Category Archives: Religion

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

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

Religious Upbringing

Posted on March 22, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/22) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations: Read Philippians 3:4-14 When it came to belief in Jesus, Paul’s religious background was an obstacle. He had a … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishment, Atonement, Background, Belief, Bible, Faith, Forgiveness, Freedom, Healing, mercy, Messiah, Peace, Perspective, Pride, Religion, Religious Heritage, Repentance, Self-Worth, Spirituality, Values, Word of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 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

A Powerful Force for Getting Things Out of My Way

Posted on March 1, 2013 by richrockwood

Providence at Work?  Two days ago in my part of Michigan, I awoke to a substantial amount of snow which needed to be removed before my wife could get out of our driveway.  I was fortunate in that when she moved … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Accomplishment, Adaptability, Appreciation, Belief, Contentment, Faith, God, Guidance, Heaven, Letting Go, Morale, Perseverance, Providence, Religion, Service, Snow, Thankfulness, Trust, Values, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Promise of the Rainbow

Posted on February 6, 2013 by richrockwood

Living in the Past:  Back in the late 1970’s I was returning to Michigan from California.  I had lived out there for almost two years and was now heading home.  I was driving through New Mexico when it started to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Appearance, Faith, Fear, Heaven, Nature, Perseverance, Perspective, Providence, Religion, Stress, Suffering, The Past, Trust, Visual, Weather, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Waiting for Weight Loss

Posted on November 14, 2012 by richrockwood

Experience as a Flashlight: For the last few decades I have had trouble getting down to my “goal weight.”  I was a regular at Weight Watchers Meetings for a few years but I found there were always more calories going … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishment, Adaptability, Aging, Bondage, Contentment, diet, Enjoyment, Feelings, Focus, Food, Happiness, Health, Life, Medical, Old Age, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Perspective, Physical Exams, Priorities, relationships, Religion, Stress, weight loss, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’m Too Young for the World to Come to an End

Posted on October 17, 2012 by richrockwood

LIVING IN THE PAST:  The memory is a still life photo complete with sound track.   I am seventeen years old and I see the clutter of cartons with canned goods cut opened, stacked and waiting to be stocked on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Apocalyptic, End of the World, Eternity, Faith, Fear, Feelings, Memory, Nuclear Holocaust, Religion, Repentance, Stress, War, Worry, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Limits Potential?

Posted on October 2, 2012 by richrockwood

I can still recall a thought I had in my youth as I walked out of church mid-week.  I had not been there for a service, perhaps just a visit.  As I left, I felt happy about my life and … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Guidance, Imagination, Laughter, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Quiet Time, Religion, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment