Sharing What's Really Important: June 2026

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Thankful for Well-Being and Peace Which Come from God – IN JESUS!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I went to my doctor for my yearly checkup on Wednesday, June 3. As I reported to my nurse / wife about the visit, I shared, “I hope that this visit, and my procedure in July are the last time I need to see a doctor until October and December.” You see, last year I had many appointments with doctors of one kind or another, especially with my dermatologists! I have seen my dermatologist more than once a month for the last 12 months! Yet, Kathy had a wise reply to my complaint. “Those doctor’s appointments are ‘the blessing of getting old.’ It’s like an old car that needs lots of tuneups. We know a lot of people who would have been our age, but who are not now here to complain about doctors’ appointments any more.” Kathy is right . . . again!

The results of my June 3 checkup were actually pretty good. Yet, what a gift we have in the science and practice of modern medicine. I AM thankful for the good health the Lord has blessed me with in this world. I am especially thankful for the health, for the shalom and blessings, of my Lord each day. I am thankful for the eternal welfare I have from God.

Perhaps you remember that Jesus often greeted His disciples with the common Hebrew greeting of that time, “Peace” or “Shalom.” For example, on Easter evening, as Jesus appeared in the upper room with his frightened followers, He said 3 times, “Peace [shalom] be with you!” (John 20) St. Paul often began his letters with an address to his readers which included Paul’s desire that these readers had the peace of the Lord. “⁷ To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and PEACE from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans. 1:7) (Also see the beginning of the other New Testament letters.) In Romans 15:13 Paul also writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and PEACE as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Actually, the word used in Scripture for peace does not just imply the absence of conflict, or of a troubled heart, or even the absence of anxiety. When someone wishes another the peace or shalom of Scripture, this is wish that the person or people greeted, receive all the peace, all the blessings, all the health which the Lord gives in body and spirit. Such ‘shalom’ is a gift which comes from our Lord Himself. In Romans 5:1 we are taught. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, Jesus’ death and resurrection have healed the trouble in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, through His forgiveness, and through the promise of everlasting life which we receive through faith. What a wonderful wish for another, “Peace! Shalom!”

Do you also remember Jesus’ stated desire for his disciples in John 14? “²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) On the night before His crucifixion Jesus gives a wonderful gift: PEACE! What a blessing to have hearts full of peace, because in Jesus we have all of our Lord’s love and blessings.

I have gone to my medical doctor for yearly checkups since 1979, and also to my dentist for twice yearly visits. I wish these were all the visits I needed to make. Yet, as I get older I seem to spend much more time at the doctor, time I would rather be spending with family, or fishing, or golfing, or anything but making such a visit. Sometimes I guess I just complain. Thankfully, God has blessed me with relatively good physical health. Even more importantly, I have the shalom, the peace, the blessings and presence of my Lord, because of Jesus. This well-being is not only physical but also emotional and spiritual. This peace or shalom from God is not just for this life, but eternal! Thank you, Jesus!

A Child of God, Thankful for Well-Being and Peace Which Come from God – IN JESUS!

Pastor Rockey

P.S. I am now serving as Vacancy pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

· Bible class –

o I taught a Bible class on Sunday, June 7. We looked at the assigned readings for that Sunday before attending worship.

o There was no class last Sunday, June 14. I was not in worship but celebrating the wedding of Mary and Brandon. ALC Lay Worship Leader, Clayton Gellerman preached. Pastor Tony Schultz helped with worship and serving the Sacrament.

o On Sunday, June 21, at the request of those in class on June 7, I will teach a short class on “angels.”

o Beginning on Sunday, June 28, we will begin studying the book of Ephesians with a “Lifelight” Bible Study.

· Lay Ministry Classes? – I am discussing with our Lay Worship Leaders about teaching Lay Ministry Classes on the Sacraments, Worship, and Preaching – AFTER worship on Sundays. Tentatively, these classes would begin on July 12. However, others, in addition to our Lay Worship Leaders, may attend if they wish.

· 250^th Anniversary Worship – Worship on Sunday, July 5, will give us an opportunity to thank the Lord for His blessings for our country, and to pray for our leaders.

Other Activities of Faith:

I am again taking a two-year journey with my Lord, by reading through the Scriptures using the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, June 17, I read 1 Samuel 12, Samuel’s farewell to the people of Israel. Samuel calls the people, and their new king, Saul, to abiding by the teaching of the Lord.

You are welcome to may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have received questions and comments about the readings. 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.S. Family Fun and Fishing! (no fishing this week)!

