Run it out

I should have known better. I am the manager. Tonight I hit the ball to the shortstop and when he fielded it and tossed it to second base for a fielder's choice, I practically stopped running to first. The problem was that there was only one out and my lack of running it out allowed the second baseman to complete a double play to end the inning.

I don't know how many times over the years I have told my players to run everything out. I can't tell you how often I have told them that they have to keep their heads in the game. Tonight I didn't do either one. Not only did I stop but I had no idea that there was only one out. I actually went up to the plate thinking that we had two outs. I was too worried about my own at bat and as a result I cost us a run or two.

Missed opportunities are the result of losing our focus. It is true in sports and it is true in our Christian walk. Jesus calls us to keep our eyes on him if we want to transform the world for God. Too many times we get caught up in other things and lose sight of Christ. As a result our friends and neighbors see us with mixed allegiance to Christ. We stumble and falter and are not as effective in our witness as we might be.

So next time you step up to the plate, make sure you know the score and the situation so you can be prepared.

Cal

God is with us

Are you feeling discouraged? Do you feel like God doesn't hear your prayers? Then watch this video and let it speak to your heart.

Cal

Singing from the heart

I got caught. I couldn't believe it. I always try to be careful. This time I couldn't help myself. I had my i-pod on and I just burst out singing. How could I help myself? "The Lion Sleeps tonight" came on and I just had to sing out loud. I was swaying and swinging as if I was the only one in the world.

The problem was that I was walking down Washington Street and a young girl was just stepping out of her house. She looked at me and laughed and I was busted. Oh well! There could be worse things I could be doing.

I laughed after I got over my initial embarrassment. After all it wasn't me. It was the music in me and it just had to come out. It's like trying to contain the love of Jesus. You can try to put on a sour puss and walk around as if the world was on your shoulders. But at some point if you have the love of Christ in your heart it will come out and bring joy to you and the world around you.

So why try to hold it in? Go ahead and sing. Who knows? Someone who hears you may just start singing along. Wouldn't that be something?

Cal

The five finger prayer

This is known as the five finger prayer. It is so simple to remember and so powerful. Try it and you will be blessed as you bless others.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a 'sweet duty.'

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all - which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, 'The least shall be the greatest among you.' Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

God bless! Cal.

Thank you for our freedom!

We take a lot of things for granted. I mentioned this on Sunday as we paused to remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country. In many places around the world people cannot worship the God of their choice. If you are a Christian or a Jew you could be imprisoned for sharing your faith. A Bible is considered the same as a dangerous weapon.

I heard one speaker at a conference last year say that maybe the oppressive governments are on to something. The Bible has the power to transform lives, cultures, societies and the world if it is unleashed. It is dangerous in the wrong (right) hands.

Our country was founded on religious principles. The first settlers came seeking religious freedom and established a place where we could be free to worship and express our faith. Today we can't really say much about this in public. The freedom to express our religious views are being pushed aside because they aren't always politically correct. We are told that it isn't right because we could offend someone.

On Saturday at the Memorial Day Ceremony in Lebanon, the guest speaker shared his gratitude to God for the freedoms we have. He was open and honest about his faith as he shared a bit about his service in Afghanistan. As he spoke, I looked at the veterans who were seated in the front row of the crowd. Each and every one of them echoed his sentiments.

A few minutes later the First Selectman invited all of the veterans and all of the active duty servicemen and women to come forward. As they did the crowd began to clap and for the next four plus minutes the applause continued. It was the most moving event I have been to in years. There were veterans from all the wars present. World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, The Balkins, Dessert Storm and the current battle in Afghanistan and Iraq. There were tears in some eyes and it wasn't only the veterans.

Thank God for those who have served so bravely to protect and preserve our freedoms.

Cal

Don't rush to judgement

I was looking for some new music to add to my i-pod the other day so I asked my daughter about a song I was looking at on i-tunes. She said she had a CD and I could use hers to add it to my collection. I have to confess that it was the first time I really thought about taking something from my daughter's collection. As I was browsing her CD collection and her play list from her i-pod I was startled to discover that she had a lot of songs I liked.

