NFL: No Fans Left

In less than a month, the National Football League will begin a new regular season. I used to enjoy watching their games on TV. This year I plan to shy away from that even more. 

Many fans like myself are opposed to the NFL permitting players to disrespect “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Last year, the league started pairing that with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has been called a “black national anthem.” Despite widespread criticism, Commissioner Roger Goodell declared, “We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter…Without black players, there would be no National Football League.” 

That’s not entirely true. The league existed before segregation in professional sports ended. I’m not against “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as a song. It originated from a Christian hymnal. However, playing a “black national anthem” before games is divisive instead of unifying. As stated before, I do not support the Black Lives Matter movement.

The league has also succumbed to the homosexual agenda. While channel surfing on a friend's TV a few weeks ago, I briefly stopped on the NFL Network. An ad came up declaring “football is gay” and featured a rainbow-colored NFL logo. I searched for this on their YouTube channel to give it a “dislike.” It had over five times more of those than “likes” plus many written complaints.  

The Minnesota Vikings will always be my favorite team, but I’ve become less enthusiastic about following them. Their Facebook page recently had pride memes posted. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison got removed from his post for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination but then was reinstated as “senior offensive advisor.” Players like starting quarterback Kirk Cousins have been criticized for not getting jabbed. Will they soon require proof of vaccinations for fans to attend their games?

Another thing I don’t like about the NFL is how they are adding extra games. Last year, two more wild card teams were added for the playoffs. Just like other major league sports, the NFL is allowing too many teams in the postseason. It defeats the necessity to play well enough throughout the regular season for the opportunity of becoming “World Champions.” I’d rather see division winners only qualify for the playoffs.

This year all teams will play 17 regular-season games. The odd number means half the teams (including the Vikings) will have one fewer home game than those played on the road. To lengthen the season, the league could have given each team an extra bye week as they did once before in 1993. Another option would be to play an 18 game regular season as the defunct USFL had in the 1980s. That still gives every team an equal number of home games.

I wish the league would play their games without all the greed and politicization. That would stop the increasing exodus of fans. Nevertheless, I hope all the Christian players have successful seasons this year. One I’m rooting for is Tim Tebow. He is attempting a comeback as a tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Tim makes the team, we could see him Tebowing again. I’d rather watch that instead of players kneeling during the national anthem or doing end zone celebrations that have gotten ridiculous.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” - Colossians 3:17

Pigskin Prophet?

Shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC Championship Game two weeks ago, Facebook friends posted a meme about the late Bob Jones who died in 2014. This prophet had (according to Shawn Bolz) predicted revival would come when the Chiefs win the Super Bowl. At first, I was skeptical of this prophecy. I recalled a similar one that surfaced four years earlier regarding the Carolina Panthers. They lost Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos.

Critics may look at all this and dismiss Bob Jones as a false prophet. However, I know of other prophecies given by him that were accurate. During the late 1980s, Bob prophesied: “The black panthers are coming to the lumberyard of Charlotte.” This was years before the Carolina Panthers entered the NFL as an expansion team. Their home stadium was ultimately built on land that used to be a lumberyard. 1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.” It’s possible for someone to receive a word from the Lord but then have that misinterpreted.

Bob Jones and others have prophesied stadiums built for football would be used for the end time harvest. We’re already seeing this happen. In 2018, I attended a gathering at the Minnesota Vikings’ US Bank Stadium where numerous people made commitments to Christ. Last year at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida (where the Pro Bowl was played last Sunday), The Send attracted close to 60,000 believers to receive an anointing to fulfill the Great Commission. Of course, we cannot forget most of Billy Graham’s crusades took place in sporting venues.

Usually, I root for NFC teams but will be pulling for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt gave glory to the Lord after his team became AFC Champions. Hunt was quoted as saying, “We want our employees to develop spiritually…My identity is my faith in Christ.” The Chiefs became the first NFL team to provide chapel services for fans prior to noon home games.

Even if the Chiefs lose today, a great end time harvest will happen. God’s promises are not confined to the outcome of a football game but He can still use that as a sign.

“Do not despise prophecies.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:20

Memories from a Cautiously Optimistic Vikings Fan

Sports fans in America love rooting for the underdog. Just over a year ago, the Chicago Cubs had many people pulling for them (myself included) as they won their first World Series in 108 years. Now another franchise with a reputation of losing big games has a chance of finally winning it all. It happens to be my favorite football team.

The Minnesota Vikings began playing in 1961 as an NFL expansion team. Eight years later, they appeared in their first Super Bowl but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Three years after that, I started watching Vikings games on TV while growing up in Moorhead, Minnesota. The following season, they reached Super Bowl VIII, which was played on my tenth birthday. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a Super Sunday for me as the Vikings lost to the Miami Dolphins.

Nevertheless, I remained a Minnesota Vikings fan with quarterback Fran Tarkenton as my favorite player. Throughout the rest of the 1970s, I watched almost every Vikings game on TV. They consistently won their division but never went all the way through the playoffs. Among the disappointments I endured seeing were two more Super Bowl losses and the infamous Hail Mary game against the Dallas Cowboys. By the end of the decade, I was watching fewer games and spending more time at the roller rink.

In December 1980, I was home one Sunday afternoon watching the Minnesota Vikings play poorly against the Cleveland Browns. I left the living room just before the game was over. Suddenly, I heard Mom and Dad cheering as Ahmad Rashad caught a winning touchdown with no time left. Since then, my parents jokingly asked me to leave the room whenever the Vikings faced defeat. They often seemed to play better when I wasn’t watching them. Similar incidents happened with come-from-behind playoff wins over the New York Giants in 1997 and last week’s “Minneapolis Miracle” against the New Orleans Saints. I had been watching the latter game from a restaurant but left early thinking the Vikings would let that game slip away.

Dad had talked of us seeing a Minnesota Vikings game as a family but that never happened (he passed away last month). My parents went to a game by themselves in 1984 when the Vikings had one of their worst seasons ever. They barely won that contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I attended my first Vikings game two years later after moving to Minneapolis. One night I was at a club where the disc jockey announced he had two free Vikings tickets for the first person who could tell him who played keyboards on the Beatles’ song “Get Back.” I knew the answer was Billy Preston and rushed to the DJ booth to claim the tickets. A college classmate went with me the next night to see the Vikings beat the Dolphins in a preseason game.

Due to the high prices plus preferring the comfort and convenience of seeing games on TV, I never sought to buy Vikings tickets. Still, I’ve been to a few other games. In 1999, a friend’s mother had season tickets and offered to let her son and me attend the home opener. The Vikings lost that one to the Oakland Raiders.

Starting in 2013, I’ve spent part of the year living with a Vikings fan who’s also an occasional evangelist. As Mr. Minnesota, my roommate dances around near the stadium in a Mask-like outfit attracting crowds and then hands out specially-designed gospel tracts. In exchange for filming him, Mr. Minnesota bought both of us tickets for that day’s game if he found a pair from a scalper who wasn’t charging too much money. I haven’t been to a winning game with Mr. Minnesota except for one.

Prior to a Vikings game against the Houston Texans in 2016, I approached a homeless man sitting near the stadium displaying a sign asking for help. After offering him a bag of Doritos, this man offered me a ticket someone had given him. Mr. Minnesota later bought one off the street. Both of us got to see the Vikings win 31-13. At that point, they were 5-0 for the season but then slumped to finish with an 8-8 record.

This season I initially shied away from watching NFL games in response to many players not honoring the national anthem. Gradually I relented as the Minnesota Vikings played better than expected and finished the regular season at 13-3. I’m still a bit reluctant to watch today’s NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. As much as I want to see the Vikings win, I don’t want to get my emotions stirred up and then experience another letdown. The Vikings have lost in their last five NFC Championship appearances including two in overtime. But if they win today, the Vikings will compete in their first Super Bowl in 41 years…and in their home stadium to boot!

Here’s something else worth noting. Back in late 1976, I had a dream of having been in some kind of coma and then asked my mother if the Vikings had won the Super Bowl. She said they did by beating the New England Patriots. In real life, the Vikings eventually lost that season’s Super Bowl to the Raiders who had narrowly beaten the Patriots in an earlier playoff game. However, this dream would become prophetic if both the Vikings and Patriots win their respective games today and then if the Vikings come out victorious in Super Bowl LII.

Regardless, I won’t base my happiness on the outcome of a football game. Some might call me a fair-weather fan but I disagree. The Minnesota Vikings will always be my favorite team. But even former head coach Bud Grant told one interviewer, “Football is entertainment. It’s not life or death.” In response to his being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Bud stated, “We’re stars. We’re not heroes. We’ve done nothing heroic.”

As Christians, we can always be winners. In fact, Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors. After throwing last week’s winning touchdown pass, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum told a Fox Sports reporter that the most important moment of his life was meeting his Lord and Savior. Go Team Jesus!

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” - Colossians 3:2 (KJV)

Super Sunday

Every year millions of people gather around televisions to watch the Super Bowl. The first time I ever watched it was on my tenth birthday in 1974. I was full of excitement since the Minnesota Vikings was one of the teams playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That morning at Sunday school, the teacher noticed my zeal for the big game. In front of the whole class he asked me, “Which is more important…church or football?”

Without hesitation I replied, “Football.”

My dad scolded me when he later found out about this. Back then I didn’t see any benefit in going to church. We attended a traditional institution that gave me wrong perceptions of Christianity (it would be another 17 years before I realized how real God is). 

The Vikings ended up losing Super Bowl VIII to the Miami Dolphins. It would be their second of four Super Bowl losses during the 1970s. My favorite team hasn’t returned to the big game in almost 40 years. I would like to see the Vikings win it at least once before the Lord returns.

Meanwhile, the Super Bowl has become like a national holiday in America. While I worked for Billy Graham’s World Wide Pictures during the late 1990s, pastors often picked a Sunday night service to show one of our evangelistic films. I advised them not to do so on Super Bowl Sunday. Most nonbelievers would prefer watching the game instead of going to church to see a movie.

On a related note, it’s interesting to point out the largest crowd ever gathered at the now-defunct Metrodome (where the Vikings used to play) was not for a sporting event but a Billy Graham Crusade. I was one of those in attendance that Sunday night. 

When I do watch the Super Bowl, one thing I don’t care for is all the hype and commercialism surrounding the game. I wish more Christians showed that level of enthusiasm for getting the gospel out. After all, our Savior won the ultimate victory for us on a more important Super Sunday.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:57

A Pain in the Butt

Last Sunday a friend and I went to the Minnesota Vikings home opener against the New England Patriots. One key player was missing in action. Running back Adrian Peterson was deactivated for the game due to child abuse charges resulting from him using a wooden stick to punish his four-year-old son. After a brief activation by the Vikings, Adrian has now been banned from all team activities until his legal situation is resolved.

Seeing released photos of the cuts and bruises on Adrian’s son was disturbing even though that kind of corporal punishment is common in Texas where Adrian is from. Nevertheless, I pray Adrian will be redeemed from this incident because he’s cooperating with authorities plus he’s my brother in Christ. Last year I met the pastor of a church Adrian attended at that time.

In these days of political correctness, parents face increasing challenges with raising children. Unless your kids are homeschooled or enrolled in a Christian learning institution, they are likely bombarded with ideas contrary to Scripture. I would think twice about sending children to public schools that nowadays hand out condoms and teach it’s okay to have two homosexual parents.

