Believe
It – My Journey of Success, Failure and Overcoming the Odds – Nick Foles
(Tyndale Press)
Playing
For More – Trust Beyond What You See – Case Keenum – (B&H Books)
This
is the Day – Reclaim Your Dream, Ignite Your Passion, Live Your Purpose – Tim Tebow
– (Waterbrook Press)
It is a sad statement about the current state of the
world we live in that there is a question or stigma attached to the role of
faith, Christianity in particular, by folks who can’t seem to come to grips
with people who live with a higher purpose.
When it comes to high profile, often high maintenance
professional athletes, that stigma gets magnified by, more often than not,
liberal leaning sports broadcasters who have shifted focus from sports to
social issues. These clowns thump their chests and proclaim that sports in and
of themselves are embedded in the social fabric of society, while discounting
or maligning Christian athletes and the role of religion in enacting positive
change in the world.
Three new books, by three professional football
quarterbacks spell out the positive impact that their faith had on their life
and careers. In the case of the books by Nick Foles, Believe It – My Journey of Success, Failure and Overcoming the Odds
and Case Keenum, Playing For More – Trust
Beyond What You See mark a great intersection of biography and inspiration.
Tim Tebow has covered his story in other bestselling
books and turns to not only delivering inspiration and encouragement, but also
illustrating the concepts he espouses, with real world examples of how faith
and purpose can change your life in This
is the Day – Reclaim Your Dream, Ignite Your Passion, Live Your Purpose. While
Tebow clearly leans heavily on his faith, I really think this is a truly
inspiring, motivational book that your kids or anyone you think could use a
boost or nudge in the right direction will benefit from.
I have driven my family to the brink of their sanity many
times by proclaiming “you get out what you put in” and I CLEARLY get that
message in the pages of Tebow’s book. He understands the value of hard work and
effort and of striving every day to be the best. He uses phrases like “going
back to the well,” and “playing through the pain,” to offer motivation to
strive for more. I loved his thoughts on instant gratification and empty
celebrity/fame for no reason, that has become part of or daily lives.
Tebow does a great job of showing examples of how faith
and living with a purpose can make dramatic improvements in our lives. He also
levels the playing field with great stories; just when you think your life so
hard, he shows you that there are folks whose mountainous struggles make yours
seem miniscule in comparison. If you can’t be inspired by This is the Day, then you may want to check your pulse or your
humanity.
In Believe It, Foles
details his amazing journey from college star to struggling NFL backup to
pondering moving on with his life outside football to a one more chance story
of leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a super Bowl victory and winning the MVP
of the big game. The one constant throughout this life journey was Foles faith
that his path was guided by a higher power.
If you’re looking for a football story or collectible
to add to your shelf, you’ll certainly get that here, but the bigger message is
the hang tough, keep strong and God will present you with the opportunity; from
there it is up to you what you do with it. Foles stick to it attitude was
clearly forged in the fires of hard work, faith and stepping up when he got the
call.
In the case of Case Keenum’s, Playing For More, this is truly a rags to riches tale. Keenum, a working
man’s quarterback, recruited by only one college, Houston, he went onto cost
the NCAA a ton of money to by ink to rewrite the record books, only to go
undrafted by an NFL team. His free agent career saw him cut by three teams over
the course of time and in the end he became a journeyman backup.
All the while his family and his faith kept him focused
and much like Foles, opportunity presented itself and Keenum answered the call,
leading the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC North title. He has since gone on to
sign a massive contract with the Denver Broncos, the ultimate payoff for his
hard work.
Just imagine if Keenum or Foles had not had their faith
to lean on, to keep them focused and centered, what opportunity may have been
squandered? These are heroic and inspirational stories, not about quarterbacks
or professional athletes, but about three men who understand that someone else
is calling the plays for them and how they can claim victory in His honor.
