Dear Fellow Children of God,
I have great appreciation and respect for craftsmen, for people
who can work with buildings and machinery, constructing and repairing. I appreciate engineers, contractors such as
carpenters, plumbers, electricians, masons, mechanics, and many others. One of the reasons for my respect is my own
lack of knowledge in these areas.
Attending seminary to learn about shepherding God’s people does not
teach a person how to frame a building, or to wire a fixture. Over the years, through much research and
MANY mistakes, I have learned more, and I actually can do many handy man jobs
around the house. But then, what seems like a simple job, stumps me and I
realize just how much I do NOT know. I realize again my lack of knowledge!
For the last couple of months I have been fishing, and
therefore neglecting home chores. So
Friday and Saturday, August 29 and 30, I had a list of seven items I felt I
needed to tackle. Actually, as it
usually does, my list became longer.
But, there was one chore on my original list that I had trouble with,
and this job actually bled all the way into Tuesday!
I have three florescent light fixtures in my garage, and
one was not working. I tried new bulbs,
but that did not help. I needed a new
light. I went to Lowe’s and they did not have anything which looked like my
other two lights. I tried Brown’s
Electric in Wasilla, and showed them some pictures, and they sold me a new
fixture which looks just like my other two.
However, the new fixture does not have a ballast, and the other two
lights have one. After installing the light fixture, I again tried new bulbs.
Three times (I should have learned earlier) the fixture blew out the
bulbs. Harry Koenen is an electrician,
and a friend. I sent Harry pictures of my fixtures, and the bulbs, and the
wiring. I asked Harry if it was my fixture? The bulbs? My wiring? Harry came to our home on Sunday afternoon
and looked. He said, “Your wiring is
good.” But, Harry indicated he had
primarily installed florescent fixtures WITH ballasts.
After listening to Harry, I looked online to find out
what kind of bulbs to purchase for this new fixture. The web page said I needed “T8 LED”
bulbs. Sunday evening Brown’s was
closed, so I went to Lowe’s and showed them pictures from the web page. They helped me choose some new bulbs. Nevertheless, when these bulbs were
installed, nothing happened. Sigh!
Finally, Tuesday morning I called Power Tech Electrical,
which is close to our home. Kyle came
over and looked. After thinking about it
for a while he told me that neither type of the bulbs I had used were
correct. Because of the wiring on the
new fixture, I needed bulbs for “line and ground on one end.” I didn’t know there were such bulbs, never
mind that my new light fixture needed them.
Finally, I went back to Brown’s and purchased the lights, and . . . the
new fixture works! Finally! Hallelujah!!
What a 4 day struggle!!
I risk boring you with this long story of handyman
trials, because I have again learned a lesson.
There is a LOT that I do not know!
And this is not just true in the home “fix it” area. How can I best be a good, faithful, Christian
husband? Father? Grandfather? What does
it take to be a faithful and effective pastor? Citizen? Friend? There are times I try to live well, yet
sometimes the results seem to say I have failed. Unfortunately, when I fail, I
can even question God.
Do you know or remember the account of Job? Job was a righteous Old Testament disciple of
the Lord. Yet Job lost his livestock.
His children died. And, Job became painfully ill. Ultimately, Job questioned the Lord he had
faithfully worshiped. Job questioned
God’s goodness and His justice. In turn,
the Lord reminded Job of his lack of wisdom and knowledge when it came to the
working of God. You might want to read
Job 38 and 39 at home. Please consider
just the first few verses from these chapters.
The Lord asks Job, “4 Where were
you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have
understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements-- surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or
who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and
all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut in the sea with
doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its
garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed
limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, 'Thus far shall
you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:4-11) Our Lord is the craftsman
who created this world and this life. I need to humbly praise my Lord for His
knowledge and power. I confess my own lack of wisdom.
Christians might have questions, not just about the
Creative activity of our Heavenly Father, but also about God’s working in the
saving life of Jesus. Our Lord knows our
questioning. Listen to these verses from
my devotional readings on September 1. “18
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God. . . .22 For Jews demand
signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a
stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of
God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25) Imagine,
God chose to save the world by sending His only begotten Son to die on a cross,
an instrument of execution and torture!
