This Sunday the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will face off in Super Bowl XLVIII. While football is, by any measure, the most popular sport in the United States, research into the brain injuries suffered by athletes who play football and other contact sports have raised questions about whether the game is safe, particularly for young people. Scripture tells us that we have been created in God’s image and that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. So how we treat our bodies is a spiritual matter. LinC looks at physical fitness as a spiritual discipline and the importance of staying safe as we exercise our bodies. Key Scriptures: Judges 16:23-30; Luke 9:57-62; 1 Timothy 47b-10; Philippians 3:12-14.
A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that the MTV show 16 and Pregnant has been responsible for a reduction in teen pregnancy. Critics have accused 16 and Pregnant, along with its companion show Teen Mom, of glamorizing pregnancy. However, an analysis of viewership and Internet search data indicates that the shows may be influencing teens to be more responsible. As God’s people we also have an opportunity to be positive influences. Next week we’ll look at how we can have a godly influence on our world.
