* * * Keizer Church Blog * * *

Real article from my homestate of Wisconsin

2008-07-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Keith Walendowski is charged with shooting a lawn mower.A 57-year-old south side man, who might have been struggling with a hangover, is charged today with shooting his lawn mower with a sawed-off shotgun."I'll tell you the truth," a criminal complaint quotes an apparently inebriated Keith Walendowski. "I got pissed because my lawn mower wouldn't start, so I got my shotgun and shot it."I can do that. It's my lawn mower and my yard, so I can shoot it if I want," Walendowski told police.Ignorance of the law, however, is not a legal defense.Walendowski is charged with a felony count of possessing a short-barreled shotgun and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct while armed. If convicted of both charges, he faces up to six years and nine months in prison.The shooting occurred Wednesday at a home Walendowski shares with his mother in the 3500 block of S. Austin St.According to the complaint, Walendowski had been drinking all morning. Around 9:30 a.m., he attempted to start his 21-inch Lawn-Boy - unsuccessfully.After shooting the mower, he went in his basement, where he was arrested by police, the complaint says.Police recovered the shotgun, shells, a handgun, rounds for the handgun and a stun gun.Dick Wagner of Wagner's Garden Mart, 6075 N. Green Bay Ave., said shooting the mower didn't help Walendowski's odds of getting it repaired."Anything not factory recommended would void the warranty," he said.

Thanks for reading and thanks for not passing judgment on Wisconsin because of this. I have been upset at my lawnmower before and so have you...admit it.

Everyone is getting old...

2008-07-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

"Age is all mental" so says my 63 year old Dad. It's funny because he tends to complain about the fact he can't hit a golf ball as far as he used to. I tell him he needs to "mentally regress in age"--he usually only smirks at me.
We do, most of us, live at a comfortable distance from our age. I'm creeping on 30.

Last night, our softball team (no names mentioned; except Andrew) experienced something shocking. Pulled muscles. What? Why on earth would a muscle not work the way it did for the last 29 years? When did rounding third base prove to be such an immense task? I limped into the dugout. Andrew needed to be carried to his vehicle on the back of a fellow teammate. Carri Bauldree hurt her wrist and almost started crying. I offered her a tissue.(She did make a spectacular jumping catch...I could have slid a Visa Card under her cleats she was so high) A few games ago, her husband Jason pulled a muscle in his leg. Jim Boatner pulled his hammy(and got nailed last night by a line drive in the right cheek, not his face cheek...that will leave a mark).

Lindsey Walker pulled her quad (She did make a great catch, albeit her eyes were closed while she prayed). Bree got cleated, but had she been younger, no way that happens. Kara Copeland got thrown out at home, even six months ago, she scores on that play...below is a picture of her leaving the field last night, she just looks tired, you know?

What is happening to us!? I remember not having to even warm up to run the mile in gym class. Now I get winded during the warm up stretches.

At the game last night I actually saw two members of our team give eachother high five only to produce one jammed finger and lightly sprained wrist. When will this madness end?! Are we going to simply lay down and allow the ravages of age and atrophy of skeletal muscles be the end of us? Will injury and muscle soreness make us like wounded horses in the back pasture, never to race again while our tails turn gray and brittle?

Of course not. I have the solution. It took some research, however, I'm confident this is what our softball team needs in order to rediscover the fountain of youth. Ready? Here it is:

JACK LaLANE'S POWER JUICER

Here's the deal, this Jack LaLane guy is known as the "father of fitness" and his life is proof we can fight this terrible monster called "aging". The dude is about 137 years old yet has the energy of a hummingbird, the speed and agility of an African cheetah, and the strength of a dump truck. Do you think Jack LaLane has ever pulled muscle running around third base? Maybe, on his 113th birthday!!! I'm only 29. If Jack LaLane were our coach, he would be so embarrassed by reading our disabled list. There are actually two people listed as "day-to-day" because of hang nails. Jack LaLane would play with vigor and resiliency because he has conquered age in his mind and guess what? His body followed suit. That is why he is 137 and still runs and participates in martial arts competitions.

So, this post is just a way to motivate all of us who suffered injury to body and ego last night at Bethel Baptist field. We won the game, yes, but we lost our mental edge.

May the eery smile and oddly muscular physique of Jack LaLane fuel your passion to face the aging monster and grit your teeth. Just be careful not to pull a jaw muscle. Also, please bring and extra dollar to two to help me pay for this juicer machine, LaLane is making bank off these things...

With vigor, Shane

ps. I dare you to leave a comment.

Detroit Lake

2008-06-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Adams, Jeremiah Johnson, and Davey Crockett are all city boys compared to Bill Secor. This man was born of the mountians and raised on a farm. He began logging trees at the age of 15. Soon after he joined the military and served in the US Army Special Forces. Upon leaving the service he became a commercial fisherman. Basically, Bill has done it all and done it well. He's learned the best fishing holes in the area over the past 40 years. I was impressed with his knowledge of the land, but more so by his obvious love for God.

