Christmas Greetings Everyone!!

I pray this finds many of you still basking in the celebration of the birth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!!  And I really cannot believe 2012 is right around the corner!

So, I am hoping that the title got your attention.   I can't help but wonder how many of you finished the title with the word "money."  "Show me the money!!" is likely one of the most quoted movie lines in recent years from  the movie Jerry Macguire.  The movie's name sake is a high-priced sports agent modeled after the likes of Leigh Steinberg and Scott Boras. 

Now, in case you are wondering what does "Jerry Macguire" have to do with Pastor B's blog?  Here it is: On Thursday, December 8th Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 MILLION dollar contract with the Angels. It is a large contract that is also loaded with incentives for hitting certain milestones.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I cannot fault Albert for following the money.  We live in a free-market economy - at least for now - and if a team such as the Angels can afford to pay Albert $254 million-plus  over the next 10+ years, more power to them.  And Albert has the freedom to sell his services to the highest bidder - which he clearly did.

The issue that many of us Cardinal Fans have is this......Albert flat out betrayed Cardinal Nation.  Over the course of his career, and especially since  February 2009, he had made it clear that - and I am paraphrasing here - "It's NOT about the money,"  "It's about competing," and "I want to retire a Cardinal."    He is on the record as making those type of statements on more than one occasion.    And that is where the betrayal comes in.   If  Albert had been up front and honest from the beginning,  I don't think so many people - including myself - would care that he moved on.  But he has shown his true colors.  It is not about loyalty and keeping one's word, its all about the money!!

Now, in case you are wondering, this is where the "theological" twist comes in:  We just celebrated the Birth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.  Unlike Albert Pujols,  our good & gracious God does in fact keep His Word!  After we fell into sin God promised us a  Messiah way back in the third chapter of Genesis.   And in the birth, death, and resurrection of His only begotten Son, God kept His Word to us.   

And He continues to fulfill His promises to us each and every day! In Matthew 28 He promised, "...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   And you know what?  He is still with us...probably the best illustration of this is to see and experience this firsthand each and every Sunday here at Trinity as Jesus continues to come to us physically in His Body & Blood for the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of the eternal life that we have through the person and work of that baby whose birth we just celebrated!!

So, the next time you get disappointed that someone - anyone - does not keep their word, rest assured that there is someone who does, in fact, keep His Word!

Take care, God's Blessings, and have a Safe & Happy New Year!!

Humbly Serving as Trinity's Pastor,
Pastor B