Superbowl

I used to watch the Superbowl every year. It was a cultural necessity. Who wants to be the ignorant guy around the watercooler? Not me...so I watched and frankly, enjoyed the big game.
Congratulations to the winners and condolences to the losers. I'm sure there was a play or two that should have been called some other way and I'm sure that for some, the wrong team won. But, as our culture's new paradigm states, "It is what it is."
I like sports but I'm not obsessed. I'd much rather play than watch and if I can just get 25 pounds off, I might strap on some skates and play a little hockey.
It's ok to be a hockey fan in Columbus MI. But football? The nearest thing to professional football around here is the Detroit Lions. It's safe to say they'll be better next year.
There's no talk of Superbowl chances in Detroit right now.
I'm not sure the owners and management of the Lions know what it would take to win it all.
Lions fans spent the season hearing about how well the practices went and how they just didn't translate into game wins.
Does that make sense to you?
At what point should the coaches have done something differently?
I can't possibly know. I'm not a coach. I don't know football. I have no experience managing million dollar players. I couldn't fix the Lions. I know that.
But I do know a little human nature.
I read recently Tom Landry's coaching philosophy. It went something like this: convince men to do what they don't want to do so they can achieve what they want to achieve.
Frankly, that task is for a few gifted people. Tom Landry was special and his winning football record shows it.
You know where I'm headed, right?
My task as a pastor is pretty much the same: get people to do what they don't want to do so they can be who they want to be.
The work of God changes people. And people want God in their lives. But people do not want to change.
So the goal to win the Superbowl and the goal for a Christian come about the same way.
To win, you've got to do what you don't want to do to.
It's called discipline.
"Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher."(Luke 6:40, NLT)
"Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly."
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT)
Do you want a winning season in your Christian life?
Start training like you want to win.
Need help?
Join a good, bible-believing church.
Don, letting the Son shine in 2009.