Rock Climbing

Last year we had a retreat at Rainbow Christian camp during February. A portion of the Saturday schedule was climbing a rock wall. Now mind you, this rock isn’t real, but it feels real when you are on it. I didn’t make it to the top, but I made it further than I thought I was going to. It was really neat to watch our students work at the climb. For some, it looked easy – that was not the case for me, by the wa

y. For others, it was more challenging. However, the neatest thing to me was watching our whole group gathered around the base of the wall cheering each other on. What mattered was not where a person “got on the rock” but that their brothers and sisters were there pulling for them all the way. What a difference it makes when you are climbing – whether you are hearing encouraging words or discouraging words. When you are on the rock wall you are putting yourself out there… and words… they matter. David described our God as our Rock, our fortress and our deliverer. He went on to call our his stronghold and refuge in 2 Samuel 22:3. Might I ask a few questions to ponder?

* Where do you find refuge in this world? There’s a lot pulling at us. There is only one truly safe and solid place where we can put our trust – and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ. Our young folks have more pulling at them than ever in our world. Find someone younger than you and ask them where they find refuge. Get to know them so that it’s more than a religious check up. We all need refuge in Christ. What are you fueling up on? What most fills your time or your family’s time? Opportunities abound here at Center Road to find refuge, to connect to Jesus. Why not set aside 9:30 on Sundays? There is fuel and renewal, connection to the Savior, for all ages offered then.
* How do you reinforce – or maintain strength – while living in our world? Remember those encouraging words I mentioned? Sometimes the words we hear – the news, music, pressures from work or school, sometimes friends and even family, and so on – won’t encourage us to hang on to the Rock, our Jesus. Sometimes there is strong pressure to avoid the rock for something temporary, even if more appealing at the time. Satan is a pro at this very thing. The way we stay on the Rock is to connect with Christians. We take this seriously at Center Road. This is why we asked everyone to join a Life Group… we need connections that will help us stay on the Rock. Our youth have many “live it” opportunities – which are geared to help encourage them to Stay on the Rock. Why not make these a priority in this New Year?
* How are you helping others get to the Rock? It’s rescue work that we are called to do. Christ made this abundantly clear not only in what he said, but in what he did. It’s about connecting others to Jesus. It is far from politically correct, but the fact is that without Christ people are lost both now and for eternity – not my idea – but facts from our Lord. It’s not enough to just get along with different faiths – you know, the popular “all paths lead to God” idea. No, this is a lie from Satan. What are we doing to rescue people from sin and help them to the Rock. At Center Road we are doing tons of things with that in mind. Our congregation is involved in many outreach efforts. Our youth calendar for this past summer and fall was stuffed with “give it” opportunities. Many more will follow.

We’ll be rolling out our youth and family plan for the remainder of Winter and Spring. I hope and pray everyone, students and adults alike, will become a part of our ROCK climbing expedition!