We caught our limit in beautiful Rainbow trout in about 90 minutes. It would have been sooner had we not let the best ones get away. The sun was out along with bald eagles and shrieking ospreys. White, glistening snow still covered the mountain peaks towering over the green fir trees standing silently around Detroit Lake. The whole day was testimony to the glorious creative powers of God. Not least the intricate and artistic patterns and brilliant colors of the Rainbow Trout. Each one I held felt important...at least a little more important than each one Bill held.

We stopped at an old meat shop on the way home and bought summer sausage and old fashioned beef jerkey. I had a glorious day and I thought I'd share it with you.

AJ's Hideaway

2008-06-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

My clothes and hair smell like smoke as I sit in my church office. I smell this way because I went to a bar over lunch today. Yes, I am a minister and I went to a bar.

The US Open Golf Playoff was on between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. It’s dubbed: David vs. Goliath. Maybe because Rocco is ranked 158th in the world, Tiger is first.

I admit, it felt odd to exchange the fresh air, sunshine, and blue skies of this Monday noon hour for the dimly lit, loud sounding establishment, yet I desperately wanted to catch the end of this tournament and I had no idea where else to go.

Inside the bar room was lined with blinking slot machines. Several bored and slow moving old people puffed their cigs and pushed the lighted buttons on the glowing screen before them, staring hypnotically. Over the speakers, Jimmy Buffet sang about some island where worries don’t plague anybody anymore. The golf match was on overhead so I sat down and ordered the special with a glass of…water. (Admit it; you thought I ordered something else)

The waitress was nice enough but told me I couldn’t have my Dutch Bros. coffee in the bar. I guess they have a “no coffee only liquor policy” I didn’t read on the door.

Two middle aged woman sat at the mostly empty bar visiting over tall glasses of beer. I glanced at the Miller Lite clock-- 12:30pm. They were happily chattering away, each of them listening intently to the other; laughing sporadically. I watched golf on the TV directly above them from where I sat.

A commercial break began and I guess I started to eavesdrop. I listened to the ladies tell the bartending woman that they were new to town. The bartender told them with glowing eyes and warm tones that they definitely needed to become a part of AJ’s Hideaway because everyone here on the weeknights are “regulars” and they are all “so nice and know everybody’s first name”. The emotion in her voice surprised me. She meant what she was saying.

The women seemed to be interested in what the bartender was saying. They shared that they were devoting the entire day to finding their “home bar” in Keizer. I have never heard the phrase “home bar” before and I had no idea people spent days searching for one.

They extolled the virtues of the bar they left in their previous town. It was such a ‘tight knit bar with people who really made you feel like family’. The food was good and the music was live on Fridays. As these ladies reminisced of their late bar—serious tone and all—they sounded like they spoke of the closest family unit imaginable.

The bartender lady answered all their questions and even gave them the menu to examine the bar’s variety of food and drink selection—it was all very salesman(woman) like. Except the product she was pitching was community-- the fact that you could come to AJ’s Hideaway and be known by others--recognized as a part of the group, a place you belonged. I felt like I was watching two women select a new family. I felt a bit left out.

I realized the pair of ladies was a mother and daughter. The daughter asked the bartender if there were any single men that came to the bar as “regulars.”

“Hell yes!” the bartender said.

“Do they have jobs? Cause most of the guys at our last bar didn’t have jobs or a driver’s license.” Those type guys are the hardest to find.”

“Yeah, we got all kinds here.”

One lady looked over my way. I sensed her eyes and for a moment I felt a bit awkward because I do have a driver’s license.

The feeling passed quickly and the golf started again.

I don’t know how to put a bow on this story. I struggle to process why I felt a bit jealous of those ladies when I left-- just being honest.

Here’s my question to you: Why would the ladies in that bar choose a church over AJ's Hideaway as a place to find a new family?

If you want to leave a comment, I’d appreciate it.

A Gospel Sermon

2008-06-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday Sermon
6/6/2008

What keeps people from Christ?

There are a thousand things I could say in response to this—their hearts are not hungry for him, their lives are too full of the things of the world, their minds are darkened with sin, or they simply feel no need of God.

All these answers make sense yet one thing they all have in common is that each of them squarely places the blame upon the sinner as if the church has nothing to do with the salvation of the lost.

Consider the possibility that the church has not revealed Christ is such a way that the world would want Him and as a result the world has stayed away.

I heard her voice outside my office door. I looked at my watch, it was 7:20am and I knew I was the only one in the building. Again she said, “Hello?”

It was impossible to get outside my office door unless you have a key because there are three other doors you must pass through to get to the foyer outside my office. Who was this?

I opened the door to see a young black lady. Her eyes were swollen from crying and her forehead was bleeding. Her left arm had a gash which I thought needed immediate medical attention.

Through tears she told me she had three small children the DHS was going to take away from her tomorrow if she didn’t get diapers and food for them today.

We pulled up to her apartment complex after going to Safe Way for bandages, triple antibiotic ointment, diapers, and whatever else she wanted. I began to step out of my car to help her carry the paper bags to her apartment when she told me to stop.

“I don’t want any trouble” she said. “I don’t either.” I said, “What do you mean by that?”

“My boyfriend is in there and he might get upset to see me with another man.”

“You can’t carry these bags alone, I’m coming with you.”

