Jim Mann
“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18, NLT).
Many moons ago, my eight-year-old daughter was given a strange assignment. She had been given a diary for her birthday, and on one of the pages the instructions stated, “Think about each member of your family. If you could rename them, what name would you give them?”
Well, she renamed her nine-year-old brother “Booger,” for obvious reasons. She renamed her mother “Pretty,” for even more obvious reasons. But I was the happiest about the name I was given. I will wear it as a badge of honor for the rest of my life. And if I’m ever asked to write another resume or list of accomplishments, I will certainly include it. The name she gave me was “Rock.”
Rock, as in solid, stable, immovable, tough. You can always count on a rock. Sure, it’s a little boring, but dependable. If you leave it somewhere, it will be there when you get back. Forget your hammer? Grab a rock. Want to know the weather? Is the rock wet, covered in snow, or blistering hot?
Jesus called Peter “Rock” (Petros), too. Peter would be an important foundation stone for the church. Many years later, he would describe that church: “And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple …” (1 Peter 2:5, NLT).
I am blessed that New Life Church has been a solid rock in Denton, Texas, since 1999. We’ve been here for 25 years (April 7 is our birthday), and we’re not going anywhere. In February of 2025 we’ll have been at Robson Ranch for 15 years!
We made it through the start-up years, the lean times, and even national pandemics. God has been faithfully leading us the whole way.
Thank you for your friendship over the years and for welcoming us onto the Ranch! I’ll see you in church.
Jim Mann, Ph.D., pastors New Life Church at Robson Ranch. This interdenominational church meets at the Robson clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and online at 10 a.m. Visit www.newlifedenton.org for more information, or visit his blog at www.drjimmann.com.