a few things to check out while you scrub the ashes off your forehead…

+ BIG NEWS ALERT! Our very own Chad Gibbs has signed a book deal with Zondervan for a book due out next summer! I’ve had the privilege of reading bits and pieces of the manuscript, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Please join me in congratulating Chad by telling him just how wonderful the University of Alabama’s football program is.

+ Former Eagles All-Pro Defensive Back Roynell Young tells the story of how he found that his life had a bigger purpose, and how he’s now helping young people in Houston do the same thing. (Guideposts.com)

+ Public school coaches are prohibited by law to initiate prayer with their teams. According to Mike Organ of the Tennessean, a case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court that could prevent coaches of public schools from praying with their teams, even if the players are the ones who initiate the prayer. The ramifications of the decision will be huge, no matter which way it falls. (h/t: Deadspin)

What do you think? Should coaches be allowed to bow in prayer when it is led by students? Should they be allowed to LEAD optional prayers? Before you answer be sure to consider the possibility that the coach might have a completely different faith than your own.

Did you know prayers travel back and forth to God in tubes?

These tubes are different than the tubes that carry the internet. Internet Tubes are flexible and made from the plucked hairs of Al Gore’s wisdom. Prayer Tubes are rigid, vertical, and made from the sinews of angel’s wings.

Here at PFB, we have a giant stethoscope that we can stick on the prayer tubes to listen in on the requests being made to the Almighty. From time to time we’ll share some of those prayers with you. Now is one of those times.

Overheard in the Prayer Tubes

“Dear God, this is cool, huh?” – Kurt Warner

“Dear God, i hear that Roger Federer wants a guided tour of heaven. Can we make that happen soon?” – Andy Roddick

“Dear God, this isn’t really how you wanted my brother to handle this, was it?” - Mark McGwire

“Dear God, does coaching the Raiders for another year qualify as suffering?” – Tom Cable

“Dear God, milk coach win square black truman silver telegram.” – Al Davis

Feel free to add your own if you feel so inspired.

Did you know prayers travel back and forth to God in tubes?

These tubes are different than the tubes that carry the internet. Internet Tubes are flexible and made from the plucked hairs of Al Gore’s wisdom. Prayer Tubes are rigid, vertical, and made from the fallen crumbs of angels’ corn muffins.

Here at PFB, we have a giant stethoscope that we can stick on the prayer tubes to listen in on the requests being made to the Almighty. From time to time we’ll share some of those prayers with you. Now is one of those times.

Overheard in the Prayer Tubes

“Dear God, please make Mark Teixeira homesick.” – The Nats and Orioles

“Dear God, can we have Tommy back?” – Chad Gibbs

“Dear God, can you hold that spot for me for another 3 years? Also, remember when you created gravity? That was a day I’ll never forget.” – Joe Paterno

“Dear God, should i be asking forgiveness for cashing these big checks, because it makes me feel kinda dirty.” - Stephon Marbury

“Dear God, I’m serious. Can we please have Tommy back?” – Chad Gibbs

“Dear God, thank you for creating Terrell Owens.” – Terrell Owens

Feel free to add your own if you feel so inspired.

Did you know prayers travel back and forth to God in tubes?

These tubes are different than the tubes that carry the internet. Internet Tubes are flexible and made from the plucked hairs of Al Gore’s beard. Prayer Tubes are rigid, vertical, and made from the fallen eyelashes of angels.

Here at PFB, we have found a warp zone similar to the one at the end of Super Mario Brothers Level 1-2. This warp zone doesn’t actually take us anywhere, it only lets us listen in to the prayers that are being sent up to God. We set up a Google Alert for “Sports-Related Prayers” and stuck it into a few of the Prayer Tubes. From time to time we’ll share some of those prayers with you.

Overheard in the Prayer Tubes – December 4th, 2008

“Dear God, I’m sorry that 7-3 against Alabama is not good enough. If I take a job in a weaker conference can you bless me with Nick Saban’s hair?” – Tommy Tuberville

“Dear God, sloppy joe’s again?” – Michael Vick

“Dear God, please uphold the suspension of the Vikings’ Williamses” – Kevin Smith’s body

“Dear God, forgive me for referring to my ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert as ’sloppy seconds’ into a microphone.” - Sean Avery

“Dear God, I know I pray this every week, but thanks again for inventing the forward pass.” – Andy Reid

“Dear God, thank you for giving me this amazing body and physical tool set to help me earn this $40 million dollar contract.” – Dustin Pedroia

Feel free to add your own if you feel so inspired.

On Sunday night I was watching the 2007 World Series of Poker on ESPN when I came across this amazing exchange.

At the final table of the Main Event, chip leader Jerry Yang bets 1 million with unsuited A-9. Poker Pro Lee Watkinson then raises All In (9 million) with an unsuited A-7.

If Jerry calls Lee’s bet and wins, Lee is out of the tournament. The camera cuts to Lee’s fiancee among the spectators, and that’s when we pick up the action:

Lee’s fiancee: “If he calls, he will double Lee up. No weapon formed against him shall prosper.”

Jerry Yang: “I Call!”

*crowd stands to their feet in anticipation*

Lee’s fiancee: “C’mon Father! In Jesus’ Name, no weapon formed against you shall prosper!”

Jerry Yang: “C’mon Lord. You know Your purpose for me.

*the flop comes 2-6-4 and the turn is a King. Neither player’s hand improves and Yang is still ahead*

Jerry Yang: “C’mon Lord. Have a purpose for me today.”

Lee’s fiancee: “C’mon, make him a believer. Make Lee a believer, Father.”

Narrator Norman Chad: “I’m not sure who the Lord is listening to, but Watkinson needs a 7 or he’s done.”

Jerry Yang: “Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, c’mon, let me win this one.”

*River card is a jack, and Yang wins the hand. Lee Watkinson is eliminated*

(you can watch the clip here, between the 0:45 and 2:20 mark of the video)

It’s crazy enough to see one person praying for a poker hand, but two? That’s as rare as a royal flush.

Jerry Yang, father of five and former part-time missionary, went on to win the Main Event, and a $8.25 Million dollar purse. He said he would give 10% of his winnings to 3 charities (Ronald McDonald House, Make a Wish Foundation, and Feed the Children).

In his post-win interview he said “(The day i left the refugee camp in Thailand) was the happiest day of my life. But my win today also means a lot to me, because I know that i can use this money to do a lot of good for other people out there.”

No word yet as to whether Lee became a believer or not.

If you got a chance to watch that exchange, what did you think of it?

*by the way, a “suckout” is a poker term that means “a strong poker hand that is beat by another player’s hand because they hit their draw”