May he grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.  Psalm 20:4

What is your heart’s desire?  Do you know anymore?  It seems like this year has dashed many people’s desires, has created such turmoil within us that it is hard to say what our heart’s desire.

I am not just referring to Covid-19, although that is such a huge factor.  It has been a year of political turmoil, showing a nation much farther divided than many of us have realized.

This year brought out a lot of racial division – that we knew was there, but again, much more magnified.

The wildfires on the West Coast have been much more devastating this year.

And I could go on.  2020  is one for the record books. 

Yet even with the turmoil, troubles and crises, we have a rock to stand on.  We have a God who loves us.

No matter how this year ends up, we can turn to God for support, we can look upon God as our comfort.

May you know the love of God today and always.  And may God grant you your heart’s desires.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Luke 1:1-4

Today’s daily lectionary gospel reading is in Luke, the above passage and then it skips to chapter 3 setting up Jesus’ birth.  Luke is a Greek physician.  He is not a Jew, but a gentile.  He is educated and trained as a doctor.  Now I do not know the scholastic requirements of a physician in Jesus’ day, but knowing the Greco-Roman system of education, we can assume Luke is well educated in the sciences.

Science.  It is a word we hear often today.  And for some strange reason, there is a tension between science and faith.  This is a topic I would like to explore further (perhaps a video series), but for this Monday Morning Meditation, I’d want to say this:

Science is not opposed to faith.  And faith should not be opposed to science. 

Luke was a physician (a man of science) who made an investigation utilizing the scientific principles of observation, investigation and experience.  He spoke with witnesses, he observed Paul in action and accompanied Paul on mission trips.
Luke the Physician, a scientist, writes a gospel about Jesus.

And he is not the only person of science who are believers.  There are plenty (and that may be the series I want to do).

I understand how a scientific person might not be a person of faith, but I fail to comprehend how people of faith can deny science.  After all, God created science, didn’t He?  And careful observation of nature reveals much about both science and God. 

As you start out this new week, take some time to carefully observe things around you.  Experience God’s wonderful creation.  Be a person of faith and science.  Just like Luke.

May God bless you and keep you this week,

Pastor Bill

“…weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” Psalm 30:5

Some of you might be familiar with the lectionary readings.  Actually, there are two, a daily lectionary and the Sunday lectionary.  The Sunday lectionary readings are split up into a three-year cycle that alternates between Mathew, Mark and Luke (with John sprinkled in through the year), as well as the Old Testament, Psalms and Epistles. 

The daily lectionary is a two-year cycle that offers readings from the Psalms, Old Testament, New Testament and Gospels every day.  It is a great way to work through the bible.

What I have noticed is that the daily lectionary cycle for this week takes us through those last days of Jesus’ life in John’s gospel.  I find this interesting because when we last met in the sanctuary, we were in the middle of the Lenten season – heading towards Jerusalem and those last days of Jesus’ life.  And now we are planning to resume in person worship on Sunday.

In a way, we’ve come full circle.  But isn’t that what God does all the time anyway?  Return us to Him?  We might veer off course, but God calls us back.  We might have times of crisis, but God brings us back.  We might feel gloomy on this overcast Monday morning (especially after yesterday’s Eagles game), but God brings us joy.

As you go through your Monday, consider how God always bring you back.  And give thanks, even if the skies are gloomy.

Peace,

Pastor Bill