Failure Can Prepare You For The Future

In an article titled, "SpaceX bloopers video: How NOT to land an orbital rocket," Marcia Dunn tells how SpaceX, the California space technology company that has pioneered the science of safely returning used rocket boosters to earth in recent years, recently uploaded a YouTube video showing some of the most dramatic times that it did not succeed. The two-minute video, titled "How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster," is set to the song "The Liberty Bell" by John Philip Sousa and includes humorous captions for each clip of impressive rocket explosions.

In one segment that shows SpaceX CEO Elon Musk observing a smoldering rocket, the caption reads "It's just a scratch." Another chimes in, "Well, technically, it did land … just not in one piece." The video even pokes fun at the phrase "rapid unscheduled disassembly," a phrase Musk has made famous to describe untimely and expensive explosions of impressive size.
The video ends, however, with triumphant footage of its first two successful landings, one on land and one on sea. From there, the company's success rate continued to rise, and now anything but a successful landing is rare.

The fact is our failures, whether they are the consequences of our own sin or the inevitable product of bad choices or the result of natural circumstances, are often essential parts of our growth and preparation for the future. And God can and does use them to train and equip us for better outcomes.

With that in mind, this Sunday I’ll talk about Peter. It is one of the great failure/comeback stories of scripture. All of us can identify with him in failure, but we can also find encouragement and instruction on how to rebound to victory through his story. I hope you’ll listen carefully and prayerfully.

This Sunday we introduce you to Aaron Johnson and his wife Clara Marie. They are “home grown” and are the result of a prayerful year long search process. With your blessing, they’ll begin their ministry with our 9-12th grade students on Easter Sunday Morning. They will add their gifts and talents to our existing ministry giving Ridgecrest the “Dynamic Duo” of student ministry—Auborn (Samantha) Shepherd, Preteen/Middle School Student Pastor. Aaron (Clara Marie) Johnson, High School Student Pastor. Pray for them both as together they reach all students for Christ and His Kingdom. I am so proud to have these guys and their wives on our Ridgecrest team.

We’ve had an outstanding response to Connect & Serve, and shortly we will take down the display wall in the Welcome Center, but we will continue to emphasize the importance of serving God through the many ministry opportunities here at RBC. If you have yet to find a place of service stop by the table today and let us help you navigate the possibilities.

Remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray