A sermon preached on November 21, 2018, in La Jolla, California, at the 38th Annual Thanksgiving Eve Service celebrated by Congregation Beth Israel and the First United Methodist Church of San Diego. I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING “THANK YOU.” Thank you to the good people of Congregation Beth Israel for your hospitality. Thank you to Rabbi Berk, for the many years of friendship and partnership, and congratulations on your upcoming retirement. Thank you to Phil Amerson, our interim Lead Pastor at First United Methodist, for the generous invitation to speak this evening. I think Phil knew how much this would mean to me, to preach on this occasion. My brother and I used to ride our stingray bicycles across this land when there was nothing but dirt mesas as far as the eye could see. I count it a great privilege and honor to share this time with you tonight. Will you pray with me? "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart , be acceptable in thy si
