Words to My Son on His Thirteenth Birthday, by Steve Brandon
These words were spoken to a son on the day he turned thirteen at a special occasion to encourage him to pursue being a man.

Tips for Memorizing Extended Portions of Scripture, by Steve Brandon
Hardly any Christian would deny the profitablity of memorizing Scripture.  Yet, many shy away from the practice because they perceive it to be too difficult. Here are some tips for memorizing extended portions scripture, like entire chapters and books.

Fifty Fruits of Pride, by Brent Detwiler
This document is an excellent write-up on pride.  It contains fifty ways in which pride manifests itself in our lives.  It is very useful in exposing this sin in your life.  Read at your own risk

Thoughts for Young Men, by J. C. Ryle
J. C. Ryle was the biship of Livermore in the late 1800's.  His writing style is very simple, yet very piercing to the soul.  "Thoughts for Young Men" is a booklet that he wrote to address the particular perils that await young men.  Several fathers and sons at Rock Valley Bible Church recently read through this little pamphlet and split up to have a good father-son talk on the issues of life that await our young men.  You may want to do this with your son as well.  This document contains a cover sheet of explanation as well as discussion questions in at the end of the pamphlet.

Audio Sermons on the Internet, by Steve Brandon
This is a short list of recommended links to churches who are posting weekly audio sermons on their websites.

Food for the Flock Articles.  This is a collection of articles that have been written for the edification of those at Rock Valley Bible Church.

Philippine Jungle Diary, by Kay Friederichsen
Kay Friederichsen is the aunt of a friend of Rock Valley Bible Church. Her family was ministering as missionaries to the Philippines during World War II. This diary records the trials and adventures of her family as the Japanese were invading the Philippines. Her family was eventually taken into a Japanese concentration camp until the end of the war. It is an exciting and quick reading account of one who trusted greatly in her savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Plea to Pray for Pastors, by Gardiner Spring
Gardiner Spring was a pastor in the 1800's, who knew of the importance of praying people to the ministry of the gospel. This exhortation comes from Paul's admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:25, "Brethren, pray for us." This work is actually a chapter from his larger work, The Power of the Pulpit.

A Call to Prayer, by J. C. Ryle
This is an excellent little booklet that calls us all (converted or unconverted to pray). With typical simplicity, J. C. Ryle presses upon us the importance of praying.

Block Diagramming, by Steve Brandon
This is a pamphlet which outlines a Bible study technique which the author has used extensively in his personal study of the Bible.

The Celestial Railroad, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This short story gives a "modern day" perspective of the Pilgrims John Bunyan dreamed of. Nathaniel Hawthorne dreamed that there is now a railroad which connects the City of Destruction and the Celestial City, which makes the way easy. Mr. Smooth-it-away accompanies him on his trip. Those Pilgrims who still walk the path are ridiculed for their old fashioned ways.

Bob Hockman, A Surgeon Of the Cross, by Kay Hockman Friederichsen
Kay Hockman Friederichsen is the aunt of a friend of Rock Valley Bible Church. Her brother, Dr. Bob Hockman, was a missionary doctor to Ethiopia in the 1930s. This narrative records how he was born to missionary parents in China and how he grew in the nuture and admonition of the Lord to eventually become a doctor and then to fulfill his desire to be a missionary doctor. It records how when war broke out in Ethiopia, Dr. Hockman willingly volunteered to care for the sick and wounded and how in the course of that duty his life came to an abrupt end. A sequel to the book records how his life, dedicated to the Lord's work, impacted his family and others for many years afterward.

Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther's German Writings, by Martin Luther
This short work demonstrates the great humility of the man God used to launch the reformation of the church in the 1500's. He strongly exhorts his readers to be students of the Bible, rather than of other people, who discuss the Bible, including himself. In this preface, Luther also great gives three rules to be followed in order to become a great theologian: Oratio (prayer), Meditatio (meditation), and tentatio (affliction). He finds all of these modeled clearly in Psalm 119.

The Preciousness of Time, by Jonathan Edwards
This sermon is taken from Ephesians 5:16, "redeeming the time." It is a challenging call to evaluate the value of your time and to impress upon your heart the need to use it wisely.

The First Thanksgiving, by Yvonne Brandon
This is a script that was written to be used as a family gathers for a Thanksgiving feast. It tells the story of the first Thanksgiving in a memorable way for all.

The Myth of Mutual Submission, by Wayne Grudem
This excellent article addresses a common argument of those who believe that there ought to be no role distinctions among men and women (i.e. egalitarians). Wayne Grudem is a Research Professor of Bible and Theology at Phoenix Seminary.

God's Ways Above Men's, by Edward Payson
This sermon is taken from Isaiah 55:8-9, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways declares the LORD."  In this sermon, Payson demonstrates eight ways in which God has established the world which are contrary to the ways that we might make the world (should we be God).  In demonstrating this, he concludes at the end, of how we ought not to reject any teaching in Scripture that is easy to understand, however strange or mysterious or illogical it may appear to us.  It is well worth your time in reading.

Feeding the Flesh, by Joshua Harris
While thinking about the process of sanctification, Joshua Harris, senior pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, drew a series of cartoons about the process of battling sin and temptation. These may be very helpful to you in your fight against sin.

Who Are The Few?  by John MacArthur
This is a recording of a message that John MacArthur gave on July 10, 1988 at Grace Church of DuPage in Warrenville, Illinois.  The message made a big impact on our pastor, Steve Brandon, as he was confronted for the first time that all who claim to be Christians aren't. The setting of the message was outside on the lawn of the church, under a large tent.  There were probably 150 in attendence. John MacArthur demonstrated his humor as well as his great grasp of the gospel preached by Jesus with his words. During the message, the rain started pouring down, forcing John MacArthur to stop his message and call people to squeeze together under the tent.  By the time his message ended, the rain had stopped and the birds were chirping. It was as if God was adding His "Amen!" to the message preached.

Testimony of a Living Kidney Donor, by Beth Loner
The adult daughter of a friend of our congregation decided to donate one of her kidneys anonymously to someone in need of a kidney.  This is her testimony of the things that the Lord taught her through this decision she made.  It's a very touching illustration of sacrifice and grace.

Meant to be ... lost, by Roger Baird
This is a moving testimony of a friend of our congregation who went for a morning hike in Colorado and was lost. Roger spent three days and two nights in the wilderness. Throughout the ordeal, the Lord taught Roger many things that he shares in this testimony.

Memorial Service for Roni and Charity Bowers.
Jim and Roni were missionaries to Peru. In April, 2001, they were travelling in an airplane with their son, Cory, and daughter, Charity. The Peruvian Air Force mistook the missionary plane for a drug plane and opened fire. The plane was hit with several bullets, one of which went through Roni's back and stopped inside her baby, Charity, who was being held on her lap. They both were killed. This is the transcript of the memorial service at Calvary Church, Fruitport, Michigan, Friday, April 27, 2001. It is a very encouraging account of a man who trusted in God's sovereignty in the most difficult of circumstances.