Blessed by the Prayers of Other Christians

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,  

 

Every once in a while a Christian is surprised by an unexpected act of grace and faith in on our behalf.  This happened to me on Tuesday, August 8, in of all places the parking lot at the Palmer 3 Bears.  I was leaving the store with a small bag of groceries when I saw Stan Guthrie, the owner Stan’s Country Cutts where I have gone for the last few years in order for them to cut the little hair left on my head.  Stan is an active Christian in our community, whom I consider a friend. 

 

As we saw each other Stan reached out to shake my hand.  I stopped him.  I have been ill with some form of stomach flu for 5 days and I did not want to pass the disease on by shaking Stan’s hand.  I explained my symptoms and he shared a similar affliction he suffered earlier this year.  As we conversed, Stan offered, “I’ll pray for you.  I’ll put you on my prayer chain.”  I believe him.

 

I have shared previously in my devotional writings that I keep an active prayer list.  My list changes as people I know and care about have joys and trials in their lives.  I believe the Lord hears each prayer.  I further believe the Lord answers all prayers in wisdom and in love.  I often contact those for whom I’m praying to see how they are doing, to see how God is responding to our prayers.  In addition, I know that people pray for me.  But, sometimes the gift of the prayers of others is a pleasant surprise.  Just imagine how God answers!

 

Our greatest gift in this world is God’s gracious love and mercy given in the life and death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.  But God also gives love, encouragement, and help for our lives and for our faith through fellow believers.  One of those great helps is found in the prayers of other Christians.  Consider, please, the words of God through St. Paul as God prepares us for the spiritual battles of life.  “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. . . .17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  (Ephesians 10:12-13, 17-18)

 

Life has always been a journey of trials and suffering.  There are spiritual battles as well as the struggles of life.  And, in recent years, our world has been turning more and more away from our Lord, and away from His guidance for life.  We need help!  Jesus has defeated the devil.  God helps us in this life.  He gives other Christians to walk beside us, and to pray for us.

 

Who are you praying for?  Who is praying for you?

 

A Child of God, Blessed by the Prayers of Other Christians,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Last week I shared that I received a phone call from the Florida-Georgia District President (my brother, James) on Monday, July 24, asking me to consider serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL, until they get their next permanent pastor.  This is the congregation where I grew up. 

I gave prayerful consideration to the request to serve as their vacancy pastor.  I actually tried to find reasons to say no. But, Kathy and I saw the offer as an answer to previous prayers. And, for every objection we had, the Lord seemed to have an answer.  Therefore, we said “Yes” to the opportunity to serve First Lutheran Church on a six month renewable contract, beginning in September. 

The tough part is the people and opportunities to serve we leave behind. But again, seeking to following the leading of God, we said “Yes” to Gainesville.

 

P.P.S.  I only went fishing once in the past week.  While Gerry Zellar and I did not have any bites, we did see some “tracks” on the beach downstream from the landing on the Little Susitna.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/eXWfwDvtiuSB9fdR7

 

P.P.P.S. Our garden is in full production.  Here are a few pictures

·       I picked the end of the strawberries and beginning of our raspberries recently.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/baZfrCWk3YZHnsc17

·       I picked cabbage and broccoli on August 7. https://photos.app.goo.gl/NkHZW7mhCfJE3N9k8

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior  full-time 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. 

        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

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church

E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

“1 John 3:1 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)

Sharing My Lord Along the Riverbank

Dear Fellow Children of God,  

 

Those who live in Southcentral Alaska know what time of year this is; it is red salmon season!  The salmon conclude their life cycle in the Pacific Ocean and return to the rivers to spawn.  As the millions of salmon return, 1.3 million so far this year in just the Kenai River, so do the fishermen and the tourists.  For the last 3 years, even though the fish returned, the people did not arrive in traditionally large numbers.  But, now that COVID is seemingly behind us, the cities of Kenai and Soldotna are as crowded as I have ever seen them.  Of course, the people do not just stay in the cities, but find their way to the rivers as well.

