The Passing of a Witness

Sixteen year old Sid Ortis died on 31 October 2015 after a fifteen month battle with osteosarcoma. 

He has become known around the world for the brave way he lived his life after his diagnosis and for his devoted love of Louisiana State University (LSU) football. Most of the reports also mention his “faith.” The real focus of most of the news reports is actually about the intense relationship which developed between Sid and Les Miles, the coach of The LSU Bengal Tigers football team.

Coach Miles exchanged cell phone numbers with Sid, gave Sid’s family a set of box seat tickets to the football stadium, and told Sid, “Life is not how long you live, but how well you live it.”

The news reports for the most part mentioned Sid’s “faith” without elaborating on what that actually meant. Either they were uncomfortable with it or did not actually understand what “faith” meant. Sid’s parents understand.

Of course, not everyone is impressed. One commenter said that this kind of thing is what drove him to be an atheist. He sarcastically wanted to know what kind of God would seem to ignore prayers and allow such a kind and gentle young man to suffer so much. Sid’s mother responded that her son was transformed into a fearless person by the power of the Lord. 

Sid’s mother, Lynn Ortis, said, “We are so proud of our son for not getting bitter, living life, trusting Jesus until the end.”

Sid’s father, Scott Ortis, knows the effect of his son’s illness, “Dozens and dozens have come back to a spiritual belief because of Sid.” Scott said that Sid told him that he was lucky because, if he lived, he was able to stay with his family and, if he died, he would be with Jesus.

Here is a prayer, one of the last things Sid was able to say before he died, 

"Dear Lord, thank you for everything you've given me and these wonderful friends who have been there with me through the fight. And let them all live prosperous lives once I'm gone, and let everybody stay on the path of righteousness and not get away from You. Amen."

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23 

"Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

The Joe Paterno Controversy

Former Pennsylvania State University football coach was buried today.  He was a near-legendary man, having coached at the university for 62 years (47 as the head coach.)  He was loved by millions of people, including me, because he represented hard work, integrity, and personal responsibility.  He demonstrated that one can win while staying strictly within the rules and that advancing age does not have to be an impediment to one who continues to work hard.  He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and ended his coaching career with two national championships and an overall record of 409 wins, 136 losses, and 3 ties.

The reason I am writing about Coach Paterno on this blog is the scandal which ended his coaching career.  On 5 November 2011, one of Joe Paterno’s former assistant coaches, Jerry Sandusky, was arrested on 40 counts of sexual abuse of eight young boys over a 15 year period.  Some of the offenses occurred on the Penn State campus.

The investigation determined that Coach Paterno was made aware of at least one of the events by a subordinate.  Fulfilling his legal obligation, Coach Paterno reported the information to his immediate supervisor and then said nothing else.  On 7 January 2012, Coach Paterno was relieved of his duties (the university president was also dismissed) by the university for his failure to do more. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said “… whether you’re a football coach or a university president or the guy sweeping the building, I think you have a moral responsibility to call us.”

Coach Paterno died of lung cancer on 22 January 2012.  At his funeral the sentiment was clear; that he was treated badly and did not deserve to be dismissed.  His son, Jay Paterno said, “Joe Paterno left this world with a clear conscience.”  Tom Corbett, the Governor of the State of Pennsylvanua said, “His legacy as the winningest coach in major college football and his generosity to Penn State as an institution and to his players, stand as monuments to his life … His place in our state’s history is secure.”

As I said at the start of this post, though I never met him, did not attend the university, and have never been to State College, Pennsylvania, I loved Coach Paterno for what he represented: personal responsibility.  That is why my disappointment in him is so great.  At the moment when he could have stood up as a Christian man and, regardless of the consequences, done what was morally proper, he seems to have turned and retreated into his house.

What Does It Mean?: Why Jesus Spoke in Parables

"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."  Matthew 13:10-13.

Many modern theologians make a major point about the fact that Jesus never came out and simply declared, "I am God."  They speak of the Incarnational Mystery and wonder if Jesus thought of Himself as God.  Two points:

1. The rabbis and religious Jews who heard Jesus speak knew exactly what He was saying but thought that he was speaking blasphemy.  “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”  John 10:33

2. Jesus used parables to teach.  The simple stories made His meaning easy to understand for even the most literal of His followers.  The parables also served a second purpose: to conceal.

In Matthew 13:10-13, the disciples asked Jesus about this.  The parables made no sense to those not equipped to understand them.  It is like us being immersed continually in showers of television and radio signals but hearing and seeing nothing because we don't have an internal receiver;  we are not physiologically equipped to perceive the information.

Without the Holy Spirit, the message of the parables makes no sense to those who don't belong to Jesus.  Jesus' motive for this is simple to see:  He wanted followers by faith, not by sight.  “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”  John 20:29

In Constantine (2005), a secular horror/action film, a cancer-ridden detective named John Constantine is desperately trying to impress God by hunting and killing demons.  He tells the angel Gabriel, "I believe."  The angel replies, "No, you know.  There's a difference."