Aaron Rodgers (Photo courtesy of Keith Allison/Flickr)
“When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” — Psalms 37:24 (NASV)
Fallen But Not Shaken
In 2008, the Green Bay Packers began a new era when Aaron Rodgers replaced Brett Favre as their starting quarterback. I’m sure there were some jittery moments when Rodgers first took over for the Packers. It sort of reminds me of learning to ride a bike.
Can you remember that time? I’ll never forget. One Christmas morning when I was a child, my two brothers, sister and I were all given bikes. I was the only one who couldn’t ride, but I was determined to learn that day!
I could see my brothers and sister riding all around me having such a great time, and I wanted to ride too. Over and over I tried, but for some reason I couldn’t get the hang of it. I guess my dad must have seen me from the window of the house and how frustrated I was getting, so he came to my rescue. He helped me get my balance and then pushed the bike and told me to pedal. I fell a few more times, but after a while I got the hang of it thanks to Dad.
Psalm 37:24 tells us about God holding our hand. We are all going to fall many times in life, but because we belong to Him, He will pick us up and help us get back on track.
For Rodgers, it was a coach guiding him along the way. No matter how many mistakes he made, the Packers’ commitment to Rodgers was solid because they wanted him to be successful. For me, it was my dad helping me ride a bike. No matter how many times I fell, he helped me back up.
God is the same way with us. No matter how many times we fall, He helps us back up, and He loves to see us ride.
— Barry Owen
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Losing streaks are awful. Sometimes it seems like the whole world these days is on a big losing streak. You don’t have to watch the news every day to understand that difficult times abound around the world. Right now, there are wars in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Political tension continues between the greatest nuclear powers on earth, not to mention the war for the soul of the United States of America staring us in the face!
But the Lord warned us about these times 2,000 years ago in 2 Timothy 3:2-4: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
All these traits reflect a growing departure from God, and we see these trends in today’s world. The prophecy of Scripture is unfolding right before our eyes. But a few verses later in 2 Timothy 3:14, Paul encourages young Timothy with these words: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of.” In other words, Paul is saying, “Keep the faith!”
It’s easy to get distracted, frustrated or even intimidated in times like these. But as Paul advises Timothy, we must remain focused on who we are, Whom we know, and what we have been called to do. The great coach Bill Belichick would remind his players when the game was on the line, “Keep calm and do your job!”
Our lives should be like a lighthouse, warning and guiding others away from rocks and into the safe harbor of the love and salvation in Christ.
Former New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr points heavenward after a touchdown, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Four-time Pro-Bowl quarterback Derek Carr announced Saturday that he is retiring from the NFL after 11 professional seasons. The 34-year-old former New Orleans Saint and Oakland/Las Vegas Raider ends his career with 257 regular-season touchdown passes and 41,245 passing yards while completing 65.1% of his throws.
“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with (my wife) Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said in a statement released by the Saints. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
In a post on his Instagram account, Carr wrote, “Through it all, I gave this game everything I had every single day. I sleep well knowing that I gave my teammates, my coaches, and my cities my all. Now, I look forward to whatever God has next and I’ll pursue it with the same fire I brought to the field.”
He also posted a video of Heather documenting her husband’s activities on the first day of his retirement.
In late March, while preparing for the 2025 season, Carr and his doctors discovered he had a labral tear and significant degenerative changes to the rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder. He ultimately opted for retirement rather than undergo surgery and miss most, if not all, of the season.
Carr spent the last two years with the Saints after nine with the Raiders, the franchise that drafted him 36th overall out of Fresno State in 2014. He is the all-time leader in completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns in Raiders history.
Throughout his career, Carr has boldly proclaimed his faith in Jesus. He has a tattoo of a Chi Rho (an early Christian symbol) on his right wrist and one referencing the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11on his left.
“All the self-glory, that stuff is fleeting. I’ve already been through that,” Carr said after a 2021 win with the Raiders. “God took me to a place that all I want to do is glorify Him, and wherever He’s going, that’s where I want to go. So if it’s a win, awesome. If not, I’m still gonna glorify Him.”
In a Sports Spectrum video from 2014, Carr explained how he first became a believer. He was claiming to love God while in college at Fresno State, but his actions weren’t reflecting it. It was then that Heather (just a friend at the time) wrote him a letter to challenge him in his faith. He apologized to Heather, repented and trusted anew in Christ.
“That next week, we had a game at the University of Ole Miss. I got up in front of my whole team and I told them, ‘Guys, I’ve been calling myself a Christian, and I haven’t been living it. You guys know what I’ve been doing. I’m a Christian now, and I’ve asked God for His forgiveness. Now watch how I live my lifestyle.'”
