On Saturday, April
25, 2026, Kathy and I held a party. It
was a pretty good party, if I do say so myself.
Even though we could not find a day which worked for everyone we
invited, I still count that at least 62 people joined us at our home for a fish
fry from fish which I have caught in the last few months. We had family and neighbors, golf friends and
church friends, and others who gathered for the event. Kathy and I provided fish, and drinks, and
slaw, and watermelon. BUT, everyone else
brought a side dish or a dessert. There may have been as much food left at the
end of our party as the food which people had eaten during the event!
However, the
best part of the gathering was the visiting, and sharing, and catching up, and
the encouragement, and even the prayers we shared with one another. I’m not
sure I saw anyone on their phones, or their computers, or watching the TV. Those present simple talked and paid
attention to one another. Simply
spending time together seems to be rare in today’s world. But Saturday was a
joyful experience.
Later, on
Monday, April 27, I did look at my Facebook post about the party, and I saw a comment
from a friend. Betsy Besalski Alexander
wrote, “Daddy used to LOVE your fish fry! I’m sure he was
there in spirit!!” Bob Besaski became my
pastor in July of 1965 when our family moved to Florida. I considered him my pastor until he died in
November of 2023. As I read Betsy’s comment
to Kathy, she replied, “I’m sure he knows.”
I am treading on
dangerous ground as I write these words.
When I write and share, I only want to write what God Himself says in
Scripture. I do not want to offer what are simply guesses or opinions by myself
or others. For example, do you know
anyone who has lived in heaven and returned to tell us what it is like? I do not.
Yet Betsy wrote, “I’m sure he was there in spirit!!” Kathy
responded, “I’m sure he knows.” The Bible does give much information on
this topic, while also leaving many questions.
I pray that I do not add to nor take away from what God says in His Word. (See also Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation
22:18-19.)
Nevertheless, if
you worship in a liturgical congregation, you likely confess your faith in God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit weekly in either the Apostles’
or the Nicene Creed. Consider what we
say we believe at the end of the Apostles Creed. “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” Christians believe God has won eternal life
by the holy life, by the sacrificial suffering and death, and by the victorious
resurrection of Jesus. According to
Scripture, we believe the Holy Spirit works faith in Jesus within the hearts of
people. These people are then part of “the
Holy Christian Church,” or part of “the communion (fellowship) of saints”
(believers). I was taught that all who
have believed in God’s saving actions through the promised Messiah and Savior,
through Jesus, have eternal life. I was also
taught that, while there is a visible church on earth today as we live in this
world, nonetheless, believers in Jesus from all time form “The Holy Christian
Church.” That is a big idea to grasp!
In the book of
Revelation, the Apostle John wrote a number of times sharing pictures of heaven
he received from God. In Revelation 7 he
wrote, “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that
no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and
languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white
robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a
loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to
the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels were standing around the
throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on
their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power
and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of
the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes,
and from where have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir,
you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the
great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb. (Revelation
7:9-14) Those who are ‘washed in the
blood of the Lamb” are in heaven, praising God.
In our communion
liturgy we also praise God with the “Proper Preface:” ‘It is truly good, right,
and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You,
holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we
laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You . . .’ We believe there is a multitude before God’s
throne praising Him, according to Revelation 7.
On Sundays we believe that we join ‘with angels and archangels and with
all the company of heaven.” Hmmm.
So, maybe our
party was even bigger than the 62 people I counted. Maybe others were there ‘in spirit’ as
well. I know I am treading on dangerous
ground. Nevertheless, I am thankful to
be part of “The Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”
Does your
membership in “The Holy Christian Church” overwhelm, or comfort you?
A Child of God, Partying
and Praising God with His People on Earth and in Heaven!
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
On April 26, I began teaching 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. Here is a picture of almost everyone in
class from April 23. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9hbsvaVP82mxfmMY6
·
Young People Activities at FLC –First
Lutheran families and youth had 3 activities in February, March, and
April. Pastor Kollmann and Lena Rabe are
discussing a possible Youth/family activity for First Lutheran this summer.
Other
Activities of Faith:
·
I have again started my two-year journey with my
Lord. On Tuesday, April 28, I read Deuteronomy 28, where Moses shares God’s
call to faithfully follow His law. 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!
·
On Friday, April 24, friend, Pastor Rick
Armstrong, came golfing with me at Hawkstone Golf and Country Club in
Gainesville. Here are two pictures of
Rick hitting the ball. https://photos.app.goo.gl/72H4Hi3M1hRHfNsi6
·
The big event of our week was the (now) annual
Rockey Fish Fry on Saturday, April 25. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vhYZK2cEiQEQQ2xE6
·
Guess what I did Sunday afternoon, after Bible
Class, and Worship, and Preaching? I . .
. went fishing at Rodman Reservoir. I no
longer needed to catch fish for the fish fry.
Rodman has been one of my favorite fishing spots, but Florida Fish and
Wildlife Services conducted a regularly schedule “drawdown” beginning in
October 2025 until March 1, 2026. They
lowered the dam and the reservoir drained, except for the Ocklawaha River
bed. However, the dam is raised again,
and the reservoir is full. It was a
relaxing day after a busy weekend. Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/poB7V3UVAPXA8TC96
*******
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)
