Super Sunday

Go to any supermarket, or check out the grocery store circulars in the newspaper this week, and you'll see there are plenty of snack foods and drinks of all kinds on sale this weekend. A coincidence? Nope. It's in preparation for the second biggest party day of the year (after New Year's Eve), Super Bowl Sunday. No doubt, whether you are "partying" or not, most of your TV's will be tuned in at some point Sunday evening to watch Super Bowl XLV.

It's the most watched sporting event in the world, with well over a billion people expected to be watching. Of course, it's not just the game that we watch, but also the creative new ads. This year advertisers are spending right at $3 million for each thirty-second spot in the game's broadcast--simply because they know that for once guys won't be hitting their remotes to switch channels during the commercials. And if past history is any indication, the buzz on Monday morning will be less about the Packers and Steelers than about the entertaining ads.

But still, when all is said and done, all the excitement is about a simple football game, an event that was once described as 100,000 people who need exercise sitting and watching 22 guys running around who need rest. For whatever reason, this game captures our imagination and our attention like none other. It is truly an American tradition, and the whole world stops to watch as well.

Of course, you don't have to tell people in Alabama how important football is in our lives, though the focus locally is usually reserved for the college variety. Many times our passion for the game in this state has been compared to a religious fervor, except that even in the Bible Belt, few people take their religion quite thatseriously. Some suggest that our three favorite sports in Alabama are football, spring football practice, and football recruiting (as evidenced by this week's hoopla over signing day). Just watch the sports on the local TV news or listen to sports talk radio any time of the year and you'll see what I mean.

There's nothing wrong with getting excited about a game now and then, but I hope we all keep it in perspective. More than anything, I hope we realize what's reallyimportant in life, and prioritize our lives accordingly.

When you realize that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die on our behalf, so that we could have life--life eternally, and life abundantly--then every Sunday is Super Sunday. The fact that He loves us, and wants to have a deep and meaningful relationship with us that brings us lasting peace and joy like nothing this world has to offer is worthy of a celebration not just the first Sunday of February, but ever day throughout the year.

I hope to see you this Sunday at Shelby Crossings as we gather together in His name to celebrate the difference Jesus Christ makes in our lives. It's going to be a superday!

--Pastor Ken

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