PB and I watch a lot of sports on TV. It’s good entertainment and there’s no complicated plot line to follow which makes it possible to read a book while cheering on the team.

We are now entering the part of summer when we have to flip channels back and forth between the late-season days of baseball and the pre-season days of football. This means we will likely miss a home run while tuning in to the Packers and we will probably miss a touchdown pass while watching the Brewers. It just depends on who is holding the remote.

I like sports because there are rules that must be followed in order to play. Consequences of breaking the rules are clearly laid out. Rule-keepers (refs and umps) are in place and given authority.

I appreciate that professional athletes don’t get to make up rules as they go along. In football, if one player breaks a rule, the whole team is penalized. Players can’t beat up the referees if they disagree with the call. I like all that.

My favorite rule in the NFL is a rule against taunting, defined as “when a player embarrasses, mocks, baits, or otherwise commits flagrant acts or remarks towards an opponent. This includes acts such as spiking a football near an opponent after a touchdown, shoving the ball at an opponent, and pointing or waving at an opponent.” If a player is penalized twice in one game for this infraction, that player is tossed out of the game. And issued a $15,450 fine.

I really like that rule.

I think we need that rule in our society.

Paul said, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” Col. 3:15
The Greek word for “rule” is “brabeuo”
which means “act as umpire”.

Paul was a sports fan, too.