Basketball Mania

For those of you who know me fairly well, you know that I enjoy my sports. Sports of all sorts! I am an avid St. Louis Cardinal & San Fransisco 49er fan with more Niner and Redbiird clothing items then a man my age deserves. I enjoy watching our Church youth participate in their athletic endeavors and I watch more then my fair share of ballgames on my TV. And now the NCAA Basketball tournement, well I will have my remote set-up so I can see four games at once. The other night though as I was watching yet another basketball game on the tube, there came streaming across my screen the on going saga of where quarter back Peyton Manning might need up playing this season. Beckie looked at me and said someting to the effect of wondering how ths story was getting so much coverage. I am not sure what I said back to her, but it has caused to to ponder the idol, or god I and many others have made sports into. I have more channels on my TV dedicated solely to sports then any grown man could ever watch. I have a Channel dedicated solely to helping me know how to fill out my Basketball brackets and another that keeps me posted on the Free agents out there in the NFL. Enough is enough!
What if you and I spent only 25% of the time we now spend talking sports, watching them on TV or reading about them in the paper and we gave that time to God? Time spent reading the Bible, in worship on Sunday, in prayer each day or in fellowship with other Christians? Now does this mean I am going to go "Cold Turkey" and give up one of my favorite pastimes? No, but the Holy Spirit is working on me about using more of that time I spend how to be a better Fantasy Football and to give that time to better get to know Jesus, the Son of God. To care a bit less about knowing each Cardinal pitcher and their era, but to care more about building a better relationship with my Savior Jesus. Anyway, a few ramblings from this sporstsminded Pastor who knows that Christ will Never frustrates me, unlike our beloved Illini Basketball team has this past season.
So, go and enjoy your sports, our youth on the fieled and court, but go forth as well and give God His the glory He deserves and get to know He and his boy better.
Love ya' All, Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown Church