Tom,

You probably didn’t read my first open-letter. And that’s cool, really, it is. I think most famous people don’t read open letters directed to them, especially if not from fairly untrafficked obscure blogs. And we’re not really (or actually at all) friends in real life, or even on Facebook for that matter. You’re probably more of an instagram guy anyway.

Anyhow, after my last open letter to you, which was also my first open-letter to anyone (so you should feel quite honored), I did ask you to consider retiring to work on your marriage. But later it came out that the decision to go that direction had been made prior to my appeal. So I got that by the time my letter would have reached you, that ship had already sailed.

The season ended up, actually better than I had anticipated. I didn’t expect to make the play-offs, so getting one extra game, albeit an embarrassing one, was still kind of cool. I remember watching Dan Marino’s last play-off game, the one where he got blown out by the Jaguars so many years ago. You made the right decision. It was time.

I’m looking forward to hearing you in the booth. Greg Olson is doing a great job, but don’t feel the need to compare yourself with him. You’re not the next Greg Olson, you’re the next Tom Brady, right? At least that’s what your Under Armor commercial with Morgan Freeman preached to us.

It’s probably too late to do much relationship repair with Gisele. But probably doesn’t mean certainly, so just wanted to throw that out. You’ll surely put in a lot of time with your kids. If you have time to read them The Jesus Storybook Bible, I cannot imagine that you would regret it. Not that it’s a huge draw for you, but Carrie Underwood also read it to her kids. It’s really good. It reminds us that the scriptures tell of one story, of one Redeemer, who came to do what we could not do.

And I just thought that coming from you, the one who could do anything on the football field, until he couldn’t, it might just carry a lot of weight. But yeah, its a good read, and steers us away from the legalistic add-ons so prevalent in less than accurate gospel depictions rampant today. There’s something really refreshing about God’s grace.

It looks like its on sale now at the above link. Or if you’re in Bradenton, we do have some copies at our church that we could give you. Just let me know ahead of time because sometimes I work from home.

Tom, I’ll be honest, this may be my last letter I write to you in what’s likely been a one-way conversation. But then again, you did retire, un-retire, and the re-tire again so you kind of see why I can’t say for sure what I’ll do in the future.

I’ll probably write again if you really get into trouble with the whole FTX Crypto fiasco. If I do forget though, please make sure you check out Psalm 40. It’s gold. U2 wrote a song about it. Although there are other psalms which deal with desperate situations caused by us or caused by others. I love this about the Psalms: there’s always one for the occasion.

I hope that in the back nine (that’s my new expression for both of us since we’re both on the back nine holes of life) you find Jesus. But I’ll pull for you in the booth regardless. Thanks again for the great 3 years Tom.

Geoff

Dear Tom,

In trying to explain to my 9th grade son, what an open letter is, I described it as a letter that will likely never reach its intended destination, but that just maybe, like a message in a bottle, it will reach some, some day, hopefully, eventually, maybe?

Tom, I have never done one of these things, so this may be a little awkward. I apologize. I actually never thought I would have to write this, but here we are, once again, mired in mediocrity once again. Tom, I’m asking you to reconsider retirement immediately, and please go home to work on your marriage. Do all you can to keep it together. You are the GOAT. Be the GOAT of your home. They need you more than we do in Tampa. I think I speak for a number of your fans. I’m sure your teammates will understand. And even if they don’t, this will have more of an impact than yelling at your offensive line. I promise.

Basketball’s GOAT did not have a good marriage. I also wonder what Michael Jordan was like as a father. From what I can tell, you really seem to care about your kids. You seemed at one time, to care about your wife.

For years, you were my nemesis. I ALWAYS rooted against you. I used you negatively in sermon illustrations. But then one of my pilot friends at my church told me he flew you twice. Honestly I wanted you to be a jerk, so I could keep rooting against you. But he told me you were very much the opposite, even asking about his kids. How cool is that Tom! I stopped hating you.

