1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 2: Hey Ben, thanks for joining me. 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Hey Man, great to be with you. 4 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 2: Benjamin Watson, former NFL player and editor in. 5 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 3: Chief of Sports Spectrum, which my son, by the way, 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 3: reads regularly. He's here to talk with us about faith 7 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 3: in sports, and with the Super Bowl just around the corner, 8 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 3: we're else going to talk about Sports Spectrums partnership this 9 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 3: year with Compassionate International. Been able to talk about faith 10 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 3: in sports first because as we were talking before we 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 3: started this, I'm a believer and I'm a sports fan. 12 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 3: Ten to fifteen years ago, we had Tim Tebow and 13 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 3: he was kind of the most prominent guy. He got 14 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 3: a lot of attention for kneeling in the end zone. 15 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 3: But it seems like today we have a thousand Tim 16 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 3: Tepos out there and it's marvelous to watch as a. 17 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 2: Believer and as a fan of sports. 18 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 3: What has happened in the past few years to have 19 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 3: so many prominent athletes and even guys behind the scenes 20 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 3: and like second and third teen guys talking about Jesus 21 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 3: prominently on television and. 22 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: Just their social media accounts. What's happening? 23 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that those last two words you said, 24 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 4: the social media part, I think is a huge part 25 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 4: of it. You know, I don't think that this is new, 26 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 4: but I do think that the platform that athletes are 27 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 4: using social media, a lot of new technologies, is just 28 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 4: raising our awareness of the fact that a lot of 29 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 4: athletes have faith. A lot of athletes care about, you know, 30 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 4: their faith that they are, they are Christians, they read 31 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 4: their Bibles, they do other things that everybody else does. 32 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 4: But there's more of an acceptance now, I think of 33 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 4: culturally of athletes sharing these things. We did some research 34 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 4: and Sports Spectrum and we found that a large percentage 35 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 4: of sports fans are okay with athletes expressing their interests 36 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 4: outside of the game. And I do think specifically, even 37 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 4: when I think about my career, the timeframe that I 38 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 4: was in college as well as the NFL, there was 39 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 4: an acceptance of that to some respect, but I think 40 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 4: that it's escalated over the last several years to where, 41 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 4: you know, guys are championing social causes, they're championing philanthropy, 42 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 4: all these social things, and faith is also part of that. 43 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: So I think that's one thing. But I think also that. 44 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 4: It's important to recognize how many athletes, especially in football, 45 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 4: that were believers. I mean, I remember growing up, you know, 46 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 4: being in high school in the nineties and getting my 47 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 4: little Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bible and being able to 48 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,799 Speaker 4: read about guys like a niece Williams, or guys like 49 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 4: you know, the late Reggie White or I'm Kurt Warner 50 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 4: and all these other guys from yesteryear that played that 51 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 4: had testimonies, but we just didn't have all the avenues 52 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 4: to share them that we have now. So it's encouraging 53 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 4: and I think that it's It's also a reminder that 54 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 4: when one person or two people or three people step 55 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 4: out and say certain things, it gives other people confidence 56 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 4: to say it as well, and it breaks down that 57 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 4: the fear factor, so to speak, of speaking about something 58 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 4: that's not the norm to hear in a postgame interview. 59 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, I had a poster Reggie Bite on my wall 60 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 3: when I was growing up. I'm probably wasn't dating myself 61 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 3: by saying that. I'm also curious that does the stress 62 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 3: of sports kind of lead to this? Are are athletes 63 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 3: looking for something outside of themselves to kind of help 64 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: bomb their nerves on the quarter on the field. 65 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 4: I think people are looking for something outside themselves in 66 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 4: pressure situations, you know, there's an old old saying about 67 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 4: there's no atheists and foughtsholes. I've never been in the military. 68 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 4: I have great respect for the guys that do and 69 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 4: the women that do fight for our country. But the 70 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 4: idea there is the fact that when we are in 71 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 4: situations that are beyond ourselves and beyond our personal capabilities, 72 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 4: it is where God specifically has us to hear from 73 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 4: him the most. And in my experience as an athlete, 74 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 4: I hated training camp. I hated training camp like I hated. 75 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: Being away from the family. 