Are you ready for some football?  I mean, football that counts, football?  You know I am!  And, so are the 32 NFL teams, so they think, having pared their rosters for the season opener.  With the games come the unexpected twists and turns.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will miss the opener against Miami having had an emergency appendectomy.  That’s a very tough break.  Nick Saban’s Dolphins look to continue the 6 game win streak on which they ended last season.  Knocking off the champs on national tv has to have them salivating.

The Indianapolis Colts are watching K Adam Vinatieri.  Reports of a broken bone in his non-kicking foot were clarified to simply a strained ligament and a bone chip.  Oh, that sounds much better!  This for the team whose last kicker, Mike Vanderjagt was the most accurate kicker in the NFL… until the playoff game against the Steelers last year. 

There’s the twist of having one of your players under contract and having them refuse to play.  Holdout WR Deion Branch took the window of opportunity the Patriots gave him to seek a trade suitor and found no one willing to pay him what he wanted AND give up something in trade value for him.  Now he will apparently sit at home and watch Doug Gabriel (brought in via trade with Oakland) take the field in his place.  Hey Deion, Coach Belichik didn’t flinch!  And how about Gabriel?  Trading in Aaron Brooks for three-time world champion Tom Brady tossing him the ball?  He’s praising God!  Back in Oakland Jerry Porter was heard sobbing, “I want Tom Brady to throw me the ball!”

More twists and turns…

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The Turk showed up for hundreds of NFL hopefuls today as all 32 teams trimmed their roster to the regular season limit of 53 players.  Among the cuts were some very prominent names: Payton, Klecko, Riggs and Vick. 

It wasn’t Walter Payton, Joe Klecko, Gerald Riggs Sr., or Michael Vick released today.  Rather it was the sons of the first three and the brother of the last, all sharing those recognizable names but not the excellence of their more famous relatives.  They all found their way to the NFL unemployment line.  You see, there is resemblance, but not the kind of resemblance the coaching staff needed to see!

The word Christian was spoken first of Jesus’ followers in a sarcastic way.  The word Christian literally means ‘little Christ’.  People observed that these early followers of Jesus were “turning the world upside down” with the gospel, and concluded that they were just like the Lord they followed in that regard.

Today, the word Christian in our society is being associated more often with some guy on CNN holding a sign that says “God hates fags”, or the church that protests at American Soldiers’ funerals, or the latest Pastor caught up in a scandal, than it is with people who are “turning the world upside down” with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give you: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  All men will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” Do we resemble the One whose name we bear?  The world is waiting to see.

Today’s text: John 13:1-35

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Once again I am preparing to put my football forecasting accuracy in ink for you!  My 2006 Preview will be ready Wednesday, September 6th.  In it I will tell you how your favorite team will finish in 2006, as well as how each division race will go.  Of course, I’ll tell you who will be in the Super Bowl - and who will win.  Read my preview and you’ll be ready for armchair prognosticating this season.  Stay tuned!

Technorati Profile

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Part one of four lists of off-season moves around the NFL.

Here are my “What Were They Thinking?” award winners:

10) The San Diego Chargers for allowing Drew Brees to leave and handing the keys to Phillip Rivers at QB.  They learned nothing watching the Buffalo Bills after they kicked their Drew to the curb last year in favor of a highly-paid but never-played QB.

9, 8 & 7) The Buffalo Bills, first for losing Mike Malarkey, AND second for turning to Dick Jauron to be his replacement at Head Coach.  AND if all that wasn’t enough, the Bills earn a ‘triple your dumb’ award for bringing back 116 year old Marv Levy to manage the team’s future.  Put a call into Jim Kelly yet?  O.J.?  I hear he can still cut like an All-Pro. Then again, see number 10.  This is the Buffalo Bills we are talking about.  Bills fans, can you say 5-11? 

6) The Tennessee Titans for giving Steve McNair the cold shoulder enroute to a 2006 season with Billy Volek and Kerry Collins competing for the reigns and tutoring Vince Young.

5 & 4) (Double the Dumb!) The Oakland Raiders Head Coach Art Shell, for bringing Tom Walsh out of five years of running a Bed and Breakfast to be his Offensive Coordinator AND for believing that Saints castaway Aaron Brooks would be the Raiders’ QB savior.

