Rick's Blog

Pastor Rick with his daughter Chelsea and wife Susan

Some Preliminary Thoughts on Church in a Movie theatre…..
February 16, 2012

For one year and three months we have been meeting in a closed movie theatre. We have a lot of
people coming to Crossroads who have not experienced being a portable church. We have been
able to leave all our stuff up and out for 15 months.

The first week of March that will change.

It will be additional work but I’m looking forward to it.

Before the theatre closed the group that set up in the morning was a Life Group in itself. There were
tight relationships. Each person knew what was going on in each other’s life. There was a sense of
satisfaction of seeing a movie theatre converted into a church and watching hundreds of people come
to worship and then converting it back to a movie theatre.

We all knew we were all going to have to do our part if it was going to come together.

Isn’t that the way church is supposed to be? Church was never intended to be a spectator sport.

A lot of people have no idea at all how much work and prayer is involved in what they see happen on
Sunday’s.

I hope you will look for ways to help out and plug in. You can come early set up and come to the first
service or come to the third service and stay to break down.

Jesus said, He did not come to be served but to serve……….
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Downpour………
February 9, 2012

A little over a year ago we began meeting at theatre on Wednesday nights when the theatre closed. We had a
great turn out the first two weeks until we went to the small group format and we lost several people. The small
group setting was outside their comfort zone.

I can tell you, watching the 50 or so who stuck with it, they have grown exponentially spiritually. They now have
formed relationship for when Life happens. They have a prayer support group and people who will encourage
them and pray for them. They sit together on Sunday’s and do life together.

Last Wednesday, we concluded a 12-week study called Downpour by James Macdonald. It was on experiencing
personal revival in our lives. I was blessed to see those who had completed it and how they have grown so much
closer to God and each other.

I will never understand why someone would not want to be in a small group. Sure it is outside their comfort zone but
so will life be when it falls apart and you don’t have that foundation. I see it all the time. They never think it will happen
to them but it does.

In a few weeks, we won’t have the theatre like we did on Wednesday’s except for possible a small theatre. Our Life
groups will be moving to homes and other places. I have been blessed this past year to see a group of people desire
to grow spiritually. I have seen people come their first night who wanted to leave because they know no one and 12-
months later they are flourishing in their Christian life.

I have seen a Downpour!

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Customer Serve-Us
February 2, 2012

I had an interesting experience last Sunday. I went to a place that I will not name -but this place is
a place that deals with the public and provides customer services. I needed some information so
I went to the receptionist who was on the phone. Immediately, I could tell I was an interruption to
her. She asked abruptly, “can I help you?” I told her what I needed and her immediate response
was to “go over there”. I tried to explain a little more…”Go over there”.

I say that to say, some churches can be like that. The Church of Jesus Christ ought to have the
market cornered on customer service. If we are to model our Savior who came to serve and not to
be served then the people God places in our path are not interruptions but our whole reason for
being there.

This person had me walking away thinking how we lose sight sometimes of opportunities when we
see them as interruptions.

Who can you serve today and show them that God values them so much so He was willing to send
His only Son to die for that person.

Have a great week!
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3-2-1
January 26, 2012

I could officially end my Daniel Fast tomorrow but I have decided to end it on Sunday. I am so glad
that several of us decided to do this. I would not have missed the benefits of this past 21-days for
anything!

I have had an increased awareness of God’s presence to the degree of wondering why anyone would
not want to do this! It is amazing. As the saying goes, “you are as close to God as you choose to be”.
I can’t ride off the coattails of someone else’s fast or prayers or commitment to God. I must choose for
myself how close I want to be for God. To me, it has been worth skipping the soft drinks and greasy
drive thru’s and eating really healthy. I feel better because of it.

This 21-day Daniel Fast has been a very small price to pay-21 days out of 365. I will reflect on these 21-days
the rest of the year. Susan and I have also talked about having Daniel Fast dinners to remember these
21-days.

If you are content with your current relationship with God it ought to bother you! If you don’t desire to be
closer to God you need to ask why?

Sunday morning at 6am, I will brew me a piping hot cup of deaf coffee and thank God for the past 21-day
journey and the closeness we have shared these past 3-weeks.