76 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 4: I hated like a body, feeling like I got hit 77 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 4: by a car every single day, like I didn't enjoy 78 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 4: a lot of. 79 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: Those parts of training camp. But one thing that I 80 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: did look forward to. 81 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 4: In a weird way in training camp was the fact 82 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 4: that I know I knew that I was going to 83 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 4: be pushed beyond my physical and that I was going 84 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 4: to have a dedicated space and a desire to get 85 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 4: in the word because I needed to center myself. I 86 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 4: needed to understand that this isn't all there was, and 87 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 4: I needed God to help me like I need it. 88 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 4: I needed that during that time because I was stretched 89 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 4: to my physical limit, and so I do think that 90 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 4: there is something too when we get in situations, whether 91 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 4: it's in our lives as parents, our lives as spouses, 92 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 4: our occupational lives in this case sports, when we get 93 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 4: in those types of situations where we are beyond our 94 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 4: physical capabilities, I think it does push us. Now, the 95 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 4: key is are we going to lean into that and 96 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 4: embrace it or is it going to be God is 97 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 4: my good luckure? 98 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: And so those are the two extremes. 99 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 4: And the encouraging thing that I've seen from a lot 100 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 4: of these young athletes is that there seems to be 101 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 4: a genuine faith. Sure for some of them, Like many people, 102 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 4: it is a good looktron. You know, it's just something 103 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 4: that we're going to say, raised to say this or whatever. 104 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 4: But I do think that for a lot of athletes 105 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 4: and people, you know, they are on their road of 106 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 4: maturation as believers, but it is just amplified when they're 107 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 4: in those types of situations. 108 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: And we've had worship services led by students. 109 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 3: I think the as you I were discussing for this, 110 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 3: I'm a Tennessee fan, but you're a Georgia fan. But 111 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 3: watching what was going on at Ohio State the last 112 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 3: few years has been so encouraging, and that spread to 113 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 3: other campuses. 114 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: Pitt had had it going on. I know Alabama had 115 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: it going on, and there are other. 116 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 3: Campuses as well. So it seems to be there's a 117 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 3: like a quiet revival going on behind the scenes on 118 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 3: these campuses. Do you agree with that? And you know 119 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 3: among athletes as well. 120 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know. 121 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 4: I had an opportunity to talk to some of the 122 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 4: guys from the Ohio State team. 123 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: I was talking to c. J. Stroud about it. 124 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 4: He was a little bit before that, and one thing 125 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 4: he said to me. We were at a conference together 126 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 4: and I was talking to him about it. He said, 127 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 4: you know what, that wasn't me. So that wasn't my 128 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 4: That wasn't me. That was the next generation. 129 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: I can't claim that. 130 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 4: We may have some of the foundation for that, but 131 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 4: he was like those guys to get further. And it 132 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 4: reminds of being scripture when it talks about, you know, 133 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 4: passing these things on to reliable men who could then 134 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 4: pass them on to somebody else. And so there's this 135 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 4: generational impact on these college campuses of athletes taking a 136 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 4: stand and then the younger one seeing what it means 137 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 4: and them doing the same thing and then I think 138 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 4: it all still circles back to our news cycles and 139 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 4: the way that we can consume so much information. You know, 140 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 4: we can see what's happening on Ohio State's campus in 141 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 4: the middle of spring, you know, on a Tuesday, in 142 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 4: ways that before, if the national media was not there 143 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 4: watching it, we would have no idea that this was 144 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 4: even happening. And so while I do I do when 145 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 4: I hotter that and say that there has been an increase, 146 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 4: there's evidence of that, it's also the fact that we 147 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 4: can see it, and I think that that's the beauty 148 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 4: of this moment. The beauty of the moment is that 149 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 4: we're living in an age that is unlike any before us, 150 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 4: and our kids will live in one that's unlike we 151 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 4: are in now. But we're living in an age where 152 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 4: we can exchange so much information. We can make Christ's 153 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 4: name known in so many different ways that we have 154 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 4: to grasp a hold of it. 155 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: And that's a lot. When we talk about sports spectrum, 156 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: that's the beauty of where we. 157 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 4: Sit kind of to our fans of sport to be 158 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 4: followers of Jesus, is that there are so many different 159 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 4: avenues to do that, whether it's social media, where there's 160 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 4: law form movies, whether it's interviews with some of these athletes, 161 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 4: whether it's you know, devotions that are written and printed 162 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 4: of an athlete. Like, there's just so many opportunities, and 163 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 4: it's an encouragement to hit anybody who's a believer to 164 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 4: really lead into that and grasp it. 165 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 3: Before we just switch to sports spectrum and Compassion International, 166 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 3: I did want to ask you about just being an 167 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: athlete and being a Christian, because I'm assuming that one 168 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: reason maybe athletes were hesitant to speak out about their 169 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 3: faith for a long time was because of how it 170 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 3: might have been viewed as kind of making it too passive. 