17 Years as Pastor

August 1 was my 17th anniversary of being the pastor of Immanuel Southern Baptist Church! There have been multitudes great wonderful things that far outweigh the not so wonderful things. I praise the Lord for His faithfulness to me, my family, and our church! I praise the Lord for all the wonderful relationships over these years. I look forward to seeing what He’s yet to do!

Turning 60

 There's no use denying it. I'm sixty years old.

When I was a kid, sixty seemed ancient. When I turned thirty, people who were sixty were still old, in my way of thinking. 

But now that I'm here, I realize age is just a number. 

My sister threw me a fantastic party. She worked for weeks pulling pics off Facebook and scanning others to have them in incredible themed displays. 

I invited a very select few people. I would have loved to invite everyone I know, but I truly wanted a more intimate setting.

Then they started telling stories. Some were embarrassing. Some were hilarious. And some were so sweet they brought tears to my eyes.

My life-long friend, Martin, came. He lives in Branson, Mo. I don't get to see him nearly enough. Although, we have the kind of friendship where we can pick up where we left off and not lose any time over it.

Earlier in the day, at my house, my wife, Sally, and two daughters (along with their families) presented me with a Webber grill! I was not merely surprised. I was overwhelmed.

On my actual birthday, July 15, my second novel was published. It's called Peering into the Darkness. It is Christian fiction, subgenre supernatural mystery. You can find it anywhere ebooks or sold or in paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I know this: I still feel very young on the inside. How young? I don't know. Maybe 17? Perhaps 22?

My hair has started turning gray. Oh, I had some gray before, but now? Wow! At least it isn't falling out.

I'm not going to complain about the minor body aches. Nobody wants to hear it and it wouldn't do any good, anyway.

However, I am going to brag on God! In my sixty years, He has proved Himself faithful. In my sixty years, He has ALWAYS provided for me. In my sixty years, He has given me joy. Real joy. 

God has led me all over this world. And He has made arrangements for me in the next, through faith in Jesus Christ!

I don't know how many years I have left on this earth. I have a wife that loves me, children that love me, and grandchildren who love me. My two daughters have married fine godly men. God is blessing the church I pastor like I've not experienced.

No matter what comes, Jesus is my Savior and sustainer! Happy, indeed, birthday to me!

Peering into the Darkness

My second novel, "Peering into the Darkness" is set to be published on July 15, 2024, by NEOK Publishing. Paperback will retail for $21.99; ebook for $6.99. It will be available on all ebook platforms.  Check back for pre-order links.

Here is the back cover blurb:

* * *

Joshua Weston is a pragmatic man. He believes only what he can see, much to the chagrin of his elderly Aunt Jean. She is deeply concerned about his lack of faith in God. Just prior to an ordinary eye surgery, she prays that he would be able to see what God sees. Not long after the surgery, he begins to see angels and demons and can even talk with them. Gathering a close group of confidants, he'll need all the prayer support he can get as legions of demons are determined to keep him from knowing their secret.

If you are interested in an autographed copy, please contact me at rick@rickboyne.com Sorry, but I am unable to autograph ebook copies. :D  

Jackpot! in ebook format

 My first novel that I published in 2022 is finally available in ebook format!  Unfortunately, there is a hitch with Amazon and it did not link my paperback and ebook. But, you can order the Kindle version here:

https://a.co/d/4m8Si6b

As far as I know, it is now available worldwide on practically every ebook platform including Apple Books and Barnes and Noble. 

Thank you for your support! 

Jackpot! eBook available February 1, 2024

 I am pleased to announce that my debut novel, which is already available in paperback will be available on all eBook platforms February 1, 2024. It can be pre-ordered on many of the platforms now at

https://books2read.com/u/mdPpad

It can be purchased as an eBook for $6.99 which beats the publisher's paperback price of $24.99 by $18!

Thank you in advance!

When Opinions Divide

 I recently looked at some Facebook pages of people who de-friended me over the past several years. Some of them defriended me because I held certain OPINIONS of things going on in the government or in certain disease related things.

They laughed at me, even belittled me for questioning the popular narrative regarding presidents, both current and former. They ridiculed me for questioning the so-called science behind the last pandemic and completely dismissed me and my opinions saying things like "you better adjust your tin foil hat" or "you belong to a cult" or even better, "no TRUE Christian would never even dare think that way."

Well, I'll give them this: they are tenacious and consistent.

Despite recently exposed FACTS about government things and health care things, they are still towing the popular narrative, right down to thinking that everyone should still be wearing face masks. 

Wow.

Even when their FB posts where public and I could have commented on them, I didn't, because they have the right to their own opinion. 

I'm definitely not claiming to be perfect. I certainly am not. Nor do I expect others to be perfect. I do expect a certain amount of courtesy when giving a differing opinion among friends and former colleagues. Why can't we disagree without name calling?

I guess it comes down to this: when you see you are losing an argument to facts, quit the argument and start attacking the person.

I've been told numerous times to "follow the science."  Fine.  Whose science? The politicians' science? Big pharma's science? Liberal science? Conservative science?

When I was growing up, science used to be just facts. Now it seems it is whatever agenda the entity paying for it becomes "real" science.

How dare you tell me to not "question the science." I thought that's how you did science.

How dare you tell me to not question the news? I will question it until it quits reporting opinion as news. And then I'll still question it.

So, what is the purpose of this post? I'm not sure. Maybe I just needed to get it off my chest.

Thanks for listening/reading.