The Rock Church

By Whose Power?

The Bible clearly shows that St. Peter was a bit of a hothead. We can relate to him, can’t we? He often acted impulsively. And the events in the Upper Room the night Jesus was arrested show his impulsiveness.

Jesus tells the disciples He’s going somewhere they can’t follow. Peter immediately pushes back — “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” In Matthew, he says even if everyone else falls away, he won’t. (Matthew 26:33) In Mark, he insists emphatically. (Mark 14:29) Bold claims, Peter. And Jesus simply tells him the truth he isn’t ready to hear: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Mark 14:30)

As John MacArthur said, “Vows are easily made in a warm room, with full stomachs and no opposition.” St. Peter was about to face opposition.

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Not Ashamed

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” — Romans 1:16

Lately, this verse has stirred something fresh in me. It has reminded me again just how beautiful and powerful the Gospel truly is.

Twenty-three years ago, Jesus completely turned my life around. He transformed it. It had absolutely revolved around me. Now it centers on Him. And in that surrender, I found something I had been missing all along—real, lasting joy. But it wasn’t in circumstances or achievements. It was in Christ… and in sharing Him with others.

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Paths of Lightning

The Bible claims that it is the Word of God. This remarkable claim demands remarkable evidence.

And Scripture actually provides that evidence: historical accuracy, textual unity, fulfilled prophecy… and even what we might call anachronistic insight.

An anachronism is something that appears in the wrong time period. For instance, it’s like someone discovering knowledge long before anyone actually knew it.

Here’s one example.

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Proven Character

“But you know that Timothy has proved himself… he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” — Philippians 2:22 (NIV 1984)

A few years ago, I sat across from a young couple I was counseling. They had been married just three months—and were already talking about divorce. As we talked, the wife said something that stuck with me: “I just can’t handle him… he’s so untidy. He always leaves his socks on the floor. I didn’t know he was like this.”

I remember thinking… socks?

But it wasn’t really about socks. It was deeper. They had unmet expectations, felt frustrated, and didn’t endure when things got hard. Sadly, they divorced. And it reminded me: many people want the blessings of commitment. But far fewer are willing to pay the price to build the kind of character that sustains commitment.

That’s what Paul highlights about Timothy. In what looks like simple travel plans (in the verses), we discover something powerful. Timothy had proven character. Not flashy talent or temporary passion. Instead, he had steady, tested, reliable faithfulness.

Here’s the truth: you don’t build character in moments—you reveal it over time.

Anyone can be kind for a day. They can certainly serve for a season. But proven character shows up again and again. And so it shows up when it’s inconvenient, unnoticed, and frustrating.

Timothy stood out because he cared deeply for people and put Christ first. Equally important, he stayed consistent and remained loyal. Because of that, Paul trusted him completely.

The Long Haul

So, here’s the question: “Are we becoming people who others—and God—can trust?”

In a world of quick results and easy exits (like a microwave), God does something different. He doesn’t instantly form lives; instead, He slowly forms them over time.

Microwaves are fast… but shallow. Crock pots take time… but produce something rich and lasting. Without a doubt, that’s how God builds character.

He’s looking for people who don’t bail when it’s hard or quit when it’s inconvenient. They don’t walk away when life gets messy (even if there are socks on the floor 😉).

The Lord is looking for people who stay. Who grow. And who also endure. People who are in it for the long haul. Because in the end, it won’t matter how gifted you were. It will matter how faithful you were.

Don’t just aim for success this week. Aim for proven character.

In it for the long haul,

Bill

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To See His Glory is to See His Goodness 

Recently, I have been reading a tremendous book called “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortlund. I would highly recommend it to anyone who longs to know the gentle and wonderful heart of God. As I read, a particular section from a familiar passage in Exodus moved me deeply.

The Lord chose to reveal His name to Moses in Exodus 34:5: “Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.”

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Hungry for the Word!

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4

You may have heard that in 2024, Bible sales rose by 22% over the previous year. That is certainly very encouraging! At our “Hope for America” livestream event, we gave away 40 Bibles. There definitely seems to be a growing hunger for God’s Word. 

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Talk it Out, Pray it Out

“16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!” — James 5:16-17

Recently, I’ve been reading in the book of James. These verses reminded me of the power of prayer in a fresh way. James shows us that we experience healing, breakthrough, and spiritual strength through two simple but important practices: confession and earnest prayer.

Verse 16 calls us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other so that healing can flow. Confession certainly isn’t about earning forgiveness from Jesus. On the contrary, His grace already covered us at the Cross. Instead, confession is about walking in the light. It keeps the enemy from cornering us with shame and isolation. It also gives Believers permission to live in an honest, transparent, and grace-filled way. We begin to heal when we step into the light with a trusted community and invite God into our weakness.

Then James points to Elijah in verse 17. He writes of a man “as human as we are.” A man whose earnest prayers absolutely shaped the world around him. Elijah wasn’t perfect; he was simply willing. His life reminds us of something we should never forget. That fervent, faith-filled prayer from ordinary people invites extraordinary intervention from God.

These Verses Remind Us

Honesty opens the door to healing. Equally important, earnest prayer opens the door to God’s power. We don’t need to be spiritual giants. We just need to always surrender ourselves, be humble, and be willing to pray.

Considering this, is there something in your life He’s prompting you to confess so you can walk in the light? And how can you take steps today to pray in faith, believing He hears and responds?

Talking it out and praying with you,

Steele

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The Roads We Would Rather Avoid

In my previous posts, I have written about the passing of my father and my journey with Jesus through grief. This is my latest entry into that collection. Maybe one day you will find these posts a source of comfort, too.

October 23 marked five years since the day my father went into cardiac arrest while driving us home from work. It was a moment that not only changed my life but also rerouted how my brain navigates grief, pain, and loss.

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Providence

Lately, on my drive home from work, I’ve been intentionally quiet. Off goes the radio, and I sit in the silence. I think about how glorious God is and how near He is to me. I don’t ask anything in prayer, or even pray out loud. In the same way, my thoughts are about Him, and I quietly praise Him. Along with that, I enjoy the indwelling of His Spirit in me.

More recently, on one of these quiet drives home, God’s providence overwhelmed me. How incredibly detailed He must be to be truly providential in everything. 

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Unbreakable

“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” — Isaiah 43:13 (NLT)

In this verse, God reminds His people of His eternal power and sovereignty. From before time began and until long after it ends, He is unchanging. No one can thwart His purposes. At the same time, no one can undo His promises. For those of us who belong to Christ, this is the ultimate assurance. To put it simply, nothing and no one can separate us from His love.

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