Fear and loathing in Ballymena

         It seems that one of the most fearsome things that can be faced in the UK – or Ireland and even the rest of Western Europe for that matter, Rick has just encountered. It is the practical driving test. In order to complete the requirements for a full UK driving license, one has to pass three tests: a written, a computerized hazard perception test and the third and final is the dreaded behind the wheel, or practical, driving test. The driving test is spoken of with wide-eyed, hushed terms: what the tortuous rite of passage is for a young jungle native – this is the UK’s equivalent. It is designed to be a genuine test of a new driver’s mastery of his vehicle and the road. It is taken very, very seriously. The testers are extremely picky, and the slightest mistake results in automatic failure. Virtually no one passes on their first go – including me!

Yes, I am included in the long list of practical driving test failures. I took the test in the middle of this month (February) and even after taking driving lessons the tension from the pressure must have gotten to me. Yikes, for the first time, my car’s wheels brushed the curb during a parallel park – an automatic failure. I was quietly confident going into it, especially as it was occurring during a week when I had received a bunch of good news from fall-out of the accident in January. But now we have to pay the expense of another test which, by the way, is set for Tuesday the 8^th of March. I need your prayers; fervent, sincere and serious ones for success on that day. May God have mercy on my soul.

It makes me think of how thankful I am for passing God’s test for entering into everlasting life. Too often, we think that He has a standard that has been set just as impossibly high as the practical driving test. We feel that we must behave in absolute perfection – our wheels mustn’t dare brush the curb either. We may think that “God is our co-pilot,” holding a heavenly clipboard to mark each and every mistake as He critically scrutinizes our every move. But the reality is He is gracious and understands the total impossibility of us being “good enough” to earn our salvation. “For by grace you have been saved by faith…not a result of works,” Ephesians 2:8,9 says.  The Lord Himself passed the test for us by dying in our place for our sins on the cross: “for the death he died, he died to sin,” Romans 6:10 says. It goes on to say “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” (8:31-33) Thank you God for having mercy on my soul!

God's Protection

I had to preface what I told Cindy during a call to her in the first week of January with the words, “I’m perfectly fine, but…” The night before, while on my way to a prison for ministry, I was involved in an accident that should have been horrific. A young lady lost traction on a steep, icy lane that intersected the busy major road I was on and flew into our road impacting a car in the opposite lane and then spun into me striking dead center on the driver’s side door.

Amazingly, we all got right out of our cars with no obvious injuries. I told each of the others the truth – we weren’t lucky, we were blessed. The Lord was watching out for us. The Psalms say a lot about God’s protection of those who entrust themselves to Him. In Psalm 41 it says, “In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive…”

Although the damage to our car did not seem to be horrible at the time, the insurance company wrote it off as a total loss due to the age of the car. Thankfully, it was released to us with a reduced pay off so we can have it repaired on our own. The car is sitting in our driveway, but we are unable to drive it at this time. Although this may be a major inconvenience, we are at least learning the local transit system and have seen the faithfulness of our many good friends here when we have needed rides.

Though there is an unseen enemy at work opposing the call we have to be here, we are reassured by God’s word which says, “[The Son] is before all things and in him all things are held together” Col 1:17. So we appreciate your prayers for a timely resolution of our vehicle and driving situation. Pray also that the Lord will continue to use us to bring His love to those He has planned to cross our paths. 

   Give Tanks

This is the time of the year when we are thinking about the giving of gifts to family and friends, so am I suggesting a possibility in the title? No, not at all. One of the most amusing and, sometimes, challenging things that appeal to Cindy and me in this land are the accents. One sure-fire way to tell if someone is from the Republic of Ireland is by their pronunciation of “th’s,” or rather, their non-pronunciation of them. So what I have titled this wee writing is in the southern dialect’s way of saying, “Give thanks!”

Having just celebrated a Thanksgiving dinner with members of Harvest, I have had to reflect on what I can give thanks to God for. At first, all the good stuff comes to mind – the things we like to think of as “blessings.”  But the Bible talks about the “sacrifice of thanksgiving.” To be thankful for difficulties, disappointments, defeats and even disease is giving a sacrifice of thanksgiving. When we express faith by such a sacrifice of thanks, we grow in understanding of God and also grow deeper in the love that the Lord has for us.

Like a little child at Christmastime, we may have our heart set on a G.I. Joe tank as a gift, but would we be thankful if we received a pair of socks instead? So in our lives right now we may be receiving tanks or socks, but no matter what is coming our way, we can be “giving tanks.” In fact, Cindy and I will be spending this Christmas apart for the first time in our marriage, but we will still be able to give tanks. 

Cindy's going to California

As many of you know, Cindy's father has not be well for some time.  Recently his health has worsened. For the past week or so we have been seeking the Lord regarding if she should come back for a couple of weeks prior to our already scheduled trip in April/May for our visa renewal.  This seemed an especially good time as we have finally gotten in touch with our son Daniel.  The Lord gave us direction, that indeed this is His will.

So, Cindy will be arriving in LA on Dec 19 and leaving Jan 12.  Obviously her primary focus will be her family.  I will be staying home, taking care of the things needing to be done here in Northern Ireland.  

In January, Cindy will be attending the Missions Conference in Murrieta.  She will be staying with our lifelong friends Bill and Mary in Murrieta during that time, they live just down the road from the conference center.

So lots to be praying for please.  

• For Cindy as she travels, a blessed visit with her parents, and family.  
• A fruitful time with Daniel, whom we have not spoken to since March.  For Daniels complete surrender to Jesus. 
• For me while Cindy is away, I will be spending Christmas with some good friends here, we had already planned to spend the Christmas weekend with them.
• For the unplanned costs of this trip, as Pastor Chuck always says, "Where God guides, God provides"
• For my mom's, Dee, health as well.  She was recently hospitalized, and was very ill.  She is recovering very slowly, but is making good progress. She is currently living with my sister in Washington. Also, for the sale of her home, she will have to move into a smaller home once she able to be on her own.

We appreciate your prayers, love and support at this trying time.  So if you see Cindy, please be sure to take good care of her for me.

Thank you,

Pastor Rick

If you would like to bless us with a wee Christmas gift to help with the cost of the flight, you are more than welcome to! 

Please contact: 

GO! Ministries, PO Box 651, Norco, CA 92860

Please reference “Acct #1240” in the memo line of your check or you can donate on line @ “go.ccnorco.org”

Rick's Birthday - Model Railway Exhibit at Ulster Transportation Museum

We spent last Saturday afternoon at a local museum for Rick's birthday.  He loves trains, and especially model trains!  He's just a big kid at heart anyway...as many of you already know!  Here are some of the pictures we took.  We had a great day, I really enjoyed watching him enjoy all the exhibits, and there were plenty!

Finding Favor in Friends and Family

October was a month of renewal. Renewed friendships, renewed fellowship in the Lord and renewed relationships with family. Spring is usually thought of as a time of renewal, not the autumn, but for Cindy and me it was a reversal this year. The month started out with the first ever All Ireland conference for the Calvary Chapel fellowships on the island. We were able to renew friendships with all the folks we had met just a few weeks before during the children’s ministry training. Also, some of our wonderful pastor friends came over there, too, including the great Irish ex-patriot John Henry Corcoran who is now based in Costa Mesa California.

The conference itself was themed around the “Parables of the Kingdom of God” and 9 messages were given by all the Irish pastors as well as those who had traveled from America.  The result was a renewed closeness with the Lord.

The month ended on a high note with the visit of Dan and Deb Schell, Cindy’s oldest brother and his wife.  We all had a delightful time and of course, good ‘craic’.  It was nice to have them to ourselves in our own home. When the Schell family gathers there is always a flurry of activity and a lot of people around. Their visit with us this time resulted with a renewed and deepened relationship between brother and sister.

            So it was all about family this month.  We can see in our natural family an image of the family of God – we are brothers and sisters in the faith. God pours out His blessings on the family and in a variety of ways we received those blessings in this past month. We thank the Lord for the blessing of renewal in the family at home, the family of faith and the family on earth.          “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” 2Cor 4:16

Cindy, John Henry & Rick 

Dan and Deb by Belfast City Hall

Dan, Deb, Cindy & Rick

Visiting an old graveyard

Dan and Deb at Galgorm Castle

Hallelujah Party 2010

This year again Harvest held a Hallelujah Party as a Halloween alternative. There were a lot more people who came this year.  Rick shared the Gospel message through an object lesson. Everyone had a wonderful time as you can in the pictures below...


Everyone truly enjoyed the time and we are already looking forward to next years!

Kids guessing the quantities of goodies in the jars

Stick the leaf to the tree....way to go Little Bo Peep!!!

Let's go fishing....

Apple swing game...first to eat the apple wins...this was so funny...couples, kids and their parents..great fun

Cupcake Walk