The truth is that I just took for granted the fact that she had her own music, rock, rap and stuff that I didn't really care for. I never really considered the fact that she would have a well rounded selection of tunes.

I am ashamed to say that I wrote her off because she is a teenager. I never considered that we shared this is common. It made me think of how many people we write off because they are different than us. We never consider reaching out to them, inviting them to church, or even showing them the simplest acts of love and kindness. It may be their skin color, their nationality, their political party, their neighborhood, their age, their sexual orientation, their profession, their social status or their clothing. Maybe its time to get to know someone before we make judgments on what they think and what they like.

I was reminded recently that God is the only one who truly knows a person's heart. Our job as Christians is to simply connect God with the people we meet every day. Let him work out the differences. He knows them better than we do, even if we are in the same family.

Cal

It is who you know!

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail that said "Hmm... I didn't know I knew a dignitary!" I sent back asking her what she meant. She told me she found a photo of me in a ribbon cutting ceremony that listed the names of two hospital presidents, a state senator and (quote) other dignitaries. I was included as a special person just because of who I was with.

I laughed when I heard that. Then I thought about the fact that we are given special status, in the same way, just because we know Jesus. I didn't do anything to earn my status as a "dignitary" just like we didn't do anything to merit God's favor other than to be with Jesus.

Thank God for that. It is the free gift of his grace.

Cal

The past is past

I am watching the movie "The Butterfly Effect" with Ashton Kutcher. In the movie something terrible happens and the main character has an opportunity to go back and change history. But when he does, it produces new consequences that he never anticipated. So in an attempt to make things better he goes back again and again. Some things turn out better and others far worse.

The truth is that 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 wish I could wave a magic wand and make the bad stuff disappear. But you know what? If I did I would be a different person. The truth is the bad stuff, my mom's drinking and leaving the family, her death at an early age, my struggles in college all made me stronger and more compassionate. 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'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 blessing 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 though 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 becomes your blessing.

Cal

My top ten childhood treasures

Did you leave something behind in childhood? Something happens to us when we get about fourteen or fifteen years old. We begin to turn away from some of the fun and exciting things we did as children. As we move closer to adulthood, we no longer look at the world and all we do the same. I think that it is a shame.

So today I am posting my personal list of forgotten childhood treasures. I challenge you to do the same. Once you come up with your list, pass it on to me in the comment box below. My top ten forgotten treasures of childhood include;

10. Watching Saturday morning cartoons. I used to look forward to the new line-up that was announced every fall. I would check out the schedule and plan my day around the shows. My favorites were Scooby Doo and Tom & Jerry. Anyone remember School House rock?

9. Riding my bicycle. I put on hundreds of miles, especially in the summer. It was a four mile trek to downtown Colchester and sometimes I would ride it twice a day. My longest trip was to New London. It was 40 miles round trip.

8. Hiking through the woods. With fifty acres to play in, I was always blazing new trails in our woods. sometimes I would go up the street and cross the woods by the Fish & Game Club. I never stuck to the trails. I would explore the river banks and go cross country. I was a Boy Scout at heart, I think.

7. Playing king of the raft at the lake. When I got my driver's license this opened up new vistas of fun. We would play king of the raft at my friend's cottage on occasion before that. Once we could drive to the lake, we were out there almost every night during the summer. It never got old even though the big kid always won!

6. Camping out in my back yard. With or without a tent, we slept outside most of the summer. The only time we took a break was the time we saw a snake out by our tent. We would get snacks, haul out our flash lights and talk about school, girls, plans for the future. We'd talk until we fell asleep exhausted.

5. Collecting fireflies. It always worked better when we poked air holes in the container. But when I was in third to fifth grade this was the most fun because there was an endless supply of fire flies at our house. I never knew what they were, or where they came from. I only knew that they were cool!

4. Eating fluffernutter sandwiches. Fluffernutters were even better than toasted marshmallows because you didn't have to peel the charred parts away before you ate them. And everything tastes better with peanut butter doesn't it?

