My entire life has had a specific little idiosyncrasy. It seems perfectly normal to me, but others look at me as if I just stepped off the planet Mars. I like to know about my heritage. I like to know where I came from and how I got here. I like to hear stories about my past, and my ancestor’s past. Why am I the way I am? Looking to our past often yields great insights about who we are and even our possible future.
Before you write me off as a lunatic, let me ask you, have you ever filled out the doctor’s questionnaire? You know, the questions like, “Is there a family history of heart disease?” Suddenly my statement holds a little more water than before, eh? Our history can tell us our future in a small sense. Does that mean our future has to look like our past? Certainly not. But if you knew of a history of heart conditions, you might choose to eat better or exercise a bit more. Spiritually speaking you can sometimes see familial trends or curses (i.e. divorce, sexual sins, violence, etc). It’s important to have some idea of your history.
My efforts here, though very early, are to give you some history of how this church came to be. We’re many months away from the first service. At this point we’re still in the very early praying stages. But I wanted to start establishing some heritage of how Grace Church came to be. These early writings give a road map of the “where, how, and why” for the church. My goal is to present this background detail to you so you’ll also have a clearer image of where we’re going.
Habakkuk 2:2 — And the LORD answered me:
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. (ESV)
As we get closer to the actual formalization of the church, I’ll also post the vision of Grace Church. It’s important to look back, but it’s more important to know where we’re going. You glance in the rear view mirror, but you look through the windshield of where you’re heading. Everyone on the ride has a safer journey that way.
— Pastor Rick
All too often humans become possessive. Selfish. The childlike expression of ‘mine, mine, mine’ comes to mind. Unfortunately, churches often operate under the same mentality. I come from a fundamental baptist background. I saw it all the time. We didn’t get along with the Southern Baptists. We didn’t get along with the Presbyterians. We sure as heck-fire didn’t get along with the Methodists or Catholics.
Then there were the other denominations we didn’t get along with like Church of Christ, Lutherans, and the unique denomination of non-denominational churches. But what struck me odd was we didn’t really get along with other fundamental baptist churches either. What gives?
John 17:21 — that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. (ESV)
Maybe I was just too young to see that scripture through years of tainted sectarianism. I actually believed Jesus meant it when He prayed that we would be one and show love for one another. Sure we need to guard the gospel. But we let minor differences separate us. Sometimes its as small as which side of the tracks you come from. Or that they don’t preach out of the same bible version as your preference.
Seriously, what kind of mentality is that? Are we trying to protect the offering plate? I thought God was our provider. And while we may be shepherds, He is the Chief Shepherd and “our flocks” are really His flock.
My heart is to see the church at large, those who believe in justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, actually start to function like one body. Do you think our world would be different? I do.
Maybe in our efforts to guard the gospel, we just forgot how to live it.
— Pastor Rick
Yes, I’m a christian. True Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is not a set of guiding principles that dictate my life. Being a christian is having a relationship with Jesus Christ — a real, every day relationship. Let me tell you about Him then I’ll tell you how I met Him.
Who is Jesus
Jesus is, was, and always shall be God. He is the only begotten Son of God. He was born to a virgin two thousand years ago. Yes, a virgin. Seems impossible, yet God is the God of the impossible. Allowing a virgin to conceive was the only way to bypass man’s sin nature which is passed through the seed of man. Since we all have human fathers, we are all sinners. And it’s our sin that separates us from God the Father.
Although Jesus is God, He was also a man. Given His mother’s humanity, He had to endure the same temptations that we all face. Yet He was found without sin. He never stumbled in His standing with God the Father.
During His earthly life, which spanned a little over 33 years, He marveled, ministered, and sometimes confounded the crowds. It was the zealous religious types, who believed in mandating rules and regulations over every part of people’s lives, that were bothered the most by His life and message. What was that message? Freedom.
The true paradox, Jesus was and is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, yet He lived His life as a servant to God the Father. By His own words He said, “I only do and say what I hear my Father in heaven tell me.” He was a servant to the point where He willingly obeyed His Father and was crucified on the cross.
It was on the cross that the sins of mankind were placed on Him. Only a perfect, spotless lamb could be used as a sacrifice for our sins. He became that Lamb. He bore my sins and yours as He made a way for us to come to the Father. So great a cost. So great a love. Both of the Father, to be willing to lay down His Son’s life for us, and of the Son, who would obey His Father and endure such suffering for us.
Three days after He yielded His life on the cross, He rose from the dead. Many saw Him and testified of His resurrection. Today He sits at the right hand of the Father and prays for you and I.
Years ago I learned the difference between religion and relationship is FREEDOM. Jesus brings a freedom to your life.
How can you know Him?
