Super Bowl 53 prediction

The Super Bowl match-up this year is an intriguing one; it is the Los Angeles Rams versus the New England Patriots.  Before I give my pick, let me say that I think this game is going to be just as exciting as the championship games.  Both the NFC and AFC Championship went to overtime; while I don’t necessarily think the overtime aspect will happen in the Super Bowl, the last team that has the ball is probably the team that will win.

Even though the annual Madden simulation video game had the Rams winning, I just can’t bring myself to agree with that prediction.  I think the Patriots will find a way to win.  New England surprised me this postseason.  They thoroughly whipped a talented Chargers team (the Chargers tried to make a comeback, but the Patriots were up 35-7 at halftime).  And then New England defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.  It was my opinion for most of the year that Kansas City was the best team in the AFC.  I thought the Chiefs were going to show that they were the better, hungrier team.  The Patriots proved me wrong.  While the Chiefs did stand toe to toe with the Patriots, New England ultimately delivered the knock-out blow.

I think the Rams are a good, exciting team, but I just don’t see them defeating the Patriots.  Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off the upset over the Patriots in the Super Bowl.  It seems as if New England has since been on a mission to get back to the big game and celebrate a victory; I suspect they will do just that.

Kevin

My take on the Rams-Saints game

I’m planning to give my annual Super Bowl prediction in a future blog (even though I confess I do so reluctantly as I have been terrible in my predictions for the past several years).  Before I do that however, I want to address the controversy associated with the NFC championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints. 

I have heard some say that the Rams don’t deserve to be in the Super Bowl because there was a missed pass interference call late in the 4th quarter against the Rams that would have essentially cemented the win for the Saints.  Right off the bat let me state that I like both the Rams and the Saints; there is no personal bias on my part.  I am an impartial observer.  Secondly, I agree that this was a missed pass interference call.  The replay makes this clear.  But I do not believe for a second that this blown pass interference play cost the Saints the game.  Let me elaborate.

The setting of this controversial play is as follows: the game was tied 20-20.  The Saints were driving.  The Saints player was interfered with, but it wasn’t called (which, by the way, is something that happens in every NFL game), so the Saints had to settle for a field goal.  The score was 23-20 New Orleans.  The Rams began their ensuing possession at their own 25 yard line with about a minute and a half to go in the game.  All New Orleans had to do was stop Los Angeles from scoring to ensure the win.  Instead the Rams marched down the field and ultimately kicked a game tying field goal.  That’s not on the referees missing a pass interference, that’s on the Saints defense not making a play to preserve the lead.

Furthermore, in overtime, the Saints were the first team to possess the ball.  All they had to do was score a touchdown and they would have represented the NFC in Super Bowl 53.  That’s exactly what happened in the AFC championship game.  The game went to overtime; the Patriots scored a touchdown before the Chiefs ever had the chance to touch the ball.  But what happened in the NFC championship?  Drew Brees threw an interception, thanks to being pressured by the defense, and an athletic play by John Johnson.  The Rams subsequently kicked a 57 yard field goal to earn their place in the Super Bowl.  Don’t blame all that on the referees.  It looks to me like New Orleans failed to make the plays on offense, defense, and special teams.

Drew Brees, classy as usual, has said that the Saints loss wasn’t because of the controversial non-call; it was because they didn’t take advantage of their opportunities.  He’s right.  In the 1st quarter, Los Angeles had trouble even getting a first down, let alone scoring points.  The Saints, meanwhile, were in the red zone twice in that quarter and they settled for field goals.  Being behind 6-0 is a lot different than being behind 14-0 (which would have been 21-0 as the Saints did get a touchdown soon after).  Therefore, it is beyond me how anyone can state the Los Angeles Rams don’t deserve to be in the Super Bowl.  They made the plays.  They found a way to win.

Kevin

"Who can satisfy my soul?"

It was 8 years ago when I first began this blog; January of 2011.  As I contemplated what I would do to celebrate this, I decided that I want to present a very special blog installment to you that I originally wrote back in April, 2015.  If God told me that He wanted me to write one last blog, but no more after that, I would probably submit the words I composed in 2015 as my parting words.  So here we go:

“This [inherent emptiness] he tries in vain to fill with everything around him…though none [of the things he turns to] can help, since this infinite abyss can only be filled with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God Himself.”  (https://itsjustme.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/the-correct-quote-of-blaise-pascal/ )

Writer and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote this way back in the 1600’s, but it is as relevant today as the day he first penned it.  He said that mankind has an inner emptiness in their soul and they don’t know what will alleviate it.  So they turn to anything and everything under the sun: money, power, food, entertainment, recognition; here’s a particularly relevant one: do you think anyone has turned to sex today?  The answer, of course, is yes.  It just amazes me how this culture is completely fixated and obsessed with the topic of sex.  The culture proclaims that living a life of unrestrained sexual expression is not only the normal existence for every human being, but that this road leads you to fulfillment, satisfaction, and bliss.  But this is a lie.

The truth of the matter is, none of these things ultimately have the capacity to fill the emptiness of their soul.  Why not?  Because as Pascal put it, “this infinite abyss can only be filled with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God Himself.”  The Bible says that God “satisfies the longing soul” (Psalm 107:9; ESV).

You say, “This sounds great!  But what you are talking about is so new to me.  Will you flesh this out for me a little bit more?  What do I have to do to experience this?”  In short, you need to commence a relationship with God; you can’t experience fulfillment with someone you don’t know.  Got questions.org has a great article on this.  I’m not citing the whole thing, but I will quote a couple of paragraphs.

“The only way any of us can have a relationship with a holy God is to admit that we are sinners, turn away from that sin, and accept the sacrifice that Jesus made to pay for sin.  We connect with God through prayer.  We pray in faith, believing that God hears us and will answer.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  We confess our sin, thanking Jesus for making a way for us to be forgiven, and invite Him to take control of our lives.

Coming to God through faith in Jesus Christ means we transfer ownership of our lives to God.  We make Him the Boss, the Lord, of our lives.  We trade our old self-worshiping hearts for the perfection of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Romans 12:1 gives us a visual description of what takes place: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.”  Picture an altar dedicated to the only true God.  Then imagine crawling onto it, lying down, and saying, “Here I am, God.  I’m a sinner but you love me anyway.  Thank you for dying for me and rising from the dead so my sin could be forgiven.  Cleanse me, forgive me, and make me your child.  Take me.  All of me.  I want to live for you from now on.”” (http://www.gotquestions.org/give-life-to-God.html)

To clarify, it’s not the words that you say; it’s the attitude of your heart.  A reciting of words doesn’t save you; faith in Jesus Christ saves you.  “Come, everyone who thirsts,” Isaiah implores, “Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come buy and eat!  Come buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Let me conclude with this: as I was going over this material again, I was reminded of a powerful Dennis Jernigan song that I first heard over two decades ago in church.  “Who can satisfy my soul like You?  Who on Earth could comfort me, and love me, like You do?  Who could ever be more faithful, true?  I will trust in You; I will trust in You, my God.  There is a fountain who is a King; victorious warrior, and Lord of everything… Who could ever be more faithful, true?  Lord Jesus, none but You.”  Amen!

Kevin

The liberating power of forgiveness

2019 has started off with a tumultuous bang for me.  I won’t take the time to document the craziness of these initial days of the New Year, but it is sufficient for me to state that sometimes I wish the Lord would make an announcement to me like those airline pilots do.  He would calmly say, “Kevin, we are about to experience turbulence, so fasten your fasten seat belt, because it’s going to get bumpy.”  Of course, it doesn’t work that way.  But He is the Pilot of my life, and I trust Him.  Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.  I will now move on to the main content today.

A few days ago, a line from a Matthew West song came to my mind.  The song is a powerful one; it is titled simply Forgiveness.  The line that came to me is this: “The prisoner that it really frees is you.”  That is so true.  I have seen it in my own life.  We are tempted to hold on to the anger and bitterness, yet it doesn’t do any good to anyone.  When we choose to forgive the offender, we experience liberation.

There is more to this song.  Matthew West once described it this way: “The song “Forgiveness” chronicles a mother dealing with the death of her daughter at the hands of a drunk driver.  It was one of the first stories I read and it stuck with me the whole time and I was waiting for the right time to deliver this message through a song.  Now the song is seeing the light of day, and it is my honor to share it.  The song is about Renee, who lost her daughter Megan in a car accident at the hands of a drunk driver, a 24-year-old named Eric who was by all accounts a great young man, but made a tragic mistake.  Renee’s been on a journey of hatred, and bitterness, but she’s learned how to forgive the young man who took her beloved daughter’s life.”

Matthew West continues, “In a miraculous way, after Megan’s death in 2001, Renee began giving presentations, and in time, God put it on her heart to forgive this man and reach out to him in prison.  She learned that until she was set free of the anger and bitterness she held towards Eric, she was going to be the prisoner even though he was the one behind bars.

As a result, Eric found his own personal faith in Christ and they developed a unique friendship to the point where she feels like she gained a son…she even went to the courts to cut Eric’s sentence in half.  He made a terrible mistake taking the life of two young girls, and yet he’s been forgiven.  Renee told him that she serves a God who commands her to forgive and she needed to be set free as much for herself as for him…Renee’s story is life-defining as we all need to think about how forgiveness can set us free.”

At one point in the song, there are these words: “It’ll clear the bitterness away; it can even set a prisoner free.  There is no end to what its power can do.  So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace; the prisoner that it really frees is you.”  (Story and lyrics found here - https://www.newreleasetoday.com/article.php?article_id=957)

Kevin

New Year's prayer

Happy New Year, reader!  It is officially 2019.  For the inaugural blog, I wanted to present a prayer that my dad once delivered for his calling as a Christian radio announcer.  My father, Jerry Bauer, was a man of faith and a man of prayer.  This is clear from the various prayers I’ve shared from him, but it is reinforced once again upon hearing this prayer.  Let me note that this is a prayer from New Year’s Eve, 2010.  So all throughout he says “2010” and “2011”; I’ve decided to edit them to the terms “the Current Year” and “the New Year.”  Here we go:

“Father,

We come to You with grateful hearts for Your faithfulness, and Your mercies that are new every morning.  We thank You for what You have given to us, each and every day.  You have blessed us in countless ways.  Could we count our blessings, and name them one by one?  We thank You for the treasure of health, and for provision in health challenges.  Thank You for the blessing of a job, and we ask that You would provide for those seeking employment.  We could go on and on, but we thank You for Your sweet, constant, and loving provision, [and] Your faithfulness, Father.

The current year is just about in the past and a memory to us.  For some it’s been a difficult year for a variety of reasons.  For some it’s been a great year.  But [soon] it is another page that goes down in history.  And the New Year lies before us.  We don’t know the future, but we do know that You hold our hand.  You will be with us, and give us blessings, provision, and protection from Your Almighty hand each day.

We pray that we will walk in the Spirit more in the New Year.  We surrender our goals, plans, and dreams to You, knowing that Your dreams for us are better than we could even imagine.  We pray that You will continue to do the good works that You have planned for us, since before the foundation of the world.

We pray that You would bless our families, friends, churches, and congregations.  We pray for our coworkers, our listeners, and for the supporters of this radio ministry.  We cannot get to each individual prayer request today, Father, but we do pray for all of those in our listening audience this afternoon; either here in the radio broadcast area, or even those listening on the Internet.  Please intercede for each need.  We lift the leaders, staff, and the board of this ministry up to You for blessing and direction.

We know that there will be things that we do not understand in the coming year, but let us just cling to You, no matter what.  You have not asked us to understand, but just that we obey, and let us be faithful in doing that, Father.

We surrender the New Year to You for Your blessings.  Once again, it is with grateful hearts that we pray.  Thank You for receiving us into Your throne room because of the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross.  Thank You for that cross and all that was done for us there.

We pray in Jesus Name, Amen."