Local pastor considers the 'summer of spoiled sport'

- Pastor Charlie Jones

Victory Christian Center

Is this just an unusually bad summer for sports in America or is this something bigger? Some people would have you to believe that this is just one summer of spoiled sport. They say that these are just a series of bad isolated incidents. But is it?

To those who may not know about these recent scars on the face of our sports, here is a brief highlight of the lowlights.

NFL player Michael Vick has allegedly been the chief operator of an illegal dog fighting ring. Thousands of dollars were allegedly gambled and dogs that did not win were savagely killed. Vick is the fifth player already suspended for the upcoming 2007 season for outrageous conduct.

An NBA referee has pled guilty to betting on NBA games and even fixing a few games to pay off his gambling debts to the mob. This is all happening in a league that refuses to test its players for marijuana, for fear of having to suspend over one-fourth of the league.

Baseball's Barry Bonds has allegedly used steroids that he purchased from BALCO to reinvent his body and turn back the clock on his muscles.

The chief chemist who is now in trouble with the federal government for this drug operation has named Bonds as one of his clients. Worst of all, by the time that you read this, Bonds will probably have passed Hammering Hank Aaron for the most celebrated record in baseball history with his 756th home run.

Professional wrestler Chris Benoit orchestrated a horrific murder-suicide of his wife, his son and himself while on a steriod rage. This now has the pretend sport of wrestling scrambling with accusations that a large percentage of its performers are on the juice.

So, go ahead and reason all of this away.

Say it has just been a bad summer for sport.

Tell yourself that this is not an accurate picture of our society.

Close your eyes and cover your ears and hope it all goes away.

Of course, if this does not work then you just might try one more thing.

Open up the all-time world's best-selling book and you will find the real answer to this summer of spoiled sport — an absolute truth, right, wrong, righteousness, sin, mercy and grace.

A world that refuses to acknowledge God invents morality and changes it continually to suit each new compromise.

The good news is, (John 14:6) "Jesus is the only way, the only truth, the only life and the only way for us to be with the Father in Heaven."

And His promise to us is that,

(I John 3:9) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God."