Well, the game didn’t turn out the way anyone expected. I know I expected it to be a close game that could go either way. Nope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eagles 40, Chiefs 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not a misprint, and the game was not nearly as close as the score would indicate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that’s sports – it builds character among other things. I subscribe to World<\/a>, a Christian news magazine. Every Friday I receive an email from their arts and culture editor, currently a young lady named Chelsea Boes, not a sports fan. She wrote on Friday before the Super Bowl:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a lifelong nerd, my core question about sports is, \u201cWhy can\u2019t they all just get their own ball?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chelsea doesn’t get it, and I had to write and tell her so:<\/p>\n\n\n\n — Beginning of my email —<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know you\u2019re trying to be cute, but you\u2019re missing the point. Life is filled with battles, going back to Genesis 3. The Apostle Paul talked about the real battle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6.10 \u2013 13, NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul also uses sports as a metaphor for the real battle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9.24 \u2013 27, NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Years ago, I taught at an Air Force leadership school where we used sports to teach a variety of lessons. On our playing field, prominently posted, was a famous quote from General Douglas MacArthur:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields will bear the fruits of victory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to watch, but please don\u2019t deprecate the idea of sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n — end of my email —<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wrote yesterday<\/a> that God would get a shout-out no matter who won, and I was right:<\/p>\n\n\n\n God blessed us. So I want to give thanks to him. Thank you God. Thank you, Jesus.<\/em> – Philadelphia Eagles’ Coach Nick Sirianni<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9.24, NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Well, the game didn’t turn out the way anyone expected. I know I expected it to be a close game that could go either way. Nope. Eagles 40, Chiefs 22 Not a misprint, and the game was not nearly as close as the score would indicate. But that’s sports – it builds character among other … Continue reading Sports<\/span>