On this rock Part 1 – Who doesn’t love to win?

On this rock ... Something happened at that rock. Something incredible. It could literally save the world. Unfortunately, too many people either don't know or don't care. Do you? Do you care enough to risk everything? That rock represented the start of a revolution. One that you can take part in. If you're willing.

On this rock Part 1 - Who doesn't love to win? is article #1 in the series: On this rock. Click button to view titles for entire series

All the world's a stage.
And all the men and women merely players;

from As you like it, by William Shakespeare.

It's a famous line. But that's boring.

"merely players"

How about a life where life really matters? Not as a mere player, but as an active participant? A participant in the greatest revolution of all time?

On this rock - Rule #1

Imagine being told this by the leader of the revolution:

Congratulations!

You have successfully figured out rule #1. Since you're the first to do it, your task now is to get the rest of the world to believe rule #1. No pressure, but the fate of every living person hangs in the balance.

There are too many people for you to do this alone - so you must get others to help you. All of you will be hated, tortured, and rejected for what you believe. Some will actively work against you. Others will just not care.

Either way, all of those who don't believe rule #1 will die.

Your task is simple.  And yet difficult. But I know you will not back down. You will come to wish you hadn't been the first. You will even deny knowing rule #1. But you will turn back to me and complete your mission.

As you know, I have already won. You will join in my victory, along with everyone else who comes to believe rule #1. I cannot be with you physically, but I will be with you until the end. You and those who believe rule #1 with you will be my representatives in this battle. I will see all of you at the celebration feast at the end.

What is On this rock?

Sounds like the intro to Mission Impossible.
Or maybe the start to a really cool video game.

But this isn't a movie.
And it's not a game.

This isn't about a play either.

Let's change the As you like it quote a bit.
Let's say that all the world's involved in an epic battle between good and evil.
And whether they believe it or not, all the men and women are involved.
Failure to accept their part in this battle means the player will lose, by default, due to lack of interest.

This is about real life. Or real death.

Your life.  Or death. 

Actually, everyone's life.  Or death.

On This Rock is based on something Jesus said.

I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  

It's written as though you, the reader, are Peter.  And the time is now, not 2,000 years ago.

Some personal notes about On this rock

This is a multi-part series. When I started it, I kind of had an idea where I thought it was going to go. While writing it, I eventually realized that it wasn't going to be close to what I expected. It's so much bigger.

One thing that has changed - most of 2016, one of our little guys - Dewey, a Shih-Tzu - went through treatment for lymphoma.  It was an incredibly up and down 8 months.  During those months - the traditional chemo approach failed.  At the end, when it should have been going into remission, it came roaring back.  He was accepted into a trial for a new drug.  One of the conditions for getting into the trial is no chemo of any kind for a week.  Talk about the cancer roaring back.  After a week totally unchecked, we were praying that he even lived long enough to start the trial.  

Ultimately, Dewey didn't make it.  He did start the trial, and the drug was acting very quickly.  Unfortunately, the cancer went to his brain.  Because of the makeup of the canine body and this drug, the drug cannot get to the brain.  So once it went there, the only humane thing to do was put him down.  He went from OK to suffering within a matter of hours.  

Why do I bring this up?

It's really let me look at my relationship with God - viewing it through the eyes of Dewey's relationship with me, my wife, and all the people he has come across during his chemo treatments, emergency room visits for side effects, and others.  It's a real look at something that may be as close as we'll ever see of God's unconditional love - this side of Heaven.

It's really affected the way I look at life - at God - at the importance of winning the battle discussed on these pages.

BTW - to read more about Dewey, check out the Learning From A Dog series.  All of them are about members of our "family".  Dewey is the pensive-looking "Ewok" clone, and the one running on the grass.  I definitely invite you to read all of them - especially if you're a dog person, or more properly a "dog's person".

Now it's 2022. Obviously more things have changed. We lost two more dogs. Hachiko, probably a Chow Chow - German Shepherd mix. He's also written up in the Learning From A Dog series.

And Donnie. Most likely Donnie was a Havanese, but since he was abandoned, we really don't know. Or care. Donnie was just plain awesome. It's been months since he lost his battle with kidney failure. I still haven't been able to write about his passing. It's just too painful, still.

But then, Donnie's life is also what led us to recently adopt Mikey. Mikey was also abandoned. Probably lived on the streets for at least a year. He's a combo-plate of unknown origins, although we may do a test on him to find out. Mikey was scared of literally everything. But living on the street also made him tough. Fourteen pounds of aggression when he's scared.

In four and a half months, he's come so far! Mikey's the smartest dog I've ever had. And one of the things he picks up on is when he's safe. Inside the house, he's very much a member of the family, very playful and funny. Outside, he's got a way to go. With the vet and groomer, pretty much still at square one. But we're confident he'll get there.

Mikey's also really good for me on the cancer front. You can read what's happening at Don't waste your cancer. For now, suffice it to say Mikey gives me plenty of reason to not go down a rabbit hole of depression because, in order for him to get better, I have to be better.

Anyway, in all of these things, I see the way all the different dogs have reacted with me. And I can't help but think of our relationships as ways to learn what our relationship with God should be like. That thought is too long to explain here, but you can read it in the Learning From A Dog series.

The bottom line for On this rock is that everything I've learned, everything I've written, points to the importance of every Christian playing our part in this revolution that Jesus started.

And now, here's the second update of On this rock.

On this rock ..., said Jesus

Here's what Jesus said, in the full context of a section the NIV titles Peter’s Confession of Christ.

Peter’s Confession of Christ

16:13-16 pp — Mk 8:27-29; Lk 9:18-20