Does God have a My Space page?

I don't know why so many of us picture God as being out of touch with us today. We treat Him as though he didn't understand the complexities of life today. I came across this video on You-tube and it made me laugh. I haven't really figured out how Myspace works but I am sure God knows. So enjoy this video and imagine what God's MySpace page would really look like.

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

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

Spring has sprung

A month ago I signed up to receive daily inspirational posts from the radio personality Delilah. She plays romantic songs and tells love stories on the radio and I have always enjoyed her show when I get a chance to listen in. Being professional story teller myself, I also thought I might find some stuff I can use in preaching and blogging.

This poem was in my inbox yesterday. It was a beautiful day and it felt like Spring was here. So I want to pass it on. It might come in handy today because snow is predicted for us here in southern New England. It's entitled, "Spring." Enjoy.

Cal

Spring
Karla Kuskin

I'm shouting
I'm singing
I'm swinging through trees
I'm winging sky-high
With the buzzing black bees
I'm the sun
I'm the moon
I'm the dew on the rose.
I'm a rabbit
Whose habit
Is twitching his nose
I'm lively
I'm lovely
I'm kicking my heels.
I'm crying "Come dance"
To the freshwater eels
I'm racing through meadows
Without any coat
I'm a gamboling lamb
I'm a light leaping goat
I'm a bud
I'm a bloom
I'm a dove on the wing
I'm running on rooftops
And welcoming spring

You never know where you will meet Him

I walked into the bathroom of the Convention Center this morning and almost ran right into John Ortberg, the featured preacher at the first session of the day. I step backed and said "Hi." He smiled at me and said, Hi" and then he was gone. It's funny but for a split second I felt like I had just bumped into an old friend. Here we were in the most intimate of places, the men's room, and we had a moment where we connected person to person.

John Ortberg, a man who we met at church through a DVD Study of his book, "If You Want To Walk on Water, You Have To Get Out of the Boat" smiled and greeted me. You just never know who you will meet in a public rest room. Sounds funny doesn't it.

I am reminded of the time I got on an elevator with some friends from church only to discover that Tony Campolo was on the same elevator. I've loved Tony's writing and preaching since I first heard him years ago. He is one of my heroes in the faith. That day I met him on the elevator I was so pumped up. Imagine meeting someone like that in an elevator. I have to confess that for a long time I was always excited to get on an elevator because I didn't know who else I might bump into.

Then there was that day when I met preacher and evangelist Luis Palau on the sidewalk in Providence, Rhode Island. I was just walking with a group of kids from our church when we bumped into him. I couldn't believe it. And he even remembered my name from when he did a rally in New London County the year before. I was walking on air.

I know at times my hero worship gets out of hand. But you know what is the most amazing encounter I ever had. It came just this morning when I met Jesus. The funny thing is that Jesus comes to meet you and me every day, in unusual places and quite often when we least expect. He comes looking for us. He sets up divine appointments so we can share a moment together in the car or while we are on the treadmill. He manages to bump into us when we are tired or stressed out and running through our day. He just nods at us with a smile and says, "Hi."

Isn't God wonderful? He always shows up when you least expect him. Praise God. He is so good.

Cal

Victory in Jesus

Congratulations to Adele, Al and all my friends who were rooting for the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. You should enjoy the victory. It's funny but not too many people gave the Giants much of a chance. Most people who claim to know the sport gave in to the fact the Patriots would win even if they had sentimental ties to New York. It was literally a David vs Goliath situation. The strong and mighty Pats were going to manhandle the young and inexperienced Eli and the little Giants.

Well the game didn't exactly go the way it should have. That's because the game isn't played on paper. It is played with real live people filled with emotion and the ability to "gut it out." Yogi Berra was famous for the quote, "It ain't over till it's over" and that was the case last night and it is the case for many things in life.

You see the x-factor in life is our faith in God. We often face huge obstacles that seem to be impossible to overcome. Yet, many of us do walk through the valleys and come out on the other side. We muster up the courage, we find the strength and claim the ability to do things that we never thought were possible. God's promise is that he will be on our side if we call on him. He will be our rooting section and our coaching staff. He will help us find a way.

So if you are facing an impossible situation and everyone has written you off, think about the New York Giants. Yesterday they became more than conquerors and so can you. They may have Eli but you have God.

Cal

The dash revisited

If you have been on-line for any period of time you probably received an e-mail that lifted up a poem entitled, "The Dash." The gist of it is that we only have so many years to live and the best part of life is between the dash that tells when we were born and when we died. Recently a friend of mine sent me this link to a cool version of the poem. Enjoy and remember the dash!

www.dashpoemmovie.com