Every network that broadcasts live TV sports offers several versions of pregame shows, which are usually pretty boring. They serve as great fare for those in sports bars, people having parties, and lonely types who have nothing else to do but watch ex-jocks talk about what might or might not happen in an upcoming game.But one of the more beautiful and powerful segments I’ve ever seen showed up during this year’s Super Bowl pregame show, and I’ve since realized that Fox has been showing a similar version for several years.Players from the past, present and future were joined together from locations around the country in a video montage that gave our entire country—and especially our young people—something many have never received: a recitation of the Declaration of Independence.Watch it here:The spiritually based phrases that were foundational in forming our nation will not be included in the shaping of our nation unless we read, hear, and reflect on them from time to time. To hear and see some of the most famous and successful players and coaches of all time bringing these truths to light is among the more powerful public services a media source has provided recently, and I hope that countless people—especially young people—have a chance to see and consider it online in the coming days. Unwittingly, many of us perhaps have been lulled into media or political interpretations of the supposed separation of church-state separation, but there is no denying the amount of reference to God that the Founding Fathers chose to cite: * “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bans which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth…”• “The laws of nature and nature’s God…”• “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”• “…endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…”• “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, their duty to throw off such government…”• “…protection of divine providence…”To see and hear the likes of Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, Roger Staubach, Jim Brown, Don Shula, Steve Largent, Alan Page and others was really fun, but to hear their message was moved past entertainment to inspiration. I’ve also been encouraged by some of the online conversation about it here.

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