Pastor Rockey & Pastor Allen: Fishermen and Fishers of Men
Thoughts from the Pastor
Pastor Rockey prepares his Thoughts from the Pastor approximately weekly. The most recent is provided below and earlier posts can be opened by clicking on a date.
Archived Thoughts:
2/8/08 2/14/08 2/21/08 2/26/08 3/4/08 3/13/08 3/19/08 3/27/08 4/2/08 4/9/08 4/16/08 5/2/08 5/9/08 5/20/08 5/27/08 6/1/08 6/13/08 6/21/08 6/28/08 7/5/08 7/11/08 7/16/08 8/8/08 8/12/08 8/20/08 8/28/08 9/1/08 9/9/08 9/18/08 9/27/08 10/2/08 10/9/08 10/16/08 10/20/08 10/30/08 11/6/08 11/16/08 11/21/08 11/25/08 12/2/08 12/21/08 12/23/08 12/31/08
1/6/09 1/13/09 1/29/09 2/18/09 2/24/09 3/3/09 3/10/09 3/17/09 3/24/09 4/1/09 4/7/09 4/14/09 4/21/09 4/29/09 5/05/09 5/19/09 6/6/096/10/09 6/17/09 6/23/097/1/097/7/09 7/20/09 8/8/09 8/11/09 8/19/09 8/25/09 9/02/09 9/09/09 9/14/09 10/2/09 10/7/09 10/14/09 10/21/09 10/23/09 10/28/09 11/3/09 11/10/09 11/19/09 12/1/09 12/8/09 12/16/09 12/23/09 12/28/09
1/6/2010 1/13/10 1/20/10 1/27/10 2/9/10 2/23/10
3/2/2010
Dear Fellow Children of God,
Every once in a while I need to give myself a gentle reminder, or a good swift kick.
It is Lent again. That means different things for different people. In pastors’ homes, and the homes of other church workers, that often means an increase to an already busy schedule. My wife used to say that the pastor’s family ‘survives’ Lent. Dad is gone more. And when he isn’t around he’s not always much fun.
The last two weeks have been weeks of LONG hours. Last week we not only had Lenten worship, but also the Confirmation retreat. So, I’ve worked too much. When I work too much I don’t listen well; I don’t always respond thoughtfully. Kathy tells me when I work too much that I work harder and get less done.
While I believe that lazy-ness is a sin (Proverbs 6:6-11, Matthew 25:26, Hebrews 6:12), I also believe there is sin in working too hard. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:9 about the hardships he faced, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,” Unfortunately, Americans, myself included, are good at relying on ourselves, not on God. That is sin.
I am thankful for the promise of Psalm 127:1-2. 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. However, sometimes I find it easier to believe that promise than to live it.
This thinking causes me to be even more amazed at our Lord Jesus. Jesus lived without sin. I know my struggles as a child of God to watch my mouth, to watch my eyes, to watch my emotions, and to let my life glorify my Lord. I am less able to glorify my Lord when I’m weary and tired. But Jesus, in the midst of doing all that it took to live a perfect life, did not sin. He loved God and loved others through the betrayal, the beating, the suffering, and the dying. Why would I want to rely on myself? It is better and wiser to rely on Jesus and His powerful love. Really, relying on Jesus is the ONLY way to live.
A Child of God, seeking rest in the grace and the arms of my Lord,
Pastor Jonathan
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.
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ACOLYTE TRANING is offered this Saturday, March 6, at 10:30 a.m. Any child in second grade or older is able to light candles and help in worship. After the training is done, I will be taking the children to McDonalds for lunch.
MID WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICES are being held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at St. John For 2010 Lenten Worship is focusing on the theme, “Surprising Stories of Jesus’ Forgiveness.” After seeing Jesus forgive people in his time, we consider how God’s forgiveness through Jesus also reaches us. And we ask the question, “Once we are forgiven, how do we live as God’s children?” Here is the schedule for our Mid Week Lenten Worship in 2010.
Ash Wednesday - Prodigal son Luke 15
Feburary 24 Paralytic – Mark 2
March 3 Doubt – Father – Mark 9
March 10 Zacchaeus Luke 19
March 17 Woman of the City, Luke 7:36 ff
March 24 Peter John 21
MID WEEK LENTEN FELLOWSHIP MEALS are offered this Wednesday and every Wednesday through March 24. You do not need to bring food, or contribute to come and eat. All Meals are signed up for. However, if you want to help with one of the meals you may help others already committed to serving a meal.
MEN’S RETREAT SPONSORED BY PROMISE KEEPERS – A Men’s Retreat sponsored by the Promise Keepers is planned for, March 12-14. This retreat will be held at the cabin / home of Bill and Sharon Allen on Horseshoe Lake in the Big Lake area. There is limited room, but if you are interested let me know. A total of 17 men have already signed up. The limit may be 20 or so.
SIMPLY GIVING – Simply Giving is a program of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. It allows Thrivent members to make their regular donations to their churches by automatic withdrawal. There is no cost, and many find it helpful.
The counters have asked that we remind people of this service. Packets that explain this opportunity are on the table in the narthex.