The Rocks of the Cross

By J. Herrera

The Rocks of the Cross is the story of Christ revealing Himself in the life of this father named Paul, as he journeys to be in the life of his son Jason. This story is designed to encourage parents to be actively engaged in the lives of their children, and to make a positive and long-lasting impact in their lives. It calls for committed parents to shape this generation and future ones, by actively participating in the greatest service of all: humanity.

It is also a story of hope, adversity, tenacity and triumph. Triumph proven sweeter when we allow God to lead the way. Although this is a love story of a father and son, this book will also speak to a much larger audience. I say this, as we all have difficulties to traverse in life, and no one is immune from those. But, yet, it is during those adverse episodes that the essence of our character, of what we believe in and on, is tested and ultimately revealed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385014439

J. Herrera

J. Herrera is a father of three. This is the first novel he writes. The Rocks of the Cross is very close to his heart as it explores the importance of being a parent. He is very passionate about the role mothers and fathers play in the lives of their children, and the blessing and awesome responsibility it represents to serve God with a gift created in His image. The Rocks of the Cross is an act of worship to the Lord; is a podium to bring a vital message and illustrate the consequences of failing our children by omitting to do what we must in their best interest. A father and mother are essential pieces of that puzzle. The value for these children of having love, encouragement and proper guidance in the early part of their lives plays a tremendous importance in their development and future. The Rocks of the Cross is a novel based on a true story.

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Copyright © 2024 J. Herrera.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1442-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1443-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023924268

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/09/2024

CONTENTS

About the Author

Acknowledgment

Foreword

The Purpose

Chapter 1:   It Is Not about Perfection—It Is about Redemption

Chapter 2:   The Truth Is Life—A Lie Is Death

Chapter 3:   Sir, It Is in Your Best Interest That You Come See Me

Chapter 4:   Satan Not Only Distorts the Soul, But Also Clouds Your Vision and Perception

Chapter 5:   The Trail to Faith Often Starts with Trials

Chapter 6:   Sacrifice—If It Does Not Hurt, It Is Not a Sacrifice

Chapter 7:   Do Not Seek Life where Death Is At

Chapter 8:   We Do Not Serve a Consequential God

Chapter 9:   Accept It, Embrace It, and Bless It

Chapter 10:  These Were the Rocks of the Cross for Paul

Chapter 11:  Communications

Chapter 12:  Tools That May Help You

Chapter 13:  His Presence Is with You

Chapter 14:  Parental Alienation Syndrome—How to Identify It

Chapter 15:  Stealth Mode, Agenda Witnesses, and Record Keeping

Chapter 16:  Doctors, Professionals, and Others

Chapter 17:  Faith Nuggets

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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J. Herrera is a father of three. This is his first novel.

The Rocks of the Cross is very close to his heart, as it explores the importance of being a parent. He is very passionate about the roles that mothers and fathers play in the lives of their children, and the blessing and awesome responsibility it represents to serve God with a gift created in His image. The Rocks of the Cross is an act of worship to the Lord and a podium to bring a vital message and illustrate the consequences of failing our children by omitting to do what we must in their best interests. A father and mother are essential pieces of that puzzle. Love, encouragement, and proper guidance during the early part of children’s lives play tremendous roles in their development and future.

The Rocks of the Cross is a novel based on a true story. It is the story of Christ revealing Himself in the life of a father named Paul, as he journeys to be in the life of his son, Jason. This story is designed to encourage parents to be actively engaged in the lives of their children and to make positive and long-lasting impacts in their lives. It calls for committed parents to shape this generation and future ones by actively participating in the greatest service of all: humanity.

It is also a story of hope, adversity, tenacity, and triumph. Triumph is proven sweeter when we allow God to lead the way. Although this is a love story of a father and son, this book will also speak to a much larger audience. I say this as we all have difficulties to traverse in life, and no one is immune from those. Yet it is during those adverse episodes that the essence of our characters, of what we believe in and on, is tested and ultimately revealed.

No matter what you are going through in life, this story will inspire you to seek God first, and seek the higher ground in life, to have the confidence that all things work out for God’s plan, and that you are precious to Him in His divine plan, created just for you. Life is simply a test, and it can be made easier as you learn how prayer help us communicate with God, and how His Hand is always there for us, reaching out to us, embracing us, and pointing us to His ways and path. It does not matter where we are at—what matters is where He is in our hearts.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

—Psalm 116:14 (NIV)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

When God gives you the vision to do something for Him, you go to work. You do not abandon it, change it, amend it, or minimize it. If God chose you, it is you who must deliver that message intact, without any excuses or editorials—you just do it, as simple as that.

The consequences against you for delivering such a message are inconsequential, and God will address those who oppose you, if at all. Let Him speak to you and through you. Do what He instructed you to do. Whatever is pure, wholesome, hopeful, and peaceful will always be from the Lord. The love story in these pages is just that: the hand of God keeping a father and son together, while bringing many angels onto their path for His glory and purpose.

I composed this book for parents, for divorcing parents with children. Those children have a voice, but oftentimes, their messages, desires, or wishes are suffocated, played with, or silenced in the static of the adults by those who oftentimes ignore their voices or disguised their intents, just to extend the dispute of the parents, leading to a pain that a child should not experience at all.

The blessing of a child, given to us by God, should never be tortured. But that’s what happens to the children of divorcing couples. Children are to be nurtured and influenced by loving role models. If we do, it will help tremendously, eventually leading to stable fathers and mothers in the future. Children will model what they see and hear in the early years of their formation. They will take to the future what they saw, felt and heard as a child.

The solution to a better world begins today, with our children. If we want a solid civil society in the future, we need to start now with the children, and constantly evaluate what we, as parents and adults, are doing wrong. We all have a part to play in this world, and it begins at home. It begins with a child. It begins right at birth.

With love to my three treasures: Liliana, Melissa, and Julian.

FOREWORD

In the evening of July 23, 2017, I went to bed like any other night: thankful and blessed that the Lord had given me another day. I also went to bed that night with the many worries and challenges that we all carry in some form or fashion. But as I do each night, I gave thanks, as the Lord is in control and walks with us each day, should we choose to.

However, on this night I was having difficulty with my sleep. So, at one in the morning, I was up. My mind was a blender, processing multiple issues, each competing for first place. But a Bible verse came to mind, and it would not leave me. So, at that hour, I opened my Bible and read the verse that would not depart from me that evening:

All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, Where are you going? Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I