171 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: I remember the old story of Reggie White, he was 172 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 3: second quarterback and then helped them up saying Jesus loves you. 173 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: But but that's far more prominent now. 174 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 3: So I guess as a Christian in your in your 175 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 3: NFL career, how did your faith shape how you competed 176 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 3: on the field or did it at all? I mean, 177 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 3: you're gonna, of course, you're a tight end. You're being tackled, 178 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 3: but you know you're going you're gonna want to be 179 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 3: as competitive as anybody else. You're gonna hit gonna want 180 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 3: to hit as hard as anybody else. 181 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:23,679 Speaker 1: What I ought to say about. 182 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 4: That, Well, well, Brian Dawkins, the linebacker actually the safety 183 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 4: play for the Eagles, play for Denver, was known as 184 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 4: one of the hardest hitters. And this guy one time 185 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 4: tackled me and you know, vicious, and he gets up 186 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 4: and he tells me Jesus loves me. He's like, God 187 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 4: bless you. And he's like running back to the huddle, 188 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 4: like quoting script. And then we come out again and 189 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 4: I go to block him and he gives me a 190 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 4: forearm right to the chest. And you know, when you 191 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 4: hit Bribe, you had to be ready, you know. So 192 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 4: I hit him, hit him back. But you know, that's 193 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 4: how he was. He would be almost in perpetual worship 194 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 4: during football games, which is the weirdest thing ever. But 195 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 4: there's the misk exception that you can't be aggressive and 196 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 4: do your job and be a Christian like that. There's 197 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 4: I don't know where we get that from. You know, 198 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 4: we don't get it from watching and reading about Christ, 199 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 4: Like we don't get any passivity from him. We get 200 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 4: passivity from Adam. We get him from that, but we 201 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 4: don't get it from the second atom in Christ. We 202 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 4: don't get passivity, we get courage, we get responsibility, we 203 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 4: get you know, being a dynamic leader. We get all 204 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 4: those teams looking at at Christ. And so for me 205 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 4: as an athlete, it really it really helped me with perspective. 206 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 4: I would say I would say that the biggest part 207 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 4: of it was having a perspective that this isn't all 208 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 4: there is and whether you are on the highest of highs, 209 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 4: which the two teams that are playing in the Super Bowl, 210 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 4: one of them is going to be an incredible high 211 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 4: in two weeks. They're going to be on top of 212 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 4: the world. The other one is going to feel like 213 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 4: they've they've wasted almost. 214 00:09:58,480 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: An entire season. 215 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 4: They're gonna it's not true, but they're going to be 216 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 4: in a valley after losing. The biggest gain the perspective 217 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 4: that believers have is that this is not all there is. 218 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 4: Although this is vitally important because this is the word 219 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 4: God has given us to do, that this is not 220 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 4: all there is and that God can still use them 221 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 4: whether they want or where they lost. 222 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: And as an athlete. 223 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 4: Who has struggled with that before, that is kind of 224 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 4: the anchor I always say the second part about being 225 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 4: a believer is you grasp opportunities. And what I've seen, 226 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 4: you know, you asked a question about you know, players 227 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 4: maybe not speaking out as much in the past. What 228 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 4: I am seeing though, is athletes grasping the opportunity to 229 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 4: speak on truth and to speak on Christ when they 230 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 4: have the microphone, because you don't know where you're gonna. 231 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: Have it again. Yeah, yeah, Jesus, you know listening. 232 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 4: You don't know who's listening, whether it be a believer, 233 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 4: non believer, somebody ten years from now that watches it. 234 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 4: And so it reminds you that we are to be 235 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 4: wise with every opportunity that we get, especially in sport, 236 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 4: where so much is admissible. Can you imagine someone that 237 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 4: works for a corporate five hundred company just talking about 238 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 4: Jesus in an interview. It doesn't happen as much, But 239 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 4: in sport you can talk about whatever you want to 240 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 4: talk about. 241 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: Just play this play well and look. I love you 242 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: if you're a believer, I love you if you're an atheist. 243 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 4: Honestly, like cause we're out here to play football and 244 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 4: we have a camaraderie together. How about take advantage of it. 245 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 4: If you are a believer, to use that platform to 246 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 4: speak about the law. 247 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, you're talking about top players in leftl 248 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 3: Jesus Jesus confronted, you know, evil Jesus. 