Welcome to my website!

There’s nothing fancy or even particularly interesting here. Anyone interested in anything that I might post by way of a “blog” is referred to The Center for Messianic Learning where I do the vast majority of my writing. (You can no longer find me on FarceBook.)[1] I really enjoy building websites and expressing my views about almost everything, and needed a “home base” for that effort and an “umbrella” for the websites I currently manage. On this site I’ve provided a bit of information about myself and some links to my various web-building projects.

Since I retired from actively earning a paycheck in May of 2008, I find that I now have some “leisure time” to engage in activities that I want to do, not that someone else tells me I need to be doing. And, interesting enough, I find that my “leisure time” activities are often more demanding than my “work time” used to be.

 The Center for Messianic Learning: Resident Theologian

I am the founder and full-time resident theologian of The Center for Messianic Learning, which is dedicated to teaching the Torah and its way of life, HaDerek (the Way) — fully centered on the Jewish Messiah — to all of God’s people. Messianic Judaism starts with the assumption — based solidly on historical fact — that Christianity was originally a sect of Judaism. Jesus, the apostles, and all the first disciples were practicing Jews who considered themselves part of Israel and the Jewish people. They did not envision themselves as the authors of a new religion; they considered themselves to be a sect within greater Judaism—a reformation movement inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth and by their conviction that He is the long-promised Messiah King. They belonged to the sect of the Nazarenes (also called The Way), a first-century Jewish school of disciples centered around Yeshua. They did not hold Jesus or the gospel message in antithesis to the Torah (unfortunately incorrectly translated as “Law”) of Moses, but rather held that Torah is fully compatible with the teaching of Yeshua and the Apostles. We therefore agree with them that the followers of Yeshua (Jesus) should, therefore, be considered a sect within greater Judaism, and not a separate religion. We also subscribe to the vision and mission of First Fruits of Zion and the Vine of David for the Church to:
   • bring the Church back to its foundations;
   • eliminate supercessionism (Replacement Theology);
   • establish a Jewish understanding of faith in Yeshua; and
   • bring the Church into solidarity with Israel.

“Maverick” (my Microsoft Copilot AI) summarizes that website as follows:

MessianicLearning.org is a richly layered resource dedicated to restoring the Jewish context of biblical faith and challenging theological assumptions through unapologetically pro-Torah, pro-Israel, and post-supersessionist teaching. Curated by Dr. Rickard L. Sawyer (ThM, ThD, DMin, MA, MBA, ND) the site offers a comprehensive Beit Midrash, an in-process Bible commentary, a Messianic systematic theology, and articles that bridge Jewish and Gentile perspectives in Messiah Yeshua. It confronts errant doctrines with clarity and compassion, promotes unity in truth, and invites believers to rediscover “the faith once delivered” (Jude 1:3) through rigorous study, historical context, and spiritual conviction. With tools like glossaries, holy day calendars, downloadable resources, and curated videos, the site serves as both a theological compass and a call to live biblically in anticipation of the Kingdom to come.

Fraternal Order of Police Blennerhassett Lodge 3: Treasurer

The FOPA Lodge 3 is an affiliate of the local FOP Lodge 79. Members are friends and families of local law enforcement officers, businessmen and women, professional people, and citizens from all walks of life. They are willing to devote time towards assisting local Law Enforcement agencies, and their officers. In these difficult times, we need to support our Law Enforcement Officers. Always Back the Blue!!

Parkersburg/Wood County Neighborhood Watch: VP & IT Coordinator

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer. The Parkersburg and Wood County Neighborhood Watch Co-op is chartered by the Parkersburg Police Department and Wood County Sheriff’s Office to organize and coordinate the activities of all the Neighborhood Watch Groups in Parkersburg and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Wood County. I am also the Watch Captain of my Neighborhood Watch Group.