Sharing What's Really Important

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Honoring Mom

Dear Fellow Children of God,

For those of you who attend a traditional Christian Church like St. John you know that the church has its own calendar. For example, April 29 was celebrated as the Fourth Sunday after Easter, or Good Shepherd Sunday. Even though May 27 is Memorial Day Sunday, on that day the church will celebrate Pentecost Sunday. But, even though this Sunday would be the Sixth Sunday after Easter we are deviating from the church calendar. We are celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday. There are just some days you can’t ignore. I’m sure there were few services held on February 5 that didn’t mention the Super Bowl. And this Sunday, we at St. John and many others will celebrate Mothers’ Day.

So, how should Christians best celebrate Mothers’ Day? What can we do that gives honor to our moms and shows our love for them? This Sunday, as we celebrate Mothers’ Day at St. John, we will read Proverbs 23:22-25 in worship, which says, “22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. 24 The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. 25 May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!”

In other words, this verse says that the thing that really causes a mother or father to rejoice is when their child lives a wise and righteous life, with discipline and understanding. What mother does not want their son or daughter to live in such a way that they are respected for their wisdom and integrity? In fact, what Christian mother does not want most of all for their child to know and trust in God’s love in Jesus and to live that faith? In other words, the best way to honor our moms (and dads) is to live our lives as a child of God.

But that causes some difficulty, doesn’t it? Who has always lived their life in a totally wise and righteous way? Just as there are times in our lives that we wish God did not know about, there are times in all our lives that we may hope our moms don’t know about.

That is why living as a Christian can give us help as we seek to honor our moms, and that is why living as a Christian can give us comfort and help to honor our moms. In 2 Timothy 3 Paul talks about God’s wisdom, which is different from the wisdom of this world. Paul writes to young Pastor Timothy encouraging Timothy to remember what he learned in Scripture which is able “to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Godly wisdom trusts God and His love for us in Jesus before it trusts ourselves. Godly wisdom brings forgiveness for our misdeeds and brings eternal life through faith in God’s saving love for us in Jesus.

Compared to a life of wisdom and righteousness, it might be somewhat easier to send our moms a card. It might be easier to give her flowers, or take her out to eat on Mothers’ Day. But what really brings joy to our moms is a life of wisdom and righteousness. The only source to real wisdom and righteousness is faith in Jesus Christ.

So, if you really want to tell your mom you love her, and if you are able to do so, why not bring Mom to worship this Sunday. God’s wisdom in Jesus will be shared and that will bring joy to Mom.

A Fellow Child of God, thankful for a mom of faith,

Pastor Jonathan

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.

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Friday, May 4, 2012

God's Care from Other Christians

Dear Fellow Children of God,

This has been a week of illness in the Rockey family. My dad had successful surgery in Florida. My uncle in Massachusetts, who is my godfather, was placed on hospice in the past week. My grand children have also had some normal childhood illnesses. This has been a week of illness!

However, the illness that has kept my primary attention is the illness my wife, Kathy, is fighting. She came home from work on April 26 with a children’s illness called, “Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease”. Unfortunately I have never seen Kathy so miserable. The rash has turned to blisters on her hands and feet, her elbows and nose. She has experienced a terrible itching that has made it difficult to sleep. She suffered from a fever and chills. The swelling from the blisters has prevented Kathy from closing her hands so that it was even difficult to read a book for a time. When Kathy can’t sew you know she’s sick! We have learned that when adults contract a children’s disease the symptoms are worse for the adult.

I have also learned again that when someone you love is ill or suffering you suffer along with them. I didn’t have the itching or the blisters or the chills, but I wanted to take care of my wife. And I was not alone in wanting to care for Kathy. In church last Sunday 8 different individuals offered help. We have had 3 meals delivered and one batch of “medicinal cinnamon rolls.” Kathy has received phone calls and wishes from many. On Wednesday night after I had brought home some more care packages Kathy said something that will stick with me, “I feel loved.”

That is actually God’s plan for His church. God wants us to know His love for us and then to share His love with someone else. 2 Corinthians 1 says, 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

According to what God is saying, the care Kathy has received is more than just one person sharing concern for another. The care Kathy received from other Christians was a sharing of the compassion and comfort and love God has shown us in Jesus. In fact, God’s compassion and comfort for us gives us a reason and gives us resources to care for others. So, when the fellow children of God shared their care for Jesus, God was working through them to give this care.

It is one thing to read or hear that God loves us. It is another thing to be loved. This week my wife said, “I feel loved” because others shared with Kathy the love God had given them.

A Fellow Child of God, blessed by the love of other Christians,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. On Wednesday night David Grosz was commissioned as a licensed deacon in our Wednesday worship. The St. John Stephen Ministers helped to provide a reception for fellow Stephen Minister, David. I am including two pictures from this event. https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/May22012DavidGroszCommissioningAsLicencedDeacon?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Spring - God's Presence in Life's Changes

Dear Fellow Children of God,

The chores I indulged in early this Friday morning may seem mundane and even dirty. I picked up some more trash in the yard, trash that is now visible as the snow is melting. I raked up the waste our dog and the neighborhood dogs have left on our lawn during the past winter, and threw shovels full of animal waste into the woods. I took out the summer tires so they can replace the snow tires on our vehicles. And (this is perhaps the most exciting) I took out the deck furniture and placed it around the gas grill. All of these chores are a sign that the seasons are changing.

What a winter we had the last 6 months – record amounts of snow mixed with normal Alaskan winter temperatures! There are still drifts in my yard. In fact, I was at the home of my son, Andrew, on Thursday night. Andy has a hill in his yard that faces North. There is still 3-4 FEET of snow waiting to melt on that hill in front of his house! It’s not that I don’t like winter. I actually enjoy being outdoors during the winter. This past winter I spent time ice fishing, skiing, and riding a snow-machine. But there is something wonderful about the arrival of Spring and the start of another growing season and summer.

Seasons are not only God’s idea. Seasons are God’s promise. In Genesis 8:22 God tells Noah, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." The re-awakening of Spring-time is God’s plan. The fullness of life experienced in the Summer is God’s idea. The harvest and slowing down of the Fall - after a summer full of work is God’s promise. And the rest and slumber of winter is God’s wisdom. These seasons all talk to us about God’s hand in the world around us. No matter what the changes are in our lives, God is in control.

There is a part of the human mind and heart that feels uncomfortable with change, whether the change is growing old or the advent of a computer driven society. Some wish we could live in a perpetual Alaskan Summer. Some long for the old days when people communicated face to face instead of through a text-message. Some may wish the kids were still at home. Change can be uncomfortable. And while some change may be good, some brings problems and trouble too.

But, the change of seasons reminds us of two truths of life as a child of God. First of all, no matter what the change, God is still Lord of the universe. The change of the seasons is God’s idea. The new life of Spring following a harsh winter is God’s idea, in part to remind us that He is constantly bringing new life into a dead world. The Lord of love and righteousness is also the Lord of the universe. Thank you, Lord! Secondly, change reminds me that I never will get totally comfortable with this world, and that is good. Some change, like the arrival of Spring, seems comfortable. But some change is very uncomfortable. I am not meant to find ultimate rest in this world. This world is not my eternal home. God’s plan and desire is that heaven is our home in the eternal presence of the Lord.

There are tulip leaves pushing up in our front yard. Red rhubarb is peaking out from under the dead leaves of last summer. And today I even noticed some raspberry shoots poking through the dirt on the hill in back of our house. Spring is here. And, in all the changes of life God in His love and power is in control.

A Child of God, Thankful for the beginning of Spring.

Pastor Jonathan

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Jesus Rose - So Now What!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I have never bought a lottery ticket, and don’t have plans to do so. But, most American probably heard recently about the “Mega Millions Lottery.” Three winning tickets split winnings of $656 million in the recent drawing. So, once a person wins the lottery . . . now what? If you won such a lottery would you retire, or keep working? Would you buy a new home, or invest the money? Would you give to charities or keep the money for yourself? It is one thing for someone to win a lottery. But, what happens after a person wins?

Last week many of you celebrated Jesus’ rising from the dead on Easter morning. The case can be made that one of these winning lottery tickets are nothing compared to what God gives as a gift through Jesus’ Easter Victory to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior. By His suffering and dying and rising Jesus offers forgiveness to all of us for a debt we cannot repay. Everyone of us faces death unless Jesus comes again before we die. But, to all of us who ‘do not get out of this life alive,’ God offers eternal life in heaven through faith in Jesus. Even the Mega Millions don’t compare to the gift that God offers us in Jesus. So . . . now that Jesus has risen what do we do?

That is a question which St. Paul address when writing to the Christians in Corinth. All of 1 Corinthians 15 is written about Jesus’ rising from the dead and the implications and results of His resurrection. Paul summarizes the blessings of Easter in 1 Corinthians 15:54 b – 57. “54.. . . ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus resurrection is our victory over death!

