Dear Fellow Children of God,
Do you ever struggle with communication? Do you mis-understand, or mis-interpret what
others are trying to say? Or worse, do
others sometimes mis-understand the message you are seeking to share? Maybe you
feel like you are playing the game of “telephone”, where one person whispers a
phrase to a person next to them in a circle.
That person shares with the person sitting next to them, until the
message makes it all the way around the circle.
Very often the final phrase heard does not even resemble what the spoken
phrase was originally.
I had one of those “telephone” moments recently. I was in Florida to preach for the 65th
anniversary of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. While there I had the opportunity to play
golf a number of times with my friends.
On Monday, October 27, as some others from my group were teeing off on
hole number 14, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
I try to leave my phone on silent while golfing so that I do not
distract others. I looked at my call,
which was from Alaska, and moved away and tried to speak softly. An
acquaintance from Alaska wanted to talk with me on a pastoral matter.
What do you do when someone needs to talk and you are
busy? I could have talked quickly at that moment and possibly missed hearing
the real issue. I could have stopped
golfing, and required my partners to return me to the clubhouse. Or, I could
suggest that we talk in depth at another time.
That is what I chose to do. I
told the caller, “I’m teeing off on number 14 right now. Could we talk at 4:00 p.m. Alaska time?” I heard a hesitant ok, and we did talk later
that evening. One of my golf friends
told me, “I hope that wasn’t an important issue with a parishioner, and you
just blew him off.” It was not
officially a parishioner. And while I
did want to listen and give any necessary pastoral care, I thought I had taken into
consideration both my golf partners and also the person calling. That’s what I thought . . . at least.
So, when 8:00 p.m. Florida time, and 4:00 p.m. Alaska
time rolled around, the phone did ring and we did talk. However, what I had spoken into my telephone
while golfing, was not what hit the ear of the person calling me. He thought I said, not “I’m teeing off”, but
rather “I’m teed off!” He had wondered
what was going on, but was still willing to wait and talk in about 5
hours. After hearing his understanding
of what I said, I apologized for the mis-communication. I explained what I was trying to do. We did ultimately have a fruitful
conversation.
This is not the only time I have had mis-communications. Such mis-understandings have happened with
family, happened at church, and happened with friends. So, if someone does not understand, I try to
apologize, and I try to do a better job of sharing more clearly in the future. One way to communicate well is to repeat over
and over again, in different ways, the same thought. I once heard that, in order for people to
hear what you are saying, a speaker needs to repeat their point 3 times. Now I’m told, in the social media era, it
takes at least 7 repetitions to get a point across.
In Confirmation Class at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in
Chugiak, Alaska, on Sunday afternoon, November 2, we studied about the Lord’s
Prayer, and the 3rd Petition, or request, of that prayer, “Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) So, what IS the will of God? We used repetition. We looked at 4 Bible verses.
We read Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure in the
death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn
from his way and live?” We also considered John 6:40 “For this is the
will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him
should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Then
we looked at God’s Word in 1 Timothy 2:4 “[God] . . . desires all people to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth.” Finally,
the students discussed God’s will by looking at 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For
this is the will of God, your sanctification” Do you hear a theme? God desires the eternal
salvation of the people of this world. God
repeats again and again that He loves us and desires to save us. However, even our Lord is often
misunderstood. That is why the memory
verse for class that day was John 3:16-17.
“16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.” There are MANY of
verses in Scripture where God plainly communicates His love and His desire to
give us eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus, the Christ.
I have also been taught that, more important to
communication than speaking, is listening.
It is important to listen to others and understand what they hear
when we speak. That is why I often
repeat a point. I am convinced that is
why God teaches us again and again about His love.
So, the confirmation students were asked a question,
which we should ask ourselves. “What is the good and gracious will of
God?” Our Lord tells of His love in
Jesus again and again. God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Did you hear His message? His heart?
A Child of God, Knowing my Ability to Mis-communicate,
Seeking to Speak Clearly about the Will of God,
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 last meeting
was Friday evening, October 24. The
committee discussed questions to ask candidates when the congregation receives
names from the Northwest District.
We are now
waiting for the Northwest District to return names for possible future pastors
for Our Redeemer.
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 Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00
a.m. in the Our Redeemer Fellowship Hall
o Matt
then teaches a Elder Momentum 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 December this takes place at Bobby’s Café..
- Youth Group
metes after worship on one Sunday each month. On November 30 Youth Group will be a
cooking class.
·
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 FINISHED
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” We will now be enjoying Bible Study’s
based on Garrison Keillor monologues, specifically for holiday issues. 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 November 16, 23, and December 7. 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, November 5, we read
Hebrews 4.
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! - Kathy and I returned to Alaska from
Florida. On the way home we visited our oldest son and his family in Olympia,
WA. Here are some pictures.
·
We spent time with family in Olympia. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/waofnH7S8JvQH5hE9
·
Here are some grand kid pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/JrRwvCLg6f46D5Cx9
·
Here are some pictures of Josh and Erin’s new
house and their yard. https://photos.app.goo.gl/FjAnoEuDegkWNxfV9
·
I did golf on Wednesday, October 29, at the
Capital City Golf Course. One
interesting feature was the robot ball retrievers they had for the driving
range. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/zYtsYxHdgzrygYWL6
*******
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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