Saturday in Oklahoma...11-5-11

Saturday in Oklahoma (11-5-11)...
...and what a Saturday it was!
Oklahomans love their football (I know their not the only ones).
But what a Saturday it was for football -->
 - OU/Texas A&M - exciting game, good win, sad story...
 - OSU/Kansas State - Exciting game, good win, interesting ending...

  Oh yeah, LSU/Alabama was on TV too!

The thing that is awesome about college football is the FANS.  To be in the stadium, hear the cheering, see the EXCITEMENT...If you've ever been there you know what i am talking about.
The energy in the stadium is flowing, it's electric.  Even if you were there just to watch two teams play you would get caught up in the moment.

The big question, those people you see in the stadium on Saturday, do you see the same excitement in their eyes on Sunday...unless they're at an NFL game?  What about at church?  Shouldn't that same excitement be there as well?  (I mean we know how it all ends...that IS something to cheer)

So the OU/Texas A&M game was an exciting game.  Back and forth in the first half.  But in the third quarter OU starts to pull away.  During that quarter, Ryan Broyles goes down with a torn ACL.  That may mean nothing to some,but Broyles has quite the story. 
From issues with the police upon arriving at OU as a freshman --> pushing through that and the discipline to becoming a standout athlete and deciding to forgo the draft to return to OU for his senior season.  That takes discipline, it takes character.  He chose college and finishing his college career over the money of the NFL.  He chose the chance to help make OU great and accomplish the team goals rather than cashing it in for himself in the NFL.
Broyles took a trip with some of his teammates this summer on a mission trip to Haiti.  According to those who went, and who saw him on his return, he came back a changed man.  He had a little different perspective on life. 
His senior season has been one of records for Broyles...
   *FBS record holder for career receptions.
   He also built on other Sooner records he already owned
   *most 100 yard receiving games.
   *most career touchdown receptions.
   *most career receiving yards.
Just to name a few.

Then for it to end with one play...followed by tears as he had given his all... sad ending to a great college career.

We are never guaranteed anything...
What do you place you faith in?  Is it in yourself?


Then the OSU/Kansas State game.  What a season OSU is having.  In the K-State game it (at times) looked like the Cowboy's of old trying to give it away, but they pulled it out.

Then shortly after the game the 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit.  Not sure if that was because OSU went to #2 in the polls or just to drive home the thought in my mind of the brevity of life.
That was the first earthquake I have been in (a couple aftershocks since then) but a pretty humbling experience.  When the whole world (as you know it) shakes and there is nothing you can do about it.
God is big.  He's in control...no matter what you think.

So no matter who you root (cheer) for, no matter how excited you get at a football game,

James 4:14

"Yet you do not know at your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

We are not guaranteed another day.  So let's all try to keep the right perspective.  Have fun.  Cheer loudly.  Give God the praise and honor He deserves.

Life is short.
We don't take anything with us.
Let's all leave this life exhausted...for the right reasons.
When you get to Heaven, don't you want to see your friends there?

Peace
B


**disclaimer** I am not faulting anyone for cheering for sports.  Just some thoughts I have had after seeing faces and actions in various churches on Sunday mornings.