Then, God uses Paul to tell the Corinthians, and to tell us, what kind of difference Jesus’ rising makes for our lives as God’s children. “58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Jesus’ rising from the dead doesn’t just mean we will spend eternity in heaven. It means that in this life we can be steadfast and immovable, because “death has been swallowed up in victory.” Jesus’ rising from the dead means that in this life we can give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because God gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words our life has a firm foundation and the power to live in God’s forgiving love because Jesus rose on Easter.

This is really important, not just because this is the week after Easter, but this is also important because this week our 8^th Grade Confirmation Class begins life as people who have stood firm and confessed their faith before others. The students are telling others their answers to, “What now?” They have each written an essay they will share with the congregation this Sunday on the theme, “How I want to live as a Child of God.”

If you were ever professed your faith in Jesus before others you know the struggles to live in this world as God’s child. I ask you to please pray for these young people, and pray for yourself, that the words of 1 Corinthians 15:58 may be true. “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,” Jesus has risen and that makes a difference.

A Child of God, Seeking to LIVE Jesus’ Easter Victory,

Pastor Jonathan

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Resurrection Victory Over Enemies We could not Defeat

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I have a pastor friend who had to declare bankruptcy many years ago. He did not want to do it. But, this pastor was in a mission congregation in an oil state in the mid 80’s. When oil prices dropped people started leaving the area. The congregation he served had been started by the church district, and the district told him they were closing the congregation because they did not have the funds to support it. He couldn’t sell his house for anything near what he owed because everyone was leaving. But he could not stay either because the church was closing. He took a call and served a church in another state, but he had to declare bankruptcy to get rid of his old house. The debt was too big for him.

Do you face struggles that at times seem just too big for you? Maybe like my friend it might be finances. For some the struggle with an addiction is a battle they just have not been able to win, yet. Sometimes troubles in a family seem overwhelming. Problems at work may require a new job. Can you think of problems you face in this life you just can’t fix?

Christians believe there is one struggle we all face within ourselves that we can’t overcome on our own. That is the struggle with selfishness and sin. The Apostle Paul wrote, while he was a leader in the church, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-- this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19) I have often said there is one Biblical teaching that is proven every day in this world. That is the teaching about evil and sin. Everywhere we look, even the best efforts of people fall short and exhibit selfishness and lack of trust in God. Sin is that struggle which we cannot overcome on our own no matter how hard we try.

That is why the events we celebrate this coming Sunday are so important. The struggle against sin we could not overcome, Jesus did overcome. Jesus took our guilt, our selfishness, and our sin to the cross. He paid for the sin of the world in His suffering and death. But, sin and death did not have the final word. Jesus did not stay dead. On the third day, Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead winning victory over all sin, over death, and victory over our guilt. The struggle that is too big for us was overcome by God’s Son, Jesus, when He rose from the dead!

One of the consequences all people face because of our sin is death. In my family there have been 3 deaths in this past year of close family members one generation older than I am. Death is one of those enemies that is bigger than we are. But, when speaking to Martha, Jesus told her the blessings we receive from His resurrection. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

The most important event in the history of the world is Jesus’ rising from the dead. In His death Jesus paid for our sin. In His rising He overcame sin and death so that we can live forever with Him in heaven? His victory is our victory over the struggle that was too big for us.

So, have you seen the victory celebrations of a sports team when they win? Where are you going to celebrate Easter this year? I pray you are able to make it to Easter worship to praise God and to rejoice in the Easter victory Jesus has won for you.

A Child of God, Victorious over Sin and Death Because of Jesus’ Resurrection,

Pastor Jonathan

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

"The Depth of God's Love - The Cross!"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Have you ever felt un-loved, or lacking value? In a Christian Couples’ Group get together this week someone noted how a person can feel failure when life has its struggles. For example, if someone loses their job they may feel like they failed in life. Or, when troubles happen with family and friends a person can feel unloved.

This Sunday begins the celebration of Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ life before His Crucifixion. In reality the opposition, torture, and execution Jesus faced are a testimony to the sin and evil that exist in the world, and exist in all of us. But, at the same time the suffering and death of Jesus show us the depth of God’s love for us in the lengths to which God was willing to go to save us. The suffering and death of Jesus show us how great a price He paid to save us.

Consider the events of Holy week. The story of Palm Sunday says that God loves us enough so that the Creator of the universe enters Jerusalem in humility on a donkey. Yes, there were cheers from the crowd, but there was criticism and opposition from the religious leaders. Jesus willingly accepted that opposition for us.

On Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week Jesus spent His time in the temple. His teaching and discussions were not necessarily pleasant. In fact, Jesus was constantly attacked and criticized by the leaders of the day. Jesus was willing to face this attack and criticism, because He loved us.

On Thursday of Holy Week Jesus not only celebrated the Passover but He also washed His disciples’ feet. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords took on the job of a servant to show how much He valued the disciples and gave them an example of humility to follow. Later that evening, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He knew he would be arrested. But Jesus Himself, and the prophets before Him, had said this was coming. Jesus was willing to humble Himself and be arrested because He loves us.

On Thursday night and Friday Jesus faced trumped up charges in a crooked trial. He was mocked, whipped, and beaten. He was then nailed to a cross where He hung bleeding, suffocating, thirsty, in pain and dying on that cross. Jesus knowingly went forward to his betrayal, His suffering, and His death to pay for our sins . . . because He loves us.

And please realize, it is not that we are better people or less sinful than the people of Jesus’ day. We too are proud, rebellious, lustful, greedy and selfish like the people of Jesus’ day. So Jesus’ love is amazing not only in the lengths and depths to which He went to love us, but His love is also amazing because He was willing to be rejected, and suffer, and die for sinners such as you and me. One of my favorite sections of Scripture is Romans 5:6-8 where God speaks of the surprise of His love.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Holy Week is worth celebrating. If you ever feel unloved or worthless, please realize how in the events of Holy Week God shouts His love for you and how valuable you are to Him. The Creator of the Universe, the Son of God Himself, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords willingly submitted Himself to the humility, the suffering and the death He faced for us. If God would do that for us we must really be important to Him.

A Child of God, Amazed and Humbled at God’s Love for me in Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

"Learning from Family - Christ our Passover Lamb"

Dear Fellow Children of God,

In January I traveled to the places where I was raised. I was in Massachusetts for important events in the life of my dad’s only brother. I was born and lived in western Massachusetts the first 12 years of my life, My wife and I then went to Florida, since we were already outside, and spent time with the rest of my family. When I was 12 my dad’s job with General Electric took our family to Gainesville, FL. My dad and my siblings still live in the area.

There is one thing about these trips home. I not only get to visit relatives and friends, but I often learn something about myself. One dramatic example happened on a visit to Massachusetts with my wife and children a number of years ago. I was asking about my grandfather, my dad’s dad, who had a great impact on my life. My uncle replied, “Joni (pronounced Johnny – that’s what I was called as a child), your grandfather was the noisiest person I know, and you are noisier than he was. Hmmm. Maybe that explains a few things. My wife has not forgotten that comment either, and from time to time she still reminds me what my uncle said.

This Sunday we have a special presentation at St. John from David Garrett of Jews for Jesus in both our 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. Some might ask, “Why would we want to hear from Jews for Jesus.” We may forget that people of the Jewish faith are our spiritual ancestors. Every time we go home (to the Old Testament) we not only get to visit friends and relatives, we learn some things about ourselves. The people of Israel are not only the people of God privileged to be those through whom God’s promises were given to the whole world. The Jews themselves needed the promised Savior. The people of Israel were constantly turning away from God in sinful, rebellious behavior. Whether in the wilderness, or during the time of the Judges, or during the time of the prophets, time and time again the Israelite people wandered from serving God, and the only way back to a healthy relationship with their heavenly Father was the forgiveness that God gives, ultimately through Jesus, the Messiah or the Christ.

David Garrett’s presentation to us at St. John is called, “Christ in the Passover.” Christians don’t practice circumcision and the sacrifice found in the Passover. Instead, through Jesus, Christians have baptism and the Lord’s Supper. But Paul still reminds the Christians in Corinth, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7 ) Paul wrote this in a section of Scripture where the people Christians of Corinth were being confronted with horribly sinful behavior when they needed to turn from sin to righteousness. God is telling the Corinthians through Paul, “Look at the extent to which God went to love and redeem you. Repent of your sin and turn to God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for your sin.” Hmmmm. Do those words sound appropriate for your life? They do to mine. Thank God for His love in Jesus. Thank God for our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Last night (Friday night) I attended an event hosted by the Alaska Correctional Ministries. Over 30 former convicts who had come to faith in Jesus while previously in prison were present to help show the fruits of this ministry. Chaplain Mike Ensch had a special name for these folks. My wife posted that name on Facebook in the middle of the presentation. He called them, “Redeemed Citizens.” In many ways these are our brothers and sisters in the faith. When we learn about family we learn about ourselves. How appropriate a title for God’s people, people who have been saved from sinful wandering by the love and sacrifice of God, Jesus our Passover Lamb.

Maybe, like me, when you visit family you learn about yourself. Over the years I’ve learned that without the love of my heavenly Father, I would be lost. I thank God for His forgiving and redeeming love given to me through faith in Jesus Christ. I need it.

A Child of God, Redeemed by the Sacrifice of Jesus,

Pastor Jonathan

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