Later, he added, “That’s how I know He’s with me — because I have a peace and a joy. I can’t describe it, but I have it and I know it’s real.”
Carr is a gifted speaker and has accepted many invitations to speak at churches throughout his time in the football spotlight. In fact, he nearly quit football years ago to become a pastor before ultimately realizing God had called him to the gridiron.
“It was in that moment where I think the Lord knew that my heart was His, and I’ve been able to minister to thousands of people,” Carr said in 2022 on “The High Note” podcast, hosted by Christian musician Tauren Wells. “I’ve been in stadiums — 15,000, 18,000 people — preaching the Gospel and watching thousands of people get saved. I’ve seen healings take place. I’ve seen people set free. I’ve seen marriages reunite. I’ve seen kids come back home. All while playing football.”
As he said during a Night of Worship event with the Saints last year, “God did something in my life. He radically transformed and changed my life and I can’t help but tell people about Jesus.”
Now, as Carr’s playing days have come to a close, he knows that God’s call on his life to proclaim the Good News of Christ never will.
Legendary soccer player David Beckham is known as an outstanding midfielder who helped several teams win championships. His son, Romeo, is also an excellent soccer player. But David didn’t get to where he is without his mother, Sandra West, who committed to supporting him in his passion of sport, often driving him to and from practices, training and games throughout his childhood. He affectionately calls her “Mum” and greatly appreciates her for giving him those opportunities when he was young and still learning.
Just like Sandra did for David, moms all over the world juggle so many different responsibilities and wear many hats to make sure their family has everything they need. Moms are commonly the managers of the household, knowing who needs to be where at what time, while ensuring everything at home is taken care of too. She has the power to speak life over her kids, fiercely training them up with nurturing love and wisdom. “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:26-28).
Hannah was a woman in the Bible who longed to be a mother. Hannah prayed fervently, promising to dedicate her son to God’s service if He granted her one. Eventually, God miraculously gave Hannah a son, and she unselfishly prepared for Samuel’s future as a religious leader for Israel, setting aside her personal ambitions. The name Samuel means “asked of the Lord,” and Samuel honored God according to what he learned from his mother and the priest Eli. After God saw her faith and dedication, He surprised her with even more children. “And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:21).
Many of us have moms to thank for helping make us the people we are. Our moms sacrificed, supported and encouraged us, even well into adulthood. As they get older and their steps get slower, we have a glorious opportunity to pour into them during their golden years by doing what we can to give them comfort and encouragement. We should do our best to personally connect with them — call, send cards and visit in person — to honor their invaluable role in our lives.
There are days when motherhood feels overwhelming, but the efforts of a Christ-centered mother will create a legacy of love and faith. A mother’s influence extends beyond her family, inspiring love, fierce faith and perseverance within her community. Proverbs 31:31 reminds us to “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
So let’s honor and celebrate our mothers’ efforts (including those who are like a mother to us) and acknowledge their precious contributions to our lives.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
Girls high school basketball. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” — Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)
You’ve probably heard this phrase getting tossed around in sports lately: “They understood the assignment.” It’s usually said about an athlete who nailed their performance, or sometimes it’s used with a little sarcasm. Either way, it means someone showed up and delivered exactly what was needed.
When I was coaching high school basketball, I had a deep respect for the girls who were role players. They weren’t chasing stats or attention. They knew their job and they owned it. They showed up, did the little things, and stayed focused on the one or two responsibilities that helped the team succeed. And when you’ve got a whole squad full of players like that? Those are teams that do big things.
But here’s the deal: Understanding the assignment isn’t just a sports thing; it’s a Kingdom thing. Did you know that before you were even born, God had already given you a specific assignment in His Kingdom?
Your purpose is the assignment God sent you to earth to fulfill. And the best part? He’s already prepackaged you with the gifts, skills and grace to live it out. Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” And Galatians 1:15-16 (NLT) says, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News …” That means your life isn’t random. You were created on purpose, with purpose.
God wrote your assignment into your spiritual DNA before you ever took your first breath. He’s already equipped you with the gifts, passions and experiences you need to walk it out. There are people only you can reach. There’s impact only you can make. That’s Kingdom purpose.
And here’s the good news: You don’t have to chase purpose — it’s already inside you. But if you want to fully understand your assignment, you’ve got to stay connected to the One who gave it. God’s not asking you to figure it all out on your own, He’s inviting you to walk with Him, step by step. Ephesians 2:10 is one of my favorite reminders of this truth: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Just like my players had to listen to their coach to understand their role, we’ve got to lean in and ask, “God, what do You want to do through me?” So dig into His Word. Spend time with the One who made you. Because when you start living with purpose, you stop asking, “What do I want?” and start asking, “God, what do You want to do through me?”
