Ohio State Football, Rock Star Message, and the Ripple Effect
By Alex Murashko
To get through the weeds you sometimes need to chop them down with a machete.
That’s the mindset I need these days to make sure I land on good news while hunting my X feed for stories.
Once you realize that God provides delicious fruit even in a fallen world you are set for quite the adventure. Let’s look at the fruit!
Ohio State football players Emeka Egbuka, Gee Scott, J.T. Tuimoloau and Kamryn Babb help baptize students on the Ohio State campus, Aug. 25, 2024. PHOTO SHARED ON X
The world didn’t give me this joy
“God has been doing incredible things in and through the Ohio State football program in the lead-up to the 2024 college football season,” writes Kevin Mercer in his lead for the Sports Spectrum story headlined: “Ohio State football players host on-campus faith event, thousands attend: 'Let's give Him the glory'.”
“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.” (1 Chronicles 16:23)
Yes, there is football but then there is God.
“Buckeyes receiver Emeka Egbuka was among the players who shared his testimony of faith in Jesus,” the story goes about what happened on the OSU campus on Sunday evening (August 25, 2024).
“The world didn’t give me this joy, the world can’t take it away. I had this new feeling in my heart that the Holy Spirit implanted into me,” Egbuka said. “And so since then, it was really a radical change for me. I started walking more obediently with God. I started seeking Him day after day. He’s worked on me, and I’ve had this grace of people in my life to get to this point.”
“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.” (Psalm 40:9)
The most incredible night I have experienced in a longggg time! God is moving on The Ohio State campus!
— ꪖꪶꪖꪀꪖ 🌹 (@AlanaTempleton) August 26, 2024
So many came and were touched by God! So many were baptized! Watching over 2000 students worshipping…an Unbelievable experience! Our boys are changing lives! #ProudMama pic.twitter.com/dzrc4l8DfT
Jesus Christ loves you
“Rock Star Pauses Show to Call Out Culture's Lies, Tell Audience 'Jesus Christ Loves You'” the headline reads for a story by Billy Hallowell for CBN News.
In his story about what Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the rock band 3 Doors Down, proclaimed during a concert, Hallowell shares:
“I feel like I can identify with this song more than most of our songs,” Arnold said, calling “Away From the Sun” his favorite of the band’s ballads. “This world surrounds by a message we’ll never be good enough, we’ll never be strong enough, we’ll never be beautiful enough, we’ll never be rich enough.”
Arnold wasn’t done there, calling out a “lie” he believes is perpetuated on social media and in other facets of life: that we’ll never be truly loved and that we’ll never “win.”
“My friends, I just want to take a second to tell you — that’s an absolute lie,” he said. “You are loved. You are enough, and you will win. Not only can you win, but you will win. You’ll always be enough for one reason, and that’s because Jesus Christ loves you.”
The ripple effect
“Priscilla Shirer is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, actress, Christian media personality, and evangelist. But most importantly, she is a wife and mother praying for Godly influences in her children’s lives,” writes Marissa Maher for the Washington Times’ Higher Ground.
Maher quotes Shirer:
“In our mega-macro world where it seems like the message is that bigger is better, maybe we’ve lost a little bit of the concentration on the impact that one-on-one discipleship can actually have,” Ms. Shirer said. “This movie [‘The Forge’] brings that back to the forefront, and that when one person makes a decision that they’re going to invest in the life of, particularly in this case, a younger person, the ripple effect of that is absolutely astounding.”
“How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7)
Alex Murashko is a journalist and writing team leader for Think Eternity, a site for powerful faith content to help you live the fulfilled life in Jesus. Murashko is also founder of Media on Mission.
Connect on X (formerly Twitter): @AlexMurashko.