3) Drew Brees for deciding to sign with the New Orleans Saints over the Miami Dolphins when he had a choice between the two.  Miami is headed to the playoffs.  The Saints are headed where they are headed every season… nowhere.  Can you name a QB who went to New Orleans and found it to be a good career move?  Doh!

2) The Dallas Cowboys’ decision to bring Terrell Owens to Dallas.  There is no amount of production on the field that can justify the circus of stupidity that accompanies T.O. wherever he lands.  How long before he’s on TV questioning the sexual preference of his QB; the heart of his teammates; the motives of the playcalling; the integrity of the coaches and administration?  Oh, it’s begun already?  Sure it has.

1) The Houston Texans in their decision NOT to choose Reggie Bush with the first pick of the draft.  This is to take nothing away from Mario Williams, but when your QB has been sacked 70 times and spent much of each possession picking himself up off the turf, didn’t anyone suggest that a legitimate running threat might slow down the opponents pass rush?  If I’m David Carr, I’m buying disability and dismemberment insurance.

Technorati Tags: Pigskin Preacher, NFL, NFL Blog, Off-season Moves

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Greetings fanatics!  Did you catch the NFL news over the last few days?  The preseason is sort of a dress rehearsal for the Pigskin Preacher too, bringing my prognosticating prowess up to speed and all.  You have to conclude that I am ready for the regular season after reviewing my direct hits.

In Oakland, I told you there wasn’t a quarterback on the roster to lead the Raiders to anything respectable in the win/loss column.  I told you that Aaron Brooks was playing uninspired football, Andrew Walter was playing mistake-filled football, and that Marques Tuiasosopo was playing in the wrong system.  I told you that Al Davis would be looking for Jim Plunkett’s phone number.  Daryle Lamonica?  George Blanda?  Anyone!  Well now, while those guys weren’t answering the phone, another former Raider wouldn’t stop calling Al Davis.  After leaving 4,382 messages, the Raiders signed Jeff George to a contract yesterday.  Sweet Jesus!  Tell me it isn’t true!  Jeff George with that stellar career win/loss record of 46-78?  Sends fear into the hearts of their opponents!  Wasn’t Napoleon Dynamite’s Uncle Rico available?  Let’s see, a QB who hasn’t thrown a pass in five years and an Offensive Coordinator in Tom Walsh who spent the last five years running a Bed & Breakfast - is anyone wondering why WR Jerry Porter is begging out of town?

What about the QB the Raiders cast away, Kerry Collins?  I told you that he would wait just long enough to miss training camp to sign on somewhere.  Well, the ink just dried on his one year deal in Tennessee… hours after the two-a-days ended.  Scary accuracy, huh?  Now, let me give you some more Titan insights for the future:  Remember when the whole world wondered why the Titans took Vince Young instead of Matt Leinert in the draft, since Titan Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow had worked so closely with Leinert at USC?  Have you figured it out?  Why, here’s the answer: Titans’ owner Bud Adams isn’t planning on Jeff Fisher and his coaching staff (Norm Chow included) to be around next year.  Take it to the bank.

I also told you that the sexy pick for Super Bowl long-shot this season would be the Arizona Cardinals.  So much talk about the ‘Edge’ being the final missing ingredient.  I warned you that the Edgerrin James would not be the same Edge that he was when defenses were on their heels with bug-eyed wonder of Peyton, Marvin, Reggie, Brandon, Dallas and company in Indy tossing the rock about.  So here we are, three weeks of rehearsals in the books and people wondering ‘What’s wrong with Edge?’ Give it time.  When Leinert (yes, I said Leinert), Bolden, Fitz and company get the Cardinals’ vertical game rolling, Edge will look much more Edge-like. 

Then there are the slam dunks.

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Let the debate begin… again. 

It’s defense that wins titles!  Remember the Steel Curtain of the 70’s?  DEFENSE!  No, it’s offense that wins titles!  Remember The Greatest Show On Turf?  OFFENSE!

Funny, no one ever argues that it is Special Teams that win a title, but on a few occasions it is Special Teams that cost a team a title (Scott Norwood?).

The reality is, all three phases of the game are crucial to a team’s success.  If one part hurts, the whole team hurts.  In that particular game referenced above, Super Bowl 25 played in Tampa, the Buffalo Bills offense and defense did a pretty decent job.  Thurman Thomas contributed nearly 200 yards of offense.  But the words ‘wide right’ as time ran out brought the team in white to their knees.

