This one might step on some toes, but here we go! Surely you’re aware that football season has begun here in America? Obviously, by the hat I’m wearing in this blog’s header image, you can guess that I’m a pretty big fan of sports. My favorite two are college football (go Virginia Tech Hokies) and NASCAR racing (go Kevin Harvick).

Living here in Columbus, OH it becomes pretty obvious how dominating sports can be in people’s lives. But I get it……competition has always been interesting for centuries. But something I REALLY don’t get now is fantasy sports. After years of being sucked into being a part of online fantasy sports leagues, I can finally say that I don’t see the need to be in one ever again.

What don’t I get about it? I already feel like I don’t have a life watching countless hours of a race or football game. I’m guessing you’d have to take that time and double it when you add in the “studying” and “preparing” people put in with managing their fantasy sports teams. And at the end of the week, they have a 50-50 chance of being the lucky one and out-guessing their competitor. Here’s the challenge! Is there something better you could be doing with the time God has given you? When you have to look back on life, are you going to regret things like fantasy football? Is it just me, or have we become numb in more areas like this with our time as our culture shifts?

PRAYING that you and I find a balance of leisure and responsibility. PRAISING God for giving us things to enjoy, while also commanding us to never prioritize anything above Him.

Many of the victories I have had in life have resulted in letting go of something. We’ve all heard the phrase before….”Let go and let God”. That’s the way it was with me and all of the time I spent playing video games. I let go and God moved in miraculous ways. The large amount of time that I spent was transformed into moments where I could proclaim God and more clearly glorify Him. There are groups that take this to the extreme and end up appearing creepy or getting called names. But is that their fault, or ours for thinking of them like that? This is an extremely touchy subject, as I saw from the comments in the recent post here about the video game addiction.

How far do you take it? Do you get rid of everything that pleases you? I don’t think that’s what God would want. He intends for us to enjoy this life. One thing I am struggling with right now is television. Watching Virginia Tech football or NASCAR (I know – tech guy and redneck do not usually go together) are the only two things that I care to watch. I don’t watch anything else. Sometimes I get more thrilled about the days those sports are on than I do about spending time with the Lord that day. Or taking time to encourage someone in their walk. There’s nothing questionable about my ethics while watching sports. It’s good, clean fun! But then scripture like this one always come to mind.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he can’t be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

God didn’t just make a mistake and let that slip into the Bible, did He? Not a chance. Hate your own family, if that’s what it takes? Are you serious? And I’m struggling with football and racing on the tube. That’s when I start to re-think things. I’m just beginning the journey with this one. The racing season starts in two weeks. Are there things like this that you’ve seen be stepping stones in your walk with the Lord? Do you regret something you’ve given up in an effort to have your focus on what He wants with your life?

I might be a Virginia Tech Hokies fan, but I couldn’t pass up a chance to watch Ohio State’s spring football game for $5 today! Being able to sit in the second row in one of the best stadiums in the country is a steal. It rained most of the day, but the fans still showed up and had a great time.

Feel free to click on the photo or link below to view some of the other shots I took today. Before the game we had a pretty busy morning. Livi and Ava had soccer photos between 9 and 10 this morning, and games at 10 and 11! It all worked out great. I’ll post some of their photos tomorrow. I don’t think I realize how tired I am yet. Thanks for stopping by!

View photos here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/godsmac

I was at the Professional Bull Riding event on Saturday here in Columbus and saw something that made me re-think sports. It wasn’t just the excitement of men putting their lives on the line on top of a wild bull for 8 seconds for much less of a prize than some pros get for doing a layup, catching a touchdown, or scoring a goal. $24,000 for winning the event, are you kidding me? One word – underpaid!

What caught my attention was the fact that before the entire event kicked off they didn’t just start with the national, but with a genuine call to the Lord for safety during the event and thanking Him for offering His Son on the cross for us. If you’ve ever been to a Nascar race, they do the same thing there as well – each race. What’s the deal? Why are basketball, baseball, football and hockey any different. Is God not allowed in the building?

Something that I do recognize with these two events that include prayer might seem a bit awkward or step on a few toes. What most people consider rednecks are the majority of the fan base in these sports. You don’t see money getting in the way out on the farm, or people worrying about their clothes, cars they drive, or what kind of toys their children play with. They’re much more about letting it all hang out, actually being friendly and enjoying community, and the athletes they follow usually don’t raise the roof or do a dance in the end zone. I thank God for these sports, and am excited to head back to the track or down to the pig pen the next time I get the chance. The sports are definitely exciting, but God’s welcomed to show up before the “show” even begins.

P.S. The favorite bull name of the evening has to go to “Whoopy Dinger”!

The whole NFL lawyer fiasco before the Super Bowl (not allowing churches to have a party for the game and share the message of salvation) seems to have smacked them back in the face. If you’ll visit the link below, and unless you are deaf and didn’t hear the post-game comments, God was going to win tonight either way. It could have been either team, but He was going to receive the glory when time expired. I now wonder if the NFL lawyers are going to ban the use of God’s name being mentioned during any of their broadcasts, or maybe even on their sidelines? Good luck with that one! Thanks to both coaches for the role models you are to many other coaches, players and fans across the world. What a testimony to each of us to wake up and glorify the Lord in all that we do…..no matter how big or small the stage may be!

Lawyers vs. God = no jury required

http://www.beyondtheultimate.org