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Astronomical Star

Posted on December 24, 2024December 24, 2024 by Pam

There are many temporary closing scenes attached to the nativity in the book of Luke. I’ve been summarizing a few thoughts. The last four chapters seem to bring me back to the beginning. In Prague there is the oldest working astronomical clock completed about 1410 AD. Note the ‘AD’ because the birth of Jesus is the center of time. BC means before Christ and AD is after His death. The 33 years in-between is what we have been looking at in the Gospel of Luke. Many questions remain. Were the shepherds, abiding in the field by night, old or young or both? Did the three wise men from the east arrive together or meet on the way? It makes sense that they would have been in an entourage and not on their own for such an auspicious journey. How old was Jesus when the wise men arrived? I guess when acknowledging a baby or toddler or boy, as the King of the Jews, from the ancient writings, age makes no difference. They probably entered Bethlehem through the front gate but then exited the back way to avoid confrontation with Herod? We can ask these questions later. It must have been a stellar event on display. Why didn’t crazy old Herod, the king, go himself? Were all peoples looking for the redemption of Israel?

The last weeks of Jesus life are described in Luke 21-24. He crammed in important discourses and hosted their last supper together. Jesus warned of coming persecution and the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. The Son of Man would come with power and glory. He was handed back and forth by the authorities. Jesus was sentenced to death, without cause, and crucified but we know how the account ends. Just like there was no room in the inn at His birth – there was no tomb that could keep the Son of God. We who believe every detail of this account will be joined/rejoined with Jesus at His second coming. All men belong to God but not all choose God. Saying Merry Christmas always takes me to the rest of the biblical account and I want to say He is risen indeed! The Salvation of the Lord has come and Christmas was only the start. Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

"Thoughts from a genuinely evaluative mind."

Pam writes so that must make her a writer. Recently retired, she can now fill days with family, friends, missions, writing, creating, and showing up for whomever needs her. Pam loves the Lord and people. The Bible is God’s love letter to us (and who does not need more love) so she studies and writes some more.

Pam lives in the Pacific Northwest but was home-grown in Southern California. She attended San Jose Bible College and finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at UCLA. She became a teacher, then a Research and Development Chemist, then she built two successful real estate businesses in two states. Pam also pursued study at Fuller Theological Seminary and just completed six months serving in missions abroad.

Pam has two amazing children, married to two precious in-laws, and five sweet grandchildren. Pam is a gifted connector and communicator and the Northwest has the perfect climate for staying inside and writing – or baking! She has been writing since a wee one and is currently converting many years of blogging, by topic, into ten books. The first is a collection from 2011 titled, Beautiful Enough. The second is a yearly day-timer titled, Weekly Planner - Lessons in Life, Glory, and Grace. Number three is in progress with the working title, Christmas Today.

Ten facts about Pam in no particular order:

  1. On the team that developed an insulation for the Alaskan oil pipeline.
  2. Loves looking at homes, decorating, and has flipped five homes.
  3. Likes being tall.
  4. Films have helped define her vocabulary.
  5. Comes from Colorado tenement farmers with history traced to Wales.
  6. Was lost but now is found.
  7. Baking makes her happy – as does eating sweets with coffee, of course.
  8. She thinks mission work is the most important work in the world.
  9. The church started in Rome so she is learning Italian.
  10. Pam is a work in progress!

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

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