Dear Fellow Children of God,
On September 15 I shared God’s word at the funeral of Joanne Fritz. Joanne was a friend I have known since 1991, and the wife Rolland Fritz, deceased former pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church. She had chosen two verses for her service, Psalm 23, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Please consider with me 1 Thessalonians 4:13. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) How often does it look like our world lacks hope?
One of the signs of lacking hope which stands out to me is
the increasing suicide rate. According
to the latest statistics I could find, suicide is increasing in America, and
Alaska faces this tragedy at twice the national average.
Another behavior which shouts to me about a lack of hope is
turning to substances or drugs for an escape or release from the pressures of
this world. Also, the rising incidence
of anxiety issues speak of hopelessness.
The search for identity in new and different life-styles also speaks to
me of hopelessness. As I look around our
world, I see people who are hurting and do not seem to know where to turn.
Then I read a story in the Anchorage Daily News last week
about the decline of people practicing a faith life, or religion. According to a recent study released by Pew Research
Center, religious practice is down. According
to Chip Rotolo, the main author of this 2024 study, 40 percent of Alaskans “seldom
or never pray. That’s up 10 points from 2014,
the most recent Pew Study.” Also, “The
share of those who say religion is not too important or not at all important,
it’s 43%. That’s up 13 points from 10 years ago, so also significant.”
(Anchorage Daily News – The Alaska Beacon)
My question is, for all those who do not have a faith
life, who do not believe there is a Creator, a Savior, or a Comforter, where do
they find meaning? Where do they find
hope? No wonder many act as if life holds no hope.
However, for any who feel hopeless, who are overwhelmed
by life, for any who feel they have no identity or no purpose, for those who
grieve without hope, I have good news I would like to share. For people who are looking for purpose, God
tells us He created us, and makes each of us in His image. (Genesis 1:26-27) We are each blessed with
gifts to share with others. (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11) What a source of identity and purpose!, Our identity and purpose are found in God!
For those who feel unloved, God loved us so much He GAVE,
He SACRIFICED, He sent His only Son to save us.
We determine the value of an item by how much people might be willing to
pay for that item. Our Heavenly Father,
His Son, Jesus, paid the ultimate price for each of us. Our Lord’s love is real and tangible. In a world without hope, the love of God
gives hope which cannot be taken away. (Romans 8:37-39)
In a world where people often feel lonely, Jesus tells us
“I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) We are NOT alone! The Lord of all is with us, always!
For people who overwhelmed by death, our Lord gives the
promise of eternal life in Jesus!
While we are lost on our own, we have hope in Jesus. Please consider these verses from the
apostles Paul and Peter. “Paul, an
apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,”
(1 Timothy 1:1) In a world where life can seem without hope, Jesus IS our
hope. Or, think about 1 Peter
1:3-4. “3 Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has
caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” For people who are lonely, unloved, overwhelmed,
without purpose or a future, Our Heavenly Father gives birth to a living hope,
in Jesus. He promises, not just help in
this life, but an unfading life in heaven.
Yes, our world has many problems. Because those problems
are bigger than we are, they can seem overwhelming. It is easy to lose hope. However, God’s power and love and salvation are
bigger than the problems of our lives.
God is bigger than the problems of this world. Because I know Jesus, I have hope.
How about you? Do
you have meaning and hope for this life, and for eternity? Do you perhaps know someone who needs hope? If so, I would like to introduce you to the
Lord of power and love and life, and His Son, Jesus! Jesus is a reason for and the source of hope!
A Child of God, Finding Hope in a Hopeless World Through
God’s Love and Life in Jesus,
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Here are just
a FEW promises of hope from the New Testament.
There are many more.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 2 We give thanks to God always for
all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering
before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those
who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
1 Timothy. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of
God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
1 Peter. 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be
born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled,
and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1 Peter. 1:13 Therefore,
preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope
fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.
AND, from Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
P.P.S. I am now
serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee includes
Elder and chairman, Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee,
Jacob Lewis, Scott Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins.
They have met numerous times.
The first step
in the call process has been to complete a congregational self-study. The Northwest District has shared the study
and tools to help in this study. The
committee has asked for and received input from ORLC for this study. Jacob Lewis has compiled thise survey to turn
in to District. Nomination forms for
names for a new pastor have also been distributed. We have about 10 names, but people may still
turn in nominations through this coming Sunday, September 28.
The goal is to
turn in this self-study, and nominations for pastor, to the Northwest District
by October 1, 2025.
Here is a note
from call committee chairperson, Jerry Simpson.
“The Call Committee is
requesting nominations from the congregation for pastoral candidates you would
like to be considered for our new pastor. Part of this process is to request
information from the District regarding eligibility and information for our evaluation.
IF you know of someone, please fill out a nomination form and either put it in
the Nominations box in the Connections Corner, give it to one of the Call
Committee members, leave it in my mailbox, or email me an electronic copy at jerry@amc-ak.org. Nominations
are due BEFORE September 30, 2025. Nomination forms are available at
the Connections Corner or if you would prefer an electronic copy, email me
at the above address. Thank you for your
prayerful consideration of candidates, your prayers for the committee as we
work to discern where God is leading us, and your patience during this process.
Jerry Simpson
970-214-2347
OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AT OUR REDEEMER:
·
There are two opportunities a week for exercise
and wellness.
o Matt
Keith leads Chayon Ryu Martial Arts Beginner Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at
9:00 a.m. in the Our Redeemer Fellowship Hall
o Matt
then teaches a Fall Prevention Class, attended mostly by seniors, at 10:00 a.m.
in the fellowship hall.
·
The Our Redeemer Voters will hold the
annual budget and election meeting of the Voters on Sunday, October 5, after
worship.
·
A “Mom’s Group” meets on Mondays, October
6 and October 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer.
·
An Adult Fellowship Potluck is held the
first Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
In October this takes place on the 7th in the library.
·
A Fall Blessings Festival will be
held on Friday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m.
·
There is a “Mind, Body, and Soul Event”
for ladies at Our Redeemer on Saturday, October 18, from 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
·
There are other events planned as well. Watch the Our Redeemer calendar and
newsletter for information.
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.” We have been studying about the 10
commandments and will soon be studying about the church. Come and join us!
· Sunday
School began on Sunday, September 7! This
will be a blessing for ALL children and adults.
·
“Deeply Rooted Small Group” Is held at
Our Redeemer on Sunday evenings, October 5 and 19 at 5:45 p.m.
·
Confirmation classes will begin on
Sunday, October 12, after worship services.
Watch for more information.
Other Activities of Faith:
· MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using
the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, September 17, we
read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.
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.P.S. Family
and Fishing! - I have been busy with church work. But . . .
Garden –
·
I did a FINAL-final harvest on Saturday,
September 20. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ptjWDF9ftRMwcqAd9
·
I put my garden to bed for the winter by
spreading compost on September 20, and tilling that compost into the garden on
September 22. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LuMUjGQdjyuULhdVA
Fishing – I was supposed to go moose hunting
September 20-25, but my partners were not able to make the hunts. So, I took my gun for a ride in my boat and
went fishing / hunting twice. My dog went along and enjoyed the rides.
·
On Friday, September 19, I went to the Little
Susitna and anchored up where I once took a shot at a moose. I rattled from my boat for moose, and cast
for fish. I do think I had one small
fish on, perhaps a trout. Silver salmon
were not allowed to be taken. Here are
some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/1u5oE9NsetFY4jFv6
·
On Sunday afternoon, September 21, I took my
grandson, Jacob, fishing at Long Lake on the Glenn Highway. Jake says we both caught about 10 trout. We released them all. Actually, when we left Palmer the windshield
wipers were on because of rain. But, the
rain had stopped and some sun even peaked out of the clouds as we fished. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/DHuCVSYZpAW1ViRx7
*******
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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