Dear
Fellow Children of God,
The
past week has been a time of ‘good-byes.”
Last Friday and Saturday, September 6 and 7, I bid farewell to Fred and
Kelly Vasilie and also Wayne and Mary Mize , friends in Sterling, Alaska. These are folks who share with me common
interests-love of the outdoors, and faith in Jesus. We have known each other for years and shared
experiences of faith, family, and of fun together. We speak often with one another about our
Lord, Jesus. But, Kathy and I are on our
way back to Gainesville, Florida, where I am serving as vacancy pastor at First
Lutheran Church. While we do connect by
phone and text, it’s not like being in the same room, or in the same boat,
talking and sharing. So, we bid our
farewells. “Good-bye, Friends.”
In
a different way, Kathy and I also said good-bye to our dog, Matanuska, or
Mat. Wayne and Mary keep Mat while we’re
in Florida. I think he should love the
Mize’s house, and he is comfortable there.
Wayne and Mary have a bigger yard than we do, and other dogs for Mat to
play with. They give him lots of
attention, and feed him dog food with many extra goodies on top. But, as I got ready to leave, Mat stood by
the fence gate, looking at my vehicle.
He didn’t want me to leave. He
wanted to get in my truck and come with me.
“Good-bye for now,” Mat!
In
worship at St. John Lutheran in Palmer on Sunday, September 8, there were more good-byes. After Adult Bible Class, many came to wish us
well in Florida. It was wonderful to see
worship full on Sunday. But, as we stood
around after church, many folks came from across the room to bid their
“farewells,” each in their own way. One
of our long-time musicians and friends, Sara Guhl, let both Kathy and I know,
in no uncertain terms, that she was not happy we are leaving. “Good-bye, Friends.”
Sunday
noon, after worship, our 4 children, and their families, all 14 of us, gathered
for brunch at our home. We ate, and
talked, and picked on each other, and laughed.
We shared love. I think this
farewell was somehow harder on Kathy than previous times we have left our
children. But we will be back. “Good-bye for now. We love you!”
Sunday
evening, long-time friend, Pastor Paul Birner and his daughter, Amy, spent the
night. Paul was pastor in Anchorage in
1991 when we came to serve at St. John in Palmer. We have shared much over the years, including
the service of our Lord, and a love of fishing.
In addition, Dave and Marilee Nufer went to school with Paul and his
wife, Kirsten, in the 1980’s at Concordia University, Portland. So the Nufers and Birners joined us for
supper. Then, the next morning, Pastor
Tony Schultz, whom I have known since 1971, joined Paul and I at the golf
course. But, after time together on
Sunday and Monday, we all said good bye.
Daughter, Mary, drove Kathy and me to the airport, and we flew to
Florida. “Farewell for now!”
This
all sounds sad, but our travel is not just “good-bye.” We have people we care
about, and people who care for us, in Florida.
My mom and dad and my siblings moved to Gainesville in July of 1965,
almost 60 years ago. We have lots of family
in the area who have let us know they are glad we are returning. And, while we love the people of St. John
Lutheran Church in Palmer, we also love the people at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville. This is the congregation I attended
with my family in my Junior High and High School years. I still know some old-timers at First
Lutheran. And we’ve come to have a loving Christian relationship with many
others. Kathy and I aren’t just saying
“good-bye”, but “Hello, again,” to folks we care about.
Kathy
and I have often said to one another that we are truly blessed. When we leave Alaska, people aren’t asking
us, “When are you going to leave?” because they want to get rid of us. When we leave Florida, people are not wanting
us to go, but sad to see us leave. What
a blessing. We just need to learn to be
thankful for loving family and friends in many places, even though we are sad
to say good-bye to those we love.
That
is one of my favorite things about heaven.
