Pastor's Page
A Mother's Work - May 2013
Deuteronomy 32:11 is a song of Moses that Portrays the image of God as the Mother eagle “that stirs up its nest, spreading out its wings catching them.” This is a picture of little eaglets whose time has come to leave the nest. And the mother is pushing them out. First she stirs up the nest. With her mighty claw she reaches down through the fluffy down and pulls up the thorns which are part of the structure of the nest, making it very uncomfortable. Then she pushes her young out of the nest and they fall toward the ground, fluttering unable to fly. She swoops under them and catches their fall and repeats this until they are able to fly on their own.
A good mother doesn’t want her young to go on being dependent on her, and so she prepares them to leave the nest and for a life of independence. Nurturing the young, teaching them by precept and example, and training them in the affairs of life is what parenting is all about. God is liken unto a mother, the mother eagle who wants those eaglets to be independent and to get on with life. To be sure, we will never come to be independent of God for life depends on God. But we can and should grow into mature human beings and live responsible lives.
A mother’s work is never done! But the purpose of her work is to teach and to train her young so that one day they can stand on their own. In this sense God is like our mothers desiring that we grow in His truth and that truth shapes and molds our lives. A mother’s work and God’s work is really never done.
Pastor Ricky
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More than A Parade - April 2013
A little country boy saw a poster announcing a circus coming to his county seat town. He had never seen a circus. He counted the days. He saved his money. On the last night he could hardly sleep because he was so excited. He was up at the crack of dawn. He stood along the street to watch the circus parade. He saw the lions, tigers, and bears. He saw the beautiful horses, the tremendous elephants, the acrobats, the jugglers, the clowns, and the circus band. His eyes were large and glistening, and he was thrilled with it all. When it was over, he stepped out of the crowd, handed the last man in the parade his money, and went back home. Not until years later did he discover he had never been to a circus and never been inside the big top. He had only watched the parade.
Christianity is far more than the high points. To follow Christ is a life journey that takes commitment and faithfulness. It’s a day in day out resolve to be more than a spectator. Yet, so many, would be follow, are contented to be nominal and merely watch as the parade goes by. Christmas and Easter are truly Times to be remembered and celebrated, but for so many that’s all there seems to be to this Christ life. They come to the parade but never enter the big top.
As a believer and follower of Christ you need the church and the church needs you. Jesus saw the importance of the local church in the life of His followers. The church would b e the place of fellowship, prayer and instruction. To love Christ would find its reality in loving the church. It’s impossible to love Christ and not love what He died for. If I were to measure the love some claim to have for Christ, by their apparent love for the local church and their involvement in it, it would be suspect to say the least. You cannot love the Head and not love the body! The church is the body of Christ. If you are a part of the body, stop trying to amputate yourself. Commit, be faithful, the body is only as healthy as you are healthy.
Pastor Ricky
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Outrageous - March 2013
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A Greater Service - February 2013
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Read the Book of Books - January 2013
Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. "Well mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army to build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."
Now, Joey, "is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked! "Well, no mom, But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it! "
The Bible is the Word of God. It is God breathed and it's human writers were super tended by God. The very words, down to the letters, are inspired by Him. In the Bible we have the very heart and intention of God. Therefore, it is totally trustworthy and authoritative. The pages of scripture reveal a God who is all powerful, all knowing and ever present. The God of the Bible is never short on acts that are glorious and miraculous. From the moment of creation to the last amen The Bible reveals a God like no other. He is unique and no one is like Him or above Him. Certainly, we would expect nothing less from the One we call God. By definition alone He is the supreme and ultimate reality. He is perfect in power, wisdom and goodness. He is to be feared and worshiped by all.
The Bible is an amazing book. It is filled with miraculous stories that reveal a God who is truly God. And the most awesome truth is that this God wants to intersect with your life. Each time you open the pages of Scripture you will find that God meets you there. So why not plan and spend the coming year reading all the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, get to know your God. While doing so you just might discover much about yourself.
Pastor Ricky
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A Greater Dream - December 2012
I think that it is every parent’s dream to make life for their children better than it was for them. I sometimes wonder if we have reached the pinnacle of that dream. How much better can we make it? And if we can is it really a good thing? I’m not so sure that all we are actually creating is a generation who believe that they are entitled to all that has been given to them.
