ken castor

Romans 4:4-8 ~ Save Ferris

I feel like Ferris Bueller.  It took a long, long time... but I've crossed this one off my bucket list.

The ball, a foul into the lower level beyond first base, came into my hands with 2 outs and 2 strikes in the 9th inning off the bat of Todd Frazier, 3rd baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, August 5, 2011.  The Cubs won, by the way.  Thank you Dave for securing the tickets!!

The foul lobbed overhead and careemed into the empty row right behind me.  I dove, quite gracefully, bruised one of my ribs on my green metal chair, and scooped up the bouncing, rolling ball.  Another guy who had run down the row chasing after the ball, muttered at me ("you got it") in a deflated offering of congratulations.  I turned around, held up the ball, high-fived my amazing brother, and soaked in the sweet ivy.

It just found it's way to my hand... 

I feel like Ferris Bueller.

Remember that incredible 1986 movie?  One of the best ever... Ferris skips school, lies to his parents and the high school administration, cheats, disguises, steals, gets his friend in trouble, worms his way through an amazing day, leads a parade through downtown Chicago and manages to catch a foul ball at Wrigley Field.  And somehow, through it all, Ferris finds himself blessed and beloved.

I caught a foul ball at Wrigley Field... even though I didn't deserve it.  It's as if people who care for me have spray painted "Save Ferris" all over my life... even though faintly in my psyche I can hear Ferris' jealous sister demanding that I get what's coming to me... or even though I can imagine the principle chasing at my heals in his attempt to expose me for what I have really done... It's as if there is always an accuser reminding me that I don't deserve goodness from God...

And yet, somehow, is it possible that I really could be credited as righteous?

What did I do to deserve God's blessing (e.g. A foul ball at Wrigley that serves as a parable of God's showering of undeserved grace?)?

That's the point.  I did nothing.  Exactly.

In six verses (3-8) Paul uses forms of the word λογίζομαι five times.  This word means "to credit" or "to reckon" or "to calculate/take into account".  It is the first time in Romans that Paul has used this word... and he piles it on here.  Paul's emphasis is important... This is a monetary term used to describe how someone comes to possess money.  Typically, a person comes into money either because he/she earned that money as a wage or because he/she was given that money as a gift. 

So Paul said in verse 3 (TNIV): "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." - Abraham could count righteousness as his because it was the reckoning for his belief in God.  Belief in God = righteousness.

verse 4 (TNIV): "Now to anyone who works, their wages are not credited to them as a gift, but as an obligation."  - Payment due to services rendered can never be credited to someone as a gift.  The IRS knows this.  Revenue Canada knows this.  If a person works, the one who receives the work is obliged to give payment.  A wage is not a gift.  Wage = not a gift.

verse 5 (TNIV):  "However, to anyone who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness."   -  OK... God justifies the ungodly.  In other words, people who are not like God, God (δικαιοῦντα) renders/declares/pronounces them right enough to be with God.  Those who try to be godly by earning righteousness through their "work" will not receive such a credit in their eternal account.  No work, but trust in God = righteousness.

verse 6 (TNIV): "David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:" - Paul is about to quote from the Psalms to show that what he says about the Gospel has always been true.  And, don't forget, Paul has just brought Abraham into the conversation (verses 1-3... and again starting in verse 9).  So Paul is setting up a defense from Scripture (Old Testament) to support his argument.  In other words, Paul says, God has always credited people with righteousness unrelated to how "good" their "work" was.  God's way in the Old Testament = same as now.

verse 7-8 (TNIV): "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed are those whose sin the Lord will never count against them." - Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2 here.  The Psalmist is remembering that a person who has sinned has earned a wage (and not a good one!)... and so a person is blessed when God does not pay them according to their "work"... but credits them with a gift = forgiveness/covering of sins.  In fact, God is willing to NOT credit punishment to someone as their wage... and God is willing credit righteousness to someone as a gift.

Final Note: Thank you, Lord, so very much, for that foul ball.  Although I wish it had been from the bat of a Cub and not a Red... but I won't complain.

 

light > darkness

The days are getting darker.  When we wake up it's now dark.  When the kids are going to bed it's now dark.  On December 21, way up here in the coming tundra of Calgary, we'll be blessed to see the sun for a few hours... I might take the day off just to be sure I'm outside.  This time of year, it seems as if daylight gives way to an overpowering nightfall.

John 1:5 offers a alternative idea.  "The light shines in the darkness, and darkness can not overcome it."  It could be translated: "The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it."

Reading into this, John suggests that there is a struggle.  But it is not dualistic.  There are not two equal forces vying for victory.  This is not a battle waged in eternity.  Darkness isn't really a worthy foe. 

It's kind of like the Yankees versus the Cubs for the last 101 years (that is, if the Yankees represented light and the Cubs represented darkness- but obviously this analogy really breaks down because that is just not the case).  

There is a struggle... but then again, there is not.   Darkness may try to fight against light, but light always wins.  Darkness may try to snuff out light, but light always shines.  It may even appear that darkness has a grip on a situation... but light will always shine through.  The dawn always breaks the nightfall.  The light is always greater than the darkness.  Light > darkness.

Creation in Genesis is an interesting backdrop here.  There was this shroud of dark emptiness, a formless void of everything we now know as Creation.  But the first reality is "in the beginning GOD..."  The truth is that the Life and Light of God already existed.  Darkness never really had a hold on anything at any point ever.  God has always had the arm of strength.  And even when darkness is around, the Spirit of God is still present.  Genesis 1:2 says, "And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface."

Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

God loves breaking up darkness.  God enjoys disrupting the continued plans of darkness.  God fights with his WORD and his WORD overpowers the darkness.  The Word of God gives light to everyone.  In him is life.  And even the darkness of sin and death can not overcome it.  Light > darkness.  

enduring and endearing hope

So I'm preaching this Sunday on being "disappointed in yourself"... and how that can stall your faith.  I prayed that God would not give me a negative illustration to use from the Cubs playoff series this week.  It seems I didn't pray with enough faith.  The Cubs lost game 1 tonight by five runs to the Dodgers.

Of course, I watched the game with another pastor (David Friesen) from our church who was kinda praying for the Dodgers.  He must be much more connected to God than I am.

The wild thing about faith though... at least this kind of watered-down version of sports fanaticism... is that it continues to hope.  Cubs fan's have this enduring and endearing hope that defies the win/loss columns.

And if they don't win at all?  Well, after 100 years, what's another 1?  I'll root for them next year too.  Probably some spiritual metaphors to draw out of all this... but I'm too depressed right now to try.  Maybe tomorrow I'll come up with some... when the Cubs win 8-1 with Carlos Zambrano going the distance.  I think he prays alot... so we've got a chance.

cubs - no love lost

"If a century of unmitigated pain hasn't killed the affection of Cubs fans from 7 to 100, nothing ever will." 

I have to do it.  I have to bring up the Cubs again.  Please, to better understand the pains and joys and heart of Cubs fans out there, check out this link. 

I know this has so little to do about being a "catalytic follower of Jesus"... but it has a lot to do with who I am in culture... so in a way, could it not have very much to do with the shaping of my action and faith?

A Theological Treatise for the Cubs

In response to Jonathan McKnight's challenge, I am offering an outline treatise for the support of the Chicago Cubs.  This is not a finished document, but I have taken liberty to create a brief summary of the biblical foundations extolling us all to "root, root, root for the Cubbies."  You can offer your own theological reasons for support too... or you can challenge me if you are unbelieving... but if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you could convert.

1.  1 Samuel 15:7.  It's said over and over, the Cubs of the past may not have looked pretty, but they had a heart that was beautiful to people that could see past the glitz of other teams.

2  The Stump of Jesse.  You wouldn't expect such power and consistent truth to be kindled in such a humble frame... and then ignite an undying fire that sweeps across the world.

3. Isaiah 53. People considered him smitten and afflicted by God... but it was the Lord's good plan... When he sees all that is accomplished, he will be given honors of one who is mighty and great.

4. The Sling and the Stone.  A good pitching staff can slay the opposition.  Notice too that David had faith... backed it up with action... and then everyone else jumped on the bandwagon.

5. Samson and the Jawbone.  He wasn't perfect, but he did hit for a high average... and he led the league in slugging percentage too.

6. Revelation 9. Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a baseball that had fallen to Bartman from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.  When he opened it, smoke poured out...

go cubs go

It has been 100 years since the world series banner could be flown by a Chicago Cub.  For those of you who don't naturally imagine mathematics, allow me visualize that with you.  Since 1908, these are all of the years that have come and gone since the Cubs last won the world series:

1909    1910    1911    1912    1913    1914    1915    1916    1917   1918    1919    1920    1921    1922    1923    1924    1925    1926    1927    1928    1929    1930    1931    1932    1933    1934    1935    1936    1937    1938    1939    1940    1941    1942    1943    1944    1945    1946    1947    1948    1949    1950    1951    1952    1953    1954    1955    1956    1957    1958   1959    1960    1961    1962    1963    1964   1965    1966    1967    1968    1969    1970    1971    1972    1973    1974    1975    1976    1977    1978    1979    1980    1981    1982    1983    1984    1985    1986    1987    1988    1989    1990    1991    1992    1993   1994    1995    1996    1997    1998    1999    2000    2001   2002    2003    2004    2005    2006    2007

I'm not prophecying that the Cubs will actually win the World Series this year.  But I'd like to.  I think they just might pull it off.  Over the years, I've come to expect a goat, or a blown arm, or a dynamite sneeze to wipe out the Cubbies chance at being good.  I grew nervous last week after Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano went down... and the road schedule loomed over them.  But the guys survived.  And this weekend... after sweeping the dreaded White Sox, the Cubs are TWENTY games over .500 and have the best record in baseball.