 

I have had interesting conversations along the banks of the Kenai River over the years, and this year was no different.  For example, on Thursday, July 27, I was joined in fishing by two couples.  The sisters, about the age of my daughter Mary, were from Alaska, originally at least.  The guys with them, a husband and a boyfriend, were sportsmen.  At first they did not know I was a pastor.  But, as we fished and talked they asked what I had done and I told them I was a Lutheran pastor.  One man, who is from Boise, ID, talked about his “walk with the Lord.”  This young man asked me what I had learned in my years as pastor.  I shared with him that I have learned that “evil and sin are real and dangerous, but that God’s love is stronger and changes lives for good.”  I shared more, but then he told me about a book he had been reading by a Christian writer. The young man told me he thought that America had lost ‘the fear of the Lord.’  I listened, and agreed that we are to “love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] mind and with all [our] strength.” (Mark 12:30)  Proper priorities are essential for healthy lives.  As they left with their fish, they wished me well, and hooted as I got a red salmon on the line.

 

On Sunday night, July 30, after a long day, I fished alongside 3 young men.  One asked what I did. “Are you retired.”  I said, “Yes.”  “But what did you do?” he asked.  I told him I was a Lutheran pastor.  His response was, “I’m Lutheran.  But, my fiancée is Catholic.  She goes to church every Sunday.”  So I asked, “How about you?  Do you go to church?” His response, “Only on holidays.”  He said that his job on the slope got in the way of going to church.  I suggested he might benefit from regular worship.  As they left in their boat, they too hooted at me as I had a fish on my line.

 

On Monday, after a morning of recovery from a long Sunday, I made it to the river.  This was to be my last day fishing on the Kenai for a while.  I interacted with a group of men from Oklahoma, out fishing with a guide.  A father and son team fished beside and around me.  Another dad was teaching his 3 sons how to fish.  But, the folks who sort of stayed close to me were a couple almost my age.  They shared that their names were Dan and Nina.  Their dog and my dog enjoyed each other’s company.  As we fished, and visited, we discovered we had fished together in previous years.  As I was about to leave, needing to take my boat out of the water, clean my cabin, and drive 3 ½ hours north to Palmer, Nina wanted to talk.  She took hold of my boat as I was pushing out into the water and indicated she wanted to visit.  She had a Lutheran pastor in her family, but shared she was struggling because her congregation and denomination were experiencing turmoil.  “I’m just trying to be a good member of my church,” she said.  In regard to the turmoil she experienced I replied, “I’ve learned that God is smarter than I am.  I need God’s Word as my guide.  My instruction to confirmation classes was, ‘Find a church that teaches God’s Word, and that seeks to put God’s word into practice.’”  I could tell that my response did not make her choices any easier.

 

A couple of weeks ago I read in my daily devotions the prayer which Solomon prayed as he dedicated the temple.  He prayed to God. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Ki. 8:27 ESV)  No, God is not ‘contained’ by a temple, a church building, or structure.  Yet, in grace, He does choose to meet His people in places of worship.  Nevertheless, while regular Sabbath worship is important in our lives, we are to worship the Lord wherever we are, every day of the week.  Our lives are to be worship and service to our Lord.  St. Paul taught the Corinthian Christians, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

 

You see, worship strengthens God’s people so that as we go, we can do the work of the Lord, “¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-1:1 ESV)  And, wherever we go, to work or school or along the riverbank, the One who made us, the One who died for us and rose for us, is with us.

 

May God bless your worship so that you are strengthened for His work and worship wherever you go!

 

A Child of God, Sharing My Lord Along the Riverbank!

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  This is the time of year for our garden when there is more food than people to eat it!  If you would like lettuce or spinach, PLEASE LET US KNOW!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/JMTsZ28x2Vnk414J6

 

P.P.S.  I did a LOT of fishing the last few weeks, fishing for rock fish, halibut, and salmon!  J  Here are some pictures just from this past week.

·       On Thursday, July 27, I fished with a fly rod along the Kenai River.  I caught 4 red salmon.  Here are a couple of pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/zCRGcvv84CYCBRxG7

·       On Friday, July 28, my son, Josh, and his two sons, Jake and Henry, joined me for a not so successful dip net outing.  We only dipped 8 fish on a day when 137,000 entered the river.  But we had more fish than 3 other groups we talked to.  Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Gt4H1i8yzW5vT8js9

·       On Saturday, July 29, good friend, Fred Vasilie, took members of my family halibut fishing.  Thank you, Fred!!  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/dDSPFiqLHZpXMaMNA

·       On Sunday, July 30, after teaching two classes, preaching, attending a zoom meeting, and putting a boat in the water for a friend, I got to the river around 10:00 p.m.  I experienced this sunset, and . . . caught one fish. I might have stayed longer, but there are bears on the river and I was now alone. https://photos.app.goo.gl/t3ejhHTapc4phcxp9

·       On Monday, July 31, I got to the river late, around 1:00 p.m.  But, when I left my fishing spot I had my limit of 6 salmon, and two fish from Kathy’s limit.  Here are a few pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/f29japYM9ZmrHNbE9

 

P.P.P.S. I have preached each of the last 6 weeks in 7 different congregations in Alaska, with two more congregations coming in August.  So, I was ‘blown away’ when I received a phone call from the Florida-Georgia District President (my brother, James) on Monday, July 24, asking me to consider serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL, until they get their next permanent pastor.  I did not know that Pastor John Glover had a call, nor that he had accepted it.  First Lutheran is where I grew up, and where Kathy and I worship when in FL.  Please keep my decision in your prayers.

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior  full-time 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. 

        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

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church

E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

“1 John 3:1 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) 

Observing Failed Leadership - Thankful for our FAITHFUL Savior

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,  

 

Have you ever been disappointed when a person in a position of authority and respect acted with behavior which brought shame to their office?  Of course! The answer is unfortunately “Yes!”  We have all experienced such failed leadership.  Wouldn’t be good for all if we had political leaders, if we had teachers, parents, spouses, if we had religious leaders, police officers, and other leaders who did not have feet of clay?  I, and I believe most people, want integrity from those who lead us.  Nevertheless, time and again the news headlines tell of those in authority, from all parts of society, failing to live up to their responsibility. I am often disappointed in my leaders, in our leaders, these days. 

           

However, perhaps I should not be surprised at such failure.  In Romans God teaches us about the “war” between the spirit and the flesh being waged inside us. “18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 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. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (Romans 7:18-25)

 

If I read this section of God’s word correctly, it is not only our leaders who struggle to live in honor and integrity.  All Christians face this battle inside their hearts and minds and bodies.  The desires of our flesh and of our proud hearts wage war against the healthy leading of God’s Spirit within us.  These desires of the sinful nature wage war against our Lord’s call to live in faith, to live in love, and in obedience.

 

What brought this train of thought to my mind, again, are my recent devotional readings.  I have been reading in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, about David and his son, King Solomon.  Solomon twice encountered the Lord in dreams, and God called Solomon to faithfulness.  Yet, in 1 Kings 11, we are told Solomon lost battles in this war between God’s spirit and his own flesh.  “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (I Kings 11:4)  This chapter details how Solomon acted contrary to God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 for how the kings of Israel should act.  We are also told how Solomon participated in idolatry with the false god’s of the people surrounding Israel.  Solomon’s unfaithfulness had dire consequences for God’s people.  This battle of leaders to act in integrity is not           hing new.  But, if we struggle with the battle of the spirit and the sinful nature, why should we be surprised when our leaders also struggle?

 

Paul asked a question in Romans 7:24. “What a wretched man I am! WHO will rescue me from this body of death?” We all struggle in this life, and we have all acted in faithless ways toward our Lord.  But, the answer to Paul’s question of “who will rescue us” is . . . Jesus!  Our Savior is faith-FUL.  Consider 2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”  Actually, God’s love for us, in spite of our failure, changes our hearts.  Because He loves and saves us, we WANT to serve our Savior, rather than serving our flesh.  We WANT to keep serving Him, even after our lapses.  Thankfully, because of the forgiving love of God we can keep turning from our flesh and keep turning to our Lord and Creator and Savior.

