Now, of course, everybody–football fan or not–knows about Tebow. And it’s not just the secular media that is obsessed, the Christian blogosphere is exploding with opinions and commentary on this 24-year-old believer who happens to be really, really good at football. Should he be so open about his faith? What’s with the kneeling-after-the-touchdown? Why are his hands always pointed to the sky? Is God a Denver Broncos fan? This kid is too good to be true…right?

But as a college student, what I get out of all this is that, as a believer, Tim Tebow is also a football player, and he’s playing football to the glory of God. Here’s why this encourages me:

Sometimes as Christians we think that the only way to serve God is to be a Bible major, a missionary, or a pastor’s wife. We’re either doing the Lord’s work or we’re doing some second-class-citizen thing, like, “Sorry, God, but I have to go to work now and then I have to hang out with my family, but I’ll serve You as soon as I can.”  Like God is happy with us on Sundays, but the rest of the week we’re useless for the Kingdom.

But Tebow is a quarterback. God made him exceptionally good at this sport. And he’s turning heads on a national scale because he is throwing footballs and giving the glory to God.

Reminds me of what Eric Liddell said in Chariots of Fire, when his sister tells him he spends too much time running: “But God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

I believe that God is big enough to redeem every vocation for His glory. There is no so-called separation between the sacred and the secular, no super-saints standing head and shoulders above us laymen. Whatever you do, however God made you, you can live in that sphere and glorify God. Whether you play basketball, or ride bucking horses, or paint pictures, or mother little children, or build bridges, or paint park benches, or sew curtains. Whether you grade papers, or make lattes, or star in movies, or perform open heart surgery, or pastor a church, or work for PG&E. Whether your office is a cubicle or a high rise building or a ranch or a football field.

We make God small when we put His work in a box labeled “ministry.” He has chosen saints from every walk of life, and gifted us in many different ways. When we are faithful to Him, He will be faithful to use us to make His name famous. When we look for His glory and not our own, He will work through us in the passions He has gifted us with.  This is so exciting to me.  God made me the way He did on purpose.  He has a plan to use me, uniquely, to accomplish His purpose and to glorify Him in my sphere of life.

So Tebow’s testimony is encouraging, but also challenging. Do our co-workers know we are believers? Do our teammates and classmates and neighbors see Jesus in us? Do we strive to do our best in everything we do?  Do we search out our own glory, or His?  On the field and off, in season and out, literally or figuratively as the case may be, do we live for our audience of One?  The Great Commission has only one command: to make disciples.  We think it commands us to “GO” and then “to make disciples,” but the Greek is actually “in your going, make disciples.”  So wherever we are, wherever life takes us, in that place we are to be faithful.

I appreciate the convicting testimony of the Denver Broncos quarterback. It makes me believe that I can be a better writer, a better student, a better everything-I-do, and He can use me.  We should dare to excel in the unique ways He has gifted us, and see Him use us for His glory in ways we never  imagined.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Psalm 115:1

P.S. Just for the record…

As I thought about writing this birthday post, I realized that my brother John and I have mutually endangered each others lives a lot.

Like when we were kids, running horses bareback through some hills, when suddenly mine started bucking and I hit the ground. I turned in time to see John’s horse, inspired, throwing him. Somehow, we were both fine–my finger, which I landed on, was two or three times its intended size for a year or two, but that was it. And then that time we were playing around–”shadow boxing”–which somehow ended in me having a black eye and a cut in my face that almost required stitches. And our bike accident of course. We were riding dirt bikes down a ranch road (mine had broken brakes). I was going pretty fast and crashed into John. He was OK but I was so terrified I had killed my little brother that I didn’t even notice my left knee was split wide open and spilling blood. I did get stitches on that one. A lot of stitches. Or the time I jumped on my sister’s horse without a bridle or saddle. I gave him oats and it was fine, but some friends of mine filmed it, and John saw the film and decided to try it himself one day. That time, he got a broken arm. Even though I was in a different country at the time, I felt responsible. Those are a few of our mishaps. Perhaps I should also mention that every time I get behind the wheel, John is sure we are going to die.

But I really don’t have more fun with anyone than this guy. I love hanging out with him, our talks, drives, and adventures. Whether I’m educating him in the finer points of Starbucks or he’s criticizing my gun safety when we shoot .22′s at the ranch, it’s rare for us not to have a blast. Even when our lives are in danger. And since yesterday he made it to 17, I guess we’re pretty lucky kids.

John is one of my best friends and I am so thankful for him. Many guys at this age are still boys, but in many ways John is a man. He is hardworking, kind, gentle, sympathetic, intelligent, and strong. He serves others and loves the Lord and I look up to him in lots of ways. Can’t wait for many more adventures in the future.

Happy birthday brother. I love you.

This year we bought a license from the Forestry Service to cut down our own tree from the National Forest. We drove down bad roads for a long piece until we came to the top of the mountain, where the prettiest silvertip pines grow. It was sunny in the valley, but up there it was snowy and colder than you would think California could be.

Note our intrepid drivers, and the boys who decided to take off their shirts on top of the 6500 ft mountain.

And that is how we got this year’s tree.

