Butchy

“‘…But who do you say that I am?’  And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ…(Matthew 16:15-16).’”

NFL bound!

 

Time out!  All five of us kids flopped onto the curb.  Some of the best two-hand-touch football games were played on my street in Detroit, and Butchy led us.

Butchy was older, so he was always the official quarterback for both teams. We all looked up to him. One of those guys you never forget; he made you feel like a million bucks.  When Butchy chose to throw to you it made you feel special. You dare not drop it.

After some huffing and puffing, Butchy asked one of those playground questions kids ask like if you had three wishes or won a million bucks…“Who would you want to meet if you went back in time?”

“Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ…”

 

As if possible, we deliberated it with great seriousness.  For 1971, our answers were predictable.  Jeff chose Daniel Boone.  Skinny Doogan picked Washington.  Ray grabbed Lincoln, and that left me.  The pressure was on, but I knew that the greatest “baseball card” to collect as a ten-year-old had to be Jesus.

Another playground question…Do Lincoln and Lee talk in Heaven?

 

Looking back, it just seemed like He was the one guy you’d want to meet above anybody else.  This had nothing to do with theology.  Even then I knew Jesus would be a wow-factor guy.  He had all the answers, did miracles, and even rose from the dead!  That sunny Detroit day is still clear to me 50 years later, and sometime in the next 50 I’ll get my wish.

The great Fess Parker

 

According to the Bible, seeing Him is a sure thing, as is meeting other famous Christians like Washington, Lincoln, and even the Apostle Peter…who saw Jesus, and heard Him ask that ‘who am I’ question in person!  Wanna’ know a secret?  You’re going to see Him too, eyeball to eyeball.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).”  So here’s my question, are you ready to meet Jesus?

Bob is ready…are you?

 

I hope so, and I’m also hoping to see my buddies in Heaven too, especially Butchy. It’s not a fair comparison, but the way he made me feel is like Jesus does now…genuinely accepted, pretty darn special, and included right along with stars like Peter.

Peter’s answer is a classic because he caught that Jesus was God, in the flesh! Jesus threw a deep pass and Peter made a spectacular reception.  Imagine his euphoria when Jesus looked at him in that recognition moment, and then consider what he felt later on when he denied his best friend…three times. Did you know Peter was so near that Jesus heard him?  “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61).”  Despite that rejection Jesus forgave Peter, and He can forgive you too.  I hope you receive His pass before that day when He turns to look at you (John 1:12).  You’d make a great catch.

The second best catch of all-time!

The Immaculate Reception!

Butch (Frank Rokowski) front and center as usual, his brother Dave, and me with a popsicle 

Peter denies Him

 

Peter Repents

 

 

 

Rock or Reek?

At Pickett’s Charge on the 150th Anniversary of Gettysburg 

 

“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).”

Church stinks, so you probably skipped Easter, right?  Trust me, I get it.  Christians do stink.  I remember ducking into my dorm room when I saw one coming down the hall at MSU.  Something about Rob literally repelled me, like the Gettysburg battle stench in 1863.

“The field is covered with dead and wounded.  Out here there is a stink unimaginable, it’s definitely more than I thought when I signed up.  All I wanted was an adventure and a little money at the age of 18, but now I’m figuring out that I’ve got to man up and get the job done if I want to survive. As I’m writing this there is very heavy firing to the right of me about 5 o’clock.  By the sound of it it’s coming right in our direction.  I better get ready.”

Some famous Gettysburg rocks at the 150th Anniversary

 

Just the thought of church probably gives you the Gettysburg Gag, a stink unimaginable. You’ve got good reasons too, like your spouse won’t go, your job requires rest, golf or fishing, kid’s activities, yard-work, your upbringing, the hypocrites, nice clothes, money-grubbers…there’s just no time.  But did you ever wonder the real reason that you steer clear of church?

Your indifference to Him is exposed by their “stench,” and that same repulsion I felt is really a warning that you’re spiritually dead.  Whiffing that smelly church in person on Sunday is like bursting in on your family breakfast and shouting, “Who wants to go over to the funeral home with me?  They just got some new bodies!”  In short, a Christian’s aroma (from life to life) reminds you of sin and death––your death and your sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23).

This “death to death” is not just your physical death or your spiritual deadness (Hebrews 9:27, Ephesians 2:1), but it’s also your second eternal death…a separation from God if you ignore your sin.  A Christian is like smelling salts, a rancid alarm to wake you up from your coma, and to challenge your “good enough” indifference to Jesus.  No one is truly good enough, and just one sin starts the death-stink.  “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all (James 2:10).” 

After Pickett re-enactor’s charged at 150th of Gettysburg

 

Friend, if you’ve sinned once, you’re in danger.  I know, I was too, but man up if you want to survive.  Death is near, to the right at about 5 o’clock, and coming in your direction. You better get ready because it’s bad news…you’re guilty of all, a criminal, and perishing. Thankfully, Easter’s empty tomb proves the death problem is solved.  Church isn’t your issue; it’s Jesus, the Rock of salvation.  He died on your cross, and if you ignore that love then guess what really stinks.  It’s your choice.  Rock or Reek?

The rock where the cross stood and held the Rock of Ages