Even though it's not likely that many people will read this...
I wanted to attempt to express on paper the grace that God has extended to us through His recent gift to us... the birth of our son, Dean Jackson Rudibaugh.
Kendra and I had both quietly wanted a boy, but would've been more than happy with whichever God desired. Basically, we were just excited to finally find out whether God had a Dean or an Ida growing in Kendra's belly.
Finally, all of our wondering came to an end on November 8th, 2009 at 8:40pm when Dean Jackson Rudibaugh came into this world.
It's an indescribable thing to be entrusted with a life created through you for God's glory. To experience the Love of God flow into you towards that beautiful, perfect creation and know that that is how it should feel always. To realize that the baby boy in your arms that you have unquenchable, unconditional, indescribable, God given Love for came just the same way into the world that Jesus did, and that God loved us so much that He allowed his baby boy to experience death on our behalf even though He hadn't earned death. Then I think of how I Love my son and that God wills that we Love our enemies... to love an enemy like that is almost incomprehensible, but I sure want to...
we're learning, by God's grace...in Christ, through this gift of parenthood...We're growing...
although sin occasionally abounds...grace abounds more.
more thoughts to come.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thoughts...random, but thoughts nonetheless...
Exhilarating thoughts of hope have invaded. I dig it.
In us, we are dead before we do anything. In Christ, we are prevailing.
Death isn’t always bad If dead but alive in Christ, then dead is the greatest good
If dead and dead in ourselves not abiding in Christ, then dead leads to the greatest evil
To put it in Yoda terms…Double edged blade, this death thing is.
So we’ve slacked on our bloggage, but we’re back now.
Our very first Baby Rudibaugh is due in November…like less than 3 months. We’re stoked and we aren’t doing this thing conventionally nope, we’re rockin it kinda like Jesus came…au naturale! We’ve been reading and learning crazy interesting stuff about the whole birthing process, including some of the madness that happens under the banner of modern medicine.
Ok, so compared to the past intro to us blogs, this blog is a bit less preachy, which suits me better. I guess you tend to adapt things because you suppose there are people listening. I have quit supposing and here we are.
So being here and having quit adapting. I want to offer a thought.
Why do we often feel awkward when we are in conversation with someone that we disagree with. Why is it so hard for us to love them and disagree with them in love…I think it may be pride….we want to feel good about winning the debate or changing them in some small way. It makes us feel holier…which isn’t really a very holy thing.
I wanna love like Jesus loved. He really did it right and He didn’t really get into heated debates over things, He just loved people and sometimes that led Him to preach, sometimes to sit down and eat and drink with people. I wonder if He ever saw somebody’s table that needed work and just took some time and fixed it for them…out of Love.
If anyone reads this,
regardless of your beliefs,
please Love.
Love selflessly with no agenda.
In us, we are dead before we do anything. In Christ, we are prevailing.
Death isn’t always bad If dead but alive in Christ, then dead is the greatest good
If dead and dead in ourselves not abiding in Christ, then dead leads to the greatest evil
To put it in Yoda terms…Double edged blade, this death thing is.
So we’ve slacked on our bloggage, but we’re back now.
Our very first Baby Rudibaugh is due in November…like less than 3 months. We’re stoked and we aren’t doing this thing conventionally nope, we’re rockin it kinda like Jesus came…au naturale! We’ve been reading and learning crazy interesting stuff about the whole birthing process, including some of the madness that happens under the banner of modern medicine.
Ok, so compared to the past intro to us blogs, this blog is a bit less preachy, which suits me better. I guess you tend to adapt things because you suppose there are people listening. I have quit supposing and here we are.
So being here and having quit adapting. I want to offer a thought.
Why do we often feel awkward when we are in conversation with someone that we disagree with. Why is it so hard for us to love them and disagree with them in love…I think it may be pride….we want to feel good about winning the debate or changing them in some small way. It makes us feel holier…which isn’t really a very holy thing.
I wanna love like Jesus loved. He really did it right and He didn’t really get into heated debates over things, He just loved people and sometimes that led Him to preach, sometimes to sit down and eat and drink with people. I wonder if He ever saw somebody’s table that needed work and just took some time and fixed it for them…out of Love.
If anyone reads this,
regardless of your beliefs,
please Love.
Love selflessly with no agenda.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
About one year ago God led Kendra and I out of the traditional church (institutional, church building, organized religion). He has set us on an interesting path since then and we are no longer “going to church”, we are learning to BE the Church.
We have unwittingly joined the 1 million people every year who are leaving the institutional church here in America. Like many, we have not left to abandon our faith, but we have left to preserve our faith… a faith free of the traditions of man.
