One day Lamar Hunt, the man who started the American Football League and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, came across his daughter's Super Ball and was given the inspiration for the name of the championship game between his upstart AFL and the old guard National Football League. 

"Why not," he wondered, "call our championship game the Super Bowl?" The name caught on quickly and thus, an American tradition was born. Today's the big game! And there is an interesting story behind one of the players. If you watch the game today I want you to remember this story about Jerry Rice. 

He was the longtime star for the San Francisco 49ers, considered one of the greatest receivers in the history of football; he played for the 49ers for 15 years, 1985 to 2000. Tonight he will be playing for the Raiders. He is a famous athlete and you would think he came from some legendary college team but he didn't. He played for Mississippi Valley State University, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, a virtual unknown.

He was once asked, "Why did you attend a small, obscure university like Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi?" Rice responded, "Out of all the big-time schools (such as UCLA) to recruit me, MVSU was the only school to come to my house and give me a personal visit."

The big-time schools recruited through cards, letters, and advertisements, but only one came to meet him and showed Rice personal attention. It makes a difference in this world to meet people eye to eye and invite them to be a part. As Jesus passed along the sea of Galilee, the scriptures say, he saw Simon and his brother casting a net into the sea. He approached them and invited them to be a part. He went a little further and he saw two more brothers: James and John. He went up to them extending the same invitation and they followed. It is the personal touch which attracts us, is it not? Cards and letters are nice and they're meaningful but they can only do so much. And advertising is so impersonal. But a shake of the hand and a personal touch, it makes all the difference.

How can we reach others for Christ? And do it with a personal touch? I believe we can do it by...

1. Meeting people where they are.
2. Personalizing our approach.
3. Finding our calling.