May 20, 2010

Be a Good Samaritan…support the Quito, Ecuador, Yard Sale Fundraiser and come by the church on Friday (7am-7pm) or Saturday (7am to noon)!

Pastor Rick

May 13, 2010

I got up yesterday morning and put my uniform on.  What uniform you may ask.

I am privileged to be a Chaplain for the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department.  Yesterday was the “Fallen Officers Memorial” service held at noon in front of the Court House.  I had arranged for Mike Remmel, the CHP Officer that was severely injured when he was hit by a car while investigating an accident four year ago, to speak.

Mike is an amazing man.  I had visited him in Doctor’s Medical Center after the accident.  He was heavily sedated as both legs were severely damaged and, ultimately, portions of both legs had to be amputated.  When I visited him, he was very positive about returning to law enforcement.  I personally thought he didn’t realize the seriousness of his injuries.

I have never seen a man work as hard as Mike did to recover mobility, and do so to the degree that he could pass the CHP fitness test and continue as an officer.  I have huge respect and admiration for Mike and his wife Roberta, who, with God’s help, has turned impossibility into a miracle.

He shared his journey with uniformed officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Sonora City Police, California Department of Corrections, and the National Forest Service.  He let these “jewels of law enforcement” know that what they do is worth it, no matter what!

I thought of my life, and the riskiest thing I’ve done is stand up in front of a loving church and run the risk of a sermon less than mediocre.  Pray for law enforcement.  Pray for me as I get to minister to these brave men and women.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

April 22, 2010

If you’re looking for me on Thursday nights, you will need to come to Celebrate Recovery because that is where I’ll be.  For the past 6 weeks, I have been joining together with a goodly number of folks (last week 40) who come together to worship, to be challenged and encouraged, to acknowledge and work on their hurts, habits and hang-ups.  But they gather, most importantly, to find strength and truth from their Higher Power who is, unashamedly, Jesus Christ.

It is a wonderful accumulation of soft-hearted, gifted and honest people who are finding great joy and victory in their walk with Jesus.  This ministry started 6 years ago.  We called it “The Journey” and then after a year of preparation, a group of 8 or 9 folks began a planning and learning process so as to become a recognized Celebration Recovery site.

Through the last number of years, literally hundreds of people have found focus, strength, and courage to do life in partnership with Christ.  On Thursday nights, as the Spirit prompts you, I would encourage you to pray for the Celebrate Recovery meeting and all who attend.  If you are not busy and would like to be blessed, come on by the Family Life Center.  Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m., the Program at 7:00 p.m., and Small Groups begin at 8:00 p.m.  Come to encourage others, and you just might find there are plenty of others who will encourage you.

A thankful participant in Celebrate Recovery,

Pastor Rick

April 15, 2010

After my challenge on Sunday morning for the congregation to actually read “The Pastor’s Corner”, I now have a sense of pressure to write something that’s worth reading – Oh well, here goes!

I have just come out of a meeting with our Community Needs Network Volunteers.  In the midst of sharing the blessings of praying with and helping people, they also shared a certain heaviness that follows them after 3 hours of serving.

If you remember the sermon from Sunday and “what are the odds of that”, the first point was…Open up your eyes to the poor.

And the second was…Open up your heart to the poor.

Our Volunteers have opened their eyes, and now their hearts are being affected.  They are beginning to care for these people.  They think about them after they have gone.  They carry the weightiness of a family with multiple problems, and the help they provide is small in comparison.

The third point of the sermon was…Get to know the people who are hurting.

There is not necessarily great joy in knowing the hardships of others.  The downside of getting to know them is that we feel their pain.  This team of volunteers has been doing that since October, 2009.  It doesn’t get any easier!  The enemy would want us to quit.  God wants us to continue to care in spite of the pain.

Are your eyes open?  Is your heart softening?  Are you making some new friends?  God will be pleased.  Keep it up, even if it hurts.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

April 8, 2010

How many poor people have you helped recently?  How many poor people would you say are your friends?  Have you ever been poor?  If so, did anyone come forward to help you?  Who is the biggest advocate for the poor that you know?

If these questions are making you nervous, you might want to sleep in on Sunday because we will be giving the answers to these questions.  The downside of sleeping in is two-fold.

1. You need to know the answers to these questions, they will change your life
2. You will miss The Children of the World Choir who will be singing Sunday morning, and they are always terrific.

If you have extra prayer time, I would appreciate it if you would pray for Pastor Mark who is on the high seas with his son-in-law.  I would also appreciate prayer because with Pastor Mark gone, guess who’s preaching!

Hope to see you Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

April 1, 2010

I don’t know about you but, inevitably, when I carve out time to listen, pray, and read the scripture, the phone will ring or someone will knock on the door.  Something will keep me from that precious quiet time.

Friday night, don’t bring your cell phone and carve out some time to listen, pray, and to self- exam, to repent, to renew commitments, to seek forgiveness, and to worship your Redeemer.  Come early, come late, stay as long as you want.  Come to the table when you are ready, and eat of the bread, drink of the cup, and proclaim that Jesus is your source of forgiveness, strength, life and eternity.

Might this time on Friday night make this one of the best Easters you have ever celebrated.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

March 18, 2010

It was a small group, a wife and Mom, 3 sons and 25 friends who came together and sat in a circle as we celebrated the life of a gifted man.  His life ended way too soon as a result of drug use.  In many ways, it was very sad. The 2 young sons loved their Dad intensely, even though their contact with him was limited.  Many of his friends were from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.  They honored their fellow addict with their memories, their love and their shared experiences.

It was a sweet time and an important time.  I was able to share Biblical hope and encouragement.  We were not meant to live this life alone.  To do this life well, we must live in dependency on Christ.  This family and all their friends agreed.  I was thankfully privileged.

Since January, the widow and her 2 young sons have been coming to Sierra Bible Church.  It is our privilege to love, serve and pray for them.  Who knows, they may be sitting next to you in church this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

March 11, 2010

I am writing this as I am getting ready to go to lunch.  It is interesting – in biblical times you only ate with those you love.  There was something intimate about sharing a meal.

The most intimate meal is the Lord’s Supper.  This morning, I have been planning a time for the church family to come together on Good Friday evening and share in the Lord’s Supper.   This will be a contemplative time, a time of personal confession to the Lord.  It will be a time of personal confession to the Lord, as well…A time of renewal and restoration, and a time of celebration for our privileged place in God’s Family.

You will be welcome to come anytime between 7:00-9:00 p.m., and spend time in preparation to receive the bread and the cup.

Who are you going to eat with today?  Whether it is family or friends, take the time to bless those you eat with, and let them know you love them.

Hungry & Thankful,

Pastor Rick

March 4, 2010

The world of communication has radically changed and continues to change every day.  It is seldom we see a teenager not texting to someone.  Even though it is illegal, people behind the wheel have a cell phone to their ear.  The days when we talked on the phone primarily at home are long gone.  Between texting, I Phones, Blackberries, and Magic Jacks, communication with these devices has become a lifestyle. I wonder, along with Facebook, Twitter, My Space and Skype, if our relationships are deeper, more powerful, more loving, more sensitive, more anything?

The Word of God is all about relationship.  I wonder if our technology is helping or hurting our relationships.  Think about those you love most.  Make sure they know you love them. Whether through some of the new technology or maybe an old fashion hug, make sure they know how you feel.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

P.S. – Don’t forget to communicate with God, and He’s NOT on Facebook.

February 25, 2010

How often do you pray for your church?  If we are honest, and I certainly hope we are, we would have to confess “not all that often.”  I think that is a mistake for all of us.  The church is the Body of Christ.  It is the visible presence of Christ in this sin-sick world, and it is the target of the enemy.  If he can tear the church apart, the presence of Christ is radically minimized.

So, let me ask you to start praying for the church.  Pray for the Elder Board which, incidentally, is meeting tonight.  We could use your prayers.  Pray for the Pastoral Staff and the Support Staff.  Pray for our unity that we might reflect the heart of Jesus.  Pray for those who submit prayer requests.  If you do not receive those prayer requests, please call the office and get on that list so you can faithfully pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When you come to church on Sunday and you drive by Promiseland, pray for the ministry to our children that takes place that morning.  When you find your seat in the Family Life Center, pray for Michael and the worship team as they lead us in praise and adoration; and when Pastor Mark gets up to speak, pray that God will give him a special anointing.

Finally, you might think of praying for yourself that you will listen intently and worship wholeheartedly; and when you leave the Family Life Center and get into your car, pray you will be a witness to the world of the heart of Christ to you and through you.  Your prayers matter!

Prayerfully,

Pastor Rick

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