[Biblemat] A) SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Saturday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here are some thoughts concerning the use of the Lord's Day,
Sunday:

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

     In our local newpaper yesterday, Feb. 2, was a byline from
the AP in Miami.  It stated:  Churches use Super Bowl Sunday
to teach new people: -- "Football's faithful will file into house parties, 
bars and, of course, Dolphin Stadium on Super
Bowl Sunday to observe their holiest of holy days.  But they'll also turn out 
in force at churches across the country,
which are tapping the popularity of sports in hopes of saving
souls.

     "Organizers of church-sponsored Super Bowl gatherings
see the events as a departure from the formality of organized
religion -- the type of events that could make someone who
doesn't typically attend services feel more at home.

     "It's a way of reaching out into our community in a very
informal, low-key way where we show people we're regular
Joes like they are without the pressure of Church, said Pastor
Luis Acosta of Pines Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist con-
gregation north of Miami in Pemproke Pines.

     "Pines Baptist has been holding Super Bowl events for a
few years and expects about 300 people, mostly men, at its
flag football game and watch party this year.  The church drew about 250 
people to a block party Jan. 13 which featur-
ed NFL-themed games, former Dolphin players signing auto-
graphs and giveaways including a plasma television.

     "Acosta said the church doesn't take a heavy-handed appr-
oach to nonbelievers who join in such events.  There won't
be so much as a prayer at the Super Bowl Sunday event.  If
a guest enjoys himself, a member might invite him to a church social group 
meeting, then maybe a Bible study, then
perhaps an actual service.  We just follow God's lead, Acosta
said."

     Satan knows how to do his work well.  He guides the organizers of the 
Super Bowl to present it at the very time
the people of God usually are having their evening church
services.  So, the leaders in many churches rearrange their
schedule to meet the occasion or they just simply bring in a
large TV set and use the whole day for fun and frolic.  Even
as the "pastor" said, "We don't have anything religious on
that day, not even a prayer."  He closed out his statement by
saying "We just follow God's lead."  No, they are not following God's lead in 
this matter they are following Satan's.
They have given the Lord's Day over to Satan.

     The Bible tells us that a person caught up in the pleasures
of this world will be choked out and not bear any fruit for the
glory of God.  His heart is where his treasure is.  His treasure
is a sport's event.  (Matt. 6:19-21; Lk. 8:14; 1 Tim. 5:6).

     Most of the denominational churches, and even some that
call themselves churches of Christ, cater to the flesh, they
supply food, fun, and frolic for anyone that comes their way.
They spend millions of dollars to build large buildings to house gymnasiums 
and banquet halls.  They spend hundreds
of thousands of dollars to buy and maintain Silver Eagle Tour
busses to transport their membership to venues of recreat-
ion and sightseeing.  So, the fulfillment of the desires of the
flesh has come between man and his God and therefore has
become an idol to worship.  The nation has become so caught up in the desires 
and pleasures of this world that they
shunt God to the very background and even commandeer His
special day, Sunday, to engage in highly advertised super
sports, and boating, fishing, hunting, playing golf, watching
sports on TV and partying.  Some, spend themselves out on
Saturday to the extent that they wear their body down to a
nub and then they sleep most of the morning on Sunday.
When they do finally get up and fix them something to eat
for lunch, immediately the TV beckons to watch sports all the
afternoon.  Such a nation has forgotten God, and such a nation will be turned 
into hell, Psa. 9:17.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070203/2238cff6/attachment-0001.html