Football Season..."Who you With!?" (A girls point of view)

Growing up in a household full of girls, sports were really not the thing to watch. As children, we gravitated more towards shows on Disney channel and nickelodeon and as we grew older, family sitcoms, music videos, reality shows and movies became our main television interest. 

When big sporting events like the Superbowl or playoffs came around, it was very hard to connect to the camaraderie and celebrations because although I cheered when the ball made it through the hoop or over the goal post, I didn't quite understand the technicalities of the sport and couldn't truly appreciate a triple double, alley oop, or any good plays for that matter. I usually leaned towards the team that had the most appealing uniforms and team color, and admittedly  I fell into the bandwagon category a couple times. 

The other interesting thing that I realized was the unique passion that most males (and some women) have towards sports. Like, the devotion to watch football every Sunday, or how they can spit out team history at the drop of a dime. Its simply amazing to me how the majority of sports fanatics can converse almost instantaneously about anything sports related.

 I work with two male co-workers that have fascinated me the most with this trait of overflowing sports knowledge. Now, considering that there are levels to sports fanaticism, on a scale from 1 to 5, these two are definitely a 10+...they are beyond a measuring scale! Not a day goes by, where they do not exchange some form of sports information. They go on for hours discussing the draft, fantasy football, football rivalries, Lebron vs Jordan, referee calls...you name it! EVERYDAY--its something new!

In lieu of the upcoming football season, I took it upon myself to learn the true essence of sports so that I can enjoy it truthfully. I challenged myself to do personal research on football teams in the NFL so that I can represent  a team this season. I composed a criteria method that measured teams based on aspects that I felt were important like 1. Color 2.Championship History 3. Mascot 4. Division and  5.Star Players                                                                                                                                

Each team was ranked from 1-5 based on the above criteria, with the first 3 aspects being the ultimate determining factors. The team with the most points would be the team that I follow for the season...fair enough? 

The calculations sort of went like this, for example:

San Francisco 49ers

Team Color: Red & Gold- 5pts because that's a nice color combination that I could possibly rock(you know red jersey & some khaki's)

Championship History: 5 time Superbowl5pts

champs, conference champs in 2012-

Mascot: Sourdough Sam-2pts (what in the world is a sourdough sam??? LOL)

TOTAL: 12/15

After much deliberation and applying that system to some of the most notable teams in the NFL, the following ranking order was produced: get ready, get ready...!!!

11. Seattle Sea Hawks- 7pts

10. Dolphins-                10pts

9.   Falcons-                  10pts

8.   Broncos-                 11pts

7.   Colts-                    12pts

6.   Patriots-                  12pts       

5.   49ers-                     12pts

4.   Bears-                     13 pts

3.   Saints-                     13pts                    

2.   Cowboys-               14pts

1. Giants-                   14 pts.

So...Why get married? Contract vs. Covenant

In a society that ornaments glamorous and expensive ceremonies followed by nasty divorces driven by selfish greed, what would motivate one to walk down the isle of "til death do us part"?

The question was posed at a lunch table discussion amongst co-workers in which the counter response would be to co-habitate with a significant other without the "piece of paper". Please note: the following is opinion based and simply my interpretation of the subject and supporting information.

I. What is marriage?

In the secular or worldly perspective, marriage is often viewed as a contract that is usually driven by self fulfillment, self interest, and self realization (the "what can you do for me perspective"). 

In contrast, the biblical perspective instructs that marriage is a holy covenant driven by ultimately fulfilling God's will (the "how can we steer each other to bring God glory perspective"). Both perspectives can share the traditional proposal/engagement stage, followed by the ceremony, financial bonds, and familial bonds.

II. Reasons to get married? (Biblical perspective)

1.      Obedience to God's will.                  

Genesis 2:24 "...Man will leave his father & mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh”                                                                                           

2.      To abstain from sexual Immorality.

I Corinthians 7:8 “Now to the unmarried and the widows, I say it is good for them to stay unmarried, but if they cannot control themselves they should marry for it is better to marry than to burn with passion”

3.      To have a committed help mate.

Genesis 2:18 “…It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him”

4.      To make us more like Christ

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore, be imitators of Christ and walk in love as Christ loved us.” Family life is the greatest example of God’s unfailing love. Within this realm one learns to love unconditionally as God does and how to forgive and be forgiven.

III. Reasons marriage is frowned upon in society

1.      Lose financial benefits/ ruin spouse’s credit (if bad)

2.   Commitment issues (Can’t be faithful)

3.    Marriage is just a piece of paper anyway

4. No example of a good lasting marriage to follow

IV. Extra thoughts

1.      People should not get married just because they have been together for a while

2.      People should not get married just because of age and status

3.      Two people getting married should share similar spiritual value

4.      Two people entering the marriage should be equally willing to share this bond

5.  People in the marriage should be willing to be exclusive to each other

6. Both parties should end/ release any soul ties or previous relationships