A Great Heritage

Sandie and I as well as a few others from PF just returned from the annual Elim Fellowship leadership conference in Lima, NY.  All I can say is that I am a very, very thankful man.  Among many other things I'm thankful for the great leadership of EF.  (That's who I am ordained through.)  These are great men and women of God who have much to share.  May I ever be learning from our godly heritage.  

A huge highlight was Carlton Spencer.  He is the 95 year old son of Elim's founder.  The school was founded in 1923, so Carlton has been there from the beginning.  He is truly an amazing man and has walked in integrity as a minister for all these years.  The things he has seen and done are astounding.  There were many great men and women of God there with strong anointings including Bill Johnson.  But when he walked in the room full of over 1000 people everyone's eyes turned and hearts leaped.  I had the privilege of having brother Carlton lay hands on and pray for me and for our region.  He is standing with us to see the Spirit move in amazing ways.

God's Wisdom

"The wisdom of God tells us that God will bring about the best possible results, by the best possible means, for the most possible people, for the longest possible time." - Chip Engram

Think about that quote and see if you trust in the wisdom of God, if you seek the wisdom of God and if you follow the wisdom of God.  O Lord, give us your wisdom.

A Little Family Time

We took Zachary to the Driving Range tonight.  He's not too bad and man does he love it.  He had a hard time getting to sleep last night knowing that we were going to the range tonight.  Jason is wearing Grandpa's sweatshirt because he threw up on his own shirt right before we got to the course.

Raising the Flag Since 1946

Yesterday we observed Memorial Day at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Russell by having a very meaningful service.  I have attended the service for many years and it always impacts me as I consider what the previous generations have done and sacrificed so that I/we may have the life that we have today.  

The part of the service that always gets to me is when, during the national anthem, the flag is raised from half mast.  It slowly comes down and then very majestically and triumphantly is raised up high.  As we remember those who have given their lives for our nation, this is a strong reminder that the flag still flies proudly and high.  There is a strong sense of victory as we reflect on death.  Many parallels could easily be drawn to Jesus, His death on the cross, and also the life He calls his followers to.

But the most significant thing about the flag ceremony is John Stanton, one of the guys that helps raise it.  He is 88 years old and a tremendously decorated WWII veteran.  He catches the flag as it is lowered and stands proudly and salutes as it is raised.  Each year I watch his face and am reminded about all that people have given in order to make our country great.  It's moments like these when we can draw from real people and learn history's lessons in a very real way.  You just can't get that in a book.  Zachary, my 6 year old, and I were talking to him afterwards.  I asked him how long he has been doing this.  Get this people - He has been raising this flag at the Memorial Day service since 1946.  That's amazing!!!!   The reason I have Zachary talk to him and pay attention is because in 2046 I want Zachary to be able to remember and tell others about the guy who raised the flag 100 years ago.

Thank you, John Stanton and thank you to all those who have left a great heritage.

Memorial Day

Here is a worthwhile video from the History Channel on the history of Memorial Day.   It is not able to be embedded in another place like this blog, so you have to go to their site.  Check it out

Memorial Day Video Click here

This Weekend at PF

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us.  For all of us who live in the north this is the beginning of the summer.  You can now safely plant your flowers and hopefully not have to worry about frost :-)   But, please make more of this day than just a long weekend.  Take time and remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.  I also encourage you to expand that to generally remembering our past and those who have gone on before us.  

As has become our "tradition" we will "remember" as we gather together on Sunday.  Then, on Monday morning - 11:00 at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Russell there is a very meaningful service celebrating those who gave their lives to make our nation great.

Please read Hebrews 11 in preparation for Sunday's message.  We will also be hearing from Barbie Yoder who runs an amazing camp for underprivileged kids in the Erie area.

This is the Sunday we will be praying for Arielle Clark as she leaves to spend the next two months on her ministry trip to the kids in Zambia (Africa)

Reminder - Next Sunday, the 31st, Brother Fount Shults will be with us ministering the Word.  He has been the most influential Bible teacher in my life and I really encourage you to come out and hear him and bring all your friends

Thanks, Grandad

For me, having older people influence my life was very natural.  I was fortunate to have a lot of grandparents when I was young.  In fact, I had all four of my grandparents and even four great grandparents.  They were clearly the central part of our social structure, so I spent a lot of time with them and learned much that has forever shaped who I am today. 