There is tremendous difference between the parts of a football team.  It’s a different animal that lines up in the trenches on defense, than say, a flashy wide receiver with his diamond studded earings and touchdown choreography.  Everyone knows that kick returners have screws loose.  And kickers – they are like pets to the rest of the team.  You pat them on the head when they do what they’re told (go in and get us 3!) and you threaten to whack them with a rolled up news paper when they soil the scoreboard.  All very different, but each one absolutely necessary to the whole.

In his letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul spoke of how believers in Christ need one another.  Each part is unique but necessary to the whole.  “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; different kinds of service, but the same Lord; different kinds of workings, but the same God works all of them.” And Paul goes on to conclude, “Each is given for the common good.”

Where God’s work is concerned, as followers of Christ we’re all part of something larger – the Body of Christ.  Each one of us has an important role to play, and without us the Body suffers.  We may be tempted to think that there are others more gifted, others more capable, and others more available – and that’s absolutely the case.  But, the fact of the matter, believer, is that God gave YOU to the Body of Christ.  So, get in there.

Today’s text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-27

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Two!  Two weeks in a row of no Bengals on the police blotter!  In fact, there are even signs of a newfound respect for authority in Cincy.  WR Chad Johnson scored a TD and actually followed the directions of a game official who told him not to celebrate but to go to the sideline.  Johnson’s teammates were stunned.  OG Bobbie Williams said incredulously, “And he listened?”

Staying with the WR theme for a moment: there was NO T.O. IN N.O. on Monday night.  Check the timeline – T.O. diagnosed himself with an ailment just in time to remove himself from practice when training camp opened.  T.O. brought in his own physicians to rub his thigh when the Dallas Cowboy trainers could find no medical reason he shouldn’t practice like every other Cowboy.  T.O. enters into a battle of wills with Coach Bill Parcells: ‘the player’ insisting he doesn’t need to practice to play; the coach insisting that unless he practices he will not play.  T.O. is left at home for preseason game 1.  Miraculously, T.O. feels well enough to shed his cycling shorts for some pads the week the Cowboys begin preparing for a nationally televised MNF game.  He looks fine all week.  The Coach decides on Friday that T.O. will be held out Monday night.  T.O. decides to skip practice on Saturday… and once again, he’s the talk of the evening on MNF.  T.O. was at home Tivo-ing the game to count how many times his name was mentioned.  What a circus this will be to watch all year. In the words of those prophets Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends…

Speaking of the Cowboy circus…

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Tampa Bay has had a few good ones come through over the years.  On the field, it was guys like Steve Deberg and Brad Johnson.  I’m talking about guys who mentored other players around them.  In Deberg and Johnson you had two wonderful examples of veterans who were selfless in mentoring, encouraging and helping the very guys who took the field in their place.  They weren’t just marking time while they stood on the sidelines.  Speaking of the sidelines, the NFL hasn’t had many better there than Tony Dungy.  I’m talking about guys whose lives speak more loudly and clearly than their words, and even after they’ve gone, their impact continues.

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul says to the younger leaders there, “Whatever you have learned, or received, or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice – and the God of peace will be with you.”

We live in a day when, more often than not, parental or mentoring admonitions sound like this: ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ But think of the tremendous blessing it would be if we could look into the eyes of our children or any others who would look up to us and confidently say, ‘just do what you’ve seen me do, and you’ll be alright.’

This weekend marks the 23rd anniversary of my father’s passing.  Man I miss him!  He was one of those guys that could look at his son and say, ‘whatever you’ve seen me do…’ with regard to being a husband and father.  When my wife and I were married, Mom offered for me to wear Dad’s wedding ring.  Often I look at it on my hand and remember the life lessons he taught, and more than anything, the example he set.  He set the bar high and called his children to it.

Take a few moments today and give the challenging texts I’ve included a read.

As followers of Christ, especially as parents and mentors to others, our walk needs to be consistent with our talk.  Like Paul we need to be able to tell people, ‘Follow me as I follow after Christ’.  When we do that, we leave a generative legacy – and we’re not just marking time on the sidelines of life.

Today’s texts: Philippians 4:9, 1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1 & Deut. 6:4-9

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Breaking Training ~ As NFL teams are winding up their training camps, one more spin about the landscape seems in order to wrap things up.  So, here goes.

Notable Quotable ~ Never at a loss for words, Cowboys WR Terrell Owens offered this assessment today as he left his stationary bike to take part in his first practice action this preseason: “I don’t want to be a problem.” Speaking of notable quotables in Dallas, has anyone else noticed that Coach Bill Parcells has yet to refer to T.O. as anything other than ‘the player’?  This is going to be so much fun to watch this season.

Seau Say What? ~ Word out of San Diego is that retired LB Junior Seau’s date with his first ballot Hall of Fame induction may be postponed a year.  Officials with the Patriots haven’t confirmed it yet, but all indications are Junior might be coming out of his 3 day old retirement to help the Patriots meet the growing shortage of LB’s.

I’m A New Man ~ The MNF broadcasters featured a great sideline interview with Vikings’ receiver Koren Robinson during the Raiders/Vikings game.  Being congratulated for being in recovery from his alcohol problems and even being commended for returning to the program he completed to offer encouragement to other residents, Koren put his best face forward.  Only hours later his face was gracing mug shots – picked up for suspicion of DUI.  Figure the Vikes into the derby to sign one of the leagues many disgruntled receivers.

Let Me Out Of Here ~ And two of the top DWR’s (disgruntled wide receivers) would be Broncos whiner Ashley Lelie and Raiders pouter Joey Porter.

Here We Go Again ~ Is it just me, or is the ‘Will Brett Favre retire?’ speculation off to a very early start this year?  Rumors poured out of Packers camp this week that Brett would announce his retirement before this weekend’s action.  Don’t count on it.  But, there is a likelihood that Brett will be retired to the second string before the season begins.  Keep an eye on it.

Park Pass ~ Saints Coach Sean Payton decided the Saints needed a day off.  He cancelled practice and took the team to a water theme park for the day. 

Sending Out An S.O.S. ~ The Raiders welcomed Chinese Flag-football coach Tang Hai-yan to their practices today.  Raiders Coach Art Shell is likely seeking advice for his lethargic offense.  Do you think?

Technorati Tags: NFL Blog, NFL, Pigskin Preacher

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Week one of the preseason is in the books.  Speaking of being booked, there has not been a member of the Cincinnati Bengals arrested this weekend.  Making progress!  Since the preseason is prime time for QB controversies, I thought I’d dedicate this week’s TMQ to all things QB.  Here we go!

In Washington, a city primed for controversy, fans are clamoring to see Jason Campbell take the reins from Mark Brunnell.  Not so fast.  The Native Americans’ best chance to win still rests with the old man.  He’s ‘cerebral’.  That means he’s got wisdom.  That comes from being old.  Mark has more wisdom than most.  In Dallas, Coach Bill Parcells sent speculation into overdrive this weekend by playing Tony Romo the entire game.  Cowboy fans are wondering if this is the beginning of Drew Bledsoe’s end.  Don’t count on it.  Parcells is a dork, but he’s a football-genius-dork – his move with Romo was to see what he has in this untested back-up, and, mark my words, he wasn’t as impressed as Cowboy fans were. In Denver they are worshipping at the altar of Cutler.  Rookie Jay Cutler leads the NFL in passing… after one preseason game.  Calm down.  Take a breath.  Remember, the starter there is Jake Plummer, and ANYONE is going to rate higher with the fan base than Jake Plummer.  Cutler’s day will come.  Unless there’s an injury to the aforementioned ‘fan favorite’, it won’t come this year.  Why even in Tampa the excitement over Toledo rookie Bruce Gradkowski (who?) is rising.  Again, Bucs’ fans, take this to the bank – if Gradkowski sees regular season action this year, it means the wheels have fallen off.

But what of those cities where there really should be QB rumbling taking place? 

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Say Now ~ 16 year veteran and 12 time Pro Bowl Selection, LB Junior Seau is calling it a career today.  While we will miss him on the field, we will be able to see him in Canton in five years.

Infirmary Igor? ~ Redskins RB Clinton Portis (amusing D.C. area sportswriters with his weekly appearances in character, such as Southeast Jerome, Dr. Don’t Know, and many others) may have the rest of the preseason to dream up new characters and costumes.  A partially separated shoulder will likely end his participation in games that are meaningless.  “Does anyone a tutu and a rubber nose I can borrow?”

Sign That Guy To A Contract! ~ What does it say about your team that the only QB sack you recorded against the Saints was made by your mascot, driving a golf cart?  That’s what it is like to be a Tennessee Titans fan.  ‘T-Rac’, the Titans raccoon like mascot, took Saints QB Adrian McPherson to the ground by running into him as he exited the locker room to start the second half.  What did you think Coach Jeff Fisher meant when he said they would do whatever it takes to win ball games this season?

MNF + ESPN = ? ~ Let me be honest, I am not a Joe Theisman fan.  I think it was that silly single-bar helmet he wore.  Do you remember that thing?  He looked like a kicker. Oops, I forgot, he WAS a kicker!  Just the thought of listening to Joe and Tony Kornheiser competing for soundbites throughout an entire Monday Night Football broadcast gives me a headache.  And if I have to hear one more person say, ‘Randy Moss returns to face the Vikings’… I just hope Hank Jr. still sings the opening song.

Doh! ~ That was the cumulative reaction of Houston Texan fans watching Reggie Bush reel off a 44 yard gain (that should have been a 4 or 5 yard loss) with his second NFL carry for the New Orleans Saints.  Do you think his presence in the backfield will slow down an opponents’ pass rush a bit?  Hmm.  Your team gave up 68 QB sacks last year for losses of nearly 500 yards.  I agree: DOH!

Tuesday Morning QB ~ Now that the games (even though they are meaningless at this point, teams still charge full ticket price) have begun, so shall my regular TMQ feature.  Check back on Tuesdays for NFL news and reviews.

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Consider the fall of Maurice Clarrett.  It has been unbearable to watch, hasn’t it?  Maurice is fully responsible for the decisions he has made and the actions he has taken.  But there are others who have contributed to his destruction.  They are the voices that convinced him that his talent was so spectacular that rules didn’t apply to him.  And Maurice listened. 

Maurice showed up for college exams unprepared, expecting that his mere appearance was enough to guarantee him ‘the grade’.  Maurice decided his was a special case, so he could ‘turn pro’ at 19, even though the rules prohibited it.  Maurice chose to forego his college eligibility and sign with a big-time sports agent.  Maurice was confident he could win a lawsuit against one of the biggest and most successful (and superiorly ‘lawyered’) businesses in the world – the NFL.  Maurice scoffed at Coach Mike Shanahan and veteran members of the Denver Broncos who made overtures to mentor and assist him – he decided he wanted no part of it.  Horrors to wonder what Maurice had decided to do last week when the police stopped him.  Whatever it was, he was equipped with a loaded assault rifle, three loaded handguns and wearing a bullet-proof vest.  What a downward spiral.

Such a downward spiral is forecast for a man who listens to lousy counsel and begins to live it.  The Bible says: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers; but his delight is in the (counsel) of the Lord.”

Note the progression: walking… to standing… to sitting – becoming more and more at home in folly.  Blessed is the man who doesn’t enter into this progression.  But – and that’s another big ‘but’ – this man, instead, cherishes God’s wisdom and listens intently for His voice of counsel.  The text goes on: “This man is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.”

Which voices are we listening to?  What kind of an appetite do we have for God’s counsel?

Today’s text: Psalm 1

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Top Billing ~ Life under the big-top (the circus like environment wherever T.O.’s tour lands) will soon take its toll on Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells.  Now that T.O. has brought in a team of his own private medical professionals to rub his thighs, Cowboys press conferences have become ‘all T.O., all the time’.  This isn’t going to sit well for long with Parcells who wants it to be ‘all Bill, all the time’.  There’s only one star at the 50 yard line in Dallas!

Last One On The Mat ~ And the winner is: Matt Leinart.  The Cardinals QB of the future is looking into the future wondering when his NFL career will begin.  With the Dolphins signing of UT DB Jason Allen, Leinart remains the only unsigned first round pick.  Way to distinguish yourself.

Hold The Line ~ In spite of the fact that the Bucs brought back all five starters and most of 2005’s reserve linemen, drafted a half-ton (in body weight) of rookie offensive lineman, and went out and signed another half-ton of free-agent linemen, word out of Tampa is that they are running short of bodies to play this weekend’s pre-season opener.  Nagging little injuries have the big bodies limping and gimping.  The good news is the Bucs are playing the Jets.  They may not need a line.

Mo Stats ~ Ohio State and Denver Broncos drop-out Maurice Clarrett continued making progress towards an opportunity to play for the Cincinnati Bengals.  Last night he padded his stats, adding a litany of charges to his already impressive arrest record over the last three years.  Officers in Columbus, Ohio observed Clarrett making an illegal u-turn and tried to stop him.  He led them on a car chase.  Clarrett was armed with three loaded guns and was wearing a bullet-proof vest when he was finally captured.  Someone thought they heard him yell, “Tell Mike Brown I made Sportscenter again” as he was being booked. 

