Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Thankful for the Real, Sacrificing Friendship of Jesus!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

I have written previously about friends.  However, last Saturday I was blessed in a way which deserves recognition.  I also believe we can all learn more about the parable of the Good Samaritan, and about Jesus, from the kind, giving help I received from my new ‘friend.’

 

I have been back in Alaska about 10 days.  But, last week my son, Tim, wanted to fish for red salmon on the Kenai River.  I have been doing some work on my boats, so I had not taken my Kenai boat on an actual fishing trip.  Nevertheless, in order to take Tim fishing I arose at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, and drove to the Kenai Peninsula to fish.  My truck pulled back into my driveway in Palmer at 1:20 a.m. Sunday morning. 

 

Partly because I was hurrying to make the fishing trip happen, I did not have everything totally in order.  I had tested the boat and knew it ran.  I was loaded with fishing gear, and life jackets, and full on fuel.  However, I had moved items around in my storage compartments and was not 100% sure where everything was.  Also, I had charged the battery in the boat for about 2-3 hours on Tuesday.  But, the boat has been idle since the 2023 fishing season.  As you will see, I should have charged my battery longer.  I just did not yet realize that fact. 

 

We pulled into the Bings Landing Boat Ramp on the Kenai to launch the boat.  Tim has developed skills with trailers, and he helped me launch the boat.  With my vessel in the water on the trailer, the motor fired right up, I backed off, and Tim drove the trailer about a half mile away to find a parking space.  When he arrived at the dock, I turned the key.  This time, the motor did not start right away.  Then it did not crank as well as before.  Finally, when I turned the key, nothing happened to my outboard. 

 

What does a person do in a situation like this?  We had left Palmer and Anchorage early in order to fish.  The drive was about 185 miles from my house one way.  I wanted to spend time with my son, and he wanted time with a pole in his hand.  But I also did not want to be unsafe!  I was actually thinking of giving up on the trip.

 

Perhaps surprisingly, a man in the boat in front of us on the dock asked if we were having battery troubles and needed help. I later learned his name was Doug.  Doug’s boat also had a 50 HP Yamaha outboard, and he had a pull cord.  However, the boat battery needs to be charged enough for the pull cord to work.  Well, the next option Doug came up with was to jump my motor from his battery.  Our jumper cables were in our truck.  So Tim ran ½ mile to the truck, and a half mile back to the boat.  Yup!  Our motor started right up on the first turn of my key.  But, did I want to go upstream wondering if my boat would die, or if it would not start after fishing?  Doug gave me his phone number, and suggested I follow him to his place on the river.  He said, if need be, he had a volt meter, and a charger, and could help me out.  So, I followed Doug to his family cabin and the boat was running well (if not the boat driver – but that is another story). Tim and I went upstream and fished for about 7 hours.  Yes, the motor did start later when I fired the ignition and we made it home safely with 2 nice sockeye salmon.

 

Through all this ordeal I felt like the helpless man in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  In that account, a man was beaten and left beside the road, in need, to possibly die.  Thankfully, a Samaritan, a man who was considered an outcast – almost an enemy- stopped to help the injured Jewish man.  The Samaritan put his life in danger in an area where robbers worked.  The Samaritan showed concern and care, nursing the wounds of the wounded man. The Samaritan paid for the injured man’s care.  The Samaritan did not even know the wounded man, except that he was a fellow human being.  Yet this nameless Samaritan man gave of his time and concern and resources for the wounded Jewish man.  By the way, Jesus taught this parable to a Jewish religious leader who had asked Jesus whom he was required to love.  “Who is my neighbor?”  (Luke 10:29)  After relating the parable, Jesus’ answer to the religious leader was, You, go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

 

When Christians hear God’s law, what we are supposed to do, the law always reveals our failings.  As St. Paul writes, “ . . . through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20) When we know our sin and short-comings, we also learn that we need a savior.  Remember Jesus’ instructions from the parable. You, go and do likewise.”  Have you ever failed to love another or to help a stranger?  But, do you also remember the words of Jesus in John 15?  “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  (John 15:13) Jesus is our ultimate friend, our best friend forever!  Though we willingly reject His love, His guidance, His wisdom, and His truth, Jesus did come to earth and lay down His life for us.  The Good Samaritan put his life in danger. But Jesus GAVE His life to save us.  He calls us friends.  What a GIFT!

