Saturday, February 1 25, 2014
Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for being here today.
So, did I hear right? Is there some football game going on tomorrow? What. Oh, that's right, the Super Bowl! The big game ... and the topic of a LOT of interest, a LOT of chatter the last couple of weeks ... at work, at school, in the media.
So, who's going to win? I don't know ... ask me this time next week, and I'll have a better idea than I do now. If it were up to me, my beloved Pittsburgh Steeleres would be playing for their seventh Super Bowl championship ring tomorrow ... but alas, that is not to be, at least not THIS year.
Good luck to both of the teams, and good luck to all of the players ... but I am reserving special best wishes for Peyton Manning. There's someone whose career has had more than its share of adversity over the last three years.
A good start to that career with the Colts, then neck surgery, then another procedure - spinal fusion surgery, then a recovery slowed by having no access to NFL facilities because if that lockout. He did recover, but the Colts decided to keep him on injured reserve for the entire season ... then they released him altogether.
And through it all, Manning says, he remained faithful, and continues to place that faith at the top of his priorities, followed by family, friends, THEN football.
Bbbbnb
Sometimes, when things just aren't going our way, there is still someone watching out for us, who cares very deeply for us.
In the Book of Matthew, we read "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
And just a little bit later, in the Book of John, we read "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Just as Manning has overcome his troubles. In 2012, he signed with the Denver Broncos and led them to the playoffs. In 2013, he went to his twelfth Pro Bowl, AND was named Comeback Player of the Year ... and THIS time is leading the Broncos all the way to the Super Bowl.
As I said before, good luck to both of the teams, and good luck to all of the players ... and not just those on the field in New Jersey tomorrow, but to all the players. On this court today.
God bless them all!
Upward Sports, by the way, is one of the the world’s largest Christian sports program for children, and was created with a vision to provide the best sports experience possible for every child. An estimated 1-million people around the world play, coach, referee or volunteer in some way to support Upward sports activities, hosted by more than 2,600 churches - there are four churches here, in Midland, including my own First Presbyterian.
The organization notes that, "anyone – children and volunteers of any faith or no faith – can participate in Upward Sports. Specifically designed for children in K5- sixth grade, Upward aims to bring out 'the winner' in every child – regardless of the game’s score."
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