The only thing I never did that he told me to do was buy a kayak.
When my kids were born he suggested that I give up golf and spend the extra time with the children as they were young. It might be because I’m a bad golfer (which I am), but he said it was more about the irreplaceable early years with kids. He said there would be time for golf (and other time consuming hobbies) later when the kids were older and didn’t have as much time for me. So I gave up golf and several other hobbies. And he was right, I’ve had the privilege of being more involved in my kids lives than most other dads.
He told me to always have a vacation planned, even if it was a small one, so that I’d always have something to look forward to when work seemed overwhelming. He encouraged me to have it on the calendar as soon as I got back from a vacation so it would be ready as the next motivation. So I planned breaks just like he suggested. And it’s always worked the way he said it would.
He told me to be more careful in my social media posts and in my writing. I made a lot of hurtful mistakes early on. He stressed to me that written word is so much more forceful than spoken word and encouraged me to always go have a conversation with a person instead of writing them a letter or a Facebook post. And so I became more conscious of what I posted, and more committed to face-to-face discussion. And while I still make mistakes, my relationships are so much better because of his advice.
When I was wounded and mistreated by another leader I was supposed to follow, he cautioned me against bitterness and against rash decisions to leave. He advised me to work toward forgiveness and peace before deciding to move on, so as not to jump to something that wasn’t ideal just to get away from conflict. And so I stayed another year. I let God work on my heart. And finally made a move that was healthy in motive and opportunity.
He told me that a house costs more than just a mortgage payment. He told me roofs need replaced and furnaces go out and that I should set aside a capital items savings each month as part of what it costs to own a home. And now my roof needs replaced and my furnace is on its last legs and I’m glad I have a savings account.
When I wasn’t sure what I should be doing with my life anymore, he told me it didn’t matter as much what I did as who I surrounded myself with while doing it. He told me that a person could have fun doing anything if they were doing it with people they loved. And so I stopped looking for the right job and found joy and contentment with my teammates. And I started to love my job.
He even told me what to listen to on my iPod. He would often come home from a big conference all excited about some speaker that had taught him something new. He’d hand me a thumb drive with the talk loaded on it and tell me “just listen.” And reluctantly I would listen to it and discover it was just exactly what I needed at that moment.
But most importantly, when I was scared to take a big risk professionally, he told me to trust who God made me and lead out boldly. He himself had so much faith in me that I couldn’t help but take the risk to trust God’s work in me too. And it was scary, but it turned out to be the best risk I ever took.
Everything Rob Cizek ever told me to do was better than a good idea; it was great. It was wisdom.
I’ve had many bosses, mentors and friends in my life. But none who’s advice I respected more than Rob’s. And it was easy to accept his wisdom because I knew he genuinely cared for me.
It’s often been said that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. And Rob knew much more than most. But he also cared even more than that.
Every person who worked with or for Rob has the same story. We all trusted what he said because he showed us how much he cared. He always had our back. We’d rotate through his office and lunch meetings with our problems and frustrations, and he’d patiently listen and offer support. There had to be days that’s all he did. It must have been overwhelming at times. It’s amazing one man could handle all the burdens we laid on him.
And when those long days were done, he’d often head out of the office to Silver Lake. He’d put his kayak in the water, push out and relax. He told me it was his own place of reflection. It was where he found peace. He told me to buy a kayak, because everyone needs a spot like that.
Today, I know he’s in a real place of peace.
Rob, I’m going to miss you awfully. There’s so many things I still wanted to ask you and learn. So many things I still don’t know about being a dad, pastor, friend and human. I’m going to miss our lunches, texts, laughter and friendship. There’s a bit of peace missing now in me. Today, I could really use that spot on the lake.
So I think it’s time I do the one thing you told me to do that I never got around to. I’ll buy that kayak. And maybe I’ll push out into Silver Lake one day soon. And when I dip that oar in the water, I’ll think of you. And I’ll remember what you taught me and I’ll pray that somewhere over that water I’ll find the strength that made you such a remarkable man.
Rest in peace, my friend.
The teaching seems pretty straightforward, yet this very straightforwardness presents us with a dilemma.
The most common way people resolve this dilemma is by convincing ourselves that the “enemies” Jesus was referring to are not our enemies – e.g. people who attack our family (or our nation, or our standard of living, etc…. ). Jesus must have been referring to “other kinds” of enemies, less serious enemies, or something of the sort. We tell ourselves that when violence is justified – as in “just war” ethics – Jesus’ teachings do not apply. This approach allows us to feel justified, if not positively “Christian,” killing intruders and bombing people who threaten our nation — so long as we are nice to our occasionally grumpy neighbors. Unfortunately, this common-sensical interpretation makes complete nonsense of Jesus’ teaching.
