Well, here is another first for me. My first opportunity to write a blog. “Life is a team sport.” We have all heard the phrase before. Working in sports comes with the blessings of community, comradery, and teamwork. For much of my young life, I was an only child. Thus, the time I was able to spend with friends and teammates was something I greatly valued. Before you know it, such individuals practically became family to me. Sports have been a tremendous outlet for me to express myself outwardly, as even to this day, I struggle with being shy. I know that may come as a surprise to some. Being able to be a part of any USG event always gives me butterflies in my stomach about knowing that I will get to reconnect with friends that I have been able to make during my past experiences, as well as knowing that my cup will overflow even more by meeting men and women of God by the end of the experience. The Members Retreat was simply that. An opportunity for us to learn, serve, and connect for the glory of our amazing Lord. Oh, and get back to my Southern roots and have some pulled pork and sweet tea! Back in 2017, I came across a YouTube channel called Yes Theory. A particular phrase in one of their videos has made a significant impact on my life’s mission to love, serve, and care for others and myself. That phrase is, “Strangers are friends that you haven’t met before.” Take a minute to read it one more time and let it sink in. We interact with strangers on almost a daily basis. How do you make the most of such interactions? The USG community has done nothing but show tremendous love and grace to me as I found out about the organization from a Twitter follow suggestion. I had zero ties to anybody involved with USG. Now, three years later, I'm being told that I was selected as the recipient of the Connection award. This sequence of events is something I would have never believed if you told me back in 2019 when I hit that follow button. As I said during my tear and snot-filled speech, though my name is on the award, it truly should have a running list of the people whom I have had the pleasure to make memories with, grow alongside, and simply love. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the future! This blog is for those that may be considering being part of such an amazing community through Uncommon Sports Group. Who knows, you may be the next Connection recipient, and I can’t wait to see that happen! Apply to join the largest community of Christian future leaders of the college and pro sport industry here!

In addition to a new school year and the football season kicking off, the transition from summer to fall is always highlighted by the launching of opportunities to get plugged in at church. One of the biggest challenges we see members of USG and other professionals throughout the sport industry struggle with is getting plugged into a local church body. Whether it’s the demanding schedule that these positions often require or the high volatility in relocating from city to city, there is no shortage of challenges for believers in college and pro sports to find a church home. While these challenges are in fact very real, and sometimes even make it impossible for individuals to be plugged into their local church during specific seasons of the year, I wanted to take a moment to highlight just a few reasons why we should always strive to remain committed to the church. Some of the best advice I received early on as a Christian was from Baltimore Ravens Team Chaplain & USG Board Member Johnny Shelton. He shared, “Do not let anything stop you from going to church that would never stop you from going to class or work on Monday!” It takes a lot to stop me from missing class or work. Yet so often I find myself entertaining excuses of why it’s ok for me to miss church on Sunday. Can’t I just spend that time by myself worshipping the Lord? Why do I need to gather with others? Here are just a few of the reason’s I believe commitment to our local church is worth prioritizing. The Church is Christ’s Bride There is certainly no shortage of ‘negative’ experiences that individuals have had with the church (it is made up of broken individuals just like you and me after all), but we should never allow these frustrations to detract us from the significant role that God has given the church. The Bible presents the church as Christ’s bride (2 Cor. 11:2-4). In an effort to communicate how husbands should love their wives, Paul emphasizes how Jesus loved the church as His bride and has given Himself up for her (Eph 5:25). The church is also referred to as God’s family (Eph 1:19), a temple (1 Pet 2:5), and as Christ’s body (Eph 1:22-23). Jesus declares in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He continues later in the Gospel of Matthew to unpack how the church will serve as a manifestation of His presence on earth. Raymond Cannata and Joshua Reitano point out in their book Rooted, “Most of the New Testament is composed of letters written to specific churches. When the apostles did evangelism, they didn’t just say to individuals, “Great you’re saved. Read your Bible.” They set up churches in every town they went to, and they appointed elders to help lead. The Bible makes the church central to the Christian life," (Rooted, 2019). We Are Called to Community As an introverted homebody, there is perhaps no reason I would love to ignore more than this one right here. I love time to myself. And while this is certainly a valid part of how God has created me, it is also very clear that He has made even introverts like myself for community. God tells us that He made us in His image. God Himself is a relational being as He is part of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit trinity. Being made in His image, therefore, means that we too have been made as relational beings. Some of my favorite verses that illustrate our call to community include: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - Prov 27:17 “Let us spur one another on to love and good deeds..” - Heb 10:24 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2 No matter how ‘tiring’ I may find it to be around other people at times, I can’t deny the reality that I need brothers and sisters in Christ to challenge and encourage me. And I am called to do the same for others. It is no secret that one of the enemies' greatest strategies is to isolate us and make us feel alone. There is no greater way to fight against this deception than remaining committed to our local church body. God’s Design For Others to Come to Know Him. Perhaps one of the most overlooked reasons for us to value the church is that it is God’s design for others to come to know of Him, and His love for them. As I mentioned earlier, the church is God’s physical representation of Himself on earth. On the night before He was crucified Jesus shared, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:34-35).” Later on, Jesus' final prayer in John 17 is for His disciples to remain united. The early church defied all social constructs of their time by giving equal worth to both Jew and Greek, men and women, poor and wealthy. They called those that were outside of their ‘social norms’ brothers and sisters and even met each others' needs sacrificially. Acts 2:42-47 points out how members of the early church would sell their own possessions to meet the needs of their brothers and sisters. The passage concludes with how “the Lord added to their number daily.” Let us be men and women who recognize the significance of the church, our need for community, and the mission we have been given for others to come to know God through our love for each other. Need help finding a local church? Here are five things to look for from the Gospel Coalition.

Our Fall 2022 Reflection Scholarship Application officially opens up today! It has been a continual blessing for our organization to provide $20,000 in total funding each semester to thirteen deserving winners. This semester, we are excited to see applicants be challenged by the essay questions, as well as have the opportunity to receive funding that can be used for paying off student loans, tuition, job board memberships, conference fees, and more! How To Apply You might be wondering how you can apply for the scholarship, as well as what is required on the application. The application for USG’s Fall 2022 Reflection Scholarship can be found on our website (see this link) under the scholarship tab. From there, the page provides instructions on what is required within the application. For this year’s application, you will be required to listen to one of the two podcast episodes provided on the application and write a 500-800 word reflection in response to the podcast episode you listened to. If you have any questions about the application process, or if you are experiencing issues with the application, please contact us here! What Can I Receive? Each semester, USG is able to award a total of $20,000 in scholarship funding to thirteen winners. The first place winner receives $5,000 in scholarship funds, the second place winner receives $3,000 in scholarship funds, the third place winner receives $2,000 in funds, and finally, ten honorable mention winners will receive $1,000 in scholarship funds. Our staff carefully reviews each application and essay response to determine the deserving scholarship winners. If you would like to learn more about the application review process, please contact a staff member here. How Is Our Scholarship Funded? Our scholarship is funded through Clean Out For A Cause® which is Uncommon Sports Group’s initiative to maximize the impact of used and excess sports apparel and equipment. Over half of all professional sports organizations and hundreds of college teams have donated their excess team apparel and equipment to Clean Out For A Cause®. Our operations team carefully handles these items and sells them on our e-commerce website, Authentic Athletic Apparel. Over the course of USG’s existence, Clean Out For A Cause® has collected over 500,000 pounds in donations and 100% of sales from those donations have been poured back into our ministry efforts, including the scholarship! We are incredibly grateful for each and every one of our Clean Out For A Cause® donors, as they are the engine behind USG. If you would like to donate to Clean Out For A Cause® or learn more about the initiative, please visit our Clean Out For A Cause® webpage here. We would also like to highlight this fall's scholarship sponsor, Texon Towel. USG is grateful for their commitment to sponsorship and for helping make this scholarship opportunity possible! How Can I Stay Involved? Are you new to USG and desire to stay involved beyond the scholarship? We are proud to be the largest community of Christian future leaders of the college and pro sport industry and you can join by applying for the USG Academy at this link! The USG Academy is an eight-week virtual training program that will provide you with the necessary tools and information to become a Christ-centered leader within the sport industry. Completion of the USG Academy will grant you membership access to the USG community of over 300 young professionals in sports. If you are interested in learning more about our Academy, click here!