When I was a boy, Christmas was always looked forward to with great anticipation. It seemed to take forever to get here and yes, “the gift thing” was much of the cause for excitement. But in those days gift giving was limited, especially when there were multiple kids calling for a piece of the pie.
I can remember hearing my Father say, and many from his generation, that often they were lucky to get a piece of fruit or a piece of candy. So, naturally my Dad sought to do better for us, and yet that is still nothing compared to what we try to do today.
Sometimes I’m perplexed by all the stuff we have. Yes I am grateful, and very
much aware how things make life easier. But at the same time, I think we need to heed the warning of Solomon of Old who said “the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). The more you have, the more you have to care for and worry about. Our life can become consumed and controlled by our possessions. Even Jesus said that where your treasure is there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
It’s good to dream. Its even good to desire better for your children. But we fail them if in our dream for them, all we are doing is creating a generation who believe they are entitled to all that is given to them. Would to God, our dream for them would be to give them Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Would to God, that each of you pursued for your children to know God, like you do other things in life. Maybe I’m just dreaming!
Pastor Ricky
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Yes, God is Good - November 2012
The declaration that “God is good,” along with the community response, “all the time” can become cliché and its meaning trite. Even well meaning people can say and practice things without much thought or gratitude. We can become robotic and merely recite what we are told. So, is God really good?
The goodness of God, according to theologian Wayne Grudem, means that God is the final standard of good and all that God is and does is worthy of approval. God Himself is good and all that He does is good and everything that is good must be measured by His standard of goodness. If God is eternal and the creator of all things, and scripture declares that He is, then He is the definer of what is good and sets the standard of good because He is the ultimate good. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “No one is good but God” (Luke 18:19). The Psalmist also joins this affirmation by declaring, “the Lord is good” (Ps100:5), or exclaims, “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good” (Ps. 106:). David also encourages us when he says, “O taste and see that the Lord is Good!” (Ps. 28:8). God is good and goodness cannot be understood apart from Him.
So then we ask, What is good? “Good is what God approves because He is good and the standard of all goodness. Actually, God is the height of goodness and reigns there supremely because no one is above Him. Yes, God is good and only does good things. That is why scripture says, “that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and come down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
If you just look at your life, God’s goodness to you should be very evident. You are alive, breathing, clothed and well fed. You live in America, have a family and great friends. And if you know Jesus, you have the greatest expression of God’s goodness to be known. So be thankful to God for all the goodness in your life and the next time you hear someone say God is good don’t let a mere trite cliché be your response. Say it with all your heart.
Pastor Ricky
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Giver? Receiver? - October 2012
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Be Like Jesus - September 2012
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Passing Time - August 2012
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Make It Count - June 2012
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A Heart for God - May 2012
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Raised To Life - April 2012
“Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.” These are words often sung with little attention. Revival is an act of reviving, or the state of being revived. It is actually a renewed attention to our interest in something. In the spiritual sense, and that is where the word is used the most, it means a renewed interest in the things of God. To be revived spiritually seems to be a constant need among us. It’s easy for us to become distracted. Often we find ourselves cold and indifferent, and the love we once had for the Lord Jesus not the same. Our zeal and devotion are challenged by other loves and interests. God help us?
The hymn writer expressed this sentiment very succinctly when he wrote, “Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Life can capture our heart and before we know it good things can take the place of best things.
I don’t believe it is ever our intention to stand in need of revival. It would be great if the fire continually burned. But the fact that we do cannot be argued. We are in a spiritual warfare. A great battle is being for our heart and devotion. Satan, the world, and our flesh desire to consume us and control us. Often it appears that they are winning.
The hymn writer who penned the words above about wandering and leaving concluded that stanza with the words, “Here’s my heart, to take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.” Understanding the tendency to wander and leave should drive us to our knees. Knowing the potential within us to coldness and indifference should cause us to stand guard and be vigilant in the battle. We must do all we can to make certain God has our heart.
Pastor Ricky
"Prayerfully focused on Christ, our community and the people of the world with the mandate to reach and equip individuals for spiritually healthy lives."
Pastor's Family
Abby, Pastor Ricky, Alison, Lil' Addie, Kelly and Kady (left to right)
2230 Riverview RoadLincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 735-3935 - Phone
(704) 732-9191 - Fax
