If you watched The Super Bowl, you probably know that there is a bit of controversy over who should have been declared the game’s Most Valuable Player.  Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, got the prize, despite throwing two interceptions, and clearly not having his best game.  But, there are many who thought that Damien Williams, the Kansas City running back, who scored two touchdowns, rushed for 104 yards, and caught passes for another 29 yards, might have been more deserving of the Super Bowl MVP trophy.

For those of you who are thinking, “The Saints weren’t playing, so who cares?”, I feel you.  Yet there is, at least in my mind, a reason for bringing up this issue.  We had another fabulous “Souper Bowls” event at TOCC Sunday.  And, I am having a difficult time in determining which group deserves the award for the Most Valuable Players.  On the one hand, we had that amazing group who, with joy and love, prepared the MANY varieties of the wonderfully delicious soups and gumbos and chilis and the other side dishes and desserts which we joyfully ate and Ate and ATE!  On the other hand, we had that amazing group who, with joy and love, worked long and hard to set up beautifully, and then, still filled with joy and love, worked long and hard to clean up afterwards.  

The truth is we could not ever have these kinds of events at TOCC without all of the efforts of such amazing servants.  It is also true that many of these servants, with joy and love, both cooked and set up and cleaned up!  And so, I pray that all of you will accept the grateful thanks of all of us who so enjoyed every moment of our gathering.  You are all the MVP’s of TOCC! 

And by the way – wasn’t it exciting to have such a full house Sunday?  It was our biggest crowd of the year, so far.  The room was crackling with energy!  While I realize that perhaps we had some extra people and extra energy because of the “double-barreled attractions” of the “Year in Review” video and the “Souper Bowls” lunch, I hope that days like this will give us a vision of what “could be” at TOCC.  

Last Sunday, we talked about how seeing with eyes of faith will lead us away from a skeptical and drab form of existence, to a “what if” and “imagine the possibilities” kind of life.  What if a crowd like we had Sunday, or an even bigger crowd, was here every week?  What if they were here, not to put a check mark on the list of things they had to do, but because they wanted to be here?  What if they were here because they loved Jesus and loved being with other people who loved Jesus?  What if they were here to encourage each other to walk boldly as children of God?  What if they were here to use their gifts to strengthen their brothers and sisters?  What if they were here to lean on and carry one another through the hardships of life?  What if they loved their friends and family and neighbors so much that they couldn’t stop themselves from saying, “Come and see”? 

What if, TOCC?  Can you imagine, can you see the possibilities?   

~Shepherd Ambrose Ramsey