The Road Back

By Rick Tolley

Many are searching for relevance in regard to the Christian life. The road back challenges those who are wrestling with the Christian life and how it fits into today’s world.  It uses analogies and stories in plain and simple ways that make thing very understandable.  Prayerfully leading to a deeper walk with God by going outside

• Language: English
• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Release date: Nov 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781647530075

Rick Tolley

Rick Tolley has been a pastor for almost 40 years, serving in a variety of non-traditional setting, from a converted horse barn to a movie theater. He has always reached outside the traditions of established Christianity to meet people where they are. He has served as a youth pastor, a teacher and mentor in the jails and prisons working with adults and juveniles. He currently is pastor in Peru, IN where he first came to know the Lord on Father's Day 1980. He is married to his wife Cindy and they have two special needs kids living at home.

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The Road Back

Copyright © 2019 by Rick Tolley. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of URLink Print and Media.

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Published in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019918594

ISBN 978-1-64753-008-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64753-007-5 (Digital)

24.10.19

CONTENTS

Preface

A Believer or a Disciple?

A Game for the Brave

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

An Honest Look

Can This Be Happening to Us?

Chuckin’ Stones

CHURCH: The Roadblock to Jesus

Cockroaches in the Kitchen

Let’s Make Cookies

Get Out the Whip

Here’s Spit in Your Eye

Is This Word for You?

Need Bread?

Tears of the Father

The Call to Arms

The Cootie Syndrome

The Heart of Caleb

The Lonely Place

The Real Problem with America

The Word: More Than a Book

Conclusion

Preface

I am amazed how many people simply accept what they hear as truth. It is a sad thing that so many have an opinion but can’t tell you how they arrived at that conclusion. I guess one could call it laziness.

We grab the first idea that comes across our path that sounds reasonable, and we latch on to it without taking time to think through it ourselves. I have a hard time relating to that line of thinking. I have always been one to question things.

If you are going to be one who questions, you must also be ready to stir up controversy. Over the years, I have enjoyed stirring things up. Am I always right? Obviously not, but if I can get someone to stop and think and evaluate a topic, I have helped them grow in understanding.

Controversy and differences in opinion create a healthy environment to learn and grow. I pray the articles in this book will stimulate you to grow in your understanding of God and His plan. I challenge you to think on it!

A Believer or a Disciple?

Do you mind if I give you something to chew on? I hear a lot of people refer to themselves as believers in Jesus, but is that who he called you to be? I am sure you have heard it said that even the devil is a believer. So being a believer is not that special.

The term believe means to take as true or real, to trust a statement or promise, to suppose or think. Many suppose or think Jesus is real, and they even trust it is true that he is who he says he is. The stark truth is that many believers will end up in hell. Never once does Jesus call people to become believers.

He does call you to be a disciple; he even makes that the mission of the Church. Matthew 28:19 commands the Church to go and make disciples.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to