Gimme a "J"...

I love football season. I'll even admit to being called a "fanatic" on more than one occasion. There's something about sitting on cold bleachers, shoulder-to-shoulder with perfect strangers, screaming until I'm hoarse that makes me feel good. There's an intensity that even people who aren't really "into" football can get caught up in and enjoy.

Fans show up hours early to hang out in the parking lot and get pumped up for the game. Weather doesn't matter much - rain, snow, sleet or sun, they'll stand on their seats with their hands in the air and cheer for their team. Most will stay until the final seconds tick off the clock, never dreaming of missing a single play regardless of the score.

Those who can't go to the game sit glued to their TV's from the pregame interviews through the postgame highlights. They invite people over to watch with them and share the excitement of the "Big Game." They'll cheer just as hard as the folks in the stands.

Real fanatics memorize stats, know the history of the team and the players, belong to clubs, and subscribe to insider newsletters and websites. They'll recap the game for days with friends and complete strangers. They spend money on team merchandise to decorate their cars, their homes, themselves, and even their kids.

Football fans just love their team - unashamedly, with heart and soul - and they want the world to know it.

And that's what got me thinking.

What if people showed that type of love and loyalty and intensity for Jesus? What if we became real fanatics for God?

We'd get to church early, regardless of the weather, and pay attention to everything that goes on. We'd stay until the very end of the service, wanting to squeeze out every drop of the experience. We'd cheer and raise our arms in the air to let God know we love him.

We might invite people to come with us, or maybe we'd talk to perfect strangers at the mall about how great God is. We'd want to read the Bible to learn all we could about God, his history, and the history of his "star players." Maybe we'd spend money and travel to a conference or retreat weekend to try to get closer to Jesus. We could decorate our homes with his picture or scriptures, or wear clothes with his name on them.

Maybe even those who aren't really "into" Jesus would get caught up in our excitement.

We'd just love him - unashamedly, with heart and soul - and we'd want the world to know it.

One more thing. Despite all of the love and support and loyalty I've shown my favorite team over the years, not one person in that organization even knows I exist.

But God does.

How intense is that?