it’s a game of two halves at the end of the day

Sorry, I can’t resist. Football is a funny old game.

On Sunday my favourite team, Ipswich Town, were thrashed 7-0 by Chelsea in the FA Cup. It was so bad that if it had been a boxing match it would have been stopped a long way before the final whistle.

Last night Ipswich played Arsenal in the semi-final of the League Cup. What Ipswich thought they were doing there nobody knows (and few supporters can believe)! After Sunday nobody gave Ipswich a chance. People were predicting rugby or even cricket scores against us. I was not optimistic.

Final Score: Ipswich Town 1 Arsenal 0.

Yes, that is correct! It is an astonishing change in performance and result in just a few days. It was reminiscent of the 1978 FA Cup Final when Ipswich were the overwhelming underdogs and beat Arsenal by the same scoreline with a goal at almost exactly the same time in the match!

Now before I get carried away here I need to remember that the semi-final is played over two matches so we have to go back to Arsenal in 2 weeks’ time and play another 90 minutes. Despite the result and performance last night I am still expecting Arsenal to win in the end, but of course hoping for an Ipswich victory. I also need to remember that Ipswich have just parted company with their manager and appointed a new one because they have lost 7 of the last 10 league matches and are perilously close to the relegation zone in their division. One win against Arsenal cannot change that!

So what do I reflect on here? Several things. One is that if we think the transformation in performance of a football team is impressive, the changes that God can bring about in us by his Spirit are even more remarkable. Amazing Grace indeed! A second thought is that we need to be a little bit like Ipswich in how we deal with letting God down. They did not wallow in their failure but I guess analysed where they went wrong, admitted their faults and determined to do better next time (and how!). So it is with us and God, but moreso. He wants us to admit when we have made mistakes (let’s use the biblical word, sin). He wants us to see where we went wrong and see if we can avoid the same mistakes (sin) again. He wants us to be determined to do better next time. And to help us he gives us his Spirit to prompt us, encourage us, guide us and support us.

So come Tuesday 25th January at 1945 I will be hoping against hope that Ipswich can repeat the performance and maintain their lead over Arsenal. (Sadly I am out at a meeting so can’t watch it even though it’s being shown live on BBC TV (AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH)). But more than that I am relying on God’s grace and Spirit to help me to continue to improve, to be transformed, renewed and encouraged.

Unrelated joke from joke calendar:
Two snowmen were stood in the middle of a field and one of them says, “Can you smell carrots?”

and bonus joke

Two birds are sitting on a perch and one says, “Can you smell fish?”