My wife and I went on a church planting retreat during the 1st week of October and I decided to have some fun and ventured out onto the high ropes course.

Suspended way on high about 40 or 50 feet above the ground, with just cables and hooks to support my hefty frame; in that situation, it is quite easy to ponder your certain vulnerability. Although it is a very safe environment with great safety equipment and qualified folks to ensure you don’t make a dumb move – there is a certain element of fear in the mix.

I have come to the conclusion that being a Church Planter is very similar. As I survey the course before me, and I ponder the diverse obstacles that lie ahead of me, an element of both excitement and nervous fear enter the mix. There is safety in the leaders I have surrounded myself with and the training tools that are readily available. However, actually stepping out and onto that first high-line is always the most difficult step; and the same applies with every new obstacle thereafter.

That being said, two words kept ringing loud and clear during this past weekend’s retreat, and they are the words – humility and humbleness. As I sat and listened to the speakers and the group discussions we had, I realized that much like the tools and equipment I had to use in order to complete that ropes course; I cannot accomplish one single step of this church planting process faithfully without Him.

The enemy has many ways of attacking us and throwing obstacles in our path. Whether it is family related issues; church related successes and failures; or our own pride and egos, we are vulnerable to attack from myriad of positions. It is unfathomable to me that anyone could think that they could accomplish such an endeavor without total reliance on Him delivering us through each and every obstacle and success. Much like that High Ropes Course – I/we need the safety net of the Holy Spirit and guidance from above to get to the other side.

Simple advice - use your equipment wisely and listen to your instructor for potential hazards! So.., enjoy the course and wild ride!

Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Place: Mayorga Coffee Factory, Silver Spring, MD.
Link here: http://www.mayorgacoffee.com/stores_det.php?cod=1

This will be a very informal gathering of like
minds and discussion of the future in the
DC/MD/VA/WV/DE/PA Makers of Fire event sometime
next year.

Alex will be there to share his thoughts and
wisdom. Hope to see as many of you as possible. It
would be cool to meet many of you very cool Operatives.

Pls let me know if you are going to make it for sure.

Thanks and until then - Peace

Rich

If you think you can make it, hit me up on Vox or on the “M” at http://myimn.com/profile/YoRichie

Click here to go to IMN/DC on M!

The tears of the Old woman
Roll down her cheek
They find their place in
My mind and pierce my heart.

No home to speak of
In search of some food and Love
Her name is Maggie,
I begin to weep.

(Ref)
Now my gut twisted and torn
with Your Compassion - Your Love
I want to scream
I want to cry
I want to die….,
To myself; and
Be Your Hands, Your Heart, Your Love

Dirty, scarred, worn hands
They are this man’s mark
They find their place
In my hands and in my heart

A man alone
In search of food and Hope
His name is Kerry
I’m driven to tears

(Ref)

A twinkle and a smile on her face
A welcome surprise
They find their place
In my eyes and in my heart

Blessed and warm, yet..
In search of food and a Home
Her name is Tara
I’m now sobbing.

(Ref)

Lord let me be Your Hands, Your Heart, Your Love
Lord let us be Your Hands, Your Heart, Your Love
Helps to bring the Kingdom above to those You so Love
With Your Hands, Your Heart, Your Love

By: Richie - Ode to the Homeless of P.I.N. Ministry. Date: 12 July 2007

16 Ideas that have stayed with me by Richie

#1 - 1963 or 64? – Entered a Catholic Children’s Home (Sacred Heart Home for Children) for 2 years and then another year in foster homes. The home was not necessarily an orphanage, but it was for kid whose parents were unable to take care of them. There were about 250 children from the around the age of 3 to 14 or 15 there. My brother and I returned to live home again at the age of 5 or so.

#2 - 1966-72 – Returned to the Children’s Home. Was abused while there both physically and mentally in different ways; not by the staff however. I had my first meaningful dialog with GOD there when I was around 8, I yelled at Him for an hour or so on a sub-zero wind chilled day in a cornfield. I think he heard me. J We left the home and the day I left I announced to my Dad I was going back, but I wanted to be a priest. He and my new step mom admonished me; so…., I went home to a big party they had for us; and at the age of 12 I got drunk for the very first time. Kinda odd based on my previous announcement just prior to that. The enemy then sent me spiraling down another road of substance abuse and various addictions for the next 17 years – what a punk he is!

