Don't drink water, you don't play.

There was a recent article in the newspaper about Muslims who play high school football. Everyone knows how dangerous the August workouts are in Texas -- especially so this year if you remember what August was like with its weeks of 100+ temperatures.

Muslim players who fast for Ramadan are allowed to work out in these conditions without taking their water breaks. They say they suffer burning rib cages, light-headedness, and labored breathing. And the coaches admit that their performances are affected. Coach Brian Basil of Irving MacArthur High School says he makes sure the trainers keep close watch. Yeah -- they'll be right there when those boys go into cardiac arrest. How stupid can someone be?

If I were the coach, I'd say, "It's like this, boys. I respect your devotion to your religion and if you want to quit hydrating, that's fine by me. But you won't be playing football while you do."

Here's one that takes the cake -- the Ramadan fast lasts from sunrise to sunset, so one high school in Michigan has practice at 11 p.m. during the fast. All the Christian and Jewish boys have to stay up all hours just to accommodate the Muslims.

Speaking of not drinking water during workouts, one of the boys said, "It's something you can be proud of what you did." I don't know why Muslims fast, but in Christianity, the purpose of fasting is NOT to make one proud of oneself. It's to contemplate one's unworthiness before God and to draw closer to Him in prayer. Sounds like these guys are missing the boat entirely.

"The Fast and the Faithful." The Dallas Morning News; August 27, 2010; p. 1A.