We walked into her dark apartment. It looked like it had been neglected for years. My nose cringed at the molded scent hanging thick in the air, black stains checkered the eggshell carpet. A flickering, half lit chandelier dangled from the ceiling of the main room shedding dim light against the surroundings.

A baby sat naked on the carpet to the left of a stain. I heard the sounds of her two other children in another room. Back against the wall in a shadowy hallway I saw her boyfriend leaned tight up against the wall watching us. To the left of where I stood, a hole in the wall with a smear of blood was evidence of where her boyfriend had smashed her head just an hour ago.

Her mother stood at the stove in the kitchen with no expression, just an empty stare at me. I walked in and set the bag on an empty table and shook the hand of her mother. No words were exchanged.

The young lady started to cry and I asked her to step outside onto the cement patio so I could talk to her.

“Why do you stay here?”

“I have no where to go. The DHS says I need to have a place big enough for my kids and this is the only place I can make it. Besides it’s close to 82nd avenue where I work.”

“You work? Where do you work?”

“I hook on 82nd.”

Through pouring tears, and I literally mean pouring tears, she told me how her mother used to let men rape her for money starting from the age of 12, thus beginning her career as a prostitute.

She kept saying, “I’m tired, I’m so tired of it all.”

“Don’t you want your children to have a chance at a better life, to learn a better way to live?” “My church is two blocks away and there are people there who will love you and your family—why don’t you let us pick you up on Sundays or Wednesdays and bring you to place where you can find support and help?”

Without a pause to consider the offer she said, “I could never walk in a church, I don’t belong at a church, look at me.”

I tell you this because I am convinced the church has lost sight of the glory of the gospel of good news. Most of us don’t share the gospel with the lost, and when we do, we tend to share a Jesus that is way too human.

At this you may be wondering what I am talking about. Doesn’t scripture go to great lengths to reveal Christ as a man, a human being who knows what its like to suffer and have pain and feel loneliness? Isn’t this a good thing?

There is a five dollar word to describe the process or tendency of attributing human like qualities to something that is not human. Have you seen Chronicles of Narnia? Well there are talking beavers and sword fighting mice.

The word is called anthropomorphism. It’s derived from the Greek “anthropos” meaning human and “morphe” meaning shape or form.

The prostitute feared entering the doors of a church because she believed in her heart she would not be accepted. Although this feeling is directed toward the people in the building, it’s also her perception of God.

The Bible has much to say to this person.

The great challenge of being a gospel preacher, or a Christian who is convinced it is God’s will to share the gospel, is to share the whole gospel, the full gospel. You see the gospel is literally the good news.

However, this message gets lost on a culture that refuses to reflect on what the God of love and mercy has revealed about those who reject his offer of love and grace.

Only when we hear and understand what God has said about our state and our destiny, will we ever begin to see the gospel as good news.

Romans 3:20
“Listen, no one can get right with God by obeying rules. Rules only show us our weaknesses and failures.”

We tend to think my righteousness = God’s Love

We believe the righteousness that I display will engender me to God. He will look at my work and smile and say “Well done Shane. I love how obedient and holy you have made yourself. Your life is in order, welcome to my family.”

The major and fundamental problem with our thinking lies in our misunderstanding of God’s plan of redemption. It’s either a misunderstanding or an unwillingness to believe the plan.

Scripture tells us God’s plan is to provide righteousness--to give us righteousness as a gift. This righteousness does not emanate from man. Man cannot produce this righteousness. This righteousness originates with God, it is from God. God is the source of our righteousness. God is the source of the righteousness he bestows on us. It has nothing to do with our performance, absolutely nothing to do with our purity or hard work.

It is: From God apart from Law.

These five words are the most precious to me. From God apart from Law.

The righteousness we enjoy, the righteousness we receive is from God.

If it is from God it cannot come from me or anything I ever, ever do. It is not possible to get or attain or create or produce the righteousness God desires us to have. Not by humility, not by tears, not by regret, not by performance, not by effort, not by hoping, not by wishing, not by passion, not by discipline, not by prayer, not by fasting, not by longing…because it is not by man or anything man does.

Therefore the bible tells us it is from God apart from law.

It is so highly important, crucial and essential that these truths permeate the very minds and hearts of all people in order to live the Christian life.

The words ‘apart from law’ are absolutely breathtaking. They are groundbreaking and earthshaking. They are the equivalent of the Hoover Dam cracking open and the millions upon millions of gallons or water bursting through the wall released after years and years of being trapped and inaccessible from those on the other side.

Apart from law can only mean apart from performance or apart from work. The law lays down a rule which can be likened to a hurdle. If a man jumps the hurdle, he remains right with God. If the man trips over the hurdle, he is immediately condemned and separated from God.

If Paul was describing a righteousness by Law or through the Law, we must picture an endless track with hurdles, some extremely tall, some short, but all must be jumped perfectly, none can be brushed or touched or moved or avoided in any way shape or form and if at any point even the smallest portion of your shoe string glances the lowest hurdle, then no matter how far you’ve gone down the track, you must start all over again. Condemned to fall and fail every time.

This is life under the law. This is a picture of righteousness by Law.

But the message of the gospel to the tired and dejected, scraped up and bruised runner is this—no more hurdles to jump. There is a way to win the race and win the crown another away. There is One who has completed the race on your behalf!

