Where to start....

Wow!!! A blog???  Never thought I would do such a thing.  But I know there is someone out there be it friends or family that will find humor in the everyday adventure that we call life.

This story started in 2001 when a stubborn, bull headed, jerk (I am talking about me) finally opened his heart and mind and let God take control. You see up to this point I had it all under control.  It was all about number one, and the number one was me not God.  My lovely and beautiful wife was pregnant with our second child and started having some problems with her pregnancy.  She was soon put on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy which meant no income and I had to find a second job.  If this all seems really scattered and hit or miss, get over it this is the way I tell stories.  I find it hard to stay on a subject for any length of time... anyways, oh yeah, after my wife was put on bed rest it all started going downhill.  The bills piled up, my stress level from working two jobs went sky high and honestly the last place I was going to turn was God.  I know shocker right! We were very active in our church and loved the people in our Sunday school class, but I was not going to count on God if He was going to allow my family to struggle.  You see up to this point in my life I really had no clue who God was.  I went to church, I served at the church but I had no RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. 

 In September of 2001 I went with a group of men from our church to a promise keepers rally and that is where I met Jesus face to face.  He called me out and basically to sum it all up he laid it on the line like this.  I have a special calling for you but until you truly know Me you will not know My Father.  Right there on the spot in a stadium full of men in love with Jesus I bowed my head and gave my life to Jesus.  I promised to follow Him wherever He leads.  Well that makes a nice warm fuzzy story but it didn’t stop there.  Then Jesus went on to put a burden on my heart to follow my calling into the ministry.  I tell you what; this is NOT what I wanted with my life.  But I did just give it all to Jesus.  So I said lead me and I will follow. 

And to this point in our life we have moved 12 times since 2001.  I have enrolled in Seminary and dropped out, served on staff in 5 different churches and turned my family’s life upside down many times.  So as you can tell this is not a warm fuzzy, perfect in every way story of a preacher family. This is an honest look into a struggling young preacher and his family as they try to serve a loving God with all their hearts no matter the sacrifice. 

So this is our story, how a family of five has taken the challenge from Jesus to live a life that truly honors Him...

In HIS name for HIS purpose,

Bro.  Rickey

Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.