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Whether you’ve lied, cheated, stolen, used the Lord’s name in vain, it’s sin. We all have sinned. No one has kept the ten commandments except Jesus Christ. Because we’ve all sinned, we are guilty by God’s standard and the penalty is eternal punishment.
Many think they can do enough good works to compensate for the bad we’ve done, but it doesn’t work that way. God knew we’d never be good enough to “earn” heaven. He also knew that even the wealthiest person of all history couldn’t buy his way in. So there was only one way — through Jesus.
“But it cost God so much by allowing Jesus to pay for my sins … His own Son’s very life. Shouldn’t there be some kinda cost?” That’s a trick question because the answer is both ‘no’ and a ‘yes’. We’ll deal with the ‘no’ first.
I’ve been around some religious folks that think you have to look and act a certain way. God doesn’t care about that. He really doesn’t. What He does care about is your heart. Eternal life through Jesus Christ is a free gift. He extends it to you freely. Right where you are. Just like you are. All you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your heart, forgive you of your sins, and be the Lord of your life.
Lord? Yes, that’s the part that costs you. When you ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord, He’ll do just that. Sounds kinda hokus-pokus, but it’s not. It’s just God filling you with His Holy Spirit (the third part of the holy Trinity) and helping you along in life. When you become a christian (asking for forgiveness and for Jesus to be your Lord), you become a child of God.
Unlike the bad images Hollywood tends to put out, God is loving, patient, gentle, full of grace, and merciful. There may be things in your life that He knows aren’t in your best interest. You might have to give up some habits or things that you like to do. But if He does want you to give up some stuff, He’ll let you know in a gentle and loving way and then give you the strength to give those things to Him.
This may seem like a bold statement, but I would even go as far as saying that if someone tells you that you have to give something up after becoming a christian that you pray about it. Ask God. Don’t just accept what someone else says because they say something like “a christian shouldn’t do this or shouldn’t do that”. God will be a loving Father and guide you.
Want to become a christian? I can help. Read the following prayer. Then using your own words, pray this prayer to God. Trust me, He’ll answer you. And your life will never be the same.
“God, I come to you in the name of Your Son, Jesus. I ask you to forgive me for messing up. Please forgive me for my sins. I ask you to help me. Jesus, be my Lord. I want to follow you. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and guide my heart. Thank you for loving me. Amen.”
If you just prayed that for the very first time, I hope you will send me an email and let me know.
How did I become a Christian?
I was 14 years old and pretty new to the area. We had moved from New York to Texas and I was having a difficult time adjusting to the area. People made fun of me. Many reasons both real and imagined. Didn’t matter. I just wasn’t very happy.
Some people moved in across the street from us. One of the sons that lived there was in his early 20’s and in college. Some neighborhood kids use to get together and play some football after school. Since he was in college classes in the morning, he often had a few minutes to play some football. Before I knew it, he was kinda like the youth worker of the neighborhood. Everyone seemed to like him. One day he asked if anyone would be interested in going to a bible study he was going to start.
I didn’t give it a whole lot of thought, but it sounded ok. A couple other kids were going also, so this was a way for me to try and fit in. He started explaining about how God loved and cared about us. As a teenager, I was surprised that anyone cared. I listened a little more. Over the next several weeks he taught about Jesus, heaven, hell, and angels and other things. One day, after a bible lesson, I went home and I felt something or someone tugging at my heart. I thought about how much God loved me. I couldn’t help but think about it all evening, too. God was really talking to my heart. I knew what I had to do.
I went to bed, but I couldn’t stop thinking about God. I stared at the ceiling for awhile then tossed and turned in bed. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I knew that I needed Jesus in my life. I just KNEW it. I climbed out of bed and knelt beside it. Right there I asked God to forgive me. I wanted Jesus to be my Lord. I needed Him to save me and help me. He did. It wasn’t a fancy prayer, but an honest one. I wanted Jesus in my life and in my heart.
I knew immediately that something was different. I felt a peace I had never had before. God moved in and I’ve never been the same since. It hasn’t always been easy. I’ve had more than my shares of ups and downs. I’m very far from perfect and I’ve made horrible mistakes in my life. But God has never left me. He loves me. I’m very grateful that He is patient and full of mercy. I would have given up on me by now, but God has never given up on me. He loves me. And He loves you, too. Right where you are and just like you are.
Well, thanks for spending this time. I hope I’ve encouraged you. But more than anything else, I hope you see how much God loves you. If this has ministered to you OR if you’d like to talk, just email me at gracechurch.me@gmail.com.
— Pastor Rick
In the last blog I discussed why looking back can be a bad thing. It’s not necessary for it to be, but often people get fixated on their mistakes, sins, problems, hurts, etc. They become focused so much on these things; often becoming paralyzed toward their future because of the haunting of their past. There will always be repercussions and responsibilities tied to our decisions of our yesterdays and yesteryears, but in Christ, we’ll have His strength, grace, and mercy in dealing with our past. It doesn’t have to immobilize us. So when looking to the past, I pointed out, it’s always best to look to the day Jesus Christ regenerated your soul, that day you gave your heart to Him, and let that be your platform to declare who you are and Whose you are for today.
