He Gets Us:

Fade in.

We see a young man washing his father’s feet as soulful music plays, and the camera zooms in thoughtfully. We see a police officer washing someone’s feet in an alleyway. A woman washing her friend’s feet. And the images keep coming.

Someone lowers themselves to the position of a servant, especially in contexts where you often expect tension or opposition, and the person receiving the foot washing looks on in something less than bewilderment but more than understanding – they are touched.

“Jesus didn’t teach hate,” the ad says at the end of the spot. “He washed feet.” And then it says, “He gets us. All of us. Jesus.” Finally, HeGetsUs.com/LoveYourNeighbor comes onscreen, and then it’s over.

Simple, to the point, and a powerful depiction of Christian service, humility, and love, following Jesus’ example in John 13, when He says, “Know that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Beautiful, right?

This ad spot ran for 60 seconds during the Super Bowl, and a related 15-second ad titled “Who is My Neighbor” ran later in the game, costing a total of $17.5 million. In the aftermath, people have been wondering and discussing online – who was behind this advertisement? What are they getting at? And what’s their agenda?

Let me tell you…

Valentine’s Day spending is expected to very slightly dip compared with last year, for a total of $25.8  billion changing hands on the day. Roughly $6.2 billion will be spent on jewelry and $2.2 billion on flowers. The $2.3 billion that will be spent on flowers accounts for 30% of total flower sales for the entire year…

The S&P 500 closed above 5,000 for the first time ever on Friday, as the three major indices post their fifth straight week of gains. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate continues its steady climb upward, sitting at 7.37% as of Monday. Unemployment has held steady at 3.7% for the past few months as wages finally begin to experience some real growth…

The Kansas City Chiefs defended their championship title at Super Bowl LVIII, beating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. For three-quarters of viewers, however, they were just as invested in watching the commercials. Air time during the Super Bowl is already valuable because it tends to be the most watched broadcast of the year, and companies are willing to pay a premium for the sheer number of eyeballs and the fact that more people actually watch the ads…

Your weekly chance to test your Bible knowledge! The answer to today’s question may surprise you:

Q: What do you call the passage of Scripture, in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, that begins with the words, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”?

Answer at the bottom

TIPS & TRICKS

How to Have a Successful Marriage and a Thriving Career – Common Mistakes to Avoid

I sat down with best-selling relationship authors Bill and Pam Farrel to continue our discussion on how to run a successful business (or work a demanding job) while seeing to the needs of your marriage.

Bill and Pam Farrel have been married for 44 years, and when they tell you that, Bill will be sure to add, “And we still like each other.” Bill is calm, confident, and always listening. Pam is energetic, enthusiastic, and ready to jump in with ideas and encouragement. In terms of temperament, they are very different, but they use their differences to fill in each other’s gaps, dipping in and out of each other’s conversation like an easy dance. What is so often a source of conflict among married couples is a strength of the Farrels, a strength they have leveraged into 50 books on relationships and marriage, as well as a widely held respect for their opinions and advice.

Bill and Pam have not only been married for over four decades, they have been in business together for nearly as long. They not only teach good material on how to win in marriage and work at the same time, but they’re living examples.

“What are some common mistakes that couples make when trying to navigate work/life balance?” I ask…

• In-N-Out Burger takes unprecedented step, closing California location amidst persistent crime concerns.

• SEC advises Apple to take into account free speech resolution proposed by Christian group.

• NRB appeals to Supreme Court to prevent Biden administration's from censoring views on social media.

• Auntie Anne's founder attributes healing from life of suffering to living by James 5:16.

• CNBC recommends strategies for paying off credit cards amid record levels of consumer debt.

• Fans were startled by the price of food at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas – a hotdog was $13, a beer was $17, and nachos were $60.