· Family – Mary and Brandon’s wedding was a wonderful celebration. We have many pictures, with even more to come. However, here are some of the pictures we have now.

o Bachelorette Party – https://photos.app.goo.gl/gqPuweDQcTupv5u99

o Wedding rehearsal and Decorating party - https://photos.app.goo.gl/ChUtvyz3rTRpfNxNA

o Wedding - https://photos.app.goo.gl/w1pvGEBmJEPPZ7437

o Wedding reception - https://photos.app.goo.gl/7wnCEPapSZhr486T8

· Yard and Garden – My garden is starting to look good. The lawn is fertilized and mowed a week later. But no pictures this week.

· Fishing – NO FISHING, but I did put my boat in the water. Here is brother-in-law, Mark Reaves, in the boat with me on Finger Lake on Monday, June 15. https://photos.app.goo.gl/5o9XRDiXMMuafLSJ9

· Golf - I did golf with Pastor Tony Schultz and Pastor Erik Christensen on the way home from work on Wednesday, June 17. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/nnyPfu5oTmQTU3Nj8

*******

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. (I finished for now serving as Assistant to the Pastor for First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL. I am serving Anchorage Lutheran Church as Vacancy Pastor.)

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, Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, 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)

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Celebrating God’s Gifts of Faith and Love in Marriage, and in Our Family!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I have a tune going through my head. It’s not a song from worship, but from the musical My Fair Lady: “I’m Getting Married in the Morning!” In truth, it is not me who is getting married, but my daughter, Mary, and her fiancee’ Brandon Holmes. And the wedding is not tomorrow morning, whenever tomorrow is. 😊 The wedding takes place Saturday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m. in Girdwood, Alaska. I am excited, as are the rest of our family. I guess that is why I keep hearing that song, which really has been running through my mind for a little over a week. Mary and Brandon’s wedding, as with most weddings, will be a celebration, a big party with lots of family and friends. I guess, because it is our own family, I am feeling this special day more personally. (Actually, our son Josh, and daughter in law Erin, were also married this week 20 years ago. 20 years!!!)

I told Kathy that the wedding had begun when we picked up my sister and her husband, Martha and Mark, as they arrived on a cruise ship in Seward last Friday, June 5. Then Kathy’s cousin and his wife, Marty and Colleen Gulseth, arrived by plane on Monday, and we celebrated with a meal at Settlers’ Bay. Mary’s college roommate, Beth, arrived early Wednesday morning. On Thursday morning Kathy’s brother, Pat, arrives. Then Thursday evening, Alexis Barfield arrives. Alexis is a young lady from St. John who became a friend of Mary, but who now lives in Indiana, Our son, Josh, flies in Friday night. I also believe there may be others coming from Montana and Washington. Add that to family and friends in Alaska, this will be a celebration! A party of love and faith! (And, since the wedding chapel only holds 150, we did not invite all we could invite!)

In some ways, our celebration is nothing new. Throughout scripture the wedding ceremony of a man and a woman was often the occasion for big parties to celebrate the special occasion. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he was invited to a wedding feast (John 2:1-11) where they celebrated so long that they ran out of wine! (Wedding ceremonies often lasted a week in Jesus’ time!) During His last week on earth Jesus told parables about wedding celebrations in Matthew 22:1-14 and Matthew 25:1-13. In Matthew 22, ultimately the king sent his servants “to the street corners” to invite others to celebrate the wedding of his son. In Matthew 25 the wedding banquet is a symbol of when God’s people enter eternal life with the Son of God. That picture from Matthew 25 goes with the call in Revelation 19 to rejoice. “⁷ Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; ⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. ⁹ And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." (Revelation 19:7-9) You see, weddings are indeed a time to celebrate!

In fact, this same metaphor of the relationship of Jesus and the Church is used as Paul speaks advice to husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:21-33. “³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:22-33)

Why celebrate? Well, marriage is, after all, God’s plan from creation. “ ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. ²⁸ And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it . . . “ (Genesis 1:27-28a) Living within God’s intent for His creation is worth celebrating.

We also celebrate because, husbands and wives are called to live in faith and in love. And, when marriage is at it’s best, that faith and love are one of the greatest blessings for God’s people on this earth.

Yet, finally we celebrate because the relationship of love and faith between husband and wife points to an even greater relationship, to the love between Jesus and His people, His Church. This relationship is built on the love of the Savior. Paul teaches about the church in that marriage of Christ and the church, “²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” (Ephesians 5:25-26) It is because of the cleansing grace and love of God, in Jesus, that we will live with our Lord eternally!

I am not getting married tomorrow morning, but Mary and Brandon are getting married on Saturday. I am excited, and I pray we can all celebrate God’s gifts of faith and love in the lives of Mary and Brandon, and His gift of eternal love in all our lives – through Jesus!

A Child of God, Celebrating God’s Gifts of Faith and Love in Marriage, and in Our Family!

