Dear Fellow Children of God,
I recently had a couple of experiences where unexpected bad
new, was followed by surprising good news.
I might describe these as two situations where death became life, a kind
of “resurrection.” First, on Thursday,
March 27, while fishing on Orange Lake my trolling motor acted up. I tried a minor fix with no luck. Then, when I got out of the water the motor itself
was not straight like it should be, but extending outward at an angle. In addition, a gasket which keeps water out
of the electric brushes was bulging. If
water gets into those brushes, the motor dies.
Sigh! There is an authorized
repairman for my trolling motor right around the corner from our Gainesville home,
and I brought my motor there after leaving the lake. “What happened?” he
asked. “I’ve never seen anything like
this!” Coming from the repairman, that
is not good! I was worried I had killed
this vital tool for my Florida fishing trips.
And, with the motor in the shop, it also meant that I missed fishing on
Saturday and Sunday.
However, on Thursday evening, after dropping off my
trolling motor for repair, and then after returning home from a Mission and
Ministry Council meeting, I received what was truly bad news. Fishing and boats are only a hobby. But, I received really bad news about a
friend of mine, Pastor Phil Kuehnert.
Phil and I served congregations in Alaska at the same time. Even though he retired over 15 years ago, we
still keep in touch with one another. Phil
and I talked on the phone last year. In
January Kathy and I received a written response to our Christmas letter from Phil. In the last month Phil and I discussed some other
issues. We may live a long distance from
one another, but we still keep up with each other. Yet, on Thursday evening we received word that
Phil had returned home from a visit to the hospital emergency room for serious
heart issues. He was off medication, on
oxygen, on hospice care, and expecting to pass away soon. Phil has always liked hymns. The message from Phil’s daughter, informing
us of this sad news, quoted an old hymn to inform us of Phil’s return home, “In
joyful hope to die.” Kathy and I grieved
the final days of our good friend.
However, in both of these cases, the bad new turned good,
at least for a while. On Monday I
received unexpected good news about my trolling motor. The repairman called me. He had expected to find big problems with my
motor and did not believe he would even have the parts on hand for the repair. But, he had found little trouble, and
replaced a bent part, performed a little tuning up, and for a very minimal
charge my motor was working well. I was
surprised. It was like my dead motor had
come back to life. I took my motor,
mounted it on my boat, and I went fishing.
I had to celebrate this bad news turned good!
Then Monday evening I read another e-mail message concerning
my friend, Phil. This e-mail was not
from Phil’s daughter, but from Phil himself!
He explained that he had returned home off sustaining medication, fully expecting
for the Lord to call him home in a couple of weeks. But, On Saturday he felt better, and Sunday, he
felt better still. I did not pray about
my trolling motor, but I have prayed daily for Phil since first hearing of his
seriously ill health. Yet, what I prayed for was God’s strength for my friend
in his last days. This message delivered
news of a real return to life from death, if even for a short time. Kathy and I
rejoiced at the good news.
In truth, because of the frequent trials of life, we
expect to receive bad new from time to time.
However, when good news comes, it is often a surprise. I believe I “re-learned” a few lessons from
my recent experiences.
One of those lessons is that I do not know what the
future holds, but I do know WHO holds the future. Because God has come into my life, I need to
be prepared for life to go better at times than I expect.
Secondly, I’m not sure exactly how to describe how God
acted in these two situations, but . . . I do see the hand of my Lord at work! When I prayed for my friend and things went
better than expected, that is not just a coincidence. I should not be surprised when the Lord
blesses my life with good. Yet, at times
I am surprised.
Finally, we will soon observe and celebrate the most
important death and resurrection in history.
The death of Jesus, the Son of God, and His rising to life from death in
a grave, were both a surprise to His followers and the people of His day. Jesus’ disciples should have known better,
but they were surprised, shocked at His arrest. They were stunned by His sham
trial. They were overwhelmed at his
crucifixion and death on the cross. Neither
should the disciples have been surprised at Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus had told them that these things would
happen, that all of this was God’s plan to save the world. We hear Jesus teach His disciples in Matthew
16, and other places. “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Matthew 16:21) Bad news was coming, because the Son of God,
the Messiah, would die for the sin of the world. But, good news, better news, would follow as
Jesus would rise on the third day defeating sin and deaath.
The Lord sees us through the overwhelming surprises when
life goes badly. The Lord is also there
to surprise us with good news of His eternal love in the midst of life’s
sorrows. When I know that God works in
this way, I can face ANYTHING!
I saw the presence of our Lord this past week. I know the presence and salvation of God when
hope seems lost. But, in the midst of
the bad news of life, we have hope in the resurrection of Jesus. That is no mistake!
