DanSardinas.net

God...it's all your fault!

We've all seen an athlete praise God for winning a game.   Sometimes it seems genuine....sometimes it's not!  The truth of the matter is that God is going to get the glory whether or not we give it to him.  He's Holy.  He deserves it all.  However it is always refreshing to hear it someone genuinely thank God.  

This past Sunday...we witnessed just the opposite happen.  Wide Receiver - Stevie Johnson of the Titans dropped an incredibly catchable ball.   After the game he has some words.  For God. Not nice words to say the least.   Here is the link to the tweet.

The next day.....Stevie clarified his comments with this tweet.

And then denied he ever blamed God with this tweet.  

If you like to see the video of the dropped touchdown...watch the highlight video found here.  The dropped catch came at the worst time....OVERTIME.  

What say you?  Praise him?  Curse him

 

To have church or not? ...the Super Bowl is the question!

 Today is sort of a national holiday.  The Super Bowl is the biggest hyped event of the year.  I'm sure that millions of dollars are spent on this game around the world.  People all around the world  are hosting parties, to watch the two best NFL teams battle it out for the prized Vince Lombardi trophy.  This year is no different.  The Saints and the Colts are about to battle it out in a few hours.   Churches all across the nation are set to cancel their Sunday Evening services to show the big game.  Among some conservative Christians, though this is always a controversial night.  I've already heard and seen some tweets and comments about tonight from their perspective.   

Some churches have chosen to gather people in the building and host their own party.  Other churches have encouraged their people to go home and host their own parties in the neighborhood.  To some churches this is unacceptable.  They believe that it is absolutely necessary to have a church service.  For them...to cancel church for the Super Bowl is a great sin no matter what the outcome.

Here is my opinion on the whole deal.  If you want to go to church then go to church.  If you want to watch the Super Bowl...then watch the Super Bowl.  If you watch the Super Bowl..have some fun and possibly use it as a time to build relationships with those who aren't "churched".  I can't find fault with those who are choosing to worship tonight.  How can you?  But....that doesn't make their church any holier or more pleasing to God.  Cancelling your normal Sunday Night activities at church  is not wrong.  There is no scriptural command as to how many services one should have on a Sunday.  Sunday Night services are a man made tradition.  Therefore, if you don't have one...it's not wrong.   The early church, in the book of Acts, met for worship and fellowship everyday!  So if we were to follow that logic we are wrong for not having church the other 5 or 6 days.  

As the pastor of Venango Woods Church in Pennsylvania...we hosted a Super Bowl party for our community every year.  The festivities always included about 2,000 chicken wings....lots of snacks, door prizes, and the big game on a gigantic screen.  Our entire church family was there with many people from the community who would never darken the doors of a church.  At halftime we always gave a 5 minute Gospel presentation and always had someone receive Christ.  Through this outreach, we made a difference on many lives, that we would never would never have reached.  

Instead of knocking the Super Bowl......use it as an opportunity!   You can spit in the wind..but it will hit you in the face.   Don't fight the wind....use it as an immense opportunity.  

How to poke yourself in the "I"

We will continue our "Home Team" series on buiding a stronger family this week.  The message is titled "How to poke yourself in the I".  We will be focusing on how selfishness can destory a marriage.  So many of the problems in our marriages today stem from an "I" problem.  We are focused on our wants and needs that we neglect those of our spouse.  "How to poke yourself in the I" will give some practical sound advice from the Bible on how to deal with selfishness, pride, etc.  Don't miss out.  Even if you aren't married these principles are great for any single person who is also dealing with selfishness.

And how perfect is the timing of this series???  My "Home Team" the New York Football Giants. Just won Super Bowl XLII.  I was estatic at this awesome victory.  I had the people I watched the game with in hysteria over my passion for the Giants winning.  It was such an exciting game as you may have witnessed if saw it.  I will always remember it...but most are calling it perhaps the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.  And it also had perhaps one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl History.  As Eli Manning escaped 3 defenders and made a bullet of a pass to be snagged down by David Tyree.  Tyree made an incredible catch outjumping Rodney Harrison from New England and catching the ball against his helmet.  That single play basically allowed the Giants to win Super Bowl XLII and become World Champions.  But something else I noticed that night was how many more Giants fans were there than Patriot fans.  The game was played away from Giants Stadium in nice and comfortable Arizona.  No doubt, that people cheering the Giants on in Arizona played a big role in the momentum of the game.  We can channel this same energy into our families and homes and create a remarkable "Home Field" advantage.   The Giants also made history as they stopped the first 18-0 team from having the first 19-0 season.  And today millions of New Yorkers are celebrating in the streets welcoming home their champions.  Let's go Big Blue!!!!!

Here is a home movie taken from the Super Bowl...Notice all the fan reaction.  This is of the Giants game winning drive.