The Rock Church

Set Your Mind on Heaven

In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted something almost unimaginable: swimming the 22.8 miles from Catalina Island to the California mainland.

Florence definitely knew a thing or two about long swims. She had already become the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. But that day, off the California coast, the water was freezing. Also, people in the support boats had to drive sharks away, and a thick fog settled over the ocean.

For nearly 16 hours, Florence swam.

Finally, exhausted and discouraged, she told the people in the boat beside her that she couldn’t go any farther. Her mother encouraged her to keep going. The shore was certainly close.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Smooth Stones

In a recent message, I shared an illustration that has made an unmistakable impact on my life. I found this story in the devotional by L.B. Cowman, “Streams In The Desert” (July 7 entry):

“There is a very famous “Pebble Beach” at Pescadero, on the California coast. The long line of white surf comes up with its everlasting roar, and rattles and thunders among the stones on the shore. They are caught in the arms of the pitiless waves, and tossed and rolled, and rubbed together, and ground against the sharp-grained cliffs. Day and night forever the ceaseless attrition goes on–never any rest. And the result?

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin