| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Miracles Happen To Those
Who Pay Attention"
March 3, 2010
I looked around and saw that no one was paying attention. The two people
in front of me were having an animated discussion. A woman two rows up
was engrossed in her magazine. A boy across from me was looking over
the shoulder of his sister at something outside and laughing.
The stewardess pointed to the laminated brochure and gestured toward the
exit rows at the front and back of the plane. I quickly looked around to see
if anyone was watching her. One man was digging in his carry on bag for
something. A woman sitting behind me was putting on her lipstick. A
couple two rows back were playing cards.
As the stewardess pretended to pull down the oxygen mask and put it over
her face I began to wonder if I was the only one on the airplane that
thought this was important. She pulled on the life vest and showed us how
to inflate it. I turned to the person next to me, poked him and woke him
from his nap. "Nobody's listening to the safety instructions," I whispered.
He looked at me and said, "Does it matter? If we go down none of it is
going to save us. It's just a waste of time." I wanted to ask him if he had
heard about Captain Sully and the miracle on the Hudson last year. Call me
silly. I watch them go through the drill every time. I want to be ready to
help when the next miracle happens.
Yes. I believe in miracles. The kind of miracles that arise from a
combination of preparation, good sense, a willingness to help and the
presence of God. As our plane left San Diego on Tuesday the thought hit
me that God wants us to be prepared for whatever may come. The clergy
in our churches and synagogues stand before us with the things we needed
to know in the event of an emergency.
The Bible is like our flotation device. It keeps us afloat. Regular worship is
like our oxygen mask. It helps us breathe easier and deeper. Prayer is our
exit door. It allows us to escape into the loving arms of our Creator. How
many times have we been in a panic and forgotten what we need to do to
turn life around again?
The truth is that we need to be prepared. The good news is that we don't
have to face the future alone. God is always on board. He just wants us to
be ready to help when he performs the next miracle. So stop what you are
doing and listen up. God wants to give you some safety instructions before
you go.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Who Pay Attention"
March 3, 2010
I looked around and saw that no one was paying attention. The two people
in front of me were having an animated discussion. A woman two rows up
was engrossed in her magazine. A boy across from me was looking over
the shoulder of his sister at something outside and laughing.
The stewardess pointed to the laminated brochure and gestured toward the
exit rows at the front and back of the plane. I quickly looked around to see
if anyone was watching her. One man was digging in his carry on bag for
something. A woman sitting behind me was putting on her lipstick. A
couple two rows back were playing cards.
As the stewardess pretended to pull down the oxygen mask and put it over
her face I began to wonder if I was the only one on the airplane that
thought this was important. She pulled on the life vest and showed us how
to inflate it. I turned to the person next to me, poked him and woke him
from his nap. "Nobody's listening to the safety instructions," I whispered.
He looked at me and said, "Does it matter? If we go down none of it is
going to save us. It's just a waste of time." I wanted to ask him if he had
heard about Captain Sully and the miracle on the Hudson last year. Call me
silly. I watch them go through the drill every time. I want to be ready to
help when the next miracle happens.
Yes. I believe in miracles. The kind of miracles that arise from a
combination of preparation, good sense, a willingness to help and the
presence of God. As our plane left San Diego on Tuesday the thought hit
me that God wants us to be prepared for whatever may come. The clergy
in our churches and synagogues stand before us with the things we needed
to know in the event of an emergency.
The Bible is like our flotation device. It keeps us afloat. Regular worship is
like our oxygen mask. It helps us breathe easier and deeper. Prayer is our
exit door. It allows us to escape into the loving arms of our Creator. How
many times have we been in a panic and forgotten what we need to do to
turn life around again?
The truth is that we need to be prepared. The good news is that we don't
have to face the future alone. God is always on board. He just wants us to
be ready to help when he performs the next miracle. So stop what you are
doing and listen up. God wants to give you some safety instructions before
you go.
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.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |