Dear Members and Friends of St.
John,
This week I have been thinking about my dad. This past Monday, July 29, was one year from
the last time any of us Alaskan Rockey’s saw him, except my time beside his bed
at the end of his life when he was in a coma.
But on Sunday, July 29, 2018, my daughter, Mary, was visiting family in
Florida. Mary had lunch with my dad and
I have a picture of the two of them on that day after lunch outside the place where
Dad lived. My dad was taller than I am
in adult life. But, in this picture he
is somewhat stooped, and his head is not quite as tall as Mary’s ear. He has a half grin on his face. My dad had a sense of humor.
While Mary and Dad were visiting, he told her something
she has often repeated to her Alaska family.
Dad informed Mary, “Martha (my sister) is in charge. But, when Martha’s not here, you’re in
charge.” Mary has reminded us of my dad’s
words many times. And, since Martha
lives in FL, and Mary lives in Alaska . . . Well, you get the idea!
My dad was a little over 90 years and 10 months when this
picture was taken. He would have been 91
on September 22, 2018. But, he
contracted a urinary tract infection, which led to other complications, and he
passed away around 5:25 a.m. on August 25.
I was by his bedside.
As Monday July 29th approached, I was thinking
about my dad because I knew the date of that picture of Mary and Dad. I used to phone him on Monday’s. Obviously, I don’t call Dad anymore. Now I
call my sister, Martha. Since we live in
Alaska and he lived in FL we did not get to spend the holidays together. But, this was the first year I didn’t send my
dad a Father’s Day card and gift for the occasion. Obviously, since he died almost a year ago,
he was no longer home to receive the card and gift for this year’s Fathers’ Day.
Perhaps another reason I was thinking about my dad is the
St. John Alaska Mission for Christ Vacation Bible School in Eek, Alaska, last
week. It was a very good trip again this
year. We had about 75 children who
attended 4 days of VBS. Eight members of
St. John flew to Eek, including Rod and Temple Christiansen, and their son,
Aaron, Sara Guhl, and her grandson, Gaelen Swigart, Marilee Nufer, Margaret
Runser, and myself. This year, we also
added basketball camp at night, led by Rod Christiansen. That camp was a BIG hit. I also offered an adult Bible Study at the
same time, based on the lessons we had taught the children that day in VBS. I did not get the attendance Rod got in
basketball camp, but I had at least 5 folks a night.
One other phenomenon we experienced again was the regular
visit of children to the place we were staying.
Some children especially came to visit every day. They seemed to crave our attention. Interestingly, some of these children always seemed
to show up around meal time. One day our
village contact and friend, George Alexie, was present during one of these
visits. He said, “I’m glad these
children are coming to visit you.”
George explained that, at least for a couple of these children, home
life was not all that good, and the children were often hungry.
Do you realize what a blessing it
is that many of us have had loving fathers who worked to provide for us, and
care for us, and laugh with us, as best they can? In Matthew 7 Jesus talks about the care of fathers.
9 "Which of you,
if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish,
will give him a snake? In God’s plan for the world fathers
take care of their children, even if that does not always happen in our
world. Thinking back to my dad, He did
provide, and he did love, and he did teach.
He especially taught us about our Lord, which is the main responsibility
Scripture gives parents. ( See
Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 22:6, and Ephesians 6:4). Thank you, Dad!
But, dads are
human as all of us are, and all parents struggle at times in raising our
children well. So, I am thankful for the
rest of that Matthew verse which indicates we also have a Heavenly Father, whose love and provision even surpass the love of
our earthly Fathers. Jesus tells His
disciples at the end of that section of Matthew, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who
ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)
And, if our Heavenly Father loves
His children and cares for them, consider the meaning of the best known verse
in Scripture, John 3:16 "For God
so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (NAS)” Our Heavenly Father
obviously loves His “only begotten Son.”
So, if our Heavenly Father “gave” His
Son that we might believe and have eternal life, how much does our Heavenly
Father love us??! Actually, this truth further explains the
words of Psalm 103:13, “As a father has
compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” God
gives us fathers to love and care for us.
But, the love of our Heavenly Father surpasses the love even the best
earthly dad can give.
Like my father, I am the
dad of 4 children, and now I am also grandfather to 6 grandchildren. I have tried to love, and to provide, and to teach. But, I know at times I have struggled. In the end, I am thankful. I am thankful for a dad who did love me,
provide for me, and teach me about Jesus.
I am thankful for the privilege of loving and caring for my own children
and grandchildren. And, I am especially
thankful for my Heavenly Father whose love even surpasses the love of my earthly
dad.
Do you have good
memories of your father? If so, be
thankful, not everyone has that blessing.
But, everyone does have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much He sent
Jesus. Thank You, Dad!
A Child of God, Thankful for My Earthly Dad and for My
Heavenly Father,
Pastor Jonathan
P.P.S. Here are
some pictures of the Basketball Camp that Rod Christiansen conducted during our
time in the village of Eek. While Rod
was running a basketball camp for youth, I was teaching an evening Bible Class
for adults. (He had a bigger attendance
than I did. J ) https://photos.app.goo.gl/75Ux3FHsgSC7cV1C8
P.P.P.S. Our
Church Publishing House, Concordia Publishing House (CPH), donated 50 children’s
bibles for the St. John team to hand out in Eek. Here are some pictures of children with the
Bibles, discussion about the Bibles in worship, and pictures of adults taking the
Bibles. https://photos.app.goo.gl/P5PG24HH8LcorDux5
P.P.P.P.S. Gaelen
Swigart and I did get to go fishing with George Alexie, Eek resident and head
elder at Eek Moravian Church. Here are
some pictures from that fishing trip. https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKyKnG3yBDfcf7qDA
P.P.P.P.P.S. Here
are all the pictures from our trip to Eek, to provide VBS for the children of
the village. https://photos.app.goo.gl/md5NmyN1J45XDPfd7
******
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 regularly adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me
know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.
******
IMPORTANT - When I retire I will continue
to write these devotions, but I will no longer send these e-mails as a St. John
newsletter. I will post these devotions
on my Facebook page, but not on the St. John Facebook page, for now at least. I
believe the articles will also continue in The Frontiersman. However, if you want to continue to receive these devotions by e-mail please
send me an e-mail TO ME at jonrock53@mtaonline.net
to let me know to send them to you.