Pastor Rockey

P.S. I am now serving as Vacancy pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

· Bible class –

o I taught a Bible class on Sunday, June 7. We looked at the assigned readings for that Sunday before attending worship.

o There is no class this Sunday, June 14. I will not be in worship but celebrating the wedding of Mary and Brandon. ALC Lay Worship Leader, Clayton Gellerman will be preaching. Pastor Tony Schultz will be helping with worship and serving the Sacrament.

o On Sunday, June 21, at the request of those in class on June 7, I will teach a short class on angels.

o Beginning on Sunday, June 28, we will begin studying the book of Ephesians with a “Lifelight” Bible Study.

· Lay Ministry Classes? – I am discussing with our Lay Worship Leaders about teaching Lay Ministry Classes on the Sacraments, Worship, and Preaching – AFTER worship on Sundays. Tentatively, these classes will begin on July 12. However, others may attend in addition to our Lay Worship Leaders.

Other Activities of Faith:

· I have again started my two-year journey with my Lord. I am reading through the Scriptures using the “Today’s Light Bible” from Concordia Publishing House. On Wednesday, June 10, I read 1 Samuel 4, which describes the defeat of the Israelites by the Philistines, and the death of Hophni and Phineas.

You may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have received questions and comments about the readings. 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.S. Family Fun and Fishing! (no fishing this week)!

· Family –

o Here are pictures of Kathy and myself with Mark and Martha in Girdwood at the chapel where Mary and Brandon’s wedding will happen. We took these pictures, as we returned from Seward. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xJV4THPcuHTo83Sg7 (click on the individual pictures for a larger version.)

o Here is a picture of much of our family out to eat at Settlers’ Bay as Kathy’s cousin, Marty Gulseth and his wife Colleen arrived. https://photos.app.goo.gl/RFpj3pzEmFMy2f5u8 (click on the individual pictures for a larger version.)

o On June 10, our and daughter in law, Josh and Erin, celebrate 20 years of marriage! Here are a couple of pictures from June 10, 2006, when Josh and Erin were married! 😊 https://photos.app.goo.gl/UfmarzaMrNdsy7u48 (click on the individual pictures for a larger version.)

· Yard and Garden – Here are some more pictures of my yard and garden. This week I did weed the strawberries, and I thatched, then mowed, then fertilized our lawn. Here are garden pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/oy1gXTYhM8NCoyKz6 (click on the individual pictures for a larger version.)

· Fishing – NO FISHING this past week as I work to get my lawn and garden ready for the summer. I do believe I am caught up . . . finally! Also, we have a ‘little wedding’ coming which has taken a small amount of attention. 😊

*******

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, Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, 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)

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Grieving a Loss - Trusting the Lord to Work Saving Faith in Jesus Through His Word!

Dear Fellow Children of God,

I am currently experiencing some loss, or even grief. For 15 years I have written a devotion for the “Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman,” the local newspaper for our part of Alaska. In 2011 I was asked by Frontiersman editor, Heather Resz, to write. For years the Frontiersman had the tradition of religious articles from local people. So, I shared in the Frontiersman the weekly devotion which I was already sending to members of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. What a privilege it has been to share my thoughts as a Christian pastor with the larger audience in my area. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share Jesus!

The reason I considered the opportunity to write in the Frontiersman for the last 15 years such an blessing is that our Lord promises to work through His Word (and Sacraments) to make disciples. God works through His word to create saving faith in Jesus. Paul was inspired by the Spirit to write, “¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) (See also John 20:30-21, 2 Timothy 3:14-17 and 1 Peter 1:23.) When people believe that Jesus lived and died and rose for them, God saves them through that faith. My goal for my devotions has been to share the good news of Jesus found in Scripture, and for people to hear, to consider, and for faith in Jesus to begin or to be strengthened. My real goal has been for the Word of God which I share to break through the barriers of our hard hearts, and through the barriers of this world, and to bring the Good News of God’s love in Jesus to others.

However, all newspapers are undergoing changes as the internet has provided instant access to local news, and to news from around the world. At one time Kathy and I received home delivery of the Frontiersman, and the Anchorage Daily News, and the Anchorage Times to our home in Palmer. That no longer happens in today’s world.

So, last week we learned that the non-profit, on-line, Mat-Su Sentinel had purchased the Frontiersman. In many ways I know that this is good news for the future of our local news. We know Amy Buschatz who is the driving force behind this source of local information. We truly appreciate the insightful reporting she has done at the Sentinel. As The Frontiersman has been purchased, other changes are naturally being made. All news from the Frontiersman / Sentinel will now be delivered on-line. In addition, they will no longer run opinion pages. So, my weekly devotion, and all other devotions and opinion pieces, will no longer run in local news.

