This past week has been Spiritual Life Emphasis Week at Heritage. We’ve had our hearts stirred by the messages we heard in our chapel services. Special thanks to Pastor Dwyane Cline (Hughson Street Baptist in Hamilton), Pastor Robbie Symons (Hope…
Category: Leadership
New Book: The Heart of the Preacher
This October, I (Rick) have a book being published by Lexham Press (the company that produces Logos Bible Software). The book is called The Heart of the Preacher because it deals with some of the heart-level tests experienced by those who…
Prayer & Praise Update (August 30, 2019)
On this beautiful Friday morning, I'm sitting in my office, enjoying the beauty of our campus. Through the hard work of our facilities team, the grounds and buildings look better than ever. We are getting ready to welcome a wave…
Summer Rest
This past week, I (Rick) had the joy of being in Dallas, Texas to be part of the Dallas Global Proclamation Academy. Each summer, the Dallas GPA, headed by Dr. Ramesh Richard, brings in 25 young pastoral leaders from 25…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 45)
Chapter 45 is one of the most intriguing chapters in the entire book. It is by far the shortest chapter in the book—only five verses long. It is intentionally not in chronological order. The previous six chapters describe the fall…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 43)
This chapter begins as Jeremiah finishes doing what the Jewish remnant had asked him to do—reporting to them the word from the Lord about where they should go and what they should do (42:3). The opening verse of chapter 43…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 42)
Chapter 42 continues the story line that began in 40:7 and runs through the end of chapter 43. Where most of the longer narrative is filled with action and movement (assassination, battle, journey), chapter 42 stands still and records part…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 41)
This chapter continues to chronicle the political and spiritual collapse of the Jewish remnant left in the land after the fall of Jerusalem. Seven months into Gedaliah’s governorship, Ishmael returns to meet with Gedaliah. Ishmael, who is almost always referred…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 40)
Chapter 40 focuses on the release of Jeremiah by the Babylonian officials (summarized briefly in 39:13-14), providing significant details that validate Jeremiah’s ministry and “reward” him for his service—something the Jewish leaders had not done. The second half of the…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 39)
This is the first of two recounting of the fall of Jerusalem; the final chapter in the book (52) gives a more detailed version of the same events. Chapter 39 tells the grim news in chronological sequence with the surrounding…