| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Take The Plunge
August 30, 2007
Who in their right mind would hurtle down a 100 foot tube in the dark and
not know where they were going? I guess that would be me. On Monday I
took my daughter to the Six Flags Amusement Park in Agawam,
Massachusetts and we went on some of the super water slides. I was a
little nervous but when a thirteen year old dares you to go, what are you
going to do?
I asked Rachel if she went on it before and she said, "Lots of times." The
fact that she is still alive and breathing served as her testimony. So I began
the long climb up the stairs. I'm not afraid of heights but I have to admit
that looking down from four stories up is a little intimidating. I kept
thinking that as long as it didn't go straight down I would be okay. When
we were almost at the top I was encouraged to see a woman my age up
above us. She and her teenage daughter were also going to take the plunge.
I wasn't going to be the only fool on this day.
I said a little prayer as I sat down and folded my arms behind my head.
The attendant gave a knowing nod like a prison guard on death row and I
was off. For the next ten to twelve seconds I shot through the tube like a
torpedo launched from a Seawolf Submarine. I was going so fast that I
actually began to laugh at the foolishness of my actions. What did I think I
was doing? I was too old for this. Then in a flash I came out of the
darkness and the water swirled around me like a big blanket and I came to
a slow and easy stop at the bottom of the slope.
Rachel asked me what I thought. I told her it was great and I was ready to
go again. Why did I ever doubt her? There are lots of things in life that we
don't do because either we have never done them before or we are afraid
to bust out of our comfort zones. We end up doing the same thing over
and over again and lose the ability to experience the wonder and joy of the
world around us. This happens in our spiritual life as well.
A recent Gallup Poll revealed that an overwhelming number of Americans
said they believe in God and an ever higher number considered themselves
to be spiritual. Yet the number of people attending weekly religious
services continue to shrink. I think this is because many of us have
created a safe place to practice our faith where it doesn't bother anyone
else. We have made it a private matter that can be observed in our own
little world. As a result our faith has become dull and weak. It no longer
sustains us or empowers us in our walk through life.
Now I don't want to compare going to church with taking the plunge
down a water slide, but the truth is that both of these activities call for us
to do something that goes against the grain of societal thinking. When we
take the plunge we are doing something that is crazy by worldly standards.
We are putting our trust and faith in others and letting them have a say in
our future. We are not just trusting them though. Here is the promise of
God. "Fear not, for I am with thee!" This is one of the most repeated
promises in all of Scripture. God says this to the prophets, the kings and
ordinary people like you and me.
God wants us to step out of our comfort zones and live our faith. We do
that best in community. So if you haven't been to church in a while, why
not take the plunge? You may find yourself wanting to do it over and over
again, just like I did on Monday afternoon.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
August 30, 2007
Who in their right mind would hurtle down a 100 foot tube in the dark and
not know where they were going? I guess that would be me. On Monday I
took my daughter to the Six Flags Amusement Park in Agawam,
Massachusetts and we went on some of the super water slides. I was a
little nervous but when a thirteen year old dares you to go, what are you
going to do?
I asked Rachel if she went on it before and she said, "Lots of times." The
fact that she is still alive and breathing served as her testimony. So I began
the long climb up the stairs. I'm not afraid of heights but I have to admit
that looking down from four stories up is a little intimidating. I kept
thinking that as long as it didn't go straight down I would be okay. When
we were almost at the top I was encouraged to see a woman my age up
above us. She and her teenage daughter were also going to take the plunge.
I wasn't going to be the only fool on this day.
I said a little prayer as I sat down and folded my arms behind my head.
The attendant gave a knowing nod like a prison guard on death row and I
was off. For the next ten to twelve seconds I shot through the tube like a
torpedo launched from a Seawolf Submarine. I was going so fast that I
actually began to laugh at the foolishness of my actions. What did I think I
was doing? I was too old for this. Then in a flash I came out of the
darkness and the water swirled around me like a big blanket and I came to
a slow and easy stop at the bottom of the slope.
Rachel asked me what I thought. I told her it was great and I was ready to
go again. Why did I ever doubt her? There are lots of things in life that we
don't do because either we have never done them before or we are afraid
to bust out of our comfort zones. We end up doing the same thing over
and over again and lose the ability to experience the wonder and joy of the
world around us. This happens in our spiritual life as well.
A recent Gallup Poll revealed that an overwhelming number of Americans
said they believe in God and an ever higher number considered themselves
to be spiritual. Yet the number of people attending weekly religious
services continue to shrink. I think this is because many of us have
created a safe place to practice our faith where it doesn't bother anyone
else. We have made it a private matter that can be observed in our own
little world. As a result our faith has become dull and weak. It no longer
sustains us or empowers us in our walk through life.
Now I don't want to compare going to church with taking the plunge
down a water slide, but the truth is that both of these activities call for us
to do something that goes against the grain of societal thinking. When we
take the plunge we are doing something that is crazy by worldly standards.
We are putting our trust and faith in others and letting them have a say in
our future. We are not just trusting them though. Here is the promise of
God. "Fear not, for I am with thee!" This is one of the most repeated
promises in all of Scripture. God says this to the prophets, the kings and
ordinary people like you and me.
God wants us to step out of our comfort zones and live our faith. We do
that best in community. So if you haven't been to church in a while, why
not take the plunge? You may find yourself wanting to do it over and over
again, just like I did on Monday afternoon.
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.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |