| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Our Future Is Built On Our Past"
May 29, 2008
The other night I couldn't sleep so I turned on the television. As I was
surfing the channels I happened upon the movie, "The Butterfly Effect"
with Ashton Kutcher. I like him so I decided to check it out. Kutcher plays
a young man who is haunted by an event in the past that has shaped his life
and the lives of his friends.
One day he stumbles upon a gateway that leads him back in time. He
suddenly finds himself at that moment where he can affect his future by
making a different choice. He does exactly what you or I would do. He
makes the changes and suddenly he is catapulted forward through time and
he finds himself in the new reality that resulted from that single change he
made. It seems like it would be a dream come true.
Unfortunately for Kutcher, the one change produced new consequences
that he never anticipated. While some things changed for the better, others
brought disastrous consequences that he could not have foreseen. So in an
attempt to make things better he goes back again and again. He finds that
no matter what choices he makes, there is always something that he can't
anticipate or control. In his journeys through time he discovers that
changing the past doesn't guarantee a bliss filled future.
All of us have things in our past that we wish we could go back and
change. I don't know how many times I thought if only I could wave a
magic wand and make the bad stuff in my life disappear I would be more
confident, more secure, more bold in living out my faith. But you know
what? If I could do that I would be a different person. My life experiences
would have also changed.
The truth is the bad stuff in our lives made us stronger and maybe even
more compassionate, forgiving, understanding and tolerant. It also
produced some good outcomes. For example it was because of the
breakup of my family that I ended up in church and was surround by a
group of loving Christians who helped foster an environment that allowed
me to hear and answer the call of God. I always say that God is the master
at turning tragedy into triumph.
I'm not saying that every bad thing that happens should be embraced. What
I am saying is that if we overcome those painful moments, they become
stepping stones to blessings that we carry with us and share.
It's kind of like Jesus on the cross. He had to bear that pain before he
could become the Savior. The thing to remember is that he was not alone.
God did not forsake him. He was with him every step of the way. He does
the same thing for us. All you got to do is call. Remember that poem
"Footprints in the Sand." That is the truth of our faith. We get through
those difficult, painful moments because He carries us. So you don't need
to change the past. You only need to remember the source of your
strength, God. Then your past can become your blessing.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
May 29, 2008
The other night I couldn't sleep so I turned on the television. As I was
surfing the channels I happened upon the movie, "The Butterfly Effect"
with Ashton Kutcher. I like him so I decided to check it out. Kutcher plays
a young man who is haunted by an event in the past that has shaped his life
and the lives of his friends.
One day he stumbles upon a gateway that leads him back in time. He
suddenly finds himself at that moment where he can affect his future by
making a different choice. He does exactly what you or I would do. He
makes the changes and suddenly he is catapulted forward through time and
he finds himself in the new reality that resulted from that single change he
made. It seems like it would be a dream come true.
Unfortunately for Kutcher, the one change produced new consequences
that he never anticipated. While some things changed for the better, others
brought disastrous consequences that he could not have foreseen. So in an
attempt to make things better he goes back again and again. He finds that
no matter what choices he makes, there is always something that he can't
anticipate or control. In his journeys through time he discovers that
changing the past doesn't guarantee a bliss filled future.
All of us have things in our past that we wish we could go back and
change. I don't know how many times I thought if only I could wave a
magic wand and make the bad stuff in my life disappear I would be more
confident, more secure, more bold in living out my faith. But you know
what? If I could do that I would be a different person. My life experiences
would have also changed.
The truth is the bad stuff in our lives made us stronger and maybe even
more compassionate, forgiving, understanding and tolerant. It also
produced some good outcomes. For example it was because of the
breakup of my family that I ended up in church and was surround by a
group of loving Christians who helped foster an environment that allowed
me to hear and answer the call of God. I always say that God is the master
at turning tragedy into triumph.
I'm not saying that every bad thing that happens should be embraced. What
I am saying is that if we overcome those painful moments, they become
stepping stones to blessings that we carry with us and share.
It's kind of like Jesus on the cross. He had to bear that pain before he
could become the Savior. The thing to remember is that he was not alone.
God did not forsake him. He was with him every step of the way. He does
the same thing for us. All you got to do is call. Remember that poem
"Footprints in the Sand." That is the truth of our faith. We get through
those difficult, painful moments because He carries us. So you don't need
to change the past. You only need to remember the source of your
strength, God. Then your past can become your blessing.
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.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |