Okay, I couldn’t help it. After all, it is Super Bowl weekend, and the culmination of months of football which has been played out on all levels: high school, collegiate, and professional. Most everybody is all geared up for the game, and folks are pretty much divided over which team they are rooting for.
So I thought I would post one more football story today. Only this time, rather than involve professional clubs, it centers on a certain college team. It seems that…
Two University of Alabama football players, Bubba and Tiny, were taking an important exam. If they failed, they would be on academic probation and not allowed to play in the big game the following week.
The exam was "fill in the blank" and the last question read, "Old MacDonald had a ____." Bubba was stumped! He had no idea what to answer; but he knew he needed to get this one right to be sure he passed.
Making sure the professor wasn't watching, he tapped Tiny on the shoulder. "Tiny, what's the answer to the last question?" Tiny laughed, and then looked around to make sure the professor hadn't noticed. He turned to Bubba and said, "Bubba, you're so stupid. Everyone knows that Old MacDonald had a FARM."
"Oh yeah," said Bubba, "I remember now." he picked up his No. 2 pencil and started to write the answer in the blank. Then he stopped. Tapping Tiny on the shoulder once again, he whispered, "Tiny, how do you spell FARM?" "You are really dumb, Bubba. That's so easy…" hissed Tiny, "Everybody knows that farm is spelled ‘E-I-E-I-O’."*
Oh well, I guess one doesn’t need to know how to spell if he is wearing a National Championship Ring, huh?! In the meantime, enjoy the game this Sunday, as you will be seeing the best of the best play. For my part, I will enjoy the game.
But I also look forward to the locker room scenes afterward. That is when the Lombardi Trophy, reserved only for those who are truly considered champions, will be handed out. Soon after, more Championship Rings will be handed out as well.
Every year, when this scene plays out, I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul, who was himself quite fond of using athletic analogies in his letters. In I Corinthians 9:24-27, he stated…
”Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
I look forward to that wonderful day when all who have served our Lord will be given a crown that will last forever. Until then, I joyously run the race God has laid out for me. I trust you are doing the same.
By the way, I promise that there will be no more corny football jokes posted for a while.
*SOURCE: Based on a version about Florida State football players found on the “Football Jokes” web page at http://www.jokes4us.com/sportsjokes/footballjokes.html.
So I thought I would post one more football story today. Only this time, rather than involve professional clubs, it centers on a certain college team. It seems that…
Two University of Alabama football players, Bubba and Tiny, were taking an important exam. If they failed, they would be on academic probation and not allowed to play in the big game the following week.
The exam was "fill in the blank" and the last question read, "Old MacDonald had a ____." Bubba was stumped! He had no idea what to answer; but he knew he needed to get this one right to be sure he passed.
Making sure the professor wasn't watching, he tapped Tiny on the shoulder. "Tiny, what's the answer to the last question?" Tiny laughed, and then looked around to make sure the professor hadn't noticed. He turned to Bubba and said, "Bubba, you're so stupid. Everyone knows that Old MacDonald had a FARM."
"Oh yeah," said Bubba, "I remember now." he picked up his No. 2 pencil and started to write the answer in the blank. Then he stopped. Tapping Tiny on the shoulder once again, he whispered, "Tiny, how do you spell FARM?" "You are really dumb, Bubba. That's so easy…" hissed Tiny, "Everybody knows that farm is spelled ‘E-I-E-I-O’."*
Oh well, I guess one doesn’t need to know how to spell if he is wearing a National Championship Ring, huh?! In the meantime, enjoy the game this Sunday, as you will be seeing the best of the best play. For my part, I will enjoy the game.
But I also look forward to the locker room scenes afterward. That is when the Lombardi Trophy, reserved only for those who are truly considered champions, will be handed out. Soon after, more Championship Rings will be handed out as well.
Every year, when this scene plays out, I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul, who was himself quite fond of using athletic analogies in his letters. In I Corinthians 9:24-27, he stated…
”Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
I look forward to that wonderful day when all who have served our Lord will be given a crown that will last forever. Until then, I joyously run the race God has laid out for me. I trust you are doing the same.
By the way, I promise that there will be no more corny football jokes posted for a while.
*SOURCE: Based on a version about Florida State football players found on the “Football Jokes” web page at http://www.jokes4us.com/sportsjokes/footballjokes.html.