Raise your hand if you ever feel like a runner on a track that just can’t clear all the hurdles. You look back over your life and all you can see is endless falls and trips and mistakes. Each one making you tired and leaving you scraped and bruised and discouraged. And looking forward in your life isn’t much better either because all you see is the very same thing, accept truth be told, the hurdles get higher and higher. And you, you are so tired of failing.

“This righteousness from come through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD and he will have mercy on him and to our God for he will freely pardon.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

May we never share a human gospel. May we always share the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the message a dying world is in need of.

Let’s not put our demands upon the sinner, but let the mercy of God pour forth to a wounded world through us.

It’s not fair. It’s the gospel. It’s the good news!

Outdoor School at Camp Yamhill

2008-04-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

This past week I spent every waking minute in the woods with 6th graders. I returned to civilization physically tired, yet seriously refreshed spiritually. Jesus' words about "unless you change and become like little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven" have new and significant meaning in my life. Wonder, joy, curiousity, honesty, and vulnerability only begin to describe the young people I observed and interacted with. I couldn't stop smiling as we ate meals together and sang campfire songs around flickering flames. I watched their deeply pure eyes gaze at bugs, plants, and flowing rivers with all the innocence of Eden. These kids loved to jump and run whenever they get the chance. They love to dance for no reason and sing songs to themselves when waiting in line when they think no one can hear them. They shared stories, personal stories about family and friends with me that made me laugh and some that nearly made me feel like crying.

The picture of the squirrel above is one of many animals I drew for the children on a dry erase board in the main hall. Each class period I had free time to read and prepare for the devotionals, I would sneak into the hall and draw a picture of a new animal for the kids. Soon, the rumor of the "Phantom Artist" circulated around camp with all the campers asking the adults "Are you the Phantom?". I loved it.

One short story. I led three groups campers through the "Path to Calvary"-- a 12 stage path through the green forest with stations corresponding with Jesus' journey to Jersualem, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. Each station offers a verse from scripture and a reflective question to journey or pray over. I must admit, I felt much of the exercise was too "deep" for the kids, questions like "What sins are you still in bondage too?" drew odd looks from the 12 year olds as if they were thinking "What does bondage mean?". Anyway, the path included a life-size cross and nails to touch and handle to give the participant a chance to feel a bit of what Jesus experienced. Throughout the entire path, I emphasized how all this suffering revealed just how much God loves us. I hoped some seeds were being planted.

As we stood near the end of the path standing beneath the tall, dark cross I looked at the children to try to discern if anything was connecting for them.

Some of the boys were picking up sticks, a few girls were giggling. But one blond haired, blue eyed little girl stood still, staring up at the looming cross, silent.

I could see her eyes were slightly misty; she was deep in thought. I ambled toward her and quietly spoke "Are you feeling okay?"

Her eyes stayed on the cross and she said, "Yes, its just...it's just that this whole story is really...just really touching."

I don't write this stuff like this because it sounds like "Chicken Soup for the Soul"--all mushy and smarsmy. Its not supposed to be received that way. I write it because I knew for a moment that God is more loving and more giving and more tenacious in his pursuit of us than I give Him credit for. Keep it real. By the way, the mountian lion below was the work of yours truly.

Easter is near...

2008-03-21T09:54:00.001-07:00

I have no idea who the people in this picture are, but I thought it was representative of the commercialization of Easter...even though I totally would wear that bunny outfit and, if I was the kid, I'd be pumped to meet a huge Easter Bunny---even though he had a mustache and looked like my dad.

Just a quick thought about resurrection. The resurrection has two sides to it. Good and not so good. For those for whom Jesus is Lord, the resurrection is the realization of long standing hope...being raised to eternal life! For others, who reject Jesus Christ and His free and loving offer of eternal life, the resurrection spells doom and condemnation...eternally.

I'm struck with the finality of resurrection. Truly, it makes a difference what Easter means to us. If it's the snapshot of the resurrection to eternal life--its as sweet as chocolate bunnies and cadbury eggs...if its solely about the search for gifts of sugar and chocolate, I invite you to search for greater things in Jesus Christ...for it is written "Seek and you will find."

Hope you and your family have a memorable Easter weekend.

Ahhh, Sweet Rejection...

2008-03-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they treated the prophets before you."

I'm working through Jesus' ' Sermon on the Plain' for this Sunday's message in Luke 6. I've been camping out on this verse in Luke 6:22,23. No other passage seems to mystify my brain quite like this conundrum. Yet as I ponder and pray, some things make sense--although it's a massive perspective shift. I'll explain on Sunday, but for now, what do you think?

Some thoughts on 'church activity' by A.W. Tozer

2008-03-04T16:33:00.000-08:00

"We of the nervous West are victims of the philosophy of activism tragically misunderstood. Getting and spending, going and returning, organizing and promoting, buying and selling, working and playing--this alone constitutes living. If we are not making plans or working to carry out plans already made we feel that we are failures, that we are sterile, unfruitful eunichs, parasites on the body of society. The gospel of work, as someone has called it, has crowded out the gospel of Christ in many Christian churches."

