Bible Studies

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Under & Over

Fresh out of college, I landed a job at Weirton Steel Company. The job had nothing to do with my Psychology degree, though I found that a competent counselor could do any number of case studies on the men I worked alongside. Some were bearish brutes who would drink straight whiskey for breakfast, followed by a beer chaser. But those same men were moved to tears if their beloved Steelers lost a game. They didnÕt like foreign people, foreign cars or foreign policy, although they lived in a melting pot town populated by men who had much in common. They didnÕt shun hard work Ð nor hard play.
Outside of Gate #5, a joint named Corner Cigar was a hub of hard play, where men gambled on football, baseball, basketball and horses. One of my favorite bets was called a two-teamer. For $5.50, youÕd pick your team and whether or not the total score of the game would be over a certain number or under a different number. That over or under choice was your second team. If the Steelers were playing the Browns, any right-thinking local would pick the Steelers. At the time, with the Iron Curtain defense in place, most people would choose to go under. LetÕs say the over/under was 31/34. If the Steelers won 21-9, and you picked the Steelers under, youÕd get $22. To win, both your picks had to play out, and any score that equaled or fell between the over/under numbers was only a win for the bookies.
Though illegal, people would stand at a bar over thirty feet long in lines often five deep, look at a chalkboard full of teams and odds, then place a bet. You could see steel workers, bankers, teachers, lawyers, police officers, or dentists Ð all in line to take a chance. Chances were, youÕd lose, for the over/under was often in between. When that happened, youÕd hear grumbling about the games being fixed. Whether they were or not, it didnÕt stop those weekend warriors from taking a chance. Since greed ruled hearts, an occasional win was all that was needed to keep hopes alive and cash flowing into the coffers of the bookies.
In this first chapter of Ephesians, Paul lays out GodÕs plan for us Ð the church. Some might say the fix is in, for God chose, or elected, those whoÕd be on His team before the foundation of the world. Also, by GodÕs command, Christ was made head of the church, and everything is under His authority. Saints are under His dominion, as is every non-believer. Everyone is subject to Him, either now at the present or in the future. Within the church, God chose which people would have which gifts. Some are more gifted than others, but all are important to God. Though Satan is a formidable opponent, His game plan says he loses. WeÕre in the final quarter, but we may not play the whole game. God may take us home before the final bell rings. Yet, this is certain: neither will we be crushed under His feet, nor will the game be over until He decrees. We win Ð itÕs a sure bet placed on hope in His Word!

Mountain Time Moment

And God placed all things under his feet
and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

Ephesians 1:22 NIV

Entire article with verse links in blue can be found at:
http://home.comcast.net/~philemon25/Ephesians122.pdf

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