.  As time approached for this giveaway Sam (our Pastor) revealed something to us that we had forgotten. How, I don’t know but we did.  We are a small and growing church but we realized we didn’t have enough chairs. We had 60 chairs but needed 200.   Everywhere we looked we ran into dead ends. It seamed that we were fighting an uphill battle.  I don’t like to admit it sometimes but I’m stubborn.  I like to try to do things all by myself and god thought me a lesson.  God Answers!  If you ask god for something he doesn’t always give you the answer you want to hear but he will answer.  At the last minute after praying I was given the answer.  I got a phone call from a friend of a friend of a friend of someone I had sent an email to. I can’t believe what I was hearing. I have 100 chairs and a couple of chair racks that I would like to give to your church.  Wow…. This was awesome and the best part was that all this happened on a Friday morning. (30 minutes after sending out an email and less than 48 hours til Sunday morning).

How about some free gas!!! Once again we are daring to be different at River Ridge Church.  Every Sunday in September we are giving away 4 gas cards.  We are not doing this to bribe people into coming to church but simply just trying to reach out into the community to help people.  We want to invite people to church and show them that church doesn’t have to be boring but that it can be fun, fresh and exciting.

It’s been a while since I have written on a regular basis so I figure now is as good a time as any to start back.  River Ridge has been through a lot in the past few months. We have moved closer into town, our attendance is on the upward track and Carlton will soon be starting a student ministry. River Ridge set out to be a church for all people. We have chosen to present the word of god through rock music, lighting, dramatic skits, and dynamic preaching. Setting all this up on Sunday morning with a skeleton crew doesn’t always work.  I know your wondering where I am going with this so here goes.  I made a decision that still doesn’t sit well with some people but I stand by the decision that I made.  Well Its not really a big deal but I decided that we needed to start setting up on Saturday nights.  I have listened to it all but the simple fact of the matter is when you don’t rush to set up the service you actually have the time to make sure everything is done right, and its less stressful.  Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice.  He gave his life so that we may have everlasting life.  I guess what I am trying to say is Stop Complaining.  Christianity is hard. Jesus died for you.  The least we can do is volunteer a few hours of our day to give others the chance to know him. If Setting up on a Saturday night means that I am less stressed come Sunday morning and that what I have done gives people a chance to worship in a comfortable environment, and that ultimately someone might decide to follow Jesus.  Well its worth it to me.

Douglasville Egg Drop 08-

First let me start by saying God is AWESOME, and River Ridge you ROCK!!!

Now I digress, as a life long resident of Douglas County, after witnessing your behavior this past weekend I am ashamed to call many of you my neighbors. Your actions were that of people starving and we just dropped the first food you have seen in 6 months. Freaking grown people pushing each other and pushing other peoples kids. And last I checked Easter egg hunts were for kids, not a 46 year old man, or a psycho mom scooping up eggs for her heathen kids into a Coach purse. Some kids left with 6 dozen eggs, that you helped them collect and some with none. That speaks volumes for your parenting skills. 

Questions and Comments we have received:

Why didn’t we advertise an age limit??

~ Well we received over 500 calls and emails from people asking about the Egg Drop, they asked, why didn’t you?? Also this info was posted on all state, city, and radio websites as well as Chapel Hills News and Views. I’m sorry if your 15 year old high school sophomore didn’t get to hunt Easter eggs, and it was probably best for their reputations around campus, that we did not allow them to frolic through the tulips, basket in hand.

We should have let one age group go at a time.

~ Well that was the plan; however 2 year olds follow directions better than some grown folks.

You should have called the sheriffs’ department for traffic control.

~ We did, they didn’t show.

You should have had more raffle tickets.

~ Your right, we should have. We had over 1200, we thought there was more than plenty.

Why were there so many lost kids??

~ That’s our fault how?? You would think in a crowd of over 5000, you would keep an eye on your kids. I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and said yeah, I sent my kids on down, I will register for them. This sort of thing happens at all events, big, small, and sometimes even in the Wal-Mart, but again please explain how that’s our fault??!!??!! FYI- all kids and parents were happily reunited.

So to recap: This was the most enormous, thrilling, chaotic, and inspiring monstrosity I have ever been apart of. I’m sorry; I really am that some kids never had a shot at an egg. But this could have been a good life lesson for your kids, its all how you look at it. We have never been promised that life is fair, it’s just not. And Easter is NOT about hunting Easter eggs. It was fun watching them pour out of a helicopter, but Jesus is the reason for Celebration not candy filled eggs. River Ridge Church put this event on to reach into the community we are a part of and love on people, like Jesus did. If one life has been changed, the madness was completely worth it.

My personal guarantee: You ain’t seen the last of River Ridge Church. There will be bigger and better events to come. And we are hosting the party for one.

~Amber

Wow!! Look at what God has done. Let me just say regardless of what anybody says, I am so very proud of all of the volunteers that helped out with the Egg Drop. We were expecting about 500 children to show up for the Egg Drop but quickly learned that our predictions were way off. We had 1200 tickets printed for the children but ran out at about 9:15 and the event wasn’t supposed to truly kick off until 10:30. No worries though! Note cards come in handy for make shift tickets. By all estimates and pictures I would say that there might have been close to 5000, to 6000 people there. People were walking from who knows where after we ran out of parking. I have been told they walked from as far away as highway 5. Well about the actual egg drop….. What can I say? All-N-All we did good. We did the best we could given the circumstances. There were some disorderly parents and kids but it went alright. There were more positives than negatives. Looking at all the video tape I realize there were several things we could have done differently, but hind sight is always 20/20 isn’t it. I’m sure there were some ticked off people (I’m sorry…we’ll do it better next time), but overall I think people enjoyed themselves. I guess it just all depends on your attitude and how you look at things. River Ridge Church has a congregation of only about 40 people. We have a big heart for serving God and this community. We brought in people to help staff this event and make it go smoothly and for a church to do something this big, Well that’s just awesome!!

Here’s some video footage

 Revelation 3:7-8 (Contemporary English Version) I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David. ^[a] When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it. Listen to what I say. 8I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers. ^[b

I thought I would share with you a resource that may save you a little money.   Recently I found a company called Miami Flyers.  They are far cheaper on printing postcards than anyone I have ever found. They are located in Miami but have a pickup location in Doraville.  5000 postcards for only $140.00 now that’s a deal!! 

Well it’s official.  The eggs are ordered, the postcards will be here on Wednesday, posters will begin to pop up in store windows, signs will dot every corner of town, and we are gearing up to put on the largest Egg Hunt this town has ever seen.  Oh lets not forget the banners, and even a Billboard!!   Wows look what God is doing.  Join in the Excitement with me and tell everyone you know.  I would like to see at least 800 kids show up and I believe that it can and will happen.