Dear Fellow
Children of God,
On July 13 I visited my doctor for
my yearly check-up. I have taken a
yearly physical for over 40 years. Often
my physicians have found no troubles. My
family doctor, Dr. Wade Erickson, used to tell me, “You’re boring.” But, about 6 years ago I had some blood sugar
issues which we have addressed. However,
Dr. Erickson taught me that I could do much to combat my symptoms myself, if I
ate right and exercised regularly. So, I
followed a low-carb diet. I went to the
gym about 3 times a week. I tried my
best to do what I was told. And it
seemed to work.
But, as I grow older, next May I
turn 70, some of my efforts do not seem to work as well. In addition, I have not perhaps been as
faithful in my visits to the gym. I was doing great, even during travels,
until COVID came along. The gyms I
visited shut down. I was no longer
allowed to visit. I had to find other
ways to exercise. I took up walking
during my golf games, and made sure I got out fishing. The walking during golfing helped, until I
hurt my left knee in July of 2021. But, even though the gyms are open again, I
got out of the habit of going to the gymnasium, of using the elliptical for 30
minutes, of lifting weights, and stretching, and walking. I still go to the gymnasium from time to
time. But, I’m am not there every
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday the way I used to be. Hmmmm.
So, as I visited Doctor Erickson
this week, he me asked if I’m still exercising.
I confessed, “Some, but not the way I was exercising before COVID. I got out of the habit and I have had trouble
getting back into it.” I know that planned
regular exercise is good for me. But, I
am just not back to the regular exercise I did previously.
I heard someone confess the same
thing to me this past week concerning her worship attendance. “I got out of the habit during COVID and I
haven’t been back the way I should.”
Christian churches are struggling in our changing culture anyway. People are busier. Many in our culture don’t even want to hear
about God. Failures in churches cause
people to think twice about belonging to a Christian congregation. But, in the midst of those struggles, when
COVID hit our world in March 2020, it had a big negative effect on churches. Governments, trying to deal with the spread
of this virus as they thought best,
shut down businesses, and schools, and churches. There are so many views on this illness, who
really knows what is going on, other than the Lord of all? But, in some ways, COVID was like a kick in
the gut to worship attendance in American churches.
There are MANY verses in Scripture about
how important worship is for people of God.
The third (depending on how you number them) commandment states, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it
holy.” (Exodus 20:8) In Colossians Paul encourages the fellowship
of worship to the believers in Colossae, “16 Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you
sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17. See also
Ephesians 5:19-20). Worship is a way
that God’s people teach, and correct, and encourage one another in the grace
God gives in Jesus. Worship in person with
other believers is important. And the writer
to the Hebrews has taught that worship is vital to keeping one’s faith healthy,
“23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope
we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Worship is not only important for us and for our faith, worship is our
Lord’s plan for children of God to encourage one another, and to “spur one
another on toward love and good works.”
We don’t want to just “get out of the habit” of worshiping, regularly,
with other fellow believers.
COVID seems to be changing, with
all the different variants. In addition,
our society seems to be getting back to a “new normal.” When Kathy and I traveled recently, we were
not required to wear masks in airports or on domestic flights, though masks
were still required for international flights.
Churches are meeting in person again, and have been doing so for 2 years. And, we do need the encouragement of God’s
Word and the Sacrament. We do need the
fellowship of other Christian believers.
I may be somewhat out of the habit
of going to the gym . . . regularly.
Though do still go. But, I found
out when visiting Dr. Erickson that exercise does still help my health. My blood pressure was down some. And, Kathy and I both lost 4 pounds during
our recent travels. On our cruise we
often walked up and down some of the 17 flights of stairs on the ship instead
of taking the elevator. We took
excursions each day to learn about each new place. We visited the sights on shore, walking many
miles. My fit bit said I usually walked
between 10,000 and 15,000 steps a day, and did about 30 flights of stairs a day.
Dr. Erickson said. “You really lost 15
pounds, because most people gain 10 pounds on a cruise. If you came back 5 pounds light, you lost 15.”
Regular weekly worship, in person with
other believers, is a way that God cares for our faith, and a way we share God’s
unconditional love in Jesus with others.
We don’t want to get out of the good
habit of this spiritual discipline.
In this time when the world seems to be going crazy, regular worship of
our all-powerful and loving Lord, is more important than ever.
A Child of God, Seeking to Live a
Healthy Life, in Body and Spirit, in an Unhealthy World!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I did get out this week.
· I had not tried
out my boat yet this year, because king salmon numbers are down and because,
except for the Eklutna Tailrace, there is no retaining of kings in the valley
this year. HOWEVER, I did put the boat
in the water on Friday evening, July 8.
Family was visiting and my oldest son, Josh, and I took 3 of his kids,
my grandkids, for a boat ride. We did also
wet some lines, but on that windy night did not get any bites. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bcWfVi2Kf3iguaiH9
· On Monday, July 11,
I did some dip-netting on the Kasilof River with friend, Wayne Mize. Fishing was slow, but we got 3 red salmon. Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/amdLTtwy69jHK7PCA
P.P.S. I took a picture on Tuesday night, July
12. My grandson, Jackson, is now taller
than I am. (Though, I still weigh more
than he does.) Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/jnM9VMPDDJSJphxHA
P.P.P.S. If you
just want to look at ALL our travel pictures which are online (we have others),
here is a link to the whole Google Photos album. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vMtFgxj7H15dwWK59
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at
the end of August 2019 from serving as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran
Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a
weekly devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired many asked me to continue writing
these devotions. So I have continued
writing. However, with life's changes I
now call this weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child of
God." Since I am no longer senior
pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who
asked to receive it. (Though I am now
serving again part-time at St. John as assistant to the pastor.)
So, if you stopped receiving these
devotions and wondered why, now you understand.
And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive
them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution
list. My e-mail address is
jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions help
each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Emeritus, St. John Lutheran
Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
“1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a)
No comments:
Post a Comment