St. Luke's Blogs

Living with joy and purpose over the last year has not been the easy road.  Personally, I had to remind myself almost daily to live in gratitude and hope.  From pandemic, to election, to new rules and social cues, everyone had a different way of thinking and believing.  So many found it easier to argue over finding understanding and it was difficult for me to see this negativity around me.  I fully believe in standing in my truth, but if the stories of Jesus and His teachings have taught me anything, it is to see people where they are, help the poor, feed the hungry, and love all.
When I found myself down and out about the world around me, I would try to remember the life of Christ.

I first heard the song “Here I Am Lord” when I was in high school. This “new” hymn in my church became an instant favorite of mine. First, I say it was a “new” hymn because it was written by Dan Schutte in 1981. In hymn standards, that is brand new. Many of the songs in our hymnal were written at least a century before that.
The reason this hymn became an instant favorite of mine was its reflection of the calling of Isaiah. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet experiences a vision of the throne room of God. There, Isaiah sees God in all God’s majesty. The room is filled with God’s glory. Around God, the prophet sees heavenly beings. In the midst of this vision, God asks the question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

I spent a lot of my childhood on our family farm in the red hills of western Oklahoma.  I loved my grandmother’s flower garden, my pony “Midnight,” the chickens and cows, and the freedom that came with being in that wide-open space.  Just north of the modest farmhouse was a hill where my brother and I spent many happy hours hiking, digging, and exploring.   My grandparents had a rule that we weren’t to go on the other side of the hill where they couldn’t see us, and we were to watch out for snakes.  I don’t remember ever seeing a snake on that red hill, and we never went over to the other side.  I guess my grandparents had their bluff in on us!  My brother and I have happy memories of that hill because we were obedient.  Had we wandered over to the other side, I’m sure we would have been banned from playing there, and if we had encountered snakes, we likely wouldn’t have wanted to go back.

Leprosy is a disease that is mentioned throughout the Bible. It is a disease that has ravaged people for centuries. When a person becomes infected, it begins to damage the body. Over time, the skin begins to degenerate, and the body becomes disfigured. We now know what causes leprosy, and we can even cure it. During Jesus life, the only way to treat a person with leprosy was to isolate those infected. Not only were they sick, but now they faced the removal from society and everyone they loved.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore.

– Psalm 121

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy stood before congress and delivered a speech that would change the world. It would open our eyes to a new frontier. President Kenney boldly stated that he believed the United States should, “Commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man safely on the Moon and returning him safely to the earth.” It was an ambitious dream, and many brave Americans would respond to successfully respond to this challenge.  In July of 1969, only 65 years after the first flight of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, the crew of Apollo 11 successfully landed on the moon and safely returned to Earth. Mission accomplished!

In 1995, I heard a new band. I immediately became a fan! This band was Third Day, a contemporary Christian rock band that had a great sound with powerful lyrics. I played their first album, titled Third Day, over and over again (well, it was actually a CD).  I loved the music and found great strength and encouragement from the words of their songs.
One of the most poignant songs on this album is the song, “Love Song.”  It was written by Mac Powell, the lead singer of Third Day.  It is a song that expresses the great love that God has for us, His creation. The song shows the depth of God’s love and desire to be with us. It makes it clear that God will do anything, “Just to be with us.” 

Elisha Hoffman served as a Union Soldier during the American Civil War. Seeing the death, disease and destruction of the war took a significant toll on the country. Those who fought and lived experienced the long-term suffering that war often brings. Alcoholism rose significantly across the country. Families were left without husbands, fathers and sons. Entire communities had disappeared. Poverty was high. The years following the Civil War were difficult for our country. It was in these difficult years that Elisha Hoffman turned to his faith in God for support.