The horrible, senseless,
tragedy happened again! ANOTHER mass
shooting!! This time, from what I read,
a man in Shreveport, LA, whose marriage was falling apart, shot and killed 8
children and shot 2 women on Sunday, April 19.
Seven of the children were his own. One of the women was his estranged
wife. This is different from other shootings whether Columbine, Bethel, Sandy
Hook, Orlando, Las Vegas, or the too many other incidents where hurt people, hurt
people. They are all unique. WHAT do we do in the face of such needless
violence and loss of life? How does a
Christian, a child of God respond?
This Tuesday
morning, April 21, I sat in a meeting of Lutheran pastors, and we closed our
gathering with some verses which touched my heart. May you know 2 Corinthians 4:7-16.
“7 But we have this
treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and
not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the
body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in
our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death
for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal
flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since
we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I
believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and
bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake,
so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving,
to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer
self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that
are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are
transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Three truths from these verses speak to
me.
First, this
world is falling apart. Modern culture
is falling apart in more ways than just mass shootings. But, life in this world has always been this
way, whether today, or in Paul’s time, or in the time of Jesus, or the time of
the prophets, or the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or in the time of Adam. We live in a world of sin, and rebellion
against our Lord and our Creator has consequences. So Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:9, “8
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed;” The world is full of
sin, and this sin creates chaos in the lives of followers of Jesus, and chaos in
the whole world. Just look at
Shreveport!
Secondly, there
is an answer to this falling apart, this chaos.
Our Heavenly Father sent His Son, our Savior Jesus. In LOVE, the Son of God took on the sin and violence
and chaos of this world to pay for our sin, to redeem the world, and to bring
God’s love. Consider Jesus’ cross! So Paul writes in verses 10-11, “10
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always
being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may
be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (Also
verse 15.) In His death Jesus paid the debt
which we and the world owe for sin, a price we can never pay. In His resurrection, Jesus overcame sin, and
gives us life, even new life here.
Finally, this
sin and chaos and falling apart is not the plan nor the work of God. Nevertheless, in His power and wisdom, and in
His LOVE, God can use this chaos for His purpose. “17 For this light momentary
affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the
things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the
things that are unseen are eternal.”
God uses the afflictions of life to prepare us to desire His Eternal
glory. That glory gives hope and purpose
to disciples of Jesus, even when the world is falling apart, even today.
I grieve in my
heart for people in Shreveport whom I do not even know. I ache because the chaos of sin has
devastated more people. In the midst of
my shock and my grief, I am thankful for Jesus, who has overcome the world. As Jesus himself said in John 16:33, “In
the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the
world."
A Child of God, Grieving
the Tragedy of Another Mass Shooting, Finding Hope Only in JESUS!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now in Gainesville, FL, serving as assistant to
Pastor Chris Kollmann at First Lutheran Church, the congregation where I spent
my teenage years.
First Lutheran Activities
·
SUNDAY BIBLE CLASSES - Pastor Kollman and I are
teaching separate Sunday Bible classes on Sundays at 8:45 a.m.
o
On Sunday, March 22, Pastor Kollmann began
teaching an Adult Member Class in the library.
o
I began teaching a separate class in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall.
§
We studied Galatians from March 22 through April
19.
§
Beginning THIS SUNDAY, April 26, we begin a
Lutheran Hour Ministries study of Christian citizenship, “We the People.” COME AND JOIN US!
·
Funeral Service for Julie Schilling – Long-time
First Lutheran Member passed away from prolonged illness on Tuesday, March
31. Julie is known for many things. She blessed others with her beautiful
voice. Julie loved her family and helped
her friends and neighbors. She knew and
loved her Lord, Jesus. Julie also helped
make the “Card Ministry” of First Lutheran a special blessing to many. Julie’s service will be held at First Lutheran
on Saturday, May 9, at 1:00 p.m. This is
the link to a web page sharing about Julie and her upcoming service. BatBarn.com
·
STEPHEN MINISTRY - We started Stephen
Ministry classes at First Lutheran on Thursday, February 12. Stephen
Ministers are trained Christian care-givers. A Stephen Minister is not
a pastor, and not a counselor. But they are Christians who are
trained to bring Jesus and His love to another Christian person facing a
difficult time.
Open Arms Director, Angie Burr, is a trained
Stephen Leader. Susan Lucas will also soon begin training to serve as a
Stephen Leader for FLC.
We have 7 people who have committed to train
and serve as Stephen Ministers, as Christian care-givers. Training
happens on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., and now also on Tuesdays as well. However, initial training will be completed
on Thursday, April 30.
Please pray for our Lord to use these
Stephen Ministers to serve His people.
·
Young People Activities at FLC
o
Our first youth activity was held at the
Kollmann residence on Sunday afternoon, February 22.
o
On SUNDAY, March 29, we took a trip to
Devil’s Millhopper state Geological site.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/PLfYALXRCwjuTcSo7
o
On April 11, a small group attended the
Orange and Blue Game. 😊
o
If your children are going into 3rd
grade, or older, please consider participating in these fun activities of
growth.
o
PLEASE PRAY for the children and youth of
First Lutheran Church!
Other
Activities of Faith:
·
I have again started my two-year journey with my
Lord. On Tuesday, April 21, I read Deuteronomy 18 and 19, where Moses shares
God’s teaching about true prophets – pointing to THE prophet, Jesus! Feel free to join me again if you
wish. You may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any
questions about these readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net
I have received questions and comments about the readings. 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
Fun and Fishing! - It was another FULL WEEK for the Rockey
family!
·
On Thursday, April 16, I had my fourth (and
hopefully final) skin cancer surgery in Florida. My doctor here said I had “gotten behind, but
he would catch me up.” 😊 I have pictures, but I won’t share them here. However, some were asking about my “yamaka” (or
yarmulke ) (my head bandages) on Sunday.
The bandages are covering what Kathy counted as 18 stitches.
·
On Friday, April 17, I went fishing at a local
lake and caught some fish for our April 25 fish fry. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/HCjmKFqN5hJJB6cb9
·
On Saturday, April 18, I went fishing on the
Suwannee River again. I saw lots of
gators, a manatee, and caught a few fish for our upcoming fish fry. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/8HSV1emmRacHDv4JA
·
On Sunday, April 19, I went golfing at Hawkstone
golf course, preparing for a “Gator Seniors” golf tournament on Monday, April
20. I hit the ball poorly but putted
well on Sunday afternoon. Then on
Monday, I hit the ball well, even from longer tees, but putted poorly. O well – That’s golf! No pictures.
·
Our daughter, Mary, and Brandon Holmes are
getting married on Saturday, June 13.
Brandon, like myself, is a AVID fisherperson! Here are the socks he plans to wear (maybe me
too) for their wedding! https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nuig8u329eqexciU6
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
*******
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 currently serve as Assistant to the Pastor for First Lutheran
Church in Gainesville, FL.)
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
Assistant to the
Pastor , First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
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)