Therefore, in many ways I feel like I have lost a friend, or friends with this change. I was always amazed when people, many who were not members of St. John Lutheran, would nevertheless read these devotions and share with me, or with Kathy, their response to these words of faith. So, perhaps I have even lost a “congregation.” Yet, the paradox is true that ‘change is a constant’ in this world.

Nevertheless, there is re-assurance in Scripture for my feeling of loss. Jesus shared about the spreading of his word in parables of planting. (See Matthew 13 and Mark 4.) After Jesus tells the Parable of “The Wheat and the Tares (weeds)”, He explains. "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.” (Matthew 13:37 b - 38) The truth is that, even when churches and pastors speak scripture in a faithful manner, the one really planting the seed of God’s word is the Lord Himself! Our Lord inspired St. Paul to share the same truth in 1 Corinthians 3. “⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) GOD is the planter. But He does use His people in this work. What a privilege!

God speaks to Isaiah and affirms the power of His word, even in the Old Testament. “¹⁰ For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) The Word of God is sure and powerful! Maybe that is similar to what Jesus states to Peter, after Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) The defensive gates of hell cannot stand up to the powerful truth of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Savior of the world!

All this is also reason for how I have patterned my work as pastor, for my Lord. Before I preach on Sunday mornings I pray, “Lord, let this sermon be YOUR Word, not my words.” As a pastor I have sought to teach people from the Bible, from the word of our Lord Himself, more than I would teach from theological books, even though many such books are helpful in sharing the truth of our Lord. I truly believe that God does work faith and salvation through His word.

I have had the privilege of being a tool by which the seed of God’s word has been planted in our community through The Frontiersman for the last 15 years. That opportunity is over. But, our Lord continues to sow His word and to accomplish His will!

And, I will continue to send my devotions by email, and to post them on my blog, and to share them on Facebook. Because, “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) That is the Good News about Jesus, the Gospel found in God’s Word!

A Child of God, Grieving a Loss - Trusting the Lord to Work Saving Faith in Jesus Through His Word!

Pastor Rockey

P.S. My newspaper deadline no longer exists. I will now try to send and post these devotions on Wednesdays.

P.P.S. I am now serving as Vacancy pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

· SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS – I will start an Adult Bible Class at Anchorage Lutheran on Sunday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

o On June 7

§ we will look at the assigned Bible readings for that day, the Second Sunday of Pentecost.

§ We will also discuss what people would like to study in future weeks and months.

o There will be no class on Sunday, June 14, as I celebrate my daughter’s wedding on Saturday, June 13.

o Beginning on Sunday, June 21, we will begin a regular course of Bible Study.

· Vacation Bible School – Emerald Crossing, will be held at Anchorage Lutheran beginning Monday, June 8, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Call Matthew Murphy or the Church office for more information at 907-232-5323.

Other Activities of Faith:

· I have again started my two-year journey with my Lord. On Wednesday, June 3, I read the last chapter of Judges, chapter 21. A sobering, convicting statement of the truth concludes this book. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25 ESV) When we follow OUR wisdom instead of the wisdom of God, we will always get into trouble. ☹

P.P.S. Family Fun and Fishing! (no fishing this week)!

· Fishing – We are still getting ourselves situated after returning to Alaska. I have not yet put my boats in the water . . . SOON! However, at the Alaska Workers Conference many of us went halibut fishing. I was on the boat with friend, Fred Vasilie. Here are some pictures from some of the trips. https://photos.app.goo.gl/k86inHQseXFhX9Nk7

· Yard and Garden –

o Kathy’s tulips are starting to bloom. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xkSX3TXTj3hBw6Av7

o I started working on my vegetable garden. My 20 year old rototiller had carbuerator problems. I purchased a “new” one on FB marketplace. After I figured it out it seems to have done the job! https://photos.app.goo.gl/2Kr2gGCk9RPUzvq2A

o On Monday, June 1, I worked all day to get my vegetables planted. Amazingly, we had LOTS of volunteer spinach from last year’s crop. I dug up 72 of those plants and planted them instead of spinach seeds. 😊 Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/DLHD42C5DCPocPKCA

*******

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 entitle, “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 these weekly devotions, “Journeys Through Life as a Child of God.” And, 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. (I have been serving as part-time vacancy pastor in various congregations. I have finished for now serving as Assistant to Pastor Chris Kollmann at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida. I am currently serving Anchorage Lutheran Church as Vacancy Pastor.

So, if somewhere along the line you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, perhaps you understand. If you would like to receive them, please just ask and I will put you on my distribution list. Also, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not want to receive them, please let me know and I will remove your name from my 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 and Savior, Jesus!

*******

Jonathan Rockey

Child of God

Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather

Vacancy Pastor, Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, 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)