Super Bowl Ads

In addition to rooting for Peyton Manning to win his second Super Bowl title in a couple of weeks I, like most people, will anticipate each commercial advertising spot. There are usually a handful of memorable ads during the game each year that generate almost as much discussion as the game.

I've noticed a lot of activity on Twitter this week relating to an ad CBS plans to run. Most of the tweets that hit my filter were requesting that people sign a petition complaining about CBS taking an ad described as "pro-life" from Focus on the Family, while evidently not electing to take an ad from the United Church of Christ. I don't know the purpose of the planned UCOC spot, but I would assume it would speak to their embracing of the homosexual lifestyle.

I didn't really know much about the FOF ad until I read a short piece in The Tennessean this morning. The planned ad tells the story of a missionary expecting her fifth child. Due to an illness contracted during the mission trip, she was advised to abort the child. She ignored the doctors and gave birth to a health baby. The story of Tim Tebow and his mom should be inspirational to many. Who knows what a child may accomplish, given the opportunity to live?

The article lists several groups protesting the ad, including Women's Media Center, NOW, Feminist Majority and others. Jembu Greene, president of WMC said, "An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year -- an event designed to bring Americans together." She, and other critics are concerned that the ad will convey an anti-abortion message.

I freely admit that people like Greene rub me the wrong way. She, and others like her, use the language of reconciliation while promoting division and murder. I am beginning to see, however, that what she and her followers need is pity and prayer. They have pursued a life goal that seems admirable and worthy in their sight; failure and destruction are their actual legacy. Paul spoke to their condition in Romans 1:18-25:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

The next time we're tempted to be bitter toward promoters and supporters of evil, may God help us to offer a prayer on their behalf and demonstrate true compassion toward them. Without a change of heart and life, they face a hopeless future.

Buh Bye Kiffin, Welcome Coach Dooley

As a Tennessean and UT fan, I embraced Lane Kiffin. In some ways, his bravado was a welcome change after a few years of decline. There was always an underlying sense of uneasiness, however. I think you should be able to battle your neighbor on the field, but still be able to shake hands when the game is over.

Shocked would be a good word to describe my initial reaction to hearing he was leaving. Anger soon followed (partially due to feeling jilted, primarily due to the proximity of signing day). After watching the initial press conference of new coach, Derek Dooley, I feel blessed. I was ready to take the field myself after watching the presser! There is no comparing the quality of the two men. We now have a winner on The Hill!

While it is possible that our 2010 recruiting class will suffer a few losses, I can't help but feel UT has found the man who will lead us for quite a few years to come. It might take a year or two longer to get back to where the Big Orange should be, I think it will be far more gratifying when we get there. I'm not a prophet, but I have a feeling this will be a good ride.

Let all Big Orange fans get up, "dust off our britches," and get to work. Go Coach Dooley! Go Big Orange!

Where Does The Time Go?

It is hard to believe we are already starting another calendar year. I'm not really sure where 2009 went. 2010 will likely be a blur as well. There is certainly truth to the "life is a vapor" analogy made in Scripture.

During today's sermon at Old Hickory, a 2010 calendar was displayed on-screen. My initial thought was just how quickly the year will pass, bringing us to a similar point next year. Yet, the more I examined the calendar, I noticed a couple of things:

• The big rectangle forming the calendar was divided into 12 monthly squares. Each of the months was then divided into 28 - 31 daily segments. There are actually quite a few blocks of time that we call "days" in a year.
  
  
• Today is January 3. We are still very early in our journey of 2010. If we are granted life for all of 2010, there are many days of opportunity remaining, each with unique promise and possibility.
  

I'm as guilty as anyone of looking ahead to upcoming dates and scheduled events. One resolution needed by most everyone is live each day fully, responsibly and thankfully. There is no better time to start than today.