My experience at the USG Retreat in Nashville was incredible. Being surrounded by believers and finally being able to fellowship in person with other members was an unforgettable experience. Every speaker was phenomenal and really highlighted what it meant to be called, committed, and connected. From the very first session, I was inspired by Lee De Leon’s story and the message about how God equips those whom He calls according to His purpose; and the importance of living a life based on the idea that “First is Third”. God first, others second, and self third. On the second day, Jason Romano’s story of connection, and “Blooming where you are planted” also struck me, especially during this period of transition that I am in following graduation from college last year. Being reminded that God places us here for a purpose, and the importance of connecting with others for the sake of connection without the motive of getting something from them was a great reminder to value others and their unique stories. Carol Voronyak and Johnny Shelton really emphasized what it meant to be committed to God and what He calls us to do. Specifically, the message of obedience and understanding and committing to being fully present where God calls us, even when we fall short or don’t understand, truly resonated with me. The USG retreat was life-changing in so many ways, and the chance to meet fellow believers and current and future leaders in the sports industry was an amazing opportunity. I’m so happy I had the chance to attend and I can’t wait until next year’s retreat!

You may or may not know this, but Uncommon Sports Group was once known as Managers on a Mission! Managers on a Mission, or MOAM, was known for providing fully funded service projects and mission trips to Equipment Managers from the college and pro sport industry. Over the course of several years, MOAM provided more than 100 students with service and mission opportunities. In 2017, Mackenzie Duggar, the then Equipment Manager at the University of Northern Colorado, attended a missions trip to the Rafiki Village in Ghana. Read on to hear about her experience. “Filled with Your wonder Here I surrender Held in Your mystery of grace Calling me closer Waking desire Coming alive in Your name Holy Holy is the Lord Worthy to be praised YAHWEH Fire rising in my soul All consuming flame YAHWEH” Everyone makes an impact. Actors impact the movies and television we watch. Professional athletes impact the teams we cheer on and the clothes that fill our closets. Family impacts the traditions we have and the memories we cherish. Friends impact the places we eat and the activities that fill our evenings and weekends. And orphans impact the way you think about your life. They make you think about the things you take for granted and the things you place too much value in. They put joy in your heart with a quick smile or a laugh. They break your heart with their stories and then put it back together with a song and a hair braid. They make you laugh with their riddles and cry when they lead their cottage in devotions. It is hard to know what your impact will be or was. The three weeks in the Rafiki Village in Ghana changed my life. But I am still trying to figure out exactly in what ways it impacted and changed my life and exactly what God is telling me now. Impact is complicated and hard to understand sometimes. I know that my eyes were opened to a different part of the world that I had never experienced before. I was able to love on orphans for three weeks by simply playing sports. I was able to see dance transcend any barrier. And now, five strangers have a bond that can’t be broken. But was the impact that I left on the 80+ orphans as great as the impact that was left on me? They may have shed more tears than I did when we left. They may have written me more notes than I wrote them. But it is more than notes and tears. God moved in mighty ways during the three weeks. He made a remote village in Ghana feel like home; he allowed me to memorize almost 90 names with ease and reminded me daily what a beautiful name it is in Jesus. He has made me think about what I want my impact to be in the large things and the minutiae everyday tasks. God knows the impact of the things he has planned for us before it has even crossed our minds as an idea. He impacts us in ways we never expect. I think that God has a really funny sense of humor sometimes too. As we prepared for this trip and I found out I would be teaching principle 4 ‘Hurtin for Certain’ to the kids, I began to wonder how I could teach God's words about suffering to orphans. Little did I know that when I got to Ghana, I needed to hear what I was talking about more than anyone else. While I am sure and hoping the kids were impacted by something from us studying the life of Joseph and understanding how he dealt with suffering by leaning into God and not running, I learned the most. I came up with a simple phrase for the kids to remember what I taught, but I was the one that needed the reminder. It's simple “trust in God, and he will help you in the good times and the bad times,” and the kids embraced it completely. How quick are we to not press into Jesus and instead run? How quick am I to not trust God with my life? I want to leave you with this challenge to consider the impact you want to make in everything you do. Are you following God's plan for you by fully trusting him in the ‘good and bad times? I may never get to see the 80+ kids again, never fully know the impact our team made on them, or see what they achieve in life, but the impact they and God had on my life in three weeks is something I won't soon forget. Matthew 16:24-25 Impacting the Kingdom One Day at a Time, Makenzie Dugger, Assistant Athletic Trainer University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign To God be the Glory!