The law has gotten more invasive in how we should discipline our children. Nearly four years ago, another parent in Texas lost custody of all three of her kids for spanking one of them! As part of a plea deal, Rosalina Gonzales of Corpus Christi was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to take parenting classes, and make a $50 payment to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Gonzales was told she wouldn’t get her children back from their paternal grandmother (who reported the spanking incident) until the court deems her “capable.”

I could agree with this decision if child abuse happened but the prosecutor described it as a “pretty simple, straightforward spanking case.” Gonzales didn't use a belt nor leave any bruises. During the sentencing, Judge Jose Longoria stated, “You don’t spank children today. In the old days, maybe we got spanked, but there was a different quarrel. You don’t spank children.” 

This judge should take time to open that Bible people in his courtroom swear an oath on (if they still do that there) and read the following verses…

“He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” - Proverbs 13:24

“Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.” - Proverbs 19:18

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” - Proverbs 22:15

“Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.” - Proverbs 23:13

“The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” - Proverbs 29:15

I once heard a children’s pastor advise that we shouldn’t spank kids with our bare hands. He pointed out that hands are for holding and loving.  

When I was little and got mouthy with my mother, she threatened to take out a wooden spoon and occasionally used it on my behind. Certainly, I didn’t like the punishment but have to honestly say it worked. Frequent sittings in a “time out chair” would not have the same effect.

An American pediatrician once proclaimed we shouldn't spank our children. In his 1946 book “Baby and Child Care” Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote, “The American tradition of spanking may be one reason there is much more violence in our country than in any other comparable nation.” I totally disagree. We have since seen a dramatic increase in divorce, youth crime, and teen suicide.

In addition to disobedient children, I believe some of our politicians and judges who legislate from the bench could use a good spanking. Maybe that would stop them from passing laws and making ridiculous decisions that are ruining our society.

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11

Real Courage

For years I’ve enjoyed watching NFL games on TV especially when the Minnesota Vikings are playing well. This fall I will be watching fewer (if any) games if a particular player makes it through training camp and continues receiving massive publicity. Last weekend, a University of Missouri defensive end named Michael Sam was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams. A homosexual who “came out” this past February, Michael reacted to the news of being drafted by kissing his boyfriend. That incident was broadcast all over national TV and the Internet. 

Not everyone in the NFL was pleased with Michael Sam’s kiss. Miami Dolphins strong safety Don Jones tweeted “OMG” and “horrible” but later deleted those politically incorrect words and offered an apology. Nevertheless, the Dolphins fined and suspended Jones who is now required to attend “sensitivity training.” This kind of training actually desensitizes people of sinful behavior.

It’s ridiculous for Michael Sam’s entry into the NFL to be compared with Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color line in 1947. For one thing, someone’s sexual preference is exactly that...a preference. A man or woman can choose to obey God’s standards regarding sex. For the liberals reading this who want to label me a “bigot” or a “hater”, let me clarify that I don’t hate Michael Sam as a person but I hate the sin of homosexuality. God didn’t create man to have sexual relationships with another of the same gender (see Romans 1:26-27).

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated, “Discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not consistent with our values and is unacceptable in the National Football League.” I will now be more discriminative of the games I watch including the Vikings who happen to play against the Rams during their regular season opener on September 7th. Harassment from gay activists has now invaded my favorite sport. I find this unacceptable.

While the media went nuts over the "bravery" of Michael Sam’s kiss, little was said about the Philadelphia Eagles signing Alejandro Villanueva (pictured above), an Army Ranger who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan plus received a Bronze Star for rescuing wounded men on the battlefield while under enemy fire. Yet two days before he got drafted, Michael Sam won this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award. If Michael were to get saved and then publicly renounce his homosexuality, that would certainly be more courageous than him coming out of the closet.

Throughout the Bible, God’s people took courageous stands for righteousness even when it went against the law. The Book of Daniel has two memorable examples. In chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a large golden idol. Later in chapter 6, Daniel himself was cast into the lion’s den for a similar violation. God supernaturally protected His men in both instances.

