This broadcaster has 1238 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
November 26, 2021 1:00 am
Dave and Ann Wilson continue their conversation with NFL players Dan Orlovsky, Jon Kitna, and Josh McCown. They talk about the lasting legacy of their years together in Detroit, not just playing football but also letting their light shine (Matthew 5:16). They offer wisdom to parents raising kids who play sports, answering questions like: "Should parents allow their children to play football given all we now know about head injuries (CTE)?" and "Should we allow our son to play travel baseball?
Show Notes and Resources
Find resources from this podcast at https://shop.familylife.com/Products.aspx?categoryid=130.
Download FamilyLife's new app! https://www.familylife.com/app/
Check out all that's available on the FamilyLife Podcast Network. https://www.familylife.com/familylife-podcast-network/
So it's the day after Thanksgiving. The Lions lost again. That means day after Thanksgiving. Depress the line as well.
Shopping. I'm thinking Christmas is upon us.
That's even more depressing visitor goes for depressed mood today. Welcome to family life today where we want to help you pursue the relationship that matter most and will send it on day Wilson and you can find us@familylifetoday.com or on our family life Family life today against your depressed mood today. I actually I really was most Fridays after Thanksgiving.
Because of these two things allies is lost and you're going to the mall every for me. I love, I know. But the good thing is there's another game next week so falls will go out and were having fun with this because of this broadcast is a little bit about football but more importantly it's about the spiritual life change that happened with three football players and that life change wasn't just their lives, their ministry rocked our locker room were gonna go back to a conversation that we had with John kitten Josh McCown to dinner last you three quarterbacks who were in the Detroit Lions locker room at the same time and tell you what God did a miracle and it's still happening today and you don't want to miss this because this is a great life change story.
Pretty amazing how God brought the three of you together in Detroit get back to Dan story little because Josh and John. You came to me.
I think one Saturday midseason.
Dan would know for sure, but you said amen. I think if you share the gospel tonight at Chapel dance ready and I was just like wow so that means not only are you guys you know Brian and Sharon with Dan in the locker room in the quarterback room, but you're seeing some movement so I share the gospel that night and I didn't always have you no invitation at Chapel, but I did. I close it and said hey tonight your night giver lifeguards. I hear nothing at all you guys go to meetings I go home next day. I'm on the on the sideline out of your marvelous but kit you're running all over to go onto the field after upon offense, take the field I'm standing there dance get the headset on Josh's up there and you literally run by me. Can't you remember this, you asked Dan what happened last night think you run on the field. I'm like thinking about this working at Dachau NFL game about why were you working yet when I walk over to dander to timeout. I might do what out my study was due to give my life to Christ. I'll tell you later, so Dan talk us through this.
What happened will gotta go back in time a little bit because we were as competitive as three human beings could be and I think that was like the initial draw for me when it came to John and Josh was. I had never been around anyone like them.
Someone who like they wanted to like crush you when you competed against them and they never held back in name pushed you to the absolute limits but then they were like amazing human beings to you and incredible husbands and remarkable fathers and great teammates like I did. I never been around someone that could want to knock you down and help you up at the same time in every aspect of your life and I think that was like my initial draw to just sitting back and going, something that they have is like I've never seen before and so I'm watching them and my thoughts are starting to. You know, kind of figure out like okay there's something different about them.
Some start I start to ask them questions about the way they live their life and why they live their life, and you know they're both incredibly open and transparent about it all and so on that annoying young player that I'm asking more nonfootball questions than football questions really and so you know they really both justice. I did like insert inviting me into their lives and start trying to answering the questions with actions and kit kinda takes me under his wing of discipleship and I start going to kitten's house like a couple times a week, correct me from wrong hours like 5 AM or something like that.