3. Sleeping over my best friend's house. (See camping) Spending time with my buddies was the best part of growing up and if you could sleep over, it meant you even had more time with them. What could be better than that? I guess having friends is the real point. As we get older of our circle of good friends also diminishes. Why is that?

2. Collecting matchbox cars. We were not rich but the matchbox cars allowed us to dream that we were. We could own the hottest cars in town. I used to collect all of the cars I could. When I actually got my first car (a 1965 Mustang) I stopped collecting matchboxes.

1. Letting my imagination go free and becoming a baseball star, a superhero, a rock guitar player, a race car driver or a grown up. I still get to do this a bit when no one is looking. I do community theater. I also have fun in my brain when I go for my daily walks and pretend to be a big baseball player or movie star. Only now I have to play the game alone. After all, people would think I was crazy if I asked someone to be Goose Gossage to my Kirk Gibson (1984 World Series).

Oh well. I don't know when I crossed that imaginary line and stopped doing most of these things. I think it happened when I started wanting to be an adult. I began to put away all the fun and simple pleasures of life and took on a more serious approach. I think I lost something in the process. Maybe that's why so many of us struggle with our faith as well. We left our imaginations behind and in the process closed the door to God and all his possibilities. So what are your top ten? Maybe it is time to pull them out again and invite that child to lead us.

Cal

Praise You In The Storm

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?" Psalm 121:1

Are you going through a difficult time right now? Hold on. God knows and he will be with you. He will give you cause to sing his praises again very soon.

Cal

Its amazing what we can do with so little

When you think about the amazing things that we can think up and do, it makes what God can do even more mind boggling. Yeah, I know. I had some free time tonight so I have been surfing the web and looking for fun things. Here is something I think you will enjoy. It's goofy and fun. It's also pretty good.

Cal

How do you connect to God?

My daughter bought an iPhone recently. It got me thinking about the way we connect to God in this technological age. How about doing it the "i" way?

Cal

We can make a difference

I think the biggest topic of conversation in most circles today is the skyrocketing price of gas. It hit $4.00 a gallon in the Northeast and it has a lot of us crying the blues. With summer coming and vacations on the horizon, many of us are thinking about cutting back on our plans. It is almost as if we have given up.

Last week in Norwich there was a public hearing on whether or not the Utility Company could raise the rates and only three people showed up. I think many of us are just resigned to the fact that there is nothing we can do. We even have the local newspaper telling us that it is better to do nothing than to do some stopgap measures.

Well I don't buy it. I remember a guy named Martin Luther standing up and saying he had enough of the status quo. I remember a group of revolutionaries banding together to demand their independence. Their names were Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hancock. I remember a man named Franklin Roosevelt who took to the streets saying that we could change things in the worst period of our country's history.

When people get together they can do incredible things. So here is my little suggestion. Start going to the gas station in town with the cheapest prices. Don't let the guys who are posting a penny or two higher get away with it. Let's start a gas war. Let's reward the company with the lowest price. Let's retake control.

That is exactly what Martin Luther did in his day. He said he wasn't going to let the leaders bully him anymore and he took a stand. It changed the world and it changed the church. Maybe its about time the church changed the world again. Let's not just get greener. Let's get a little meaner too!

Here is a tool that will help. It tells you the cheapest price to find gas by state, county and even town or city. Next time you need gas, check it out and go to the cheapest place. If we all do this it will make a difference.

Well that's my rant for today. I know it's atypical for me but this is an issue of economic justice. The increase in energy prices is forcing up the prices for everyone and it hits the poor the hardest. We need to speak for them and for ourselves.

Here is the web address. Check it out and then let's do something about it.

Cal

To find the lowest price check on your state and then click your town or city.

http://www.automallusa.net/gas-prices.html

Where are you going to stay?

This past weekend Lori and I stayed at the Westin Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. The hotel was as close to a five star hotel as I will ever stay in. Because we were at a continuing education seminar, we received a reduced rate and decided to stay there. The room was definitely first class all the way. It had a lock bar with all kinds of goodies including fancy nuts. It had a large screen plasma television and a large king size bed with beautiful bedspread. There was a large bathroom and a workstation. The view of the river was nice too.

