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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Someone Has Plans For You
April 13, 2007
A few weeks ago I heard Rusty Ward give his testimony at a men's
breakfast. Rusty is the pastor of the Quinnebaug Valley Alliance Church in
Canterbury. Now I know that most people wouldn't think a pastor's story
would be all that interesting. We tend to think that our pastors, priests and
rabbis must have grown up as perfect little angels. Like Samuel in the
Hebrew Scriptures, we believe that they were set apart as children to grow
into their roles.
If the name Rusty Ward sounds familiar but you have never been up to the
Canterbury Church, he is better to known to many of us in the greater
Norwich area as Captain Ward. For the better part of his life, Rusty served
as a police officer in the Norwich Department. If you asked Rusty ten
years ago if he thought he was called to the ministry, he would probably
have laughed at you. You see, he had plans.
Rusty grew up in a religious household but when he became a teenager he
went his own way. As a young man with ambition and pride, he joined the
police department and looked forward to a career in public service. He
married his sweetheart and they had the good life. As he tells it, church
was not a part of it at all. Then one day his wife went to a women's
conference and everything changed. She gave her life to Christ and not
long afterwards he got down on his knees and did the same thing.
John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens when you are busy making
other plans." Rusty told us that he discovered that while he was busy
making plans, God already had his life mapped out for him. While Rusty
was toiling away in the Police Department, God was setting in motion a
series of events that would lead him to the doorstep of the Canterbury
church and a departure from his lifelong office.
He laughs now as he recalls telling his mother about the opportunity he had
and hearing her tell him about a secret thought she carried with her all
these years. She shared with him that she had this feeling he was chosen
by God to be a minister, even in his troubled years away from the church.
She saw a gift in him.
The truth is that I believe God calls all of us into the ministry. We all have
a gift. Some of us put on the priestly garments and others are called to
serve in the world. The vast majority of us can have a far greater impact
for the kingdom when we simply let God use us to share his love at work,
in the schools, in community groups, and elsewhere. God does have a plan
for each of us. You can try to make a life for yourself but until you open
up and let God direct your steps, you may feel like you are swimming
against the tide. Once you give yourself to God, He will use you right
where you are to bring some light and joy to the people around you.
So why not go for it? Ask God today how He wants to use you. When the
door opens, walk through it and enjoy what God has planned for you. You
won't regret it one bit. Just ask Rusty.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
April 13, 2007
A few weeks ago I heard Rusty Ward give his testimony at a men's
breakfast. Rusty is the pastor of the Quinnebaug Valley Alliance Church in
Canterbury. Now I know that most people wouldn't think a pastor's story
would be all that interesting. We tend to think that our pastors, priests and
rabbis must have grown up as perfect little angels. Like Samuel in the
Hebrew Scriptures, we believe that they were set apart as children to grow
into their roles.
If the name Rusty Ward sounds familiar but you have never been up to the
Canterbury Church, he is better to known to many of us in the greater
Norwich area as Captain Ward. For the better part of his life, Rusty served
as a police officer in the Norwich Department. If you asked Rusty ten
years ago if he thought he was called to the ministry, he would probably
have laughed at you. You see, he had plans.
Rusty grew up in a religious household but when he became a teenager he
went his own way. As a young man with ambition and pride, he joined the
police department and looked forward to a career in public service. He
married his sweetheart and they had the good life. As he tells it, church
was not a part of it at all. Then one day his wife went to a women's
conference and everything changed. She gave her life to Christ and not
long afterwards he got down on his knees and did the same thing.
John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens when you are busy making
other plans." Rusty told us that he discovered that while he was busy
making plans, God already had his life mapped out for him. While Rusty
was toiling away in the Police Department, God was setting in motion a
series of events that would lead him to the doorstep of the Canterbury
church and a departure from his lifelong office.
He laughs now as he recalls telling his mother about the opportunity he had
and hearing her tell him about a secret thought she carried with her all
these years. She shared with him that she had this feeling he was chosen
by God to be a minister, even in his troubled years away from the church.
She saw a gift in him.
The truth is that I believe God calls all of us into the ministry. We all have
a gift. Some of us put on the priestly garments and others are called to
serve in the world. The vast majority of us can have a far greater impact
for the kingdom when we simply let God use us to share his love at work,
in the schools, in community groups, and elsewhere. God does have a plan
for each of us. You can try to make a life for yourself but until you open
up and let God direct your steps, you may feel like you are swimming
against the tide. Once you give yourself to God, He will use you right
where you are to bring some light and joy to the people around you.
So why not go for it? Ask God today how He wants to use you. When the
door opens, walk through it and enjoy what God has planned for you. You
won't regret it one bit. Just ask Rusty.
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.
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