| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
No Takers for the Free Gift
June 8, 2007
Lori and I argued about whether or not we would give it up. She won and
we donated the six piece solid oak wall unit to the tag sale at church. My
only consolation was that the furniture would be going to a good home and
the church would be the beneficiary of whatever financial consideration it
would bring.
I got to the church early on the morning of the tag sale so I could set it up
in a prominent place. I figured it would be a draw even though it would
move quickly. I carefully dusted and polished it and washed the display
windows. As the people started lining up for the sale I noticed many
people admiring it. I have to admit I was glad that we decided to give it
away. It would bless someone else the way it had done so for us.
We bought the unit shortly after we purchased our first home in Norwich.
Lori was collecting oak furniture for our common areas and it fit right in
with what she was doing. It was made in Germany and brought over to
the states by a young woman who was in the military. We bought it from
her when she bought a new house and decided that it would not fit in with
her plans.
I loved that furniture. When we added a family room onto our home on
Case Street, we designed the back wall with the unit in mind. It fit
perfectly between the windows. Over the years it housed some of our
precious keepsakes, family photo albums, valuable books and so much
more. It was a fixture in our home and I never thought we would let it go.
On Saturday I waited for someone to come along and buy it. Every time I
glanced out to see if it was being picked up and taken away, I was stunned
to see it still sitting there. The first two hours passed and no one had
claimed it. We slashed the price and I thought it would disappear. No such
luck. At noon time I called Johnny Kielbasa in Taftville. He is a collector
and I thought at least we could give it to him for free and he would find a
home for it. My heart dropped when I saw him come and look at it and
then drive away.
As the sale came to an end, I was forlorn as I looked at the set and
watched the men carry it inside. It was one of the most precious things
we owned and we could not even give it away. Then the thought hit me
that this must be how our heavenly Father feels when people turn down
his most precious gift. He gave up his only begotten son so that we might
freely receive the gift of his grace. Day after day people walk right by
Jesus and look for something else that will satisfy them.
Jesus doesn't fit into their plans. People feel there must be some hidden
cost. They go away because they don't want to be pressured into
anything. There is always a reason. At the end of the day our heavenly
Father must be heart broken because so many rejected his most precious
offering. The good news is that we will always have a second chance to
invite Jesus into our lives. Unlike my furniture, he will still be there at the
end of the day. God will not pull him back if you fail to take him. But why
wait? God loves you and wants you to know the fullness of his blessing.
So accept his gift today. Don't make him wait. Embrace the Lord and go
home with the one thing you and I really need.
God bless! See you in church. Cal
June 8, 2007
Lori and I argued about whether or not we would give it up. She won and
we donated the six piece solid oak wall unit to the tag sale at church. My
only consolation was that the furniture would be going to a good home and
the church would be the beneficiary of whatever financial consideration it
would bring.
I got to the church early on the morning of the tag sale so I could set it up
in a prominent place. I figured it would be a draw even though it would
move quickly. I carefully dusted and polished it and washed the display
windows. As the people started lining up for the sale I noticed many
people admiring it. I have to admit I was glad that we decided to give it
away. It would bless someone else the way it had done so for us.
We bought the unit shortly after we purchased our first home in Norwich.
Lori was collecting oak furniture for our common areas and it fit right in
with what she was doing. It was made in Germany and brought over to
the states by a young woman who was in the military. We bought it from
her when she bought a new house and decided that it would not fit in with
her plans.
I loved that furniture. When we added a family room onto our home on
Case Street, we designed the back wall with the unit in mind. It fit
perfectly between the windows. Over the years it housed some of our
precious keepsakes, family photo albums, valuable books and so much
more. It was a fixture in our home and I never thought we would let it go.
On Saturday I waited for someone to come along and buy it. Every time I
glanced out to see if it was being picked up and taken away, I was stunned
to see it still sitting there. The first two hours passed and no one had
claimed it. We slashed the price and I thought it would disappear. No such
luck. At noon time I called Johnny Kielbasa in Taftville. He is a collector
and I thought at least we could give it to him for free and he would find a
home for it. My heart dropped when I saw him come and look at it and
then drive away.
As the sale came to an end, I was forlorn as I looked at the set and
watched the men carry it inside. It was one of the most precious things
we owned and we could not even give it away. Then the thought hit me
that this must be how our heavenly Father feels when people turn down
his most precious gift. He gave up his only begotten son so that we might
freely receive the gift of his grace. Day after day people walk right by
Jesus and look for something else that will satisfy them.
Jesus doesn't fit into their plans. People feel there must be some hidden
cost. They go away because they don't want to be pressured into
anything. There is always a reason. At the end of the day our heavenly
Father must be heart broken because so many rejected his most precious
offering. The good news is that we will always have a second chance to
invite Jesus into our lives. Unlike my furniture, he will still be there at the
end of the day. God will not pull him back if you fail to take him. But why
wait? God loves you and wants you to know the fullness of his blessing.
So accept his gift today. Don't make him wait. Embrace the Lord and go
home with the one thing you and I really need.
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.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |