God's Gifts in People

Dear Fellow Children of God,

Last week I traveled to New England and back to attend the funeral of my uncle who was my dad’s only brother, and my god-father.  I thought I knew my uncle pretty well.  But, as has happened at other funerals for family members, I learned things about my uncle I had not known before.

In preparing for the funeral my cousins had taken out my uncle’s military uniform and mementos.  I had known my uncle had served in France during WWII.  But, I had not known that he was an administrative aid to General Eisenhower.  I had not known that he was in Paris and Berlin. (I now have his pictures.)  I had not known that he had earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service. 

My uncle also taught high school English for many years, and I had known that he was an especially favorite teacher of many.  But, I hadn’t known how many high school yearbooks had been dedicated to him.  I had not known that he had won writing awards in college.  I did not know he had a poem published in The New Yorker magazine.

I had personally thought my uncle was special.  He was a man of faith, an active leader in his church, and respected in the community.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and was faithful in love for his family.  I knew he prayed for me and many others.  I had known all this.  But there was so much more special about my uncle that I had not known.

Each human being is special.  First, each person is special because we have been personally crafted by the loving, powerful hand of God Himself.  In Psalm 139 God inspired David to write, “13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Every person is a gift from God, often in ways that we don’t know and understand.  God inspired St. Paul to write in 1 Corinthians 12, “7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”  Inside each of us is a special gift or ability of the Holy Spirit.  God intends us to use these gifts for the blessing of others.

Just in case you think that these words are just “self-esteem”, let me tell assure you that Himself considers each person so special that He personally paid the ultimate price to save us.  In Romans 5:8 Scripture tells us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

So, if I have spent so much time with my uncle but there was still so much special about him that I did not know, how about the person standing next to you in the line at the grocery store?  What about the person sitting next to you in worship, or in the movie theater?  In fact, have you thought about the unique ways in which God has made and blessed you so you can serve Him and bless others?  You see, because of God’s hand in our lives, each of us is special.

I don’t like the term “self-esteem” because it seems to mean that we need to build ourselves up.  In reality, we don’t have to build ourselves up, God has exalted us Himself with His creating and saving love.  Each person has been created and blessed in such a special way by God himself that we have much to offer those around us.  My uncle did.  That is how God made you too.

A Child of God thankful for the blessing of others in my life,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  On this Memorial Day weekend I am especially thankful for the service of my uncle to our country.

P.P.S.  This is my favorite picture of my uncle and myself, taken at the 50^th anniversary celebration of my mom and my dad.  https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/UncleSonnyAndAuntDot#5746764022830753442

Here are some pictures of my uncle from the last 10 years.  https://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/UncleSonnyAndAuntDot?authuser=0&feat=directlink

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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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God Listens and Answers

Dear Fellow Children of God,

On Friday, May 11, I was sitting in the entrance of the Palmer Carrs-Safeway grocery store selling tickets for the Palmer Kiwanis Club of which I am a member. This activity raises money for our club so we can help youth in the community.  But sitting in the entrance to a busy store for two hours provides a unique opportunity.  Not only did I get to talk that day to many people I know and some I don’t know.  This time also provided an opportunity for some ‘people watching.’

While talking with one person that Friday, I noticed another couple walking toward the front door of the store further across the entrance.  As they walked past me the man’s phone rang.  He took out his phone, looked at the number and then showed the number to his wife as the phone kept ringing.  They looked at each other and put the phone away without answering it.

I am learning new rules in regard to phone etiquette.  When I grew up we always answered the phone when it rang.  In fact, my brothers and sister and I often ran to the phone to be the first to answer.  Of course that was in the days of rotary dial phones and before solicitation calls.  Perhaps I am dating myself.

I am now beginning to understand there are new rules of phone etiquette.  But, I confess that these new rules still surprise me.  I have learned that today, with caller ID and so many phone solicitations, people choose not to answer every call.  I even confess that I have done the same at times.  When the car repair shop called me recently and I was in the middle of an important meeting I let the phone ring and called back later.

What a blessing to know there is someone who always listens when we call.  Children of God have found strength and comfort throughout the ages knowing that our Lord loves us and listens to us.  King David, speaking by the Spirit, says in Psalm 17:6, wrote, “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”  And the Apostle John writes in his first letter.  “13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”  (1 John 5:13-14)  In other words, when we go to God He listens.  God hears and He answers.

I am not saying that God always answers every prayer the way we desire.  Consider Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The Father did not “take the cup of suffering” from Jesus.  Consider Paul’s prayer about the thorn in his flesh in 2 Corinthians 12.  God did not take the thorn away.  But, scripture says and, I believe, that God answers prayer according to His wisdom and love with our eternal welfare in mind. 

God’s wisdom is beyond my understanding.  I don’t always understand His answer to my prayers.  But, just think, there is someone who does not put us on hold when we call.  There is someone who does not refuse to answer.  There is someone who always has time to listen.  And that someone is the Creator and Lord of the Universe!  When our world can make us feel unwanted and unimportant because someone doesn’t want to listen, what a message of love to know that, “if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

A Fellow Child of God, thankful that God chooses to listen,

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.

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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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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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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