The Rock Church

Constructive Criticism

As a designer, putting my designs out there for the world to see always opens up doors of insecurities and doubts for me. The narrative I can easily start telling myself is, “I am not good enough.” or “What am I even doing?” or “There are so many people better at this than me.” Of course, there will always be people who are “better” than me — and you. They are people who have more experience and more knowledge. They are also people who know the value of constructive criticism.

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

What Are You Searching For?

Treasure hunts are so much fun! At least I think so. You get a map, look for clues, count your steps between each spot, and then, finally end up on the big X! You’ve found your treasure. Most of us would say we are not searching for a treasure chest filled with gold; but, we are always searching for something. We might be searching for a way to surprise our spouse or kids, a way to get a promotion at work, a way to live a healthier lifestyle, a way to make more money, or maybe for the best, wood-fired pizza? The list is endless.

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Burn It

We all once lived a life apart from God. We tried to fill the God-void in our hearts with the things of this world. That looked different for each one of us. We’ve all had our own stuff — baggage, sin, or whatever you want to call. It’s the stuff we have dealt with and may even still deal with today.

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Thrill

I love the thrill of roller coasters. There is just something about them — the anticipation while I am waiting in line, the grinding and clanking sounds while I slowly move to the top, and then… the drop! I get butterflies in my stomach thinking about it. I usually go through the entire ride with a huge smile on my face. As it comes to the end, I get super pumped and want to do it all over again!

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Crying Out

“With every bone in my body I will praise Him: “LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?” — Psalm 35:10

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Asking For Wisdom

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” — Colossians 1:9-10

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Running The Race

I am one of those people who enjoys running. I like to put myself through the pain and agony of long, (endurance testing) races. Typically, you sign up for that kind of race six months in advance. You need plenty of time to train, mentally prepare, and to do the kind of research needed to make sure you don’t injure yourself during the race. You hope for: amazing weather, no injuries, no shoe problems, no chaffing, and that you don’t lose any toenails (believe me, that’s a concern). The list could go on and on….

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

United

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” – Ephesians 4:1-4

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Unbelief

“And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

This verse is about Jesus healing the boy with the unclean spirit. The father of the boy knew that Jesus and His disciples were doing some pretty incredible things, so he decided to take his son to the disciples for help. They were not able to cast out the evil spirit. Jesus, in His love, then came and asked the man what he was looking for? The man asked for compassion and help for his son.

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico

Waiting

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” Psalm 31:24 (ESV)

We all experience times in our lives when we have to wait for something. There are times that are simply mundane, like waiting in line at the grocery store or at the bank. It could be waiting for something exciting, like going on a trip to Disneyland or a long awaited vacation to Europe. Or, it could be waiting for things that are not so exciting, like hearing back about a job interview or waiting to hear about medical test results.

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Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico