I am a firm believer in Philippians 3:13… forgetting what lies behind me and concentrating on what lies ahead. I guess that’s why I don’t spend a lot of time bragging about my brief NFL career. Still, some people just have to know, so here it is. I played in 1970-71.
I was a free-agent on the practice squad in 1970 and had made the final cut in 1971 but got hurt in the final pre-season game and that was it.
Do you know me? Probably not. There are no stats and no glory. I talk about it as a moment in time but not with any pride or glory. It is a part of my past which is connected to a troubled and lost time of my life. After that, I spent 27 years with the IBM Corporation.
Do you know me now? I don’t imagine that you would. You won’t hear me talking a lot about that either. What you will hear me talking about is the day I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
I came to faith in 1985 in Tucson, AZ. I was working for IBM Corp. and went to the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. I listened to the speaker share his own testimony and it was compelling.
I realize now that God the Holy Spirit was calling me to Christ. I accepted Christ after the breakfast and my life began to get very complicated.
I was hoping for some relief for the messed up life I had but things actually became more difficult.
As my sin became more visible, my struggles became more intense. God’s grace was greater than my sin and eventually, some years later, the life that I always wanted became a reality as Christ became the center of my life.
Now do you know me? Well, it doesn’t matter, because Jesus Christ now knows me and that is the focus of my life.
After my conversion, I started a ministry called Iron Sharpens Iron (1994) and attended Phoenix Seminary. This led to full-time ministry as the Pastor to the Ministry to Men and their Families at Scottsdale Bible Church.
Do you know me now? Some of the men from Nogales should be starting to remember me from our time together at Prescott Pines Men’s Roundup last year.
I am Pastor Darien Bennett and I am looking forward to being your speaker at the Ministry 2 Men Fellowship this February 20th.
While I don’t spend a lot of time reminiscing about my days as an NFL player, I now consider myself a ‘coach’ on Jesus Christ’s playing field. We pray that you will consider God’s charge upon you as a disciple of Christ and take your place of the field!
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| Pastor Darien Bennett |