That indeed is a mystery which reveals the love and wisdom of God, far
beyond my wisdom, far beyond our wisdom.
I made it home on Tuesday with the new, special, light
bulbs. The new fixture now works, WITH
the help of a number of people more knowledgeable than I am. I know my lack of knowledge, my lack of
wisdom, my own failures in other areas of life.
Thankfully, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.”
A Child of God, Learning Again My Lack of Understanding,
Awed by the Knowledge and Wisdom of God!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I have copied
God’s Words from Job 38:4-41 at the end of this devotion. Job 39 is similar to Job 38. As you read, do you gain humility from what
God does know and we do not understand?
P.P.S. I am now
serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee includes
Elder and chairman, Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee,
Jacob Lewis, Scott Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins.
They have met on June 4, July 1, July 22, and just recently on August
19.
The first step
in the call process is to complete a congregational self-study. The Northwest District has the study and
tools to help in this study.
In order to
complete this study, the committee has asked for input from ORLC leaders. The Call Committee also passed out this
survey for members in worship on Sunday, August 24. These are due on September 7.
Nomination
forms for names for a new pastor were also distributed. Both documents are available on the
Connection Corner table in the back of the church.
The goal is to
turn in the self-study, and nominations for pastor, to the Northwest District
by October 1, 2025.
Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
·
Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday
mornings at 9:00 a.m. The class is
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” On August 24 we began to study the 10
commandments. We will continue to study
this topic in the coming weeks. Come and
join us!
· Sunday
School begins on Sunday, September 7! This
will be a blessing for ALL children and adults.
WE COULD STILL USE SOMEONE TO HELP LAUREN WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS! Please see Lauren or Pastor
Rockey if you have questions about helping.
·
Confirmation classes will begin on
Sunday, October 12, after worship services.
Watch for more information.
Other Activities of Faith:
· MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using the
“Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Tuesday, September 2, we read 1
Corinthians 3 & 4.
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. Family
and Fishing! -
Garage Lights Here
are pictures of the garage lights that gave me so much trouble. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ArabRdqvMARjXKaa6
Wildlife
· I
purchased Kathy a bird feeder which has a camera attached. I dug a hole and put up the feeder on August
29 and 30. The birds have yet to find
the feeder. However, she did catch a FOX
on the feeder camera on September 2.
Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dfny3KR1QQNxNyog7
Garden
·
Our Garden is slowing down, but we are still
picking raspberries. Here are a few
pictures I picked on September 1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/PviMqWT9avVwcBmQ7
.
·
We have also recently picked lettuce, potatoes,
beets, and carrots. Here are pictures
from September 1. https://photos.app.goo.gl/mRqPwfm4EdE8mpDo8
Fishing
·
I did not fish during the past week. I have been catching up at home and the
Little Susitna River is closed to silver salmon fishing. I do plan to fish next week on the Kenai Peninsula.
P.P.S. Here are
the words from Job 38:4-41 at the end of this devotion. Job 39 is similar. As you read, do you gain humility from what
God does know and we do not understand?
“4
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you
have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements-- surely you
know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases
sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang
together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 "Or who
shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I
made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10
and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said,
'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be
stayed'?
12 "Have you commanded
the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, 13
that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken
out of it? 14 It is changed like clay under the seal, and its
features stand out like a garment. 15 From the wicked their light is
withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
16 "Have you
entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17
Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of
deep darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this. 19 "Where is the way to the
dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, 20 that you may
take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? 21
You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
22 "Have you
entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the
hail, 23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day
of battle and war? 24 What is the way to the place where the light
is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25 "Who has
cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, 26
to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no
man, 27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the
ground sprout with grass?
28 "Has the
rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? 29 From whose
womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? 30
The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 "Can you
bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion? 32 Can
you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with
its children? 33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you
establish their rule on the earth? 34 "Can you lift up your
voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? 35 Can
you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'?
36 Who has put
wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? 37
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the
heavens, 38 when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast
together?
39 "Can you
hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40
when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? 41
Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?
*******
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 Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
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, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK
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)