In this post, however, I’d like to share a bit about the vision God has given me. The vast majority of this has been in my heart for at least two decades. Over the last twelve months or so the Lord has been churning all of this up in my spirit again. While I once felt set on a shelf, He’s pulling it all up and reminding me of His calling on my life. Maybe I was on the shelf for a time, due to a sinful and unrepentant heart, but once that changed, He’s letting me know there is still some use for me. I can only hope that, unlike King David, I actually get to see my vision come to reality in my lifetime.
1 Chronicles 22:7 — David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.”
Verse 8 begins with the word ‘But’. I’m sure that was difficult for David to hear. His heart wanted to build the temple and to see the glory of the Lord fill His temple as it did when Solomon dedicated it to the Lord. But it wasn’t to be.
King David, you may recall, had a heart to build the temple. He bought and brought many materials for the building of the temple. It was his intention to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. But the Lord told him because he was a man of war and had shed blood it would prevent him from actually building the temple. That task fell to the hands of King Solomon.
I’m open to whatever the Lord would want, but my heart longs to actually see the completion of this vision I’ve held rather than share it, start it, then turn it over. But the Lord’s will be done and not my own. I pray He is gracious enough to let me see this vision through until His coming.
So what is this vision I refer to? Let me share the snapshot and then I’ll go into more detail in later posts.
My heart has always been bent to western New York. I’m from the region, born in Rochester, lived in Geneseo, and attended school in Livonia. We moved to the bible belt in the late 70’s as I was entering high school because of my dad’s failing health. In hindsight I’m not as sure about that being the complete truth, but it was the one us kids were presented and so we moved south.
I made my parents life more difficult than it needed to be for several years. I didn’t want to be in Texas. My heart was still in New York. I begged and pleaded for two years to be allowed to move back … I was even volunteering to live with people I didn’t really like. I just wanted to go back.
I was saved in the summer of 1979 through the witness of a neighborhood friend. In 1981 I surrendered to the call of the ministry. That was around the time I stopped begging my parents. I was in love with Jesus and I just didn’t give NY much of a thought after.
In 1984 the Lord took me through several major changes. In those stepping stones, or building blocks, I heard the Lord say to me that all He was teaching me spiritually were the very reasons I had been brought to Texas. We don’t always see His plan, but He is always at work. Suddenly He brought back all those longings for “home”. By this time I was in college, dating a young woman, and in the next few years, was married with kids.
During this time I thought the Lord would send me back to New York, however our timing and His are often two different time zones. This was the case. I feel the Lord is bringing me back to the western New York region, though, with the working He’s been doing in me over the last three decades.
I believe I am to bring the gospel into the area and see a church raised that will be a central point of teaching, preaching and evangelism. And working with the existing churches in the community, we will help reach the area for the glory of Christ. I long for revival for our country, but specifically for Livingston County.
There is much to this vision that I will share in future posts. But for now, I’m praying. I’m seeking God’s face and asking for divine direction. I don’t want my will, but His.
I’m called to pastor. And my heart aches to be in that place, but for now, I’m being faithful to where I am today. But I will continue to sign my posts in faith of His calling and use these posts to present to you the lineage of this church — this Grace Church — and how it came to be. It’s often in the background and seeing God’s hand that enables us to go forward with an assurance that His hand has been in it and His glory will be made known.
— Pastor Rick
Hindsight is 20/20, or so the saying goes. It’s easy to look back and see what you coulda, shoulda, and woulda done had you just known. So many people spend their lives right there staring into that dusty looking glass and live their lives filled with regrets and what-ifs. But there is a more appropriate way to look at your life … from His perspective.
Ephesians 1:4-6 — just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (NASB)
Before the foundations of the world, God looked forward and saw you. He desired for you to be one of His kids and then made it happen. Don’t believe me, take a look at this passage:
2 Timothy 1:8-9 — Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (NASB)
God is in the business of looking forward. God is in the business of pointing forward as He did when He foretold of Christ when He spoke to Satan in the book of Genesis:
Genesis 3:15 — And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. (NASB)
Because of God’s redemptive work of the cross, through Jesus Christ, He looks at you differently, too. Specifically, when you turn to God, repent of your sins, confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, He sees you like this:
2 Peter 3:18-19 — knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (NASB)
The Father sees you through the blood of His Son, Jesus. In Him, you are holy, spotless, blameless. Fully redeemed, fully His, fully His child. He called you, made a way for you, then paid the price. You are His.
