Are there any Seahawk fans out there? What an amazing game we had! I don't often write about sports but how can I resist after a day like that - after a day of miracles. If you sat through Sunday's game from the beginning like I did, then you were probably feeling pretty down at half-time. Where were our boys? It just didn't seem like they were in the game. A deep nagging doubt began to creep in as the first half unfolded and the team unraveled. Thoughts like, "I guess people were right, I guess they are not as good as last year." And "I guess we're are not good enough to go to the Super Bowl again." And the worst, "maybe it was all just a fluke and we never were that great a team."

As the half time commercials began to roll I leaned over and grabbed my phone to see if I had missed a text from Sam. Sam is quite the Seahawk's fan. I was wondering how he was taking all this. I assumed he was having a hard time watching his team choke. They had fought through so much adversity through the season to get this far - and now to be behind 16-0 at halftime. And not just behind, throwing interceptions, fumbling the football, making no yards on offense - just plain looking terrible. I was sure Sam would be feeling the pain. I sent him a quick text, "What happened!?!" Lightening quick came his response, "Just some bad luck - we still got this."

I was shocked by his poise and confidence - and a little ashamed of myself for giving up so easily. What kind of 12th man was I! I had been contemplating turning off the TV and going for a walk if things didn't get better quick, but now I felt it was my duty to watch until the end, regardless of the outcome. And glad I am that I did. In the third quarter the Seahawks faked a field goal attempt and the punter threw a touchdown pass - the first time that has ever happened in playoff football. Then there was 20 minutes or so of back and forth with little result until, with only a couple of minutes left, the Seahawks exploded with offense and put 15 points on the board. And that required a successful onside kick (when does that ever happen?!?) and the ultimate Hail Mary play as Russell Wilson, covered in Packers, blindly heaved the ball over his shoulder, into the end zone and the arms of a 'Hawk, to complete a critical two-point conversion. Then one more offensive series in overtime, going 90 yards in 6 plays, and the game was ours.

Fans everywhere went nuts and the stadium looked like it would implode. Paula and I were jumping up and down and hugging. The TV commentators didn't know what to say. No one could believe what they had just seen. Talk about a lesson in never giving up, in sticking with something to the very end - in perseverance, tenacity and resolve. I'm sure the party in Seattle rumbled on all through the night, and that many children, in years to come, will be able, if they care to do the math, figure the night of their conception, and the explanation for being named Russell.

People have speculated about what has made the Seahawks so successful, and I know a lot of teams have tried to dissect and understand those darn 'Hawks - looking for a way to beat them. And Sunday it looked like the Packers had figured something out, because it seemed like they had an answer for everything the Seahawks could do. They had them matched play for play. Like they had analyzed the Seahawks, and finally figured out their winning formula, then brewed up a powerful antidote. But it doesn't matter how much film you watch and how carefully you dissect their plays, because the Seahawks strength is rooted deeper than that. Deeper than all the plays and workouts. And even deeper than the talent of the individuals on the team. The strength of the Seahawks comes from believing in each other as a team. And there is just no stopping a team when it becomes a Team.

This is a good and applicable lesson for us in all of this. When we in the church become the Church, then there is no stopping us, and no limit to what we can accomplish in Christ.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  

1 Cor. 12:12

But simple as it sounds, this is no easy task to perform. It takes hard work, faith in God and one another, and lots of love and forgiveness. But I truly believe we have all these here at First Pres. And I believe we already work well as a team in many regards. I just think we could turn it up a notch. I think we could turn it up to a Super Bowl level.

This is going to be our year!