The Rock Church

I Will Never Leave You!

My grandson, Lewis, recently fell off some monkey bars and broke his arm. I was super excited to hear that he wanted to spend the day at our house a day or so after the accident — rather than go boating with his family. He knew he wouldn’t be able to swim with his friends and siblings; he also knew that at four years old, a whole day with grandpa and grandma could be a bunch of fun, especially with a lame arm. More than likely, there would be a movie or two (as well as treats) and of course, grandpa’s lunches are off the hook.

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Test of Tests

This past week I had to take a test. It was not just any test, however. This one had been nicknamed “the test of tests”.

Let me back up. About seven years ago, I was at pastor’s conference, and was challenged and convicted by a teaching I heard. The speaker encouraged the pastors to pray about developing a skill that could be used to help others in the Church and in the world.

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Our Finest Hour

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV84)

 “Houston, we have a problem.” These were the immortal words spoken by Apollo 13 Mission Commander James Lovell on April 13, 1970. A mysterious explosion rocked the command module of their spacecraft halfway to the moon. The blast destroyed one oxygen tank and punctured a second, effectively crippling both the mission and its crew.

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Night Sky

Recently, my son and I had a chance to go camping with some friends for a few days. Anytime I get to go camping, looking up at the night sky is always a big highlight for me. Two of the nights we were there were no exception.

In the city, there are a fair amount of street lights, etc., so it’s sometimes difficult to see the night sky in all of its glory. However, camping in the middle of nowhere, you see it all — the planets, Milky Way galaxy, constellations, satellites and a few shooting stars.

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Fire!

A few days ago, my wife Ashley and I were sitting in our living room while I played the guitar and she sang some worship songs. It was refreshing and encouraging. You could say we were literally distracted from the world, because right across the street from our house, a neighbor’s tree was on fire! 

By the time we finally noticed the fire, there were people (from up and down the street) with fire extinguishers and a hose, spraying down the tree. Less than a minute later, two fire engines and an ambulance pulled up with lights flashing and firefighters ready to do their jobs. 

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Hold Tightly!

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” — Hebrews 10:23-25

I am so thankful for the challenge in these verses to “hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm.” I see at least three things we can glean from them so we can “hold tightly” in our own lives. They are so incredibly important for the times we are living in.

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He Must Increase

“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” — John 1:35-37

“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:29-30

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The Beast

“… for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” — Revelation 17:17

I have been reading The Revelation of Jesus Christ for the last three months and have thoroughly enjoyed it. So many encouraging and challenging passages. I was particularly encouraged by the verse above — let me explain.

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The End is Near

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” — Matthew 24:14 (NIV84)

I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked recently, “Are we living in the end times?” This is understandable considering what we are currently facing: COVID-19, earthquakes (in Utah), protests, riots, racism, drought (and Utah wildfires), political unrest, anger, anarchy, assaults, hatred, murder, etc. Just like birth pains, the earth seems to be reeling in anticipation of what we know to be the return of Christ.

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Where Does My Help Come From?

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” — Psalm 121:1-3

I woke up today feeling pretty exhausted. Not physically (I slept great) but spiritually. My anxious mind has been filled with worry and angst. I keep thinking about all that’s going on in the world; it feels like my thoughts have run a marathon before my feet even touch the ground. Maybe you’ve had days like this recently as well? We can easily wonder where does our help come from?

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