A Child of God, Experiencing Death and Life, With Jesus
by My Side!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I continue
to serve as part-time assistant pastor at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, Florida, with Pastor Chris Kollmann. Kathy and I will return
home to Alaska on May 5.
·
LENTEN SERVICES 2025 – “Conventional Wisdom
vs. God’s Wisdom. This year=s theme for Mid-Week Lenten Worship is AConventional Wisdom vs. God=s Wisdom.@
Lent 2025 will look at how the world thinks, with its sinful belief that it
holds the key to wisdom. We will
contrast the thinking of our world to the wisdom of God, the better wisdom for
healthy and faithful lives. Here are the
weekly topics:
Lent 1 - God=s
Wisdom Concerning Glory Palm Sunday,
Upper Room
Lent 2 - God=s
Wisdom Concerning Prayer Gethsemane (‘Not
my will but your
Will’ B
Does God answer prayer?)
Lent 3 - God=s
Wisdom About Forgiveness Judas B Forgiveness Can=t
be Real . .
. for me
Lent 4 - God=s
Wisdom Concerning Selfishness Peter=s Denial B
Take Care of
#
1
Lent 5 - God=s
Wisdom Concerning Power Pilate B The Government Has the
Power
Lent 6 - God=s
Wisdom Concerning Death Ladies at the
Tomb B Death is
Final
· MID
WEEK LENTEN MEALS - Each Wednesday during Lent at 5:00 p.m. First Lutheran
families will serve meals before our mid-week Lenten worship. These meals provide an opportunity for
fellowship and make it easier for people to attend Wednesday Lenten Worship,
since we don=t have to
bring anything after work for a potluck meal, and there is no cost. Come and enjoy the meals and the time with
God’s people! The Spillanes are serving the meal on April 2, and Sayer Kahlaf
is serving on April 9. THANKS to all who
have prepared these meals for God’s children at FLC.
·
PASSOVER –We will celebrate a PASSOVER
MEAL of lamb, green salad, charoseth (apple and raisin relish), unleavened
bread, and wine or grape juice at 6:00 p.m. on Maundy Thursday,
April 17. (This starting time gives
people a chance to arrive from work.) The Passover was a Jewish festival and celebration
of God saving His people from slavery in Egypt.
However, this ceremony also helps Christians understand Jesus’ Passion
and His Easter victory.
The
Recommended Donation is $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.
PLEASE SIGN UP IN THE NARTHEX AT CHURCH! This helps us to know how much food to
prepare. Last year 56 people attended
the First Lutheran Passover Meal. So far
this year, 31 have signed up.
·
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 2 We began a New Member
Class at First Lutheran. IN THE LIBRARY AT 8:45 A.M. Seven people have attended, but others
can join us, if you wish. Our Class is
entitled “Basic Christian Teachings.”
ON SATURDAY,
APRIL 12 AT 9:00, WE WILL CONDUCT AN ALL DAY MAKE UP / STUDY AHEAD class. If someone wants to learn more, or to
refresh their knowledge, come and join us.
There is no commitment to join FLC just because a person attends the
class.
·
First Lutheran is re-activating the Stephen
Ministry program! - Stephen Ministry is an organized and supervised plan
for Christian caring. Stephen Ministers
are trained to listen, to bring Jesus to people’s troubles. They are trained to walk alongside others as
Christian friends, bringing the saving love of God.
Angie Burr,
Jean Halabrin, and Dana Lucas STARTED leadership training on February 10 and finished
on March 17. We will commission our
leadership team in worship on April 6!
·
SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING until
May, and GROWING! 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!
·
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS meet on
Tuesday nights in the student house at 7:00 p.m. We are studying “The
Case for Christ” and discussing defending our Christian faith in a world of
doubt. Come and join us!
ALSO,
there will be College Lunch for students in the Fellowship Hall after
worship.
·
WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN
2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday,
April 2, we read through Daniel 2.
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!
P.P.P.S. Fishing and Family Fun:
·
Fishing –
o Here
is a picture of my trolling motor after I got out of the lake. You see the gasket hanging out. NOT GOOD!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bGGPXnTMakCfLqES6
o My
trolling motor may have had troubles, but I caught a couple of nice fish on
Thursday, March 27, at Orange Lake. Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ciTGyjKHYi5TBd6TA
o On
Monday, after my trolling motor was repaired, I went fishing. (Go figure!)
Here are a couple of fish I caught on a favorite lake. https://photos.app.goo.gl/F7vjkthprrKcQ6nE7
*******
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)
