Dear Fellow Children of God,
What are your life goals?
Some may aim for a fulfilling career, or financial stability, or wealth
even. Some seek healthy families and good
friends. Christians desire a healthy
relationship with our Creator and Savior.
All of these are positive life goals. On the other hand the goals of
some people may include getting ahead, no matter whom they crush, or whom they step
on. That’s also a goal, even if people
are hurt in that pursuit. Life goals can
be good or bad - helpful or harmful.
What are your life goals? If you do have goals for life, how many of
you named “godliness”, or holiness? I ask this question because of my
devotional reading on Wednesday, October 22. As I read from 1 Timothy 5, I
heard the following words. “7
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of
value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the
life to come. 9 The saying is
trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.”
(1 Timothy 4:7-9) As I hear
people say what they want in life, I do not hear the word “godliness” on many
lips. Or, maybe people do desire
godliness, but do not realize they have that desire.
In confirmation class on October 19 at Our Redeemer
Lutheran in Chugiak, Alaska, we studied the first two petitions, or requests, which
Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer. We
discussed the prayer, “Hallowed be thy name.”
The lesson book asked, “How do we hallow or honor God’s name?” How would you answer? Some students replied that not cursing or
swearing gives honor to the name of the Lord. That’s a good answer which also refers to the
10 commandments.
But, while the answer of the students is correct, I also
pointed out that we don’t just honor the name of our Lord in what we do or don’t
say. We honor God by what we do, or how
we live. I asked them, “Do any of your friends
or class-mates know that you attend church, or do they know you believe in
Jesus? If so, have you ever done anything wrong, anything of which you are ashamed?
Have your friends ever wondered, ‘He’s a Christian, yet he acts like that?’ What kind of God allows that behavior?” Our behavior also witnesses to our Lord.
In Confirmation class the students also read another verse
from Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus taught “. . . let your light shine before others, so
that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in
heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV) Our lives can and should honor our Lord. But they don’t always hallow His name, do
they? Our greed and pettiness, our anger and hatred, our pride and lust, and our
many other weaknesses dishonor the Lord and hurt others. That is why we pray. We need God’s help.
The Lord does give His help, in Jesus. Listen to 2 Corinthians 5. “. . . We
implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our
sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:20-21)
Through Jesus’ holy life, through His sacrificial death on the cross, our
Lord makes sinners like us righteous through faith by His forgiveness. He makes us new people.
Perhaps our best witness is when God even works through
sinners like us so that we live in faith and love. That is partly why Paul writes in my devotion
from 1 Timothy 5 on October 22, “ . . .godliness is of value in every way,
as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to
come.”
In my daily prayers, as I pray for myself, I have been
praying for years that I might have repentance and holiness in my life. I pray that God would forgive my sins and
that my life would honor Him. Perhaps
that’s the godliness Paul encourages.
But I do need help. “Hallowed be
thy name.” in my life, Lord. May the
love and forgiveness of Jesus move me to honor you!
Is godliness your prayer?
A Child of God, Making Godliness a Goal for My Life,
Praying for God’s Help!
Pastor Rockey
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 these survey to turn
in to District. Nomination forms for
names for a new pastor have also been distributed. We have about 8 names.
The self-study,
and nominations for pastor, were indeed sent to the Northwest District by
October 1, 2025.
The next
meeting is Friday evening, October 24.
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.
·
A “Mom’s Group” meets on the first and
third Mondays 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 November this takes place on the 3rd in the library.
·
Ladies Bunco was held on Monday evening,
October 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Our Redeemer.
·
Men’s Night on Friday, October 24, at
6:30 p.m. at the Birchwood Saloon!
·
Youth Group meets after worship on
Sunday, October 26.
·
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 are now studying about the
church. On October 12 we began studying
about “Lutheran Distinctives.” We will
continue this study on October 19. Come
and join us!
· Sunday
School is held each Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m.! This is a blessing for ALL children and
adults.
·
“Deeply Rooted Small Group” Is held at
Our Redeemer on the first and third Sunday evenings at 5:45 p.m.
·
Confirmation classes began on Sunday,
October 12, after worship services. Subsequent
classes will be held on October 19 and November 2. 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, October 15 we finished
reading 1 Thessalonians. On October 22
we begin to read 1 Timothy 5.
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 Fun
and Fishing! - As seasons change, so do
recreational opportunities in Alaska.
·
Kathy and I are in Gainesville Florida for a week. I will be preaching on Sunday morning,
October 26, I’ll be preaching for the 65th anniversary of Our
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL, where I served as pastor from
1983 to 1991. Worship is at 10:00 on
Sunday morning. You are invited to
attend.
·
I golfed on Friday, October 17, with friend,
Pastor Tony Schultz in Alaska on a computer simulator. Then on Wednesday, October 22nd I
golfed with friends in Gainesville, FL. Here
are some pictures from my Florida golf game.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tKtmEJmwDSgWwEGHA
*******
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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