"Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed the good news about Jesus."               Acts 8:35

Dear People of St. David's,

I pray that you are well and are enjoying your summer in whatever form is suiting you. I am noticing that there's plenty of room in church on these summer days and would welcome an opportunity to see more of you on Sunday (hint, hint). Actually, most of you know I am a "guilt free" priest, but can't resist poking a little fun now and again.  

I've been thinking about listening to God the past couple of weeks and the various ways God speaks to us. Sometimes God speaks to us directly in our prayers and at church and even though we don't always hear a voice, we have a sense that God is trying to tell us something. Sometimes God speaks to us through other people as they encourage or challenge us into a deeper communion with God. Sometimes God speaks to us through the Holy Eucharist and we rise from the communion rail with a sense that God has made God's presence known, and we are changed. Sometimes God speaks to us by revealing God's glory and mystery in a sunset or sunrise or the tiniest bee drinking nectar from a flower, and we are moved by God's grandeur and attention to detail.  

It's hard to know when God speaks to us, but one sure way is to read the Bible or, as we say in church, read "The Word of the Lord." For though the word of God has come to us through human vessels over the centuries, we believe that the scripture has been inspired by God's Holy Spirit. Just the fact that so many of God's words have been cared for and passed down through all this time is a miracle on its own. When we read the Bible, we can hear God speaking to us, gently and not so gently, deepening our life with God and calling us to become our best selves and ambassadors of God to others.  

To hear God speaking through the Bible, you and I need to spend time reading God's Word. And to that end: I have a challenge for you. Let's read the Bible through over the next 90 days. You can download a 90-day version on your Kindle or reader. You can buy a copy at a bookstore. We will have a number of copies here at the church for you to borrow. Go online and look up "The Bible in 90 days" and it will give you the schedule of readings to join in the challenge.  

It's the perfect beach read. It's only 13 pages a day. You can do it with a friend or a family member. All levels of experience and all ages can join in. We will put up a weekly blog through the website that our summer seminarian, Dana Hall, will manage. We will meet at 9 a.m. in the Quiet Room between services for support and conversation. At the end of the challenge, you will be enriched intellectually and spiritually, and I assure you that there will be moments when God will speak to you and that you will better know God's "tone of voice" for the rest of your life. 

We'll start on July 19th and finish on October 18th. If you take this challenge, your life will never be the same.  

God speaks to us in so many ways. Let's take this challenge together and hear God's Word for our lives. I know we can do it!