The Football (Un)Star

Over the last several weeks there has been a drama playing in Green Bay. It has to do with a single person fighting a big corporation. The only difference is one wants things the way they were, the other wants to move on. Of course I am talking about the Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Back in March Brett said that he was moving on and retiring and he said that several times since, until a few weeks ago when he said that he wants to come back. This headline has completely dominated the news here it does not matter that a tornado occurred the day before, the headline was Brett Favre. It did not matter that the fire chief of a small town that had been on the job since before Brett Favre was even thought of was being mourned by a town that loved him. No body cares about the real news.

This whole story does not make sense to me. This act is not about being a good quarterback, it is not about the Packers, it is not about his accomplishments, it is definitely not about the fans (Which Brett and the news try to make it out to be). No, this act is about Brett Favre wanting his own way. I do not understand the madness that is going on with petitions from as far away as Chicago (I hope the Bears find that man!). I do not understand the weekly protests at Lambeau field. I do not understand this because Brett said he retired. All of a sudden he wants to play again and have his old job back and have everything back to the way it was last year. Why should he be allowed to come back? Why should he get his way? Why should a team go back to paying him his salary? After all he is saving the team money now that he is retired.

If I had 5 minutes with Brett, I would ask him to think about a few things: 1) A good leader always prepares the way for the future. I don't think that there is any doubt as to the impact that Brett had on the team. The Packers have said that they are moving on with a new quarterback. Brett should be proud of the fact that he helped to break in the new quarterback. In college a professor said, "The best test for any leader is to see what happens when there is a change in leadership." 2) What will coming back to the Packers accomplish? What accolade is there still to get? Like all of us, he is not getting any younger, this year could be just a big disaster even worse he could get seriously hurt, hurt to the point where he could be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life. I would think that leaving at the top of one's game is more important! 3) What kind of an impression is he leaving on those who are following this drama/farce? Right now I have even less respect for him then I did last year, and I am a Vikings fan! He is telling the kids and even the grown-ups that you can get your own way if you make a big stink. I would think that with all of the organizations that he has supported and the things that he has done for charity that he would have some respect for the people who would be following such a situation. He is leaving a bad impression, which unfortunately people like me have to deal with in our Sunday sermons.

I think that it is high time that Brett get his 3 time MVP head on straight and think about what he is doing not only to himself, but to the fans of the Packers, and the to the team itself. I know of no organization that would bring back somebody after retiring. I hope that it does not begin with the NFL!

Yoked Freedom

Today is the 4th of July. The day when we celebrate our nation's independence from Britain. 232 years ago the Declaration of Independence was signed that gave way for our freedom to live without worry about political tyranny. I think of my ancestors who came from Poland, Germany, and Russia at times like these. I try to imagine what it must have been like to go into Ellis Island, past the Statue of Liberty with it's motto:

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

What an interesting picture of what life in America must be like to those who live where there are problems and no such thing as freedom. However, whether you agree with this statement or whether you think we have done or not done what these words talk about; there is an interesting correlation to this upcoming Sunday's Gospel lesson from Matthew 11:16-30 and specifically verses 28 through 30. (By the way, these words come before the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty! In time and in truth.)

"Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Vaguely familiar?! How great it is to know that Jesus said that if we become yoked to him he will help us carry our burdens and help us gain strength if we would just come to him. What a simple command! Just come! Here you will find freedom from your worries, from worries about money, health, and the likes that so easily entangle us. Because Jesus carried the yoke of the cross which was weighed down with the sin of the whole world and because that burden could not keep him down; he is able to make this claim and this claim is freeing. True freedom indeed!

On this 4th of July let us not think just of the freedoms that we share as citizens of this country, but let us also think of the freedom that Christ gives to us. Perhaps you need freedom today, come to the Savior. Take his yoke upon you and you find rest and a lifting of burdens.

Have a happy and safe and free 4th of July!