Have you been watching the Cowboys play lately? They have a different quarterback, a rookie on the helm, and the team is looking pretty good. They rank 1st in their division and the season looks very super bowl-ish. Oh wait, you’re not a Cowboys fan? I just can’t imagine why; the Dallas Cowboys are after all America’s Team! Or have you not heard?

Since I’ve lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex most of my life, I have been accustomed to the daily news focus on the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and TCU Horned Frogs. Since moving here to Taylor, the news has been focusing on that big University in Austin with the pumpkin colors. Perhaps it’s the season?

With all sports talk and kidding aside, we most likely all have a favorite sports team. We get so excited and fired up when our team is doing really good, and get really emotional when they are losing. I witnessed this emotional rollercoaster while at the Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Blessing this past Saturday. Apparently, there were a few teams, with the pumpkin and maroon colors, playing that afternoon as I heard.

I wonder if we can get that excited and fired up about our church. Like a sports team, most of us are loyal fans. We may criticize the coaches and team members when things are not going well, but it’s because we want our team to do well. We want our team to win all the time, regardless of how unrealistic that may be. We want God to be on our side and help us to win the game.

But, perhaps, maybe we need to consider being more supportive of our team when they’re not doing well. Maybe we should be more supportive of our team even when they’re losing. Maybe we should be supportive of our team whether they win or lose. Maybe we should consider that God is supportive of both teams and not on any one side. After all, it takes a team to play the game, not just one or two people; nor are just one or two players responsible for the outcome. The question we should ponder is, are we a loyal and faithful team player? Are we willing to stand by our team whether we win or lose? Or will you be quick to abandon your team when things are not going well? Instead of making claim that God is on (y)our side, maybe we should make sure that we are on God’s side.

And so it is with our church, we need to be a team player. We need to be supportive of one another in all seasons. Not one or two or three team(s) or church member(s) is responsible for the outcome we want. It takes a team of dedicated and faithful members to be the church. We are responsible for our own actions.

For this reason, I am grateful for you and all that you do to support, encourage, and lift up one another. Our church would not be the same without you. I have seen many of you at church daily and I am deeply touched by your stewardship of time and generosity in heart.

Thank you #TeamFUMCTaylor! I’m proud to call you my team!

This past Sunday our passage focused on being grateful. This coming Sunday, our message will come from 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.

See you Sunday!

Sela