Category Archives: God

Religious Symbols

Posted on March 1, 2023 by richrockwood

Religous symbols have been an important part of my life. From an early age, raised Roman Catholic, I was greatly impressed with the sights, sounds and smells of church.  I was thrilled as a young boy to receive a St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Appearance, Belief, Bible, Communion, Eternal Life, God, Guidance, Inspiration, Religion, Spirituality | Leave a comment

What Is It?

Posted on August 10, 2019 by richrockwood

What is this feeling I have?  It came to me again last night just before I closed my eyes.  The sounds outside the tent had made me sleepy, but then the feeling came again and my eyes wouldn’t close and … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptability, Adventures, Aging, Belief, Bible, Commitment, Fathers and Sons, God, Providence, Tests, Trust | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Only Thing That Counts is Faith Working Through Love

Posted on January 26, 2017 by richrockwood

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.”  (Galatians 5:6 NRSV) I have had pride over some of my accomplishments in the past.  I was in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Background, Belief, Bible, Choices, Christ, Faith, God, Grand Valley State University, Perspective, Spirituality, Values | Leave a comment

This Time of Year

Posted on December 23, 2016 by richrockwood

This time of year must surely lift us The annual joyful event called Christmas Forget this year, this weird election Instead we need sincere reflection A blinking star still lights the way To feeding trough where a baby lays The … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Baby Jesus, Belief, Bible, Christ, Christmas, Darkness, Faith, Fear, Feelings, Freedom, God, Humanity, Imagination, Jesus, Letting Go, New Year, Patriotism, Peace, Perseverance, Perspective, Politics, Prophecy, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Stress, Thankfulness, The Past, Values, Word of God | Leave a comment

Light

Posted on December 14, 2016 by richrockwood

Night is passing… Into day Light is passing… Over darkness Life is passing… Over time Time is not passing Over God God is Light

Posted in Acceptance, Aging, Appreciation, Belief, Bible, Contentment, Darkness, Eternal Life, Eternity, Faith, God, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Life, Night, Peace, Praise, Priorities, Providence, Spiritual, Spirituality, Testimony, Time | Leave a comment

Imagining the Call of Elisha the Prophet

Posted on December 1, 2016 by richrockwood

The First Meeting It is a scene played out somewhere in this agricultural land. A tanned, muscular young man, is plowing a field, just one of many laborers that day. Suddenly he stops to remove an obstacle. He notices a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Bible, Courage, Faith, Faithfulness, Fathers and Sons, God, Heaven, Imagination, Inspiration, Miracles, Passion, Priorities, Prophecy, relationships, Service, Spirituality, Tests, Witnessing, Word of God, Work | 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

Favorite Bible Verses

Posted on July 29, 2013 by richrockwood

The verses lay hidden in the passage.  They were words that would envelope my life.  They were words that would put into precise expression my new feelings for Christ. I can no longer remember what I was doing when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, Courage, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, God, Life | Tagged , , , , | 2 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

A Father Who Stays

Posted on June 16, 2013 by richrockwood

For over forty years, I carried the weight of unforgiveness for my dad. He had deserted our family when we needed him most.  He had not been there for me to show me things I thought males were expected to … Continue reading →

Posted in Disappointment, Family, Father's Day, Fathers, Forgiveness, God, Heavenly Father, Letting Go, Parenting, Peace | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments