Some things never change…

bengalsimage_008.jpg

This past Sunday marked the 20th consecutive year I’ve been in Cincinnati watching my beloved Bengals at their home opener. Prior to the game I took this picture and sent it to the rest of my family with a caption “Some things never change…”

They knew what I meant by this caption…here I sit all excited, the adrenaline flowing, chills running up and down my spine as the Bengals are introduced to a pyrotechnic show like none other…only to lose the game in the final seconds about 3 hours later.

I’ve kicked all of my addictions over the years but I’ve never been able to kick my Bengal addiction. I am so far in denial that for 20 straight years I’ve declared to the family “this is the year.” And only one time have I been correct and of course that was the year Carson Palmer got his leg snapped in half by a rabid “StEALer” in the playoffs.

As I reflect back on this game I can only smile as I thought the victory for me was not determined on the field but instead in the stands because on each side of me sat sober, God-fearing, Christ loving men who “pre-Christ”, along with me, would have dumped $100 each into beer in order to absorb the pain of another Bengal failure.

God brought both of these guys to me at different times in their life for one reason and that was to lead them to Jesus. That is all the credit I can take, they are the ones that decided to try a new way of living and in turn, along with me, were able to absorb the most depressing loss our Bengals have experienced in many years…sober.

After the game, although I was disappointed with the Bengals misfortune…again, I was in awe of what Jesus can do with people’s lives. In the book of John chapter eleven, when Mary asked Jesus to bring Lazarus back to life Jesus said in verse four; “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it.”

Whatever we are going through, no matter how sick we are, whether it is physical, mental or spiritual, Jesus wants us to turn to Him so our sickness does not end in death but a new life that in turn may be used to glorify him and bring others to him.

This is the way it was, is and will always be. Just like my Bengals…some things never change.

P.E.A.C.E.

Leave a Reply