I don't like change. I am discovering that I am one of those old people who wants things to remain the same forever. Unfortunately life doesn't work that way. If you think that nothing has changed in the last few years then you probably aren't paying attention.
Case in point is the fact that when I went down to Yale-New Haven Hospital yesterday they were doing a major reconstruction to the main entrance and atrium area. It was very disconcerting. I didn't like it. I don't know how many times I have been there and always felt welcome because of the familiar surroundings. But on Monday I felt disoriented.
The truth is that I know that sometimes change is for the better. It allows us to grow and respond to what is happening in the world around us. So why is it that we can't accept it? Maybe it is because we like to be in control. We like to think that we have the ability to direct every aspect of life around us. When changes happen it forces us to realize that we don't have as much control as we think we do.
I like the story I read today about the apostle Paul. His life turned upside down when he met Jesus on the Damascus Road. From that point forward he knew that God was in control of his future. That's why he was able to write later on that he had learned the secret to contentment. It was to be found in Christ and specifically in letting Christ control his life.
I don't know what the future holds. There will be changes but tonight I am going to trust Jesus to lead the way. Suddenly change doesn't seem so scary.
Peace! Cal
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
He's watching you
This morning at the gym I checked in with my personal trainer, Marc Nee. I wanted to make an appointment to take my routine up to the next level. The first thing he said to me was this: "We need to work on those dead lifts don't we?"
I stuttered, "What?"
He said, "Yes, I saw you and you were arching your back quite a bit."
I laughed out loud. Every time I saw him he was always busy. He never seemed to notice me... but he was watching.
I thought about God. Sometimes we cheat and cut corners. We do things we know we shouldn't do but we think God is too busy to notice or that he won't care. Well if Marc cares about what I am doing and he is working as a personal trainer, then how much more do you think God will care. After all, he is the one who gave his only begotten son so we could get a fresh start on eternity.
So if you are having a problem with something in life, go to God and ask him to help you straighten it out. He'll be happy to do it.
Be blessed.
Cal
I stuttered, "What?"
He said, "Yes, I saw you and you were arching your back quite a bit."
I laughed out loud. Every time I saw him he was always busy. He never seemed to notice me... but he was watching.
I thought about God. Sometimes we cheat and cut corners. We do things we know we shouldn't do but we think God is too busy to notice or that he won't care. Well if Marc cares about what I am doing and he is working as a personal trainer, then how much more do you think God will care. After all, he is the one who gave his only begotten son so we could get a fresh start on eternity.
So if you are having a problem with something in life, go to God and ask him to help you straighten it out. He'll be happy to do it.
Be blessed.
Cal
Monday, October 11, 2010
What will you do today?
Imagine you had one day to live. What would you do?
Why is it that we often pt off the things that we deem the most important. We live as if we will live forever. We don't say those things we know should be said because we figure we can do it later. We let things go that we want to do because we figure there will always be a tomorrow.
I know that there are some things that take time. Things need to develop. But that doesn't give us an excuse to put it off. If it is important then you should do it today.
Just thinking that's all Don't the scriptures remind us to redeem the day? So what are you going to do today? I'm going to call my parents and thank them and tell them I love them.
Be blessed.
Cal
Why is it that we often pt off the things that we deem the most important. We live as if we will live forever. We don't say those things we know should be said because we figure we can do it later. We let things go that we want to do because we figure there will always be a tomorrow.
I know that there are some things that take time. Things need to develop. But that doesn't give us an excuse to put it off. If it is important then you should do it today.
Just thinking that's all Don't the scriptures remind us to redeem the day? So what are you going to do today? I'm going to call my parents and thank them and tell them I love them.
Be blessed.
Cal
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Iraq ?' A mother asked this President.. 'Why did my son have to die in Saudi Arabia ?' A mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Kuwait ?' Another mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Vietnam ?' Another mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Korea ?' Another mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die on Iwo Jima ?' Another mother asked President... 'Why did my son have to die on a battlefield in France ?' Yet another mother asked President... 'Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg ?' And yet another mother asked President... 'Why did my son have to die on a frozen field near Valley Forge ?' Then long, long ago, a mother asked.. 'Heavenly Father .. Why did my Son have to die on a cross outside of Jerusalem ?' The answer is always the same... 'So that others may live and dwell in peace, happiness, and freedom.' |
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Lord, give me a new heart
I have a funeral this morning for a woman who had a heart transplant nine years ago. I've never met anyone who had that procedure done. It is a miracle of modern medicine. The funny thing is that from everything I heard about her, this woman had a heart of gold. She was a loving compassionate person. Her husband, like the husband in Proverbs 31, called her blessed. He said they never argued. They got along so well and their love flowed naturally to and from one another.
This woman didn't need a heart transplant. At least not the one associated with the center of feelings and emotions. Some of the rest of us can't say the same thing. One of the things that makes me sad about the church today is the fact that so many in the church have become critical, judgmental and hard hearted. When the average person on the street thinks about the church today they tend to think of the fundamentalists who claim God is ready to judge everyone and everything for their sins.
Now I can't debate the fact that we are all sinners. I don't know too many people who are perfect and the ones I do know are probably humble enough to admit they have their faults too. God has every right to judge us for our moral failures and our tendency to ignore him and do what we think is best.
Yet God has decided to give us a second chance. The apostle John says, "For God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life." To me, that means that anyone who believes in Jesus, who puts their faith in him and love him, will receive the gift of forgiveness and new life.
It is like getting a second chance. It is like getting a new heart. That was King David's prayer when he confessed his sin to God. He said "Create in me a clean heart, O God." Give me a heart transplant so that my love for you will take priority.
That's my prayer every day and I hope it will be yours too. Once you decide to walk with Christ your whole world changes. Your life becomes a continuous blessing. It is like have a new lease on life.
Be blessed. Cal
This woman didn't need a heart transplant. At least not the one associated with the center of feelings and emotions. Some of the rest of us can't say the same thing. One of the things that makes me sad about the church today is the fact that so many in the church have become critical, judgmental and hard hearted. When the average person on the street thinks about the church today they tend to think of the fundamentalists who claim God is ready to judge everyone and everything for their sins.
Now I can't debate the fact that we are all sinners. I don't know too many people who are perfect and the ones I do know are probably humble enough to admit they have their faults too. God has every right to judge us for our moral failures and our tendency to ignore him and do what we think is best.
Yet God has decided to give us a second chance. The apostle John says, "For God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life." To me, that means that anyone who believes in Jesus, who puts their faith in him and love him, will receive the gift of forgiveness and new life.
It is like getting a second chance. It is like getting a new heart. That was King David's prayer when he confessed his sin to God. He said "Create in me a clean heart, O God." Give me a heart transplant so that my love for you will take priority.
That's my prayer every day and I hope it will be yours too. Once you decide to walk with Christ your whole world changes. Your life becomes a continuous blessing. It is like have a new lease on life.
Be blessed. Cal
Changing your focus
Since my accident last week I have become a little gun shy behind the wheel. I've noticed how many times I day dream a little bit or get distracted behind the wheel. I used to joke about the fact that we drive on "auto pilot" a lot of the time but now I am becoming more and more aware of it. I'd say a good 30% of the time we are behind the wheel we are not concentrating on driving.
You think I'm crazy. Think about this next time you are behind the wheel. What happens when one of your favorite songs come on the radio? Don't you immediately either think of images from the music video, remember back to a time or place when you heard the song before, or conjure up images of somebody or something that you associate with the song? That's what I am talking about. You don't consciously take your attention away from what you are doing. It just happens.
What happens when you engage in a conversation with someone in the car or on the telephone even when using a hands free device? Most of the time your brain is working over time to think of what you are going to say next or to listen to what they are saying. How many times have you missed your exit or missed your turn because you were engaged in a conversation? Worse yet, have you ever had the other person say to you, "Aren't you supposed to turn here?"
Our brains are amazing. It is almost too much to comprehend when you begin thinking about the number of thought processes that can happen simultaneously. No wonder I had an accident. I am a deep thinker with a computer like brain! Don't I wish.