Then everything really changed when you came to Tampa. Even though I doubted you when we were 7-5, you gave us a Super Bowl. Thank you. But Jon Gruden did as well, and now his name isn’t even in the Ring of Honor anymore at Raymond James Stadium.

Fame is so fleeting Tom. If football would have been around during the writing of Ecclesiastes, the writer would have included it among those successes he labeled, “vanity” – literally a puff of smoke. You even confirmed this was this your actual experience on 60 Minutes. What happened Tom?

I once heard someone famous claim, “The worst thing is not failing to achieve a goal, but achieving that goal and realizing it wasn’t worth the work to get there.”

Tom I will not lie. I wanted you back in 2021, and I wanted you back in 2022. I know you came back to win another Super Bowl, but that’s not going to happen. And even if you did, would it truly be worth the cost?

I also want to apologize to you AND your wife. I blamed Giselle for not letting you play football. I also apologize for not writing this letter earlier. I hope I would have written this letter even if the Bucs were 5-1, which they should be if Mike Evans wasn’t suspended and if you would have thrown to him more than 3 or 4 times last game. I know, that’s not your fault. But I confess that I don’t know if I would have Tom. I’m sorry. I’m confessing an idol to you.

But in God’s gracious plan, I think we can both agree on one thing: Todd Bowles knows how to lose. Some blamed his losing years with the JETS due to subpar players. Yet you have Pro Bowlers on this roster now. And by now you have to realize that Byron Leftwich (without Arians’ input) is completely wasting your talent and time.

To make matters worse, this was an all-in season. The team is in salary cap hell. It’s not going to get better next year, it’s going to get worse.

My dream in life was to plant a church. Technically I dreamed of planting a church that could plant multiple churches. I would still love this to happen one day, but to have this dream and lose my family? Heck no. I’ve seen successful pastors who were not successful husbands and dads. I pray I never sacrifice my family on the altar of this dream.

You have been given a precious gift in your wife and kids. Luscilla’s comforting and parting words to Russell Crowe’s dying character in Gladiator, “Go to them.” He went to his family who had already died. Please go to them in their “living years,” while you have life to give.

If you’re still reading this Tom, and I know that’s a stretch to believe, I don’t know how bad things are/were/will be at home. At One Buc Place, hope has left the building. Even if you lose at home, why not go down swinging? You dazzled us with your epic comeback in last years playoff game against the Rams only to have Bowles’ defense blow it for you. Tom this happened yet again yesterday. Nothing has changed.

When Jesus met the Apostle Paul on the Damascus road, he reminded Paul that He had already been pursuing him. In the King James translation, Paul was “kicking against the goads.” Tom, consider what it would be like to rest in what Jesus has done, and to recognize what Giselle said to you after the Super Bowl, “You have nothing left to prove.” Let Jesus prove his worth for you, and do what you cannot do for yourself. Let him die, let him live, let him reign FOR you. It’s never too late.

And you know what else, I don’t think its too late to save your marriage.

Thank you for the two incredible years of great Bucs football. You gave my boys a taste of greatness. In a few years, maybe we’ll get another quarterback with even a fraction of your talent. And some coaches who know what they’re doing. But for now, go live for something far more important.

On Mondays, (or actually Sunday afternoons) most preachers think of what they wish they had said or things they wish they hadn’t. So I’ve decided to start a blog segment called “Monday Morning Quarterback,” where I can go back and say what I forgot to say, didn’t have time to say, or wish I had thought to say.

At our church, we looked at Galatians 5:1-6, 13-14 this week, focusing on freedom in Christ. Everyone has a concept of the necessity of freedom, even and especially those, who would disagree with our personal understanding of freedom. For instance proponents of communism, the absolute opposite of an American understanding of freedom, could still claim freedom as a motivating factor: their system produces a freedom from “class struggle.”

Mask proponents claim they are letting others be free to live, while mask opponents claim that being required to wear them limits their personal right to choose what’s best for them. Those in favor of abortion claim reproductive rights freedom, while those who oppose, claim proponents are literally taking away the freedom of the child’s life inside.

Please don’t think I am making a moral equivalence claim here with masks and abortions, I’m just simply trying to show the role that an understanding of freedom often drives opposing moral stances.

Neitzche, like it or not, has influenced western understanding of personal freedom more than most thinkers. But I do think his categories of how to think of freedom are actually quite Pauline (from the Apostle Paul). In Thus Spake Tharathrustra, he speaks of a freedom FROM and a freedom FOR.

Free from what? What is that to Zarathustra! But your eyes should announce to me brightly: free for what?

These are the very same categories Paul claims are critical for any Christian and church.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Neither circumcision (submitting to OT religious regulations, or any attempt to justify oneself) nor uncircumcision (not submitting to others demands) is the kind of faith that “counts.”

He wants this church to say NO to anyone who would demand that they need to do some activity or ritual to justify themselves. Jesus already did that. But he also doesn’t want them to think freedom is just another word for nothing left to do. Faith that “counts” is displayed by actively loving others from a place of validation, not to earn validation by loving.

Nietzche’s freedom is a freedom from traditional morality and for the individual: freedom is the will to be responsible for ourselves.

Jillian Anderson’s character in The Fall rightly reveals that this understanding of freedom could rightly also be called slavery. When the serial murderer touts Nietzhe-like freedom in his choice to be free to kill whoever and whenever, the detective claims, “You are simply a slave to your desires.”

More Pauline she could not be-at least in philosophy, though not in practice.

The freedom Paul touts is not selfish freedom but freedom from selfishness to serve others. Therefore let’s be thoughtful with our freedom.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another vs. 13

We are free to follow our consciences politically. But our freedom is also for others. Therefore we cannot bind other Christians’ consciences who are diligently seeking to apply the scriptures and light of reason in places where scripture does not specifically address an issue or how to solve such issue. Nor can we call them stupid or sinful. We are not free to be so outwardly politically passionate or expressive when it causes divisions in the church. Does our expression of freedom invite other Christians who think differently about issues into a relationship with us/our church or repel them?

What about personality? We are not slaves to our personalities. Personalities often change little, but that doesn’t mean that we are always free to stay consistent with our personalities in every situation and setting. Sometimes we have to step up and lead, speak, share, or talk, and when we’d rather be shy, quiet, or walk away. Sometimes those of us who like to talk (like me) need to step back, ask questions, listen, and simply shut up.

An extrovert needs to stop looking at who else he/she can talk with, while an introvert may need to look at who can he/she can talk with today or after church.

We may like things a certain way in relationships, situations, worship, fellowship, community groups. But are we free to deviate from such desires and defer to others in love? This is the kind of freedom that can set the church apart from the rest of the world.

Let’s never stop thinking about the implications of our freedom in Christ. Sometimes it is to say, “no” to meeting demands, but it also must be the kind that can say, “yes” to meeting needs. It is a freedom from the obligation of trying to prove-which is for OUR good-and a freedom to love for the good of OTHERS.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.² “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:1-5

I’m encouraged by stories of people giving to their communities. Tyler Perry, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, just to name a few. None of the readers of this blog, few in number most likely, have that kind of money. How do you feel when you hear of other Average Joe’s loving people in this time? How do we apply Jesus warnings to OURSELVES?

First of all, it is our job to be aware of our own motives, not the motives of others (though we can certainly ask the question). Jesus warns us to be aware of “practicing your righteousness in order of being seen,” and he knows the exact motivation of the group in question here. We don’t have the luxury of knowing the thoughts of others. But in another passage, Jesus also calls us to let our good deeds be seen before others so that they may give glory to God.

So should we share or not share? What’s the difference? Motivation. Two of the same deeds done by two different people can have completely different motivations. So it is our job to check why we want to share anything good that we’re doing, with others.

1.) Sharing is caring. What you’re doing can be a wonderful encouragement for others to jump in. If your motivation is not to gain favor from God or others, but to give because you already have favor from God through Christ, then share away. I think that there is much that we can do during this time, but really don’t know how or what to do. Sometimes we just need ideas.