Grandad, my dad’s dad, was amazing.  He was one of the most remarkable men I have ever known and even though he died almost 17 years ago, he is still one of the major influences in my life.  Grandad was an extremely patient and gentle man who seemed to always enjoy life and people.  What is so remarkable about him was that for most of the 22 years that I knew him he was handicapped by arthritis.  He had countless knee, hip and bone replacements and for as long I can remember, he either walked with a cane or on crutches.  He was nearly always in pain from the severity of the disease.  But, no one, even my grandmother heard him complain about how his body was wasting away.  He truly viewed each day as a blessing and was thankful for all he was given in this life.  He adored his family and I am so blessed that my parents spent so much time with them.  We were at their house multiple times each week and we would vacation every year with them in Florida.

Let me encourage each of you to take advantage of the time you have with the “grandparents” in your life.  If you have kids please go out of your way to have them know and be influenced by the previous generations.  You will never regret it.  I use the term grandparents loosely because some of you don’t have them.  But please head the call to find godly, older people and let them influence you and your children.

I close by saying, thanks Grandad for being such a godly example in my life.  I will impart what you imparted to me to the next generations.  See ya in heaven.

The Elders Among Us

This week I would like to take some time and look at some of the great, older people in my life.  This was brought to my attention as we were gathered together on Sunday morning.  I was extremely humbled to be prayed for as the Pastor of Praise Fellowship.  Being pastor is truly a remarkable and overwhelming task.  But what made the day so special to me were the two pastors who laid hands on me and prayed for Sandie and me.  Pastor Bill Schneider and Pastor Clifford Hill are two amazing men of God.  Bill is 87 and Cliff is 86.  These are two guys who have “run the race” and they are finishing well.  They have been through a lot - much of it good, but some of it difficult.  These are two guys with completely different backgrounds and completely different ministries over the years.  But God has brought both of them to a church in Russell, PA - truly “for such a time as this”.  I love and respect these two so much and am forever grateful to the Lord for putting great men of God in my life. 

My goal for as long as there are people older than me is to sit at the elders’ feet regularly and learn from the previous generation.  I strongly encourage you to do the same.  Whether it’s a seasoned person in the ministry like Pastors Bill or Cliff.  Or maybe it’s your grandmother or an elderly neighbor.  Whoever it is, may we always be learning and valuing those who have laid the foundation for our life.

God, You Reign!!!!

Yesterday as we were worshipping singing this song, the Spirit was, oh so good, as He reminded us that He indeed reigns.  Our God rules over all.  He is in charge of all creation, all nations, and all situations and circumstances.  Therefore, we can trust Him with our lives.  Even if we don't understand everything we can still trust him.

We were praying for Jeneice, who will be heading to Guatemala this summer on a mission trip.  This song reminded us that in all we do and wherever we go, we must believe that He reigns and as we are lead by Him, we walk in confidence for we join His Reign.  

May the Lord bless Jeneice as she prepares and as she ministers and may Jesus move powerfully in the nation of Guatemala.  May many hearts be touched this summer and may many (especially children) know the love of the Father.

Forgiveness Frees - Give it a Try

Let me remind all of us of a very simple message that God spoke during worship last Sunday at PF. “If you want freedom, you must walk in forgiveness. Unforgiveness is like having huge chains strapped to your arms and feet, and it’s like having a volcano coming out of your mouth.” Experiencing the emotional ability to forgive may take time, but beginning the process with your mouth and actions can begin today.

So, who do you need to forgive? Everyone who has ever done anything to hurt you. That’s a lot of people. And that’s not just current people that you see today. A dear saint shared last Sunday that the Lord reminded her that she needed to forgive some teenage boys who hurt her nearly 40 years ago. Wow, to think that unforgiveness can linger that long and can still be affecting us.

We need to see that forgiveness is not just going to someone and saying, “you’re forgiven”. Rather, walking in forgiveness is a way of life that only Jesus can enable. Ask him for this “ability”. As we regularly contemplate the cross and what Jesus did in forgiving us, we will be greatly aided.

Here is a good test of whether or not you have forgiven a person. Can you pray the Lord’s blessing on that person without trying to manipulate what that blessing should look like? Please remember that the greatest blessing the Lord ever gave us was a soft and contrite heart.

