| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Give Thanks With A Joyful Heart"
November 27, 2008
I woke up with a thankful heart this morning and it is not because we are
celebrating Thanksgiving this week. My mood was inspired by daughter,
Rebecca. She came home for the holidays last night and I picked her up
from the train station in New Haven. She lives in New York City these days
and Metro North has been hard wired into the memory of our cars.
As we made our way home we talked about what was happening in her
world. She is a teacher and funding has been cut in city schools. The kids
have to do with less. That hasn't slowed her down. As a result she has been
buying supplies out of her own pocket because she doesn't want to see the
kids hurt. She has been applying for grants so that she can stock her library
with the classics in order to broaden their minds and as well as their
horizons. Becky is even talking about arranging a field trip for the kids to
get them out of the Bronx where they live into the wider world where she
hopes they can make lives for themselves.
I'm thankful for people like my daughter. There are lots of them out there in
the world. Most of the time we don't think of them because we got caught
up in our own stuff. We open up the newspaper and get worked up over
the latest economic forecast and what is happening with our IRAs. We turn
on the television and watch the horrific photos from another terrorist attack.
We think of our neighbor who is battling cancer or a friend whose
relationship is in trouble and divorce is looming on the horizon. It's heavy
stuff and it can lead us into a sense of despair.
The truth is that life has always had its share of pain and disappointment. It
was certainly true in the day when the Apostle Paul was writing his letters
to the churches. He was always one step away from being imprisoned and
put to death. Yet he had a sense of joy about him that seemed to transcend
it all. Why? Because he had his eyes on God. Remember what he said? "Be
joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is
God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
The truth is that when we look to God we begin to see the world around us
differently. We begin to notice people doing all kinds of incredible things.
We notice the nurses who walk the floors of the hospital caring for the sick
and dieing and we give thanks for them. We notice the social workers who
are working with the poor to help them find food, shelter and meaningful
work. We notice the policemen, firemen and EMTs who are there in a
moments notice. We notice the teachers, the day care workers, the
waitresses and clerks and the people we meet every day who make our life
a little easier.
Every day God sends angels our way. They make a difference in this world.
99% of the time they come with a human face. The holiday of
Thanksgiving has come and gone. We paused to say thanks to God. Now
let's take the opportunity to thank the angels who we see in our daily
travels. Let's begin with the mail man, the bus driver, the bank teller, and
the cashier at the grocery store. If you want the world around you to be a
brighter place, it has to begin with you. So be joyful. Look to God and give
thanks.
God bless. See you in church. Cal.
November 27, 2008
I woke up with a thankful heart this morning and it is not because we are
celebrating Thanksgiving this week. My mood was inspired by daughter,
Rebecca. She came home for the holidays last night and I picked her up
from the train station in New Haven. She lives in New York City these days
and Metro North has been hard wired into the memory of our cars.
As we made our way home we talked about what was happening in her
world. She is a teacher and funding has been cut in city schools. The kids
have to do with less. That hasn't slowed her down. As a result she has been
buying supplies out of her own pocket because she doesn't want to see the
kids hurt. She has been applying for grants so that she can stock her library
with the classics in order to broaden their minds and as well as their
horizons. Becky is even talking about arranging a field trip for the kids to
get them out of the Bronx where they live into the wider world where she
hopes they can make lives for themselves.
I'm thankful for people like my daughter. There are lots of them out there in
the world. Most of the time we don't think of them because we got caught
up in our own stuff. We open up the newspaper and get worked up over
the latest economic forecast and what is happening with our IRAs. We turn
on the television and watch the horrific photos from another terrorist attack.
We think of our neighbor who is battling cancer or a friend whose
relationship is in trouble and divorce is looming on the horizon. It's heavy
stuff and it can lead us into a sense of despair.
The truth is that life has always had its share of pain and disappointment. It
was certainly true in the day when the Apostle Paul was writing his letters
to the churches. He was always one step away from being imprisoned and
put to death. Yet he had a sense of joy about him that seemed to transcend
it all. Why? Because he had his eyes on God. Remember what he said? "Be
joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is
God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
The truth is that when we look to God we begin to see the world around us
differently. We begin to notice people doing all kinds of incredible things.
We notice the nurses who walk the floors of the hospital caring for the sick
and dieing and we give thanks for them. We notice the social workers who
are working with the poor to help them find food, shelter and meaningful
work. We notice the policemen, firemen and EMTs who are there in a
moments notice. We notice the teachers, the day care workers, the
waitresses and clerks and the people we meet every day who make our life
a little easier.
Every day God sends angels our way. They make a difference in this world.
99% of the time they come with a human face. The holiday of
Thanksgiving has come and gone. We paused to say thanks to God. Now
let's take the opportunity to thank the angels who we see in our daily
travels. Let's begin with the mail man, the bus driver, the bank teller, and
the cashier at the grocery store. If you want the world around you to be a
brighter place, it has to begin with you. So be joyful. Look to God and give
thanks.
God bless. See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |