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Posts Tagged ‘Vikings’

Tim Tebow was here.

December 5th, 2011 | Author:
Tebow celebrates

So what do we make of this – that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, or that the Vikings are somehow cursed?  I am starting to go with the Vikings are cursed theory but that is a blog for another time.  If Tebow prays for a victory does God intervene in the football game to give him one?  That is also a discussion for another time – what I am interested in is this continued bludgeoning that takes place whenever a Christian brings their faith “out of the closet”.  This idea that faith is a “private thing” a personal thing is really starting to get old and needs to be addressed.

The entire trajectory of the ministry of Jesus leans toward sharing of the faith with others, (except for the times when Jesus tells the disciples to tell no one, but I believe that there is a very specific reason for that demand) and a public witness that takes place before the “whole world”.  The call of the disciples leads to making them “fishers of men” and will result in them being dragged before councils and Kings to bear witness.  The call of Christ is such that they cannot but “speak of the things that they have seen and heard”.  Jesus own witness is public.  He preaches in the synagogues and is publically examined by the religious authorities and does nothing in secret.  His call will ultimately demand that the whole world be told the message of salvation.  The second advent of Christ is even being delayed so that all get a chance to hear before the time of grace is over.  They can’t hear if we don’t speak, and we won’t speak if we believe that our faith is a private thing.
 
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Tim Tebow is coming.

December 4th, 2011 | Author:
Tebow Praying
Tim Tebow is coming to town.  I’m writing this before the game on Sunday and  I have to admit that I’m a little bit excited about this game between the Vikings and the Broncos. I have been a Bronco fan most of my life, and I have been a Viking fan since I was in high school. One of my dreams is to have the Broncos and the Vikings face off in a Super Bowl before I die.
For those of you aren’t interested in these kinds of things Tebow is  a polarizing figure because he tends to give thanks to Jesus for everything that happens in the game whether it’s good or bad. He has horrible mechanics as a quarterback and he tends to win games in the last few seconds or in overtime.
The guys in the sports station that I listen to get really tired of his religiosity and the fact that he talks about Christ all the time.  That stuff should be private they say, and they are very proud of the fact that they may be believers, but no one knows about it.  They remind me of the poltroons in Washington who always say that they don’t want their personal religious beliefs to interfere with policy.  That statement is usually spoken when there is a question or a debate on abortion.  Funny, they don’t mind having the “personal opinions” influence policy when it comes to taxes, or gun ownership, or illegal immigration, or the death penalty.  Anyway, one of the announcers on the fan finally got it right the other day.  He said if you believe in this Jesus stuff and that he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords; and if you believe that John 3:16 stuff, that God so loved the world; and if you believe that the only way to eternal life is through Jesus; then you are pretty much obligated to talk about him and witnesss to him and tell others about him or you are not doing your job.  I like that.  Can you imagine if the public broadcaster of the Viking games travels with the team, is paid by the team, calls the game for the team and then tells everyone that he doesn’t believe in talking about the team when they are not playing because “he doesn’t want to force his Vikingness on others”?  Silly isn’t it?  But we can say silly things about the Christian faith today in America and no one seems to care.  Deeply convicted people who believe that Christ died for them and wants everyone to have life and salvation are supposed to shut up and not talk about it because “faith is a private thing”.  Jared Allen, the Viking sack master who is also a Christian says that it is his job to witness, but to do it in a way that doesn’t tick people off.  The Apostle Paul said  that was ”winsome” I believe.
So anyway I am looking forward to this game – I wanted to call it “The Christian versus the Christian”.  Get it?  Christian Ponder is the name of the Viking QB?  Tebow is a Christian? 
Ok, game over and Broncos won – fun game.  I guess the “prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.   I wonder if the Viking and Bronco fans will keep their opinions about the game to themselves tommorow?
 
 
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Mercy connections – disasters

June 27th, 2011 | Author:

The Sevareid Stamp

"Dude, we gotta go".

The flooding in Minot has reached epic proportions.  It has gotten bad enough that the national news actually is paying attention.  That is something.  Eric Sevareid, a North Dakota native and a long time television newsman called North Dakota ”a vast rectangular blank spot on the nations consciousness”.  Minnesota shares some of the same benign neglect except for Mao Clinic and the Vikings.  Disasters not only bring out the best in us, they garner us some attention as well.  It is sad but true.  Most people never heard of Grand Forks until the whole town was flooded in 1997. 

The mercy connection in disaster has a face and a name.  It’s Carlos Hernandez.  He is with LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  I was with him in New Orleans.  I was supoosed to be with him in Haiti.  I was with him in Wadena Minnesota after the tornado.  He was here in Grafton and Drayton during our trials.  He is a one of a kind and reacts to every disaster with the same statement – “Dude, we gotta go!”  He lives in Sacramento California, but if you need him he will be at your door in about a day and a half. 

He is in Minot.  Pastor Paul Krueger, whose father was a Pastor in Hackensack or Walker or somewhere up North of Brainerd is hosting him and assessing the situation in Minot.  about the situation of one of our churches, St. Marks and  about Carlos he writes, “So far, water is at the foundation of St. Marks, they’ve probably got water in the basement, but the current crest stopped short of going into the building.It was a joy to spend time with Carlos. I appreciate his insight and his great wisdom. What a blessing to me personally, and to the people I serve.”

That’s Carlos - a joy and a blessing.  That is God’s gift to us as well.  Joy even in the midst of sorrow and difficulty.  I pray that joy for my relatives.  I have a Godchild in Minot that I have been told has lost her home and an Aunt that lost her’s as well. 

Please say a prayer for these folks and if you can contribute to LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  There is a give now botton at www.lcms.org.  Also check out the “Mercy Forever” blog site.

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