As one would expect, the broadcast of Super Bowl LVII on Sunday featured a commercial that insulted biblical Christianity.

But this was not one of those ads that routinely mocks conservative believers as “bigoted” and “backward” for holding fast to the Bible’s teachings on marriage, the family and the sanctity of life.

Instead, this ad took aim at a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith: the belief in original sin and the need for a Savior to redeem us.

The commercial takes place in the Garden of Eden right after Eve ate the fruit that God had explicitly forbidden them to eat, as described in Genesis 3. Adam looks horrified when he realizes what Eve — played by Anna Faris — has done and notices that he is naked.

But then, the story gets turned on its head when a talking squirrel shows up and offers Eve Avocados from Mexico as a way to solve the problem.

Fast forward to New York in the 21st century, and everything is fine since the Avocados from Mexico solved the problem and freed humanity from the consequences of sin. Everyone is naked, including the Statue of Liberty.

While this might seem like just another silly Super Bowl ad, the message is sinister and blasphemous, as it makes light of sin and diminishes the importance of God and Christ.

First off, it minimizes the consequences of original sin, painting the fall of man and the entrance of sin into the world as just a minor inconvenience that could be solved by avocados.

But it also shows contempt for God, suggesting a supposedly better solution to the problem of sin than God’s plan, which was to send Christ into the world to die on the cross and redeem mankind.

The Bible tells us that there are consequences for such actions: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for wh**ever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

This ad depicting sin as no big deal and scoffing at God and his plan for salvation shows just how arrogant and wicked our society has become.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-k*****g-1000-russian-troops-every-day-eliminates-5000-single-battle

A thousand a day? This sounds like something straight out of Biden's mouth. And 5000 in a single battle? Probably not but if Ukraine is using chemical weapons, maybe part of this story IS true:

https://www.donbass-insider.com/2023/02/09/ukraine-openly-uses-chemical-weapons-against-russian-soldiers-and-the-opcw-remains-silent/

Considering this and the US sending Uranium/radioactive shells in with those "Abraham" tanks like they did in Iraq, are we going to condemn Putin when he hits Ukraine with the real thing; nuclear weapons?????

Just keep pushing it and pushing it, warmongering i***ts!! Support this corrupt and illegitimate Ukraine regime to the nth degree and see what it gets us. Sure, keep it up!!

I happen to be friends with a fellow OPPer on Facebook and they happened to react to a post of mine from four years ago. I reread it and believe it's worth sharing if it hasn't been shared here before... my wife has told me that for every “depressing” story I share with her, I owe her three uplifting ones. I still owe her two.

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H' lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it," said Mr. Miller.

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.

"Not zackley but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble." Mr. Miller told the boy.

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or wh**ever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer wh**ever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts... all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles.

With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size... they came to pay their 'debt'."We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho..."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles... A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself... An unexpected phone call from an old friend... Green stoplights on your way to work... The fastest line at the grocery store... A good sing-along song on the radio... Your keys found right where you left them.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!