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Painting/photo of Jerusalem Temple-Casual English Bible

World Cup soccer theology

Stephen M. Miller
crowd watching a game on television
GOD WATCHES WORLD CUP SOCCER. I’m just guessing, of course. But if he cares about what we care about, he better care about soccer. Lots of people love that thing. It surprised me yesterday how God can make good use of the game. Photo by Moazzam Brohi.

I HOPE THE LADY who sold me a cedar fence doesn’t read this blog.

I wouldn’t want to get her employees in trouble.

As I type this, Mexico and Brazil are playing World Cup soccer.

When I went downstairs for a late lunch, I turned on the TV. I knew that the World Cup soccer matches were on, and I wondered who was playing at the moment.

Doggone if it wasn’t Mexico against the Brazil, the favorite to win this year…because they’re good and because they’re hosting the games.

Here’s the thing. I’ve got two young men—early 20’s I’d say—in my back yard. They are putting up a cedar fence. They have genetic roots in Mexico, I’m fairly certain.

So I wondered if they were curious about the game.

I grabbed my iPad and tried to get the game on ESPN. But my internet provider has no deal with them. Consolidated Communications, get busy.

I searched the internet and found that I could watch it on Univision, in Spanish.

You know where I’m going, right?

I’m going the dickens outside.

And I’m taking my iPad.

“Would you guys like to borrow this?” I said.

“Uhhh.”

“Would it be a distraction for you?”

“Not for me,” the older fellow said, smiling.

“Here you go.”

I set it on a block of cedar in the shade.

Please don’t tell the boss lady, but the game is most certainly a distraction.

I’m laughing now.

I just got up from the chair. I went to another room, where I could get an angle on the carpenters. They are both huddled by a block of cedar in the shade.

They have a foremen. But he left shortly before the game started.

I’m thinking I might know what he’s doing. And it’s not foremanating.

If I’m right, when he comes back a walking, talking highlight reel, two young men will be able to describe a highlight or two of their own.

Score.

I know it’s risky loaning the carpenters my iPad, what with those hammers and nail guns getting whipped around.

But it’s also risky charging up my portable Bose speaker that can Bluetooth buddy up with the iPad. I use both of these tools in Bible study sessions I teach.

But I’m thinking that loaning these to the young men for a couple of hours might be as good and godly of a use as they’ll ever get.

Not that soccer trumps God. But that kindness is what God’s people should be known for.

Don’t you think?

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About Stephen M. Miller

STEPHEN M. MILLER is an award winning bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity and author of the Casual English Bible® paraphrase. His books have sold over two million copies and include The Complete Guide to the Bible and Who’s and Where’s Where in the Bible.

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Comments

  1. Jill Sizemore

    June 18, 2014 at 7:10 am

    Right on, Stephen! Right on! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stephen M. Miller

      June 18, 2014 at 9:07 am

      Cheerleader. Wave those pom-poms. It’s good to hear the cheer. Thanks, Jill.

      Reply
  2. Debbie Miller

    June 18, 2014 at 8:34 am

    Ellos piensan que Ud. es ‘buena gente’!
    They think you’re a ‘good person’!

    Reply
    • Stephen M. Miller

      June 18, 2014 at 9:06 am

      Hey Debbie. I talked with them long enough and about enough stuff for them to know that I’m a Christian. So I hope they think I’m a good Christian, too. We all know there are bad ones: pretenders who talk it but don’t walk it.

      Reply
  3. Barbara

    June 18, 2014 at 8:56 am

    Darn if you don’t just show us the way and how it needs to be done.

    Reply
    • Stephen M. Miller

      June 18, 2014 at 9:03 am

      Thanks, but I think I’ve got Someone showing me a thing or two about this kind of stuff. Ideas have to come from Somewhere. I just try to stay alert to opportunities that pop up out of nowhere. Things keep popping.

      Reply

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