Jesus said, “2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it
were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3) After this life, we will live in heaven with
Jesus. God also comforts us in
Revelation 21, “3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with
them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their
God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall
be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for
the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4) Heaven is not just deliverance from the sin
and pain, the tears and the death of this world. In heaven we will live in the presence of THE
one who loves us, forever! And for all
our family members and friends who know and believe in Jesus, we will be
together forever. We no longer
need to say good-bye. We have eternity
to live in the presence and glory and love of God together. We have eternity with one another, spending
as much time with one another as we want.
God’s
children want to be thankful for this gift of eternal life. Jesus has faced sin and defeated it when He
died on the cross. Jesus has defeated
death when He rose from the grave. In
grace Jesus offers ETERNAL life when we trust His saving life and death and
resurrection. "For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Kathy
and I know that God has truly blessed us, that we have family and friends whom
we love, and who love us, in various locations.
But, even in this blessing, there is a sadness in saying
“good-bye.” Maybe the Germans have it
right when they say, “Auf Wiedersehen,” “until we see each other again.” Thankfully, because of Jesus, that is not
just a hope, but it is reality.
A Child of God, Sad For ‘Good-byes,’ But thankful for Eternity Together –
Through Jesus!
Pastor
Rockey
P.S. I am in Gainesville, Florida, again where I
am serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church.
P.P.S. NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT
First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
RALLY
DAY – THE FIRST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL AT FIRST LUTHERAN was last Sunday,
September 8. Sunday School is in full
swing until May. Children begin in worship at 10:00 a.m.. Early in the service, after the Children’s
Message, children leave for a lesson, a craft, and a snack.
Parents, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts,
Neighbors, PLEASE bring your children to Sunday School.
THANK YOU Sunday School Teachers and
staff!
FIRST
LUTHERAN IS BACK IN THE CALL PROCESS. We
are receiving nominations and names of pastors who would serve the Lord and His
people well at First Lutheran in Gainesville.
New names have been submitted to the Florida-Georgia District, and we
are also hoping for names from District.
PLEASE
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FIRST LUTHERAN CALL PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.
THANKYOU
PASTOR STEPHEN LANE AND PASTOR DOUG BOCK WHO LED WORSHIP WHILE I VISITED FAMILY
IN ALASKA!!
WE
CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. If you want to
read ahead, we are at the end of chapter 24, and the beginning of chapter 25, where
Paul is before the Roman governor, Felix.
Come study with us about the early church as we seek to be God’s people
in today’s world.
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. We have finished
reading the book of 2 Kings, and have started the book of 1 Chronicles. We are in 2 Chronicles, reading about the
various kings of Judah, and Israel.
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 I have recently received questions and
comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
FIRST
LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A “RAISE THE ROOF FUND,” for roof replacement and air-conditioning
repairs. The
roofs are still in relatively 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, our Air Conditioners are old and need replacing. The combined amount for repairs will total a
significant sum.
Please consider how God may lead you
toward these needs in the future.
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
·
I did go
fishing on the Kenai River with Pastor Paul Birner on Friday and Saturday,
September 6 & 7. We talked with one guide and I confessed our lack of
success. I suggested it was the
fishermen, not the fish. He told me
there were not many silver salmon in the river, and that he wasn’t doing well
either. Still, it is great to be on the
water! Here are some pictures of
fishing, and even my dog, Mat. https://photos.app.goo.gl/iCX5PJkoxLXDVExe6
·
I stained my
cabin on Thursday and Friday, September 5 and 6. I had previously
done this in 2019. However, it has been
5 years. Here are some pictures of
before and after. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Gry9t9s7nCbibHUt7
·
We spent
time with family. We saw granddaughter, Emma, play volleyball on Tuesday,
September 3, and watched granddaughter, Annie, run in a cross country race on
Wednesday, September 4. Here are a few
pictures of Annie’s race. https://photos.app.goo.gl/UZDweoopCW9xnCGL9
·
As I
mentioned above, Paul and Amy Birner spent time with us on Sunday night,
September 8.
Amy and I harvested some of the last of the raspberries to eat with
oatmeal for breakfast. Here is a
picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/q9X9GpSBHm1GKzhm7
*******
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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