Dear Fellow Children of God,
Do you know about the Psalms of ascent? Jerusalem is located on a hill, traditionally
called “Mt. Moriah,” where God saved Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. This location is holy to people of faith who count
themselves heirs of Abraham. The Psalms
of ascent, Psalms 120-134, were sung by God’s Old Testament people as they ‘ascended’
the hill to Jerusalem on their religious pilgrimage for the major Jewish
festivals to worship the Lord. For
Jewish celebrations like Passover in the spring, or the Feast of Booths in the
fall, I have read that Jerusalem could triple in size. Those crowds would arrive singing these
Psalms.
Please remember, Scripture is plain! It was not the
temple, nor the city, which the Jewish people were to worship. ONLY the Lord Himself is worthy of honor and
praise! But, can you imagine being part
of the hundreds of thousands of God’s people singing these Psalms as they
ascended to Jerusalem? What an
experience of faith! What an experience
of unity in being part of God’s family!
My heart is filled with anticipation as Kathy and Mary
and I embark on a spiritual pilgrimage of our own this Thursday, October
17. I was asked to serve with the
Wittenberg English Ministry, which provides worship and devotions for English
speaking tourists in Wittenberg Germany.
My service is from October 22-31.
Wittenberg is the city where Martin Luther taught at the
university, where he struggled as he delved into Scripture, where he despaired
because of the truth of God’s law which showed him his sin. But this is also the city where Luther found
peace and joy and salvation in the good news from Scripture that we cannot save
ourselves. Instead, our Lord God Himself
saves us through Jesus’ perfect life, through His sacrificial suffering and
death, and through His victorious resurrection. “8 For
by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it
is the gift of God, 9 not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
God led Luther to this saving faith through study of
Scripture, and Luther then shared this Gospel from his home in Wittenberg. He nailed the 95 theses to the door of the
Castle Church on October 31, 1517, intending a local academic debate. But, this document made it throughout Europe
in about a month leading to what we know as The Reformation. Luther also completed his translation of the
Bible in Wittenberg. (He began translating the Bible into German at Wartburg
castle during his protective custody there.)
In Wittenberg Luther wrote the catechisms, raised a family, encouraged
and pastored the church.
Over 500 years after that first Reformation Day, I will
have the privilege of speaking the same life changing Gospel of Jesus’ love to
people in this special city, in the church where Luther preached. I know that it is not the city, nor the
historic church buildings which we worship.
ONLY the Lord Himself is worthy of honor and praise. But, in this place 500 plus years ago, God’s
people re-discovered the truth of His saving love. I am looking forward to being part of the pilgrimage
of those who come to Wittenberg to remember God’s grace and truth in Jesus.
What songs of ascent will we sing? The words of “A Mighty Fortress were not just
needed for Luther’s time. God’s people
from all times need these truths of God which Luther found in Psalm 46.
A mighty fortress is our God, A
sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe Has sworn to
work us woe.
With craft and dreadful might He
arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match
his might. We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to
fight, Whom God Himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The
Lord of hosts is He,
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s
only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
Though hordes of devils fill the
land All threat’ning to devour us,
We tremble not, unmoved we
stand; They cannot overpow’r us.
Let this world’s tyrant rage; In
battle we’ll engage.
His might is doomed to fail; God’s
judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
God’s Word forever shall abide,
No thanks to foes, who fear it;
For God Himself fights by our
side With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, Goods,
honor, child, or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away, They
cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!
May the Lord be your fortress on your pilgrimage through the
trials this world, to our eternal home in heaven! In the midst of these trials may your hearts
be full of song, because, in Jesus, we have victory and life!!
A Child of God, Singing Reformation Songs of Ascent
because God Has Saved Us in Jesus,
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I continue serving as vacancy pastor at First
Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida, until they receive a permanent
full-time pastor.
NEWS AND MINISTRY
OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
·
While I am in Germany, October 20, 27, and
November 3, Pastor Stephen Lane will be leading worship and teaching Bible
Class.
·
First Lutheran said Farewell to Norm and June
Nesheim after worship on Sunday,
October 13. They are moving closer to
family near Chattanooga, TN. Here is a
picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/oisxEaandXyVGf7V8
·
On Sunday,
November 24, after worship, We will have an OKTOBERFEST MEAL, and a Wills /
Estate planning seminar. Diana Raasch
from LCEF will be working with local First Lutheran people to teach
opportunities of faithful Christian Stewardship in our wills and estates. There will be opportunities to talk with
Diana privately, if a person wishes to do so.
PLAN
NOW to attend this festive meal and informative seminar!
·
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, for 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!
·
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, this coming Sunday we will continue in Acts 27 and 28 - the last
chapter of Acts. Pastor Lane will be leading. Come study with us about the early church as
we seek to be God’s people in today’s world.
Our next
study will be the Messianic
prophecies of Isaiah.
·
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS meet on
Tuesday nights in the student house at 7:00 p.m. Come and join us! They
are studying “The Case for Christianity.”
·
WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN
2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible. On Wednesday,
October 16, we read Job 6-7.
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. So the Congregation has begun a “Raise the Roof”
campaign. Our goal to accomplish these combined repairs is $500,000!
Please
consider how God may lead you toward these needs in the future. (While serving
in Gainesville, I will be donating from each of my checks.)
·
FIRST LUTHERAN IS BACK IN THE CALL PROCESS. We
have sought nominations and names of pastors who would serve the Lord and His
people well at First Lutheran in Gainesville. The Florida-Georgia
District has sent information on the candidates. We received 21 names and have made contact with 20 of those pastors. The Call Committee will met again Tuesday,
October 15. We hope to do zoom
interviews with 6 of these pastors.
PLEASE
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FIRST LUTHERAN CALL PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.
P.P.P.S. PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF
INTEREST –
·
Hurricane Milton came and went, October 9 and 10. Gainesville was spared, while other parts of
Florida were not. Here are two pictures.
o This
is a picture of the storm radar at midnight, October 9/10 from our niece, Sarah
Rockey Mehrlich. They live in Minneola, just west of Orlando. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z8KJhNwc5onzC8tL8
o Here
is a Friday, October 11, picture of traffic.
Kathy and I were driving to Ocala to eat out with my family. We stayed off I-75, because it was backed
up. US 441 was not much better. It took us 2 hours to make 42 miles. L https://photos.app.goo.gl/h2MfXCA1D8RiHsJD8
·
I went fishing twice last week.
o After
some shut in calls on Thursday afternoon, October 10, after two shut-in calls
(while pulling my boat to those calls), I fished in the Santa Fe River north of
Alachua. I only fished a short period of
time. I had no bites and took no
pictures . . . but I SHOULD have!
o On
Sunday, October 13, after a full day at First Lutheran, I tried a new lake. I was surprised to have bites quickly and
throughout this fishing trip. Here are
some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vsmufZoD4pt9q1D16
·
Kathy and I leave on Thursday, October 17 to fly
to Germany.
We will share with you from our travels.
*******
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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