And so it's 5 o'clock in the morning I'm going to kits house and he starts me off. Remember the first time we ditties that I want to read first John chapter 1 summer I was first John also getting so I was kind on the street. I didn't want to believe in Christianity struggle because like the quarterbacks of my team didn't you know I thought that was my way to play in the NFL for a long time and so I asked a lot of unique and difficult questions and I can't really dove into the studying because I like unlike you, Wilson. In many ways skeptical and in it and try to fight prove people wrong type thing and so read first John and kit knows your discipling me through it and then he asked me right now, you're going to read act and so I read acts and so were going on this journey month after month. Meanwhile, sprinkling in Bible study on Thursdays and the couple study he is a single person on Monday nights so I'm going to all the studies kit is discipling me one-on-one in the mornings and then obviously worried with each other almost every single day were playing golf with each other all the time were playing hoops with each other all the time and so men in many ways they were discipling me with the actual Bible and then they were discipling me with their actions and their words in their everyday life and so that September 23, 2006 is my second year and I'm pretty into. I'm on fire. At this point and pretty into my discipleship and whatnot and it's wearing Chapel that night and I'm sitting somewhere in the middle of the room and I just remember you going like guys, I don't normally do this but it's put in my heart that I should give some of the opportunity or anybody the opportunity except Christ and I and I remember sitting there and going.
No way I think… Talking to me, but I like not to say anything so he's a guy you know if close your eyes and repeat after me and I'm just looking around and no one is doing anything and I'm repeating the prayer like I feel like this is strictly to me like I'm getting this nudge in my back to actually say something on like no one's touching me. I feel like you starkly so I you know that is the night in the process of me you'll given my life to Christ and I tell anybody that night I woke up the next morning and I remember running around the field and pregame and just having this freedom, this like a weight lifted off my shoulders this joy and remember kit coming up to me and being like, what's up with you man and I'll be in the house like nothing and I was a good nine-year-old who just got some kind of cool video games on the nothing and you go through a couple minutes of conversation and I told him that I had given my life to Christ and him and Josh actually both got me this Bible, you probably can't see it, but yeah is archaeological but will never forget that you guys gave me this Bible shortly thereafter wrote like personalized notes in it to me for brothers in Christ are born in Christ and and really cool stuff is pretty cool the other day Dan, your text to John and Josh and I the group text was if you would been drafted somewhere else.
You don't know who you are today with the what did that mean I was heading down a path of becoming everything I did not want to become when it comes to being a husband and being a dad. I don't think I would've been bad at it but I knew I was going to become what I didn't want to become. With it I was going to cheat on my wife at some point, however, that wife was going to be.
I was going to cut my kids down and belittle them and intimidate them and kind of become this this version of myself that was my greatest fear and would you look back at like and why did you get drafted by the Lions in 2005 and the weather stinks and our team stunk and as I went through this process with you guys with kit Josh and Dave.
You know what I realized was like I never went to the Lions for football if I had gotten drafted by bearers of the Chargers or someone else. I more than likely would have ended up being exactly what I didn't want to end up being but because somehow God decided to put me in Detroit and kit in Detroit, Josh in Detroit in the Wilson's were there, you just change my life changed my kids lives change my wife's life that I don't know where it goes from there. But I just know if it wasn't for that. If it was to 31 other teams I'd be a loser. Did you know many ways it is hard for me to try to put into words on a daily basis like how thankful I am that I went to Detroit because of that time I didn't become what was my biggest fear becoming hearing you share your heart and God knew exactly what he was doing. Obviously, he always does, but to put Josh and I there at the same time because Dan was skeptical and Dan likes to argue and Dan likes to bring up stuff like before. He was saved he would.
He was really trying to like stop you with questions and I'm a black and white person like dishes like an a lot of times that would cause Dan I would be, you know, going at each other little bit and Josh was always right there to kinda kinda come and soften the blow for Dan, but then also grab me behind closed doors at think you are wrong or I think you're approaching is totally wrong and like it was literally Paul and Barnabas type stuff like watching it happen and live in it and like knowing that Jott it's like Proverbs of wounds from wounds from Frank and be trusted like that's what he was and he's like to like it wasn't just Dan. There was multiple guys in a locker like that the Josh be like look when you don't lose him. Your same truth, but the way you're saying that you're gonna lose him and Josh was so good at that. That you know that just really making sure he had the HUD. The year he was very in tune with the pulse of guys in the locker room collectively and individually, and knows Josh's idea. Like hey let's let's carpool with straight line Don Viola and you know like stuff like that.
He was just unbelievable that we had never seen it and got a souse at the end of my run, but it was just it was amazing to see how God orchestrated that yeah I just think it speaks to community and while were supposed to do life and community because we all have different skills and as believers office. We have different gifts and those things are needed so the dock and draw people to himself and that's what for me that year, more than anything is just like art.
I think some of the things I saw in John like I admire like he was. He was so formal, things I could and why was auto wanted to hurt me by feelings and you know me and so I think those are things that I walked away from that your like getting better at knowing growing as a man I met in that regard and understanding that, but there was always a need to bring it together and it was just the combination. I think allowed us to be able to use each other's strengths and gifts for God, amplify our gifts and glorify himself so that's good to think and I know you guys know the word so well in John talks about Jesus coming in grace and truth. And that's what I watched you model there was a truth that was firm and strong, and there was a grace and I'm not kidding.
I rarely seen the kind of joy and laughter and acceptance that was in that locker room with you guys at the same time there was no compromise in the truth.
But there was that's why said the locker room leaned toward Miller playing cards over by you guys are they in play. The other side like really play but because it really is contagious joy is contagious and they wanted to be around Josh's jaw. I had laughter and kits truth that it was just the gifting of the body of Christ was so real that drew Dan and others and think about this. I mean, I know you know this but the legacy of you guys. I me.
I watched you now is husbands as fathers with your sons and daughters each have an amazing life to be like your wives are incredible yeah and so I mean I would just say for Anna, and I don't know if we ever said this to you privately, but we love you guys and we thank you for that year. It was 33 seasons. One of the best if not the best year of our lives watching you guys do the ministry was our ministry was God's ministry through you. We called it the year of Jubilee. We got here Jubilee because we ended up with a car at the end of the year.
That was pretty special to you know the whole time. You guys were talking I was thinking in Matthew 514 because you guys and your wives where this to the Detroit Lions that year. You are the light of the world city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house in the same way, let your's light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. I don't know if I've ever seen that lived out so well as all of you and you're still doing.
I think it's that's like perfectly timed and because one of the most appealing things through all of it for all of us that were part of that was Josh and John never wavered in the midst of absolute darkness when it comes to like our everyday life. When what we were doing with our jobs. It was a struggle.
There were multiple opportunities for those guys to waiver and for to look fake.
There was never a wavering of Josh's joy. We practice as hard as we possibly could and we lost 35 to 14 or something like that, never wavering with Josh's joy or practice as hard as we can and we get beat by whatever, never wavering a kittenish truth, it was never this circumstantial thing dependent on if we were playing good.
If we are winning every game that was like for I think so many of us certainly for myself like that was such a defining aspect if it of it was.
That's what it was real when everything pointed for you not to be that way you guys were that way you know it will. It was hard to be that way.
I would imagine, given the circumstances we rent. That's what was the craziest thing to me at that time was how that circumstances of what we were going through had no impact on your foundation for you were the thing that and I tell this all the time.
Such a part of my testimony in the Lord, which is, it was literally like watching the Bible just come to life. Dan said for years I was his four years my two years in four games.
Inside of that and Josh's one year inside that in the reverberation effect of what happened there. They view said 25 I think it was somewhere around 25 that one year I was at PAO three years after that and a teammate that was in Detroit that I'd never had one conversation with comes up. I want you to baptize my wife and I like that stuff like the last I counted was 39 people that got really baptized because of what happened that year and again it was it was just so fun because it was it was God right like Dan said for years for him.
You three years. Basically for me 10 games we want 10 games in three years. By all accounts it's a complete disaster. I'm not speaking for Josh, but I'm pretty sure Josh came there and was lied to why he sign there. I'm almost positive he's we've never even talked about that, but I'm pretty sure Josh was lied to God, got in there somehow because God choose the foolish things to shame the wise and the weaker I insisted like he just he did that 39 people are getting baptized and then that's not talking about like Dan said, his family and his wife and his kids and you know what that mean that you watch what Josh is doing to me this like it's freaking Jesus is walking in the NFL. Like wherever Josh goes like and I'll add this I mean we talked about the legacy but what John and Josh you guys don't know is when Dan you know goes away from the liens traded and then comes back, years later, Dan. It wasn't before you came back five years. 60 years.
Yet he comes back six years later and guess what he is and that locker. He's now John, Josh, and he led like you guys led to this guy who didn't know Christ now comes back in. You know, leads a revival in a different way. In a smaller way but in the same way hosts a Bible study at his house, but in the John you go on to coach high school football you're impacting kids around the country and you can continue do that through your own family and others and judge asking to play football. Tillie, 60, and then maybe he'll a coach. I scope of I don't know but anyway your legacy is continuing and it's it's it's the way God designed us to do life. We are called to make a dent were were sent. It was just tell you such a like Dave, you are like the perfect person because you dislike creating the space for us, that come to my church know would like preach like.
Of course Josh. I would like absolutely let's do it. You know you guys are coveted in chapel. You're given as opportunities to leading a Bible study and like your given us this incredible stuff. The real man stuff like my whole coaching careers based on that those four pillars of manhood and and you know what you meant. My wife and how we would you show up at your guys house on Friday night for date night and just sit on your couch and still to this day, but the.the space you created not just for us but for you, how many years were you there 50 years chat in the losing this chaplain in the that's been that's been clarified by data. People get Savo you know for a lot of families. Football really is a big deal.
Whether you watch it or play it wherever you are in that continuum. It's very important for a lot of people but I think what we've heard today is that even guys who play at the professional level. Some of them understand where football fits into the reality of the rest of life that football even being a big deal can't be the most important thing it can't be an idol. That's something all of us have to be on guard against not just with football, but with any activity anything that you prioritize in your life that is a big deal to you, you gotta make sure you understand where that fits into the totality of life we been listing today to three former NFL quarterback Strunk Aetna Josh McCollum and Dan Orlovsky talk with Dave and Ann Wilson about a great spiritual movement that happened among the Detroit Lions years ago when God moved powerfully in that locker room. You may know somebody who's a football fan who would enjoy listening to this conversation with Dave in a ham and with these three former NFL players. The podcast is available online@familylifetothe.com.
Now I know for a lot of people today is all about shopping with Black Friday. Tomorrow is is that small business Saturdays tomorrow, Monday is cyber Monday by Tuesday you should be completely shopped out. I would think maybe Christmas will be done for you by Tuesday you'll have everything ordered or everything purchased for your family. Tuesday is giving Tuesday and I think you've heard about that day when we pull back and think about ministries or organizations, nonprofits that have been used in our own life and we get back here in family life. We want to invite you to do your giving Tuesday giving today in fact were taking all of the giving the comes in this weekend applying it toward giving Tuesday when you make your giving Tuesday donation today. Whatever amount you give is gonna be matched dollar for dollar from a matching gift fund that's been made available to us here at family life, a fund that we are hoping to take full advantage of and there's more information about that on our website@familylifetothe.com if you want to check that out. Not only will your donation be doubled. But we want to send you as a thank you gift a new devotional book written by Dane Ortman called in the Lord. I take refuge, hundred and 50 daily devotions through the Psalms. You can start using this right away when you receive the book during the Christmas season and into next year and will send you a deck of playing cards that include conversation starters for you and your spouse so that as you play cards or games together during the holidays. You will have on those playing cards some good conversation starters so that it's more than just a card game that you're participating in and all of that is available when you make a giving Tuesday donation today here on Black Friday, you can go to family like today.com to make an online donation again. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar and will send you these thank you gifts and we just want you to know we appreciate you and are grateful for your participation in the ministry of family life to the and with that we got a wrap up for today.
Thanks for joining us. Hope you have a great weekend. Hope you and your family are able to worship together with your local church this weekend and I hope you can join us on Monday when working a look at the only way that Jesus describes himself in the Bible. It's where he calls himself gentle and lowly of heart Dane Ortman will be here with us to talk about why that description is so significant and what we can learn from Hope you can be with us for that on behalf of our hosts Dave and Ann Wilson on Bob Lapine. Have a great weekend will see you Monday for another edition of family life today and we like today is a production of family accrued ministry helping you pursue the relationships that matter most