Month: September 2025 (Page 1 of 4)

I have an admission to make as I write this blog.  I look forward to watching the pro football hall of fame enshrinement ceremony each year.  This year my favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, had Jared Allen, who played defensive end, go into the hall of fame.  My wife knows when I am been watching the ceremony.  I usually am crying like a baby.  It is inspiring to observe a completive, no-nonse guy stand before the mike with the sports world listening intently to his prepared speech speak from the heart.   

Sometimes, it seems like the football player is emulating himself and his accomplishments.  But most of the time, when a man stands before the world, giving his acceptance speech, his words are deep, heartfelt and sincere.  He remembers the hard work, the guys he played with, along with those who have supported him.  Often the man standing at the podium will give a clear witness of strength found in the Lord. When I sense the sincere gratitude, often filled with heartfelt emotions, it brings me to tears.  Here are men, admired by the sports world, for being a tough and determined football player, yet when the spotlight is on them, they give gratitude and thanksgiving to others, and often filled with emotion.  “Wow.”

Jared Allen, in the last minutes of his speech, gave a bold and clear testimony regarding the place of Jesus in his life.  He began by remembering the premarital advice given to him and his wife.  He referred to the two most important decisions a man will make.  First, the decision to follow Jesus and who will he marry.  He also recalled the advice of knowing there are two different people in life. First, those who are like a boat anchor, who drag you down and second, those who elevate you.  He then gives high praise for his wife, calling her, “a true game elevator.”

Then Allen speaks directly to his two lovely daughters before sports world.   He calls them, “his greatest accomplishment” and his “legacy.” He makes this remarkable statement, one in which I lost my composure.  “When I get called home to heaven one day, if all they talk about is my gold jacket, then I’ve failed miserably, failing as a father, husband and friend.”  He then gives this advice, which is very bold indeed.   “Always put Christ first and find your ‘why.’  Dream big dreams and always purse greatness in whatever you do.”

It is amazing how the light of the gospel shines through at unique times in our culture, as the message of “Good News” is told to millions of sports fans.  May Jared Allen’s words, speak to the hearts and souls of men.

To hear the name of “Jesus” mentioned on the stage of the pro football hall of fame, is powerful.  Phil 2:10-11 declares, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  I agree wholehearted that our two most important decisions in life are accepting Jesus as Lord and who a man will marry.  Allen’s advice to his daughters, in putting Christ first is life is wise fatherly counsel.

Listen to his advice, men.  Your most important decision will be about the “Lordship of Jesus” and your choice of a life partner.  It seems to me; Allen was pleading with his daughters to put Jesus first.  May all the young men, who are football fans not forget this wise and heartfelt advice from pro hall of famer, Jared Allen. Skol

My wife and I, watched in amazement and joy as we sensed  the presence of the Lord this past Sunday, during the five-hour memorial for Charlie Kirk, held in Phoenix’s State Farm Stadium.  Both of us have spent the last couple of weeks, trying to discern what will be the impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.  Beyond a doubt Kirk is a martyr because of his example, spirit and courage.  He has captured the hearts of young men.  The movement is growing.

Two passages of Scripture help describe what participants experienced as a spiritual revival as well as a political rallying cry. Seldom in such a large gathering have such opposite expressions so blended together.  Political power and spiritual energy was produced by the testimonies to the life of Charlie Kirk and his belief in Jesus, as Lord and Savior.  It produced a momentum that will begin to capture our nation with the “Good News” that Jesus and His Kingdom is the ultimate answer to the brokenness felt in our nation.

The first passage is from Malachi 4:2-3, “But you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”  As the TV cameras panned crowd of almost 100,000 in the stadium, you could see the energy as the crowd, freely  expressing their joy in the Lord.  They were like calves that had felt penned up.  They experienced  the healing presence of the Lord.

The second passage is from Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”  The fourth verse goes on to say, “For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.  You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.”  Many people once again saw that the darkness can not overcome the “light of Jesus” presence.  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:5).  The yoke of slavery to the voices of darkness was broken and the heavy burden of confusion, despair and uncertainty was lifted from the shoulders of many well meaning folks, who were previous blinded by the enemy of our souls.

This is what I take away from this spiritual revival meeting held in the desert of Arizona, watched by millions around the world.  First, Jesus is Lord.  This was the rock solid belief of Charlie Kirk.  Jesus declared,  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 22:13).  Jesus is “the Arc of History.”  Don’t try to bend it in any other direction, then his Kingdom Presence.

Secondly, the necessity and beauty of Charlie’s wife Erika confessing, “I forgive you” to her husband’s killer.  Her example is the model for our broken and divided nation at this moment in time.  Jesus taught us to pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those trespass against us.”

On a personal note – two challenges for me.  Charlie Kirk has challenged me to be a man of courage. He was not afraid of the opposition.  The second challenge was his on going comment to his wife, “What can I do today for you as my wife?” 

This revival in the desert will stick in the hearts and minds of Americans for long time.  May we all have the courage to choose the way of Jesus, as we face the opposition from those who have been  blinded to the truth of King Jesus.