249 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: Jesus was confrontational. So it's it's he was far from passive. 250 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 3: Like you said, let's talk about Sports Spectrum partnering with 251 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:58,239 Speaker 3: Compassion International. 252 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: I know a lot about both organizations. 253 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 3: I didn't know about this partnership until you don't got 254 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 3: the pressories about it. What do we need to know 255 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 3: about this sen How are you guys kind of helping 256 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 3: further the mission from the Kingdom. 257 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, Sports Spectrum, as you know, and if people 258 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 4: don't know where a media platform where the intersection of 259 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 4: faith in sport and our mission is to aspire fans 260 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 4: of sport to be followers of Christ of Jesus. And 261 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 4: so a lot of our supporters are a lot of 262 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 4: people that get the magazine or connect with us on 263 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 4: social media or read some of the devotions that are 264 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 4: our staff rights are already believers. And then there are 265 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 4: others who love sports and simply want to, you know, 266 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 4: consume more sports content, and we invite that. 267 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: We want to be excellent in that area. 268 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 4: But we also wanted to point people to Christ through 269 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,719 Speaker 4: the voices of supporting narratives as well as our athletes. 270 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:48,719 Speaker 1: A Capacity International you. 271 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 4: Know, as you know, they create have services throughout the 272 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 4: world honestly when it comes to pulling kids out of 273 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 4: poverty and not just pulling them out of poverty through 274 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 4: programs meeting their real needs with the to be education, 275 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 4: employment for parents, all those sorts of things. But they 276 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 4: also intlce it with working with churches primarily or other 277 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 4: ministries in order to present the Gospel to kids and 278 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 4: families as well. And so we've been in conjunction with 279 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 4: them before, specifically through a pro athlete's outreach, which is 280 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 4: kind of the housing organization Force Force spectrum. 281 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: Compassion has been a partner for a long time. 282 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 4: Several athletes have gone on mission trips with Compassion International. 283 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 4: My wife and our kids, all seven of them ages sixteen. 284 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: Down to six. 285 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 4: We went to Guatemala this past summer with Compassion International 286 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 4: and stayed for about a week saw their work in 287 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 4: the country. Was able to experience some of the programs 288 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 4: that the kids go through, that young moms go through, 289 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 4: some of the educational programming at the schools that they have, 290 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 4: and so it's personal for us when it comes to 291 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 4: sponsoring children that we've had a chance to actually meet 292 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 4: on the field. 293 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,599 Speaker 1: And so going into the Super Bowl. 294 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 4: We have a part ownership with them, basically meaning that 295 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 4: we in collaboration with them as we go on radio Row, 296 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 4: as we do our podcast will be promoting some of 297 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 4: the work of Compassion as well. 298 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: Amen to that. 299 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 3: Let me ask you a football question, another football question 300 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 3: before I let you go, and you played with Tom Brady, 301 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,079 Speaker 3: if you won a Super Bowl, let me ask you 302 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 3: two questions. Actually, how did winning a Super Bowl? What 303 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 3: was it like to win Super Bowl emotionally? And secondly, 304 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 3: how did that moment shape how you view life and faith? 305 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 3: Because I'm saying that because it was probably quite a high. 306 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 3: But it didn't last. So give us both answers there 307 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 3: from a sports fan's perspective but also from a biblical perspective. 308 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 2: But what it's like to a Super Bowl? 309 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, you're right, it doesn't last, which is crazy because 310 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 4: you work your entire life for that moment. 311 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: Well, your your entire sports life. 312 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 4: I hate them people say your entire life, but but 313 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 4: you really your entire sports life from when you become 314 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 4: a fan of the game, to playing the game, to 315 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 4: going through college to dealing with injury, you know, to 316 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 4: try to reach this moment and it doesn't last like 317 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 4: you know, nobody cares who won. 318 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: Last year, Like all of a sudden, it doesn't matter. 319 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: But it's amazing to do. 320 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 4: And so for me, you know, whatever, you're watching the 321 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 4: game this in two weeks this February, understand that there 322 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 4: are going to be a lot of people in a 323 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 4: lot of different places. There are going to be some 324 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 4: guys who when they win the game, it's just going 325 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 4: to be the best thing that ever happened to them, 326 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 4: and they are going to be laded with no reservation. 