Brett Farve Retires

Good afternoon friends! Big news in the sports world today as we have learned that Brett Favre has retired after 17 years in the NFL - all I believe but 1 or 2 with the storied Green Bay Packers. I am sure there are a few purple fans today who are thrilled with the news because it gives the boys of fall here in MN a better chance at defeating their number 1 rivals across the river. But for lovers of the game, Mr. Favre’s leaving will itself leave a hole. Without question he was and will be remembered as one the greatest ever to play his position. Make no mistake – I have always enjoyed sports and am a fan though one might find me off the wagon from time to time. Sports are fun (Howard Cosell, as only he could say it, said “sports is the toy department of human life.”) and can be a natural and meaningful tool for building friendships that last a life time. BUT something has gone terribly wrong…. Yesterday Ben Roethlisberger of my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers received a new $102 million contract to play quarterback for the next 8 years! This is just an example of an entire cancer of misplaced values and priorities in our culture. It’s wrong and speaks volumes about who we are allowing ourselves to become. I remember watching the BBC documentary entitled “Why We Fight?” In fact we showed it here at Calvary. Simply, its about war. At the end the question of the title is asked and an answer is given; “Because not enough of us stand up and say ‘No’”. Its probably true that the grotesque amount of money being paid athletes by billionaire owners subsidized by the taxes of the common folk will not change until enough of us get up and turn off the TV and familiarize ourselves again with how Jesus defines greatness and where he calls us to place our priorities and the monies that follow those priorities. Something to think about anyway……..Thanks for the memories Mr. Favre….one on the journey with you…….Pastor Jeff