 

I constantly pray for my leaders. I pray for my political leaders, for my spiritual leaders, and for the leaders in my family.  I know the battle we are facing.  I am thankful for Jesus, that unlike other leaders, “if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

 

A Child of God, Observing Failed Leadership, Thankful for a FAITHFUL Savior!

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  I have recently preached in 7 different congregations.  Last Sunday I led worship in Kenai, AK.

 

P.P.S.  I am thankful for many blessings from our Lord this summer.

·       Mary’s house is even closer to completion in our efforts to get it “living ready.” She has been moving her stuff in. J

·       Our gardens continue to do well. 

o   We have strawberries – here is a picture of a bowl of berries from Monday night. https://photos.app.goo.gl/coFEXfEv9vWAfBPg6

o   We are eating lettuce, spinach.  (If you want lettuce and you live in the valley, PLEASE let us know. We might be able to share a little.) 

·       Also, our flowers and peonies are in FULL bloom. https://photos.app.goo.gl/fH9NMb1ad9Fk3m3A6

 

P.P.P.S.  I did do a little fishing on the Kenai.  Here are some pictures of a fishing trip      with my daughter, Mary. https://photos.app.goo.gl/U84P79Qws3mefdNu8

 

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior  full-time 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. 

        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

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church

E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

“1 John 3:1 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)

Tired AND Thankful After 6 Days in Eek!

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,  

 

Do you ever feel tired, but not so much in a drained and empty kind of tired?  Have you worked hard on a project which you believe to be worthwhile, and when you are finished you are tired, yet thankful for what has been accomplished?  I confess that I am currently both tired AND thankful.

 

A team from St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer returned on Monday, July 17, from the village of Eek, about a 20 minute flight SSW of Bethel.  (Eek means “mound.”  The village of Eek now exists on it’s second mound along the Eek River, which is a tributary of the Kuskokwim River.) Our team primarily conducted Vacation Bible School July 13-16, 2023.  However, we also held evening Bible classes, provided a community picnic, and generally sought to bring the love of Jesus to the children and adults of this village.

 

In some ways I feel like St. Paul as he wrote to the various churches, rejoicing and thanking God for the faith accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit. Listen to what Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi.  “ 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6) (cf. also 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5)

 

I am not alone in my joy and thanksgiving following our trip to Eek.  A total 53 children attended Vacation Bible School July 13-16.  We were pleasantly surprised that the children seemed even more attentive this year than in past trips.  We again had help with VBS from a number of mothers. But we also had a new addition.  Four grandmothers came and watched daily with smiles on their faces as their children and grandchildren learned about Jesus, sang songs of faith, and worked on crafts which reinforced the Bible stories.  I learned the names of Bessie, and Edith, and Martha, and Xenia, and truly enjoyed sitting and asking these elders questions when I had time.  (I also slipped them extra snacks.)  This is our 6^th year of sharing stories about Jesus, and it was our 3^rd trip to Eek.  We missed 3 years because of COVID.  To have such a response from the children, after being kept out of the village for 3 years, warmed the hearts of all on our team.

 

Yet, there was another blessing in addition to the children of Vacation Bible School.  In the past we have also offered an opportunity for growth to the adults of the village.  We held evening Bible classes in the church.  Previously I do not remember more than 3 members of the village attending class at one time.  This year we rejoiced as 8-10 adults attended class on Thursday evening, and 10 people attended on Friday, and 15 came to the class and participated on Saturday.  The adults read God’s word, asked questions, and kept coming to class, and bringing others.  In Bible Class on Friday night, as we studied about prayer, I shared with those attending that I have been praying daily for the people, and the village, and the church in Eek since we were first there in 2018.  Seeing the response of the adults coming to evening classes was like seeing a resounding answer to prayer, an obvious reason for thanks and joy.

 

In addition, we saw a larger participation in two worship services on Sunday.  And, not only did VBS children sing in the evening English worship service as we had requested, but some children also came up and sang two more times in both morning Yupik worship and the evening service. I watched delight on the faces of their parents and grandparents.

