What is the Taking The Ridge Challenge?  It is a commitment to daily living the 6 Anchor Points.  These are designed to generate spiritual growth in practical, livable ways no matter where you are on your journey.

The commitments are renewable everyday.  If you “fall off the wagon” on Tuesday, you can still wake up and Take the Ridge on Wednesday.  Lamentations 3:22-23 says “His mercies are new every morning”, so you can have regular fresh starts.

If you will take this journey with me, I will stay connected with you through regular emails and share my perspective as we climb.

It is simple, but it’s not easy.  Step up!  You can do this… the question is will you?  I am asking and challenging you to join me and take your faith walk to new heights.

Are you up for the challenge? Let’s take the RIDGE!

1. Start The Week @ God's House

It matters. It is symbolic of giving God the first portion of your week and it gets you focused to face the week ahead. Invite someone to come with you. Sometimes you're given the perfect opening to invite someone to church. Other times, you need to find common ground and cultivate it before you extend the invitation. Do whatever it takes to make church a personal habit then “open the door” for another.

2. Pray and Read Your Bible TODAY

If you will keep the conversation with Jesus going it will keep you growing. Get closer to God by spending a little daily time in His Word and setting aside some time ….even if it is just a couple of minutes… to get quiet and pray.

3. Do a B.L.A.S.T. Group

Hooking up with others is an essential part of spiritual growth. B.L.A.S.T. Groups provide avenues for you to connect to your church family. Check out the opportunities for having a blast at the BLAST Groups kiosk on Main Street. BLAST Groups are Bible Study Groups, Life Development Groups, Access Groups, Support Groups and Together Groups.

4. Serve Once

Love God horizontally. God calls us to love Him by loving and serving other people. Help someone at least once this month. It's that simple. Help with Food4Hungry, help in the nursery, make coffee, serve a senior... you choose. Just make a habit of serving others. You'll be surprised at the good it does you.

5. Get a G-5 Focus

Galatians 5:22-25 is the classic passage that talks about the “fruit of the spirit”. Our challenge is to get proactive at producing the fruit that reveals spiritual roots. We will focus on one “fruit of the spirit” per week and help each other as we keep it on the tip of our minds all week long.

6. Take the Next Right Step

No matter where you are you can always take the next right step. What's your next right step? Maybe it's joining a BLAST group; dating your mate; giving up the remote for a day; making that long overdue apology; doing a Bible and prayer moment today. Whatever it is, wherever you are, take a step toward home.