1. If you want an internship, or a job, or whatever, just ask.  It never hurts to ask, and the doors that open up may surprise you.
2. If/when you get hired, always give your boss a good day’s work, even when your co-workers do not.
3. Wear gloves when you run in the cold.  It will save your hands.  Thanks Laura!
4. When you are hurt by somebody close to you, either get over it (if it is insignificant) or tell them.  Don’t just let it fester and think it will go away on it’s own.  It doesn’t.  And it will  usually come out when you are upset with the person about something else.
5. The best sign of someone who is truly trying to develop their mind and learn and better themselves and understand the world is someone who–in spite of all the entertainment options and media–takes the time to READ.
6. Know what’s going on in the world.  As believers, we should not live with our heads in the sand.
7. Most of what you need to know in life you learned from Calvin & Hobbes.
8. If you want people to take you seriously as an adult, dress like one.
9. Dress to express your personality, but also modestly and respectfully and tastefully.  It is possible to do this.
10. This too shall pass.  Whatever it is.  Trust Him, and keep going.  One day at a time.
11. Hospital food is the most expensive and worst tasting stuff on the planet.  Pray they have granola bars or yogurt in the cafeteria.  Don’t eat the meat.  Just back away.  You’re in the hospital to get better, and that anonymous stuff is NOT conducive.
12. In college, get to know your professors.  College is not about dorm life or the social experience.  That is fun, but ultimately just a lot of similarly clueless individuals being clueless in the same building.  The best thing college has to offer is the collected wisdom of the faculty.  Get your money’s worth.
13. Splurge on barista-made coffee when you like, but do learn to make your own.  Find out what methods you like best.  You’ll save money and bless others.
14. PJ’s and TV sounds comfy, but memories are made when you get outside of your comfort zone (and your dorm room).  So just go.  No matter how phenomenal your night in was, ten years from now you won’t remember what YouTube videos you watched.
15. Bonfires with friends are wonderful things.  Food cooked over bonfires with friends is the best-tasting in the world.
16. If you want to learn photography, practice by taking pictures of food.  Seriously.  Trying to make dishes look edible will teach you all you need to know about lighting, shutter speed, setting, etc.
17. Go to your brother’s Little League games.  I know they’re boring.  I know it’s hot.  I know you get weird tanlines.  But he’ll remember it forever.  And if he hits his first home run…you just want to be there for that.
18. NEVER.  Let.  A two-year-old child.  Drink coffee.  Before taking her to a social event.  EVER EVER EVER!!!!
19. Buying tickets to games, concerts and events is not a waste.  What better can you trade money for than memories?
20. Read poetry dangit.  What those dead geniuses had to say is more worthwhile than everything on your Tumblr feed put together.
21. If you find yourself watching The Bachelor ever again, it is most likely time to reassess your philosophy of entertainment, or relationships, and probably both.
22. For future reference: it is probably time to start using a tape recorder when interviewing people.
23. When somebody chooses to step out of your life, let them.  Don’t fight for what used to be.  Do what you should, then leave it in God’s hands.
24. Slightly chipped nail polish is OK, but when all you have left is one chip of nail polish…seriously Keely, stop being so lazy and paint your darn nails again.  Bronzer on cheekbones is magic in the middle of winter when your summer tan is nothing but a bittersweet memory.  You may not look any different, but you’ll feel a lot better.  Don’t be afraid of lipstick.  All that having been said, makeup is unnecessary and crippling.  So wear it sparingly.
25. Be gentle on the clutch when driving a hay truck with a bunch of hay haulers balanced precariously on the back.
26. Scan old family photos onto your computer to have for those homesick days at school.
27. Don’t be intimidated.  They are trying just as hard to impress you.  (This goes for meeting new people and interviewing Congressmen.)
28. Forgive.  Forgive.  Forgive.  Forgive.  (70 x 7)
29. People will surprise you.  Let them.  Don’t hold any preconceived ideas except to assume that you will be friends with everybody.  Let people break your heart.  God holds it.  So love others as He loved you: undeservedly and consistently.  Never give up on people.
30. When tough times come, look around you.  The ones who are still there: they are your friends.  Like Lena, driving me to the hospital to be with Michaela after her surgery and paying for the fat LA parking ticket that resulted.  And Tate borrowing someone’s car to announce he was taking me to a random cafe and buying me cherry pie when I was in the lowest of low points.  And Katie and Karla, who so many times rescued me from school when it was the last place I wanted to be and fed me Mrs. E’s enchiladas and let me zombify in their hot tub and play Just Dance Country with their 7-year-old brother who consistently beat me by embarrassing margins.  Laura listening to me pour out my soul at two in the morning.  Dad missing work and driving down to help us when balancing school and hospital visits got overwhelming.  Long talks with Lynlee.  Mama sending us endless care packages.  Melissa leaving her baby with her husband and staying in the ER with us, talking to the doctors when I was way too tired, not leaving even after hours of sitting and waiting.  There were a lot of people who were there for me like this, and I wish I hadn’t started this list because I know I won’t be able to finish it.  They are all of the wonderful people who I remember when I look back on 2011.

We are children playing dress-up games
And actors on the stage with painted masks
And twirling dancers in a masquerade
We all are soldiers shaking in the dark.

My frailty is a fault I cannot stand
So I build walls; a false, but sturdy, strength.
To love is to allow myself to hurt
If angels fell, what fool would trust a man?

To break these walls would let the world in
And some let in have left their scars on me
This heart of mine may beat but it is dead
Safe and small and wasted in my chest.

So, cloistered here, shall I outwit the world?
And shun the pain and shrink in atrophy?
Or, love and break and trust that I am safe
Within the hands that bear love’s scars for me?