#3 -1976 – Met my future wife; it was Love at first sight. I was 15 and she was 16.

#4 -1978 – Joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17; left home and never looked back with the exception of my girl.

#5 - 1980 – Married my high school sweetheart, and later that year we had a son and named him Chad Ryan. Over the next 4 years we had two more children – Sean W. and Megan Elaine.

#6 – 1989 – 3 significant events happened this year. Promoted to Chief Petty Officer in the Navy; and later that year was commissioned as a Naval Officer. Both of these were professional achievements that I am still quite very proud of; I was a driven man those first 10 years in the Navy. However, in August of 1989 – I was re-introduced to the man named Jesus; and this time I fell in Love and from that day forward my life has never been the same. Thank you Miguel Gallegos for taking the time to share Him with me; I am forever grateful!

# 7 – 1992 – Moved into our first purchased (brand new) home and we have lived her in Virginia Beach in that home since July of 1992.

# 8 – 1989 -1996 – Tumultuous years in my life. I had carried a ton of baggage into my marriage and even into my relationship with Jesus; and I had never dealt with those issues. This season of my life was very, very tough. I went through ups and downs in both relationships until I started to do the dirty work of facing my past and how it was affecting me as a man, a believer, a husband, and a father. This was a time of pain but also tremendous growth. My recommendation to anyone – Face the Pain – in the long run it is worth it; and He who heals will be there right with you the entire time.

# 9 – 1993 – My first glimpse of serving the King. Taught various levels of children at church, and was then taken on as the Youth Pastor for a local church until l997. This was during a tough time in my life – but serving helped me to stay focused on the finish line. Had a blast with the youth – we were the first church in the area to put on concerts with a mosh pit; this was also my first experience ever preaching the word – very humbling time in my life; but very, very rewarding.

#10 - 1998 – Present – I met Vince Antonucci and caught the Vision of Forefront Church. Sent me in a complete tailspin with respect to evaluating church and how it is done. Being raised Catholic and then being in a church previously that was fairly conservative – this was a breath of fresh air for me! I immediately became immersed in the Ethos/Culture of Forefront and have been serving there in a myriad of capacities: small groups; small groups leaders; small groups leader coach/mentor; men’s ministry leader/coach; children’s ministry teacher on Sunday’s (currently 1^st/Kind.); Set up and Tear down (we’re mobile in school); and getting ready to eliminate some duties and take on Global Outreach and Church Planting coach. I began reading books on a much more regular basis during this time; at one point, I was shooting for one a month. Have slowed a bit now with school, but will get back to that mode eventually.

#11 – 2001 – Our daughter Megan was killed in a single car crash on Easter Sunday morning (15 Apr 01). That morning I read the book of Job – but the two things that really caught my attention in the entire book were: #1 – When the going gets rough – Worship; #2 – I can yell and debate with God and he will listen. So…, I did both – the worship got me through, and the dialog with Him helped me to vent. I did not receive answers right away – however, the last 6 years have been amazing with respect to growth and maturation. Additionally, the outpouring of Love from so many that still happens even to this day – has been truly overwhelming. Would I ever want to go through that again – NO WAY!! However, it has been a mixed bag of blessings and many of those, I would never, ever give back either.

#12 – 2002 – ORIGINS Conference in Los Angeles – this was when I caught my real first glimpse of the Post-modern discussion and kingdom living here on earth. Met both Alex and Erwin at Dinner one night –and have conversed occasionally or bumped into Alex at conferences over the last few years. The idea of using more creativity and the arts in how we reach out was firmly planted in my heart; but God was also doing something in my heart with respect to looking more at the Globe versus my own little area of the world. Couple years later I also attended a Catalyst conference in which I sat in on 2 Brian McClaren labs that were absolutely mind-blowing – but helpful. Brian two years earlier had actually taught a small groups conference for Forefront Church, I thought that kinda funny. You may not totally agree with the guy, but he is stinkin brilliant! His book “New Kind of Christian� was a bit of an eye-opener for me too.

#13 – 2003 – My father died after a long bought of emphysema. My dad had a huge impact on my life, both good and bad; and I Loved him dearly. I was able to intro him to Jesus and see his acceptance; so, I get to hang with him for eternity and a day. I do miss our every Sunday conversations though. This very same year in the fall – God spoke clearly into my heart about Orphans of Aids. Given my childhood and a myriad of other things – He was giving me clear understanding that I had been groomed along the way to be involved in this horrible world-wide problem in some form or fashion.

#14 – 2004/2005 – Both of my sons graduated from James Madison University; and I started to work on my first degree at the age of 44. Our family is the first in the entire Merritt bloodline to have anyone attend or graduate from an institute of higher learning. Our marriage is also the only one not destroyed by divorce in our entire bloodline. So.., not sure what that all means – but I think it significant and it made for a good year.

#15 – 2005-2007 – Have attended Londen Institute School of Evangelism at the prompting of Vince my pastor. From an educational standpoint, it has been 2 of the most fruitful years of my life. I have met some fantastic people; and have had the opportunity to sit under some of the finest teachers and pastors in order to prepare me for the next step in this journey. In the Fall of 2006, God again spoke clearly into my heart about being a Church Planter, while also showing me how this would fit into my work with Orphans of Aids. This in turn has sent me on another adventure all together. So.., it has been an impacting and interesting couple of years.

#16 – 2006 – Karen and I attended Church Planting Assessment in Chicago, IL. These 3 days or so, reaffirmed what God had clearly laid in my heart the October before; and it also was a turning point I think for my wife, who quite honestly was very reluctant to the entire idea in the beginning. That was for several reasons; one being my previous impetuous mannerisms in the past; but much of it was fear of the unknown. This and prayer by her, others, and me have been instrumental in quelling some of that fear. J We have decided on going back to the place we left almost 30 years ago; and start a community that will rock that place, and begin a new revolution of Love in the Lehigh Valley of Penna, the State of Penna, the Nation, the World (Acts 1:8).

#16(cont’d) – The Present – I am impacted and shaped by the future that awaits me. Chomping at the bit, hands tight on the wheel – I am ready to run! Aaaaahh, but the greatest shaping I’ve received in the recent past and present is – Patience. I must wait, each step is guided, and I am now careful not to run ahead too far – lest I get lost in myself and wander from the path.

So.., the Vision of the Future is now impacting who I am today! And…, man am I stoked!!

http://myimn.com

IHL,

Richie

THIS IS PART II of FATHER’s DAY from my previous post: 

            So…, after recovering from a bit of tearful sadness in my heart, I did the typical male thing and said, to myself; “self.., what are you doing crying over a TV show – suck it up man!�    Then my thoughts wandered back to the final words in the Grey’s Anatomy scene, and I chewed on them a bit.  In pondering those lines, I began to think on God the Father (my REAL Father).  The question I then asked myself was…, “How can I exist in a world in which my real father does not exist?�

             Simply put – I cannot!  By that I mean I cannot truly exist as a spirit man or being with a soul - without Him.  My opinion is that God deals with us on a spiritual level & very rarely – if at all in our lifetime will we deal with Him in the physical realm (outside of the beauty of nature of course).  It is also my opinion that our spirit being is really who we are – our bodies are just temporary residences.  Our Father is concerned for both aspects of who we are; but the fact is our spirit lives live on forever; and it is in that realm where we develop & nurture our relationship and intimacy with Him. 

            In recent years (the last 5 or 6), I have done some self-reflection on my life & in doing so, I looked hard at the things that I either made a choice to do or not to do, or the things that have been allowed to happen to me or those I love.  This self-examination came about as a result of a series of traumatic events in my own personal life (the loss of our 16 year old daughter; the death of my father; and other issues).  In the midst of those events my Father (God) revealed himself to me in such a way, that I realized that there is no way that I could exist without Him.  For it was He who sustained me in a way that I, nor no one else ever could have - or did for that matter.  He was the calm undercurrent of the torrent waters that were battering me in the physical realm.

               It was in those times, that I became acutely aware His presence and Love for me; but I also grew exponentially in various ways along the way.  My wife and I grew spiritually, emotionally, and mentally in ways that just blow our minds as we look back. 