At the time I finished writing this article, I exchanged emails with a Facebook friend facing a dilemma. His sister is a lesbian getting married next month. My friend asked for advice since he planned to attend the same-sex wedding ceremony despite his sister insisting he remain quiet when the minister says, “If anyone feels this couple should not be united in Holy Matrimony...speak now...or forever hold your peace.”

Ephesians 5:11 says to “...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” It's another thing to go to an ungodly environment for the purpose of reaching out to sinners with the gospel. I once heard a street preacher testify of walking into gay bars to evangelize. I advised my friend not to attend his sister's wedding ceremony but show up at the reception with the intent to minister. 

Real courage is speaking the truth in love.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  - Matthew 10:28

Giving Thanks

Every fourth Thursday of November, millions of Americans gather together with family and friends to feast on turkey and maybe watch football games on TV. Since 1863, Thanksgiving has been a federal holiday in America. Canadians have a similar holiday on the second Monday of October.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines thanksgiving as “the expression of gratitude, especially to God.” But many folks don’t honor the Lord at all on a holiday also referred to as “turkey day.” J. Jackson of the Christian parody band ApologetiX wrote in one of their newsletters, “Thanksgiving without God is like Christmas without Christ.” 2 Timothy 3:2 
tells us that in the last days men will be “unthankful.”

One thing many people aren’t thankful for is how God made them. A few years ago I found out Chastity Bono (the daughter of Cher and the late Sonny Bono) underwent a sex change and now calls “himself” Chaz Bono. While Chaz claims to be a happier person, it grieves me how this precious little girl I used to watch on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour is now living as a man! I pray that Chastity/Chaz comes to know the Lord, experiences a miracle, and becomes the person God created her to be. The New Living Translation of Psalm 139:14 reads, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

How many times do we take simple things for granted like the ability to walk? In 2008, a former NFL player named Richard Collier was shot fourteen times outside an apartment building. Richard survived the incident but was left paralyzed from the waist down plus his left leg was amputated. Despite this tragedy, Richard overcame depression and in his own words, “…started reading my Bible a lot and started praying…really started seeking the Lord. I started talking to my team chaplain. Started enjoying my family, taking in all the little stuff.”

Despite writing most of his epistles while in prison, the Apostle Paul always had an attitude of gratitude. He stated in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in regard to need, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” He also wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Notice this Scripture says to give thanks ineverything, not for everything. Some Christians believe they are to thank God for calamities that happen in their lives such as accidents or disease. What they really need to do is thank God in advance for giving them the victory in those areas through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

What are you thankful for?

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” – Psalm 107:8

Go, Tebow!

One of the biggest surprises of the current National Football League season is the success of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Ever since the Heismann Trophy winner became the starter this year, the Broncos have lost only one game. What makes Tim’s success even more amazing is his statistics haven’t been that impressive for an NFL quarterback. Yet the Broncos have pulled off a string of last-minute comebacks. Unfortunately for me, one of those wins was against my favorite team (the Minnesota Vikings).

People have debated if God involves Himself in the outcome of sporting events. One thing to keep in mind is when two teams are playing, there are usually Christians praying on both sides of the ball. Still, only one team can win.

Nonetheless, I believe the Lord will bless athletes who give Him the glory and aren’t ashamed to praise His name in public. In January 2000, Kurt Warner put “first things first” and thanked Jesus on national television after leading the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory and receiving the MVP award. A few years before that, the late Reggie White not only won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers but also claimed God miraculously healed him from various injuries he suffered on the field.

Due to Tim Tebow’s habit of getting down on one knee and praying during a game, “tebowing” has become a neologism to describe someone kneeling and praying. While many NFL players often make headlines for negative behavior both on and off the field, it’s refreshing to see an athlete becoming famous for honoring God.

Go, Tebow!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13