This Weekend at PF

What a great weekend we have coming up.  We begin with Friday night in the PF Cafe.  The cafe will be open from 7 - 10pm.  Come out and enjoy good friends, good music and some pretty good coffee and desserts.

Also, Friday night there will be prayer in the sanctuary.  After coming off the tremendous weekend of Prayer, we are confident that the Spirit will continue to lead and will give good direction on how to pray most effectively.

Sunday morning we are having the drama team from the Youngsville Free Methodist Church join us.  I am very excited about the production that they will share.  Come and catch the heart of God as they minister.  I am probably most excited that we are walking in unity with our brothers and sisters from the region.  For it is there that the Lord bestows His blessing. (Ps. 133)  May He show up in awesome ways as we walk under His Blessing.  And as always, our heart is for that blessing to extend out to others, including the Nations.  (Gen. 12:1-3)

After the service there will be lunch served.  Lin Meyers is putting on a lunch to benefit his daughter, Jeneice, who will be ministering in Guatemala this summer.  Jeneice will also be dancing at the service.

Be reminded to check out the blog at www.worshipplace.org  

You are all precious and loved,

Rick

Mid-Week Mullings

"Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:  Forget your people and your father's house.  The king is enthralled by your beauty;  honor him, for he is your Lord."  Psalm 45:10,11  (NIV)

Please read these words as they are spoken directly to you.  And the King is our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Notice what he thinks about you - He is crazy about you.  We know that there are many in this world who are not nice to each other.  They are mean and they seem to desire bad things for your life.  You may feel that you are not rich enough, not talented enough, not smart enough, not fun enough, or not pretty enough to meet up to "their" standards.  Well, the Lord has some good news for you!  

He says to "forget your people and your father's house".  I believe he wants us to not pay attention to all the other voices out there - unfortunately some of those negative voices are even coming from our families.  Instead, he wants us to know what he thinks about us.  He is enthralled by our beauty.  Did you hear that?  The creator of the universe is crazy about YOU.  

Many voices and opinions will come and go, but this voice of truth will always remain - Jesus is madly, evenly jealously in love with you, His Child.  We are to live our lives as an overflow of that love.

God bless you all. 

Sunday Recap

Hopefully, every Monday morning I will update this blog as I reflect on what God did in our midst on Sunday.  I will usually be at Fresh Cup in North Warren as I write this, so join me for a cup of coffee as we consider the goodness of God.

Clearly the theme that the Spirit was speaking yesterday was FREEDOM.  He is calling His bride to be free from the "junk" of the world in order that we can live the life that He has called us to.  If you have stuff that you feel bound to, please seek the Lord on breaking those chains.  But let me encourage you to not do it independently.  We desperately need the Body of Christ to walk with us as we walk toward freedom.  

I cannot do it justice in these few words here, so let me encourage you to visit the Fenton Historical Museum in Jamestown, NY.  They have recently built a section that celebrates the Underground Railroad that helped to free up countless numbers of slaves.  Two quick lessons from that.  One, it took dozens of people to help a slave receive freedom.  And two, if the slave did not receive help in their free lives, they often times returned to their masters.  I think you can easily draw the spiritual implications of these two ideas.  May we as the body both help people to be free and to stay free.

We also were challenged by Jochebed, Moses' mother.  She was an examplary mother who by her faith helped to shape the world.  Her life is recorded in Ex. 2:1-11.  I encourage you to read it and see what an awesome woman she was.  The only point I want to make to recap is that when Moses was born, she saw that he was a "fine" child.  She saw something special about this kid - not ordinary, not just another baby, but something extraordinary.  May we see people through the eyes of God.  May we see things that others don't.  May we see their God-given potential and may we do everything we can to draw it out.

God bless you all in rich ways this week.  Hopefully we will see many of you on Wednesday Night.  

Remember:  "The king is enthralled by your beauty..."  Ps. 45:11

This Weekend at PF

I write this as I sit at the coffee shop preparing for Sunday and I am listening to some awesome worship music by Jonathan David Helser.  Let me encourage you to listen.  Go to  http://www.aplacefortheheart.org/#  and click on the Music Player button at the top right hand corner of the page.  It's really good stuff.  (Thanks Dave Blick for the link)

This Sunday we will come together and celebrate the Lord and celebrate Mother's Day together.  Bring Mom to church early and treat her to breakfast.  It is served in the cafe from 8:30 - 9:30.  If I may brag a little.  I think it's the best breakfast food around  :-)   

The message this Sunday will be taken from Exodus 2:1-11.  I always tell you that so you can take some time to read it and meditate on it before Sunday.  The Lord wants to speak much more through His word than what is spoken from the pulpit on Sunday morning.

