Relationship Builders Pt.5 Series

INTRO: Birchwood, Wisconsin – A Wisconsin hunter is accused of killing five people and wounding another three after he allegedly shot them over a fight involving a tree stand, authorities said Monday. The dead included a teenage boy, a woman and a father and son, Sawyer County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle said. Some of the victims were shot more than once.

The 36-year-old suspect was arrested Sunday afternoon, Sawyer County sheriff’s officials said. Jake Hodgkinson, a deputy at the county jail, identified the alleged gunman as Chai Soua Vang but would give no additional details.

The incident began as two hunters were returning to their rural cabin on private land in Sawyer County and they saw the suspect in one of their hunting platforms in a tree, Zeigle said. The platforms or "tree stands" allow hunters to see deer without easily being seen themselves. A confrontation ensued, followed by an exchange of gunfire. It’s not known who fired the first shot, Zeigle said.

Both hunters were wounded and one of them radioed friends at the cabin a quarter mile away. Other hunters responded and were shot. About 20 shots were fired, but it’s unclear if any of the hunters had fired at the suspect or who might have shot first, Zeigle said. There was just one gun among the eight people killed or wounded, he said.

"It’s absolutely nuts. Why? Over sitting in a tree stand?" asked Ziegle. Zeigle said the suspect was "chasing after them and killing them," with an SKS 7.62 mm semiautomatic rifle.

The suspect, who did not have a compass, got lost in the woods and two other hunters, not knowing about the shootings, helped him find his way out, Zeigle said. When he emerged, a Department of Natural Resources officer recognized the deer license on his back, given to police by a victim, Zeigle said.

-This story is an example of an unhealthy individual who was driven by selfish motives. In contrast, over the last few weeks we’ve been looking at healthy relationships.

Review for those who have not been here.

Healthy Relationships

Serving Loyalty Forgiveness Love

Christ

Pillar 1 – Serving. We got a glimpse of the Lord’s life, in the last few hours. The scene showed his disciples bickering about who would be the greatest while Judas was out making a deal with the devil to turn the Lord over to the religious establishment.

-The Lord did something amazing. He began to wash their feet, something no one else wanted to do. That is truly serving.

Pillar 2 – Loyalty. We looked at the man Uriah who was loyal to his soldiers, his country, God, and the king. We learned loyalty will cost you something, it may cost you your life, but it will be remembered.

Pillar 3 – Forgiveness. Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me. Jesus instructs us that we need to forgive others; if we don’t, our Father in heaven will not forgive us.

Pillar 4 – Love. It always protects (looks past the faults of others), it always trusts (believes the best in others), it always hopes (helps others), it always perseveres (more than just hangs on, it

conquers).

Today we’re going to be looking at the foundation. Without a sturdy foundation, the house will eventually collapse.

TITLE: Relationship Builders – Part 5

TEXT: Luke 6:46-49

I. We are all builders. The question is – are we going to build a sturdy house or a fragile house?

-Another way to look at it – in regard to relationships – are we going to build healthy relationships or unhealthy relationships?

A. The key is verse 46: Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?

1.Many people want to have a healthy relationship with God.

-But they don’t go about it the right way (these folks do it their own way) and they think they’re okay when they’re not.

2.They don’t find out that they built a poor house until the storms come and destroy everything.

B. The solid house—those who not only hear the words of God but they also put them into practice.

1. Notice the text says a man dug down deep. Anytime I’ve heard the term dig deep was when I was feeling a lot of pain or going through some difficult circumstances.

Example. Like having to run 2 miles under 12 minutes or lifting weights and you always got the coaches yelling dig deep, dig deeper. (I felt like saying I don’t want to, I’m deep enough.)

-After it’s all over you’re glad you did because it paid off.

2, The wise man searched for rock, where it was much more difficult to build and where it was hard to labor to cut out the foundation.