by Chris Doyle | Jan 30, 2015
As we approach the weekend, many in the common world are aware that the Super Bowl will be playing this Sunday. The most popular sporting event has been discussed exhaustively by media commentators and will continue until kickoff. Then, it will be discussed even more until the following week.
This week’s DHD will be sharing many of the social topics related to this year’s Super Bowl frenzy.
- Marshawn’s Media Mode
I don’t have a definite stance about Seahawk running back Marshawn Lynch and his approach to not talk to the media. In one perspective, for a guy who is particular about whom he wants to address and when to address, he seems to be getting a lot of publicity for it, more so than if he were to follow the expected process.
On the other hand, Lynch makes a glaring point that to make a guy sit in front of cameras and reporters for interviews for three straight days is ridiculous. I realize there is a massive amount of media to cater to their needs, but there is just so much original rhetoric that could be collected. Have the players come out for one news conference. Whoever can’t be there, they can get transcripts that the P.R. interns type up.
I don’t know if this could directly apply to Lynch, but his refraining from answering questions caused me to think of a verse that a friend of mine shared with me. “The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding” (Prov. 17:27).
Or perhaps the verse that follows would be more applicable. “Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent…” (Prov. 17:28).
- Patriots’ Problem With Air Pressure Persists
I wrote about the New England Patriots and “Deflate-gate” last week in my blog “Morality Deflated”. Since my post was published, press conferences were held by quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick (twice), claiming they did not know anything about the game balls being tampered, and new evidence was revealed about a ball boy spending 90 seconds in the bathroom after picking up the footballs from the official who inspected the footballs’ air pressure.
Some say “Deflate-gate” is overblown; others say this is a major tampering of the integrity of the game, plus it’s the Patriots second offense of not playing by the rules.
Some of the media coverage of this scandal has weakened for now, but I will be curious to see what happens after the Super Bowl. Whether the Patriots win or lose, I know they will still have to face the NFL and the court of public opinion.
If nothing else, and if Brady and others are found guilty, it goes to prove once again the biblical lesson “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Num. 32:23).
- Russell’s Rhetoric is Right On
I’m impressed with Russell Wilson. The Seahawks quarterback seems to be genuine with his Christian faith. Here’s some of his quotes from an article on ChristianPost.com:
“In terms of my legacy off the field, I want to be a Christian man that helps lead and helps change lives and helps serve other people…”
“For me, I’m able to use my gift to glorify God. That’s what it’s about for me.”
- Does God Care About Football?
Wilson is known for praising God during interviews after a winning outcome, and it is a common response for many Christian athletes.
But a recent survey reported by the Detroit News that 26 percent of those surveyed believe God plays a role in determining the outcome of a sporting event. It was an interesting article but didn’t seem to take God too seriously.
I believe God is the blessed controller of all things (I Tim. 6:15), and He cares about an inexpensive sparrow falling to the ground (Matt. 10:29). These promises remind us how much God cares for us, but they can also reveal that God may care more about things, including outcomes of ball games, than we may think.
- Can the Scantily Clad Commercials
Many will be watching the Super Bowl just to see the really expensive commercials. Some are impressive, funny and creative. One of my all-time favorites was shown a couple of years ago featuring the voice of Paul Harvey reciting “So God Made a Farmer” in a Dodge Ram truck ad.
However, we also know many commercials are sexually explicit, using attractive models to promote products. Carl’s Jr. is taking heat for a commercial that was supposed to be shown but now will not be featured during the Super Bowl. I don’t know much about the commercial, but from what I’ve seen in recent Carl’s Jr. ads, it probably would be best not to air it.
Modesty doesn’t seem to have much value in society today, but considering that the NFL is trying to clean up its reputation, I would suggest they would be wise to shore up how they are affiliated with promotions that feature women immodestly.
- Another ‘Super’ Event
The Super Bowl isn’t the only event that is abuzz this week in Oklahoma. Many are still talking about the State Evangelism Conference that was at First Southern Baptist Church in Del City earlier this week, Jan. 26-27.
Franklin Graham spoke in the Monday evening session, in front of 3,500 people, and Jim Cymbala concluded the SEC Tuesday night with 2,250 attending. All of the speakers were excellent, and both Graham and Cymbala gave messages that were impactful and life-changing.
The services can be viewed online, and I encourage those who didn’t get to hear Graham or Cymbala to go to bgco.org and watch the videos. At this time I know Graham’s sermon can be viewed, but Cymbala and others will soon be available.
by Chris Doyle | Jan 23, 2015
The NFL playoffs, from the first week leading into the Super Bowl, has been home to controversy. The most recent flap has come from the AFC Championship game, in which reportedly footballs were deflated by two pounds of pressure, in order to make the ball easier to catch.