Did you know that recent research indicates that $230 Billion in real estate is owned by institutional churches in America…George Barna says that studies show that at this moment there are at least $5 Billion in construction jobs happening right now. Imagine what could be done with this money? The modern corporation of religion is often, in many cases but not all, responsible for the spiritual poverty, slavery, and oppression that it should be liberating people from.
After various stages of learning in our Journey, We are finally on the brink of experiencing authentic Christian community, where the Love for God in Christ Jesus and His body is flowing through us and dictating our actions. Where we are so Christ centered that we forsake all else to give our lives for His desires and needs(yes, God is sovereign, but its also true that Jesus has needs...see Matthew 25:34-40, Mark 11:3). Obviously, we are not yet perfected, but we are getting closer to becoming the Church...as it was intended...which is pretty darn exciting.
We are not there yet, but it is coming soon.
Gotta go for now, listenin' to Keith Green...it's good.
We have unwittingly joined the 1 million people every year who are leaving the institutional church here in America. Like many, we have not left to abandon our faith, but we have left to preserve our faith… a faith free of the traditions of man.
Did you know that recent research indicates that $230 Billion in real estate is owned by institutional churches in America…George Barna says that studies show that at this moment there are at least $5 Billion in construction jobs happening right now. Imagine what could be done with this money? The modern corporation of religion is often, in many cases but not all, responsible for the spiritual poverty, slavery, and oppression that it should be liberating people from.
After various stages of learning in our Journey, We are finally on the brink of experiencing authentic Christian community, where the Love for God in Christ Jesus and His body is flowing through us and dictating our actions. Where we are so Christ centered that we forsake all else to give our lives for His desires and needs(yes, God is sovereign, but its also true that Jesus has needs...see Matthew 25:34-40, Mark 11:3). Obviously, we are not yet perfected, but we are getting closer to becoming the Church...as it was intended...which is pretty darn exciting.
We are not there yet, but it is coming soon.
Gotta go for now, listenin' to Keith Green...it's good.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Truth...(Our 1st Blog...EVER.)
Welcome!
This blog belongs to David and Kendra Rudibaugh. We love Jesus, His Church, play disc golf competitively, play and write music, are expecting our first baby this November, love our families, love our friends, and dig truth.
As people who've been received by God & have received Him, We have been set free for freedom's sake.
Unfortunately, the traditions of man that are so precious to so many(especially here in America and western culture) leave the masses of believers enslaved. The warning of Colossians 2:8 has been ignored and slavery has become our culture's spiritual reality.
We encourage you to Live free in Christ. Test all things and hold on to what's good.
Here is a list of some of the things that we believe are good and enjoy...
Love
peace
joy
truth
grace
mercy
fun within the bounds of Love
being married
sharing
Blue Moon draft beer
the Chicago Cubs
the Cleveland browns
farmer's markets
fresh flowers
snow
ale81
honesty
Chicago, IL
big band music
swing dancing
Josh Garrels' music
John Mark McMillan's music
Sarah McMillan's music
Arni's salad
disc golf
creativity
the Almost's music
sweet wine
fresh seafood
reading
learning
thinking
telling the truth in love
good coffee
iced americano's with a bit o milk and caramel added
May this be the beginning of something new, creative, and good
Grace, Peace, and Love to all of you in Christ Jesus!
The Rudibaughs
This blog belongs to David and Kendra Rudibaugh. We love Jesus, His Church, play disc golf competitively, play and write music, are expecting our first baby this November, love our families, love our friends, and dig truth.
As people who've been received by God & have received Him, We have been set free for freedom's sake.
Unfortunately, the traditions of man that are so precious to so many(especially here in America and western culture) leave the masses of believers enslaved. The warning of Colossians 2:8 has been ignored and slavery has become our culture's spiritual reality.
We encourage you to Live free in Christ. Test all things and hold on to what's good.
Here is a list of some of the things that we believe are good and enjoy...
Love
peace
joy
truth
grace
mercy
fun within the bounds of Love
being married
sharing
Blue Moon draft beer
the Chicago Cubs
the Cleveland browns
farmer's markets
fresh flowers
snow
ale81
honesty
Chicago, IL
big band music
swing dancing
Josh Garrels' music
John Mark McMillan's music
Sarah McMillan's music
Arni's salad
disc golf
creativity
the Almost's music
sweet wine
fresh seafood
reading
learning
thinking
telling the truth in love
good coffee
iced americano's with a bit o milk and caramel added
May this be the beginning of something new, creative, and good
Grace, Peace, and Love to all of you in Christ Jesus!
The Rudibaughs
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