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Speaker 1: Life Audio.
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Speaker 2: Build Different is a production of the American Association of Christian Counselors. To support this podcast and learn how you can help us to promote all our biblical content, spread the Gospel, and provide mental health resources and training to people everywhere, just go to aaccfoundation dot org. Again, that's Aaccfoundation dot org. Welcome to Built Different. I'm Zach Clinton, your host, and each week I come to you exclusively on the Life Audio podcast network. I'm proud to partner with Life Audio and bring you entertaining, life changing, family friendly podcasts for a new generation.
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Speaker 3: I Built Different.
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Speaker 2: Our mission is to provide encouragement, hope, and challenge to help push you past your limits and reach goals you never thought possible. Colossians two verse six says, So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus's Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in him.
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Speaker 3: Amen. Now let's roll.
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Speaker 2: Before I introduced our very special guests, I wanted to introduce somebody that's very special to me and to ignite I introduced him a little bit last night.
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Speaker 3: He is the CEO of the.
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Speaker 2: American Association of Christian Counselors. In our affiliated Ministries at Extraordinary Women and Ignitements Impact Weekend.
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Speaker 3: He happens to be my brother in law. Let me say this, he.
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Speaker 2: Is probably the biggest die hard Ohio State Washington Commanders fan I've ever met in my life.
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Speaker 3: Can you please help me?
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Speaker 2: Welcome to stage, mister Ben Allison.
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Speaker 3: The Ohio State, the Ohio State.
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Speaker 2: He likes to say, we are going to be co hosting this interview with a very special guest again. He was mister football in the state of Indiana. He happens to be a national champion at the Ohio State University, all pro wide receiver, setting records, doing incredible things with the Washington Commanders. He where's number seventeen? They call him scary Terry.
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Speaker 4: Can he help me? Welcome to the United States.
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Speaker 3: Let's bring him out of the tunnel. Somebody get on your feet, Let's get out. Let's bring him out.
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Speaker 1: Help me?
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Speaker 4: Well say Terry, the come definite.
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Speaker 3: We take a much better man, fellas.
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Speaker 2: We're gonna have some fun here with Terry for a moment, because.
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Speaker 3: We wanted to.
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Speaker 2: I heard that we are before we've been to the serious stuff.
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Speaker 3: Terry.
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Speaker 2: We want to have some fun because we want to know the details, you know behind all the different things, and so we're gonna do a little speed round maybe.
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Speaker 3: First thought. First word that comes to mind.
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Speaker 2: Commanders have the seventh pick of the upcoming draft. Should they draft offense or defense.
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Speaker 1: I think we're in a very unique situation. I think we could go best player available. I think we've done a really good job in free agency so far. When you get the top ten pick, I mean, I think another receiver, Jeremiah Love. There's some great Buckeye defensive players as well, so you know, I think we'll probably go best player available.
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Speaker 4: Awesome.
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Speaker 5: When it comes to the nfcast, we got all sorts of teams in there.
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Speaker 4: Which one do you like to beat the most? Uh? Eagles Eagles.
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Speaker 1: I gotta say the Eagles man their fans, they're very passionate. They can be a little rough, but there's nothing like going into Philly and getting to win because it's a tough environment.
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Speaker 4: Dallas is very close second, though, come on, come on, I'm.
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Speaker 2: A Steeler fan, so I like it when you guys beat the Calvil that the cow girl.
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Speaker 3: I should say.
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Speaker 2: Anyways, Terry, you are one of the sharpest route runners in the league. You've made some dudes fall broken some ankles. What's your favorite route to run?
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Speaker 1: I probably like to say a post corner, okay, and so we call like a shaker out and it's a double move. But a fast guy like myself, you have to respect if I run that post and as soon as I see your hips turn it as a dB, I break it off.
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Speaker 4: To the outside and that balls on time. See you che's kiss. That's awesome.
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Speaker 5: Hey, you have to play against a bunch of tough corners in our league. Of all the corners, which one you have to tighten your shoelaces a little bit more on?
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Speaker 1: I probably say Patrick Satan from Denver. He's one of the best vb's in the league for a very long time. Very physical, fast, very long arms. It's a battle. So when we played Denver this year, him and I went at it a little bit and it was a good time.
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Speaker 2: I'm thinking about a wide receiver running a slant, running into linebacker territory.
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Speaker 3: You know you gotta be thinking like, here come the footsteps type of thing.
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Speaker 1: Yeah.
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Speaker 3: Is there a guy in the league that hits the hardest in your opinion?
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Speaker 4: I don't say.
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Speaker 1: My hardest hit was probably Devin White linebacker.
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Speaker 4: I think he's maybe in Vegas right now.
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Speaker 1: When he was in Tampa, I caught like a screen pass and he hit me. The hit wasn't bad is the way he fell on me and I got up, I thought my shoulder was out of place.
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Speaker 4: I'm like, oh my, you.
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Speaker 1: Know, but nowadays these linebackers are running four to four, so I'm trying to make one guy miss. But if I see two guys, I'm probably going down.
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Speaker 4: I live to see another play.
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Speaker 5: I know you're a competitive dog outside of yourself. Here's the most competitive guy on the team.
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Speaker 1: I probably have to say Jaden Daniels. Jaden is an unbelievable competitor. I don't care if we shooting hoops in the locker room. He wants to win everything.
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Speaker 2: I'll say this, he's looking pretty sharp today in the shoe he's looking for. And I gotta asked the question in the locker room, besides yourself, Terry, who's the best dressed man?
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Speaker 4: That's dress man? I probably have to say Larimi Tunzel.
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Speaker 1: We just recited LT, and I don't think lineman O line d line get enough respect when it comes to their clothing. But LT kind of dresses as we call a small guy. So like the DB's, the receivers are kind of more. You're like, you're gonna put on all the swag and things like that. But lt could put he could put it on. He could put some good fits together. So I say him, Hey.
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Speaker 5: Coach dan Quinn's changed the culture in the locker room. You could describe them in one word, what would it be?
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Speaker 4: Passionate.
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Speaker 1: Everything he does he does it with passion. The way he coaches us on the field, the way he leads our team meetings each and every morning, the way he cares about the guys in the locker room, the relationship that he's built. He's passionate about everything, and he's truly a servant leader, which is great to have as your head coach.
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Speaker 2: Terry favorite moment, favorite catch in your career this far.
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Speaker 1: I'd probably have to say so. I'm from Indianapolis, grew up a Colts fan. We played them a few years back. Yeah, I see a few is out there. I made a catch back I think it's twenty twenty two, basically a game winning catch against Stefan Gilmour, one of the best corners to play the game. Two minute drive balls up in the airs, me versus him, I come down with it on the one yard line. I had one hundred pe at that game, you know, So I had one hundred people at that game, grew up in Indianapolis, and to make that catch in that moment to help win the game, I knew the Lord truly created that moment, not just for my team, but for me to experience that kind of joy in full circle moment.
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Speaker 4: This is a yes or yes question, all.
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Speaker 5: Right, the Commanders winning the Super Bowl this year.
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Speaker 4: See, I can't do that.
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Speaker 1: I'm the type of person where I don't like to make guarantees too early. What I will say is last year didn't go as we hoped. Twenty twenty four was awesome. We fell short, But there's something about when you get knocked down and coming back with a different type of hunger and a different type of confidence. And you can tell the front office is doing with their job to bring in.
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Speaker 4: The right pieces and players.
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Speaker 1: And as a leader, I'm training my butt off to be ready when we come back in April to get things going. So I like where we're at going into the season, and if we can keep the injury bug away and build this team, I think there's no.
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Speaker 4: Reason why we can't be compete in the end.
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Speaker 2: Mom Terry, I know that these have just been some fun questions up the front.
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Speaker 4: But obviously our theme this year.
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Speaker 2: At Ignite is forced through the fire, rooted and anchored and joke twenty three versus ten. But he knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. And so I want to go back in time and talk about your formative years here for a second. Because you don't just become mister football in the State of Indiana. You just don't become a star wide receiver at Ohio State and the Washington Commanders. There have to been something that was just formed within you that's kind of into your DNA. I'm thinking about your parents, your family. Take us into the backwater of your story if you would.
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Speaker 4: Yeah.
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Speaker 1: So, like I said, I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have one sister, she's twenty eight years old. I'm thirty, and my parents, Terry Senior and Grace McLaurin, they raised us middle class family growing up in Indianapolis. Both my parents, you know, went to college and worked every single day.
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Speaker 4: And I think that's the number one thing I.
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Speaker 1: Took away from my growing up was seeing the work ethic and the way that they got up every single day whether they felt like it or not, the sacrifices they made for my sister and I to have better opportunities that they had.
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Speaker 4: They were both first.
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Speaker 1: Generation of college graduates, and so to set a platform to when now their kids were both fortunate to be college graduates. And the work ethic that it takes to achieve anything in life that's truly grounded me. And so when I approach things in life, I try to take a day one mentality but also know that it's the endurance that wins the race. It's the knowing you're going to get knocked down. There's going to be some nose, there's going to be some not yet, There's going to be those moments where you may question.
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Speaker 4: Is this for me?
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Speaker 1: But the persistence in that work ethic is always going to be the anchor that allows you to see the other side until he gets that destination. And so that's the number one thing I take away from my parents is their work ethic and their passion for continuing to better themselves and their family.
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Speaker 4: And that's something that I will forever live with you.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, in this life, you're going to experience different trials. You've told a story before about even though you're an amazing athlete, being cut from.
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Speaker 4: Your I think a baseball team.
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Speaker 5: You share that story, how your parents got involved, how you were resilient beyond that.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, that was my first I would say rejection in life that I experienced. I was grew up playing football, baseball, basketball, played all three sports. But when I got to high school, first of all, I was like five four, one hundred and twenty five pounds.
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Speaker 4: So for all you.
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Speaker 1: Guys are out there, maybe young men who were hearing me, just continue to be patient, to eat your vegetables and.
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Speaker 4: You have a chance to continue to grow.
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Speaker 1: But yeah, I loved baseball and I tried out for the freshman baseball team, and I was the fastest.
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Speaker 4: Guy on the team. I'm like, Okay, I may not hit the best, but I can still a few bases, you know, I mean, you throw me out there. But so we're on the last practice and I remember like it was yesterday.
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Speaker 1: It was me and another one of my friends. We get called into the coach office separately, but he says, hey, Terry, the coach at the time, you know, we don't think your bat speed and your mechanics are what we're looking for at this level. I think that it would be best if you maybe pivot and you're not going to make the team. And my heart dropped in that moment because that was the first time that I really be told know in sports, the Lord blessed me immensely with a lot of skills and talents, and so I was fortunate to be one of the better players on each team that I played on growing up, and so get into a space where I was really excited to step into this new journey of high school baseball and to be told that you're cut from the team. Not only the embarrassment that I felt. You know what I mean, you're not making the team. Everybody knows you're trying out. You're Terry McLaurin. How do you you know what I mean? So I felt that a little identity hit at that time. And I remember coming home and my mom's laying on the bed and I go, well, she's excited to hear the news. I'm like, well, I just got to come from the baseball team, and I think I'm down to my last strike, What do you mean by that? And I'm like, well, I kind of gave up basketball because I don't think any of us see me five four guards in the NBA. So I had kind of given that up and lost the love for basketball. Football was still my number one sport, but baseball was essentially kind of being taken away from me. And I said, I'm down to my last strike meeting football, and she said, well, it's your best it's your best sport, it's your best opportunity, and I'm going to be here for you and I'm gonna help you get through this. And what that moment taught me, it taught me a no doesn't mean a know all the time, and sometimes are not yet A know is often a time where the Lord is pivoting you into a better direction. I truly feel like if I didn't put all my focus into football at that moment, I don't know if I'd.
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Speaker 4: Be sick year.
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Speaker 1: Because in that next year, I not only grew eight inches, but I gained fifty pounds before my training and I started to see myself come into my own as a football player, and being cut allowed me to experience for the first time.
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Speaker 4: Not quote unquote being good enough.
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Speaker 1: But it also taught me that my identity is not wrapped in being told no.
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Speaker 4: That although I may not.
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Speaker 1: Have fit that team that coach that situation, there's moments that God had for me in my future that I was going to get that, Yes, I was going to be validated. So I don't regret that moment at all. It's honestly one of the turning puyment turning points in my life early on because it allowed me to experience the world's version of rejection, but it recentered me into a different passion that allowed me to take that chip on my shoulder and direct it in a positive life.
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Speaker 2: I'm going to stop this right there and jump in to say, you're listening to Built Different.
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Speaker 3: I'm Zach Clinton.
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Speaker 2: We need to break for a brief message from our sponsors. I'll be back with our guests to keep the conversation flowing. Right after this, you're listening to Life Audio. Wow. You talk about God's delay is not his denial. Sometimes it's just his divine redirection, and God redirects you into the sport of football, which you kind of centered on, and clearly you're continuing to live out that passion in that calling today, but you get called to go to the Ohio State University, and man, you had some dudes around you. Because if I'm not mistaken I read about it, I think you waited two or three years before you really broke into the mold. And sometimes, Terry, that's a long wait. There's some dudes who would easily give up in the midst of that or just kind of dip out rather than dig in. How did you learn in the patient and in the waiting seasons of life not to waste that weight.
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Speaker 4: What you just said is true is the waiting season.
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Speaker 1: And I think I know I've experienced in my life where it's been tough for me to wait because I feel like I'm so deserving of this opportunity or this chance to play at Ohio State at that moment, or I put in so much time and work and effort like my peers, and it seems like they're getting the Yes, they're getting the benefits, and I'm not knowing that. I feel like I'm deserving and worthy and putting mister. And when you go to a program like Ohio State, everybody was mister football. Everybody was the best in their their their their region, their state, and so my time at Ohio State really hone my my work ethic and hone my confidence because it forced me to red shirt my fresh year, which means you don't play, you don't travel. So I was basically scout time receiver each and every week, and when they would go away games, I clean my dorm and hang.
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Speaker 4: Out and eat a little bit and uh.
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Speaker 1: But during that year of development, I really got to focus on myself. I knew my ball skills weren't quite the best.
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Speaker 4: I knew I had to get stronger and faster.
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Speaker 1: So it allowed me to really take the time to pour into what's going to help me be prepared for when I'm ready to step into that role. And I think that was another divine way of the Lord saying not yet. I have something greater for you, but you're not ready yet. And what I've learned through that those times countless that we're going to continue to go over was countless times are not yet. I know for a fact, living here thirty thirty years now that every time I'm delayed, I get excited because I know God has something better than I may have played a thought for myself, and He's just trying to make sure that I'm ready for that, because sometimes if we get what we want earlier or before we're ready for it, when we step into that season of our life, will fumble it away. We may screw it up, we may not maximizing the way the Lord allow. And so I've learned through those times in college and high school and my experience in NFL, those not yet are times to continue to grow and continue to lean into the Lord, and he's preparing you in a way that you could be ready for those moments. So I didn't start to really my fourth year, and my best year was my fifth year, and I got to a point where I was like, it's football even for me, Like is my NFL dream even going to come true?
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Speaker 4: I had doubts. I had a lot of doubts.
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Speaker 1: And you know, my dad always told me, I'll never forget this. He told me, the Lord is building you differently. He's building you in a way that's going to allow you to be prepared for what you're dreaming and what you're preparing for.
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Speaker 4: And when you're.
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Speaker 1: Going against you know, you got guys like Ezekiel, Elliott Curtis, Samuel Michael Thomas.
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Speaker 4: I mean the list goes on and on and on. There's only one ball.
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Speaker 1: That go around too, and so it allowed me to also step into a servant role. I was Forcunate to be a two time captain during my time there, and it allowed me to serve in a different way and see my leadership come to light and to notice that the Lord had not only gave me the gifts and the talents to be a tremendous football player, but he gave me leadership and leadership and development skills as well to help the guys on my team.
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Speaker 4: I love that.
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Speaker 5: Let's transition from the Ohio State to the Washington Redskins at the time in football.
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Speaker 4: Team now Commanders. Draft Knight twenty nineteen. Yeah, what was that like?
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Speaker 5: What were you anticipating? How are the nerves? Just just give us a brief peak into your life there.
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Speaker 1: Draft Knight was wild, honestly, you know, I had seen I had heard from my agent and other pundits that I could possibly go from the first.
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Speaker 4: Round to the third round. I come out of Ohio State.
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Speaker 1: I only had thirty three catches my last year, I led the country in yards per catch.
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Speaker 4: But I was very fortunate that.
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Speaker 1: Laura allowed me to have an opportunity to go to the Senior Bowl, which is the highest honor you can have as a senior football player, to come to Mobile, Alabama and compete against the other great seniors NFL prospects.
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Speaker 4: And I did really well at that camp.
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Speaker 1: I got invited to the Combine, ran a four three five, did all the testing and things like that, did really well, and so I worked my way up into really the first three rounds.
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Speaker 4: I went from being undrafted. I went from.
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Speaker 1: Being someone who may not even make it to the NFL. That's the reason why I came back my fifth year, to be able to have another year of development, to be prepared for my dream.
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Speaker 4: And so Draft night, you.
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Speaker 1: Know, I knew I wasn't probably going in the first round.
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Speaker 4: So first round, I believe is third.
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Speaker 1: Friday, Thursday or Friday, and then rounds two and three or the next day, day two.
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Speaker 4: So I watched the first.
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Speaker 1: Round with my parents and my girlfriend who's now my wife, and just watching the names go by, watching the names go by, and day two came around, so we had.
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Speaker 4: A nice celebration at my house.
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Speaker 1: My mom set up everything and I have my closest friends and family come there and you don't have no clue where you're going, Like, hey, you really don't, I mean you can. I got interviewed by the Redskins at the time one time during the whole process, so I'm like, okay, they didn't bring me in for a visit.
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Speaker 4: I don't know if I'm gonna get drafted there. So quick funny story.
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Speaker 1: One of my good friends, Uh, he's coming to the uh to the celebration we're having, and he's running a little late. So we're probably halfway through the third the third round, and uh, I think Green Bay is on on the clock, so everybody's watching the TV's all the TV's on the clock. And I get a call if for anybody doesn't you're supposed to keep your phone open, like nobody's supposed to be calling.
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Speaker 4: You're supposed to keep it open for NFL teams.
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Speaker 1: So I get a call and it's my friend and and I'm like hey, bro, Like he's like, yeah, I'm parked down the I'm parked down the street, Like, uh, how do I get to your house? I'm like, bro, I got to keep this line open. The Tens could be calling me. So I go outside to take the call. Right, So I come back in. Everybody's I mind you. Everybody's at my doorway like are you a packer?
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Speaker 2: Are you a packer?
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Speaker 4: I'm like, nah, it was just Terarot made my friend. And everybody's oh, you know, Like that's how intense it is.
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Speaker 1: Every single call, waking moment is just like you know, but I get this. I get this call of two O two area code, so it's DC and it's Jay Gruden and he was like, hey, you know, we want to draft you with our third round pick. We want to pair you with Dwayne Haskins, and uh, you know, we're ready for you to be a Redskin. And just tears, like I get emotional right now, just tears knowing that all those moments that I've waited for, prayed for, dreamed of, oftentimes had doubts that would happen. At that moment when you hear your name called, nothing else matters because you know your foot is in the door. And that's all I've ever asked for my entire life is an opportunity to compete, an opportunity to.
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Speaker 4: Have my foot in the door.
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Speaker 1: Because again my work ethic, the Lord has blessed me with a work ethic where I know I'm going to outwork most of the people I compete against. I just wanted the opportunity to be an NFL player and try not to get too long winded. But they drafted me to be a special teams player. I was the number one special teams player coming out of the draft because of my ability to chase down on punt team and be a gunner one ball, go around, and really have a lot of stats. But I get there and I'm running on special teams. I'm running on special teams, and a week before the first game of the season, there's like cuts and few are our receivers get cut And I go to the special teams board looking to where my name is for practice.
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Speaker 4: I don't see my name. I'm like, oh, I'm cut.
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Speaker 1: Like nothing's guaranteed in the league, Like even as a third round pick, you may get guaranteed one year, that's it, but you can still get cut if you're not performing. And I go to the coach, I'm like, yo, I'm not on the special team. I'm starting on every specially, why am I not there? And he said, I need you to go talk to the head coach. So I talked to Jay Gruden. He was like, Yeah, You're gonna be the starting X receiver. Wow, I just came from Ohio State and I was probably the fourth receiver. You're telling me I'm coming to an NFL team when you guys drafted me to be a special teams guy only and hopefully I could be a receiver, And you're telling me I'm about to be the starting receiver for an NFL.
00:23:15
Speaker 4: Team and we play the Eagles in two weeks. Got it? You know, like it was unbelievable.
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Speaker 1: But in that moment, that validation that I got from the Lord, it was everything for me because I knew this was a moment he curated for me. All those not yet, all those no's, all those times, in the moments I was working in the indoor, why nobody was looking catching hundreds of balls a day, running routes time and time again and seeing no reward. In that moment, I think it reminds me of Galassians six'. Nine you, know do not get tired of doing good for indue. Season he will reap a. HARVEST i read that verse over my life, constantly because oftentimes you could get discouraged because the work that we're putting. In we're not seeing the fruits of that, yet but in that.
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Speaker 4: Verse is truly.
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Speaker 1: Depicted of what discipline and hard work, consistently no matter what your surroundings look, like there will be an opportunity for you to step in and be. Ready AND i THINK i carry that tremendously now because every moment THAT i walk INTO i Know i'm prepared for Because i've been waiting and working for that. Moment SO i just had to share that background of how.
00:24:27
Speaker 4: The draft night.
00:24:28
Speaker 1: Went So washington caused, me you, know. Tears everybody's, happy and it was the best day of my life BECAUSE i truly was able to say THAT i was drafted to THE nfl and my dream was coming.
00:24:41
Speaker 2: True you, KNOW i believe this about, You, terry that it's our preparation in times of peace that's the greatest predictor of our behavior in times of.
00:24:49
Speaker 3: War it's WHAT i shared last.
00:24:50
Speaker 2: Night preparation predicts, performance especially in the midst of our. Pain And god's doing something special through you throughout your.
00:24:57
Speaker 3: Career you're incredibly, Gifted you're incredibly.
00:24:59
Speaker 2: Talented god is using football as a platform for you to continue to be unashamed about the. Gospel but you're also you haven't been a stranger to suffering in THE. Nfl, YES i think about just the mental health advocate that you, are just your openness to be, vulnerable to have other men to ask for. HELP i think about the loss of a brother In Dwayne.
00:25:18
Speaker 3: Haskins you brought him.
00:25:19
Speaker 2: UP i think about injury and coming back from, injuries so many different. Hardships WHAT i would just love to post a question for, You, terry is in our moments of, POWERLESSNESS i believe That god draws us closer to and reveals the character of his heart the. Most what Has god revealed you in the midst of these challenging times that you've even faced here?
00:25:35
Speaker 1: Recently The lord has shown me that he will never leave nor forsake. Me and he's the Same god that was with me WHEN i got cut in high. School he's the same guy that was with me WHEN i broke records For.
00:25:49
Speaker 4: Washington and he's the same guy who's with.
00:25:52
Speaker 1: Me right now Where i'm walking into a new season of my life as a, husband as an eighth YEAR NFL. Vet So god doesn't change his constant love and mercy is forever chasing me down and for a lot of my. Life i've been saved SINCE i was fourteen years, old and for a lot of my, LIFE i knew That.
00:26:14
Speaker 4: God died for my.
00:26:15
Speaker 1: Sins jesus died from my, sins and he was raised from the, dead AND i now have.
00:26:20
Speaker 4: Salvation but my life didn't look like A.
00:26:24
Speaker 1: Christian this consistency of WHAT i was doing and saying did not look like. That and so What he's shown me is he is going to continually be my biggest. Advocate WHEN i mess, UP i run to him for. REPENTANCE i run to his love because OFTENTIMES i tried to, hide AND i knew. That at the, TIME i didn't know, that but NOW i know that is the enemy trying to separate me from The. Lord he's trying to keep me in bondage through my. Shame he wants to bring up those difficult moments WHERE i felt short OR i SAID i wasn't going to do that thing THAT i SAID i wasn't going to, do BUT i did it. Again he tries to hold me convicted in those moments SO i don't seek The father's. Face and so now in these moments of, trial, now in these moments of. Difficulty after this last, season tearing my clawd off the bone and getting hundreds of ccs.
00:27:17
Speaker 4: Drained out of my leg for a month, STRAIGHT i learned real.
00:27:22
Speaker 1: SURRENDER i learned that control comes in the form of. Worry And i'm a BIG i have been still struggle with worrying BECAUSE i.
00:27:32
Speaker 4: Don't know how that next moment is going to work. OUT i don't know is the. Earlier Is god with? Me AM i going to make it?
00:27:40
Speaker 1: Through and the answer is, yes, Yes he never. Changes he Never you never have to earn his. LOVE i think that's where counterintuitive to how we are as, athletes because we are judged by our, performance our, validity our worth sometimes come from our, contracts our. Stats but With, god you don't have to earn. That it's freely given to.
00:28:04
Speaker 4: You and so is.
00:28:06
Speaker 2: Repenting, Yes, TERRY i know we're fighting the flocks, here, Man but HOW i really want to wrap.
00:28:13
Speaker 3: Up i'm just thinking Of Joe chapter forty, two verse.
00:28:15
Speaker 2: Five it Said i'd only heard of you with my ears up to this, point but NOW i have seen you with my.
00:28:20
Speaker 3: Eyes god has clearly.
00:28:21
Speaker 2: Made himself evident in and throughout the different steps of your, life And i'm just thinking about one final word to the men in this. Room we're going to leave, here and hopefully they're feeling, ignited but they're going to go back home as husband's right year of? Marriage is that, correct your? Wife god's doing an amazing thing for you as a. Husband i'm thinking about the fathers in the. Room i'm just thinking about men that are going back home into the midst of the. Battle in the, FIGHT i think three of the most dangerous words that they could say or believe ARE i got. This we need, brothers we need friends for the. Fire we need to have a deepened relationship With. God what's a final word of, hope encouragement and motivation for this group of.
00:28:56
Speaker 4: Men community is extremely.
00:28:58
Speaker 1: Important having someone that can help disciple, you having someone that can help hear what you're going, through having someone that can help you create a life for yourself that is reflective Of.
00:29:11
Speaker 4: Lord AND i have a.
00:29:14
Speaker 1: Mentor of, Mine Pastor Brett, fuller who is a pastor Of Grace Covenany church In, chantilly and he's been our chaplain for the commanders for extremely long time and he discipled me since my first day walking in. There and what's so, ironic it didn't Catch god by. SURPRISE i truly BELIEVE i came To washington sure to be a really good football, player to make an impact of my. Community but In washington's WHERE i found my true identity In, christ through, discipleship through a church, home through someone who loved me and cared for me WHEN i didn't love and care for, myself and a lot of the, times AND i felt like my validation came from WHAT i can prove and WHAT i can do in, football AND i felt like me trying TO i was a people pleas still can be as.
00:30:01
Speaker 4: Sometimes i'm still working through.
00:30:02
Speaker 1: That but knowing my validation doesn't come from, man it comes from The, lord and seeing what my identity is In him has truly freed me up to step into a place of confidence in my life to Where.
00:30:13
Speaker 4: I'm not going to lie to any of you guys in.
00:30:15
Speaker 1: Here this would have terrified me two or three years, ago like genuinely standing up, here sitting up here and sharing my, testimony sharing What god has done in my, life BECAUSE i felt so, UNWORTHY i felt so.
00:30:27
Speaker 4: BROKEN i felt LIKE i didn't deserve.
00:30:28
Speaker 1: To be able to speaking on these topics BECAUSE i struggle with these same sinful. DESIRES i struggle with these same. Convictions and what The lord, does he treats it so much different to. Man sometimes people, can you, know break our. Heart people that we trust and love turn their back on, us and we're left picking up the. Pieces but when you put your faith in hoping The, lord he puts those pieces back. Together and not only, that he builds you, greater, stronger and better for his will and to further or his kingdom because you sought. Him and so What i've truly learned over this past, year, honestly through, marriage through my, injury through contract, negotiations is true.
00:31:10
Speaker 4: Surrender and surrender.
00:31:11
Speaker 1: Looks like knowing that the Same lord that brought you through the last moment that you didn't think you want to make it, through he's the same guy who's with you in the moment that you find yourself up. Against, now come, on and that community that you have is extremely. Important and one thing my pastor and mentor says is read Your bible every. Day and the reason WHY i feel like that is so important AND i still fall, short you, know but because of, culture because of the world that we live in social, media there's so many ravaging thoughts and processes throughout this life that we're up, against challenges as, men as, husbands as, fathers as. Friends we have to have something that actively combats those negative thoughts of the, enemy those strongholds that are on our, mind those traumas that we've been. Through The lord will break those change if you submit your life and your ways to.
00:32:05
Speaker 4: His so come to him as if you're talking to your. Brother. Lord i'm broken right, Now, Lord i'm hurting.
00:32:11
Speaker 1: Like lord wants that kind of relationship with, us whereas, man he won't treat us like. Man, man it was, like you're too. BROKEN i Don't, Yeah i've done enough with. You god brings you in every single. Time his love is so deep and so wide that we can't measure. It here stretches from the east to the, west and when we're in a moment of true, surrender we see his glory in a way that you've never seen. Before but it also means that we need, community other men and women in our lives that can help us get to the moments that we never thought we could get.
00:32:41
Speaker 4: To my friend told, me you show me your, friends And i'll show you your.
00:32:44
Speaker 1: Future and so my dad was a great example of how to be a, husband but also my pastor is a great exam be a husband and a father and a man in his. Community and SO i try to surround myself with men who are not only challenging me and making me, better but help me emulate the image Of. Christ and knowing that we're all still we're going to fall short because we're, sinners but the love Of christ can continue to cover any, sin in any wrongdoing that we've ever, done And he welcomes, us welcomes us with open arms each and every time we have to run to. Him try not to hide in your shame and think that you've fallen off so far That god can't pick you. Up he can pick you up every single, time and you could come to exactly as you. Are you don't have to have it all figured, out you don't have to have every perfect word and perfect saying and know every Single bible.
00:33:43
Speaker 4: Verse you have a love For, christ you know That he died for.
00:33:46
Speaker 1: You you know that you're going to, heaven and you want a life that is better than a life that you can ever, imagine And.
00:33:52
Speaker 4: He is there for. You so that's WHAT i would say continue to.
00:33:56
Speaker 1: Be hopeful and, confident lean on other, believers and bring.
00:34:01
Speaker 4: Someone along with.
00:34:02
Speaker 1: You you don't have to know Every bible. Verse you don't know have to have the perfect. Words your testimony is. Enough what you've been through in.
00:34:09
Speaker 4: Your life is.
00:34:09
Speaker 1: Enough the story of What god has brought you through through any trial and struggle is. Enough and SO i encourage everybody here to share that because sitting here two or three years, AGO i would have been riddled with fear and, anxiety WHICH i know comes from the.
00:34:23
Speaker 4: Enemy he wants to hold you in bondage of that.
00:34:25
Speaker 1: Fear because he knows the calling that The lord has each and every one of your lives in, here and his objective is to keep you separated From, him to keep you strapped in that. Bondage so continue to seek his, face continue to know it's a, journey and truly pray for that endurance because that's what we all truly, need is that endurance to be able to go through the struggles and this trial of this.
00:34:47
Speaker 4: Life but no glory.
00:34:48
Speaker 1: Is on the other, side where these bodies that are just vessels will be long gone in the, ground and our spirits are the ones that won't be living on praising.
00:34:57
Speaker 4: Him so that's WHAT i would.
00:34:59
Speaker 2: Say FANTASTIC coasea chapter Two joseiah two says this that even in the valley of a, ford even in the valley of, suffering when we return to The, lord a door of hope will be opened wide unto. Us WHAT i hear From Scary terry is return to The lord and bring somebody with. You, TERRY i just got asked you have an armed because we got some footballs that we.
00:35:24
Speaker 3: Would like me to.
00:35:24
Speaker 1: DO i might have to take this suit jacket off on
Speaker 1: Life Audio.
00:00:03
Speaker 2: Build Different is a production of the American Association of Christian Counselors. To support this podcast and learn how you can help us to promote all our biblical content, spread the Gospel, and provide mental health resources and training to people everywhere, just go to aaccfoundation dot org. Again, that's Aaccfoundation dot org. Welcome to Built Different. I'm Zach Clinton, your host, and each week I come to you exclusively on the Life Audio podcast network. I'm proud to partner with Life Audio and bring you entertaining, life changing, family friendly podcasts for a new generation.
00:00:38
Speaker 3: I Built Different.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: Our mission is to provide encouragement, hope, and challenge to help push you past your limits and reach goals you never thought possible. Colossians two verse six says, So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus's Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in him.
00:00:53
Speaker 3: Amen. Now let's roll.
