Category Archives: relationships

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

I Am Never Alone

Posted on November 28, 2016 by richrockwood

Regardless of how I feel, I am connected.  I am connected visually to those who see me at any given moment in time.  I am connected by line of sight to everything I can see outside my windows.  I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Balance, Belief, Crucifixion, Culture, Depression, Faith, Feelings, Holidays, Perseverance, Perspective, relationships, Self-Worth, Spirituality, Status, Thankfulness, Unity | Leave a comment

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

How Do You Set Up a Household?

Posted on May 27, 2013 by richrockwood

I have been asking myself this question lately, because my home feels comfortably set up.  Next month I will be married three years to Cindy.  Let me see if I can recall the steps involved in our setting up this … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishment, Adaptability, Adversity, Appearance, Christ, Contentment, Eternal Life, Grief, Heaven, Home, Household, Marriage, Peace, relationships, Seasons, Spiritual, Spirituality, Thankfulness, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Put Your Hand in Mine

Posted on May 15, 2013 by richrockwood

To my dear wife:  I feel a rolling warmth through my being every time I put your hand in mine.  First I feel connected to you and then surrounded by you.  Why should this be if I am claustrophobic?  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Despair, Feelings, Gifts, Grace, Grief, Happiness, Healing, Life, love, Marriage, Memory, mercy, Miracles, Perspective, Praise, Prayer, Priorities, relationships, Restoration, Sleeplessness, Thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cleaning Up The Place of Worship

Posted on March 25, 2013 by richrockwood

What’s happening:  It’s now Monday.  He is walking back to Jerusalem, this time traveling the few miles on foot.  No crowds are waiting, so he makes His way inside the city to the Temple.  The sprawling edifice is still under construction, … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Belief, Bible, Christ, Courage, Holy Week, Humanity, Love of Money, Materialism, Meditation, Money, Passion, Prayer, Priorities, relationships, Religion, Repentance, Spirituality, Values, Word of God, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Denial

Posted on March 23, 2013 by richrockwood

The final part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/23) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations: Read Matthew 26:31-35 Have you ever denied you are a follower of Jesus? In many countries a … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, denial, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Healing, Identity, Peer Pressure, Perseverance, Perspective, reinstatement, relationships, Repentance, Restoration, Social Pressure, Spirituality, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Position

Posted on March 19, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/19) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations: Commenting on Nicodemus’s visit to Jesus, Alfred Edersheim (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah) wrote: “It must … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptability, Courage, Faithfulness, Job, Materialism, Peer Pressure, Priorities, Reality, relationships, Religion, Social Pressure, Status, Values, Witnessing, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cultural Differences

Posted on March 16, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/16) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations: Read Matthew 8:5-13 What made this man think that a Jewish rabbi—reported to have miraculous powers—would help him? He … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Adaptability, Appearance, Christ, Culture, Diversity, Ethnicity, Faith, Focus, Foolishness, God, Grace, Healing, Health, Humanity, Identity, Perspective, Politics, Principles, Priorities, Race, relationships, Religion, Spirituality, Unity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Connecting with Old Friends

Posted on March 8, 2013 by richrockwood

Connections A blessing breeze blew through my life the day I connected with someone I had known many years ago.  We were in school together and had shared common interests.  He was older, wiser I felt, and an accomplished organist.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishment, Aging, Appreciation, Choices, Faithfulness, Friends, Memory, Old Age, Perseverance, Perspective, relationships, Retirement, Self-Worth, The Past, Values | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment