HOO - HOO - HOO HOOSIERS!

 

I am a little tired this morning! That championship game took a lot out of me! LOL! Stephanie and I had some of our church staff over for the game and I can surely say they saw a different side of their pastor. I definitely got a little excited. I don't think I did anything that would bring dishonor to God's name, but the STRESS OF THE GAME comes out of me. You would think that I am actually playing the game instead of watching it safely in my chair! But, I do have a line that I will not cross. 

Last night the IU star quarterback crossed the line and let me say, I am neither condemning him nor giving him an excuse. He has been such a good representative of his faith. But, he let one slip last night that, at the very least, puts a kink in his armor. It just made me think how HARD IT IS to build a reputation as a follower of JESUS  and how EASY IT IS to destroy that witness. And let me say this, all of us are fallen and all of us are imperfect. We are going to sin. I just pray I don't have that moment in front of millions of people watching me on television. 

All of this made me think about one of my favorite passages, Colossians 3:22-25 --

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerrely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving in Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong your have done. For God has no favorites." (Colossians 3:22-25, NLT)

In the post game press conference, the IU MVP said he let his guard down after trying to maintain his persona, his media presence. He used that as the reason he let loose an inappropriate word. That bothers me a little bit. I hope and pray I am the same person at home, or when I am by myself, that I am when I am standing in front of the congregation Sunday morning. No, I won't be shouting GO IU from the pulpit and no I won't be acting like a maniac when they block a punt or dive into the end zone. But I hope I have the same kind of passion, or more, for the things of the Lord that I do for IU Football. I pray THAT is what comes out. I pray I can stay away from things that will destroy my witness to this world.

CONGRATS to my HOOSIERS! This is one proud FAN. I wish all the IU seniors luck as they graduate and pursue life. I pray they all grow in their faith and are able t use that to grow the KINGDOM.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the joy of sports. Thank you for the joy of competition and how it can take our minds off the trials and troubles of this world. I thank you for the value of sports that teaches hard work team work, perseverance, dedication, and setting goals. All of those things are important to our faith and are great life lessons for the Kingdom. Help me to model those things in real life for my congregation. Thank you Lord, with your patience when we fail to hit the mark. Amen!

_____________________________________________

If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

If you gave your life to Jesus today, text the word "faith" to (765)-896-4302 and we will follow up with material for you and join you in your walk of faith!