February 13th 2021
David_Orr • February 13, 2021
Faith that Works!
The Boss Cow
We have 18 head of cattle on our little 20 acre cattle and chicken farm and that is too many. There are less than 14 acres of graze-able land and we have to get rid of some every year. 3 go into the freezer but it is becoming necessary that some be sold. They are like dad’s pets and they all have names and we do things for them that are at the limits of what we are able to do and sometimes beyond. They all got sick a few months ago because there is too much manure on the ground where the grass is growing. It was a bacterial infection that required antibiotics with a shot and worming from the vet and medicated feed.
The first few days of feeding them every day they were all still sick and the violent behavior was minimum. After they got to feeling better I began seeing behavior that was upsetting to me. There is one black cow with 10 inch sharp horns that chases every cow she can away from her 12 foot trough. 3 12 foot troughs with 18 cows should be room enough and feed enough for everyone… RIGHT? She will have every cow chased off from her trough except the bull and see them eating from the other 2 and decide she wants the feed in the other troughs too. She’s fat and there are a few others that act like her that are fat too and then some are where you can see a rib or two. If we were a regular ranching operation the fat cows would go to the butcher.
Yes we offset the cost of growing them by butchering 3 – 1 to 2 year old bulls for food every year but we had 3 cows die of old age last year. All 3 of us that work them now are retired and can’t afford to spend money without some return. We had 6 bulls born this year so the number butchered may increase or we may sell some. There is one of the few that doesn’t have horns that was injured in the food battle a few weeks ago. Her hind quarters were injured by boss cow and now she is separated from the rest with her own trough and a 1500 pound bale of hay just for her. She is getting better but it will be a long time before we put her back into that insanity.
Watching all that fighting over plenty broke my heart because those soulless animals reminded me too much of human nature. Tomorrow is Valentines Day and it is supposed to be about love but like everything else it is full of that selfish mentality. James begins teaching on solutions in verse 7 which we will begin with Monday. I think it is a spiritually healthy thought to take a long hard look at our taking ways. Learn to loath your “Boss Cow” attitude which we ALL have by Nature. Without the influence of God we are all trying to founder ourselves and we starve others if we have more power than them. CEV says they “Couldn’t fight back” KJV says “he doth not resist you”. ESV says -
'You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. ' James 5:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JAS.5.6
Some have learned to depend on the Shepherd and take what He gives. In reality the Master designates the boss cows for slaughter because their oppression harms the others. Surely we can act better than cattle in a feed lot? Christians our Master Husbandman loves us and He provides enough for all that belong to Him. Greed is unbelief and oppression is faithlessness. This earth’s treasures are eternally worthless and Heaven’s treasures will forever be. Desire the best gift which is dwelling today with our LORD and Savior: Today is all that really is.
Ridgecrest Blog
There’s a difference between walking near someone and walking with them. It's a difference you can feel. I don’t just want to walk beside my wife—I want to hold her hand, to wrap my arm around her, to stay close. And in the same way, God doesn't just want us to stroll behind Him at a safe distance. He wants us right next to Him. Closer than close. The Bible makes that clear—again and again. In fact, one of the most beautiful things is when the same truth is spoken in both the Old and New Testaments. That’s when we know God is driving a point home. Take James in the New Testament. He gives us four practical, life-changing steps that can draw us closer to God: Depend on the Savior Deny the devil Desire to sin less Delight in selflessness These aren’t just catchy phrases—they’re daily actions. They’re reminders that we’re not strong enough to live this life on our own. We need help. We need a Savior. And when we lean on Him, He promises to draw near to us. That message isn’t new. It echoes through Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” This ancient wisdom from Solomon aligns perfectly with James. Why? Because truth doesn’t change. God's Word is living, consistent, and always calling us to take that next step closer to Him. Maybe you’re reading this and you feel distant from God. Maybe you’ve been walking on autopilot—doing the right things, going to church, saying the prayers—but deep down, you know there’s a gap. Here's the good news: If you’re not close to God right now, it’s not because He moved. He’s still there. Still waiting. Still inviting. “Draw near to me,” God says, “and I will draw near to you.” That word “draw” isn’t passive. It’s personal. In the original language, it carries the idea of reaching out and hugging someone. That’s the kind of closeness God wants. Not cold religion, but a warm relationship. An embrace. An arm around your shoulder. And if you’ve never experienced that before—if you’ve never known what it’s like to walk hand-in-hand with Jesus—it’s not too late. All you have to do is ask. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Admit you can’t save yourself. Believe that only Jesus can. He will meet you there. Every time. And if you’re already a believer? There’s still room to grow. Every single one of us could walk a little closer to Jesus than we did yesterday. None of us have arrived. And the beautiful part is—He’s not asking for perfection. He’s just asking for your heart. So today, let’s take those steps. Let’s depend. Deny. Desire. Delight. Let’s walk a little closer. Let’s hold His hand. And let’s never let go. Closing Thought: Wouldn’t it feel good to be hugged tight by Jesus? That’s not just poetic. That’s possible. Because He’s reaching out right now—waiting for you to reach back.
We are proud to share that Ridgecrest Baptist Church has been a part of the efforts supporting Together We Foster, an organization dedicated to serving the foster care community of Northeast Arkansas.
Welcome to Ridgecrest Baptist Church! We're thrilled to have you join us today for a time of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Whether you're a long-time member or visiting for the first time, your presence enriches our community. Let's open our hearts to receive God's word and blessings together. Thank you for joining us at our VBS closing celebration! Today, our kids will receive certificates, perform a special song for parents, and enjoy a slideshow/video highlighting this week's exciting activities. Stick around after the service for a celebration meal with all families. Blessings,
Happy Father's Day! Welcome to Ridgecrest Baptist Church as we celebrate and honor all fathers today. Whether you're a father, a father figure, or celebrating with a father, we're delighted to have you join us for worship and fellowship. Let's take this opportunity to reflect on the blessings of fatherhood and the love of our Heavenly Father. May today's service uplift and inspire you! "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." - Psalm 112:1-2 (ESV) Blessings,