you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's Those who are true friends have weathered
mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, many storms together with me while others
holy and pleasing to God - this is your true have parted ways. I am troubled by those
and proper worship.” (NIV), and Col. 3:23 tells relationships even when I have tried to reconcile
us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your them but have had to leave it in God’s hand.
heart, as working for the Lord, not for human
masters.” (NIV). Career and calling can be two [WM] I know that for myself, much of life is
entirely different things, because when we about pressing on as the Apostle Paul instructs
approach our lives as “callings” rather than us to do, and I know that this is true for you as
“careers”, we place ourselves in God’s hands. well. You have to. And in moving on, I find myself
What are your thoughts on this? I know that categorizing people as “because of”, or “in
managing it all has at times been rough and spite of” people. I’m either influenced because
controversial on you from both ends. of people and situations, or I’m impacted to
press on in spite of them. Any thoughts on this?
[Richie] First of all, I write from my personal
perspective and “I’ve Got A Reason” was about
[Richie] Yes, you are correct. Life presents
a very traumatic time in my life. My wife and I had
us with challenging moments that cause us to
been married for 7 years and were separated for the potential of my ministry, both inside and evaluate how to negotiate the next move. With
7 months. It was a difficult time that I wouldn’t outside the four walls of the church. I admit it that I believe the key verse is (Proverbs 3:5-6):
trade for anything right now because I learned was/is a unique ministry, and balancing it was “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean
the place the Lord wanted in my life, which is only possible by the grace of God and the not on your own understanding; In all your ways
first place. This particular album spoke about prayers of those who understood and knew I acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your
the struggles and the hope I had placed in wasn’t trying to balance a career and a calling. paths”. The Lord brings many different people
Jesus to restore our relationship. It’s interesting They were uniquely intertwined. into our lives; some are there to “see what’s in it
the name of Jesus doesn’t appear on any song.
for them” while others are there to compliment
But that album became too “Christian” for the [WM] Since I’ve Got a Reason, you have and encourage. Some will fool you and cause
secular world and too “secular” for the Christian amassed a sizable discography of record you to step back for a moment to contemplate
world, getting caught between the proverbial projects featuring many iconic mainstream “what in the world just happened?”. I guess
“rock and a hard place”. It was around this time Rock and Americana music artists, all playing on they all have their place for growth and trust in
that I thought my musical “career” was over and singing your songs. And yet many of these our walk of faith and I’m not saying we won’t be
and my focus was only on the restoration of my recordings are lyrically based upon a Christian hurt along the way, but life is like that. The Lord
marriage. As time would have it we reconciled worldview. That’s quite an accomplishment in knows even when we don’t and by His grace
and through a couple of years and counselling, today’s polarized and antagonistic culture. Your we move on.
I started a Calvary Chapel Church (with Pastor bonds of friendship and music are evidently Chuck Smith’s “blessing”). Early on there were quite strong to include all these folks. What [WM] In a time of ageism throughout much of
some who could not grasp the idea that I could can you tell us about this dynamic of reaching society and commercial music, the practice has
pastor a church and still do music. I had the out to others via music, and these projects, all even permeated the Church in certain pastoral
support of all the pastor friends I knew at the recorded while you were a pastor? and worship leader decisions. What are your
time, but my congregation was slower to come
thoughts on this?
around. In fact, it wasn’t until the latter half of [Richie] Again, this has been the grace of
my pastorate that my congregation understood God. I am thankful for and have been blessed
[Richie] Since I became a Believer in 1974,
by the friends I have worked with over the
years. Some are a little “cautious” while others
are open and, there are others who simply
“patronize” me. The word “friend” is really the
telltale word, as the Scripture says (Proverbs
18:24): “A man who has friends must himself
be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks
closer than a brother”.
I’ve Got a Reason
84
In My Father’s House
January 2020
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