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, USG staff members, Noah Weiss and Mikey Carpenter, sit down to talk through three healthy spiritual habits that are essential in the life of a growing Christian. These habits are derived from the Marks of a Disciple Bible study, authored by Pastor Dean Inserra of City Church in Tallahassee, FL. Marks of a Disciple touches on six "marks" or "measurements" that are fundamental in the life of a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. The three healthy habits that Noah and Mikey touch on are reading the Bible on a consistent basis, having a strong prayer life, and getting rooted in a local church body. Throughout the podcast, Noah and Mikey discuss why each of these is important and the role they play in the maturing Christian. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of Christian future leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This verse encapsulates everything that is Uncommon Sports Group’s Clean Out For A Cause program. During my short time as the Director of Donor Relations, this verse is exemplified daily in the support we see from so many individuals across the sport industry. Since joining the USG staff full-time in March of 2022, I have had the privilege of sharing how much impact each donation brings. In a matter of months, I’ve seen God’s work in so many aspects of our staff. We’ve been able to come alongside many young professionals seeking a career in sports, provide scholarships to students, teach coaches internationally and provide a support system for so many looking to pursue not just career goals, but so much more. In my time in the sport industry, I have been extremely blessed to work with some great and gifted people. Beginning my career at Grand Canyon University and then continuing it while building relationships in sales in the sport industry, my time has been peppered with amazing people and unbelievable support. I've visited hundreds of equipment rooms, conferences, and conventions and sat on innumerable Zoom calls. Each has given me the opportunity to create so many valuable relationships. These incredible people have shown me firsthand what it takes to have a giving heart. There is not one that is a quid pro quo relationship but simply giving to give because it's the right thing to do. Each day I get to explain how we take sports apparel and turn it into service, missions, and training opportunities for USG students and supporters to take advantage of. The immense support of so many makes me proud to be a part of an organization like USG. Working alongside sports professionals in different roles and positions across the country, I have seen a common trait: being a cheerful giver. For some, it may be time for an athlete; for others, it ensures that practice is set up correctly. Or, it's simply being available if someone needs it. This industry is full of professionals pursuing God’s word daily by giving of their time and resources. The countless supporters who donate to the Clean Out For A Cause give from their hearts. The people I interact with daily want to make a difference and know that we are working tirelessly at USG to do just that. It is truly inspiring to see the waves of people making a difference with their teams, programs, and organizations worldwide. If we all pursue life and find time to live like we are called to in 2 Corinthians 9:7, we will find our lives are more fulfilling. I'd like to challenge you to think about how you can give back to an industry that has given so much to you. Find it in yourself to seek the joy in giving your time, energy, focus, etc., to those around you. Do what you can to make a difference today in an industry that needs it. If you'd like to know more about USG's mission, service, and training, click here. If you're fresh in your sport industry career and would like to know more about our USG Academy, use the forms here to get in touch. And as always, if you'd like to know more about us, or to speak with someone from our team, simply contact us. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you for your time, and God bless!

Writing a sports resume is similar to most other industries. When constructing a sport industry resume, it is important to hone in on your strengths and to consider the various ways you serve your community. Creating a personal portfolio helps to craft a resume and cover letter that is compelling, and that will stand out from the crowd. It will resonate with sports management employers and will display the value you can bring to an organization. This, in addition to the following practical tips on writing a sports resume, will help position you for success as you navigate new opportunities! Write a Resume with Simple Formatting The main formatting tip for writing a sports resume? Keep it simple! Your resume should not exceed one page. Use a standard font, size 9-12, with black type. Increase the font size for your name and companies you’ve worked for so these stand out. Avoid adding borders or anything else that will distract recruiters from the actual content. List your experiences in reverse chronological order so that your present job is seen first. Include a Header and Summary or Objective In addition to keeping it simple, adding a header and summary or objective to your sports resume will help hiring managers take notice of your resume and application because they can easily access your information. For the header, include: Name Address (or at least city and state) Phone number Email address Just below the header, add your summary or objective. The summary should be 1-3 sentences or bullet points that briefly but adequately describe your skills and experience. The objective should be 1-2 sentences or bullet points that briefly but adequately describe your goal for your career and the fresh perspective you would bring to the company or organization. Customize your Sports Resume For a stand-out sports resume, tailor it to reflect your experience in the sports industry, and be sure you thoroughly understand what the prospective employee is hiring for. Not all positions are created equal. Just as all of your experiences are unique, each position is unique and requires its own resume tailored to that company/organization’s individual needs. Examples of Resume Customization You apply for a Student-Athlete Development Coordinator position at College A and University B. The positions have the same title, but College A only embodies planning and executing community outreach, whereas University B focuses more on career and leadership development. Create custom resumes for each position, highlighting accomplishments and experiences that align specifically with each role and responsibility. Do not include photos in your Sport Industry Resume This may seem obvious, but there are still individuals who include photos in their resumes. Executives have said this is insulting! They are putting their reputations on the line as they actively seek the best of the best, not the most good-looking or best dressed! Highlight your accomplishments and experiences on your sports resume – not your smile. A sports job cover letter is your Secret Weapon Here is your opportunity to tell a story. Rather than rehash your resume, tell a story of a specific accomplishment or how you served a team and added value to a sports organization. Share – in detail – your passion and excitement in your cover letter to appeal to the emotion and personal experience of the hiring managers. Contact Uncommon Sports Group or visit our website to learn more professional development tips – like how to discern job offers after crafting your successful resume – and how to lead a faithful life in the sports industry. We can’t wait to partner with you!

