On his blog, Pastor CJ Mahaney interviewed John Piper on a bunch of topics. When asked about sports, Piper had this to say:

“I enjoy watching gymnastics, soccer, basketball, and football, in that order. If my back weren’t so stiff I would love to play racquetball. When our staff goes away we play volleyball and floor hockey.”

I know there’s a lot of John Piper fans out there, so there you go.

C.J. Mahaney of Sovereign Grace Ministries is offering a free copy of his DVD, “Don’t Waste Your Sports”, to the winners of a contest he’s running on his blog:

As C.J. points out in his message, athletics provides us many opportunities to cultivate humility (often unexpectedly). Whether it’s having a jumpshot rejected, a big fat swing and a whiff at a waist-level fastball, or accidentally high-fiving someone in the face, few things in life provide more opportunities for humility than athletics. And now is your opportunity to tell the world about your your embarrassing moment lesson in humility. For a free DVD, of course.

Here is the deal: Explain the most humbling moment from your life as an athlete, coach, or parent of an athlete. In 250 words (or less), write a narrative of the experience. Include your first name, last initial, and your hometown in an email and send it to blog AT sovgracemin DOT org.

The best and/or funniest stories will win a free copy of the DVD and the entry will be posted on the blog. If your entry is chosen and posted on the blog, your first name, last initial, and hometown will appear along with it. Please email your story by 12:00 noon (EST) on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Winners will be announced later that afternoon.

Please note that reference to the supremacy of the Duke Blue Devils, New York Yankees, or Dallas Cowboys will not help your chances.

Sorry Ron Davis (Yankee Fan), Geof Morris (Duke fan) and Gary Hampson (Cowboys fan). You guys can keep your stories to yourself.

Here’s a couple of video excerpts from the DVD:

I’d love to see some of y’all give this a shot. Would be cool to have PFB represented among the finalists.

Did you know CJ Mahaney started a blog recently? Well, he did, and this weekend he had some thoughts to share about the Super Bowl before and after the big game.

His thoughts before the game:

First, let me make clear the Super Bowl is the most overrated sporting event in the history of all sports dating back to the very first Olympics. The NFL thinks so highly of itself, the Super Bowl is assigned Roman numerals.

Yet despite the hype, year after year this game rarely delivers. With few exceptions, most of these games are neither exciting nor memorable (unless your team is participating). And so tomorrow we must collectively endure yet another Super Bowl.

For me, the only good thing about the Super Bowl is that it means MARCH MADNESS is fast approaching! Don’t get me started on March Madness and college basketball, because year after year college basketball always delivers.

His thoughts on Coach Belicheck’s behavior after the game:

I stayed up after the game for one reason. I knew they would interview Belichick, and I wanted to hear what he would say. I hoped he would at least congratulate the Giants on their victory. He did not. He missed yet another opportunity to provide a compelling and humble example of how to conduct oneself when one has lost the game.

Though many will write about what took place on the field during the game, I thought his actions at the end of the game and after the game were the most disappointing aspects of the game. And this is the stuff I review and emphasize with my son as we talk about the game. This is what I want him to remember and learn from this game.

But I must pay careful attention to my heart as I critique coach Belichick, because I am vulnerable to my own more serious expression of arrogance as I observe Bill Belichick. In critiquing coach Belichick and teaching my son biblical discernment and the importance of godly character, I must avoid a self-righteous attitude.

There are few pastors /leaders that we know of who are more respected than Mahaney, so it’s been a treat to read his blog, and even more so to see that he enjoys sports.

Also, if you’re interested, that first link includes CJ’s 4 tips for watching the Super Bowl to the glory of God.