Doug Ricafrente 

             A man so kind

In memory of a man so kind,
Whose heart for God did truly shine,

Our church holds a tournament each year,
To honor Douglas, always held dear.

Fishing is the game we play,
Teams of two, to cast away,

From boat or shore, it matters not,
For all are welcome, every spot.

On May the 21st, after church,
We'll gather 'round, our bellies to fill and search,

For tasty fish, freshly fried,
And trophies, to celebrate with pride.

Douglas Ricafrente, gentleman true,
With love for God, his heart imbued,

May this tournament forever stand,
In memory of a gracious man.

May 15, 2023
Compiled by

All my sins were cast away one day
When God’s Son Jesus came in to stay

It’s way beyond my understanding
How the Glory of God's Love keeps expanding 

It’s not for me to know when or why
The reason for God’s touch before I die

God is Love, the Good Book says
That’s what Jesus' sacrifice is

Giving His All for you and me 
It is so unbelievable I can’t see

I bow my head and can only say
Thank You, God, for sending your Son to me today

May 14, 2023
MarkWaldrop

In memory of Doug Ricafrente,
A champion weightlifter, now heaven-sent,

Berkeley Baptist's faithful servant, he became,
In Christ's love, he found a new flame.

And now, each year, we gather to fish,
In the Ironman Classic, we make our wish

To honor his legacy and the joy he gave,
As we cast our lines upon the waves.

The thrill of the catch, the tug on the line,
It reminds us of Doug's strength and spine,

Of his determination to reach the top,
And his love for Christ never did stop.

As we fish, we remember his story,
Of how he found hope, grace, and glory,

And we celebrate his life, his faith, his heart,
That continues to inspire us from the start.

So, let's cast our lines and remember,
Doug's legacy will always render,

A champion of Christ, a man of love,
In the Ironman Classic, he soars above.

Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 

MarkWaldrop

Doug's hands were kind hands doing good to all, witnessing about His Savior that they may never fall. Doug's hands were kind hands doing good for all. 

The days stretch on, a never-ending stream
Of hopes and fears and shattered dreams

The daily sacrifice, once pure and bright
Now lies in ashes, a pitiful sight

The abomination, a desolate thing
Brings destruction on its scorching wings

A curse upon the land, a blight on the soul
A wound that refuses to be made whole

But in the midst of darkness, there is hope
For those who wait, who learn to cope

With trials and tribulations, they endure
Their faith in God, unshaken and sure

Blessed are they who hold on tight
Through the long and endless night

For when the end finally comes
They will rise to their allotted sums

Rest will come, sweet and serene
No more tears, no more pain, no more mean

And in that place, they will receive
Their inheritance, and they will believe

That all along, God was by their side
Guiding them, protecting them, as they ride

The waves of life, and now they rest
In His arms, eternally blessed.

May 10, 2023
MarkWaldrop

The devoted men of Berkely Baptist Church 
Always for their Loving God they do search

No one above the other all working together just like brothers 

No matter where they go or the time of day always willing to serve others in every way 

God looks down and blesses them with the love of His Son Jesus
His love in our souls calms and pleases us

As we go about our way let us strive to do just a little more each day

Spreading the Good News of God's Love as we toil from day to day

Bowing our heads and Thanking Him for His Love
Being sent through the Holy Spirit from Heaven Above. 

April 30, 2023
MarkWaldrop

Amidst the turmoil and the strife,
A prince arises to protect our life.

Jesus, the great, with strength untold,
Guides us through the darkness and the cold.

For a time of distress is upon us now,
A trial that none can fully allow.

It is a time like none before,
A test that shakes us to our core.

But fear not, for those whose names are written,
In the book of life, shall not be smitten,

With deliverance and with grace,
As Jesus' light shines on their face.

And those who sleep in the dust of the earth,
Shall awaken to a new rebirth,

Some to everlasting life, they'll soar,
While others face eternal shame and more.

So let us hold onto hope and love,
And trust in the power from above,

For Jesus' strength will carry us through,
And lead us to a life that's ever new.

April 28, 2023
Complied by
Mark Waldrop

Have you been to the gym lately
To whip your body into shape
No pain, no gain, there is no escape 

How about your faith? Have you  exercised it lately 
Does it appear limp and weak, or is it very stately

God may exercise our faith, and it may cause some pain
Going through the fire, we will continue to gain

April 20, 2023
MarkWaldrop

Do I have the confidence to call it? 
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
Something is going to happen in round three

People don't understand the confidence to call something in the future 
Even if that something calls for a suture

Where does my confidence lie 
In this world that is so sly

If we hear the word of God and have Faith in His Son Jesus 
Our confidence will shine every time someone see us

Amazing Grace I am heaven bound
How do I know because of the confidence I have found

April 20, 2023
MarkWaldrop 

You have to leave your comfort zone
To continue to March on. 

You can only climb the ladder by reaching for the rung above 
Always have your eye on Him, searching for His Love

There is no end to the climb here on earth
Gravity will only leave us at our rebirth

Until then, putting one foot in front of the other
We keep sharing God's Love with one another

April 20, 2023
MarkWaldrop

Whatever you do, see it through 
Be it big or be, it small it's for you

Never give up, never turn back
Pressing forward, staying on track

The finish line lies ahead; with strength and courage, I'll reach it on my deathbed

Eyes straight ahead on God's Son from above
The prize being that of incredible Love

April 20, 2023
MarkWaldrop