Also, we have added two new features to www.worshipplace.org  Check out the blog that we are currently placing at the top of the page.  This will hopefully be a way to keep you updated on many things.  Go to it often.  Our intent is update it about three times a week.  There is also a link to submit your prayer requests.  Prayer@worshipplace.org  You can also use that link to submit a testimony of what God is doing.

A House of Prayer for All Nations

 The words that the Lord spoke so passionately in Isaiah 56:1-8 are not words to be taken lightly or to be passed over.  Verses 6 and 7 state, “And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant - these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  In reading these verses, it is quite clear that the heart of God is for all nations to come before Him, see His revealed glory and then in turn to glorify Him.  It is His desire that the “nations” come to His “house”, the temple, and that they will pray there.  In other words, the nations will come and will worship the God of Israel, who is also the God of the nations.

Verse 3 says that God will not exclude the foreigner from His people.  Instead, He will accept the foreigner who comes to offer sacrifices.  This was one of the main reasons that God had the temple built.  So that the nations would see His glory and in turn worship and glorify Him. 

Israel in their ethnocentricity rarely if ever understood that God also wanted the nations to worship Him.  At the time of Jesus, nearly 1000 years after the building of Solomon’s temple, the Jews were further than ever from understanding the “house of prayer for the nations” principle.  Is it any wonder that Jesus, in the final week of his life, went after the temple commerce?  I think it is extremely important to understand that when Jesus turned over the tables in Mark 11:15-17, He was thinking something bigger than just overcharging for the required sacrifice.  It was here that He quoted Isaiah 56 by saying that “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”.  The Passion that drove him to do such a “violent” act was directed at the failure of the temple and the nation of Israel to draw in the other nations.  His desire was not just so that the Temple could be used to “pray for” the other nations, but was instead for the Temple to be a place where the Nations would come and pray.

He stays with the money theme by quoting Jeremiah 7:11.  He goes on to say in Mark 11:17, “but you have made it a den of robbers.”  What were they robbing?  Certainly they may have been taking advantage of the Jewish pilgrims coming to offer sacrifice, but that was not the greatest offense.  Could it be that Jesus was condemning Israel for robbing the blessing from the nations of the world?  They were hoarding what was rightfully intended for the gentiles. 

What a challenge this is for the Church today.  Are we sharing the blessing that Jesus has given to us?  Are we desiring that His House would be a house of prayer (worship) for all nations?  Are we intentionally looking for ways to share His plan of redemption?  Are we committed to taking the message of hope to the nations so that the nations may come and worship?  May we never be called a den of robbers.  May we as individuals, as local churches and the Church worldwide never hoard the blessing of knowing our savior Jesus Christ.  May we instead truly be a house of prayer for the nations.

A Dull Ax?

“If the ax is dull and the edges unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.”  Ecclesiastes 10:10

We should realize that the Church does not need to work harder, but rather she needs to work smarter.  Our problem is not that we are unwilling to do what God wants us to or that we are not energized to do it.  The issue is the sharpness of our ax. If we are yielding a dull ax - no matter how hard we swing it just doesn’t cut it.  We can try to get a lot of people with many axes, but the tree still does not fall.  The problem – a dull ax.  We can get a two-sided ax, but it’s still dull.  We could find attractive axes so that many people want to come and watch.  The problem is that the ax is still dull.  We can even take our axes with us all over the world, put them on television and even post them on the internet.  But trees are still not falling.  What’s the problem?  The ax is dull.

The question is:  How sharp is your ax?  How sharp is our ax?  If the ax is sharp, the trees will fall.

I want to leave this as a question for you to ponder.  The answer is not simple and I’m not even sure we can fully understand it.  Meditate on this question and take it before the Lord.  It will not be answered with a list of do’s and don’t’s and the answer may vary from person to person.  But I believe that as we consider the sharpness of our ax, the Lord will reveal to us some keys in making huge, significant, and profound impacts in furthering the Kingdom of God.