00:01:02
Speaker 2: Before I introduced our very special guests, I wanted to introduce somebody that's very special to me and to ignite I introduced him a little bit last night.
00:01:08
Speaker 3: He is the CEO of the.
00:01:10
Speaker 2: American Association of Christian Counselors. In our affiliated Ministries at Extraordinary Women and Ignitements Impact Weekend.
00:01:17
Speaker 3: He happens to be my brother in law. Let me say this, he.
00:01:19
Speaker 2: Is probably the biggest die hard Ohio State Washington Commanders fan I've ever met in my life.
00:01:25
Speaker 3: Can you please help me?
00:01:26
Speaker 2: Welcome to stage, mister Ben Allison.
00:01:29
Speaker 3: The Ohio State, the Ohio State.
00:01:31
Speaker 2: He likes to say, we are going to be co hosting this interview with a very special guest again. He was mister football in the state of Indiana. He happens to be a national champion at the Ohio State University, all pro wide receiver, setting records, doing incredible things with the Washington Commanders. He where's number seventeen? They call him scary Terry.
00:01:54
Speaker 4: Can he help me? Welcome to the United States.
00:01:55
Speaker 3: Let's bring him out of the tunnel. Somebody get on your feet, Let's get out. Let's bring him out.
00:01:59
Speaker 1: Help me?
00:01:59
Speaker 4: Well say Terry, the come definite.
00:02:08
Speaker 3: We take a much better man, fellas.
00:02:14
Speaker 2: We're gonna have some fun here with Terry for a moment, because.
00:02:17
Speaker 3: We wanted to.
00:02:23
Speaker 2: I heard that we are before we've been to the serious stuff.
00:02:27
Speaker 3: Terry.
00:02:28
Speaker 2: We want to have some fun because we want to know the details, you know behind all the different things, and so we're gonna do a little speed round maybe.
00:02:34
Speaker 3: First thought. First word that comes to mind.
00:02:36
Speaker 2: Commanders have the seventh pick of the upcoming draft. Should they draft offense or defense.
00:02:42
Speaker 1: I think we're in a very unique situation. I think we could go best player available. I think we've done a really good job in free agency so far. When you get the top ten pick, I mean, I think another receiver, Jeremiah Love. There's some great Buckeye defensive players as well, so you know, I think we'll probably go best player available.
00:03:03
Speaker 4: Awesome.
00:03:04
Speaker 5: When it comes to the nfcast, we got all sorts of teams in there.
00:03:08
Speaker 4: Which one do you like to beat the most? Uh? Eagles Eagles.
00:03:15
Speaker 1: I gotta say the Eagles man their fans, they're very passionate. They can be a little rough, but there's nothing like going into Philly and getting to win because it's a tough environment.
00:03:25
Speaker 4: Dallas is very close second, though, come on, come on, I'm.
00:03:28
Speaker 2: A Steeler fan, so I like it when you guys beat the Calvil that the cow girl.
00:03:32
Speaker 3: I should say.
00:03:33
Speaker 2: Anyways, Terry, you are one of the sharpest route runners in the league. You've made some dudes fall broken some ankles. What's your favorite route to run?
00:03:41
Speaker 1: I probably like to say a post corner, okay, and so we call like a shaker out and it's a double move. But a fast guy like myself, you have to respect if I run that post and as soon as I see your hips turn it as a dB, I break it off.
00:03:58
Speaker 4: To the outside and that balls on time. See you che's kiss. That's awesome.
00:04:04
Speaker 5: Hey, you have to play against a bunch of tough corners in our league. Of all the corners, which one you have to tighten your shoelaces a little bit more on?
00:04:12
Speaker 1: I probably say Patrick Satan from Denver. He's one of the best vb's in the league for a very long time. Very physical, fast, very long arms. It's a battle. So when we played Denver this year, him and I went at it a little bit and it was a good time.
00:04:28
Speaker 2: I'm thinking about a wide receiver running a slant, running into linebacker territory.
00:04:33
Speaker 3: You know you gotta be thinking like, here come the footsteps type of thing.
00:04:36
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:04:36
Speaker 3: Is there a guy in the league that hits the hardest in your opinion?
00:04:41
Speaker 4: I don't say.
00:04:42
Speaker 1: My hardest hit was probably Devin White linebacker.
00:04:46
Speaker 4: I think he's maybe in Vegas right now.
00:04:49
Speaker 1: When he was in Tampa, I caught like a screen pass and he hit me. The hit wasn't bad is the way he fell on me and I got up, I thought my shoulder was out of place.
00:04:58
Speaker 4: I'm like, oh my, you.
00:05:00
Speaker 1: Know, but nowadays these linebackers are running four to four, so I'm trying to make one guy miss. But if I see two guys, I'm probably going down.
00:05:09
Speaker 4: I live to see another play.
00:05:13
Speaker 5: I know you're a competitive dog outside of yourself. Here's the most competitive guy on the team.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: I probably have to say Jaden Daniels. Jaden is an unbelievable competitor. I don't care if we shooting hoops in the locker room. He wants to win everything.
00:05:28
Speaker 2: I'll say this, he's looking pretty sharp today in the shoe he's looking for. And I gotta asked the question in the locker room, besides yourself, Terry, who's the best dressed man?
00:05:36
Speaker 4: That's dress man? I probably have to say Larimi Tunzel.
00:05:40
Speaker 1: We just recited LT, and I don't think lineman O line d line get enough respect when it comes to their clothing. But LT kind of dresses as we call a small guy. So like the DB's, the receivers are kind of more. You're like, you're gonna put on all the swag and things like that. But lt could put he could put it on. He could put some good fits together. So I say him, Hey.
00:06:02
Speaker 5: Coach dan Quinn's changed the culture in the locker room. You could describe them in one word, what would it be?
00:06:09
Speaker 4: Passionate.
00:06:10
Speaker 1: Everything he does he does it with passion. The way he coaches us on the field, the way he leads our team meetings each and every morning, the way he cares about the guys in the locker room, the relationship that he's built. He's passionate about everything, and he's truly a servant leader, which is great to have as your head coach.
00:06:29
Speaker 2: Terry favorite moment, favorite catch in your career this far.
00:06:33
Speaker 1: I'd probably have to say so. I'm from Indianapolis, grew up a Colts fan. We played them a few years back. Yeah, I see a few is out there. I made a catch back I think it's twenty twenty two, basically a game winning catch against Stefan Gilmour, one of the best corners to play the game. Two minute drive balls up in the airs, me versus him, I come down with it on the one yard line. I had one hundred pe at that game, you know, So I had one hundred people at that game, grew up in Indianapolis, and to make that catch in that moment to help win the game, I knew the Lord truly created that moment, not just for my team, but for me to experience that kind of joy in full circle moment.
00:07:16
Speaker 4: This is a yes or yes question, all.
00:07:18
Speaker 5: Right, the Commanders winning the Super Bowl this year.
00:07:23
Speaker 4: See, I can't do that.
00:07:24
Speaker 1: I'm the type of person where I don't like to make guarantees too early. What I will say is last year didn't go as we hoped. Twenty twenty four was awesome. We fell short, But there's something about when you get knocked down and coming back with a different type of hunger and a different type of confidence. And you can tell the front office is doing with their job to bring in.
00:07:46
Speaker 4: The right pieces and players.
00:07:47
Speaker 1: And as a leader, I'm training my butt off to be ready when we come back in April to get things going. So I like where we're at going into the season, and if we can keep the injury bug away and build this team, I think there's no.
00:07:59
Speaker 4: Reason why we can't be compete in the end.
00:08:01
Speaker 2: Mom Terry, I know that these have just been some fun questions up the front.
00:08:05
Speaker 4: But obviously our theme this year.
00:08:06
Speaker 2: At Ignite is forced through the fire, rooted and anchored and joke twenty three versus ten. But he knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. And so I want to go back in time and talk about your formative years here for a second. Because you don't just become mister football in the State of Indiana. You just don't become a star wide receiver at Ohio State and the Washington Commanders. There have to been something that was just formed within you that's kind of into your DNA. I'm thinking about your parents, your family. Take us into the backwater of your story if you would.
00:08:34
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:08:34
Speaker 1: So, like I said, I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have one sister, she's twenty eight years old. I'm thirty, and my parents, Terry Senior and Grace McLaurin, they raised us middle class family growing up in Indianapolis. Both my parents, you know, went to college and worked every single day.
00:08:54
Speaker 4: And I think that's the number one thing I.
00:08:56
Speaker 1: Took away from my growing up was seeing the work ethic and the way that they got up every single day whether they felt like it or not, the sacrifices they made for my sister and I to have better opportunities that they had.
00:09:09
Speaker 4: They were both first.
00:09:09
Speaker 1: Generation of college graduates, and so to set a platform to when now their kids were both fortunate to be college graduates. And the work ethic that it takes to achieve anything in life that's truly grounded me. And so when I approach things in life, I try to take a day one mentality but also know that it's the endurance that wins the race. It's the knowing you're going to get knocked down. There's going to be some nose, there's going to be some not yet, There's going to be those moments where you may question.
00:09:42
Speaker 4: Is this for me?
00:09:43
Speaker 1: But the persistence in that work ethic is always going to be the anchor that allows you to see the other side until he gets that destination. And so that's the number one thing I take away from my parents is their work ethic and their passion for continuing to better themselves and their family.
00:09:59
Speaker 4: And that's something that I will forever live with you.
00:10:02
Speaker 5: Yeah, in this life, you're going to experience different trials. You've told a story before about even though you're an amazing athlete, being cut from.
00:10:09
Speaker 4: Your I think a baseball team.
00:10:11
Speaker 5: You share that story, how your parents got involved, how you were resilient beyond that.
00:10:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, that was my first I would say rejection in life that I experienced. I was grew up playing football, baseball, basketball, played all three sports. But when I got to high school, first of all, I was like five four, one hundred and twenty five pounds.
00:10:32
Speaker 4: So for all you.
00:10:33
Speaker 1: Guys are out there, maybe young men who were hearing me, just continue to be patient, to eat your vegetables and.
00:10:40
Speaker 4: You have a chance to continue to grow.
00:10:41
Speaker 1: But yeah, I loved baseball and I tried out for the freshman baseball team, and I was the fastest.
00:10:49
Speaker 4: Guy on the team. I'm like, Okay, I may not hit the best, but I can still a few bases, you know, I mean, you throw me out there. But so we're on the last practice and I remember like it was yesterday.
00:11:00
Speaker 1: It was me and another one of my friends. We get called into the coach office separately, but he says, hey, Terry, the coach at the time, you know, we don't think your bat speed and your mechanics are what we're looking for at this level. I think that it would be best if you maybe pivot and you're not going to make the team. And my heart dropped in that moment because that was the first time that I really be told know in sports, the Lord blessed me immensely with a lot of skills and talents, and so I was fortunate to be one of the better players on each team that I played on growing up, and so get into a space where I was really excited to step into this new journey of high school baseball and to be told that you're cut from the team. Not only the embarrassment that I felt. You know what I mean, you're not making the team. Everybody knows you're trying out. You're Terry McLaurin. How do you you know what I mean? So I felt that a little identity hit at that time. And I remember coming home and my mom's laying on the bed and I go, well, she's excited to hear the news. I'm like, well, I just got to come from the baseball team, and I think I'm down to my last strike, What do you mean by that? And I'm like, well, I kind of gave up basketball because I don't think any of us see me five four guards in the NBA. So I had kind of given that up and lost the love for basketball. Football was still my number one sport, but baseball was essentially kind of being taken away from me. And I said, I'm down to my last strike meeting football, and she said, well, it's your best it's your best sport, it's your best opportunity, and I'm going to be here for you and I'm gonna help you get through this. And what that moment taught me, it taught me a no doesn't mean a know all the time, and sometimes are not yet A know is often a time where the Lord is pivoting you into a better direction. I truly feel like if I didn't put all my focus into football at that moment, I don't know if I'd.
00:12:59
Speaker 4: Be sick year.
00:13:00
Speaker 1: Because in that next year, I not only grew eight inches, but I gained fifty pounds before my training and I started to see myself come into my own as a football player, and being cut allowed me to experience for the first time.
00:13:16
Speaker 4: Not quote unquote being good enough.
00:13:19
Speaker 1: But it also taught me that my identity is not wrapped in being told no.
00:13:23
Speaker 4: That although I may not.
00:13:24
Speaker 1: Have fit that team that coach that situation, there's moments that God had for me in my future that I was going to get that, Yes, I was going to be validated. So I don't regret that moment at all. It's honestly one of the turning puyment turning points in my life early on because it allowed me to experience the world's version of rejection, but it recentered me into a different passion that allowed me to take that chip on my shoulder and direct it in a positive life.
00:13:55
Speaker 2: I'm going to stop this right there and jump in to say, you're listening to Built Different.
00:13:59
Speaker 3: I'm Zach Clinton.
00:14:00
Speaker 2: We need to break for a brief message from our sponsors. I'll be back with our guests to keep the conversation flowing. Right after this, you're listening to Life Audio. Wow. You talk about God's delay is not his denial. Sometimes it's just his divine redirection, and God redirects you into the sport of football, which you kind of centered on, and clearly you're continuing to live out that passion in that calling today, but you get called to go to the Ohio State University, and man, you had some dudes around you. Because if I'm not mistaken I read about it, I think you waited two or three years before you really broke into the mold. And sometimes, Terry, that's a long wait. There's some dudes who would easily give up in the midst of that or just kind of dip out rather than dig in. How did you learn in the patient and in the waiting seasons of life not to waste that weight.
00:14:50
Speaker 4: What you just said is true is the waiting season.
00:14:52
Speaker 1: And I think I know I've experienced in my life where it's been tough for me to wait because I feel like I'm so deserving of this opportunity or this chance to play at Ohio State at that moment, or I put in so much time and work and effort like my peers, and it seems like they're getting the Yes, they're getting the benefits, and I'm not knowing that. I feel like I'm deserving and worthy and putting mister. And when you go to a program like Ohio State, everybody was mister football. Everybody was the best in their their their their region, their state, and so my time at Ohio State really hone my my work ethic and hone my confidence because it forced me to red shirt my fresh year, which means you don't play, you don't travel. So I was basically scout time receiver each and every week, and when they would go away games, I clean my dorm and hang.
00:15:45
Speaker 4: Out and eat a little bit and uh.
00:15:48
Speaker 1: But during that year of development, I really got to focus on myself. I knew my ball skills weren't quite the best.
00:15:57
Speaker 4: I knew I had to get stronger and faster.
00:16:00
Speaker 1: So it allowed me to really take the time to pour into what's going to help me be prepared for when I'm ready to step into that role. And I think that was another divine way of the Lord saying not yet. I have something greater for you, but you're not ready yet. And what I've learned through that those times countless that we're going to continue to go over was countless times are not yet. I know for a fact, living here thirty thirty years now that every time I'm delayed, I get excited because I know God has something better than I may have played a thought for myself, and He's just trying to make sure that I'm ready for that, because sometimes if we get what we want earlier or before we're ready for it, when we step into that season of our life, will fumble it away. We may screw it up, we may not maximizing the way the Lord allow. And so I've learned through those times in college and high school and my experience in NFL, those not yet are times to continue to grow and continue to lean into the Lord, and he's preparing you in a way that you could be ready for those moments. So I didn't start to really my fourth year, and my best year was my fifth year, and I got to a point where I was like, it's football even for me, Like is my NFL dream even going to come true?
00:17:13
Speaker 4: I had doubts. I had a lot of doubts.
00:17:15
Speaker 1: And you know, my dad always told me, I'll never forget this. He told me, the Lord is building you differently. He's building you in a way that's going to allow you to be prepared for what you're dreaming and what you're preparing for.
00:17:31
Speaker 4: And when you're.
00:17:31
Speaker 1: Going against you know, you got guys like Ezekiel, Elliott Curtis, Samuel Michael Thomas.
00:17:38
Speaker 4: I mean the list goes on and on and on. There's only one ball.
00:17:40
Speaker 1: That go around too, and so it allowed me to also step into a servant role. I was Forcunate to be a two time captain during my time there, and it allowed me to serve in a different way and see my leadership come to light and to notice that the Lord had not only gave me the gifts and the talents to be a tremendous football player, but he gave me leadership and leadership and development skills as well to help the guys on my team.
00:18:06
Speaker 4: I love that.
00:18:07
Speaker 5: Let's transition from the Ohio State to the Washington Redskins at the time in football.
00:18:13
Speaker 4: Team now Commanders. Draft Knight twenty nineteen. Yeah, what was that like?
00:18:18
Speaker 5: What were you anticipating? How are the nerves? Just just give us a brief peak into your life there.
00:18:23
Speaker 1: Draft Knight was wild, honestly, you know, I had seen I had heard from my agent and other pundits that I could possibly go from the first.
00:18:35
Speaker 4: Round to the third round. I come out of Ohio State.
00:18:38
Speaker 1: I only had thirty three catches my last year, I led the country in yards per catch.
00:18:43
Speaker 4: But I was very fortunate that.
00:18:46
Speaker 1: Laura allowed me to have an opportunity to go to the Senior Bowl, which is the highest honor you can have as a senior football player, to come to Mobile, Alabama and compete against the other great seniors NFL prospects.
00:18:59
Speaker 4: And I did really well at that camp.
00:19:02
Speaker 1: I got invited to the Combine, ran a four three five, did all the testing and things like that, did really well, and so I worked my way up into really the first three rounds.
00:19:12
Speaker 4: I went from being undrafted. I went from.
00:19:15
Speaker 1: Being someone who may not even make it to the NFL. That's the reason why I came back my fifth year, to be able to have another year of development, to be prepared for my dream.
00:19:26
Speaker 4: And so Draft night, you.
00:19:28
Speaker 1: Know, I knew I wasn't probably going in the first round.
00:19:30
Speaker 4: So first round, I believe is third.
00:19:32
Speaker 1: Friday, Thursday or Friday, and then rounds two and three or the next day, day two.
00:19:37
Speaker 4: So I watched the first.
00:19:39
Speaker 1: Round with my parents and my girlfriend who's now my wife, and just watching the names go by, watching the names go by, and day two came around, so we had.
00:19:49
Speaker 4: A nice celebration at my house.
00:19:50
Speaker 1: My mom set up everything and I have my closest friends and family come there and you don't have no clue where you're going, Like, hey, you really don't, I mean you can. I got interviewed by the Redskins at the time one time during the whole process, so I'm like, okay, they didn't bring me in for a visit.
00:20:08
Speaker 4: I don't know if I'm gonna get drafted there. So quick funny story.
00:20:12
Speaker 1: One of my good friends, Uh, he's coming to the uh to the celebration we're having, and he's running a little late. So we're probably halfway through the third the third round, and uh, I think Green Bay is on on the clock, so everybody's watching the TV's all the TV's on the clock. And I get a call if for anybody doesn't you're supposed to keep your phone open, like nobody's supposed to be calling.
00:20:33
Speaker 4: You're supposed to keep it open for NFL teams.
00:20:35
Speaker 1: So I get a call and it's my friend and and I'm like hey, bro, Like he's like, yeah, I'm parked down the I'm parked down the street, Like, uh, how do I get to your house? I'm like, bro, I got to keep this line open. The Tens could be calling me. So I go outside to take the call. Right, So I come back in. Everybody's I mind you. Everybody's at my doorway like are you a packer?
00:20:57
Speaker 2: Are you a packer?
00:20:57
Speaker 4: I'm like, nah, it was just Terarot made my friend. And everybody's oh, you know, Like that's how intense it is.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: Every single call, waking moment is just like you know, but I get this. I get this call of two O two area code, so it's DC and it's Jay Gruden and he was like, hey, you know, we want to draft you with our third round pick. We want to pair you with Dwayne Haskins, and uh, you know, we're ready for you to be a Redskin. And just tears, like I get emotional right now, just tears knowing that all those moments that I've waited for, prayed for, dreamed of, oftentimes had doubts that would happen. At that moment when you hear your name called, nothing else matters because you know your foot is in the door. And that's all I've ever asked for my entire life is an opportunity to compete, an opportunity to.
00:21:48
Speaker 4: Have my foot in the door.
00:21:49
Speaker 1: Because again my work ethic, the Lord has blessed me with a work ethic where I know I'm going to outwork most of the people I compete against. I just wanted the opportunity to be an NFL player and try not to get too long winded. But they drafted me to be a special teams player. I was the number one special teams player coming out of the draft because of my ability to chase down on punt team and be a gunner one ball, go around, and really have a lot of stats. But I get there and I'm running on special teams. I'm running on special teams, and a week before the first game of the season, there's like cuts and few are our receivers get cut And I go to the special teams board looking to where my name is for practice.
00:22:34
Speaker 4: I don't see my name. I'm like, oh, I'm cut.
00:22:37
Speaker 1: Like nothing's guaranteed in the league, Like even as a third round pick, you may get guaranteed one year, that's it, but you can still get cut if you're not performing. And I go to the coach, I'm like, yo, I'm not on the special team. I'm starting on every specially, why am I not there? And he said, I need you to go talk to the head coach. So I talked to Jay Gruden. He was like, Yeah, You're gonna be the starting X receiver. Wow, I just came from Ohio State and I was probably the fourth receiver. You're telling me I'm coming to an NFL team when you guys drafted me to be a special teams guy only and hopefully I could be a receiver, And you're telling me I'm about to be the starting receiver for an NFL.
00:23:15
Speaker 4: Team and we play the Eagles in two weeks. Got it? You know, like it was unbelievable.
00:23:21
Speaker 1: But in that moment, that validation that I got from the Lord, it was everything for me because I knew this was a moment he curated for me. All those not yet, all those no's, all those times, in the moments I was working in the indoor, why nobody was looking catching hundreds of balls a day, running routes time and time again and seeing no reward. In that moment, I think it reminds me of Galassians six'. Nine you, know do not get tired of doing good for indue. Season he will reap a. HARVEST i read that verse over my life, constantly because oftentimes you could get discouraged because the work that we're putting. In we're not seeing the fruits of that, yet but in that.
00:23:59
Speaker 4: Verse is truly.
00:24:03
Speaker 1: Depicted of what discipline and hard work, consistently no matter what your surroundings look, like there will be an opportunity for you to step in and be. Ready AND i THINK i carry that tremendously now because every moment THAT i walk INTO i Know i'm prepared for Because i've been waiting and working for that. Moment SO i just had to share that background of how.
00:24:27
Speaker 4: The draft night.
00:24:28
Speaker 1: Went So washington caused, me you, know. Tears everybody's, happy and it was the best day of my life BECAUSE i truly was able to say THAT i was drafted to THE nfl and my dream was coming.
00:24:41
Speaker 2: True you, KNOW i believe this about, You, terry that it's our preparation in times of peace that's the greatest predictor of our behavior in times of.
00:24:49
Speaker 3: War it's WHAT i shared last.
00:24:50
Speaker 2: Night preparation predicts, performance especially in the midst of our. Pain And god's doing something special through you throughout your.
00:24:57
Speaker 3: Career you're incredibly, Gifted you're incredibly.
00:24:59
Speaker 2: Talented god is using football as a platform for you to continue to be unashamed about the. Gospel but you're also you haven't been a stranger to suffering in THE. Nfl, YES i think about just the mental health advocate that you, are just your openness to be, vulnerable to have other men to ask for. HELP i think about the loss of a brother In Dwayne.
00:25:18
Speaker 3: Haskins you brought him.
00:25:19
Speaker 2: UP i think about injury and coming back from, injuries so many different. Hardships WHAT i would just love to post a question for, You, terry is in our moments of, POWERLESSNESS i believe That god draws us closer to and reveals the character of his heart the. Most what Has god revealed you in the midst of these challenging times that you've even faced here?
00:25:35
Speaker 1: Recently The lord has shown me that he will never leave nor forsake. Me and he's the Same god that was with me WHEN i got cut in high. School he's the same guy that was with me WHEN i broke records For.
00:25:49
Speaker 4: Washington and he's the same guy who's with.
00:25:52
Speaker 1: Me right now Where i'm walking into a new season of my life as a, husband as an eighth YEAR NFL. Vet So god doesn't change his constant love and mercy is forever chasing me down and for a lot of my. Life i've been saved SINCE i was fourteen years, old and for a lot of my, LIFE i knew That.
00:26:14
Speaker 4: God died for my.
00:26:15
Speaker 1: Sins jesus died from my, sins and he was raised from the, dead AND i now have.
00:26:20
Speaker 4: Salvation but my life didn't look like A.
00:26:24
Speaker 1: Christian this consistency of WHAT i was doing and saying did not look like. That and so What he's shown me is he is going to continually be my biggest. Advocate WHEN i mess, UP i run to him for. REPENTANCE i run to his love because OFTENTIMES i tried to, hide AND i knew. That at the, TIME i didn't know, that but NOW i know that is the enemy trying to separate me from The. Lord he's trying to keep me in bondage through my. Shame he wants to bring up those difficult moments WHERE i felt short OR i SAID i wasn't going to do that thing THAT i SAID i wasn't going to, do BUT i did it. Again he tries to hold me convicted in those moments SO i don't seek The father's. Face and so now in these moments of, trial, now in these moments of. Difficulty after this last, season tearing my clawd off the bone and getting hundreds of ccs.
00:27:17
Speaker 4: Drained out of my leg for a month, STRAIGHT i learned real.
00:27:22
Speaker 1: SURRENDER i learned that control comes in the form of. Worry And i'm a BIG i have been still struggle with worrying BECAUSE i.
00:27:32
Speaker 4: Don't know how that next moment is going to work. OUT i don't know is the. Earlier Is god with? Me AM i going to make it?
00:27:40
Speaker 1: Through and the answer is, yes, Yes he never. Changes he Never you never have to earn his. LOVE i think that's where counterintuitive to how we are as, athletes because we are judged by our, performance our, validity our worth sometimes come from our, contracts our. Stats but With, god you don't have to earn. That it's freely given to.
00:28:04
Speaker 4: You and so is.
00:28:06
Speaker 2: Repenting, Yes, TERRY i know we're fighting the flocks, here, Man but HOW i really want to wrap.
00:28:13
Speaker 3: Up i'm just thinking Of Joe chapter forty, two verse.
00:28:15
Speaker 2: Five it Said i'd only heard of you with my ears up to this, point but NOW i have seen you with my.
00:28:20
Speaker 3: Eyes god has clearly.
00:28:21
Speaker 2: Made himself evident in and throughout the different steps of your, life And i'm just thinking about one final word to the men in this. Room we're going to leave, here and hopefully they're feeling, ignited but they're going to go back home as husband's right year of? Marriage is that, correct your? Wife god's doing an amazing thing for you as a. Husband i'm thinking about the fathers in the. Room i'm just thinking about men that are going back home into the midst of the. Battle in the, FIGHT i think three of the most dangerous words that they could say or believe ARE i got. This we need, brothers we need friends for the. Fire we need to have a deepened relationship With. God what's a final word of, hope encouragement and motivation for this group of.
00:28:56
Speaker 4: Men community is extremely.
00:28:58
Speaker 1: Important having someone that can help disciple, you having someone that can help hear what you're going, through having someone that can help you create a life for yourself that is reflective Of.
00:29:11
Speaker 4: Lord AND i have a.
00:29:14
Speaker 1: Mentor of, Mine Pastor Brett, fuller who is a pastor Of Grace Covenany church In, chantilly and he's been our chaplain for the commanders for extremely long time and he discipled me since my first day walking in. There and what's so, ironic it didn't Catch god by. SURPRISE i truly BELIEVE i came To washington sure to be a really good football, player to make an impact of my. Community but In washington's WHERE i found my true identity In, christ through, discipleship through a church, home through someone who loved me and cared for me WHEN i didn't love and care for, myself and a lot of the, times AND i felt like my validation came from WHAT i can prove and WHAT i can do in, football AND i felt like me trying TO i was a people pleas still can be as.
00:30:01
Speaker 4: Sometimes i'm still working through.
00:30:02
Speaker 1: That but knowing my validation doesn't come from, man it comes from The, lord and seeing what my identity is In him has truly freed me up to step into a place of confidence in my life to Where.
00:30:13
Speaker 4: I'm not going to lie to any of you guys in.
00:30:15
Speaker 1: Here this would have terrified me two or three years, ago like genuinely standing up, here sitting up here and sharing my, testimony sharing What god has done in my, life BECAUSE i felt so, UNWORTHY i felt so.
00:30:27
Speaker 4: BROKEN i felt LIKE i didn't deserve.
00:30:28
Speaker 1: To be able to speaking on these topics BECAUSE i struggle with these same sinful. DESIRES i struggle with these same. Convictions and what The lord, does he treats it so much different to. Man sometimes people, can you, know break our. Heart people that we trust and love turn their back on, us and we're left picking up the. Pieces but when you put your faith in hoping The, lord he puts those pieces back. Together and not only, that he builds you, greater, stronger and better for his will and to further or his kingdom because you sought. Him and so What i've truly learned over this past, year, honestly through, marriage through my, injury through contract, negotiations is true.
00:31:10
Speaker 4: Surrender and surrender.
00:31:11
Speaker 1: Looks like knowing that the Same lord that brought you through the last moment that you didn't think you want to make it, through he's the same guy who's with you in the moment that you find yourself up. Against, now come, on and that community that you have is extremely. Important and one thing my pastor and mentor says is read Your bible every. Day and the reason WHY i feel like that is so important AND i still fall, short you, know but because of, culture because of the world that we live in social, media there's so many ravaging thoughts and processes throughout this life that we're up, against challenges as, men as, husbands as, fathers as. Friends we have to have something that actively combats those negative thoughts of the, enemy those strongholds that are on our, mind those traumas that we've been. Through The lord will break those change if you submit your life and your ways to.
00:32:05
Speaker 4: His so come to him as if you're talking to your. Brother. Lord i'm broken right, Now, Lord i'm hurting.
00:32:11
Speaker 1: Like lord wants that kind of relationship with, us whereas, man he won't treat us like. Man, man it was, like you're too. BROKEN i Don't, Yeah i've done enough with. You god brings you in every single. Time his love is so deep and so wide that we can't measure. It here stretches from the east to the, west and when we're in a moment of true, surrender we see his glory in a way that you've never seen. Before but it also means that we need, community other men and women in our lives that can help us get to the moments that we never thought we could get.
00:32:41
Speaker 4: To my friend told, me you show me your, friends And i'll show you your.
00:32:44
Speaker 1: Future and so my dad was a great example of how to be a, husband but also my pastor is a great exam be a husband and a father and a man in his. Community and SO i try to surround myself with men who are not only challenging me and making me, better but help me emulate the image Of. Christ and knowing that we're all still we're going to fall short because we're, sinners but the love Of christ can continue to cover any, sin in any wrongdoing that we've ever, done And he welcomes, us welcomes us with open arms each and every time we have to run to. Him try not to hide in your shame and think that you've fallen off so far That god can't pick you. Up he can pick you up every single, time and you could come to exactly as you. Are you don't have to have it all figured, out you don't have to have every perfect word and perfect saying and know every Single bible.
00:33:43
Speaker 4: Verse you have a love For, christ you know That he died for.
00:33:46
Speaker 1: You you know that you're going to, heaven and you want a life that is better than a life that you can ever, imagine And.
00:33:52
Speaker 4: He is there for. You so that's WHAT i would say continue to.
00:33:56
Speaker 1: Be hopeful and, confident lean on other, believers and bring.
00:34:01
Speaker 4: Someone along with.
00:34:02
Speaker 1: You you don't have to know Every bible. Verse you don't know have to have the perfect. Words your testimony is. Enough what you've been through in.
00:34:09
Speaker 4: Your life is.
00:34:09
Speaker 1: Enough the story of What god has brought you through through any trial and struggle is. Enough and SO i encourage everybody here to share that because sitting here two or three years, AGO i would have been riddled with fear and, anxiety WHICH i know comes from the.
00:34:23
Speaker 4: Enemy he wants to hold you in bondage of that.
00:34:25
Speaker 1: Fear because he knows the calling that The lord has each and every one of your lives in, here and his objective is to keep you separated From, him to keep you strapped in that. Bondage so continue to seek his, face continue to know it's a, journey and truly pray for that endurance because that's what we all truly, need is that endurance to be able to go through the struggles and this trial of this.
00:34:47
Speaker 4: Life but no glory.
00:34:48
Speaker 1: Is on the other, side where these bodies that are just vessels will be long gone in the, ground and our spirits are the ones that won't be living on praising.
00:34:57
Speaker 4: Him so that's WHAT i would.
00:34:59
Speaker 2: Say FANTASTIC coasea chapter Two joseiah two says this that even in the valley of a, ford even in the valley of, suffering when we return to The, lord a door of hope will be opened wide unto. Us WHAT i hear From Scary terry is return to The lord and bring somebody with. You, TERRY i just got asked you have an armed because we got some footballs that we.
00:35:24
Speaker 3: Would like me to.
00:35:24
Speaker 1: DO i might have to take this suit jacket off on
