There is a football player I really like. I have watched his Superbowl victory so many times on our DVR I can call the plays. I have his jersey and about every picture of him the internet has to offer. My Dad loves him too, but not as much as me I'm thinking:P If you know me well, you know exactly who I'm talking about: Peyton Manning. I recently read the book on his life so far called MANNING. I was keenly interested to know where he stood in his spiritual life, if anywhere. I also knew he was a good speaker, and wondered how well he could write. Turns out he's a writer at heart. I was made happy in the other wondering by these words:"My faith has been number one since I was thirteen years old and heard from the pulpit on a Sunday morning in New Orleans a simple question: 'If you died today, are you one hundred percent sure you'd go to heaven?' Cooper was there, and Eli, but it didn't hit them at the time the way it did me. It was a big church, and I felt very small, but my heart was pounding. The minister invited those who would like that assurance through Jesus Christ to raise their hands, and I did. Then he invited us to come forward, to take a stand, and my heart really started pounding. And from where we sat, it looked like a mile to the front.
But I got up and did it. I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since."
"Well wow! That's so neat!" I thought. I also started thinking of one other huge thing: his silence. His wonderful coach, Tony Dungy, while holding the Vince Lombardi trophy in 2007 finally victorious, after getting fired from a great job, the death of his parents, and the death of his son gave his whole victory to God leaving nothing for himself. In fact, they've hardly ever been able to interview him, before or since, without him telling millions about his faith and how God blesses him. Peyton was happy too, at the Superbowl. Dripping wet, teary-eyed happy and he was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He certainly said some good things as the best player in the world right then, he didn't gloat, he praised his players, he showed respect to his coach. But now I'm thinking as I was reading this book that he had a huge platform there, taller than the one he was standing on. Tony Dungy and Jim Ursay and used it to the utmost. Peyton didn't. "Hmm, wonder why." thinks I. Then I read again:
"Some players get more vocal about it - the Reggie Whites, for example - (Reggie White was called "The Minister of Defense" before he was called home. I smile) and some point to Heaven after scoring a touchdown and praise God after games. I have no problem with that. But I don't do it, and don't think it makes me any less a Christian. I just want my actions to speak louder, and I don't want to be more of a target for criticism than I already am."
"Sooooo... he's afraid?" I think to myself. He continues to talk about drinking beer, which he does, and people seeing and taking that out on his faith. He said that Christians drink beer sometimes just like non-Christians. Now I'm disappointed, but interested. I tell my dad about Peyton's, at his having expressed interest before, and I asked him what he thought about Christians drinking. He said being a Christian didn't write off alcohol in itself, but if you say you're a Christian and you cause someone else to fall that is downright wrong. I came to the conclusion that Peyton wasn't as strong in his heart as he was on the field. Then my dad said, "Peyton's got some growing to do, just like we all do in some way." I noticed something about myself. Whenever I find someone is not a Christian, or is one that is making a bad decision. I automatically look down on that person. It just comes naturally and I don't like it at all. I want to think well of people, especially people I like:) I am a big judger. With way bad grammar. But we all know it: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." So without even being conscious of it, I'm judging people and writing them off as people I don't like almost. I hope you do this too, because this is where I've been going with the Peyton story. Well, no, I hope you don't do it, but you know what I mean. I think of the KJ52 song I've looked into called "Dear Slim". It's a song to a famous unbeliever telling about the hope of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to look at the lyrics yourself!But there's one line in it that goes "I hope you understand that I ain't even dissin you". So he's offering hope and love without dissing. So say in your best southern: "Diss not lest ye wanna be DISSED!!!!" There's another line that goes: "Too bad a lot of Christians all they do is hate on you instead of dropping to their knees and taking time to pray for you". So according to the Bible and KJ52, we shouldn't judge or diss - pray instead!!!!!!!! Pray continually. I'm trying to get rid of my automatic diss button. Hope you do too.