"In an effort to get the work of the Lord done we often lose contact with the Lord of the work and quite literally wear our people out as well. I have heard more than one pastor boast that his church was a "live" one, pointing to the printed calendar as proof--something on every night and several meetings during the day. Of course this proves nothing except that the pastor and the church are being guided by a bad spiritual philosophy. A great many of these time-consuming activities are useless and others plain ridiculous. "But," say the eager beavers who run the religious squirrel cages, "they provide fellowship and they hold our people together."

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)

What Does A "Disciple" Look Like?

2008-03-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

What is a Disciple?

From Luke 5

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid, from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
----Luke 5:10,11

Jesus is a Jewish Rabbi with Jewish disciples living in a first century Jewish world.

Jesus grew up in a region called Galilee and the Jews in Gallilee believed God had spoken to one of their religious leaders, Moses, and had given him the first five books of the Bible, they called these books Torah.

Torah means teaching, instruction or the “Way”. The Torah was the foundation, the center of their lives and it was the focus of their educational system. So most Jewish boys would go to school for the first time to learn the Torah around the age of six.

It would probably be held in the local synagogue and be taught by a local Torah teacher who was a rabbi.

This first level of education was called Bate Safair.

In Bate Safair, most kids would begin memorizing the Torah-- and by the age of 10 have the Torah by heart.

Hold up the Bible. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy memorized!

I remember standing in line to recite my memory verse in front of the church and being so nervous to speak. I’d stand in front of the microphone and whisper “Jesus wept.”

By the end of Bate Safair most kids were no longer going to school. They were apprenticing; or learning the family trade.

Today, We think of going to a university or technical school for career preparation. For us, career preparations involve decisions and an overwhelming number of options and choices for schooling.

In the ancient world, the majority had no choices and only one decision.

"Dad worked as a potter until he died. I will work as a potter until I die. And so shall my sons."
In the Ancient world, sons perpetuated the livelihoods of their fathers. Therefore you find James and John the Sons of Zebedee. Zebedee was a fishermen. Joseph was believed to be a carpenter or builder of some type—Jesus called the carpenter son.
For the few who could pursue an education,--the gifted ones, the route was be a disciple.
They would continue their education into the next level which was called Bet Talmud.

In Bet Talmud, the best of the best who were still going because of their natural abilities, would memorize the rest of the Hebrew scriptures. Genesis through Malachi…memorized.

Now by the end of Bet Talmud, 14,15 possibly most kids are learning the family business, learning the family trade, apprenticing with their parents.

But the best of the best of the best would continue on to the next level of education which was called Bate Midrash.

They would go to a rabbi and they would apply to that rabbi to become one of his disciples—explain the idea of ‘disciple’.
Most of us associate the word "disciples" only with the twelve men Jesus selected [invited] to follow him during his earthly ministry.
Jesus did not create the concept of a teacher and his disciples. Nor did this concept begin in Israelite history/culture. The disciple method/concept of education originated centuries before Jesus' birth in non-Jewish cultures.
The concept signified the pupils of a teacher. For example, notable Greek philosophers had disciples. Plato was a direct disciple of Socrates. Aristotle was a disciple of Plato.
Just as we are familiar with school buildings that house teachers and students, the ancient world was familiar with the teacher/disciple method of education.
Seeing a teacher followed by a group of disciples did not astound people in Jesus' lifetime. It was a common means for educating successors even in Jewish society. In Jesus' day, the teacher/disciple relationship was a well known, recognized, old form of teaching.
Now when we hear the word disciple, we think of student or someone who knows what the teacher knows. But a disciple is deeper than that.

A disciple wants to be like the teacher and wants to learn to do what the rabbi does.

Now rabbis differed in how they interpreted the Torah. They would take like a command or a verse and say, “This is what it means to interpret this command or this verse.” But another rabbi might say, “No, I think it means something slightly different.”

And so different rabbis had different sets of interpretations about how they lived out and how they understood and applied the scriptures.

Now a rabbis set of interpretations was called that rabbis ‘yoke’.

So when you went to a rabbi and applied to by one of his disciples, what you wanted to do, is you wanted to take that rabbi’s yoke upon you so you could learn to know what the rabbi knows in order to do what the rabbi does in order to be like the rabbi.

So you would go to a rabbi and say, “Rabbi, I want to become one of your disciples.” The rabbi would then grill you and ask you all types of questions about the Torah, about the prophets, questions about the oral traditions—because the rabbi wants to know ‘can this kid sit in front of me? Can this kid do what I do? Can this kid spread my yoke? Does this kid have what it takes?

And so the rabbi would fire off all these questions and finally assess the applicant. And he might say, “you know it’s obvious you love God and you love the Torah, but you don’t have what it takes to be my disciple.”

And so he might say, “Go and continue learning the family trade, you’re a farmer, not a disciple of mine.”

But if the rabbi thought the kid has it takes, the rabbi would say to the kid,
“Come, follow me.”

So as a teenager, you would leave your family, your friends, your synagogue and you would devote your entire life to being like your rabbi. Learning to do what your rabbi does.

This is what it means to be a disciple.

So a rabbi comes to town and he’s got like a pack of disciples following him and their doing everything they can to keep up with him because they devoted their lives to him.

So by the end of the day, if you are a disciple traveling with your rabbi along these hot, dusty roads, you’ve got whatever your rabbi stepped in covering all over the front of you. So this saying developed among the wise men and the sages, they would say to the rabbi,
You would say, “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.”

All of this has major implications as we try to understand Jesus because most rabbis would begin their teaching around the age of 30 and here we find in Matthew 4 Jesus walking along the sea of Galilee and he comes upon Peter and Andrew and he says to them, “Come follow me.”

Well if they’re fisherman then that means that they are not following another rabbi. And if they are not following another rabbi, then they are not the best of the best…they didn’t make the cut.

Then the text goes on and says they dropped their nets at once at followed him.

Describe traditional dramatizations (Robotic weirdness)

But if you understand it in context it starts to make sense.

I mean rabbis are some of the most respected figures in Jewish society, they are the best of the best of the best, otherwise they would not be rabbis.

And here this rabbi walks down the beach and says to you, “come follow me.”
And what he’s really saying is I think you could do what I do… “You can be like me.”

Of course you’d drop your nets and follow him.

And the text goes on and we see Jesus comes to James and John who are with their father Zebedee.

They are learning the family trade.

If they are learning the family trade, then they are not following a rabbi. And so they are the ones who didn’t make the cut they were the ones who would follow their father’s footsteps.

But Jesus comes and calls them to be his disciples.

Why these run of the mill, nothing flashy fishermen to become the disciples of Almighty God on earth!

Jesus could have gone to any synagogue and entered the house of study in order to find the best of the best disciples who spent hours studying his word and even slept in the house of study; surely they would prove more qualified to be his disciples.

These disciples whom Jesus will call have no idea what they are getting into. They don’t know what lies ahead—they can’t imagine the future. However, one thing about each of the twelve—they were willing.

***Willing to leave the comfort of being in control of their lives.

***Willing to leave familiar surroundings

***Willing to leave the security of employment in order to follow this Jesus, trusting He would provide.

***Willing to depart from family they had grown up with in order to cling to Jesus.

These men, if they were anything, they were willing.

And we can appreciate this quality, can’t we?

Because each of us who have proclaimed to be disciples of Jesus have known the secret fears that come with that decision.

What will my friends think?

What if I mess up and embarrass God?

What if I mess up and embarrass myself?

Is God going to truly take care of me if I choose to leave a job because what I’m involved in isn’t pleasing to God?

Is God going to provide for me if I choose to leave this dating relationship because my girlfriend/boyfriend isn’t interested in being a disciple?

If I live like a disciple and give God the first-fruits of my income, will my finances hold out till the end of the month?

If I live like a disciple and I step out in faith and begin a ministry in church or agree to help in a ministry, will God provide me with the strength and the resources necessary to succeed?

You see all of these questions, doubts, and fears are normal and to be expected in fact sometimes I reread OT accounts of people God used to do amazing things but they were riddled and racked with doubt, fears, and insecurities.

Consider: Jeremiah and Moses

Jeremiah 1:4
The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
Before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”
But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

Moses
Exodus 3:4
“When the Lord God saw that he had gone over to look , God called to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

3:10
So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.?”

And God said, “I will be with you.”

May you be encouraged knowing Christ Jesus called soiled fishermen rather than the “professional religious students” of the day—He called those who were willing to follow, trust, and learn from Him—just as they were.

Are you following Him as a mere student of a book or as a disciple of the Lord? God bless you this week!

Was Jesus an "Ancient Mr. Rogers"?

2008-02-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

Last week I talked about how we often retain a skewed picture of Jesus having a one dimensional personality and temperment. Paintings depict Jesus staring off into the distance holding a lamb or a small child--rarely do we think of his harsh confrontations with Jewish religious leaders of the day. Jesus relentlessly offered tired people rest from their burdens...burdens placed on them by the Pharisees' view of the Law. Jesus so contradicted the mainstream teaching of the day, he got himself killed. Nobody wanted to crucify Mr. Rogers.

Photos like this littered gas stations around my house in Wisconsin...

2008-02-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sunday Sermon 2/17/08 -- "Big Fish, Big Grace"

2008-02-16T21:33:00.000-08:00

Lesson #2: Big Fish, Big Grace
Luke 5:1-11
2/17/2008

Introduction

Where I’m from in Northern Wisconsin, fish play a mysterious role in the lives of some men. Women do not, in general, relate to fish in the same way.
To some men, perhaps even some here, fishing becomes a way of life. The more you fished successfully, the more respect you earned. It’s really true.

Nothing quite satisfied my dad like catching a big fish from the lake behind our house in Northern Wisconsin.

I remember summer afternoons sitting in rickety lawn chairs aboard our modest pontoon boat spent fishing for crappies, sunfish, large mouth bass, northern pike, perch, walleyes, and the infamous muskellunge. We’d reel in our catch and put them on a stringer beside the boat. I still remember the water swirling and bubbling above the stringer, it meant we had a good catch that day. It meant something to have a good catch, because some days the fish weren’t biting and you couldn’t help but feel dejected and depressed—like for some reason the fish didn’t consider you worthy.