USG is able to provide all of its Academy participants with a fully-funded Impact Weekend trip. These weekends are aimed at being an opportunity for the participants to put into action everything they have been learning throughout the USG Academy, as well as providing opportunities to grow both in Christ and professionally. This past June, USG was able to fund seventeen Academy participants to come to Minneapolis, MN for an Impact Weekend experience. Thomas Biddle and Alex Kaiser were two of the participants on the weekend. Thomas is a student at Huntington University in Indiana studying sports management and is hoping to pursue a career in the strength and conditioning field. Alex Kaiser is currently on staff with On-Location as an Event Production Coordinator. Thomas and Alex were gracious enough to share their experiences during the Minneapolis Impact Weekend earlier this summer. "When I heard about USG I was a little hesitant because it sounded too good to be true. After meeting with the leaders on zoom for so many weeks I could tell how much the staff wanted to develop you professionally but more importantly spiritually. I think how USG focuses on keeping your faith alive in a field where temptations are so high is amazing. The integration of faith and sport is something I have always wanted to help others do and USG has made that so much easier by developing me as a professional and spiritual leader. Throughout the Impact Weekend, we were pretty busy going from facility tour to facility tour or some kind of spiritual development experience. My personal favorite part of the trip is the community outreach, where we went and gave care packages and prayed for some of the homeless people in the area. It truly opens your eyes up to how ungrateful we may be about a lot of things in life. The best part about it though was how someone can have hardly anything physically but if they have a relationship with God they can still be some of the happiest people you’ll meet. If you want to get out of your comfort zone, meet countless people within the field of sports, and grow in your spiritual life, then USG is for YOU!"- Thomas Biddle, USG Member "USG has always found me at the perfect time. I was struggling in my walk with Jesus in my first year working with sports and as I was making the upward turn, I discovered USG. My coach, Mikey, was like a jet pack engine for my spiritual development over the course of the eight weeks and I was better equipped to last in the industry. Because of life circumstances, I was unable to go on the impact weekend designated for my training group. In the two months in between, I moved and my lung collapsed. I hadn’t been able to establish community and combined with my health problems, I was really starting to second guess my ability to last in this industry. But then I went on the Impact Weekend. The reminder that the community of Jesus followers is always right around the corner to take you in and nourish you has given me fresh energy to take on my new Raleigh life."- Alex Kaiser, USG Member We were grateful to have Thomas and Alex with us on the Impact Weekend this past June in Minneapolis and we look forward to having them participate in future USG member opportunities! Do you want to have an experience like Thomas and Alex? Apply to join the USG network here! Are you looking to learn more about our ministry? Contact a staff member here!

This past Sunday, August 14th, USG hosted its second virtual Members Gathering with about thirty USG members in attendance. Our Members Gatherings are an opportunity for the USG community to connect on a regular basis, as well as be challenged in their walks with Christ. We were fortunate to have the former chaplain of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Doug Gilcrease, speak to our group on Psalm 78 and what it means to develop generations of people who love and serve Christ. Check out a snippet of Doug's message at the top of this blog page! Our members had the opportunity to share their questions with Doug, as well as delve into large group reflection on the message. The gathering was capped off by a Member Testimonial from USG Member, Paul Conner, who spoke on the impact that USG has had on him thus far. It was encouraging for our staff and members to hear his personal walk with the Lord at Florida State and how he has navigated the many challenges that are present within a career in college and pro sports. If you were unable to attend this month's Members Gathering, be on the lookout for the dates of our next gathering, which will be posted on the USG Connect App. Do you want to join the largest community of Christian future leaders in the college and pro sports industry? Join the network by applying here!

