Sunday, February 07, 2010
Super Bowl Upset
My oldest son is a diehard Colts fan, so much so that his bedroom was painted and decked out in the team colors and sports theme. He could hardly wait to watch the big Super Bowl game tonight and relished the fact that at half-time, his team was ahead. But as we watched the half-time show (laughing through most of it), I couldn’t help but wonder if the Saints would come back with a win in the second half.

And sure enough, that is just what they did. My son was upset with the first touchdown by the Saints, but when the going got tough for the Colts, he literally stripped off his Peyton Manning jersey and tossed it on the floor. By the end of the game, he had been up and down at least a dozen times—pacing the kitchen, pacing the hallway, and then tentatively returning to the living room to sit for a few more tortured minutes only to jump back up and head out of the room again. For a boy of 13, a game like this can be emotionally tough; he was very upset with the outcome.

When we returned home tonight, he continued his quiet, contemplative pacing. When he finally spoke, it was about how angry he was over the Colt’s losing the game. He didn’t understand how the Saints could win. He didn’t like the referees’ calls or the coach’s plays. He tearfully admitted that he had prayed that the Colts would win—and that he was very disappointed by this loss. He finally ended his tirade by saying how he still liked the Colts and he still liked Peyton Manning but how he knew he was going to be made fun of tomorrow at school for liking the Colts- a losing team.

Finally, I had had enough. Knowing that he was about finished venting, I spoke up.

“Do you want to know what I think happened?”

He gave me a quizzical look. (I am sure he had to wonder what intelligent commentary I could lend to a conversation on the topic of football. I didn’t even know what teams were playing until tonight. And upon arriving, I made it crystal clear that I was at the Super Bowl party for the commercials! And it should be noted, being the diehard fan that I am, I cheered during the commercial breaks!)

“When the teams came back out after halftime and the Saints kicked the ball—that is the moment I knew they had won.” He regarded my comment for a minute and then I continued, “You see, when they made that “dirty play” (reiterating his comments)—kicking the ball only a short distance—they took a calculated risk. When the Colt’s fumbled, the Saints were there to take possession of the ball. But this wasn’t where they succeeded—they succeeded when the Colt’s got fighting mad. You saw them—it was a regular brawl out on the field as players piled in on top of one another. We all sat there in disbelief as both teams duked it out right there on live television. They let their emotions get the best of them-- plain and simple. And the Saints were able to take advantage of that fact and gain momentum toward the victory.”

Of course, Howard Cosell, I am not. I am sure there are many who could argue the finer details of this game— and many probably will do that for years thanks to instant replay. But as a single mom, my ultimate goal is to drive home an important point with my son. Anytime our emotions run the show, we give ourselves over to the enemy and ultimately, defeat. I challenged Truman to not let anger run him— or should that be ruin him? The enemy is constantly prowling about seeking those he can devour. In the end, we must walk by faith—not feelings—and certainly not football.
©2010 Julia Moore. All rights reserved.

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"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.
There is no such thing."

— C. S. Lewis

This message reminded me of a question that I frequently think about as the current horrors of the Tribulation make it abundantly clear that the rapture is extremely close now.Here it is,what will heaven be like? What will we find there?

The Book of Revelation gives us some specific insight with its graphic and even startling descriptions of the extreme worship activities that occur in heaven.

There is one thing that I am absolutely certain that we will find in heaven and that is an extremely strict enforcement of the Ten Commandments.For that reason I am also absolutely certain that we will never see a Sunday football game in heaven.

Exodus 20:8 (The Message)


8-11 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.

This is what we should teach our children if we want them to bask in the overwhelming love of Jesus for all of eternity rather than the hate of Satan who I am certain is just a huge fan of Sunday beer cursing football.

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Lets just take out the whole Jesus came to fulfill the law, and that neither you nor I can do anything to make what He did better. That Christ is sufficient. Lets not put that in the equation. When exactly did the Sabbath change to Sunday?

The Sabbath has been from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.

There is no biblical prohibition against families enjoying sports in a godly way. Not everyone who enjoys the Superbowl is a beer-swilling neer do well, couch potato who lounges about spouting profanities while watching the game. No more so than everyone who has a tattoo is an unsaved lowlife creep.

Many Sabbatarian's treat Sunday like Saturday except for attending Church, so if you are doing this you are still breaking the law. Either you need to keep the law correctly, or you are breaking the letter of the law. And if you are under the law you are not under grace, and the penalty for breaking the law is death.

Thank the Lord Jesus Christ that we are under grace, because none of us are perfect.

Blessings in Him,
Starfire

DrFrank,

I am not sure how to respond to you. I normally welcome feedback to my posts—but yours is less feedback and more or less resembles condemnation. Where does grace fit in?

My first question is this: What exactly are you a “doctor” of? Where did you receive your training? Before I take any stock in what you are trying to pass off as “truth”—I want to know where you received your degree and what specifically your degree is in. I mean no disrespect—but your posts (all of them) leave room for serious doubt.

I have also noticed that you list your occupation as a “Christian Counselor”—which quite honestly, surprises me when I consider the “information” with which you have counseled others. Your work here has been questionable at best and only “loosely” based on Scriptures—and even then it is stretch. You contradict yourself continually and fail to understand basic biblical principles. Do you hold some sort of certification? What training in Christian counseling have you received? With what agencies are you certified and affiliated? Is Christian Counseling your primary means of earning a living or are you more or less an “arm-chair” counselor? You know, a person has to be careful these days and I refuse to read and follow after just anybody who puts a “dr” in front of their name.

I also have to ask myself—from what basis do you presume to ‘counsel’ me regarding the raising of my children? Dr. Spock had much to say on child rearing, but he never had any children of his own—and in my mind ZERO credibility. So, forgive me, but I can’t help but wonder if you have ever been a parent? I know a great many people who would love to tell me what I am doing wrong or how to do things differently—but they have never been a parent. Furthermore, I have to read your post and wonder if you have ever been a young widower raising a family-- alone? May I ask what experience you have had in raising five children by yourself?

My guess is that you probably have not.

Sir, as Christians, we are in this world—not of this world. My children will be exposed to these things sooner or later. I would rather they were exposed to the Super Bowl under my watchful eye and be taught Christian principles in the process. I found numerous opportunities to teach and to reinforce Christian teaching to my children last night. It was time well spent in the observation and discussion of LIFE—and how we as Christians are to live in this old sinful and fallen world. They will remember FAR more from those lessons taught by me in the “moment”—more so than they might have had if we had stayed at home and I had lectured them. I am glad we went to watch the Super Bowl game. I am glad God gave me opportunities to teach and share my faith with my children. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with my family and a point of growth for my children.
If you will be insistent regarding the “letter of the law” rather than the “spirit of the law”—and if you will insist that we are breaking the “Sabbath” as the title of your post would indicate, please let me gently remind you that indeed, the true “SABBATH” falls on SATURDAY, not Sunday.

Before you post-- please READ and try to understand the heart of my post. Listen to the heartbeat of my writing. I have not asked for “advice” on what I did wrong or right as a parent. I didn’t even ask for opinions on the Super Bowl. I am simply sharing a moment from my own personal life—a moment of teaching my son—a precious moment of parenting. This forum is a place for me to share my own unique journey through life as a young widow and a single parent—and hopefully honor God. It is not a place for you to share your half-baked ideas on the tribulation, the rapture, or on parenting.

Please read and study before you post.

Julia

__________________
"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.
There is no such thing."

— C. S. Lewis

Starfire,

Thanks for your thoughtful comments regarding the Sabbath and grace. That is exactly how I feel too— I thank God we are under grace!

Blessings,

Julia

__________________
"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.
There is no such thing."

— C. S. Lewis