January 24, 2012

Preaching is a daunting responsibility and a high and holy privilege.  I’ve been doing it almost 30 years, and it still scares me to death.  I spent Monday this week preparing to preach this coming Sunday.  I get to look at the story of Joseph and talk about his lower life and upper life.

After having just read that, I’ll bet you are thinking,” What is he talking about?”  I’m afraid you will have to some on Sunday to find out.  I want you to know you too, have a lower and upper life.  There are two stories about your life.  I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

P.S.  Come praying for the sermon.

December 20, 2011

Santa Claus may be coming to town, but Pastor Rick is leaving it!  He is off to Texas (Santa’s other home) for a time of refreshing and work.  While in Texas, he will be doing several meetings of the “Heaven Now” seminar.  Actually, this isn’t work but a labor of love, and I’m sure he would covet your prayers for the couples that will be attending.  Also, please pray that he will enjoy the time with his children and grandchildren and that he and Linda’s spirits will be renewed and refreshed.

As Christmas rapidly approaches, may you know the Love of God, the wondrous grace and mercy of Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit.  And, indeed, as the angels proclaimed, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)  Celebrate the Good News and experience the Joy!!!!

December 6, 2011

What’s your favorite Christmas Carol?  Silent Night…O Come All Ye Faithful…Hark the Herald Angels Sing?  Do they have worship value to us as Christians, or are they just seasonal songs we love at first and by December 25^th we are tired of hearing them and singing them?

I personally love Christmas Carols.  I find if we sing them intentionally and pay close attention to the words, there is a great deal of value in them.  While some of the words are old English and the vernacular is not used today, there is still great truth packed in the words.  Take for example “Good Christian Men Rejoice,” an old German carol.  The last 2 verses are:

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye hear of endless bliss
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this
He hath ope’d the heav’nly door
And man is blessed evermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! Peace!
Jesus Christ was born to save
Call you one and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save

While old school, if you will, these lyrics still have value even today.  Indeed, Christ was born to save and that is the eternal good news that will ring down through the ages – regardless of how times change.  Worship value, maybe not in the traditional sense, but nonetheless worship value in the fact that the Good News is still being heard.  It’s up to us to pray the ears of non-believers are opened and the words of these familiar old carols have a new meaning and value to them so they can begin a lifetime of worshipping Christ.  Maybe even we believers can listen with new openness as well.

Blessed Christmas!

Pastor Rick

November 15, 2011

There is an old proverb that says, “Generosity is the heart of God.”

I marveled on Monday morning to learn of the generosity of the people of SBC.  The response to the needs of Tanzania was nothing short of phenomenal!!! The response of people filling bags of groceries for our CNN Food Pantry was also nothing short of phenomenal!!! I love being a part of such a generous church family.

We have just started some discussion of strengthening and developing our Pastoral Care Ministry.  This ministry will maintain contact with church people who no longer are able to attend worship.  This ministry will minister to those, due to health issues, are temporarily unable to worship with us on Sundays.  This ministry will intentionally bless those in long-term care.  This ministry would be a ministry of giving; only it wouldn’t be your money as much as it would be your loving heart.

I already know that SBC people will give generously of their hearts to this ministry as well.

Thankful for being a part of this family,

Pastor Rick

October 25, 2011

The phone rang at midnight.  It was the Sheriff’s Office asking me to do a death notification to a family in our county.  Half asleep, I headed for the address given to me.  The house was dark, they obviously were asleep.  The dogs barked loud enough that the light went on, and a man came to the front door.

There are a lot of hard things that I do.  However, there are very few harder than to tell a young man, in the middle of the night, awaken him from sleep to let him know that his brother committed suicide several states away.  I am given little information, so I can’t answer their questions.  The only thing I can do is share in his pain.

Why do I do this?  Because there is something very powerful in sharing someone else’s pain.  There is opportunity all around us.  Hurting people, who for the most part, no cares about.  We can share in the pain of others.  Keep your eyes open, keep your hearts open and see if God doesn’t love someone through you.  Someone you can cry with.

Pastor Rick

October 18, 2011

I have the great privilege of announcing the GRAND RE-OPENING of Celebrate Recovery, which is re-starting at Sierra Bible Church beginning Thursday night, October 27^th…with new leadership, wonderful music, and plenty of people who care!  Pizza will be served at 6:00, program begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Portable.  I am looking forward to seeing how God will bless those who are involved in this wonderful ministry!

Pastor Rick

October 11, 2011

I periodically go over our list of Life Groups to see how many there are and who is participating.  I think we peaked in Life Group Ministry when we did Purpose Driven Life.  At that time, just about everyone in the congregation participated in a Life Group.

I am leading a Life Group with emphasis on “small.”  It is a couple and I.  I’m not sure that the teaching is all that good, but we are becoming good good friends.  I am not recruiting people for our Life Group, because we don’t want to lose what we have; but for those of you not in a Life Group, I want you to know you’re missing something very special.

So, if you would like to make some really good friends, grow in your faith, and develop your understanding of scripture, I encourage you to let us know…and we will find a Life Group for you.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

 

October 4, 2011

I have just talked to the Griebel’s.  Paul and Linda asked me if they could start a new LIFE Group in their home on Wednesday evenings. This group will be specifically focused on doing a study on marriage according to God’s design, and they have asked if they could use my book, 5:21.  I was thrilled!

We haven’t established the date yet, although it will start within the next week or so.  You may call Paul or Linda at 743-2180 for further information, and to reserve your spot in this group.  I have a feeling that it will bring a significant increase of joy to your marriage.

I may even see you there on occasion.

Pastor Rick

September 20, 2011

I would covet your prayers as we are in the process of restarting the Celebrate Recovery Ministry, which is for those who struggle with hurts, habits and hang-ups.  This is a very important ministry that serves as an entrance into Sierra Bible Church. Without this ministry we would never get to know or minister to these people.

I am going to have a re-organization meeting on Thursday, September 29^th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Portable.  If you have any interest or a sense of calling to this ministry, I would encourage you to come.

So…whether you would be specifically interested in being involved or maybe that’s not your thing, either way, I covet your prayers.

Thanks,

Pastor Rick

September 1, 2011

Some habits are not good. For instance, smoking is very bad for your health and it’s really habitual.  Some habits are very good.  Being in the scriptures everyday is very good.  And, some habits are absolutely essential.  The scripture says in Hebrews 10:25, “ Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching.”  This has to do with being with believers on a regular consistent basis.  It has to do with being a consistently faithful part of a church family. We need you here and you need to be here! I am thankful we are going back to three services.  If we stayed at two services, some that are a part of this family would not be able to come, as it would be way too crowded.  Now that we are returning to three services, I challenge you as a family, to make our together time on Sunday mornings a priority.  So, I look forward to seeing you.  Not out of guilt but, out of privilege that we get to worship together, love each other, and grow in our love for Jesus”!

Pastor Rick

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