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The Home Stretch…..
January 20, 2012

I’m on the home stretch of The Daniel Fast! I have one week to go (I started a couple days earlier).
I am ending mine on Saturday evening February 28^th. I have got to say that yesterday was probably

my hardest day. I really, really wanted some coffee and meat! We have had some great meals and
Susan made a couple really tasty Daniel Fast dinners.

I am really glad that I did this. I will do it again next year. There is a spiritual element involved that
you just don’t experience not doing this not to mention the health benefits.

I wonder if some who did not participate will think later on……..

WHAT IF

I wonder what God might have done in my life had I participated in this? I wonder if I would have
got that breakthrough I have been looking for had I participated. I wonder if I would have got that
closeness with God back in my life. I wonder………….

Great thing about this is you can do this at anytime. We have a few people just now getting ready to
start the Daniel Fast. I will probably do the Daniel Fast periodically for a few days at a time throughout
the year. We will probably have Daniel Fast dinners occasionally though the year as a reminder of
these 21-Days.

One thing I have seen though this is how addicted our nation is to food. I am grateful for giving up
meat for 21-days because in return, I have got more of God!

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How bad do you want God?
January 13, 2012

For me, I began the Daniel Fast one week ago today. To be honest, it has been challenging. But the
truth is, it is supposed to be! The goal of the Daniel Fast is not just the elimination of certain foods,
but an increased awareness of God though prayer and seeking Him though His Word.

Here is what I have learned so far.

You get out of the Daniel Fast what you put into it.

If you eliminate only the foods that you don’t really crave or desire then you won’t reap the benefits
of the fast.   The verse says in Daniel 10:3 that he ate no “Delicacies”, or some translations say, “choice
foods, or rich foods”. I have adjusted that to what that means for me. “Delicacy” to me may not be a
Delicacy to you. There are some things on the Daniel Fast permissible to eat but to me it would be a
Delicacy so I don’t eat it.

Point is, to make the fast your own and don’t worry about what others are eating and not eating. The
point of the Daniel Fast is not to be the Daniel Fast Police! The point of the Daniel Fast is to draw closer
to God and experience more of Him as we enter 2012.

As you Fast, continue to pray Revival in our church and community. That is what we are praying for
corporately.

You will be tempted to give in and compromise in the coming week. Stand firm. The pay off will be worth
it. 21 days out of 365 is not too big a sacrifice to experiencing more of God!

Praying for you!

Rick~
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Are you Ready?
January 5, 2012

Are you ready for the Daniel Fast? I am beginning this Saturday January 8^th.

I began about 10 days ago weaning myself off caffeine. I only drink a cup to a cup and a half of
coffee and no other caffeine the rest of the day but I still get a headache if I don’t have it. As of
today, I’m down to a third of a cup of half-calf. Tomorrow will be my last day of caffeine. I hope
to take about three sips and be done. I am planning on using this fasting time to totally eliminate
caffeine for good. I plan on going back to decaf when this is over.

I have bought some cereals that I like called Ezekiel 4:9 cereals. You can get these online.
I use Amazon.com. I also like it with coconut milk. It is non-dairy and lactose free.

I have bought some fruit and veggie, and nuts, and whole grain pasta and olive oil.

A couple insights:

This is more than about what to eat and not to eat. Remember, we are not after a glorified diet!
We are after more of God in our lives! Use the cravings that you had before and use those times
to focus on God.

Plan on what your fasting for: Corporately, we want to see revival in our church and in our community. Personally, you may want to fast for a lost loved one or a struggle or habit you
want to break.

Plan your meals: Especially if other people in your family are not participating it may be a challenge
to stay on track. Resolve not and be determined.

Pray: Pray for God’s guidance and strength as you begin. Be in His Word daily. Let His Spirit lead
you while you fast.

I will be honest, I partially began this fast about a week ago just to work toward it and I feel better
already. The first week will be the hardest. There will be temptations and the devil does not want
you to grow closer to God to be on your guard.

I’m praying for you and I hope you will me as well as we journey together.

Let me know if your participating and if you found any good recipes and I’ll post some
of them.

Rick@crossroadsnewport.com