The truth is that so much of our behavior is automatic. We develop patterns in our lives and we often just follow the same routines day in and day out. Some are good and some are bad. The habit of going to worship every week is good. Smoking is bad. Going to bed at a reasonable hour is good. Eating at fast food restaurants is bad. Yet we follow these patterns unless something happens that forces us to stop and think about what we are doing. The accident did that for me. A health crisis does it for others. A break down of a relationship also works in this way.
The apostle Paul tells us in the book of Romans that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. I think this is what he was talking about. Even bad things can be turned around and become blessings. When an unfortunate event occurs in life it forces us to stop and reconsider every aspect of our lives. It gives us a chance to turn off the auto pilot and begin charting a new course.
No one is happy about losing their job yet it may lead to a new opportunity in our life that is more fulfilling and can rejuvenate our spirit. no one ever wants a relationship to end but sometimes it can force us to look at our priorities and help us reorient ourselves to the most important people and thins in our lives. A health crisis may help us get rid of bad habits and push us to adopt a more healthy life style.
Our brains are incredible but sometimes we need to reprogram them and start over so that we can insure that we are receiving the blessings God intends for us. So next time there is a bump in the road on your journey, take the time to talk with God and see if there is something you need to change in order to get what god wants for you.
Be blessed.
Cal
You think I'm crazy. Think about this next time you are behind the wheel. What happens when one of your favorite songs come on the radio? Don't you immediately either think of images from the music video, remember back to a time or place when you heard the song before, or conjure up images of somebody or something that you associate with the song? That's what I am talking about. You don't consciously take your attention away from what you are doing. It just happens.
What happens when you engage in a conversation with someone in the car or on the telephone even when using a hands free device? Most of the time your brain is working over time to think of what you are going to say next or to listen to what they are saying. How many times have you missed your exit or missed your turn because you were engaged in a conversation? Worse yet, have you ever had the other person say to you, "Aren't you supposed to turn here?"
Our brains are amazing. It is almost too much to comprehend when you begin thinking about the number of thought processes that can happen simultaneously. No wonder I had an accident. I am a deep thinker with a computer like brain! Don't I wish.
The truth is that so much of our behavior is automatic. We develop patterns in our lives and we often just follow the same routines day in and day out. Some are good and some are bad. The habit of going to worship every week is good. Smoking is bad. Going to bed at a reasonable hour is good. Eating at fast food restaurants is bad. Yet we follow these patterns unless something happens that forces us to stop and think about what we are doing. The accident did that for me. A health crisis does it for others. A break down of a relationship also works in this way.
The apostle Paul tells us in the book of Romans that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. I think this is what he was talking about. Even bad things can be turned around and become blessings. When an unfortunate event occurs in life it forces us to stop and reconsider every aspect of our lives. It gives us a chance to turn off the auto pilot and begin charting a new course.
No one is happy about losing their job yet it may lead to a new opportunity in our life that is more fulfilling and can rejuvenate our spirit. no one ever wants a relationship to end but sometimes it can force us to look at our priorities and help us reorient ourselves to the most important people and thins in our lives. A health crisis may help us get rid of bad habits and push us to adopt a more healthy life style.
Our brains are incredible but sometimes we need to reprogram them and start over so that we can insure that we are receiving the blessings God intends for us. So next time there is a bump in the road on your journey, take the time to talk with God and see if there is something you need to change in order to get what god wants for you.
Be blessed.
Cal
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Worth the wait
My daughter, Rachel, got her driver's license today. Well she didn't actually get it. She went to the Department of Motor Vehicle. She took the test and passed. She came out of the test with her papers but she couldn't get her actual driver's license because the main computer was down. The tester told her that she could come back tomorrow and complete the process and get the license.Waiting isn't easy, especially if you really want something badly. Rachel was hoping to be able to drive out of the DMV with the ability to go it on her own. She wanted to drive herself to dance class but she was going to have to wait one more day.
It struck me that the same thing is true for us when it comes to our salvation. Once we accept Christ we receive the gift of eternal life. Yet, we have to wait for it to become a reality. We have to live with the promise.
Just like my daughter has been assured that she will receive her license at the appointed time, all of us who believe in Christ will realize our salvation in due time. That's God's promise and you can depend on it.
Cal
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