 

When I think of my new friend, Doug, I realize he went above and beyond.  He did not know me.  I was just a stranger in need.  Doug did not have to take his time to help me.  But he did help, and offered more help if I needed it.

 

Have you considered God’s love for us through Jesus in this way.  We want to be able to take care of ourselves – silly us!  But when we weren’t asking for help, God the Father sent His Son.  When we didn’t want to admit our need and sin, Jesus lived for us and, more surprisingly, Jesus died to pay for our sins.  For people who are totally helpless on their own – like we are - Jesus rose and won eternal life for people who truly have no hope in themselves.  Jesus is The Friend we may wish we did not need, but The Friend who went beyond anything we would do, so that He could save us.

 

Since Jesus has been THE Friend who lays down His life for us, with whom can you share friendship and love, even if you do not know the person? With whom can you share Jesus’ love?

 

A Child of God, Thankful for the Real, Sacrificing Friendship of Jesus!

Pastor Rockey

 

 

P.S.  I am in Alaska for 6 weeks.   But I can still share some news of happenings at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, where I am still vacancy pastor.

 

P.P.S.  NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!

 

THANK YOU TO Stephanie Smith for the concert at First Lutheran last Saturday, August 3!

 

FIRST LUTHERAN VOTED TO CALL PASTOR JAY WINTERS on Sunday,, July 28, in a congregational meeting after worship. We are awaiting word from Pastor Winters as He seeks God’s guidance as to where he should serve.

            PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.

 

WHILE I AM IN ALASKA

·       Pastor Stephen Lane will lead worship and Bible Class on Sundays, August 4 and 11, and September 1 and 8.

 

·       Pastor Doug Bock will lead worship and Bible Class on Sundays, August 18 and 25.

 

WE CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall.  Pastors Lane and Bock will continue teaching.

 

WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible.  We are currently reading about Elijah and Elisha in the book of 2 Kings.

Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these readings.  Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

FIRST LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A ROOF FUND, and an AIR CONDITIONER FUND. In an announcement at the May 19 Voters’ Meeting we learned that to put a new roof on the sanctuary, the office building, the fellowship hall, the preschool, and the student housing will cost about $200,000.00  The roofs are still in good shape.  But we have had leaks, and it has been about 20 years since the roof was last replaced.  First Lutheran leaders want to act before the roofs fail. 

In addition, we learned at the June Mission and Ministry Council meeting that our Air Conditioners are old and will need replacing.  

Please consider how God may lead you toward these needs in the future.

 

 

P.P.S.  PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

·       Kathy and I are enjoying the beauty of Alaska.  Here are a couple of pictures from our front porch and front yard.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/LeZec6hXBo3AJfke6

 

·       While I did not plant a garden in Alaska this year, THE BERRIES ARE STILL BEARING FRUIT!  Here are some pictures of the end of our strawberries and the beginning of our raspberries.  Yum!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/ejRbY1HXnybAD3Qd7

 

·       I did help organize the 29th Palmer Kiwanis Golf Tournament on Friday, August 2.  Can you believe that Ned Entwistle won this statue???? (The club raised about $4,000.00 to help children in our community.  😊  https://photos.app.goo.gl/cyWX3q4d3EJWd8pJ6

 

·       I did get my Kenai boat up and running.  Here are some pictures from Wednesday, Tuesday, July 31.  The boat has a new floor, and a newer outboard.  😊 https://photos.app.goo.gl/PHCbMUJjpj1QeQEV9

 

·       I did take Tim fishing on the Kenai even though salmon fishing is slow in our area.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ndwbBFY8veFgbFhn9

 

·       When our family moved to Palmer in 1991, the Snodgrass family were very active.  I ran into Tyler and Travis Snodgrass on the bank of the river on Saturday and we caught up.  😊 They both now live in Anchorage.

 

·       Pastor Tony Schultz and I went golfing on a cloudy Tuesday.  BUT, the view is breath-taking.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/nYT1dedBF6SLsB7HA

 

·       In addition . . . Kathy and I are visiting our doctors while in town.  I have seen 3 doctors, with one more coming.  Kathy has seen two, with more fun to come.  AND, we now have a new “on demand water heater.”  No sitting around in the Rockey house!

 

*******

 

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 am currently as Vacancy 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

Vacancy 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) 

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