I need to preface this by saying that I believe that God has no particular care for sporting results per se. Assertions by athletes that a victory is a result of prayer or being spiritual are not Biblically based, and it's not a result of one fanbase praying more than another, either. God doesn't work that way--He is concerned with individual people.
That said, I knew Michigan would be here today.
I've been a Michigan hockey fan for many years, but in 2004 my life changed as I developed a passion for Jesus Christ and my family moved to California to go to Bible College. I figured I wouldn't get to see Michigan play hockey much anymore. I caught games when I could, got every score, even used player names on my church planting projects (I named a hypothetical Sunday School teacher after an exciting new freshman named Carl Hagelin several years ago). I was okay with this--God has given us so much--but it was hard looking at what it would take to see Michigan play in Denver and seeing it was just too much.
But God brought us back to Duluth, and I got to go to Michigan's showcase game against Minnie at Yost last season. People care about college hockey here. And after I couldn't go to Michigan's game at Mariucci this fall, I got the bizarre impression that if God wanted me to go to a Michigan game this year, it would be in St. Paul. What was really weird about it is that I knew I couldn't go to the semis--I lead a recovery group Thursday evening. I felt this even after the Miami series, and very strongly after the idea of going to Marquette for the NMU series proved unworkable. And I don't believe in extra-biblical revelation (God communicating audibly to us).
It doesn't make any sense. God doesn't care about sports, He cares about people. And this is, in the greater scheme of things, frankly a pretty small. And I'm no more important than any other person on this board, in Duluth, or in Michigan. I can't explain why I would get to go to a hockey game, except that God is good. And that serving Him is worth it.
I gave up going to Michigan Hockey games to serve God. And now He's brought them to me. I'm going to Saint Paul!
Disclaimer: This does not in any way guarantee results. I firmly believe God did something similar for me in California, when after giving up attending Michigan football games, I got to go to a Rose Bowl. I had a great time, but Michigan got smoked by USC. And sporting results are not based on how spiritual fans or players are. Good thing, too--Michigan fans are outnumbered by UMD fans at my church by at least 80-to-1.
That said, I knew Michigan would be here today.
I've been a Michigan hockey fan for many years, but in 2004 my life changed as I developed a passion for Jesus Christ and my family moved to California to go to Bible College. I figured I wouldn't get to see Michigan play hockey much anymore. I caught games when I could, got every score, even used player names on my church planting projects (I named a hypothetical Sunday School teacher after an exciting new freshman named Carl Hagelin several years ago). I was okay with this--God has given us so much--but it was hard looking at what it would take to see Michigan play in Denver and seeing it was just too much.
But God brought us back to Duluth, and I got to go to Michigan's showcase game against Minnie at Yost last season. People care about college hockey here. And after I couldn't go to Michigan's game at Mariucci this fall, I got the bizarre impression that if God wanted me to go to a Michigan game this year, it would be in St. Paul. What was really weird about it is that I knew I couldn't go to the semis--I lead a recovery group Thursday evening. I felt this even after the Miami series, and very strongly after the idea of going to Marquette for the NMU series proved unworkable. And I don't believe in extra-biblical revelation (God communicating audibly to us).
It doesn't make any sense. God doesn't care about sports, He cares about people. And this is, in the greater scheme of things, frankly a pretty small. And I'm no more important than any other person on this board, in Duluth, or in Michigan. I can't explain why I would get to go to a hockey game, except that God is good. And that serving Him is worth it.
I gave up going to Michigan Hockey games to serve God. And now He's brought them to me. I'm going to Saint Paul!
Disclaimer: This does not in any way guarantee results. I firmly believe God did something similar for me in California, when after giving up attending Michigan football games, I got to go to a Rose Bowl. I had a great time, but Michigan got smoked by USC. And sporting results are not based on how spiritual fans or players are. Good thing, too--Michigan fans are outnumbered by UMD fans at my church by at least 80-to-1.
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