Many know this is not the first go-round for the New England Patriots. In 2007 they were caught videotaping the New York Jets coaches’ signals during a game, the scam famously known as “Spygate.”
Now with “Inflate-gate,” the Patriots have been caught again. Initially, commentators have come out defending the AFC Champions, saying the illegal act did not affect the result of the game. Now, the critics are coming down hard, as more evidence has revealed that 11 of the Patriots’ 12 game balls were tampered. This issue will not go quietly into the night.
Debates will continue. What penalty should be enforced? Draft picks removed? Fines? Suspensions?
But what can be learned from this? I think it is fascinating how the American culture wants to hold professional sports to a high standard. Compromise can be justified in other aspects of society, but when it comes to tampering with athletic equipment or illegally recording opposing teams’ information in order to gain an advantage, this is where the line is drawn.
I don’t condone these practices by the Patriots. From their record of achievement through the years, they don’t need to lower their standards in order to be successful. It could be that, like others who have risen to a supposed level of being “untouchable,” those in the Patriots organization may consider themselves to be exempt from adhering to certain rules or principles. They are not alone in this smug philosophy. The adage “It’s only cheating if you get caught” is a popular cry.
I miss the days of Tom Landry strolling the sidelines. I know my biasness may be criticized, but the man in the funny hat who led the Dallas Cowboys to a reputation of success in the 70s and early 80s also was known to have a reputation of character.
- “I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.”
- “Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.”
- “If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.”
- “A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.”
These are a few sayings attributed to Coach Landry and his reputation of doing things the right way
There’s another saying “It’s not the clothes that make the man, it’s the man that makes the clothes.” Silly comparisons could be made of the coaching attire today compared to the suits that legendary coaches wore on game day. But maybe there’s more that could be said when comparing not only clothing but also character.
“A good name is to be chosen over great wealth” (Prov. 22:1)
by Chris Doyle | Jan 20, 2015
This week’s “Doyle’s Half Dozen” focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” All six topics relate to what I discovered after reading this powerful literary response. Though I have six, this week’s feature could have been “Doyle’s Dozen.” King’s famous open letter has many inspiring, sobering, challenging and prophetic messages.
On Sunday, my pastor mentioned the Birmingham Jail letter in his sermon, and I was enticed to read it. You can find a transcript of the letter here.
- The Gospel is mentioned four times.
King compares his mission to Paul’s as he wrote, “…and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city… I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown.”
He mentions Paul and the Gospel again when defending himself as an extremist, “Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ? – ‘I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.’”
The fourth time was near the conclusion when he declares the South will recognize its real heroes, who King describes in a list of heroic pioneers, including “young ministers of the gospel.”
- Religious liberty is emphasized
When writing on the topic of civil disobedience and using Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as Biblical examples, King describes living in a Communist country “where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed.” He said he would “openly advocate disobeying these anti-religious laws.”
- King’s disappointment with the “white moderate”
“Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
This reminds me of Rev. 3:16 that mentions Jesus writing to lukewarm Christians. King considers white moderates to be of similar status, as the “great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom” and not the “Ku Klux Klanner.”
- Thoughts on the “contemporary church”
King points out a time when The Church was “very powerful. It was during that period that the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed.”
I love the analogy he uses of the Church needing to be a “thermostat that transformed the mores of society” and “not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion.”
He said, “Things are different now. The contemporary church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound… If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of missions and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. I meet young people every day whose disappointment with the church has risen to outright disgust.”
- Do-nothingism vs. Hatred and Despair
King shares some interesting thoughts about two opposing forces in the “Negro community.” One force, he writes, demonstrates complacency of people who “have been so completely drained of self-respect… have adjusted to segregation… become insensitive to the problems of the masses.”
The other force represents “bitterness and hatred and comes perilously close to advocating violence.” King names a specific group called “Elijah Muhammad’s Muslim movement.” He writes that this group is “made up of people who have … absolutely repudiated Christianity, and who have concluded that the white man is an incurable devil.”
King stresses the importance of nonviolent demonstrations because if the opposite occurs “millions of Negroes, out of frustration and despair, will seek solace and security in black nationalist ideologies, a development that will lead inevitably to a frightening racial nightmare.”
- Humor expressed in his conclusion
The next-to-last paragraph has some intriguing language. Keep in mind, King is writing this lengthy letter from a jail cell. I appreciate his humility and the details he shares of his conditions.
“Never before have I written a letter this long – or should I say a book? I’m afraid that it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else is there to do when you are alone for days in the dull monotony of a narrow jail cell other than write long letters, think strange thoughts, and pray long prayers?”
I am hopeful Dr. King did more praying than thinking strange thoughts.
by Chris Doyle | Jan 16, 2015
Another week is passing in the new year of 2015, and much has been discussed on the social network scene and in the blogosphere. Here’s six topics that caught my eye for the latest edition of Doyle’s Half Dozen (DHD).
- Frankly Franklin
How about my man, Franklin Graham? Last week, I’m interviewing him on the phone (for a story you can read here), and this week, he’s making national news, calling out Duke University for having a weekly Muslim Call to Prayer.
On Wednesday, he posted on Facebook, “As Christianity is being excluded from the public square and followers of Islam are raping, butchering, and beheading Christians, Jews, and anyone who doesn’t submit to their Sharia Islamic law, Duke is promoting this in the name of religious pluralism. I call on the donors and alumni to withhold their support from Duke until this policy is reversed.”
The man’s got pull! A day after his post, Duke announced it will not allow the Muslim Call to Prayer at its chapel.
In my first DHD I wrote how we are in need of Christian leaders. Franklin Graham is demonstrating himself as one who is answering the call.
- A rough, blunt letter to The Church
A friend shared a link on Facebook called “Dear Church, Here’s Why People Are REALLY Leaving You.”
This piece can be a good “gut check,” but it sure does use a lot of baiting rhetoric. Much of what the writer points out I find to be unnecessary. One point from the piece I did find interesting: “These words may get you really, really angry, and you may want to jump in a knee-jerk move to defend yourself or attack these positions line-by-line, but we hope that you won’t. We hope that you’ll just sit in stillness with these words for a while, because whether you believe they’re right or wrong, they’re real to us, and that’s the whole point.”
Actually, it’s not the WHOLE point. The whole point should be to serve God wholly and completely, following His commands, including the Great Commission.
Some of the writer’s complaints are petty, but there is some constructive criticism about what churches today are doing that could be reevaluated. However, churches can’t submit to every supposed misunderstanding or preference that unbelievers or church-leavers may have. That’s not its purpose.
There is one important thing that everybody involved needs to remember. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. If God can use a reluctant, obstinate prophet who is swallowed up by a whale and eventually goes to a wicked, immoral city to preach a message of doom for 40 days, and all the people repent (see the Book of Jonah), He can use a church that may be “the problem.”
- 13 Things about Mission-Minded People
Have you read this yet? Boy howdy, you need to. It’s powerful, convicting and enlightening. I shared this article on Facebook, and three of my friends (maybe more) shared it from my post.
If you haven’t learned yet, one effective way to get people to read your stuff is to write it in a list format. Lists, rankings, anything that can be featured in a numeric fashion is like catnip for internet minions.
But about the 13 mission-minded things, I think this article can be helpful in two ways (see there, a list!):
- Those who don’t understand committed Christians can possibly grasp a little more on what makes them tick.
- Those, like me, who need a modern-day self-evaluation on what commitment to serving Christ whole-heartedly looks like. I’ve read the article three times.
- ‘Changing Our Mind’ Review
I’m better at reading other people’s book reviews than I am at actually reading books. Union University professor George Guthrie gives a lengthy review on David Gushee’s book Changing Our Mind.
Gushee is a professor at Mercer University who recently changed his view on homosexuality and now believes it can be an acceptable lifestyle within Biblical teaching. He is one of a growing list of influential Christians.
It is important to answer respectfully those who may oppose Biblical doctrine (II Tim. 2:25). Guthrie does an exceptional job in responding to Gushee’s book. His review is good information to help those who also may be confronted with this dangerous moral issue that is on the rise.
- KD questions people’s motives
Earlier this week, Kevin Durant went on Twitter to rant about twitter: “Why do you post on Twitter? You want a voice? You wanna be more popular? You want to show people how funny you are because you’re too insecure to do it in person?”
Did you notice KD used the proper form of “you’re”? Love it!
The NBA MVP was interviewed about his purpose of his Tweet beef. “I just don’t like the motives sometimes and why people do stuff,” he said. “I’m not frustrated about it. I’m a little baffled on why people use it and, like I said, their motives behind it.”
I’m glad Kevin brought up the issue of motives. That’s a sign of making character a priority in a time when character doesn’t seem valued.
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives – Prov. 16:2 (NLT).
- Still looking for topic suggestions
Is there a current issue, an expressed view, a troublesome topic that you would like me to feature in Doyle’s Half Dozen? Comment below, send me a response on Facebook or email me at cdoyle@bgco.org, and I will be happy to consider the subject matter.
The purpose of this weekly feature is to look at current affairs and social issues from a Christian worldview. I definitely welcome your input.
by Chris Doyle | Jan 9, 2015
Greetings friends! A new year is upon us. So much happened in 2014, it’s hard to fully recall the many social influences and trendy topics that reflected our culture over the last 12 months.
If you have not read any of my previous “Doyle’s Half Dozen,” my intention is to offer perspective on six popular subject matters on a weekly basis. This will be my first edition of “DHD” for 2015, so you’ve started perusing at a good time.
- Reviewing “Unbroken” Reviews
Over the Christmas holidays, people had the chance to see the biopic “Unbroken,” which tells the story of Louis Zamperini who was a WWII POW in Japan. I did see the flick and found it to be captivating.
I did think it should’ve received an R rating instead of PG-13. It is quite violent, has a lengthy scene showing nudity and shows moments of psychological torture due to isolation, which may be too much for young teens.
But I did enjoy it and found it most inspiring. Other movies that came to mind while watching it were “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” “Cast Away,” “Chariots of Fire,” “Memphis Belle,” and “Pearl Habor.”
As you may know, there have been many reviews on “Unbroken.” Many have criticized the movie because it does not feature a significant part of Zamperini’s life, when he made a profession of faith during a Billy Graham Crusade and went on to have a Christian influence. But as Kelly King’s review shares, what the movie does feature, it features very well.
I believe it would have been feasible to show Zamperini’s significant life-changing experience, and I don’t believe it would have caused non-Christians to be offended. I struggle with what Zamperini’s son Luke shared that the Gospel shouldn’t be shoved down people’s throats. This is a major part of his dad’s life story. Revealing how the Gospel changed his father’s life, along with the powerful events of forgiveness that followed, can be done in an appealing way and could even be a pleasant taste to the hardest of souls.
- Chronicling Creation
It has been a debate for years about the actual time frame of the Creation of the World. A friend of mine shared a blog post by Tim Challies he wrote in 2013 about why he is a six-day creationist. I agree with his conclusions, but I know there Christians who disagree, and they can provide convincing arguments on why Creation did not occur in six 24-hour periods.
My intention is not to open up the full debate. I want to inquire with such professing believers if they believe God is ABLE to create the world in such a time frame. Actually, I believe God holds amazing sovereign power that He could have created everything in much less time, even within day, within an hour. But God chose to use a six-day process for our purpose, for us to learn basic practical life essentials, including the model work week, time management and to take time to rest and reflect on Him, that we do rely on Him and should worship Him.
- My chat with Franklin Graham
Earlier this week I had the privilege I speaking with renowned evangelist Franklin Graham. It was through a phone interview I did for next week’s Baptist Messenger.
I enjoyed the experience, and it was so fascinating how much he sounds like his dad. Before I officially started asking him questions for the story, I let him know how much I appreciate his ministry and his father’s ministry. I told him about Oklahoma City hosting a Billy Graham Crusade in 1959, and it was at that Crusade that my father made a profession of faith.
Dad passed away in 2011, but he left a lasting influence on me and many others he encouraged in their faith through his example of Scripture memory and faithfulness in church work. All of this was possible due to Billy Graham sharing the Gospel 56 years ago.
- Be blessed
During my brief stint of living in Weatherford, Okla., I made friends with a man who had quite a jolly disposition. Many times I would ask him how he was doing, and every time he would respond, “I’m blessed.” It always encouraged me, and he and I both knew Who was responsible for him being so blessed.
For almost a year now, an article has been shared through social media about why Christians should stop saying they are blessed. I realize this article is pointing out the powerful messages Jesus shared in the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount and how many Christians around the world do not have the privileges we in America may have, yet they demonstrate these blessings Jesus taught. Their testimonies are influential and humbling.
However, the writer of such article, I thought, was quite pedantic. To command such a limited description of what it means to be blessed by God disqualifies many other examples in Scripture. Originally, the writer attributed his material fortunes to “dumb luck” before a multitude of commenters called him out on it, and he changed his story.
So here’s what I would like to request. And notice, I’m asking nicely, not making a forceful command. If you ever come in contact with such a person like my friend in Weatherford who may give you a response that they are blessed, please don’t correct them. If possible, be encouraged by their acknowledgement that they have a grateful understanding of Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides.
- An important conference coming to Oklahoma City
In October, I attended the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) national conference which addressed the issues of homosexuality and marriage. In a previous blog, I offered three things that I learned from this conference.
On March 9-10, church leaders in Oklahoma will have the chance to experience a similar event at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City called “The Gospel, Sexuality & The Church.” Keynote speakers will be Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, and Russell Moore, ERLC president, who are excellent at addressing these problems I shared in my previous blog.
Though the emphasis of the March conference is for pastors and church staff members, those who want to hear more about the concerns of these critical societal changes and how to respond with convictional kindness are welcome. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.bgco.org/bgco-conference.
- Want to help me with DHD content?
The intention of Doyle’s Half Dozen is to offer thoughts on six current or relevant topics. What would you like for me to address? Is there an issue of which you would like for me to give a perspective?
Here’s what I would like to offer. If you leave a comment below or through my Facebook page or my email address cdoyle@bgco.org, I will sincerely consider your suggestions. One condition, if I do write on your suggested topic, you have to be willing to respond on my blog, sharing whether or not you agree or adding further commentary.
Hope to hear from you!