Always Second

Although there are several things I could talk about in the first blog of the new year, I can't help but discuss college football's Bowl Season. This is partly due to the fact that I've been watching EVERY SINGLE GAME thus far, since Les and I are couped up in the house adjusting to parenthood. It's also because I've been recently made aware of some prominent players who happen to share similar beliefs to me; yet, you probably wouldn't know it because the media doesn't promote it.
Ask anyone who knows of Tim Tebow and they'll tell you he's arguably one of the greatest, most influential players in the history of college football. He's a phenomenal leader and a devout Christian, as evidenced by the scripture on his eye black each week. However, there are some others on the field who may not be as influential as him on the national stage, but are just as influential with their faith. One in particular is Colt McCoy, quarterback for the Texas Longhorns and two time Heisman finalist. Sure, he's playing in the National Championship on Thursday, but he's not playing for the favored team, nor is going to garner the spotlight with Heisman winner Mark Ingram on the other side of the field.
Last year, McCoy wasn't even the best quarterback in the Big 12 Conference, as Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford bested him head to head on the field, as well as in the Heisman voting. Yet, both of these men take a back seat to Tebow's prowess with his faith. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for what this guy has done to college football and in preaching the Gospel, but both McCoy and Bradford are fellow believers who have spent four years in his shadow.
Today I saw a short advertisement for the website iamsecond.com, an organization that promotes putting Jesus Christ above yourself, regardless of what you've done in your life. McCoy and Bradford, along with countless others, both famous and regular people, talk about their earthly failures and how God's love and mercy have healed them. Names like Darrell Waltrip, Tony Dungy, Jason Witten, Brian Welch (former guitarist for the band Korn) and many others publicly profess their love and affection for Christ on this website and open up their lives for us to see. I view all of these as acts of courage for which all Christians should strive.
I strongly encourage you to visit this website, and possibly even join a group if you feel led. But most importantly, I hope that you will acknowledge the efforts of McCoy and Bradford in winning hearts for Christ, even if it's unbeknownst to the public eye.
Happy New Year and God Bless!