Ricks Thoughts

We were touched by the words Rick wrote in his "leaves" entry !! The words and pcture of Rick are beautiful !! Thank you for the card. Continuing to lift you and your family up in prayer ! We will be at the concert. Trena and Rolf Baarker

We love and miss you all. For some of our members, Mrs. Holk is just a woman who they don't know, except for the many stories we tell them. Haley is just a girl who is very talented and sweet, until she screams like a monkey at drama practice. Mr. Billy, a wonderful, loving husband who would do anything for his wife. And to all of us who do know you, Mrs. Holk is more than a teacher could ever be. Haley, a beautiful friend, and Mr. Billy a sweet encouragement everytime we see him. Whether or not we know you, we love you. We miss you, and are counting the days until we get to see you all again. We are still praying for you. We love you!

In God's hands,
FCA

Candi & Family,

I can only imagine the pain that you are all going through. Please know that I have continued to regularly pray for each of you. There is nothing that I can think to say to ease your pain.

I trusted and claimed complete healing for Rick and was deeply saddened by his home going. In fact I was angry at God for taking Rick home because I was sure that he had much more work to do on this earth. And yet I am reminded that much good has come out of the terrible tragedy of Rick's illness. People are still talking about him and we have gained many new brothers and sisters in Christ; he is still affecting us here on Earth after all! Thank you for allowing us to come along side of you to pray. The website has been a tremendous blessing to me and to many others, some who did not know any of you but prayed because they were asked to pray.

As I thought about how I was touched by your dear brother, son & fiance in just one evening, I thought about how many other lives he has touched in the few short years he was with us. We are blessed to have experienced his "engaging us in worship and then stepping out of the way".

He finished well indeed!

You have been missed! You are SO loved! You all have been in my thoughts and prayers constantly for the past month. It has been a surreal time! Now as the reality sets in, so does the emptiness that absence brings and with that the ache that doesn't go away. I said before that I miss Rick's voice and his face, as reality hits and the numbness wears off, "miss" doesn't touch the feeling anymore, Candi, you said "vividly terrifying reality". My heart has broken for you, grieved and celebrated with you, in waves each emotion has taken over. There is no rhyme or reason to the sequence it follows! I guess it is just whatever feeling has worked it's way to the top at that time. The first Sunday after Sept.9th was the first time I had to realize that my worship leader and brother in Christ was not going to be back on the platform at Mountain Lake Church. Before that there was a glimmer of hope that God would restore and heal Rick's body to continue life and ministry in this place. There are songs that I can't sing through tears and a lump as big as a golf ball in my throat because I hear Rick's voice but can't see his face! How does a non-believer get through times such as these!?!
I came across something that spoke comfort and peace to my heart that needed solice and quiet...

The shield of God's presence covers you from every side. He protects you in the midst of every difficult thing you face. The assurance that comes from God is like a gentle hand, placed under your chin, that lifts your head so that your eyes can gaze into His face. In that gaze you see the strength of His character... the love of your Father... and the depth of His caring heart. Praying that His presence will be your peace and solice. The Lord's hand is holding yours as he walks through this time with you. Roy Lessin
You are a shield around me, O Lord; You
bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Psalm 3:3

As I walked through the never-ending visitation line and came to each one of you and I took your face in my hands and looked into your eyes, I came face to face with my Jesus living out His mission in you. Just like Jesus, in the midst of His suffering gave peace and comfort so did you in the midst of yours and I am eternally grateful for that! May the Lord continue to bless and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace. You are precious to me and you are loved!
From my heart to yours, Teri

Candi & family-

Thank you so much for all you have done through your pain & loss. I am truly grateful for each & every one of you. We here at Mountain Lake feel so blessed to have had Ricky as our Creative Arts Pastor. I feel honored & priviledged to have been able to be a part of his team & to have sung with him here at our church. We deeply feel his loss here at our young church & I personally miss him terribly. Its hard to believe that hes not coming back. I walk into his office & expect him to be in there & then I realize hes not. I know he is with our Father in heaven & hes not in pain anymore & I am so grateful for that, I hated to see him suffering. I am looking forward to the concert this friday. It will be great to see you all again & just to love on you! I pray for each of you & ask that you all pray for us. It has been very difficult at times to move on without Rick. There will come a time when we will have to find someone to "fill his shoes". The very thought of that makes me sad. Please keep us in your prayers. We loved him very much. Thanks to you, your mom & the rest of your family for sharing Rick with us.

In Christ,
Lisa

Suzanne-

I can't tell you how much I miss you. I hope you are taking some time for yourself. I know this is probably not the role you wanted, you have been such an inspiration to so many people including me! You are always on my mind & in my heart. I love you & pray for you. Pray for us as we try to go on without Rick. It has been really hard at times. I wanted to thank you for bringing him to church that last sunday he was there. You will never know how much that meant to me. You both surprised us by being backstage after the service. I got to give Rick a big hug & told him how much I loved him & missed him. It absolutely meant the world to me. I have no regrets about not being able to say some things to him before he passed away. Thank you Thank you Thank you for that! No matter what you decide to do, I hope you know you have a family here that loves you very much. I love you like a sister. I hope to see you at the concert this weekend. James will be in Louisiana with the church but I'm going with Phil Rogers. Keep in touch!

