A Super Sunday

A Super Sunday

Maybe you’ve heard that this Sunday a football game is going to be played. The game was named by the late owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt, after his daughter’s super ball. I guess the world can be thankful she liked hard, rubber bouncy balls instead of some other toy, or the big game might have been called the “Easy Bake Oven” Bowl, the “Slinky Bowl” or the “Silly Putty Bowl”-- those just don’t have the same pizzazz as the “Super Bowl.”

I like the name “Super Bowl” and I like the Roman numerals that are used to describe them. In fact, I say let’s use Roman Numerals more often. In case you were wondering, last Sunday in church we had DCCCXCVI worshipping at Central.

Unlike last year’s Super Bowl XL which was played in that beautiful winter vacation destination of Detroit (a fine city just a few miles from my hometown), Super Bowl XLI will be played in Miami, Florida. Can you believe that most folks would rather attend the Super Bowl in a city like Miami where the average temperature is LXXVI as opposed to Detroit where the average winter temperature is XXII?

If you can’t be at Dolphin Stadium cheering on your team and enjoying the game and weather, then like millions of others you’ll be sitting in front of what my dad used to refer to as the “idiot box.” (He also called the television another name but I shall refrain from referring to a TV set by that name in this family friendly, church e-mail.).

Some folks will watch to see the Pre-game festivities. Billy Joel is singing the National Anthem this year. I hope he doesn’t sing his old hit song, “Only the Good Die Young” too. It might give the Bear’s quarterback a false sense of immortality. (Wow… that was a cheap shot, Bears fans! Your quarterback might be a bad thrower and a bad player, but that doesn’t make him a bad person. He’s probably a very nice man. I must still be a little cranky at the thought that my beloved Lions haven’t been to a Super Bowl…ever! That reminds me of an old joke. Question: What do you call 47 millionaires watching the Super Bowl? Answer: The Detroit Lions.)

Others will view the game for the commercials. Advertisers will spend the equivalent of the GNP of a small Central American country for 30 seconds of airtime. Hmmm… if Central Nazarene were to pay me to communicate the Good News the same money that Pepsi will give CBS to communicate its message, then I figure the church owes me 195 million dollars from last Sunday’s three sermons. Of course, Pepsi’s message will probably be heard by a few million more people than the DCCCXCVI that were here on Sunday. So maybe I shouldn’t expect the same money.

Still others will want to see the big half-time show. The artist formerly known as “The artist formerly known as Prince” will be singing. Please let the record show that while we share a name (quite honestly I’m not sure if “Prince” is his first, last or middle name), we are not related. Moreover, unlike Prince, I have never partied like its 1999. My boys tell me that most of my partying is more like its 1937.

Moreover, there are even a few people that will tune into the Super Bowl to actually watch a football game. Strange, but true.

All this to say, ready or not our yearly cultural phenomenon is about to happen this Sunday.

But long before the coin toss, kick-off and all the rest something even more important will happen. Like every Sunday, in churches across the country, people will gather for worship. The greatest event happening this Sunday will not take place in Dolphin Stadium, but rather the greatest event just might happen at Central Church of the Nazarene. If someone who doesn’t know Christ accepts Him into their life this week—that event will be the greatest moment by far this Sunday. Besides that blessed event, there will be other important happenings taking place Sunday Morning. More than praising big, burley football players, we will be praising the Lord. More than sharing chips, dips and party favorites, we will be sharing in the Lord’s Supper. More than a simple gathering of friends, we will be meeting with the Holy One. Don’t miss worship this Sunday Morning, it will be super!!!