 

It was not our efforts which caused this response of faith.  It is God who BEGINS the good work and God who BRINGS IT TO COMPLETION.  “ 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” But, as our time in Eek ended, we saw both children and adults responding to God’s love in Jesus.

 

Sometimes it is good to be tired.  What a joy to see our Lord bring the love of Jesus to others through the efforts of our hands!

 

A Child of God, Tired AND Thankful After 6 Days in Eek!

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Last week seven people from St. John traveled to Eek, Alaska, to conduct Vacation Bible School July 13-16 on behalf of our congregation and Alaska Mission for Christ.  Those who served include Temple Christiansen, Pastor Davis, and his daughter Talia, Sara Guhl, and her grandson Gaelen, Marilee Nufer, and myself. We are thankful and joyful for the opportunity to share Jesus, and for the reception of God’s love in Jesus by the children and the adults of Eek. Here are A LOT OF pictures from this mission trip. https://photos.app.goo.gl/dMbRDw3LcBrQENxR7

 

P.P.S.  Other Activities:  After being out of town in Seldovia and Eek for about 2 weeks, I’m getting a little behind.  But . . .

·       Mary’s house is nearing completion in our efforts to get it “living ready.”

·       Our garden is doing well.  We are eating lettuce, spinach, radishes and even quite a few strawberries.  I weeded in between trips. (If you want lettuce and you live in the valley, let us know. We might be able to share a little.) 

·       Also, our flowers are in full bloom.  Here are a few flower pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/1SBp4CP822RHfqyM8

·       I have not been fishing since I was in Seldovia, but . . . I did golf with friends, Pastor Tony Schultz, Pastor Paul Birner, and Pastor Tim Rossow on Tuesday, July 18.  We finally had a nice day, and we enjoyed the game!  Here is a picture of Pastor Paul Birner on the green on hole 17 at the Palmer Golf Course, Pioneer Peak in the background. https://photos.app.goo.gl/AkfMAmyuxBtY2AdC8

·       I am preaching at Star of the North Lutheran in Kenai on July 23 and 30.  I plan to fish and to dip net while on the Peninsula. J

 

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior  full-time 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. 

        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

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church

E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

“1 John 3:1 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)

Who Says 'There Is No God'?

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,  

 

I want to begin this devotion by quoting a political commentary, in order to look at a spiritual, Christian, truth.  The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down a number of opinions this summer.  I am not giving my opinion on those decisions.  Among those decisions, one ruled in favor of a postal worker who missed days he was assigned to work because they fell on a Sabbath.  In an opinion piece published on June 29, 2023, Thomas L. Knapp, Director and Senior News Analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism, from Florida, commented on the court decision. “If he’d sued because working on Sundays interfered with his enjoyment of a particular brunch buffet, or his ability to keep up with the pro football season, we’d likely have never heard his name. But his grounds for action were that a personal friend of his — an invisible friend whose very existence is hotly debated, but whose supposed opinions he values very much — doesn’t want him to work on Sundays, so his case made it all the way to the US Supreme Court.”  I am not commenting on Mr. Knapp’s political affiliation, or even his political opinion.  But, his writing infers his religious belief, a belief which informs his politics.  By speaking of God as ‘an invisible friend whose very existence is hotly debated,’ Knapp is questioning the very existence of God.

 

My response is: “Who says there is no God?”

 

The easy answer to this question would be to quote King David in Psalm 14.  “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’" (Psalm 14:1)  However, while I agree with the truth of this Bible verse, I do not believe that this is a fruitful way to converse with someone who doubts the existence of the Creator, the Lord, and the Savior of the universe.  I believe there are better ways to actually listen to the doubts of another, and better ways to discuss this issue.

