Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Can Christians have Fun?? Thankful For Fun with Faith, While Fishing with Family and Friends!

 

Dear Fellow Children of God, 

 

Can Christians have fun?  I know that many people who do not know God believe that Christinas are not allowed to have fun - because they have to obey the Lord.  Many think that God forbids so much, that Christians can never have fun.  However, . . . I will suggest to you that CHRISTIANS HAVE THE BEST KIND OF FUN!

 

Please consider Paul’s God-inspired words from 1 Thessalonians 5.  At the end of this letter the Holy Spirit leads the apostle to give instructions for the life of Christian faith.  Some of those instructions read this way, “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) When people are “in Christ” they know that God loves them.  When people are “in Christ” they know His forgives, because of the cross of Jesus.  When people are “in Christ” they know their sure future, because Jesus rose and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him as their Savior.  With this knowledge and assurance God’s children can live rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks, as Paul calls Christians to do!

 

The last two days I confess that I had fun.  The last two days I spent time with family and friends . . . FISHING!  My friend, Pastor Paul Birner, called me in February about the time that Kathy and I visited Alaska friends, Fred and Kelly Vasilie, in Bradenton, FL.  Some call me a fishing fanatic. But they have not met Fred. I’m not sure that Fred enjoys anything more than taking his family and friends fishing. And, Fred has a NICE halibut boat.  So, Paul and Fred and I got out our calendars in February and we chose June 17 and 18 to fish for halibut. I also knew that my daughter, Mary wanted to go.  She’ll almost always fish with her dad, even if he picks on her . . . a little.  And Mary has a special place in her heart for Fred.  Later we invited others, and grand-daughter, Emma, also came with us fishing.

 

Consider our trip.  God calls on us to love one another. Fathers are to love their children.  Children are to love their parents. We are to love our neighbors and friends. What better way to love one another than to spend time together, enjoying each other’s company, outdoors, in the beauty of God’s creation?!

 

God also calls us to love and worship Him in response to His grace and love for us.  When floating on a calm ocean, with snow capped mountains in the background, watching otters, and puffins, and catching fish, it is only natural to thank our Lord for His gifts and His bounty in nature.

 

In addition, when Christians gather together, as family and friends, in the beauty of the world around us, there is a calm that makes it easy to share with others. Christians can and do share hopes and dreams, hurts and frustrations.  But, in such a beautiful setting, with other believers around, the care and encouragement comes quickly and easily.

 

According to Jesus, the two great commandments are “29  . . . "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31) When a person experiences the beauty of God’s creation with other Christian friends and family, loving God and loving others flows freely.

 

So, during this time of ‘family, friends, and fishing’ I saw joy.  During this time of family, friends, and fishing I joined in prayers which were said, on the water, at meal-time, in the morning, at bed-time.  During this time of family, friends, and fishing we gave thanks for the goodness of God in the beauty around us.  As people saved by Jesus this time of rejoicing, of prayer, of thanks, was special for family and friends as we lived our faith and had fun . . . fishing!

 

When was the last time you had fun as a child of God, as you rejoiced, as you prayed, and as you gave thanks with others for God’s blessings in your life?

 

A Child of God, Thankful for Fun with Faith, While Fishing with Family and Friends,

Pastor Rockey

 

P.S.  I am now serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor. 

  • VBS was held at Our Redeemer June 9-13.  Here are pictures of the whole week. https://photos.app.goo.gl/uLX11Sbda1fDYg5s8
  • Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
    • Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m.   The class is studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” On June 15 we began the study about the fall into sin. Come and join us in the library.  On June 22 we begin studying about who Jesus is, and His saving life.

 

    • Summer Sunday School - Children have an opportunity to study during the summer as well.  Leah Rawlins is leading the children in studying the book of Ruth.  At the end of this study they may put what they learned into expression through legos.  All Children are WELCOME! 😊 
  • The Our Redeemer Call Committee has been formed.  It includes Elder and chairman, Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis, Scott Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins.  They met on June 4, and will meet again on July 1.

The first step in the call process will be to begin a congregational self-study.  The Northwest District has the study and tools to help in this study.  It is good for a congregation to be patient in the call process.  Please PRAY that as our Lord leads this committee and Our Redeemer in this process, we will follow His guidance.

 

  • Northwest District Convention – The Triennial District Convention for LCMS Churches of the Northwest District will be held June 19-21 in Spokane, WA.  Geri Wacker and Pastor Rockey will be attending for Our Redeemer.  Please keep this convention in your prayers.

 

MANY CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.”  We are now in the New Testament!  On Tuesday, June 17, we finished the gospel of Matthew.. 

Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these readings.  Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net  I have recently received questions and comments.  It is always good to consider our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God knows!

 

P.P.S. Family and Friends:

 

 

  • Here are some pictures from the flower beds out front.  They were neglected for about 20 months.  But, with the help of Luke Stanley they are coming around.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nd1zxxKEt7UcJMwN9

 

Fishing  - Last week was a little more productive on the fishing front.

 

 

  • As mentioned above, I went halibut fishing on June 17 and 18 with friends Fred Vasilie and Pastor Paul Birner.  In addition, caughter, Mary, and grand-daughter, Emma, came along.   

 

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time 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.  (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)

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

Vacancy Pastor, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK

 

 

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 3:1 a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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