Shawn Stutz

I was talking with a friend lately when he mentioned a recent fishing trip with his cousins. Upon further questioning I found out that this adventure was more in the mishap category than memorable. When I asked why, he stated that they weren’t in the relaxing laid-back fishing mood. Instead, the cousins spent more time changing bait, reeling-in and casting-out. “Okay, sit. “Don’t… don’t rock the boat so much.”

I got the impression that my friend grew tired of the experience because the chaos canceled out the effort spent in preparing and launching the boat.

That got me thinking…

As a church leader in the grand year of 2008, I wonder if we often spend loads of time rocking the boat, changing the bait, casting out, and tirelessly attempting to reel more in. It would seem that the invitation of Christ to be fisher’s of men includes both the effort and the patience it would take to gather people unto the King. And yet, effort easily surpasses patience in the process of church growth and evangelistic effort at times.

The Kingdom of God is such a perplexing entity to me. In a recent read of Mark 4:26-34, I’ve come to see I have much to learn in the area of patience, church growth, and our actual ability (‘nil‘ might be a good word) to gather people to the King and His Kingdom.

Change the bait or adjust my patience– whatever it requires to see the growth of gospel seeds in the lives of those for which I care the most.

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According to this post and the tests included wherein, this is my theology rated. I tend to agree with the results even if it does say that I like up with the Methodist and grew up Baptist (Ironic? I wonder). I would also have to admit that I struggled with the question process or wording. I had to be careful to not answer falsely or too quick.

In addition, the labels are wild. If I were into that, I guess I could say, “At least I’m not a Modern Liberal Catholic.” Whatever that would look like. Take the quizzes.

Take your own test here.

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In April of 2007, Alan Fadling visited to provide training for our staff (notes from Visit 1). Well, he visited yet again Tuesday. The topics for the day revolved around Sabbath and Spiritual Disciplines. Super-naturally odd enough, God has been teaching me about this topics already recently (He’s good like that). Here are few key bullet points:

• Some spiritual disciplines are practices of “un-doing” vs. “doing”
• When it comes to disciplines, we need to ask, “What do we desire in God through this practice?” as well as “What resistance do we have to this practice?”
• Matthew 6′s lessons about acts of righteousness seem to imply that the believer is practicing these acts (“When you…”) except for the act of forgiveness. When Jesus speaks of forgive He says, “If you forgive…” Maybe forgiveness is more difficult than prayer, fasting, and giving.
• Gratitude is grace remembered
• “Prayer simply dies from efforts to pray about ‘good things’ that honestly do not matter to us. The way to get to meaningful prayer for those good things is to start by praying for what we are truly interested in. The circle of our interests will inevitably grow in the largeness of God’s love.” Dallas Willard, Divine Conspiracy.
• “Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is rest.” – Thomas Merton
• “Identity is established in moments of rest not proven in our work” – Alan Fadling
• Sabbath dissolves the artificial urgency of our lives.

All in all, the day was a great spiritual reminder to maintain the greatest relationship in my life and it will in turn spill out into the other relationships.

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I know that you’ve already read the title and made your judgments about the extent of my ability to see color and patterns– especially in the fur of animals. However, stay with me and it’ll make sense.

I’m sure that you’ve seen the recent news stories about the tiger attacks at the San Francisco Zoo (and don’t forget other recent polar bear problems). In light of all that’s happened, the national news interviewed Jack Hanna. And he made the comment (not an exact quote) that “We have to remember that these are dangerous animals. And even though they are behind wire or glass, their are still wild.”

The whole scenario got me thinking. What other wild and dangerous things of life do we cage? Dogs can be wild. Jalapeños are dangerous… and kinda caged. What about truth? For me, the truth of the gospel is wild and life-altering. And if one would think otherwise, I’d likely say they’ve experienced the tame, safe-for-life packaging that we’ve wrapped these wild truths within.

In the recent movie adaptation of Narnia, the famous line about Aslan, the lion, is told. If I remember right is was the beaver who said, “Aslan? No, he’s not safe, but He’s good.” Our God, He’s not safe, but He’s good.

What if we too often cage, tame, and minimize the great thunderous nature of our God? What if in the words of Jack Hanna we must remember that He’s “still wild.” There is deep and life-altering truth in our God, but it’s good.

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I couldn’t believe it the other day when I found this post. I understand some things, but this just seems to be cold, harsh way to trivialize such a horrid moment in our nations history. Yes, terrorism is wretched, the war has been long, and many soldiers are still away from home– but the people in those planes and buildings were innocent. Not that I’m attempting some patriotic push, but in my opinion this game shouldn’t be allowed on the internet!

Here is the article:

So I’ve been reading about a free online Flash-based game called “New York Defender II” (and its predecessor, “New York Defender”) recently. Lots of people taking offense at it, using terms like “disturbing,” “gimmick,” “tasteless,” “shameful,” “promoting hatred” and “wrong.”

Some of the reports highlight the fact that it was produced by a French organization, as though that’s somehow relevant.

Article conclusion …

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a few delayed thoughts from my New Year’s…

I can’t believe it’s already 2008! Seriously, I feel like it was just January 1, 2007. I used to laugh when people would say that time would fly faster the older you get. I’d chuckle and just think, “Maybe you are moving slower…”  And on top of that, one of the feature artist was less than half my age! (ugh… daughter of the wicked mullet Dad)

But it’s true, time does move faster (even though not scientifically proven)! My oldest is approaching her double-digit birthday and my youngest surprises me with his depth of thought. It feels like yesterday that the doctors let two 22 year-olds take a little newborn home. Just seven New Year’s plus a few months a Tennessee Titan football player visited Michelle and I in the hospital to hold my son for publicity photos. It was only two Dick Clark Rockin’ Eve’s ago that I was in Georgia and now I’m a full-fledged Californian– I even say BBQ and not grilling out now.

One good thing about New Year’s is the plethora of football on TV. No seriously, it is truly amazing the amount of football you can watch in one whole week. I absolutely love it! Between the food, football, and vacation a man can’t go wrong! Now if I could just get the stars to align around a Patriots loss and no Election news, I’d have it made.

It’s 2008… wow!

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Check it out here!

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Thanks to a gift from my ‘finer things’ friends, Thursday night Michelle and I ate a DEWZ. That has got to be the finest place to eat in all of Modesto. I felt a bit guilty because we bought our kids McDonald’s and then went out (we’re wonderful parents). Either way the environment was prime, the food exquisite, and the company beautiful. I did forget to visit the bathroom as encouraged to– I guess they are pretty high end also (whatever that means? I’d have to ask Sir John about that).

About half way through my fillet {medium preparations}, we had quite the excitement. You can imagine this better by picturing me in the photo on the far right in the upper right table. It was like the Brian Reagan ‘Me Monster’ meets The Surreal Life/The Bachelor. On the table to my right was a guy bragging about having a few restaurants of his own and visiting the Pope’s wine cellar (‘Me, I, and Mine…’ add your own crescendo). On the left was a couple on the rocks; both shaken and stirred unfortunately. During the middle of their dinner, she just blew up and started somewhat discretely yelling about how much he doesn’t appreciate his life or understand her at all. Oddly enough, he just sat there embarrassed and took it; a donkey kick might’ve been softer. I probably would have stuck her with the bill (or a fork).

All in all, the dinner, our waiter, and the show was amazing! For dessert we had edible chocolate artwork– unbelievable! While enjoying this way too much, I made the comment to Michelle that people actually live lives of this elite privilege. “How could anyone afford to do this on a weekly basis? How wild that this meal is a drop in the bucket to many in our world!”

On the way home, it was miserably raining. In fact, another freebie giving friend (thanks again!) mentioned that this weekend was supposed to be the Storm of the Decade! –not to be confused with the Storm of the Century by Stephen King. And yes, it rained a lot for Modesto. I about submerged my car motor on the way home yesterday. During my same near-’submergent‘ drive home I saw a man riding his bike. Seriously, a bike?! I ride my bike a lot, but not in torrential downpours (of the decade). Upon closer look, I quickly realized he was a homeless man. All his possessions soaking wet and strapped to the rack on the back of his ride.

It was then that it struck me– life is so unfair; so unjust. My perspective was that people live in such luxury to be a DEWZ regular while the rainy rider would say the same about me! My food would be cherished, my warm home like heaven, and the hugs from family redemptive. How is it that this is the world in which we live? How can such injustice be a norm? How is it that we just chalk it up to “That’s just the way it is.”?

I was compelled once again to partner with the Gospel Mission and do my part in bringing the cherished, the heavenly, and the redemptive to men much like the rainy rider.

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I feel a bit like Ishmael look for the great white wale, Moby Dick. I got a itunes gift card for Christmas from a friend. Its value is such that it’s enough to buy a good chunk of ‘tune-age’, but also enough to get me crazy searching the store.

SO, I need your help! Can you make any good recommendations? I want to find the perfect songs! I’ve been perusing Radiohead, Snow Patrol, Iron & Wine, ‘Gospel and Religious’, and others. I think my perfect genre would be alternative indie folk rock with a smooth edge.

Well, until the credits are spent, I’ll keep hunting for the perfect tune…

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