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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Looking Up For Help"
March 27, 2008
Last week I received a call from one of my parishioners asking if I could
give him a ride to the methadone clinic so he could pick up his medicine.
He was in a jam and I was free. I wanted to be helpful because I knew he
was winning the battle with a heavy duty drug addiction. So I picked him
up and offered to wait while he went in to do his business.
I have to confess that the world of drug addiction and treatment is beyond
my normal experience. As I pulled into the clinic I immediately felt a sense
of overpowering sorrow. I sat in the parking lot which was filled with
cars. There were more people there than I would have ever imagined. I
watched as people came and went. Many of them seemed to know each
other. I figured that was because many of them have been in programs
together. I sat there for a while and then I noticed a young girl who came
out carrying a package. It looked like a gift box. As she got in her car and
began to pull away a man came up to her and stopped her. They talked for
a few minutes and then she showed him her package. He began talked in a
very animated fashion as if trying to convince her of something.
As the interchange went on I saw her reach for her glove box and then she
was holding money in her hand. She gave him some money and her new
package and he gave her some smaller packages and a bottles of pills. I
confess that I was praying that a policeman would come by at that
moment. My heart sank as I thought about the possibility that I could have
witnessed the undoing of someone's fresh start. She went in there trying to
break free from the bondage of drugs. This predator came along like a
shark and attacked her at her weakest moment.
It made me think about the way Satan attacks all of us. He knows where
we are vulnerable. He goes for us when we are down and out. He tries to
bind us with whatever it is that can cause us the most pain. He picks at our
wounded self esteem, our weakness in the flesh, our guilt laden past and
whispers in our ears that nobody cares. He is called the father of lies and
he tells us that if we just do this or that we will feel better. In our
weakness we are more apt to listen and believe his promises. That's the
problem. The Bible is quite clear. The devil doesn't care about us. He only
wants to destroy us.
As I sat there thinking about what I witnessed, I thought about Jesus'
temptation in the wilderness. I don't know if I could have withstood the
temptations of the devil. I'm hungry all the time and I probably would have
fallen for the "rock into bread" trick and sold my soul. Just look at me and
you will know that's my weakness. Maybe you would have given your soul
for the chance to be famous or for the certainty that someone would love
and protect you. I remember hearing T.D. Jakes say that the devil knows
where all the windows and doors of your soul are. Every day he comes
knocking and trying to force his way in. If we are not careful, he will
break through and hold us captive.
So where does our help come from? The Psalmist encourages us to look to
the hills. When we look up, we will see the face of God. Our hope comes
from God and God alone. That is what Jesus was saying to the enemy he
faced. "My help comes from the Lord." He overcame the temptations and
today the risen Lord is there for you and me. When we are tempted and
tried, we need to get on our knees and pray. Before we can say "amen,"
God will be there to help us stand strong.
God bless! See you in church. Cal
March 27, 2008
Last week I received a call from one of my parishioners asking if I could
give him a ride to the methadone clinic so he could pick up his medicine.
He was in a jam and I was free. I wanted to be helpful because I knew he
was winning the battle with a heavy duty drug addiction. So I picked him
up and offered to wait while he went in to do his business.
I have to confess that the world of drug addiction and treatment is beyond
my normal experience. As I pulled into the clinic I immediately felt a sense
of overpowering sorrow. I sat in the parking lot which was filled with
cars. There were more people there than I would have ever imagined. I
watched as people came and went. Many of them seemed to know each
other. I figured that was because many of them have been in programs
together. I sat there for a while and then I noticed a young girl who came
out carrying a package. It looked like a gift box. As she got in her car and
began to pull away a man came up to her and stopped her. They talked for
a few minutes and then she showed him her package. He began talked in a
very animated fashion as if trying to convince her of something.
As the interchange went on I saw her reach for her glove box and then she
was holding money in her hand. She gave him some money and her new
package and he gave her some smaller packages and a bottles of pills. I
confess that I was praying that a policeman would come by at that
moment. My heart sank as I thought about the possibility that I could have
witnessed the undoing of someone's fresh start. She went in there trying to
break free from the bondage of drugs. This predator came along like a
shark and attacked her at her weakest moment.
It made me think about the way Satan attacks all of us. He knows where
we are vulnerable. He goes for us when we are down and out. He tries to
bind us with whatever it is that can cause us the most pain. He picks at our
wounded self esteem, our weakness in the flesh, our guilt laden past and
whispers in our ears that nobody cares. He is called the father of lies and
he tells us that if we just do this or that we will feel better. In our
weakness we are more apt to listen and believe his promises. That's the
problem. The Bible is quite clear. The devil doesn't care about us. He only
wants to destroy us.
As I sat there thinking about what I witnessed, I thought about Jesus'
temptation in the wilderness. I don't know if I could have withstood the
temptations of the devil. I'm hungry all the time and I probably would have
fallen for the "rock into bread" trick and sold my soul. Just look at me and
you will know that's my weakness. Maybe you would have given your soul
for the chance to be famous or for the certainty that someone would love
and protect you. I remember hearing T.D. Jakes say that the devil knows
where all the windows and doors of your soul are. Every day he comes
knocking and trying to force his way in. If we are not careful, he will
break through and hold us captive.
So where does our help come from? The Psalmist encourages us to look to
the hills. When we look up, we will see the face of God. Our hope comes
from God and God alone. That is what Jesus was saying to the enemy he
faced. "My help comes from the Lord." He overcame the temptations and
today the risen Lord is there for you and me. When we are tempted and
tried, we need to get on our knees and pray. Before we can say "amen,"
God will be there to help us stand strong.
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.
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