Game Summary

From left to right: me, Ken Hisle, last is Jeff who goes to church with Ken.

https://www.sfoi.org/Illinois-State-University

Pride, Ingratitude and Unteachability
Those who do not take advice do not think they have anything to learn. They are often the same people who have a problem expressing a genuine heartfelt gratitude to others. It is a sign of pride to be ungrateful – it reveals an unwillingness to acknowledge a debt to others.

An Attitude of Entitlement
Instead of the Christian character of gratitude, our present culture prefers to promote an attitude of entitlement. This is the very opposite of gratitude. It builds on pride and covetousness. It is fuelled by bitterness, greed and envy. All too many in the present humanistic society take things for granted, demand to get, rather than seeking to give. “One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24.

Taking God’s Blessings for Granted
Dr. Martin Luther observed that we exhibit a degree of thankfulness in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessing we have received. In Tabletalk, Dr. Martin Luther wrote: “The greater God’s gifts and works, the less they are regarded.” The blessings of life, health, freedom and food are not really appreciated unless they are lost, or threatened. Because sunrises and sunsets occur daily, they are taken for granted.

Consider the Stars
Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that “If the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they are there every night, we barely give them a look.”

The Hungry and Lonely are More Grateful
Similarly, the blessings of rain are barely appreciated unless one has been through a drought. A hungry man is more thankful for his morsel than a rich man for his heavily laden table. A lonely woman in a nursing home will appreciate a visit more than a popular person who has a party thrown in their honour. A Christian who has suffered under persecution for decades and receives his first copy of the Holy Scriptures will be more thankful for this one book than we are for all the Christian books, Bible translations and magazines that overflow our shelves.

A Biblical Command
There are at least 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of thanksgiving. We are commanded: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name.” Psalm 100:4.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

An Attitude of Gratitude
A grateful mind is a great mind. “Be thankful, therefore, for the least benefit and thou shalt be worthy to receive greater.” Thomas a Kempis.

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done… Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:8,34

Dr. Peter Hammond

Daily Devotional 11-24-21

Abundance in God

“Broad rivers and streams” produce fertility and abundance in the land. Places near broad rivers are remarkable for the variety of their plants and their plentiful harvests. God is all this to His Church. Having God she has abundance. What can she ask for that He will not give her? What need can she mention that He will not supply?

“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food.”1

Do you want the bread of life? It drops like manna from the sky. Do you want refreshing streams? The rock follows you, and that Rock is Christ.

If you still have any need, it is your own fault; if you are deprived, you are not deprived in Him, but in yourself. “Broad rivers and streams” also point to business.

Our glorious Lord is to us a place of heavenly merchandise. Through our Redeemer we have business with the past; the wealth of Calvary, the treasures of the covenant, the riches of the ancient days of election, the stores of eternity—all come to us down the broad stream of our gracious Lord.

We have business, too, with the future. What ships, laden to the water’s edge, come to us from heaven! What visions we have of a new heaven and a new earth!

Through our glorious Lord we have business with angels—communion with the bright spirits washed in blood, who sing before the throne. Better still, we have fellowship with the Infinite One. “Broad rivers and streams” are specially intended to set forth the idea of security.

Rivers were often a defense. Beloved, what a defense God is to His Church! The devil cannot cross this broad river of God. How he wishes he could turn the current, but do not fear, for God abides unchangeably the same.

Satan may annoy, but he cannot destroy us; no galley with oars shall invade our river, neither will a majestic ship pass through.

1) Isaiah 25:6

From: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/daily-devotionals/latest/?gclid=CjwKCAjwnK36BRBVEiwAsMT8WCR8UteIwaWlAyP4o9ZIuAWio8l7qmAM1nDcB3pFiYr-jOUNkgMsShoC68IQAvD_BwE

Game Summary

Blessed to share Christ at the Alabama games this year. It has been a good year. 

 Watch this short clip: https://www.sfoi.org/University-of-Alabama

Game Summary

 Pastor Michael Coughlin preaching Christ to fans at the OSU Game in Columbus, Ohio. https://www.sfoi.org/OHIO-STATE-UNIVERSITY

Game Summary

Charleston So vs UGA

This was it! The last home football game for the University of Georgia in 2021. 

On this day Scott, Hud, Rich, and I comprised the evangelistic team at the stadium. There was a good crowd but appeared to be a little off from previous games. Maybe it was the cooler weather or the fact that there was absolutely no way it wasn’t going to be a blowout, but it was definitely smaller. Another observation Scott made was the number of folks there with normal street clothes on. Typically almost everyone is dressed in their UGA garb but at this game that wasn’t the case.

Scott led us off as the others passed out Gospel tracts. The most memorable event of the day happened as Scott was preaching. A little boy stopped and asked Scott a question and Scott was able to encourage the young man. Nothing is more precious than when a child stops to take interest in eternal matters, as this little man did.

