| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Who Needs Heros?
March 15, 2005
Dear friends,
I felt like Batman this afternoon as I left the optometrist's office.
My pupils had been dilated and I was wearing the large throw-away
dark glasses they give you to shield your eyes from the sun. My
daughter thought the glasses looked goofy. Maybe I was just kidding
myself, or protecting my fragile ego, but my imagination went to
work and when I looked in the mirror I saw the Dark Knight. So I
climbed in the Batmobile and sped toward home.
Our imagination is a wonderful gift. It allows us to face some of our
greatest fears without the trepidation that usually accompanies such
moments. There is a scene in one of the Harry Potter movies where
the children are encouraged to think of the silliest thing they can
imagine when they go up against an awesome foe. Instead of
cowering in fear, the children came away with a confidence that
allowed them to stand tall.
My visit to the eye doctor was the second of three checkups I have
this month with members of the medical community. I get all
worked up when I even think about going to the doctor. My wife, the
pharmacist, didn't help matters the other day. I came across some of
the literature I received after my angioplasty in 2003. As I was about
to toss it, I casually stated, "I think I can throw this away. I don't
ever want to go though that again." She replied, "Of course you will!
Probably two or three more times if you live long enough. You're
not Superman!" I wished I could have found a red cape right then. I
would have shown her.
The truth is that Lori was right. All of us are mortal. We cannot
pretend that sorrow will not come our way. It is a part of life. This
time of year we are reminded of that in the events that took place on
Calvary. On Palm Sunday it looked as though Jesus was going to
have the world in his hands. Within a week everything turned upside
down. There are a lot of messages that come from the scriptures at
this time of year. The Easter story reminds us that we have a real
life hero, a savior, who has faced our greatest enemy, death itself,
and came away victorious.
Jesus knew that God was in control. He knew that God would be with
him no matter what happened. His faith was so strong that he faced
betrayal, false accusations, scourging, mockery, desertion and death
itself and remained confident that God would see him through. That
is what we celebrate on Easter morn. God is as good as His word. It
was true for Jesus and its true for us.
So what are your worried about? Who needs Batman or Superman
when you have God on your side? Take your concerns, your fears,
your failures and disappointments and give them to God. Then follow
His lead and face them. Before long you will be singing the victory
song too!
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
March 15, 2005
Dear friends,
I felt like Batman this afternoon as I left the optometrist's office.
My pupils had been dilated and I was wearing the large throw-away
dark glasses they give you to shield your eyes from the sun. My
daughter thought the glasses looked goofy. Maybe I was just kidding
myself, or protecting my fragile ego, but my imagination went to
work and when I looked in the mirror I saw the Dark Knight. So I
climbed in the Batmobile and sped toward home.
Our imagination is a wonderful gift. It allows us to face some of our
greatest fears without the trepidation that usually accompanies such
moments. There is a scene in one of the Harry Potter movies where
the children are encouraged to think of the silliest thing they can
imagine when they go up against an awesome foe. Instead of
cowering in fear, the children came away with a confidence that
allowed them to stand tall.
My visit to the eye doctor was the second of three checkups I have
this month with members of the medical community. I get all
worked up when I even think about going to the doctor. My wife, the
pharmacist, didn't help matters the other day. I came across some of
the literature I received after my angioplasty in 2003. As I was about
to toss it, I casually stated, "I think I can throw this away. I don't
ever want to go though that again." She replied, "Of course you will!
Probably two or three more times if you live long enough. You're
not Superman!" I wished I could have found a red cape right then. I
would have shown her.
The truth is that Lori was right. All of us are mortal. We cannot
pretend that sorrow will not come our way. It is a part of life. This
time of year we are reminded of that in the events that took place on
Calvary. On Palm Sunday it looked as though Jesus was going to
have the world in his hands. Within a week everything turned upside
down. There are a lot of messages that come from the scriptures at
this time of year. The Easter story reminds us that we have a real
life hero, a savior, who has faced our greatest enemy, death itself,
and came away victorious.
Jesus knew that God was in control. He knew that God would be with
him no matter what happened. His faith was so strong that he faced
betrayal, false accusations, scourging, mockery, desertion and death
itself and remained confident that God would see him through. That
is what we celebrate on Easter morn. God is as good as His word. It
was true for Jesus and its true for us.
So what are your worried about? Who needs Batman or Superman
when you have God on your side? Take your concerns, your fears,
your failures and disappointments and give them to God. Then follow
His lead and face them. Before long you will be singing the victory
song too!
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.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |