Skip Roger Ritchie Jr

good morning! Praying for you. Praying this the peace of Jesus!

Psalm 29:10-11

[10] The LORD sits enthroned over [n]the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned [o]as king forever.
[11] May the LORD give [p]strength to his people!
May the LORD bless(4) his people with [q]peace!

Footnotes

(4) 29:11 Or *The Lord will give . . . The Lord will bless*

Cross-references

[n]: [Gen. 6:17]
[o]: Ps. 10:16
[p]: Ps. 68:35; [Isa. 40:29]
[q]: Phil. 4:7

Hi. This is for a private discussion with you thinking about how to lovingly connect with others, focusing on how Jesus helps people and them see how he would like us to do it in the Scriptures and contend for the gospel and  by his grace correct God’s people. Thanks so much. Please see link below.

How Jesus Confronted and Corrected Others - Feeding on Christ A fellow minister in our Presbytery recently preached a sermon series called, “Things Jesus Should Not Have (I Wish He Hadn’t) Said!” The crux of the series was that Jesus said many hard sayings that–if we are honest–we would have to admit we find uncomfortable. The fact of the matter is t...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA6_4oASU1d/?igsh=cGs2dHB2Yzl5aWVo

The Wives of The Coptic Christian Martyrs #fyp #ɢᴏᴅɪsɢᴏᴏᴅ #bible #jesusislord #gospel #faith #christ #holyspirit #christiancommunity #repent #jesussaves #christian #bible #bibleversedaily #persecution #christianity #islam #muslim #jewish #judaism

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DByziWPOHJq/?igsh=MWZmMzcwNXlxZTFhdg==

THIS IS AMAZING! 🙌

Good morning! Just praying for our country and praying for God’s people as we head to election time. Please give me your thoughts on this article. Thanks so much. https://clearlyreformed.org/church-election-time/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0SY7xXUnMG5c0kWdsp2MJbhGsXch9dvAkax8v6ARm1wpLllSSRNYcxtn4_aem_0ouSzNQdivnRPeGQXugCxw

The Church at Election Time | Clearly Reformed At the very least, pastors must disciple their leaders and their congregations in thinking through these matters wisely and theologically.

Thanking God and praying this passage of scripture this morning! Psalm 28:6-9

[6] Blessed be the LORD!
For he has [u]heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
[7] The LORD is my strength and [v]my shield;
in him my heart [w]trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my [x]song I give thanks to him.

[8] The LORD is the strength of his people;(2)
he is [y]the saving refuge of his anointed.
[9] Oh, save your people and bless [z]your heritage!
[a]Be their shepherd and [b]carry them forever.

Footnotes

(2) 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts *is their strength*

Cross-references

[u]: ver. 2
[v]: See Ps. 3:3
[w]: See Ps. 11:1
[x]: Ps. 69:30
[y]: Ps. 140:7; [Ps. 20:6]
[z]: Deut. 9:29; 32:9
[a]: Ps. 78:71, 72
[b]: Isa. 40:11; 46:3; 63:9

Unfortunately, this world will never be free of brokenness, but we are thankful that we have a perfect savior for all our problems.

  thoughts? - this article was posted for you  hope Presbyterian Crozet, Virginia -to think about the biblical callings in the midst of being relevant to our current culture and place on the globe. Jesus in person . . . isn't on the ballot, so what are we to do? So much could be said, but I will offer these items:

1. Participate in the political process as much as you feel called to participate. In God's Providence, we live in a free, constitutional republic where you can vote or choose not to vote. You can canvas for a candidate or choose to stay in undecided-ness. You may even run for political office yourself. There's a whole spectrum of things that Christians a free to do. In addition, there is a wide spectrum of political issues on which Christians might prioritize and disagree. (In case you wondered, I think part of my calling as your pastor is to creating space for various opinions to exist within the unified body of Christ. My job is not to preach one political view from the pulpit.)

2. As we engage, we do so as Christians. That means we always display the fruit of the Spirit, the holiness of Jesus, and charity/forbearance for other fallen human beings who are simply trying to figure life out in this age where we merely "see through a glass dimly" (1 Cor 13:12). Aren't we all just trying to do the best we can, after all?

3. In light of seeing through a glass dimly... Remember, as people who simply don't see things clearly, we not only participate in politics with humility, but we participate mindful that the pressure is off because of the gospel! What I mean is that it is O.K. if you make a mistake on your election ballot. For, just as the gospel tells us that we make mistakes (i.e. sin) but God works and makes things right (i.e. at the cross); so too we expect the gospel to be true as we vote in this election. We will most likely make mistakes and God will still be at work in grace and favor for his kingdom sake. It is good news!

4. Pursue God in this season. We can tend to let our inner lives become overly tied to the outcome of a particular election. Instead, be with God and ask him for the long-term view that "seeks first his kingdom" and does not expect the next fouryears to be the "home-run solution" for the kingdom. T.S. Eliot once wrote, "Teach us to care and not to care." He wasn't talking about politics but I think that's a pretty good summary of gospel living! We don't take ourselves or our world too seriously but we take God and his kingdom super-seriously. If you find yourself anxious, I encourage you to talk to an elder or an Ezer. Also, be meditating on our true king in Psalm 146:3-10 or on Jesus teaching about not worrying in Matthew 6:25-34, etc.

5. Practically, see the candidates through the lenses of a job interview. If you need an accountant, for example, you don't say "Even if the atheist accountant is much better trained, I will only hire an accountant who profess faith in Jesus and or hold this one view." Instead, in hiring a person, you would consider a myriad of factors knowing that one person will not "check all your boxes." Similarly, we make our voting decisions knowing that one person will not check every box. We will try to 'hire' the best candidates for the jobs over the next 4 years. And we can rest assured that in four years we will be have an entirely new slate of job applicants. 🙂

6. For those of you who desire more, I commend to you The Evangelical Confession of 2024. It's not perfect, but I find it helpful.

No matter what happens on Nov 5th, my call as your pastor will be the same - to lead us to repent and believe in the Jesus who says "Follow me." He really does love us. So let's keep following Jesus.

Thanks for reading!
The goofball you call pastor.

Praise God, for this men’s Bible study that spent time  fireside discussing our saviors work described in Isaiah-
Isaiah 53.

[1] [g]Who has believed what he has heard from us?(1)
And to whom has [h]the arm of the LORD been revealed?
[2]
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
[i]and like a root out of dry ground;
[j]he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
[3]
[k]He was despised and rejected(2) by men,
a man of sorrows(3) and acquainted with(4) grief;(5)
and as one from whom men hide their faces(6)
he was despised, and [l]we esteemed him not.

[4]
[m]Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
[n]smitten by God, and afflicted.
[5]
[o]But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
[p]and with his wounds we are healed.
[6]
[q]All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
[r]and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

[7]
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
[s]yet he opened not his mouth;
[t]like a [u]lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
[8]
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, [v]who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
[9]
And they made his grave with the wicked
[w]and with a rich man in his death,
although [x]he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

[10]
Yet [y]it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;(7)
[z]when his soul makes(8) an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
[a]the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
[11]
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see(9) and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall [b]the righteous one, my servant,
[c]make many to be accounted righteous,
[d]and he shall bear their iniquities.
[12]
[e]Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,(10)
[f]and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,(11)
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
[g]yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Footnotes

(1) 53:1 Or *Who has believed what we have heard?*

(2) 53:3 Or *forsaken*

(3) 53:3 Or *pains*; also verse 4

(4) 53:3 Or *and knowing*

(5) 53:3 Or *sickness*; also verse 4

(6) 53:3 Or *as one who hides his face from us*

(7) 53:10 Or *he has made him sick*

(8) 53:10 Or *when you make his soul*

(9) 53:11 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll *he shall see light*

(10) 53:12 Or *with the great*

(11) 53:12 Or *with the numerous*

Cross-references

[g]: Cited John 12:38; Rom. 10:16
[h]: See ch. 51:9
[i]: ch. 11:1
[j]: [ch. 52:14]
[k]: ch. 49:7; [Ps. 22:6; Mark 9:12]
[l]: [John 1:10, 11]
[m]: [Matt. 8:17]
[n]: Ps. 69:26
[o]: [Rom. 4:25]
[p]: Cited 1 Pet. 2:24
[q]: Cited 1 Pet. 2:25; [Jer. 50:6, 17]
[r]: 2 Cor. 5:21; [ver. 10; Col. 2:14]
[s]: Matt. 26:63; Mark 14:61; John 19:9; 1 Pet. 2:23
[t]: Cited Acts 8:32
[u]: [Jer. 11:19]
[v]: ch. 57:1
[w]: Matt. 27:57, 60
[x]: Cited 1 Pet. 2:22; [Heb. 4:15; 1 John 3:5]
[y]: [ver. 4]
[z]: [ver. 6]
[a]: [ch. 44:28]
[b]: [1 John 2:1]
[c]: Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:18, 19
[d]: [ver. 5]
[e]: ch. 52:13; [Phil. 2:9]
[f]: [Col. 2:15]
[g]: ver. 6, 8, 10
time looking at the versus below. Praise the Lord!