The Cowboys are Winning the Super Bowl! (A Fantasy Football Devotional)

James 1:19-21

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

The Cowboys are Going to the Super Bowl!

The first week of the season is in the books and overreactions abound. While I don’t think that my Cowboy’s prediction is an overreaction, there are plenty of them to go around after just one game: “Mac Jones and Jordon Love will be top 5 QB’s”, “Tyler Allgeier will outscore Bijan Robinson in Fantasy points this year”, “I’m firing all my guys and for such a dismal showing”, or “I’m winning the Fantasy Football Super Bowl,” are just a few possible overreactions based on a limited amount of information.

As the weeks go on, we will have more data points on teams and players with which we can make informed decisions about who the best players and teams are. Being quick to listen and slow to speak is like that. Listening helps you gather more data points about a person or situation so you can make an informed decision on how you can minister to someone in their situation. Truly listening can help you understand and keep your anger in check.

Think about a time recently when you were quick to anger. If you are like me, listening and gathering more data points could have helped you produce the righteousness that God desires, instead of the raised-voice, over-the-top scolding I recently gave my son…confession is good for the soul! After an apology and an honest assessment of where things were, my anger was kept in check and I was closer to the humility needed to accept the word that had been planted in me.

Dear God,

Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

I also pray the Cowboys will win the Super Bowl, but there is a lot of football to be played still!

Stay tuned for the return of our Commissioners’ Report Podcast next week.. You can catch up on old episodes here.

Pastor Ray is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at First Baptist Church Weslaco. He manages the Elisha’s Bears Fantasy Football team in the Baptist Ballers League. His 124 points were the second highest in the league this past week…an impressive feat being that his starting QB was Aaron Rodgers! He also apologized to his son, gave him a hug and told him he is really appreciative of the man he has become.

Dropkick Me Jesus

Updated from Oct. 29, 2019

Matthew 28:19-20”Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in  the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Dropkick Me, Jesus (Lyrics by Paul Charles Craft)

Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them, righteous up rights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life

Verse 1:

Make me, oh, make me, Lord, more than I am
Make me a piece in Your master game plan
Free from the earthly tempestion below
I've got the will, Lord, if You got the toe

Verse 2:

Bring on the brothers who've gone on before
And all of the sisters who've knocked on your door
All the departed, dear, loved ones of mine
Stick 'em up front in the offensive line

Verse 3:

A lowly bench warmer I'm contented to be
Until the time when you have need of me
The flash on the scoreboard that shines upon high
And the big Super Bowl way up in the sky

We get our theology (a fancy word that means what we believe about God) from all sorts of places. I’m not sure an old country song should be the basis of deep theological reflection, but there are some interesting pieces in the prayer, “Dropkick Me, Jesus” sung by Bobby Bare and written by Paul Charles Craft.

I love the humility in this song. “Make me…Lord, more than I am…[and] make me a piece in Your master game plan.” These lines demonstrate that in addition to needing Jesus, we also need to join in God’s great plan for the world. I love the offensive line as a nod to the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that have come before us and the idea of sitting on the bench while humbly waiting for our time in the big game. But while we shouldn’t be fighting for the stardom enjoyed by today’s athletes (and church leaders), the bench is not the place to which God has called us. The Great Commission at the end of Matthew reminds us that we all have a role to play in discipling, baptizing and teaching as a part of God’s kingdom.

Perhaps the greatest theological shortcoming in Dropkick, if taken literally, is pitting our will against God’s toe. The implication here is that I’ve got my life in order as long as Jesus is capable of kicking me through the uprights. Most likely, “I’ve got the will, Lord if You’ve got the toe” is meant to be ironic because we all know that Jesus has got the toe! The real question is do you have the will?

Jesus has already done everything he needs to do to bring us into his kingdom. Those of us who are believers are then called upon to “follow [him]” (John 10:27). And even though Jesus continues to protect us, his work on the cross has already gotten true believers through the goalposts of eternal life.

In these crazy times, I am thankful that we have the assurance of eternal life. But right now, it is more important to get off the bench and get into the game as we are called to bring glory to God in everything we do (Col. 3:17).

I don’t think that Bobby Bare or Paul Charles Craft wrote “Dropkick Me, Jesus” to be a theological treatise. Most likely, they just wanted to bring a smile to your face and figured even Christians need a good kick in the backside every now and again.

Ray Sanchez is the manager of the Elisha’s Bears Fantasy Football Team (3-6) in the Baptist Ballers FBCW Fantasy League. His team is sooooo bad that CCCKromer beat him this past week with 4 empty spots on his starting roster. Pastor Ray’s only hope may be for Jesus to dropkick Elisha’s Bears straight into the playoffs. Enjoy “Dropkick Me Jesus” and our Commissioner’s Report podcast below.

The Commissioners: FBCW Fantasy Football Podcast

The Prize (A Fantasy Football Devotional by Kim Curry)

1 Corinthians 9:25-27  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Football is a game, a competitive sport. In order to be prepared to compete you must train: physical strength training, nutritional training, endurance training, and study of your opponent. It requires repetition of these disciplines as the results have their effect slowly.

Once the season starts and the games begin, those who have proven themselves, take the field. They face equally prepared opponents who also want to win. Head to head, hit after hit, try and try again. They invested much to succeed on a play by play basis.  Even injuries are part of the experience.

It amazes me how much pain a player will endure during the game in order to stay in the game. Little thought seems to be given to long term effects of the repeated pounding.

I guess the prize is worth all the rest.

We can see a parallel in serving the Lord. Do you prepare and train in order to be able to endure the hits of life. Physical discipline, nutritional discipline, endurance / stamina, even study?  Are you willing to take a hit, endure some discomfort or pain in your service to the Lord? And when you face the trials of life do you stand against the schemes of the evil one.  Even when it requires a trip to the blue tent sometimes?

Is the prize worth it to you?

“Father, give us the faith to trust you, to stand (even if we have to lean on someone). Show us the opportunities around us to share your message of salvation to others who are injured by life. May we have the attitude that the prize is worth the cost. Open our eyes that we may see. “

Kim Curry is the Manager of the Puro 956 Chili Dogs. Formerly known as the RGV Chili Dogs, Kim was so moved by Ep. 1 of the FBCW Fantasy Football Podcast. The Chili Dogs are now 1-1 after dousing chili all over Pastor Ray’s Bears in week 1 and following it up with a LackLuster Loss to Micah Parker’s, L Bozos.

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus Calms the Storm (NIRV)

35 When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” 36 They left the crowd behind. And they took him along in a boat, just as he was. There were also other boats with him. 37 A wild storm came up. Waves crashed over the boat. It was about to sink. 38 Jesus was in the back, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him up. They said, “Teacher! Don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all yet?”

41 They were terrified. They asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

For the Parents:

This is one of my favorite stories. The disciples had seen Jesus heal people; they had seen Jesus drive out unclean spirits; they had heard Jesus’ amazing teaching! Yet, they were still afraid. Does that sound like anyone we know? Might as well be me!

“Don’t you care [Jesus]?” It’s not just the disciples who felt that way. Even with all we know about God and what we have experienced in our lives, we might be there right now. Don’t you care that I’m losing my job? Don’t you care that I’m losing my 401K? Don’t you care that home schooling is costing me my sanity? Don’t you care that _________! Jesus is telling us even now, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all yet?” The God who commands the wind and the waves was in charge before this pandemic, and will be in command long after! Still, there are times when we need to cry out to God. Join us this Sunday as Pastor Parker explores the language of prayer in tough times given to us in the Psalms…See you on our YouTube Channel this Sunday!

May be less like the faith deprived disciples and more like sleeping Jesus during this crazy COVID storm.

For the Children: (Use this only as a guide. The important thing here is to read the Bible and spend time together. Whatever works for your family will be ok!)

Enter:

Find a place where your family can sit comfortably together. You can ask questions like these (don’t feel the need to ask all of them!):

•       Where did you see God’s power today?

•       Where do you wish you could see God’s power today?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passage. For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause:

This might be hard at first, but take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. With little ones, it may be a ten count, but we can sit still and let God’s word work!

Wonder:

Have you ever been in a storm while in a small boat?

How would you feel if you were the disciples?

Why is this story in the Bible?

When would be a good time to remember this story?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

Reaffirm God’s power in the world (from the story) and those parts where we long to see God’s power.

Pray together (you may ask kids what they are thankful for or things they want to pray for/confess before the prayer:

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example: Thank you God that you control the wind and the waves. We praise you because you are in control even now. We ask you to bless those struggling with health and other things during this pandemic. Forgive us when we have been mean, or rude to one another. Help us to honor you in all we do! Amen!

Wrap-up with this video and subscribe below if you want daily updates via e mail.

Coronavirus Family Bible Reading Guide - Through Easter!

If you are like me, you find it hard in your normal lives to stop, take a minute, and read your Bible together as a family…and I’m a pastor! Christians, and our Jewish predecessors, have prioritized storytelling as a part of training up our children in the way they should go. If something good can come out of this virus interrupting our lives, may it be that we find time to get in the rhythm of God’s grace through daily scripture reading, meditation, and weekly online worship…what do you have to lose!

Each week I’ll try to upload a video or two that cover some of our readings to help you out, but frankly, you spending time with your family reading God’s great story is the best medicine in this crazy time!  I know reading the Bible can be intimidating. I grew up in church and went to Seminary and there are still things I don’t understand, but this passage in Isaiah 55:9-11 gives me hope:

9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God’s word will not return empty! There is something powerful about the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 says that it the word of God is the Sword of the Spirit, and Hebrews 4:12 says, 

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s word is powerful. Fortunately, it’s not about “understanding” everything. If we just take the time to read it with our families, it can transform us! I will do my best to provide a daily blog post on the passage you can read with your families. The format and questions will be based on Elizabeth Caldwell’s method in her book, I Wonder. Here is a 5-part template for 10-15 minutes of your family Bible time: Enter, Hear, Pause, Wonder, Bless…

Enter:

Find a place where your family can sit comfortably together. You can ask questions like these (don’t feel the need to ask all of them!):

•       What made you happy today?

•       What made you sad?

•       Where did you see God’s love today?

•       Where did you give or received God’s love today?

•       For what are you most grateful?

•       For what are you least grateful?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passage. For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause:

This might be hard at first, but take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. With little ones, it may be a ten count, but we can sit still and let God’s word work!

Wonder:

Let your kids explore the story by asking some questions:

What was interesting to you?

Who were the main characters and what happens to them?

Why is this story in the Bible?

How can we connect with this story? OR When would be a good time to remember this story?

For older kids: 

How is this story different from the time and place in which we live?

Is there anything confusing about the story? (Feel free to comment with your questions below or contact a pastor if you don’t know all the answers! This is an opportunity for all of us to learn together) 

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

Revisit the things the kids brought up during the “Enter” time.

Pray together:

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

READING PLAN

Below is our reading plan through Easter. The first reading coincides with our FBCW Treehouse Club At Home Edition YouTube video. Feel free to use it to get you started!