            So.., through the odd circumstances of catching a glimpse of a show that I normally do not watch – The Father reminded me once again – That HE is!  However, unlike the character’s comments in the scene, I don’t ever want the feeling of not being able to exist without Him to go away.  I yearn for it - I seek it daily now. 

            So this year and from here on out, until I depart this earth physically; I want to say to my real Father – “HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DADDY!�

In case you haven’t heard it through the grapevine - there is a new hangout!  It’s called the “M” - check it out:  http://myimn.com/

Join the revolution!!

IHL,

Richie

FATHERS DAY – PT. 1

The title and opening quotes were the ending two lines of Grey’s Anatomy last week.  I never watch this show, but I was flicking through the channels and whammo.  So.., I sat and watched the entire ending of this show unfold; in which one of the main character’s father had just died in a very touching family setting.  The family first had to decide to let the father die on his own because all of his organs had failed, and then all of them were around his bed for his last breath.

I will admit to an occasional tear and emotion during some films (like Rocky VI – haha!), but this one hit home for me.  My father died in a similar way just a little over 4 years ago.  My father and I had a strange relationship; because, for one he was the source of a lot of my pain during my childhood and young adult years.  He knew that, and I knew that; and it took us years to work that out, but we eventually did.  My father was not a good role model and was not a follower of Christ until about 2 years before he died; but I Loved him dearly.  It has been hard and when he left, I did wonder how I would “exist in a world in which my father does not exist?�

So…., what’s the point Rich?  Father’s Day……

#1 - If you have a great father and a great relationship and all of life with him has been just outstanding; then honor that and him for those great years.  Cherish them all and make the most of each year with him because the end does eventually come – and sometimes quicker than we like.

#2 – If your father was like mine and he was not necessarily the best father in the world and maybe even the worst in your mind; then you should try your hardest to do at least one of two things, but preferably both.  First, forgive him.  Secondly, if he is still around, work it out if you can.  Some things take years, some are fixed quickly.  However, the forgiveness issue is key to your own personal happiness and possibly that of your father’s too.

#3 – If you do not know who your father is.  Again…, forgive him for being absent.  Secondly, face the issues that may have come about as a result of that head on.  Life is too short to be carrying the ball and chain of unforgiveness and pain around forever.  You will be so much better off in having done this.

The whole key to a good father/child relationship is exemplified by God in His dealing with us personally.  He forgives us for all; yet…, we cannot forgive??  That’s a bit illogical – no?

So…, look to the Father above to help you forgive your father here on this earth.

I’ll follow up with PART II later - and discuss what spiritual application fell into my heart as I heard those closing lines of Grey’s Anatomy.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all you fathers out there!

For you single mothers out there – Thanks for being Mom and Dad!!  HAPPY DAY TO YOU TOO!

IHL,

Richie

Here is an entry he made on 15 May 07 and I just had to share it:

“An open apology”
“I can’t apologize for all Christians but I can apologize for the way many of us Christians have a tendency to misrepresent Christ.

I’m sorry for the bumper-stickers that tell you “I’m not perfect, just forgiven,� and then we drive like a bat out of hell.

I’m sorry for a pamphlet left on the table that tells you how to get to heaven instead of leaving an appropriate tip.

I’m sorry for being so involved in “church� that I make no positive difference in the community.

I’m sorry for preaching that God created the earth and then not really taking good care of what He created.

I’m sorry for signs that are held at rallies that say “God hates fags.�

I’m sorry for the crusades�holy wars that were decreed in the name of Christ�that were simply excuses to accumulate wealth.

I’m sorry for horrible inquisitions, using every imaginable form of torture, to help the church maintain its political power.

I’m sorry that the church condemned scientists as heretics because they presented differing views from what the church taught.

I’m sorry, that for centuries, the church not only condoned slavery but was heavily involved in the slave trade.

I’m sorry that a large portion of the church turned a blind eye to Hitler’s attempted genocide of the Jewish race.

I am painfully aware that many people view Christians as arrogant and unconcerned about their opinions. And for that, I am sorry.

I’m sorry that, in so many ways, we have failed to live like Jesus . . . but maybe it all begins with an apology.”

Amen & Amen!