I said to Lori that it must be nice to have the kind of money to be able to enjoy accommodations like this when you travel. I usually stay at discount motels when I go on the road. Then the thought hit me that when Jesus talked about heavenly mansions, he was talking to working class men and women like you and me. Most of the people Jesus met never knew a moment of luxury in their lives. They barely squeaked by making a living.

As usual Jesus brought them the good news that God heard their cries and that some day soon they could look forward to a better life. All they needed to do was remain faithful. That is true for us too! Every once in a while we get to enjoy a taste of what lies ahead for us. God has a great future in store. If we don't get it in this life, it will be ours in the next one.

Even better than a luxury hotel, God says he will be with us to enjoy that future. I can't wait. Well, I guess I will have to. But for now, I'll hang onto the memory of what special feels like.

Cal

He created us in the womb

I have been at a conference the last two days entitled, "His brain-her brain" and it has been very interesting. It was made even more so because my wife, Lori, is here too. Lori is a pharmacist and she understands all the medical jargon. When the instructor talks about the hippo campus and the hypothalamus Lori knows exactly what she is speaking about.

I've always liked the biological sciences and wished that I had paid more attention to them when I was growing up. I have a broad knowledge but nothing very deep. I lit up whenever they began discussing the way men and women handle different situations. Although there were broad generalities, it rang of the truth.

The most amazing thing about this conference was the fact the instructor was able to show how many of our typical responses to situations seemed to be hard wired into our male and female brains. She pointed out that this had nothing to do with intelligence, although boys learn mathematics and spatial orientation earlier and girls pick up vocabulary and emotional cues earlier. On the whole intelligence is equal for the sexes.

She went on to tell us things like women have twice as many pain receptors as men and that the release of testosterone in utero actually begins to change the embryo as early as six weeks to mark that child as a male with many of the differences that will appear later in life.

Now don't hold me on the exact details of all this. The one thing I came away with was the fact that we are created uniquely and with so much detail that it is mind boggling. How can anyone deny the existence of a divine creator. This stuff doesn't happen by accident. The instructor kept saying that these biological differences prepared us to survive in a hostile environment. They designed us to cling together to make a more perfect whole.

Mind you, this seminar was put on by a scientific group, not a theological school or religious group. Who says God doesn't reveal himself in nature? All you need to do is open your eyes and you can see his hand at work.

Cal

God loves you

I'll never forget my first experience in church. I was just five years old. I went to Sunday School in a little Methodist church and there was a lady there who took to me. I don't remember what she looked like, how old she was or anything else about her. I only remember what she said. It made a deep impression on me and I have carried her words in my heart.

At age fourteen I was baptized and the rest is history. What were those words? She simply said, "God loves you." I came across this song on You tube that says it more eloquently than I ever could. I hope it speaks to your heart today. Because that woman was right. God loves you and me and that is the most important message we can ever deliver as his disciples. Enjoy.

Cal

Walking with the Lord

On Sunday afternoon I purchased three tickets online from Southwest airlines for my daughter and her friends to go to a concert in Manchester, Tennessee. I used a credit I had with the company allowing me to send them there for very little, or so I thought.

Between the time I hit the button to complete the transaction and the time I received my receipt something went wrong. My credit was not applied. My receipt showed that I was being charged the whole amount.

When I called the company and asked about it, I reached a very professional young lady who listened to my story and then proceeded to walk me through the process of cancelling my tickets and re-booking the flight. She stayed online with me as I went through the process and completed the transaction. She made sure I didn't miss anything this time.

I was impressed by her willingness to do this. I understand that this is probably the company policy, but it seemed more than you would expect from a company in this day and age. After I got off the phone the thought occurred to me that this is the kind of thing that god expects of all of us. It is the kind of behavior that stands out and impresses people. When we love people unconditionally and walk with them through the ups and downs of life, offering encouragement and helpful advice, we are doing what Jesus would do.

Who knows how many people we can lead to Christ if we simply do the little things and prove ourselves faithful? I know it works for Southwest. I am a believer now. So it will surely work for our Lord.

Cal

God uses our experiences

I am watching a documentary on President Franklin D. Roosevelt tonight. It paints a remarkable picture of a man who had it all and then lost it due to the folly of a virus called polio. He was set to follow in his uncle's footsteps and then a cruel twist of faith shattered his dreams.

The amazing part of the story is that Franklin Roosevelt didn't give up. He took his fate and turned it around. He fought hard and became one of the greatest President's of all time. I sat watching the program and it struck me that he became President during one of the most difficult periods in our history. Yet, he was prepared for it. He had faced his own nightmare and overcame it. His famous words, "We have nothing to fear but fear it self" was born out of his own tragedy.

This is God's economy. He takes every experience and uses it for the good. What could have been devastating turned out to be the preparation needed to do an extraordinary work. And God does this every day with people like you and me. Praise God that our trials can be turned around to bring a blessing to someone else down the road.

Cal

Whose seat are you in?

Yesterday I was at Men's Conference in Worcester, Massachusetts. The key note speaker was Chuck Colson and the church was packed with 1,300 en from across southern New England. We got there just as the opening session was getting ready to take off and there were not many seats left. We searched around and finally found two sets of two seats for our small group.

I watched for the next fifteen minutes as men continued to stroll in looking for seats. The host for the day made a number of announcements and gave instructions for the day. As he was talking even more men came in. About twenty minutes after we began I noticed the steady stream of newcomers had begun to dry up. It was about this time that the host introduced Chuck to the audience.

Charles Colson graciously made his way up to the podium and as he was on his way there I noticed an interesting thing happen. One of the ushers spotted a man looking for a seat and he went up to him and ushered him down to the front row where Chuck had been sitting. I was blown away by that image.

I couldn't help but think of how you and I have the great joy and privilege of sitting in the Lord's seat when we decide to invite him into our hearts. He gets up and we take his place. That is really what happened that day on Calvary. He took our place on the cross and we received his place at the heavenly banquet table.

I don't know if that guy even knew whose seat he was sitting in but I am sure that you and I know whose seat we have. That's grace and it is amazing. Praise God for the indescribable gift.

Who do you look like?

I saw a cute commercial on television tonight. A little boy and his family come into a car dealership and the boy looks at the salesman and says, "Aren't you Derek Jeter?" The man says, "I get that all the time."

The announcer then goes on to talk about the new Toyotas and as the camera comes back to the family the little boy says, "You sure look like a shortstop!"

Now we know it was a commercial and that New York Yankee Shortstop was playing the part but it got me thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if when people looked at us they asked, "Aren't you Jesus?" That would would indicate that we looked like the Lord, that people saw us as being in the image of Christ.

The truth is that this is what it means to be a Christian. It is a nice feeling when it happens. Let's just hope it happens more and more.

Cal

Do you worry too much too?

I was scared to death of what he was going to say. I had a doctor's appointment and I just didn't want to go. Well I wanted to go but I was afraid of what he might say. My elbows have been bothering me for a while now and at first I assumed it was tennis elbow. Then it got worse.

I finally decided to go to my primary care physician. He told me to take some advil for the next week to see how it helped. A week later I was still suffering. He suggested I go to an orthopedic physician. That got me scared.

Although I was assured that I would probably only get a cortisone shot and be as good as new, I wasn't so sure. Then my imagination began working on me. I thought of all the Hospice patients I have ministered to that had bone cancer. By the time I got into the office today I was sure that I was going to die.

At 2:35 p.m. I went in to see the doctor and fifteen minutes later I came out with the verdict. I have tennis elbow. All that worry for nothing. I'll get some physical therapy and be as good as new in a month or two.

It made me think about all the needless worrying we do. Jesus says that we should not worry. We should give our worries to him. We need to learn to trust him for he is good. I KNOW THAT! But I forget sometimes. Maybe you do too. So let's make it a pact that we will remind each of to give our worries to God on a regular basis and get on with living and praising him the rest of the time.

Thank you God for my tennis elbows.

Cal

Go God!