When it got dark, my dad, brother and I would walk up the narrow path to our house and go downstairs to clean the fish. I especially loved to clean the fish. I felt like a surgeon with a long scalpel. My brother and I never got tired of watching the fish remains flop around because the nerves hadn’t stop firing even 20 minutes after we’d thrown them in a paper bag.

Mom would fry up the fresh fillets in the electric frying pan and I’d eat them with ketchup.

In the Northwoods of Wisconsin, stories of fishing adventures spread easily. Legends of the one that got away, Polaroid pictures of mammoth fish caught in the area littered the gas stations and bait shops around my house.

Catching a lot of big fish meant you were a good fisherman. Being good fishermen was like being a celebrity in Wisconsin. It meant you got your picture in the paper and people bought you drinks at the local pubs just to hear you tell your fishy tales of glory.

The fishermen of Northern Wisconsin prided themselves on knowing the sport of fishing. When the fish were spawning, what types of weather produces the best odds, what kind of bait to use when, what pound test line was best combined with what rigidity in the rod, open faced or closed reels, not to mention the hot spots in the area. Listening to fishermen talk was like listening to another language only the anglers understood.

No polished city man who never cast a line could join these conversations. They were not welcome. No fella who had never gutted a bass or hooked a worm on the line could get respect. It was a social system that was hard to crack; it took years of experience and proven success to be able to sit at the table with the seasoned anglers of the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

All this being true, I wonder what it was like for three professional fishermen, who spent their lives fishing the same lake, learning it’s ways, men who spent years on the water, their livelihood completely dependant upon their knowledge of fishing and the success of each venture…I wonder what it felt like for them to hear a simple carpenter, a religious teacher, tell them how to catch fish.

The Calling of the First Disciples
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a]with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down[b] the nets for a catch."
5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke’s story of the calling of the first disciples centers on a miraculous catch of fish.

I see this story as many things, but above all an allegory of grace vs. works.

Peter, James, and John had worked all night long and were tired and dejected. They were worn out.

Listen to Peter’s language…

“"Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

He doesn’t say it like this…”Master!!!” all chirpy.

But like a man who’s just lost a battle.

This is more than a man having a bad fishing day--this is the picture of man attempting to secure righteousness through the Law—through works.

There are two main elements that characterize the disciples before they met Jesus that day were fatigue and fruitless labor.

It rightly describes Paul in Romans chapter 7 as he details his struggle to stop sinning and rid himself of evil.

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (I want to catch fish, but I can’t seem to find them) For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

It’s takes a lot of energy to make yourself righteous. Not only can it never be done, it makes your soul tired and ragged and it’s totally deflating to consistently come up without a catch, without growth, with out change in behavior or habits. It’s demoralizing—and that’s precisely how the disciples felt as Jesus speaks to them and tells them early in the morning on the shores of Galilee.

I can’t tell you how beautifully this story illustrates the grace of God. It’s as if this short account reveals in real life what Romans systematically explains regarding sin and righteousness, works and the Law, justification and faith.

For one thing, consider what Jesus says to the disciples in verse 4.

"Put out into deep water, and let down[b] the nets for a catch”

The disciples have to be a little suspicious. Come on! We’ve been doing this all night. You think dropping our nets once is going to make a difference?

Jesus essentially gives them a promise. He’s you are going to catch fish if you let down your nets.

In order for the disciples to receive the abundant catch they had to believe Jesus Christ. They had to put their faith in what he said. They had to act on that belief.

This same dynamic is revealed in Romans 3:21ff.

21But now righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through faith in his blood.

.In order for our sin-stained souls to receive the abundant provision of grace from God, we must believe. Without faith, the disciples receive no fish, without faith, we receive no grace!

Another aspect of the gospel that Paul will preach is that since we are saved by grace, no one can….BRAG about it.

The Bible is very clear on this---Romans 3:27 “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.”
We are made right with God because God has provided us with righteousness from heaven…not of ourselves, so that no one can boast.

Now, a huge catch of fish, I mean a monstrous catch this massive and abundant provision of fish—remember these are fishermen and talk about bragging at the local tavern about the catch! Can you imagine the disciples telling the story? “How did it happen Peter?” We’ll, we fished all night in the places we thought were good and we dropped our nets over and over but only caught seaweed.” Then this guy told us where to put our nets and caught a huge load.”

Who gets the credit? Think about it! The people on the shore, their fishing buddies, and their families…what will they say. What did the disciples do…they simply trusted Jesus and they were rewarded with a massive abundance of fish. There’s no bragging there! In the same way, we are called to put our trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as sufficient and we are given the provision as a gift.

There’s more. The disciples are professional fisherman correct. So they get paid not with money, but in fish. In other words, catching the fish is like earning a wage.

The night before they had labored and toiled all night with out receiving a single fish—if they had, they would have earned it. But here comes Jesus and gives them so many fish two or more boats are sinking—but it’s a gift. They did not earn those fish.

It’s a living picture of the nature of grace.

Romans 4:4

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

I believe Jesus had just as much to do with the lousy night of fishing they had before as he did with the miraculous catch! Just to illustrate the empty, fruitless labor of trying to earn righteousness! But when we simply trust him at his word===go put the nets down----we receive such a provision we can’t even handle it.