I know this seems to have little to do with being a Jesus Follower... but I think the Bible is full of times of drought... which makes the advent of the King all that much sweeter for those who continued to be faithful in the dry times. 

If you would like to know what it's like to exercise Romans 5:3-5... well, then you can convert to the Cubs today.  See this article from espn.com to get started.  Or, imbibe in the cheesey joy of their new victory song: Go Cubs Go!

Baseball and Integrity: 4 of 4

Cal Ripken- Of all players in baseball history, the word integrity comes to mind when Cal Ripken’s name is mentioned.  From May 30, 1982 to September 19, 1998, Ripken played in every single game (2,632 games!).  That mark shattered Lou Gerhig’s “unbelievable” streak of 2,131 games.  Let me say that another way… Cal Ripken showed up every day for 16 years.  He set the bar for endurance... and did so with character, determination and encouragement (Philippians 3:13-14). Known as baseball’s “Iron Man,” he played 21 seasons in all with his boyhood hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles.  Ripken was elected as an All-Star 19 times (the most of any player), hit with power, won the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award and two MVPs.  He was just elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot and is considered one of baseball’s historical heroes.  Ripken and Ernie Banks are the only shortstops to have been selected to Major League Baseball’s All-20th-Century Team. Even with so many achievements, even more so it was his humility and loyalty to his team, his fans, and the game that inspired me and so many others.

Baseball and Integrity: 3 of 4

Ryne Sandberg- Nicknamed “the Kid Natural” (after the baseball movie “The Natural”) and also “Ryno” (for his unstoppable play), Ryne Sandberg was my childhood hero.  When I was 12 during Sandberg’s MVP 1984 season, I must have watched dozens of games on WGN- and I sat breathless every time Ryno made a diving stab at 2nd base and turned a double play.  Like Ernie Banks, Sandberg played for the subpar Cubs… never making a world series, usually finishing the season with losing records.  But Sandberg’s leadership, encouragement and enduring play gave his team, his fans and Harey Carey hope every year (Philippians 2:4,21).  He led the Cubs to their first postseason appearance in 40 years. Sandberg holds the record for consecutive errorless games and retired with the highest fielding percentage of any 2nd baseman.  He once went four years without a throwing error!  He left the game much sooner than most- and he did so out of integrity, not wanting to get paid millions of dollars for underachieving later in his career.  His Hall of Fame plaque sums it up for me: “A sure-handed second baseman with power and speed who dignified the game with his professionalism, quiet leadership and tireless preperation.” 

Baseball and Integrity: 2 of 4

Ernie Banks- The Cubs have always had a piece of my heart.  Every since my first visit to Wrigley Field in 1979, I was hooked.  And no one can be a true fan of the Cubs without having the greatest respect for Ernie Banks. Known as “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks is the greatest legend of this loveable team.  Banks broke the color barrier for the Cubs in 1953.  He spent the rest of his incredible career playing for the Cubs, smashing over 500 home runs, winning MVP Awards, and becoming the most popular player the Windy City has ever seen.  More impressive to me, is his smile and his selfless attitude of while in a perpetually losing franchise.  He is known for equipping others, rallying his team, encouraging the crowds, and always enjoying the game.  He is one of only a handful of Hall of Fame players to never have played in the postseason.  Few players in today’s game would be so patient and content.

Baseball and Integrity: 1 of 4

        I mentioned the other day (reflections on baseball, steroids and integrity) some baseball players that inspired me as a kid.  I thought I’d take a few days to focus on baseball, which is really a lot like faith and life and the Gospel- (but I’ll save that for another post).  I couldn’t understand it then, but I realize now that in the game of baseball my heroes were Philippians 2:19-30 sort of guys- faithful in adversity, loyal and selfless in their dedication, and always building others up.  Here’s the reason why these guys inspired me:

        Jackie Robinson- Most people will agree that Jackie Robinson is the most historically significant baseball player ever (see www.baseballlibrary.com).  Nicknamed “the Great Experiment,” he was the first man to break the color barrier in professional baseball… and he did it with his talent and character.  In 1948 he was chosen as the Rookie of the Year- an award which is now named after him.  He went on to become one of the greatest players of the 1950’s, paving the way for other greats like Willie Mays and Ernie Banks.  Although many people tried to discredit him, no one could (Philippians 1:14-15)- his character and persona were too blameless, his work too immaculate.  Robinson is one of only a few players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.  When Joe Black, a formidable player himself, spoke at Robinson’s funeral in 1972, he said “When I look at my house… I say, ‘Thank God for Jackie Robinson.’” (Philippians 1:3)