blog and podcast
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
 "A NEW COMMANDMENT" We must ask ourselves, "what was so new about the command that Christ gave his disciples?" We've heard it said: "Love your neighbor as yourself" - but now Christ fulfills this command with a refreshed look. "Love one another as I have loved you". Instead of making ourselves the standard for love - Christ is the standard. As found in John 13:34-35, Christ gives his disciples this new command. We ought to love one another as Christ has loved us because (1)He has commanded it. Obeying Christ goes hand in hand with our profession of following Christ. His love must be IN us. We owe no one anything except to love him. As written in Romans 13:8-9, Paul says to "Owe no one anything except to love each other, by this we fulfill the law." We have a debt to love eachother as Christ loves us! (2)He set the example. We must set Christ before us as our 'copy' of how to live. Our love to one another must be free and ready, laborious and expensive, constant and persevering; it must be love to the souls one of another. We must also love one another from this motive, and upon this consideration—because Christ has loved us! (3)Our reputation of our confession depends on it. Christ goes on to say that the badge of discipleship with Him is this love for one another. Our love professes that Christ knows us, and we know Christ. James writes that if we show favoritism, than we are breaking the law of love. Favoritism is simply choosing who we will show the love of Christ to. My prayer for the Church is that we would be accused of loving too much! I hope you all have a wonderful week and that you experience the love of Christ and the love of your friends. -PETE [ Comment on this Podcast] [ Listen to other Podcasts] [ How to add a Podcast to iTunes]
Monday, February 20, 2006
 Hypocrisy. Putting on a show. Wearing a mask. Just like the Pharisees, we have a tendency to act differently on the outside than the inside. Jesus describes it in Matthew 23:27 - 28 like a "white-washed tomb" that looks beautiful on the outside, but inside is still full of "dead man's bones". Check out this talk on Mathew that helps identify areas of our lives where we put on a mask. Learn how to take off the "mask" through confession and receive the forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. - Blog by Jenny Clark Listen to the message that former Fiesta Bowl Queen, Jenny Clark, gave at the Maquerade Ball.  Download photos and order them online! [ download mp3] [ how to get a podcast] [ podcast page] [ leave comment]
Sunday, February 19, 2006
 Zeal cannot be contained within our heart - by nature - it explodes into a lifestyle and into action and expression. Listen to this weeks podcast message given by Pete! Leave a comment and tell us what you think. [ leave a comment]
Monday, February 13, 2006
Lip Balm? I love the clip from 3 amigos when they are riding through the desert and stop for a drink of water. The first amigo is far from quenched as only a few drops of water fall from his cantine. The second amigo, anticipating a flow of refreshing water, gets a mouthful of sand! It's only the third amigo (chevy chase) that has his thirst totally quenched and finished off his satisfaction with a touch of lip balm on his lips. Think of a time when you were really thirsty and water was not available. In John 4:5-15, Jesus comes to a well thirsty and asks a woman there for a drink. Their dialogue with eachother reveals a great truth for us. Jesus compares to kinds of water to this woman. The water in the well, and the living water that Jesus can offer. We all know that Jesus was not merely talking about water to drink - but he was referring to our spiritual thirst. we are all thirsty and we quench it with something. We all have a desire to satisfy our lonliness, need for affection, attention, and pleasure in so many ways.  We go to different "wells" to draw from, but they ultimately leave us very empty and still thirsty. Jesus exposed the Samaritan woman's well: she has had 5 husbands and currently living with a man that is not her husband. Jesus spoke of his gift to her: living water that would truly satisfy her thirst. She came thirsty, did not drink, yet left satisfied. A personal encounter with Christ will always leave us satisfied. We are never truly satisfied until we find our satisfaction in Christ. Drink freely! [ -leave pete a comment and let him know what you think-]
Friday, February 10, 2006
 Thats right check out the Review video and the pictures online now! Derek Carlson did an awesome job filming and editing this years Superbowl Party Video. Leave a comment and tell us and your friends what you thought of the Superbowl Party!
Monday, February 06, 2006
 Do you have a friendship with Christ? On Sunday, we read through John 3:24-30. John the Baptist not only considered himself a friend of Christ, but a best-friend. Using the illustration of a wedding, John takes the role of the "Best Man" and stands by Christ and attends to Him. Like his disciples, sometimes we focus more on pleasing God with our acts rather than maturing in our relationship and friendship with our savior. Take some quiet time this week and ask yourself this question:  "How is my friendship with Christ?" If it's rocky - draw near with prayer asking Christ to reveal to you what might be hindering a connected friendship. John's joy was made "complete" by his close friendship with Christ. Have a great week, see you soon. -Pete Listen to the latest Rock Sunday Podcast here!
Friday, February 03, 2006
 No joke Harry is back and you can download him your iTunes or Video iPod! Learn how to add The Rock Podcast to iTunes. download the video cast here for your ipod Harry the Ape is has been terrorizing the Rock Youth Students for too long!  We all need is your help for his safe return to the Tucson Zoo. Watch Edwardo treat Jason Sweatsalot, who has been traumatized by this ape. Edwardo also has some very interesting ways, in dealing with his patients. Watch the first 6 episodes to catch up on what Harry has been up to and if he will ever get caught!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
 This past Sunday, we read about Jesus' first public miracle - changing water into wine. What an amazing spectacle that must have been. Can you imagine how heavy 30 gallons of water in a jar must have been? If you were here on Sunday, you saw the 30 gallon garbage pale filled with water - two students could barely lift it!!! What a chore this must have been for the servants int he story! Read John 2:1-11 to refresh yourself on this passage. When Christ calls us to follow Him every day of our lives, we might be tempted to ask, "how can I make this easier?" or "What is the point of doing this?". Christ wants to involve us in His miracles, and He will use everything that we bring, nothing that we offer to Him will be wasted. Therefore, let us bring everything that we have, every blemish, every mistake, every failure and fear, and lift it up to Christ for His use. Christ has a way of created the extraordinary from the ordinary.  If we begin to debate with God, we may miss out on experiencing His miracles. We cannot expect to see great changes in our life if we sit back and wait on God to create a miracle. We must follow Christ with "active" obedience. Christ says in John 12:26 "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." Let us act like the servants at the wedding and act in full obedience to the instruction that Christ gives to us - and expect by faith the wonders that He will do in our lives.
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