So stop looking back except to point to the day you turned your life over to Him. In our past, that’s the only day that matters.
— Pastor Rick
When we pour our hearts into Him, it’s amazing how He loves to pour Himself back into us. He delights in delighting us. And that is why I get so excited to tell of His wonderful love, mercy and grace.
Sometimes it’s the little things. Here are a few very MINOR, MINOR things that have happened in the last week:
- My sister and brother-in-law are having a hard time and couldn’t afford to attend the Valentine’s Dinner with the church. The cost was a little expensive this year. I told my sister that I was going to pay for them. She asked if I was sure. “Yep!” I had no clue where I was going to come up with the extra funds, but I just knew I was supposed to do that for them. Later that same day a friend of mine called me and said, “I just remembered that you loaned me $75 last year. I’m sorry I forgot to pay you. I’ll have it to you just before Valentine’s Day.” HA! I love my Father!
- My pastor’s wife was talking last night after church about wanting a salad (we were having a nacho sale to raise money for youth camp). I mentioned that the best salads were from a particular restaurant that I really like. My sister chimed in and said I was absolutely right. The discussion got going and ramped up so much I was craving a salad from that place. I got home and asked my wife what she wanted for dinner (she was still working). She said, “Our daughter went and got me dinner. I was so full after my pork chop that I couldn’t eat the salad. I thought you might want it.” Guess where the salad was from … that’s right! I love my God!
- I sent a text to my sister and told her of the salad blessing. She told me that on her way home from church she stopped to get some milk. Again, they’re limited on funds. She went in and bought it. The store overcharged her. She didn’t notice, but the clerk caught it before my sister could leave. The store refunded her ALL her money and then gave her the milk for free. God is awesome!
It’s easy to look at our lives and get so wrapped up in “us” that we can’t see Him. I was thinking about that very thing yesterday on the way home from work and I realized (by His Spirit, of course) that all too often instead of looking to Him, we simply seek His hand. God forgive us for that type of heart. I don’t want to focus on the gift. I want to focus on the Giver. When we set our hearts on God, He’ll give us what we need when we need it and all for His glory.
— Pastor Rick
All too often I am impatient. It’s one of my many flaws. I’m well aware of it and that awareness is to my advantage this time.
This past Sunday I was at my home church and heard a great message from my pastor. He spoke of Abraham and the promise and blessings that were foretold to him by the Lord long before they came into being. At one point in his life, however, he decided to try to help God along in reaching his promise. Abraham listened to his wife and took Hagar (his wife’s slave) so that they (Abraham and Sarah) could have the offspring God promised. But this wasn’t the promise. This was Abraham and Sarah’s presumption.
The promised offspring would come about 15 years later from Sarah’s womb, not another woman, and his name was Isaac. Ishmael, Isaac’s half-brother, would watch as his younger brother would receive all of Abraham’s blessing and his lineage would forever be at odds against God’s promise. Not convinced, look at the muslim world today. The only time they get along is when they unite to fight against Christians or Israel.
It was a great message and one that I took very deeply to heart. I feel firmly that I know what God’s called me to do. I choose NOT to force my presumption on to His direction, though. I want to see an Isaac born from my spiritual labor and not an Ishmael. I want God’s promise and blessing, not turmoil that can destroy ambitions, dreams, and relationships.
Psalm 19:13 ESV
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
And so in my impatience, God teach me patience. At Your timing, make it abundantly clear and until then, prevent me from taking a step that would lead to missing your promise.
— Pastor Rick
Praying is a great place to begin anything. The Lord began my Christian walk when I first knelt and prayed, asking Him into my heart. I didn’t know what I was really doing at 14, but I knew I needed Him. Jesus Christ came into my heart and I’ve not been the same since.
Life is filled with highs and lows. The rain storms come on those that know Him and those that don’t. I’ve seen my share of storms in my life, yet the foundation He laid when He came into my heart still remains. I may not have understood the meaning of mercy and grace or had all of my soteriology aligned in my mind, but I was His and that’s all that mattered. After all, most don’t know anything of the Spirit until after He moves in and changes your life. That all comes as you continue to walk with Him.
And now I feel the Lord leading me … and so before anything else, I am on my knees again … praying!
The fields are white for harvest, but there are very few that will go in to reap. It’s work. Hard work. I’m willing Lord, send me.
Be praying for the harvest fields around you. Pray that God will raise up laborers to go into the field. This is His kingdom, those are His fields, and it is His harvest. I have no stake or claim to what is His. I only want to be servant to Him and for Him.
So I also ask you to pray for me. Many things need to be worked out. Pray that God’s will be done, that strongholds are pulled down, the crooked path is made straight, clear direction from the Lord will be shown, and complete obedience to Him for all those involved. Amen and amen.
— Pastor Rick
gracechurchfw.org 