RICK LAGOMARSINO

RICK LAGOMARSINO

Rick Lagomarsino was IAM’s accountant for over 10 years . He is now our corporate Treasurer, I am pleased to share the most important encounter in his life, which, of course, was when he came to Christ. 
At a young age I was in awe of the number of the stars in the sky.  My Catholic upbringing helped me understand that a “Being” that existed before the universe was, created it all out of nothing.  The varying extremity of the size and intricacy of the universe and the items within it from my studies in science confirmed in my teen years that there was a God.  
I understood that Jesus died for my sins, and I had no argument that I was a sinner. Unfortunately, I missed the part of the gospel that God loved me first, that Jesus’ death paid for all my sins – past, present and future, and that my believing and acting on those truths would unleash the Holy Spirit to free me from the hold that my sin had on me.  
This would enable me to have an intimate and growing relationship with my Creator. Instead, I thought I had to earn God’s favor by obeying all the rules.  Rather than drawing me closer to God, it did two things:  

• If I was honest, I knew I couldn’t/wouldn’t follow all the rules, and I was even blind to some rules that I wasn’t obeying.  This created an underlying hopelessness that I would not gain God’s favor.
  
• So, to diminish the guilt, I would try to compare myself with others. It was fascinating that I was comforted by others that I believed were doing less to earn God’s favor than me, rather than being motivated by those who did better.  I guess I  hoped that God graded on the curve.

The more the battle raged inside, the more I became depressed.  Even though I was doing well on the outside with friends and success in my college courses, the inner pain was growing.  Trying to obey God wasn’t bringing me happiness, but misery.  At times I wish I had never been born.
But God used a woman I was tutoring in accounting, to reach me.  She was kind, and persistent in sharing that I couldn’t earn God’s favor. 
Jesus was willing to give me God’s favor when He died for my sins if I would only take the gift.  My good works would then result out of trust that God knows best as my designer and from gratitude for His sacrifice for me.  
The Spirit opened my heart, and at a secular college in December 1976, I trusted Jesus as my Savior.  


Wonderful brother, what a great example of knowing about Christ, then knowing Christ himself. Tell us how your life changed and how this relationship impacts you today.
My life has never been the same.  I now have hope and purpose.  Rather than use relationships to obtain things, I use things to grow relationships.  I attempt to look at all I do and who I am, through God’s perspective.  
I don’t always get it right and lose my way at times, but God never lets me go, and brings me back to him.  I cling to this duel truth: Work out my salvation with fear and trembling (it is a life-long process that is a serious endeavor that requires lots of effort), while understanding that God’s investment in me is so great, that he works in me so that I am able to work and will (choose) to do his good will. (Phil 2:12b-13)


Thank you brother for another example of the grace and kindness of God who constantly works to show us His love. There are many good religious people who understand the rules but not the relationship that comes with life in Christ. May millions more discover Him as you have.