Lent Devotional 5

On October 18, 1964 my father, a Roman Catholic by birth and a Methodist by marriage, was the speaker, or preacher, at the Southside Baptist Church in Lakeland. For some reason the church’s leadership invited a professor of Physics and Mathematics at a Methodist College to speak on Laymen’s Day. I have often wondered if the congregation heard what I heard that day.

I vividly remember that morning. My brother and sisters were spic’n’span clean, our hair was slicked back, and we were seated on the balcony’s front row to hear dad speak. And I honestly remember his point. He shared that his scientific training led him to the conclusion that the natural order could not have been an accident and his only conclusion could be that the natural order was a part of the Creator’s plan. The Bible speaks the truth about God’s relationship to God’s world. God created the world and all that is in it, and that creation is good. God established the Natural Laws and humans were slowly discovering how they worked.  

I remember this sermon because of the conversations he and I had about a 7 day 168 hour creation and about where my understanding of the universe I had learned in planetarium lectures fit in the Biblical picture of the world. And the list went on. He taught me that the scriptures were a faithful understanding of God’s activity in the lives of God’s people and not a scientific explanation. The Bible was sacred because it reflected God’s continued activity in all aspects of each of our lives.

The understanding that he, my mother, Evelyn and Warren Willis, and many others shared gave me permission to struggle with and find meaning in the scriptures. That permission started a life long journey that continues till this day.

I hope you will take the time today to continue your Biblical journey. Think about how your relationship with The Book points to and informs your personal relationship with God.

Have a great day and

SHALOM,

Tom Mc

Ps. I remember this day because I do, but I was reminded of that day because of an old church bulletin I found in some papers I inherited at my dad’s death. One of the serendipities of that bulletin is this. The pastor at Southside Baptist that day was Dr. T. Rupert Coleman, PhD. He was also the husband of Lucille Coleman and the father of Larry Coleman. Both are members at First Church Bradenton.  It is a small world!