Mom was a temple piano player in the house of the Lord

My Mom, Jean Richardson, passed into the glory of the Lord, this past Tuesday morning.  We are so thankful we went over to Port Orchard to visit with her as an entire family the previous Saturday.

She was comfortably sedated but she was able to hear Katharine, Andy, Peter, Jon, and me read comforting Scripture passages to her.

We are enjoying a celebration service this afternoon at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church in Federal Way, where Mom was a member for 46 years.  Another service in scheduled for the Adventure of Faith Presbyterian Church in Port Orchard on March 13.

I told Mom several times in her life she was a temple musician in the house of the Lord.  Mom played the piano beginning when she was 6 years old and faithfully practiced virtually every day of her life and was even able to play with amazing poise at Park Vista and Haven Care.  She was the most joyful when she was able to use her musical, hospitality, and service gifts in the local church.

Mom steadfastly loved and served in every church she was a member of from her earliest days in a little Methodist Church in Vancouver, to Boulevard Park, Long Island, NY, Steel Lake for 46 years, and the Port Orchard Adventure of Faith Presbyterian Churches.  Mom regularly read her Bible and prayed and was studying for and hosting her church women's circle Bible studies.

She loved her families and grandchildren with greatest care. She glowed when the entire family gathered together and she cooked awesome, big meals for us.

Mom also loved so many of her neighborhood friends as they participated in the birthday bunch in Federal Way. She so much appreciated when those friends came to see her in Port Orchard.

A week before Mom's passing,  Miles, Teena, and I visited with Mom.  At that point she was able to be up in a wheelchair for 20 minutes.  We shared how much we love her then I read from John 14:1-3 and all about her new home in Revelation 21 and 22.  She even asked me to reread a particular portion from Revelation. 

She laid quietly and comfortably with her eyes closed, again. When I asked her if I could pray the Lord would take her home just as soon as possible, she immediately opened her eyes, picked her head off the pillow, and answered, "definitely, yes!!!"

My brother's family, Miles, Teena, Kaitlyn, and Conner went over Monday night, just hours before Mom passed which was a great blessing for them.

Annie, my sister, who cared for Mom during these past two years in Port Orchard along with Dan, Valerie, Nate, and Natalie, was holding Mom's hand at her side when Mom passed.  Mom led Annie's Camp Fire Girls group all the way through high school.

We were able to call over to Haven Care Adult Family Home to speak with Gayle, Lauren, and Kasey the last two weeks on a daily basis.  What a wonderful year of personalized and professional care Mom received there along with Mary and the Group Health Hospice Care staff.  Mom also received great care at Park Vista before moving to Haven Care to receive daily nursing care.

I remember Mom packing a lunch for me every school day all the way through community college.  Mom and Dad never missed a concert, play, or ball game for Annie, Miles, and me.  They were able to come to Portland when I graduated from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary Seminary in June of 1984, just 10 months before Dad passed away.  Mom came to St. John for my ordination service.

Once as a senior while on the risers just before we were about to sing in our Federal Way High School concert choir, my good friend Gale quietly stated, "Well, there is Mark's Mom and Dad.  (Pointing) They always sit right there.  They are always here."  Those memories stick with me.

Mom visited Katharine and me multiple times in St. John and Union where I pastored and connected with our church families. She joyfully played the organ and piano for services.  She joined us at Faith Baptist Church in Kent where we have been members since 1992 and attended several Kidz Praize musicals and our boys' soccer games.

the perfect scam

In response to my most recent blog about Aaron, a reader and former inmate responded  in such an excellent way, I wanted to pass it on.  In fact, I am using it when I share about "deeds in keeping with repentance."

"but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance."

Acts 26:20

Here is what my reader wrote: 

I saw hundreds in prison like Aaron.  The most common phenomenon in prison (besides violence) is prisoners who become avid Christians, then fall away soon after.  

What happens is this:  

They walk around with a big, invisible box containing their problems.  Everything they do and everyone they meet is an opportunity to give their problems to somebody else so they don't have to confront them.  

A prisoner hears that "Jesus will take up your burden", and thinks this is the perfect scam.  All he needs to do is give his problems to God and he can just walk away.  He finds out, of course, that Jesus doesn't take responsibility for your problems; He offers the strength to deal with them.  The last thing the prisoner wants is to deal with his own issues, so he dumps Christianity as a waste of time and begins looking for another patsy.  

The moral?  

True rehabilitation begins and ends with taking responsibility.  Christianity can be a huge help, but the prisoner must step up. 

Of all the prisoners I knew during my stay in the Penitentiary system, the only ones who succeeded were those who took concrete, quantifiable steps to face what they had done: apologized, tried to make restitution, got a job, volunteered, and so forth.  

 When I meet an ex-con who tells me he's a man of Faith, I always ask him:  
"What exactly are you doing to repay for your crime and to better yourself?" 

Going to Church means nothing - it's only an empty exercise without commitment.  If you don't live your faith then you really don't have any.

fresh air upon release

An inmate I shall identify as Aaron recently returned to the Regional Justice Center in Kent for a "first violation" after failing community corrections officer expectations. 

After spending a large amount of time with him over the past years, it was disturbing to listen to his excuses for falling as a result of drinking and getting another woman pregnant.

The take home lesson:  
We learn the real heart of the man after he "feels the fresh air on his face" and returns to community life.  

It's just like you and me.  

What are we like after we leave church or finish a productive Bible study or prayer time?

That's the real test!


This account represents an honest side of jail and prison ministry.  From when this man first entered the RJC, he struggled with telling the truth about what he was dealing with as a result of alcohol consumption.  At first, he was charged with domestic violence with his former living partner. He wouldn't reveal what led to the split with the former partner.  

As he gets settled into the jail experience, Aaron displays an amazing capacity to actively invite other men to Bible studies and fellowship together. 


Both times he was released out of the jail system, he failed to attend any church and to pursue small group men's accountability relationships openly available to him.  He is unknowing stumbling over a very dangerous bridge.


How bad was his drinking experience, this time?  I really don't know.  Putting things together requires multiple questions to connect the dots.  He is a very clear thinking and verbal.  He winds his way around the truth as the bridge sways in the wind.  This time, I was very clear about confronting his dishonesty. 


This latest partner found him drunk in the woods.  How bad was it?  I asked him to read Ephesians 5:3-4 and Hebrews 13:5-6 with me.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.   
Ephesians 5:3-10


4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 
 Hebrews 13:4 

He response to me was that he "would be a lot worse off if she hadn't helped me...I feel really good with her...we love each other...we are really happy together." Well, she's pregnant.   How much was he drinking while he was "feeling all that fresh air"? 

I recommended that he reread those passages.  He finds himself in a very dangerous place on a real life swing bridge beyond whatever actions a judge or officer will take.