My Detroit Tigers are losing to the Boston Red Sox tonight. If things remain as they are, the Tigers will have lost their fourth game in a row. Baseball is a funny game. A week ago the Tigers were on top of the world having completed a sweep of the New York Yankees in the Bronx. They looked unbeatable.

How quickly things change. They look like patsies this week and they can't seem to do anything right. It made me think of how quickly things in our life can change. We can't take anything for granted. I think that is what Isaiah was saying when he compared life to grass. He says it is here today and gone tomorrow. Then Isaiah goes on to tell us that the only thing that lasts is the Word of God.

The truth is that life goes by us fast. People come and go. Situations rise and fall. But the good news is that God has promised to be with us in all circumstances, in all ways, every day. He is dependable and true. He will be there all the way.
Cal

Don't let the puddles get you down.

This afternoon I walked in annual CROP walk o raise money for world hunger. I love to walk so it gave me a great excuse to get out there and do something. It was a great day and I had fun but I'll never forget the one year when I was walking down the street when a car went by and splashed me by driving through a big puddle. I got soaked. I remember thinking to my self, "How could God let that happen when I am doing something virtuous?"

Of course I caught myself before I traveled too far down that path. We all know that bad things happen to good people and the scriptures point out that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike. But we do like to think that if we are doing everything right, if we engage in benevolent actions, we will be protected from trial and trouble. Experience tells us differently.

The truth is that virtue is its own reward. When we do something worthwhile or good we will be blessed. We know in our hearts that we have risen above our selfish desires and touched someone else's life. That is what makes life meaningful.

So my word for you today is to shake off the puddles that fly up in your face and forge ahead with the call to love and serve the Lord. In doing so you will receive far more blessings than curses. That will make it all worthwhile.

Cal

Guardian Angels come in blue

They were more than heroes. When several members of the Norwich Police Department came onto the scene of the Peach Tree apartment fire last Saturday morning they didn't think. They just went to work. The fire was moving so quickly that there wasn't time for debate or to ask what the protocol was. They knew that at one o'clock in the morning many people would be asleep and unaware of the danger they were in.

They began knocking on doors, breaking into apartments and carrying the helpless to safety. Their first instinct was to save lives. They didn't think of their own safety, or maybe they did. Maybe they asked themselves what would they want to happen if this was their home. Then they went to work. One officer shrugged off the heroic nature of what they did. "We were only doing our job."

I thank God for them. Too often we make fun of the police and make jokes about donut shop runs. We are afraid of them because we have heard of shake-downs or traffic stops. But the truth is that these guys and gals do a tremendous job and when their is a crisis, there is no one we are happier to see. They offer us protection and give us the promise of safety.

Our relationship to the police officers is a lot like our relationship to God. So many of us have all kinds of feelings about Him. He makes us feel guilty. We don't like his rules. He won't let us have any fun. But when the tough stuff comes we often turn to him and seek safety in the shelter of his arms. One friend of mine who was battling cancer said, "I have never talked to God so much." This morning I am giving thanks to God for members of our Norwich Police Department. God sent them as angels in the night to watch over the residents of that apartment complex and in doing so he reminded us that he watches over us at all times.

Cal

Are we responsible for our actions?

I went to see the movie, Iron Man, this afternoon. It was a good movie and there was a message to be taken away from the theater. "Are we responsible for the events and actions that follow the decisions we make?" I don't want to ruin the movie for you but Tony Stark has to come to grips with what he has set in motion. He has to decide if what he set in motion is something he has to settle.

It made think about the number of times that we spend money foolishly and don't think about stewardship. It made me think about the environment and the way we burn energy and throw away consumables. Do we have a responsibility for the future welfare of those who follow us?

I think we all know the answer is yes. We just don't like to think about it. Well maybe it is time to do so. We c an make a tremendous difference in this world if we take responsibility for our actions.

Cal

A Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer and we will be gathering in Norwich at the steps of City Hall. We will pray for our community, our state, our nation and the world. We will lift up special prayers for the victims of the Peach Tree Apartment complex fire, our children and our families in need. We will remember the police and fire safety workers, members of our local city government and our teachers in prayer.

Come and join us if you are free. The short service will begin at noon.