 

This past weekend Kathy and Mary and I had the privilege of spending time with Eric and Chris Wyatt, and their daughters, Sammie and Dani, at their cabin on Kachemack Bay, which backs up to Seldovia Bay.  While there we saw eagles, crows, puffins, seagulls, loons, and many other birds.  We observed whales blowing.  We saw and caught multiple kinds of fish.  We were entertained by many sea otters, and Mary snapped pictures of a river otter playing in the boat of the Seldovia harbor master.  There were clouds and rain, wind, and also times of bright sun.  We watched the tide come and go, saw the moon rise in the early morning of July 8.  A rainbow over west Kachemack Bay brought beauty to our time in the cabin.  The cold winds made us glad for the warmth of a wood fire.  Tidal pools were full of star fish, sand dollars, and many other kinds of sea life.  I could go on and on.  But, . . .the splendor of God’s creation was in full display.  We were dazzled with diversity, with beauty, with power and regular cycles of life.   The words of Romans 1 came to mind.  “For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made . . .” (Romans 1:20)

 

I have often heard my wife say, and heard also friends say, “When we look at the world around us, how could we think this might be just an accident?” We can look around us and see the order, the power, the splendor, and the beauty.  Our world speaks of a Creator. This is natural knowledge of God. 

 

However, there is another witness to God, and His power, to His love and mercy.  That witness is His people.  Jesus tells His disciples, as He leaves this world, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) WE are witnesses to Jesus – witnesses to God.  And, in 1 Peter, God’s people are instructed, “15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”  (1 Peter 3:15-16) Our lives and our words are also to be witnesses to God’ existence, a witness that in God we have ‘reason for hope’ because of Jesus.

 

In truth, the evil, the pain, and the suffering in this world can cause people to wonder how there can be a loving God.  Job knew God, but still had doubts because of his own suffering.  But, in addition to the beauty of creation around us, when God’s people let His love shine through us, when we live in peace because Jesus forgives and saves, when we live in love because we are loved when we do not deserve it, when we live in faith because we see God work good in our lives even in bad times, then WE become a witness to God.  In fact, perhaps the FAITH of a Christian is a more powerful witness than the tangible existence of this world.

 

I confess, when I heard someone call God “an invisible friend whose very existence is hotly debated” I was angered at first.  But, really those words sadden me.  God offers love, and He gives grace and life to the whole world in Jesus.  I am sad when someone misses the gift of God’s powerful love in our creation, and in our Savior.

 

How about you?  Do you say, “There is a God . . . and I know Him.”?  Can others see God in you?

 

A Child of God, Knowing God Through Creation, and Through His Grace For Me in Jesus!

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  This week seven people from St. John travel to Eek, Alaska, to conduct Vacation Bible School July 13-16.  Please keep Temple Christiansen, Pastor Davis, and his daughter Talia, Sara Guhl, and her grandson Gaelen, Marilee Nufer, and myself in prayer as we seek to bring God’s love again to this village.

 

P.P.S.  Our garden is doing well.  We are eating lettuce, spinach, radishes and even a few strawberries.  I weeded on July 11.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/EmPPRP4YtS3SEy359

 

P.P.P.S.  As I mentioned above, Kathy and Mary and I enjoyed a weekend in Seldovia with Eric and Chris Wyatt and their daughters, Sammie and Dani, at their cabin.  We are grateful.

·       Here are some pictures of the beauty and wildlife we enjoyed in Seldovia. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gtPEfutUYGtgMEiV9

·       Here are some pictures from a fishing trip on July 8.  We caught 4 limits of Black Rock Fish/bass. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9C8fp5gkeoixt9Kg7

·       Here are some pictures from a fishing trip on July 10.  We caught 5 limits of Black Rock Fish/bass, and also 4 kelp fish. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xqH8qdqPpADj4R2b6      

 

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior  full-time 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. 

        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

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church

E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net

“1 John 3:1 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)

Delivered from the Perils of Life by The Great Deliverer

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,  

 

On Sunday, July 2, I filled in for friend, Pastor Tony Schultz.  I led worship for Tony while he and his wife, Ronelle, were traveling.  As pastor of Anchorage Lutheran Church, Tony is preaching a sermon series this 2023 summer.  The theme for Sunday, July 2, was “The Great Deliverance.”  However, as I was later reflecting on my July 2 sermon, I wondered why I had not used one of the great “deliverance” verses in Scripture.

 

Have you ever worked to memorize Bible verses?  I was taught and encouraged to memorize verses from God’s word as a child at Trinity Lutheran Church in Easthampton, Massachusetts.  Later, as a teenager at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida, part of our assignment for confirmation classes each week was to commit multiple verses to memory.  I have continued to memorize God’s Word as an adult.  I believe what God teaches in Psalm 119:11.  “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” I believe there are blessings for life as a child of God when one knows God’s word.  Remember, Jesus Himself warded off the temptations of the devil through knowledge of the Word of God.  (Matthew 4, Luke 4)

 

Anyway, one of the Bible verses which I learned as a child, one of the verses of Scripture which comes most easily to the tip of my tongue, speaks to my heart about deliverance.  Do you remember Psalm 50:15?  “. . . call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

 

God’s Word relates numerous instances when the Lord’s people faced perils, seemingly without the possibility of escape.  There was nothing they could do, yet God delivered them.  Last Sunday we read in worship about the Exodus.  God delivered the Israelites when they were trapped between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea.  Do you perhaps also remember God delivering Ruth, or Gideon, Hezekiah or Daniel, or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or . . . ?  In the New Testament we read about the many miracles of deliverance which Jesus performed.  God also delivered Peter from prison (Acts 12), and Paul from persecution (Acts 16, and other places) and shipwreck (Acts 27).  God Himself is The Great Deliverer.  One of my favorite sections of Scripture, one I learned as an adult, is written by St. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.  “8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us”

 

My question is, can you remember a time when you faced difficulty, danger, illness, or other trial, when you had given up hope? Yet after “calling on the Lord,” (Psalm 50) you experienced deliverance?  I can personally share about numerous close calls in my life, whether danger in vehicles, or danger of falling, or even the danger of being under a burning 62 Volkswagon.  As pastor, I was with numerous church members when poor health turned to good health, and doctors told me, “The tests were not wrong.”  I do believe that God continues to deliver His people today.  “. . . call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

 

However, THE Great Deliverance is not the help God gives in our lives today.  Paul says, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us” Our real peril is the sin that lives in us, and the rebellion against God which endangers our relationship with our Creator and Savior, which leads to judgment and death.  But, Jesus, the Son of God, suffered and died for the sin of the world, and for our sin.  God did raise Jesus from the dead.  Through faith in Jesus God will deliver us from death and judgment to eternal life in heaven.

 

The thing is we all today face trials, difficulties and dangers beyond our wisdom, beyond our strength, our ability.  There are times we are caught between “the Egyptians and the Red Sea.”  We find ourselves between the rock and the hard place, between the righteousness of our holy God, and our own weakness and sin.  But, when we are lost, God still delivers.  I have seen His deliverance in my life, and I trust His deliverance for eternal life.  I will share with others God’s saving graces in my life.  I continue to trust my Lord who tells me, “. . . call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

 

A Child of God, Delivered from the Perils of Life by The Great Deliverer,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Kathy and I continue to work on our daughter, Mary’s, new home.  It just takes time, and energy, and sometimes this 70 year old body is tired and sore at the end of the day.  But, it’s worth it to help Mary get her house ready.

 

P.P.S.  Being somewhat more retired, I have spent more time in our yard.  Our flowers are blooming.  Our vegetable garden is producing spinach (multiple times), lettuce, and even the first radishes.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/72JuC6zi2xQrmpN47

 

P.P.P.S.  I had a GREAT fishing trip on Friday, June 30, with friend Fred Vasilie.  In fact, Fred invited me to ask others to come along.  I did.  I asked family, and church workers, and friends.  Those who joined in fishing for halibut were Sara Guhl, her grandson Gaelen Swigart (on his FIRST halibut fishing trip), and Gerry Zellar.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/J7E5WQfWyTb3LTMW6

 

*******

 

ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as senior  full-time 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. 

        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

Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church

E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net

“1 John 3:1 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)