Of course, it’s possible that, despite a person’s loving wisdom and openness to God, a man whose family was attacked might see no way to save himself and his family except to harm the attacker, or even to take his life. What would such a person do in this case? I think it is clear from Jesus’ teachings, life and especially his death that Jesus would choose non-violence. So, it seems to me that a person who was totally conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, who had thoroughly cultivated a kingdom mind and heart, would do the same.
Another Centurion acknowledged Christ as the Son of God at the cross (Mk 15:39) without any negative comment being made about his military involvement. And the first Gentile to receive the Good News of the Gospel was a centurion described as a God-fearing man (Acts 10:22, 34-35). Clearly none of these texts endorse military involvement. But just as clearly, they don’t condemn it. For these and other reasons, most American Christians accept that the New Testament does not forbid serving in the military.
For example, unlike most other people groups throughout history and yet today, modern Americans tend to view personal and political freedom as an important criteria to help determine whether a war is “just” or not. We kill and die for our freedom and the freedom of others. But why should a kingdom person think killing for this reason is a legitimate exception to the New Testament’s command to love and bless enemies? Can they be certain God holds this opinion?
For example, do you truly understand all the reasons your enemy gives for going to war against your nation, and are you certain they are altogether illegitimate? Are you certain your government has sought out all possible non-violent means of resolving the conflict before deciding to take up arms? Are you certain the information you’ve been given about a war is complete, accurate and objective? Do you know the real motivation of the leaders who will be commanding you to kill or be killed for “the cause” (as opposed to what the national propaganda may have communicated)? Are you certain that the ultimate motivation isn’t financial or political gain for certain people in high places? Are you certain that the war isn’t in part motivated by personal grievances and/or isn’t being done simply to support or advance the already extravagant lifestyle of most Americans?
Also, there is no place in the text where these authorities, under the right conditions, are considered divinely inspired (therefore worthy of obedience) or, not meeting some criteria, are considered divinely condemned (therefore worthy of disobedience). The text does not give ordination only to democratically elected governments, but includes dictators!
If you are a Christian and your citizenship is in Jesus’ kingdom, reflection begins not with the powers but with the church. The church should not have religiously supported, fought for, and obeyed Hitler. The church should have been enacting the teachings of Jesus. The church should have been taking in Jews and others who were hunted. In many instances the church was doing these things, but this is not the history we learn. Each of these instances, as in the case of Schindler or in our Celestin story or with the midwives in Egypt, are acts of holy subversion and disobedience. We are blessed to learn the lessons of history through the small, faithful ones in the Church (instead of through gigantic military history).
It may be argued that this reading of Romans 13 leaves the dirty work of violence to the state while Christians keep their hands clean. Paul, indeed, understands that the powers play a role. (Paul had been protected from riot violence by this pagan government. Doubtlessly he was grateful for this, but he also seemed to be indifferent to this protection when he declared, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”) The powers’ role is simply part of the old order that is passing away and crumbling.
And if you remember playing this game, then you remember how funny it was when the last person to get the message finally tells everyone else what strange sentence they heard at the end of the line. Most of the time, the statement began as something like, “The baker made an apple pie” and ended up as “Your face makes me wanna cry.” They rhyme, but they aren’t really the same thing.
matter, but I would like to caution us to rethink our stance in light of the telephone game.
A similar story is found later in the book of Acts when Paul is also violently attacked for his beliefs, and yet does not seek revenge:
I know that “Memorial Day” is designed to honor the soldiers from the United States that have died in combat. However, I would like to suggest that as Christians this scope is too narrow. We have the opportunity to engage it in a much more profound and meaningful sense that embraces the kingdom of God not just the kingdom of this nation.
everything for our belief that Jesus is the way to peace. If we still believe it, now is the time to live what we have spoken.
Should we recognize “Armed Forces Day” in our church worship services?
2) Whether pacifists or “just war” proponents, we all agree that we should support and pray for the people from our body that are currently surrounded by and engaged in violence.
Pray for their spiritual health as they wrestle with things they’ve seen, things they’ve been called to do and the terrible side of humanity that they have been exposed to.
As a follower of Christ, my primary belief is not in the Bible. My faith is in Jesus. I follow him, not a book. However, I choose to read that book because of my belief in Him. And when it comes to reading that book, I do so through the “lense” of Jesus. I base all of my theology and understanding of God on the person of Jesus, and through that filter I read the rest of the book. Which, of course, means that I read those very troubling Old Testament passages through how God has been revealed in Jesus as well.
“The Myth of A Christian Nation”
nickloyd.com 