2.) Sharing can’t lead to comparing. In a discussion with some good friends, I confessed that I often feel stressed out when I see others sharing good because I’m comparing myself with them. The problem isn’t in their sharing, it is in me. I take the good they do, and compare myself with them. Am I doing enough, either in quantity of quality? But we all have different gifts (and time for that matter). I can’t make things. Sometimes I can catch fish to share, and sometimes I can’t. Some folks have made masks, made resources known, baked and brought meals, grocery shopped, taught others new technology, shared devotionals online, lead zoom groups, communicated well with others, etc….

When others share, be encouraged. God is at work through people in this mess. His image in humanity is on display. But don’t compare yourself to others. You are free to love differently than others, and don’t need to keep up with the Jones’ generosity or creativity. One of my friends shared with me, “Social distancing IS loving your neighbor.”

Let’s be encouraged, creative, and resourceful. But the moment you feel stressed, or less of a Christian, or less of a neighbor, teacher, parent, just relax. Jesus wasn’t just the best neighbor, he was the best neighbor FOR the Christian. Therefore we can relax, recognize unique opportunities, and enter into them without the burden of comparison. His yoke is easy and burden is light my friends.

There are a variety of ways to personally read, study, apply the bible. I’ve used a number of different methods over the years and have found certain ones helpful in different seasons of life. For greater background information on story-lines, genres, themes, the bible project has some wonderful resources here. If you are following along with Harbor’s Bible reading plan, we are currently in the book of James. A number of methods, as one shown here, basically frame the study time with some variation of questions related to A.) God B.) Humanity C.) Jesus D.) Repentance, Faith, Application. So here is one way to read with that framework in mind as I go through James 3. Hope this example helps you dig into and apply God’s word on your own!

What does this teach me about God (Father/Son/Holy Spirit)?

God calls people to to teach, but not all people. Those whom he does call to teach should expect greater accountability before Him and even others. True wisdom is not simply knowing more information, or even the skill of relaying that information, but is always defined by character and actions.

What does this teach me about humanity (Sinfulness as well as Dignity)?

Our speech can set the direction of our lives, therefore we need to be aware of how our words are used. We cannot speak something true of God or praise Him with our lips, while speaking evil to, or about our fellow Christians and  neighbors. All people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicity, political affiliations are made in God’s image and therefore, it does matter HOW we talk to or about those whom we disagree does matter. Pastors are not immune to narcissism, as are any sort of teachers or leaders in a church setting. Character will distinguish those who should and shouldn’t lead.

How does this passage lead me toward Jesus and increase my affection for him?

Jesus’ life was a perfect display of meekness. He was strong and challenging with words to the self righteous and yet gentle with those who felt overwhelmed by their sinfulness. His words were words given to Him by His Heavenly Father. He was aligned with His Father’s Kingdom, and therefore so were His words. He spoke these words for me, but now I can hear them spoken to me. Thank you Jesus for giving me the rebuke in my self-righteousness, calling me back to your grace. Thank you even when it is hard to hear and comes from others whom I don’t want to hear it from! Thank you for the healing and comforting words in my fears, uncertainty, and self-loathing. You forgive my words of hate and give me words of hope.

How will life today be different if I repent and believe the truth of this passage?

When I want to respond harshly toward others in their perceived sin or perceived stupidity, I will immediately bring that frustration to Jesus and ask him to do something with it. When I’m tempted to gossip today, I will remember that this is an affront to God’s special creation. I will take to pray for our country’s leaders, asking God to grant wisdom that is from above, that is humble and impartial, that leaders will lead us in respecting the dignity of each person. However, regardless of how leaders react, I will remember that Jesus Kingdom is not OF this world, and I will respond differently.  As a teacher, I recognize that I’m under an even stricter accountability for how I use my words and want to be the same person I am on Sunday as I am on Monday.

²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. -Galatians 3:25-29

Paul’s main argument in the book of Galatians is that you don’t need to do add anything to what Jesus has already done. Adding anything to what Jesus has already done FOR you, is like taking a sharpie marker to a Michelangelo’s Sisteen Chapel work, and thinking you’ll be improving it. If you try to improve it, you ruin it!

While women may not want to think of themselves as “sons,” at this time Paul chose the word “sons” b/c the sons were only ones who received an inheritance. For folks who have been told, “You need to add more laws, or in essence become Jewish before you could become a “real” Christian,” can you imagine the burden being lifted? Women, slaves, now included, instead of excluded? Yes! Don’t let anyone tell you that you need to add anything to what Jesus has done for you. Not their personal preferences, performance, politics, patriotism, profession. He is sufficient by His own merit.

In Christ, there are only those who have received full inheritance based solely upon Jesus. We each have gifts, a background, a history, a culture, and skills to bless our church families and the family of God spread across the globe. We don’t lose all distinctions, (I’m still an American middle aged dude and not a woman), but those distinctions no longer divide us, because they no longer take priority to our ultimate identity and union with King Jesus. We add to each other, but add nothing to Jesus work.

No matter the future, we have a promise today. Let us hold on to Him, who holds on to us.

¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. ¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

In these strange times, I have come out of blogging retirement and wanted to share with any Harbor family and friends some thoughts to keep us zoomed into God’s unshakeable word. This passage is from our Harbor Bible Reading plan (technically its yesterday’s reading) found in Hebrews 13:14-16.

In times of mass pandemic, which by the way, is nothing new for this world, Christians have often found great comfort in the hope of a new city. The “city” referred to is not a city which we build with human hands, but one that “is to come” when Jesus returns. In Revelation 21, we see Jesus descending from heaven and bringing the heavenly Jerusalem down to earth. So….this heavenly city doesn’t stay in heaven forever, but very much comes down to Earth! Its physical and tangible. We pray now, as Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.”

In some ways we borrow the phraseology of workers on strike who claim, “What do we want ? This city….When do we want it? Now!” We don’t settle. We long for, and we pray for, more of God’s will done perfectly in heaven, to come down to earth.

While we may borrow the phraseology of those on strike, Christians have a different attitude than striking workers. Instead we lift up our prayers, not in anger, but in lament and desperate petition. We lift up our voices in songs as we gather (even if online), but also as we sing when we scatter in praise (vs 15). There’s no greater sound than hearing one of my children sing the songs during the week that we sung that Sunday.  We say “How long O Lord,” but we also do so in thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice, that we can be assured of this city and our place in it through repentance and faith.

Finally, we act nothing like striking workers. With our hope fixed on the city that is to come, we don’t stop working, we continue to love our cities and neighborhoods where they are and for what the could become. We love people where they are, and are hopeful of what they could be. It has been noted that those who think most deeply about the city that is to come, actually do the most good in their cities and neighborhoods where they currently find themselves. I see this in my neighborhood, and we see it throughout history. In addition to praise, we are instructed in verse 16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

One of the most “spiritual” or “heavenly-minded” things you can in that city is to tangibly do something good for your church family AND your neighbors around you. How appropriate is this verse today, when hoarding is so common, when toilet paper is rare? In the words of Seinfeld, “Can you spare a square?” Let’s find ways to do good and to share with each other. It may not be your presence unless you are 6 feet away, but it could be your words via text or phone call or video conference. It could be your service. Let’s get creative. Remembering the city that is to come is the best thing you can do for your church family and neighbors during this season.

Before I jump back into Harbor’s reading plan for the New Year, I’ve been reflecting a good bit on Simeon’s reaction when he comes across the infant-yes Ricky Bobby, the cute little 8 lb baby Jesus. Here’s the passage in Luke 2.

 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

Simeon had been told that he would witness this new Savior first hand before he died. So at the end of his life, when he finally gets to meet this cute little Savior, how does he respond? I mean, he really would not live to see all of the benefits the Savior would bring to him, his countrymen, and the world. And yet Jesus this snippet of Jesus was plenty. He rejoiced. How cool is that?