Now notice Peter’s response to the catch. “Get away from me! I’m too sinful.” It’s too good!

Have you ever been offered a gift that you felt was too much? You know the reaction===”Oh, I can’t accept this! I don’t deserve this! Why would did you do this, you shouldn’t have!” What we’re really saying is: “I’m not worthy of a gift like this.” Peter got a glimpse of the glory of God and he reacted like so many who hear the gospel for the first time.

They distance themselves through thoughts such as “I’m too sinful. You don’t know what I’ve done—and you are so holy and righteous…Jesus please, leave me alone in my sin. I’m afraid your grace is not big enough for my sins.”

Basically, Jesus doesn’t respond by saying…”You know Peter, I think you are right …see ya later and walk off down the beach, but he also doesn’t get all mushy and fall over himself to convince Peter that he really a good person and that he’s worth it.

The miraculous catch speaks for itself and Jesus knows the Cross will speak for itself. It is the only validation a person needs to understand their worth. I don’t know where you’ve been, but God’s grace is sufficient. Amen? God’s grace has washed you clean Amen!

Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid, from now on you’ll catch men.” In other words, in response to this catch, here’s what you can do for me…share this message of grace with others. Share it and teach those you are sharing it with to share it with others…you know make them fishers of men too.

If Jesus is comparing catching men to catching fish then it seems we may be able to learn something about evangelism. (Some guys are salivating because they think I’m going to announce a fishing evangelism ministry where everybody goes fishing)

What can the members of the body of Christ at Keizer use to catch men? The Message of Abundant Grace. The message of abundant grace is the net God has given the church to catch men.

Now God’s wants us to preach a grace so big, so abundant, so lavish that it breaks the nets and sinks the boats…is that our message? Is that the message you know. Is that the God you know. Is that the provision of grace you know? In your mind this morning-- Is God’s provision of grace for sinful man likened to a massive net bursting with fish or a few minnows in a plastic bag?

Lastly, as a people who have been recipients of such a lavish amount of grace, it follows that we would not only preach and teach big grace, but live big grace

No where is this more clearly seen that in how we respond to insults, being ignored, offended, or disagreed with.

Yet so often in church we have a shamefully small reserve of grace for one another. We love one another as long as we agree on issues but as soon as our perspectives deviate…watch out!

I don’t know about you, but I think being a recipient of the abundant gift of grace should make a person a bit less ornery and critical. Is God’s grace transforming you? Oh, wait, I shouldn’t ask you, I’ll ask your spouse, or if you’re not married, your family or closest friends, they will know best. By the way, Holly is leaving early today so don’t try to talk to her.

Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

I know I need to be reminded of this when I deal everyday with my wife, those I work with, eat with, and live with.

Am I walking in grace or in criticism and sarcasm? Am I loving much because I’ve been forgiven much or do others need to walk on eggshells around me for fear of offending my sensitive ego.

Make no mistake, the grace of God is intended not only to flow into us but through us to others. Are you a receptacle of grace or a conduit?

Meditation upon the grace of God is vital in order to live out the life described in the gospel.

You say what do you mean? I mean not just loving and being gracious to our brothers and sisters in the church whom we love and share faith with…I’m talking about the loving your enemy stuff.

You remember don’t you—Mt. 5:44

‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

I just finished reading a powerful book by Ernest Gordon entitled “To End All Wars” about the Allied POW’s who were forced by the Japanese to build a railroad from Thailand to Burma through the jungle in horrific conditions and under torturous treatment. It was in this situation that some of the men began to practice the commands of loving their enemies. Try loving an armed guard who just finished beating or killing your friend.

This is why the nets were breaking and the boats were sinking with fish that day on the Sea of Galilee!

To show how great and how lavish and how reckless the provision of grace and love God has given to us through the cross of Jesus Christ to wipe away every stain and sin, even though you didn’t deserve it, so that we might give to others the grace they don’t deserve and by so doing bring glory to God.

Apostle John would marvel in I John 3:1

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!”

Only when our nets are breaking with grace will we be able to love our enemies.

I’m just asking you to start with your spouse for heaven’s sake! I mean you married ‘em anyway! Don’t blame me.

In every book, in every story, God is calling us to know his grace…to receive his grace and to share his grace to be a people of grace to the glory of God.

Pray.

Reflections on Proverbs

2008-02-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 1:10
"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them."

Solomon's word of caution seems oversimplified at first glance. "Don't give in". Period. There is no technique offered, no psychological explanation or cousel on how to not give in--just a simple admonition to resist. I tend to overcomplicate things and I know I am not alone. In a world where rationalization rules and comprimise is explained away as commonplace, it refreshes me to remember the wisdom of the scriptures teaches us not how to say no, but beckons us to practice what we already know how to do.

First Post...

2008-02-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I've created this blog in hopes of encouraging members of the Keizer church of Christ to continue thinking deeply about our faith in Jesus Christ and the scriptures that reveal Him.

I envision this blog serving as a discussion forum to field questions relating to the sermons, classes, and questions currently at work within the body at Keizer.

I'd love to become more aware of the spiritual journeys of our members including what books of the Bible or books in general our members are reading and working through.

Please post your comments as often as you like! God bless.