After Scott, Rich preached a wonderful apologetics message, challenging the fans to reason out historical events to see that Jesus is God, that He did come in the flesh, was crucified, and rose from the dead, proving He was who He said he was. I was blessed to close out the day. I began in Genesis explaining how the Creation narrative was the simple and best answer to the question, where did we come from?

Hundreds were exposed to the Gospel, as we closed out yet another football season of evangelism. Doesn’t seem like that could be possible. I’m not sure why the season felt like it went by so fast. Maybe it’s because I am getting older, or maybe it’s just the way the home games fell this year. Either way, that game wrapped up our 13th football season at Sanford Stadium in Athens. I pray God gives us 13 more!  Until All Hear!

https://www.sfoi.org/University-of-Georgia

Game Summary

 This morning I had the privilege of sharing the gospel outside of the OU Sooner stadium. I experienced a couple of surprises as well. Normally when I drive to Norman on game day it’s typical to have bumper to bumper traffic. That wasn’t the case today. Also there was a Fox Sport crew doing a live show near the spot that I preach.

A lot of tracts were handed out. I was able to get into some conversations while I was preaching the gospel. There were a bunch of people who were not concerned about their eternity at all. There were also believers who were encouraged by the evangelism being done. Prayers are appreciated. 

https://www.sfoi.org/university-of-oklahoma

Game Summary

Great day of Outreach at the NC State football game. The gospel is preached. Hundreds of tracts or passed out and we had a good number of conversations with people. It’s still sad and me to see so many young people walking down to the game and a drunken stupor. But God is able to save.

https://www.sfoi.org/North-Carolina-State-University

Praise the Lord for the Gospel being preached at the Falcons game last night by Mark Yoho and Bobby McCreery.

https://www.sfoi.org/Atlanta-Falcons

Daily Devotional 11-23-21

Giving Thanks to the Father

Rushing children to urgent care for stitches is not a fun aspect of parenting. Even when the blood has been running down their face, they fight the doctor coming at them with needle and thread. Not once has my child sat still and stayed quiet during the procedure, then turned with a smile to thank me. That wouldn’t be human nature. My children thank me for things that they perceive as pleasant, not things that hurt.



Perhaps that is part of the reason that  1 Thessalonians 5:18  commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” If it weren’t commanded, we wouldn’t do it. It’s not human nature to give thanks in all circumstances. But for believers, this practice should be a growing facet of our regenerate nature.

Just as my children cannot understand how stitches will help a cut, so we often cannot see the effects of our circumstances. Perhaps they are for our good; perhaps they are for the good of those around us. Maybe they simply, somehow, bring glory to God. As Job found out, God doesn’t owe us an explanation. He does, though, kindly assure us that He will work it all for good, even as He commands thanksgiving.

Matthew Henry, after somebody stole his wallet, wrote down several thanksgivings in that circumstance: “1) I am thankful that he never robbed me before. 2) I am thankful that although he took my wallet, he did not take my life. 3) Although he took all I had, it was not much. 4) I am glad that it was I who was robbed, not I who did the robbing.” Though he didn’t give thanks for the robbing itself—for the act of robbing itself was sin—he gave thanks in this hard situation. The reality of God’s protection and ultimate kindness was bigger than the reality of the theft.

The text gives us solid reason for cultivating such a perspective: “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” ( 1 Thess. 5:18 ). The will of God, which is our sanctification ( 1 Thess. 4:3 ), includes persistent thanksgiving to God. But here, the will qualified: it is God’s will “in Christ Jesus” ( 1 Thess. 5:18 ). God’s will for us is undivided from our Savior, just like His covenant love ( Rom. 8:39 ). The New Testament often uses the phrase “in Christ” to describe believers. The term “Christian” is rare. Instead, Scripture often calls God’s elect those who are “in Christ” (e.g.,  Rom. 8:1 ;  1 Cor. 1:2 ;  2 Cor. 2:17 ;  Gal. 1:22 ;  Eph. 1:1 ;  Col. 1:2 ). Just as we who believe the gospel are in Christ, so God’s will for us is in Him. The grace that brought us into union with Jesus is also the grace that wills us home to Him, dangers, toils, and snares notwithstanding.

And perhaps that last little phrase—“for you”—contains similar sweetness. When we are in Christ, circumstances don’t happen to us. Because the will of God in Christ Jesus is for us, so our circumstances will be for us. Of all people, only those who are in Christ have this grounding assurance: anything we go through happens for us, not to us. Surely this is something for which we can give thanks, in spite of grief or pain. It moves us from the stance of victim to beloved child. It lets us see things such as stitches not as torture but as medical care. It allows us to see that the difficulties of this life, though real and hard, are not ultimate. If the Father is for us, then everything else must be subservient to that reality. When the Spirit creates a Godward orientation in us, thankfulness will be able to flow, even in hard times.

From: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/giving-thanks-to-the-father