Category Archives: Church

The Right Kind of Faith Makes Life Easier

Posted on February 11, 2025 by richrockwood

I have been walking the road of faith since May of 1977. Prior to that, I was walking a road which I thought was faith, but actually was quite off the mark. Growing up in church, I accepted its set … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Bible, Church, Contentment, Faith, Fear, Feelings, God, Grace, Guidance, Heaven, Letting Go, Materialism, Perfectionism, Persistence, Providence, Religion, Spirituality, Trust, Values | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Easter Lilies

Posted on July 19, 2023 by richrockwood

Why do Christians use lilies at Easter in their churches and even in their homes? As a minister, every Easter the front of our church held a number of Easter Lily’s in full bloom. They gave off a strong fragrance … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Bible, Church, Crucifixion, Easter, Eternal Life, Eternity, Faith, Good Friday, Heaven, Life, Old Age, Religion, Resurrection, Resurrection of Jesus, Symbols, Trust, Wonder, Word of God, Worry | Leave a comment

Baptism

Posted on May 28, 2023 by richrockwood

Water is a symbol of cleansing and purifying. In Christian baptism, water is used to signify a cleansing from sin.  Also, in some denominations, it is a sign of the newness of life for a believer. The use of water … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Bapism, Belief, Bible, Church, Eternal Life, Faith, God, Grace, Milestones, New Covenant, Parenting, Priorities, Providence, Religion, Spirituality, Symbols | Leave a comment

Bread Used in Worship

Posted on May 3, 2023 by richrockwood

According to Wikipedia “Bread is a staple food prepared from a dough of flour (usually wheat) and water, usually by baking. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cultures’ diet. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atonement, Bible, Christ, Church, Communion, Crucifixion, Culture, diet, Eternal Life, Faith, God, Grace, Healing, Heavenly Father, Holy Week, Jesus, love, Maundy Thursday, Messiah, Miracles, New Covenant, Praise, Prayer, Religion, Religious Heritage, Restoration, Sacrificial Lamb, Scripture, Sin, Spiritual, Symbols, Thankfulness | Leave a comment

Anchor Symbol

Posted on April 21, 2023 by richrockwood

According to Apple’s Dictionary, an anchor “is a heavy object attached to a rope or chain and used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom..  It can also be “a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Atonement, Belief, Bible, Christ, Church, Crucifixion, Death, doubt, Eternal Life, Eternity, Faith, Focus, Forgiveness, God, Good Friday, Grace, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Jesus, Meditation, Memory, Messiah, New Covenant, Religion, Religious Heritage, Repentance, Salvation, Suffering, Trials, Uncategorized, Word of God, Worry | Leave a comment

Candles

Posted on March 14, 2023 by richrockwood

Candles, which play an important role in this story, are important symbols to many religions, but our story centers on a Catholic altar boy who is mesmerized by the beauty of the candles, the aroma when extinguished and how the … Continue reading →

Posted in Appearance, Belief, Bible, Christ, Church, Faith, God, Heaven, Inspiration, Religion, Spiritual, Symbols, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Model Priest

Posted on December 12, 2016 by richrockwood

My favorite clergyman was Fr. Malloy of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, a small community of about 15,000 people.  St. Joseph’s church had two priests, Fr. Zander and Fr. Malloy.  Although the pastor, Fr. Zander, was friendly … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Charity, Church, Clergy, Education, Extravagance, Faithfulness, Grace, Guidance, Learning, Memory, Religion, Service, Spirituality, Testimony, Work, Youth | Leave a comment

The Road Less Desired

Posted on November 25, 2016 by richrockwood

If I could have before me the path I took at age 40 or an alternative, which would I take? I now have walked the path I’m on for thirty years, so I am somewhat familiar with it. Imagining another … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Accomplishment, Adaptability, Appreciation, Belief, Choices, Church, Commitment, Contentment, Creativity, Disappointment, doubt, Employment, Faith, Feelings, Focus, God, Happiness, Identity, Letting Go, Life, Memory, Mission, Old Age, Passion, Perseverance, Perspective, Priorities, Questioning, Religion, Retirement, Self-Discovery, Self-Worth, Spirituality, Status, Stress, Study, The Past, Trust | 4 Comments

Has Your Church Ever Closed?

Posted on July 3, 2013 by richrockwood

Right now I am writing my second novel entitled “The Hungry Pit” dealing with one person’s experience with losing the church where her faith took root.  I am exploring the connection established at Baptism, the rebellious teenage years, the visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Conflict, Loss | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Why Attend Church With the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Posted on June 24, 2013 by richrockwood

Many people are turned off by church people and so don’t attend.  Although I attend, my feelings run in different directions because of my experiences: a.   Church people have been unusually nice to me, visiting me in the hospital, … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Adaptability, Belief, Bible, Choices, Christ, Church, Commitment, Communion, Despair, Diversity, Eternal Life, Faithfulness, Feelings, God, Grace, Healing, Identity, Music, Peer Pressure, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Persistence, Perspective, Praise, Reconciliation, relationships, Religion, Social Pressure, Spirituality, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment