Orange is the Color of...

Well, oranges.
But more to the point: it represents Bronco power in Denver and Reformational power in Holland.

In the former case, it is claimed that since the sunset is orange (at least out in the Rockies) God must be in favor of the Broncos.
In the latter case, it represents the liberator, William of Orange, who helped create Protestant Holland in the 1500s.

In the former case, orange is the color of the helmet-god whose oblong. leather scepter dominates the fall ESPN schedule, commanding obedience from its followers with weekly religious fervor.
In the latter case, orange is a symbol of religious freedom and Protestant belief, commanding respect and life-and-blood-giving commitment.

Such religious commitment--in both cases--expresses the heart-felt conviction of those in each following. If this simple concept is accepted, then it is readily apparant where the heart of many hundreds of thousands (millions?) of fanatical, fundamentalist football fans resides: not in the God of Christianity but in the god of sports.

The proof is in the orange pudding:
People spend money on what is important (real or imagined); many spend money on sports (lots and lots...do I have to tell you the price of a hot dog at a game?), therefore that is important for them.
People spend time on what is important: many spend time on sports (lots and lots...you get the idea), therefore it is important to them.

However, hobbies and entertainment are Biblically acceptable. So, money and time are not the most perfect indicators (but fairly reliable!). It is when conflict ensues--between God's law and man's desire--that the true colors bloom forth.

Thus, when God says tithe to me, fans will tithe to football.
Thus, when God says take time for me, fans will take time for
baseball.
Thus, when God says prioritize your life around me, fans will prioritize around their other god.

People will offer themselves to Saturday sports-saturation such that they are exhausted on God's Sabbath. Others will show their true colors by completely missing public worship and spending money on the local game. Still others will sacrifice family worship, bible studies, and catechism for their kids, but they will not miss that oh-so-important Monday Night Game, Saturday practice or Sunday kick-off.

Yesterday, the Broncos lost. Good.
I like a good football game. But not on the Lord's Day. It is not Football Day, but God's Day. It has been so since the beginning of this creation (Heb. 4:1ff.).

Yesterday, the Bronco fans bled orange for their god by dishonoring God's Rest.
Yesterday, true Protestant fans bled orange for their God by honoring that Rest.

Orange is the color of...dedicated Protestants and their spilt blood in years past.

Orange is the color of...your religious fervor.

Orange is the color of...offerings, sacrifices and a life dedicated to our Covenant God.

SDG

A Short Review 7: Wisdom for Christians

Wisdom for Christian Living, Matthew Henry

This condensed work of the ever-popular Matthew Henry is comprised of twelve topics for devotion culled from his works. The booklet includes relevant issues including faith, prayer, Bible study, devotion and commitment, intimacy with God, worship, relationships, the fruits of the Spirit, Christian duty, spiritual warfare, the Great Commission, and the expectant return of Christ. Each of these topics includes several sub-topics that flush out the various implications of the verse under examination. It is easy to read yet full of godly wisdom. Each devotion is centered on a verse and covers a single page.

Although this work is “lightly edited,” is still retains the flavor of Henry. His style is fluid, enjoyable and practical. He always has the layman in mind and consistently centers on Christ and the Gospel. Matthew’s godliness and vast knowledge of the Word jumps out on every page, bringing wisdom from the old paths.

It is always good to have faithful and encouraging devotional. It can easily be used for personal or family worship. This particular work may be small but it is useful for those desiring a Reformed devotional to reinforce the practical and doctrinal truths of the Bible.

Mr. Snitch is a Bold Man

Mr. Snitch (no, really that's the blog name!) is doing cyberspace a favor.
A big favor.

His latest posting explains his idealistic long-term goal with the best-of-blogs contest (sorry, it's over now). He's trying to find the best blogs based upon content, originality and the like instead of the traditional "how many hits did it get" approach (as though that means the posting was good).

He also would like to keep this up and organize easy access such that one could look up past postings from yesteryear that are still worth reading.

Bold idea. Bold man.

But, then, that's how things get done.
Sometimes.

Keep up the good work, Mr. Snitch.

Rose Bowl, Texans & Geeks

I'm a recovering Geek.
I've got a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (E.E.).
I read about: computers, math, philosophy and religion.
I use computers and play computer games.

In spite of this, I even watch sports.
I watched that most excellent Rose Bowl game last night. Very nice. I especially liked last minute plays like the one Young pulled off.

Just like Elway.

I was not always like this. The change began in the military. The dayroom, that is. All the single guys lived in a dorm with a tv room at the end of the hall.

Naturally, on Saturdays the room was taken over by sports fanatics. Since all my friends were there and there was nowhere to go in the panhandle of Florida (no, really!), I learned to watch--and enjoy--a good football game.

However, on the flip-side as a Coloradoan I have a natural (?) antipathy to anything Texan (nothing personal :-). But, since I was not always a faithful follower of football, I tended to support the underdog.

And that was Texas.

Besides, Coloradoans dislike Californians much more than Texans :-)

I'm still a Geek (hence, the blog!), but I like to think I'm breaking down sterotypes with my enjoyment of football (and hockey).

Well, enjoy your day while I get back to my computer homework, philosophy books and Quake IV.

The Gutsy Scotsman

John Knox will be forever associated with courage.

After the Scottish parliment outlawed the mass (in Mary's absence), the Queen of Scots tried to assert her authority by violating this law. She would travel around the countryside with some priests,administering the mass. She would then continue her travels but then leave a priest behind, enacting the mass without her, tempting the public to join in.

This did not bode well.

In response, Knox rebuffed Mary, Queen of Scots [c. 1560]:

“ye are bound to keep laws unto your subjects; ye crave of them service; they crave of you protection and defense against wicked doers; now, madam, if ye shall deny your duty unto them, think ye to receive full obedience of them? I fear, madam, ye shall not!”
[Professor Godfrey's history class]

Such an attitude clearly predates the supposed "father" of American democracy, John Locke!
Oh, that the Spirit would protect us from tyrants.

SDG