Monday, January 31, 2011

Super Bowl Fever

It’s not the motorcade to provide safety that bothers me. It’s the crowds of people standing along side of the road waving and cheering widely. It’s the airplane “Shower of Affection” that is normally given to heroes, military servicemen, or dignitaries upon arrival at an airport. It’s the armed motorcade, news breaking reports, etc for the carrying in of the football trophy. I’m all about a good football game, don’t get me wrong. I’m just not about to worship the players. Ugh.

This is Super Bowl week in Dallas. As I watched people line the road, to wave at the players riding by in their police accompanied parade, I think of Palm Sunday. Remember when the people waved palms as the Messiah rode by on a Donkey? Today, we give an even bigger welcome and worship to our society’s idols that play a sport. The players are very well paid for their jobs, I might add. Christ PAID a price to do what He was placed here to do, and He did it to save us..not pad his bank account.

Yes, I’ll be watching the game this Sunday. I’ll be cheering on my favored team. I won’t be buying into our modern day Babylon’s attempt to make these players God though. It makes me sad that we have soldiers returning from war that they receive only a fraction of a welcome compared to this. As the Super Bowl draws near, I’m reminded to keep things in perspective while I live in a city that has come down with Super Bowl Fever.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Super Bowl- Isn't just about football

Something has been heavy on my heart for months. It’s been stirring and I’m just now sitting down to write about it. I hate to be the one to burst someone’s bubble, spoil a good moment, or be a party pooper, but it’s necessary to do for this. I should warn you though. What you are about to read will change the way you look at an annual event in the US. I’m not sure where to begin, but I’ll give it my best shot.

Some look forward to the big Super Bowl game each winter because of their love of the game. Some look forward to it for the new commercials that come out and entertain them. Many, whom I just became aware were out there, flock to the game for another reason. It’s a reason that hides in the darkness and lures those with ill intentions.

The Super Bowl isn’t just a game day to many. To many who hold others captive, it’s their biggest day of business of the year. For the thousands of woman and children being held captive in the sex slavery, it’s another day of being exploited, abused, and violated.

Did you know that human sex trafficking is considered the 2nd biggest industry in the world? It comes in right behind drug trafficking. Texas is considered one of worst places for domestic and international human trafficking in the US. Since the Super Bowl 2011 is being held in Texas, the numbers of those being victimized will be outrageous.

Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, recently made a few statements in a recent press conference about this topic. “Abbott cited a report from a Florida task force estimating that tens of thousands of women and minors were trafficked in the Miami area during the last Super Bowl. The game is considered "one of the biggest human-trafficking events in the United States,he said.”

According to my findings, thousands of woman and children are brought to the city hosting the yearly Super Bowl event. I’ve been told that the human traffickers are going into upper class neighborhoods and renting homes for the game weekend. Unbeknownst to the homeowners, they are using these homes as brothels. In many cases, home owners that are about to be foreclosed on, are sought after to be offered money to rent their house for the weekend. These upper scale neighborhoods are the perfect cover for men to have sex with women and children being held against their will. Thousands of women are brought to the city holding the event for this purpose. Who are these people who are doing this? Who are these men paying for sex with children? It makes me sick.

Will you pray today for these women and children? Some are runaway teens. Some are kidnapped children. Some are foreigners that were tricked into captivity. Some are women who made a decision to trust the wrong person. All need our prayers. Will you pray for the men who are paying to use these women? Will you pray for the law enforcement and social services desperately trying to rescue those who are being victimized?

I had no idea that a sporting event was the biggest event for such reprehensible acts in our own backyards. I’ll be looking at the Super Bowl differently this year. I encourage you to do the same. This problem is bigger than you and me. It’s not bigger than the God who we pray to. He is the Hope for hopeless and the desolate. He is the Rescuer and Redeemer.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Soar on Wings Like Eagles



"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"

Isaiah 40:31