In Other Bengals’ News ~ The Bengals will debut ‘the JERK line’ this season.  The JERK line is a telephone number fans can call during games to report unruly and lawless behavior they observe in the stadium to police.  Do I even need to add a punchline here?

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Let The (Pretend) Games Begin ~ The Raiders left Canton with a 16-10 win, but it was the Eagles starting offense that made the most of their one possession, making the starting Raider defense look porous.  Donovan McNabb looked sharp coming back from sports hernia surgery.  Brian Westbrook ran with determination.

Skull Cap? ~ Evidently trying to keep pace with the AFC North leading Bengals in the arrest column, Steelers OT Barrett Brooks was booked in Pittsburgh over the weekend.  The arrest is all the more interesting in that Brooks was arrested after leading police on a five minute chase on his motorcycle.  Demonstrating that the Steelers really are QB Ben Recklessberger’s team, Brooks was not wearing a helmet.

All The Comforts Of Home ~ “Coming into the stadium and getting prepared was just like a game, so I think it’s going to prepare us.” These are the words of Jets QB Chad Pennington after an inner-team scrimmage played in their empty stadium.  Felt just like a home game, minus the chorus of thousands screaming, ‘@#$%^&!’ Head Coach Eric Mangini is still waiting for his starting QB to surface.

Holding Their Breath ~ In Cincinnati, all eyes (that aren’t on the morning police log) have been on Carson Palmer’s progress in rehabbing his surgically repaired knee.  The team’s hopes are that he will be able to start the season opener against the Chiefs, but sound-bites out of office and coaching staff have been leaving some doubt as to whether he will be ready to go.  Journeyman QB Anthony Wright has been working with the first team.  No, I’m not kidding. 

The Shock Wows ‘Em ~ Giants TE Jeremy Shockey returned to action yesterday after missing practice time due to a concussion he suffered Monday.  Shockey impressed his teammates by making two circus-like grabs. In fact, the only lingering effect of the concussion is a little slurring in Shockey’s profanity laced outbursts.

Bad Band ~ I know it has nothing to do with the NFL, but I had to laugh when I read that the Stanford marching band has been suspended by the school for conduct unbecoming of band geeks.  Reports are that they spray painted graffiti on school property.  “I swear Ma, it was the tuba players!” This just a couple seasons after they were suspended for getting drunk and urinating on an opponents football field at halftime.  You know, when you’ve got to go…

Disclaimer ~ Preachers are people too.  We put our pants on one leg at a time and battle with temptations and addictions too.  I’m addicted to football, especially Buccaneer football, and I feed my addiction by checking Buc Shots daily.  So should you!

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Zero losses.  Every NFL team starts the year with a perfect and unblemished record (yes, even the Saints!).  For many, 0-0 is the season’s highpoint, because the fall comes hard, fast and thorough as week one kicks off.  For others, like the Colts of 2005, the chance to flirt with perfection is thrilling, but alas at some point they too fall and the 1972 Dolphins can once again toast their accomplishment. 

I recently spent time in Africa and had a chance to see some lions in the wild, up close and in person (as in six feet from my vehicle).  Looking at them it occurred to me that if the lion got hungry, I really wouldn’t need to be able to outrun the lion – just one other person in my party.  So, a tip for those on safari – make sure you are not the slowest guy in your vehicle!  This is how it is in the NFL: perfection is not the goal – being best among imperfects is really what matters.

With God, however, the standard IS perfection.  And we all fall short.  I might be tempted to compare myself to others and think I’m doing pretty good (sort of like playing the Texans), but the reality is that I’m not perfect.  That’s how God sees it: “There is no one righteous, not even one.  All have turned away… there is no one who does good.  All have sinned and fall short of His glory.” You and I have a problem. 

But.

And by the way, this is a big and glorious but.  This is likely the biggest but in the Bible.

“But now, a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known… a righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.” God provides perfection in Christ.

So the most important question facing the Jets might be ‘Got Quarterback?’ and the most pressing question in Cincy is certainly ‘Got Bail Money’, but (there’s that word again) the most important question facing each of us is ‘Got Jesus?’

Today’s text: Romans 3:9-26

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