September 23, 2020
Leadership Notes
For me, this is the first fall without football since before I could remember anything. My earliest football experience wasn't specifically about me watching football but about my dad and his friends watching a game. I was four or five. They were drinking beer and eating what I thought was frosting on crackers. I asked for one. My dad obliged. It was limburger cheese on crackers. Apparently, my reaction was quite entertaining. I was neither traumatized nor turned off to football. I grew to be a huge fan. Football became a bonding thing for father and son, and later, for my younger brother and I.
I'll most definitely tune in to college games. Michigan's first is October 24. Kinda weird, but I'll take it. As far as the NFL goes, I think I'm done, at least for this season. Reasons are personal, but regardless of why, my wife is happy with the new me. While we were in the delivery room awaiting the arrival of our firstborn, I had the television tuned to Monday Night Football; San Diego Chargers @ L.A. Raiders.
George Will once said:
Football combines two of the worst things in American life. It is violence
punctuated by committee meetings.
To paraphrase Kenny Bania, "That's gold George! Gold!"
It's funny how we allow ourselves to get caught up in stuff that doesn't really matter. Some things we make first things while other, more important things pile up in the junk drawer. Do we spend more time on social media than reading God's Word? Am I saying we should be spending more time reading the Bible than watching television or reading a novel? Of course not. But being well-rounded means not forsaking the reading of Scripture. Sometimes we forsake the necessary for what we think is urgent.
Last week, a Supreme Court Justice died. She lived and long and full life. Setting ideology aside, she accomplished a lot in her life. Obviously, her family grieves losing a loved one. I have to admit, when news of her death was reported, I was not shocked or surprised. I was not then, nor am I now, in mourning {contrary to what many headlines pronounced}. "A Nation Grieves" did not fit me. I did not know her. She wasn't part of my family. Thousands of other Americans died that same day. Their families are also dealing with sorrow and sadness.
When a Supreme Court Justice dies, the most important question is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything else is secondary. As Psalm 115:16 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." For the thousands of Americans who die every day, the most important question is the one Jesus asked in Luke 16. Repent or perish. Every other question is secondary. Repent…follow Jesus…serve Jesus…and then, when you die, you will glorify Jesus Christ with worship that never ceases. Every Supreme Court Justice will have to answer to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.
It might be fitting to end with this quote from R.C. Sproul:
Even if the budget is never balanced, even if the stock market crashes, even if food prices skyrocket, even if my child never recovers from her illness, even if I lose my job, and even if we lose our home - yet will I rejoice in the God of my salvation.
With Much Love and Admiration,
Richard