“Why does Texas Stadium have a hole in its roof? So God can watch the team play.”

Sorry for the multiple football posts in one night, but this one had to be noted. I was multi-tasking between CE 453 final exam study and Sunday Night Football, Cowboys and Giants. Cowboys locked up the exciting yet low scoring game, which was extra special because it was the last ever game in Texas Stadium. Some call it the Wrigley Field of football. Partly because it's old and weathered, partly because it's a gravitous place of legendary football.

The old saying goes that Texas Stadium had a hole put in the roof so that "God could watch the games on Sunday." Well of course we know that God is just as present in the player's mouthguards as He is in the sky directly above the half dome. One of the best verses on God's omniprescence is Jeremiah 23:23-24 "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.

Now if Texas Stadium has been the most legendary stadium in the NFL, the most highly esteemed spot in that stadium would be the center of the star. Cowboys logo, 50 yard line. It's been recognized as the most sacred place in football in years past, observe:

And tonight, the last game to be played at Texas Stadium, was no different. Terrance Newman sealed the game with an interception with under a minute left in the game, ran to the center of the field, and kissed the star. And they say their's no honor or respect in the game these days.

But here's the most beautiful snapshot that I'll be taking away from the historic last game. I even came across it by chance. The nbc.com stream of the game lets you choose from 5 different views when you watch. After the game was over, one of the cameras, not the one you would actually see at home, stayed on a group of about 15 players who once again gathered at the Star. A few Cowboys, a few Giants, a few coaches and trainers. And they all kneeled right there, on the sacred ground of the football gods, and prayed to the One True God in Heaven. Giving the real honor where honor is due.

On this last nostalgic night of Texas Stadium football, the cameras faded out with the final picture of the Cowboys' Star as one counter to the whole culture of professional sports and our flashy culture. It was a picture of surrender, of remembrance, and of deference to the God who is the real One deserving of our applause, deserving of our second-effort, deserving of our game-planning.

It lines up just perfect with what Jesus was all about. He went into a barn, made it his VIP landing strip. He walked up to some fishermen, made them his Senior Vice Presidents that would eventually take his vision global. He walked up to the pious religious know-it-alls, made them a dumbfounded laughingstock. He walked up to an executioner's device, made it the symbol of his movement.

Thank you Lord, for always flipping things on their ear. You are so creative and unpredictable and unfathomable. I praise you that you are the Lord of the back alley asphalt and the Lord of the star in Texas Stadium. May we remember you even in the most unlikely of places.