Today we see so much of what Jesus became, with his life, death, resurrection, and His church moving forward to all parts of the globe. And yet we haven’t seen ALL that He will do. There is still a future component, of which we will most likely not be alive to witness firsthand: Jesus’ return to renew all things. But even now, we, like Simeon can rejoice for what is to come, not just what has come to pass.

Why is this? Because the past, present, future of “salvation” is so tied up in the person of Jesus, that to experience him now, means that all parts of our salvation (freedom from sin’s punishment/power/presence) bring us joy today. Just like with Simeon. Our past, present, future are tied together in His past/present/future.

What brings us peace? Is it a promotion, a relationship, a success? No! We know those things never deliver, but Jesus never fails. If our concept of salvation revolves around Jesus, not Jesus so-I-can-get-what-I-really-want, then we can expect interactions with Jesus in weekly worship, bible reading, community groups, to be joy filled experiences.

Who is salvation for? It is for the Jew AND Gentile. It is for the racially/radically excluded people to be racially/radically included in God’s people. Salvation is not simply for us, but for others. When we think of salvation primarily in personal terms, it becomes self-absorbed and misses Jesus. And thus misses joy. When we think of salvation primarily in terms of what it brings us, and not others who are yet to believe, it misses Jesus. He came for the near and the far off. The religious and the irreligious. The “good” and the “bad.” The rich and the poor. It is good news for those inside the church and the offer extends to those outside the church. It’s good news for the individual and good news for the community.  Do we see both and, or either or?

If Simeon had a snippet of Jesus, then we have the whole picture. How much more joy and peace is there in store for us today? We can depart in peace and we can live in peace, not looking for anything/anyone else to save and satisfy us than this Savior. He’s that good.

“God’s Patience Is Not A Bad Thing” – This is an excerpt from Harbor Community Church’s Devotional. The full PDF version can be found here.  My answers are provided in italics. Just use them after you think of an answer for yourself.

Wednesday, December 4^th II Peter 3:1-9

Other suggested readings: Psalms 148, 149; Isaiah 5:1-7; Luke 7:28-35

On some two lane highways, there are signs that declare “Patience pays, 4 lanes in ¼ mile.’ These signs alert the driver not to rush to the judgment of passing the slow car in front of him/her. Instead, it will be safer to do so in a little while when another lane is added. Only a 20 or so years removed from Jesus’ resurrection, many were becoming impatient with Jesus’ return. Since he hadn’t returned yet, they lost patience, and rushed to a rash judgment: he isn’t coming back ya’ll! Peter reminds us to stay patient and not to rush to bad decisions based on impatient faith.

1.) What does Peter warn against? Scoffers who come and follow their own evil desires

2.) What are the scoffers saying? That the world is the same as it always was.

3.) Are they right in their assertions? No! Name some events which prove they are wrong. Creation, Flood, Exodus, God redeeming a people for himself through Covenants, Jesus and miracles, resurrection.

4.) To what should we appeal when false assertions are made? The words spoken in the past by the Holy prophets and the commands given by Jesus through his prophets; THE BIBLE.

5.) Their assertions are based upon observation of the world, without the aid of the scriptures. They “deliberately forget” (vs. 5). Their main argument is time: nothing has changed over time. But is time a good argument for our Lord Jesus not coming back? His concept of time and ours is not the same. A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. God doesn’t see time like we see it.

6.) How should we interpret his not coming back for 2000 years? He is patient allowing more people to come to repentance. Over 400 years occurred between the two Testaments. That’s a long time, but God didn’t forget. He’s never late, but always right on time.

7.) When have you been angry with God because he seemed to slow to respond? Be specific and discuss/reflect

Application:

• Confess that we are often like the scoffers and very impatient with God
• To prepare yourself for Christmas, turn from your impatience and remember a time when God has been patient with you.