Christian Encounter Ranch

Who Are You Riding With?

There is something about a long ride that reveals what a short ride never will.

The miles expose your strength, your weakness, your pride, your perseverance, and sometimes even your heart. You discover that the greatest gift isn’t always stronger legs—it is faithful people riding beside you.

Scripture tells us, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Notice that God never intended us to run alone.

This year’s Agony Ride echoed one truth over and over again:

It matters who you ride with.

The voices you surround yourself with will either pull you closer to Christ or slowly convince you to settle for less. Ride with people who stop to pray. Ride with people who point you back to Jesus when your heart wanders. Ride with people who celebrate obedience more than achievement.

Because the destination isn’t simply another mile marker.

It is becoming more like Christ.

Throughout the weekend another theme continued to rise.

For His glory.

Many riders came with personal goals. Certain mileage. Certain expectations. Certain plans.

Yet the Lord lovingly interrupted many of those plans.

Some stopped when God said stop.

Some changed direction when He redirected them.

Some laid down the numbers they hoped to achieve because obedience became greater than accomplishment.

And isn’t that exactly what Jesus did?

In the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed,

“Not My will, but Yours be done.”

Before there was a cross, there was surrender.

Before there was resurrection, there was willingness.

Before glory was revealed, suffering was embraced.

Christ did not endure because suffering itself was the goal.

He endured because redeeming you was.

The cross reminds us that God’s greatest victories often come wrapped in surrender.

So perhaps the greatest accomplishment of Agony wasn’t simply the miles ridden.

Perhaps it was every heart that whispered,

“Lord, Your way instead of mine.”

That is where His glory shines brightest.

May we become people who ride together, surrender together, encourage one another toward holiness, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus until every finish line gives way to eternity.

Because in the end, the greatest victory was never crossing a finish line.

It was following Christ wherever He leads.

I waited to share this one with you for the night time to be upon us. So that the message could really be reflected upon. This morning Danika Fitzpatrick opened up the doorway of considering the difference between the darkness that comes from sin and the darkness that God wraps himself in to be near to his children.

Let’s dive deeper tonight CER family near and far.

There is a difference between darkness and God veiling Himself in darkness to be near you.

There is a difference between the darkness that comes from evil and the darkness God sometimes chooses as His covering when He draws near.

Throughout Scripture, darkness can represent sin, deception, and separation from God.

“People loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

Yet there is another kind of darkness in the Bible—not moral darkness, but the hiddenness of God’s overwhelming glory.

When God descended upon Mount Sinai, He came in a thick cloud. Moses “drew near to the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20:21). The darkness was not because God is evil. It was a veil of mercy, shielding sinful humanity from the fullness of His holy glory.

King Solomon declared,

“The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.” (1 Kings 8:12)

David also proclaimed,

“He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him—the dark rain clouds of the sky.” (Psalm 18:11)

Then we come to Psalm 91, where we see that God’s nearness is often described not by what we can see, but by where we choose to dwell.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

Notice the language. It is the secret place and the shadow of the Almighty. A shadow exists because someone greater is standing over you. The shadow is not a place of abandonment—it is evidence that God is close enough to cover you.

Psalm 91 continues,

“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night…”

Night is mentioned because darkness is often where fear speaks the loudest. Yet God’s answer is not always to remove the night immediately. Sometimes He meets us in it, surrounding us with His presence until morning comes.

The darkness of evil seeks to isolate, deceive, and destroy.

The shadow of the Almighty shelters, protects, and draws us close.

One is the absence of truth.

The other is the covering of God’s faithfulness.

There are seasons when you may not clearly see what God is doing. That does not mean He has left you. You may simply be standing beneath His shadow, in the secret place where He is shielding you from what you cannot yet bear.

Jesus Himself entered the darkness of the cross so that all who trust in Him could forever dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Because of His victory, we no longer fear the darkness. We rest beneath the shadow of the One who has overcome it.

So if your path feels dim today, remember this:

Not every dark place is a place where God is absent. Sometimes the darkest place is where the shadow of the Almighty rests upon His children.

There is a difference between the darkness that opposes God and the darkness He uses as a veil of His majesty. One leads away from Him. The other invites us to draw near, dwell in the secret place, and rest beneath His wings.

What an incredible time we had today with one of our longtime church partners, Compass Community Church!

The love and generosity of Pastor Jeremiah and the entire Compass family is truly powerful. Every year they show up with hearts ready to serve, and their Agony Riders and saggers are filled with excitement as we prepare for another life-changing Agony Ride.

Today we’re highlighting Joel Koopmans—an incredible father, devoted husband, and gifted worship leader. Joel embodies what it means to serve others with humility and joy. Be cool like Joel and take a moment to hear why he rides.

Every mile ridden helps provide hope, healing, and scholarships for teens at Christian Encounter Ranch, ensuring no young person is turned away because of financial need.

🚴 The 44th Annual Agony Ride
📅 July 24–25
🕐 1:00 PM Friday – 1:00 PM Saturday

Whether you want to ride, SAG, or sponsor a rider, there’s a place for you in this mission.

Sign up today at agonyride.org.

Together, we can ride so a young person’s future can be rewritten.

Today was a beautiful morning with one of our incredible church partners, Sierra Presbyterian Church. It was such a joy to worship alongside the youth, adults, and Pastor Greg as we lifted our voices together, declaring how amazing our God is.

At Christian Encounter, we deeply value the fellowship we share with our church partners. Together, we are strengthening one another, pointing people to Jesus, and investing in the next generation.

Thank you, Sierra Presbyterian, for your faithful partnership, your warm welcome, and your heart for seeing lives transformed by Christ. We are grateful to serve alongside you as we continue advancing God’s Kingdom together.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” — Psalm 133:1