Love you,
Lisa

I cannot express how honored and blessed I felt to receive your note, along with the beautiful picture of Rick. I would like to share a testimony with you. The Physician I work with requested to speak with me in private yesterday. He asked if I had experienced a life changing event? I must have looked very puzzled, he went on to say: "you seem to have such a peace about you". I was somewhat amazed, our clinic is seeing more and more patients everyday and the stress level is very high. If anything, I have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed! I paused for a moment and told him: "yes, I have experienced a life changing event", I went on to share with him the time I spent with Rick and his loved ones and what a blessing it was. While I was so very sad that Rick had to leave, I witnessed so many changes in so many peoples lives, including my own! I know it continues to be a difficult time, however I know God has a plan for all of us. Rick certainly fufilled His plan; God will reveal His plan for you as well, as always, continue to seek Him and you will have eternal peace. I will continue to pray for all of you. You are so beautiful and have been a witness of God's amazing grace! I look forward to seeing you at the concert. With Christ's Love, Susan Beckett

Hello precious friends...

How comforting to come home and find this posting to read. I am thinking of you all always and we feel very similar at times. I have bumped into someone who knew Candi and when I've shared about what happened - I'm telling the story along and then find myself amazed and bewildered at the summation. We know Rick is gone - but still can't help but feel a bit surreal when acknowledging that fact. Our comfort is also from knowing that Rick's residency is in our hometown -- in Glory. I feel so happy when I think of him there - at peace. I have profoundly been deepened by knowing him and all of you dear friends - and mostly from walking through this experience. One of the most incredible emotions I've ever felt in my life - being in the face of one of the most painful times I can recollect and yet being able to say - "There is no other God! How Beautiful - how sovreign - how precious is our God." Truly life changing.

I praise God for having been lead in worship by Rick - to have been close to him like a kid brother - to have laughed with him and been loved by him, and pointed to God by him. What a friend.

I still check this site everyday, multiple times a day in fact. I'm not sure why, but there is comfort in it I guess. In a time of sheer confusion, pain, and loss, it has been constant. Always keeping us updated, prayers being lifted up, a constant state of worship. It is a beautiful picture of community, and it is on the internet! :) I am really looking forward to this weekend and joining with friends and family to celebrate and remember. I love you guys, thanks for updating!

I knew that I may not be able to go to the benefit concert but it just hit me that I'm the only one that won't be there. It's killing me and I can't stand it!!! I love ya'll and really want to see you, but I'm not going to be able to get away. I hope that all goes well and don't forget to fill me in on how it goes. I love you all and miss you soooo much!!!! I can't tell you enough how much you mean to me!!!
>

Candi, Elaine and Suzanne,
Hello dear ones! We continue to daily pray for you here at the Majeruses. Molly is still so concerned about all of you and during her bedtime prayers, remembers you guys.

Love to you all!
Pam

I have not written in what seems like a long time. I was not able to attend the concert tonight, unfortunately. I wanted you to know though that I was baptized last Saturday, at Mountain Lake, I want you to know without Rick's touch in my life none of it would have been possible. Rick was who I connected with first of all, the music, the energy, his voice, his words. He was the hook for me, then there was his illness, this blog, these messages, the incredible displays of faith, love and hope, and i watched and i read, and when moved to, i wrote as well, and i grew with you, because of you, and in dispair you taught me faith, and in sadness you taught me joy, in darkness your light was blinding, and you led me and I am forever grateful, forever humbled and forever changed. I want you to know that on a daily basis I think what a great testament to Ricks life to try and live mine like he did his "praising my saviour all the day long". I fail miserably daily but i try. I miss Rick, we all do, not a day goes by that you are not all in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank You and thank you for the music.

I still pray daily for all of you. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of Rick and everything that he accomplished in his short 23 years of life. There is not a day that I don't remember his goofy grin and sarcastic comments.

I pray that you feel God's icredible embrace just when you need it the most. You are an incredible family and amazing servants in the body of Christ.

In Him,
Kristin "Bookstore" Wyatt
- This stupid nickname from Rick has stuck and many people don't even know who I am without it. I will never forget it and will cherish it always.

At Eckerd my sister was waiting in the car for my mom, listening to Rick's CD and an elder lady in the parking lot heard the music and made a comment something along the lines of "..crappy music these kids listen to these days..."
Of course my sister became defensive and turned the music up- after all, it was RICK PEARSON!

For whatever reason the lady and her husband stayed in their car and listened to three tracks, then stated "it is so good to know that there is hope."

I just thought this story might encourage everyone because God is STILL using Rick and his music to glorify the Kingdom.