Dear Fellow Children of God,
As I write this week’s devotion I am on a plane in New
Orleans waiting to fly back to Alaska. I
have been here with Kathy and Mary working as “Ambassadors” at the 2025 LCMS
Youth Gathering, entitled “Endure.” We
are full of God’s Spirit, and WEARY of body.
When we flew from Anchorage Monday night-Tuesday, July 15,
we missed that night of sleep. In
addition, I’m not sure that we slept in any morning that we were in New Orleans. Most nights we had less than 6 hours of sleep,
as we attended training, Mass Events, and as we worked our assignments with the
Gathering. But, we were serving our Lord
and the youth and other participants of this event. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to lose a
little sleep..
Every night when we took off our shoes it was a great
relief! My Garmin watch says I averaged
14,452 steps a day. We walked from our
hotel to the Convention Center. We also hoofed it a little over a mile to the
Super Dome, and then we walked back.
Before training started, I also walked to the WWII Museum, and Kathy and
Mary walked to Café’ du Monde. We put in
MANY more steps than we normally do. But,
we were serving our Lord and the youth and other participants of this
event. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to
deal with tired feet.
Unfortunately, while we were in New Orleans the sockeye
salmon arrived in great numbers on the Kenai Peninsula. I had tried to dip net earlier before we left,
but the run had not yet peaked. I have
friends who call the third week in July, ‘Holy Week.’ As a man who truly enjoys fishing, I share
those sentiments! But, when the
recruitment e-mails messages arrived, offering the 3 of us the opportunity to
work at this mass youth faith journey, I knew the dates. I sort of whined to Kathy. (Well, maybe not sort of.) “Why is this Gathering during this peak of
fishing?” Mary and Kathy signed up right
away. I waited till near the last day
before I applied. Nevertheless, we were
serving our Lord and the youth and other participants of this event. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to miss fishing. But I had to think really hard!
To top it all off, this is a YOUTH Gathering, and I am 72
years old, an ‘old . . . er man.’ My
grand-children tell me I AM old. I am
pretty healthy and still feel full of life and faith. However, I may not have quite the energy I
once did. I have wondered if the
planners of this event will someday say, “He’s TOO old!” But, they did still invite us. And, after all, we were serving our Lord and
the youth and other participants of this event.
It was a worthwhile effort, even for an old-er man!
So, as I return from 10 days of hectic schedule, little
sleep, and tired feet, I ask myself, “Would I serve again?” Before I answer, let me share with you the
theme verses of the 2025 LCMS Youth
Gathering from Hebrews 12:1-3. “1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the
throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such
hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
Maybe you can see why the Gathering was entitled “Endure."
God calls us in His Word to “run with endurance the race that is set
before us.” Anytime we face some
worthwhile task there are challenges. To
continue working toward the goal takes endurance, perseverance, and
sacrifice. This is true for family, for
work projects, for church functions, and even some recreational pursuits. There are always opportunities to grow “weary
and fainthearted.”
However, at the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering we were
reminded that Christ endured the cross . . . for us! Jesus endured shame and hostility,
suffering and death, so that He might win for us eternal love, grace,
forgiveness, and life in heaven.
Remembering what Christ endured for us, FOR ME, made a difference this
year in how I answered when I was called to serve. I pray that the great sacrifice of
Jesus will direct all my efforts in my life.
I pray that the great sacrifice of Jesus will direct my answer when
the next gathering is held in San Antonio in 2028.
What challenges are you facing? Does the loving sacrifice of Jesus help you
to face those challenges, help you to endure?
“1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so
closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross.”
A Child of God, Seeking to ENDURE the Challenges of Faith
because Jesus Endured the Cross for Me!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Gathering
Highlights. I have not yet put captions
on these pictures, but here are some images from our trip to New Orleans.
·
Here are some pictures of 3 generations of
Rockeys in New Orleans. 😊 Kathy and I had our daughter, Mary, join us
in working. Grand-children, Jake and
Emma, attended as participants. https://photos.app.goo.gl/uk2nxe6sSKoSMAzV6
·
Here are pictures by the day in New Orleans.
o Arrival,
July 15 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/K6MVQK3386e5fZsX9
o Training,
July 16 & 17 –https://photos.app.goo.gl/eZimg1WgHQgxnwmJ9
o Training,
July 18 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/mAaZj9FRJ7gxG7yW8
o Gathering,
Day 1, July 19 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/PSaacoBcJx8NdRtW8
o Gathering,
Day 2, July 20 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/LFvYsakdd2CgpTHu8
o Gathering
Day 3, July 21 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/dbrk7eJju5nQF5Dq6
o Gathering,
Day 4, July 22 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/ipzLjXiF64gTGtFE7
o Gathering,
Day 5, July 23 – https://photos.app.goo.gl/PG9LdELhvWUz7tvx6
o My
steps log on Wednesday at the airport - https://photos.app.goo.gl/vpy7ebah3SB86jxB8
·
On Wednesday, July 16, before training started,
I visited the WWII Museum. I really
enjoyed it. Again, the pictures are NOT
captioned. Nevertheless, you might find
them interesting. https://photos.app.goo.gl/PKXYNxqkSY9ji6jj8
·
P.P.S. I
am now serving Our Redeemer
Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
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 July 6 we studied about heaven and
hell. On July 13th we studied about the
Word of God. Come and join us!
·
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! 😊 (However, there was no Sunday School on
July 6 (4th of July weekend), nor on August 31 (Labor Day
Weekend!)
·
In August we will have meetings to discuss
upcoming confirmation classes, and perhaps some early communion 7classes. Watch for more
information. If anyone desires to attend
an adult membership class, that is what we are studying on Sunday mornings at
9.
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, July 1, and July 22. The first
step in the call process will be to complete a congregational self-study. The Northwest District has the study and
tools to help in this study. The
committee targets August 15 for inputs from leaders to the congregational
self-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.
Other Activities of Faith:
· 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 Wednesday, July 23, we read John 7 and
8. These chapters shared accounts of
Jesus disputes with the religious leaders, and gave us an opportunity to hear
Jesus assert, “I am the Light of the World.”
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: -
·
While we were in New Orleans, Josh and Erin
returned from a trip to Japan, and drove to Olympia, WA. Here are some pictures from their trip.
·
This week many family pictures are included in
our Gathering pictures.
P.P.P.S. Fishing! - I did NOT do any fishing in New
Orleans!
*******
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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