327 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 4: Then there are gonna be some guys that are on 328 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 4: the team and they won, but they feel like they 329 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 4: didn't play enough, or they didn't contribute enough, or there 330 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 4: was something that wasn't quite right. So they're happy, but 331 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 4: they wish something else would have happened. Then they're gonna 332 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 4: be some guys that you may not even see on 333 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 4: the team that are injured who didn't get to play, 334 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 4: and they may be super happy or they may be 335 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 4: really bittersweet about what happened. 336 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: And I was the last group. 337 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 4: I was a guy who tore my a cl was 338 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 4: out of the game, couldn't play, couldn't practice. I was 339 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 4: at the game in Jacksonville when we beat the Eagles, 340 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 4: and I was happy for the team, and I got 341 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 4: a ring and all those sorts of things because I 342 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 4: was on the team. But I felt really bittersweet about 343 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 4: it because I waited this entire time for my life 344 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 4: and worked so hard only to not be able to 345 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 4: actually be on the field and play. And so for me, 346 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 4: it was bittersweet. And I think for all of those 347 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 4: three sections of players, and there's a whole other thing 348 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 4: for coaches and pairs, but for all those three sections, 349 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 4: perspective is important because for the guy who didn't play, 350 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 4: it's not lasting forever. For the guy who won and 351 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 4: was on the field and was the starting quarterback and 352 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 4: was the MVP, it doesn't last forever. 353 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: You could ask Tom Brady, you. 354 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 4: Know, for the guy who wishes things to happen better, 355 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 4: it doesn't last forever. And that's why when we look 356 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 4: at our lives as believers and we understand that life 357 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 4: is a vapor, and we understand that we're here today 358 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 4: and we're going tomorrow, it doesn't diminish the importance of 359 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 4: this game because the pressure is going to be real, 360 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 4: the expectations are going to be real. You know, the 361 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 4: desire to win is going to be real. But you 362 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 4: do see it from a perspective of how does me 363 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 4: participating or not participating, How do I do that to 364 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 4: the glory of God? How do I respond in a 365 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 4: way that is pointing people to Jesus? Like, like, how 366 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 4: do I respond in a way when people see me play, 367 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 4: when they hear me give interviews, when they see my response, 368 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 4: does it point to the truth of the Gospel? And 369 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 4: even in our disappointment, because there are incredible opportunities, even 370 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 4: for the losing team. You know, we have this idea 371 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 4: sometimes even as believers. And I've had this before that. 372 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: Okay, God, Like I'm a Christian, I'm gonna go in 373 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: this game. I'm gonna help you out. I'm gonna catch 374 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: the winning touchdown. When I catch the winning touchdown, not 375 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: in regulation. 376 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 5: In double overtime, i will be interviewed by every outlet 377 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 5: on the globe, and I'll say something about Jesus. 378 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: And because I'll say something about Jesus, people going to 379 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: become Christians. And You'll look at me and be like, 380 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: thank you, Benjamin for what you did. 381 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 4: But the reality is God doesn't need us for his 382 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 4: name to be known. 383 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: He doesn't need us. He invites us into it, and 384 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: the harvest that he gleans from that, that his spirit 385 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: draws to him is not predicated on our performance in 386 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: the game. It's predicated on what he wants to do. 387 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: So we are to simply be obedient. And so for 388 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: the believers that are in the game, man, it's a 389 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: great opportunity, but it's a great responsibility. But I'm more. 390 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 4: Worried about how those guys digest the highs of winning 391 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 4: and your value seems super high, or the lows of losing, 392 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 4: while still understanding that your value is inherent in the 393 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 4: fact that you're created by God that loves you. That's 394 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 4: the less and that's a reminder that hopefully believers have 395 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 4: that allows them to navigate and float through the season 396 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 4: of uncertainty of the ups and down of sport while 397 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 4: still saying, man, you know he loved me so much 398 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 4: that to die for me and that rose again, and 399 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 4: I value because of that, not because of what I 400 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 4: did or didn't do on this field. 401 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 3: If you like today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 402 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 3: five star review. That's how we help more people just 403 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 3: like you find the show. A big thanks to the 404 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 3: team at life Audio for their partnership with us on 405 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 3: the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you 406 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 3: will find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 407 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 2: See you next time.