Have you ever thought something was more important than it actually was? I remember when the New England Patriots lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII to end their perfect season. I was an eight-year-old die-hard Patriots fan and I was beside myself after that game. Tears were running down my face, I was yelling at the top of my lungs, and I even punctured a hole in my family’s basement wall by hurling a water bottle as hard as I could against it. My eight-year-old self would say that loss was a big, big deal. My twenty-three-year-old self would say that a football game doesn’t carry much merit in light of eternity. The moral of the story is that in life it’s easy to make the little things into big things and to miss out on what really matters as we walk with Jesus through the Christian life. In this blog, we’ll unpack the four things that you can take with you from this life into eternity and how to focus on those things over the temporal things of this world. As Christians, we all believe in an eternal existence beyond this life that far outweighs all of our light and momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17). However, I can even admit that in my life I rarely consider what that eternal existence might be like or how I might start preparing for it. It’s almost like knowing that you have a vacation planned to the Bahamas, but never actually booking a hotel room, scoping out the local restaurants, scheduling any excursions, or buying a flight ticket. We cognitively know that eternal life with God in the new world is coming, but we miss the boat on actually preparing for it. So, how do we prepare for eternity? It starts with valuing what God values and treasuring what God treasures. In Matthew 6:20 Jesus says, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” I’ve heard that verse countless times, and I always nod my head in agreement, but rarely understand what the heck it actually means. What are treasures in heaven? How do I store something when I don’t know what I’m supposed to store? In one of my favorite sermons given by Pastor Judah Smith, titled It Doesn't Really Matter, he outlines the four things that the Scriptures say we can “store up” or take with us into eternity. The first thing that we can take with us is our soul. Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Jesus makes this statement to underscore the importance of your soul because it is eternal. The personality type that you have, the emotions that you carry, and your sense of humor, are all a part of your soul. This is why the Psalmist says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul…?” Your soul is who you are, and your soul will find an eternal dwelling place, either in heaven or in hell. Jesus is commanding us to invest in our soul by investing in Him. We can invest in this world, with all of its temporal pleasures and riches, and lose our eternal soul. Or we can invest in our relationship with Christ, and gain our eternal soul. What really matters? Your soul and your relationship with God really, really matters. The second thing you can take with you into eternity is your relationships with other believers. In the sport industry, it is easy to miss out on opportunities to invest in the relationships in your life because of the demanding schedules and workloads that come with careers in sports. However, a career in the sport industry does not carry over into eternity. Relationships do. In Luke 16:9 Jesus says, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Another translation says, “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Jesus is literally saying that we should use worldly wealth to gain friends. Note that Jesus did not say to use worldly wealth to gain cars, clothes, status, or real estate. Jesus knows that relationships have exceedingly more value than worldly possessions because creating and investing in relationships is something that you will carry on into eternity. What really matters? Your relationships with other believers matter! The third thing that you will take with you into eternity is your memories. Yes, your memories! How many times have you chosen to miss out on a memory because of work? Or because you were sending a text? Or because you wanted to make an extra buck? Sometimes we can get so fixated on the temporal, fleeting things of this world that we miss out on memories. The story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31 is biblical evidence that we carry our memories with us into the next life. The rich man, who is in hell (v. 23), remembers the comfort that he experienced in his earthly life (v. 25) and he also remembers his family (v. 27-28). In our eternal dwelling with Christ in heaven and in the new age, we will be able to carry our memories from this life along with us. So, in all the busyness of the sport industry and life in general, don’t forget to make memories, because they will be remembered forever. What really matters? Your memories matter! The fourth and final thing that you will take with you into eternity is your understanding. No, unfortunately, we are not all on the same intellectual playing field in heaven, but rather we pick up there where we left off here. In Proverbs 3:13-14 Solomon says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” Solomon, in case you weren’t already aware, was the wealthiest man to ever live. He had the most women and the most wine, yet in this passage of Scripture, he makes it clear that gaining understanding is more profitable than gaining silver or gold. Why does Solomon say this? Because understanding is eternal. In the sport industry, it can be so tempting to avoid growing our knowledge base about God, His Word, and brothers and sisters in Christ around us. Have you taken time to learn from others about what they understand about God? Have you made intentional efforts to grow in your understanding of God’s Word? In all your getting, make sure you get understanding. What really matters? Your understanding matters! The American dream often revolves around preparing for the last ten years of your life. But what about the next ten million years? We are so busy building our careers, constructing our retirement plans, and inflating our savings accounts that we neglect prioritizing the things that will truly last forever. The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” What really matters? It most often is not the many things that consume us on a daily basis. What truly matters are the treasures of heaven that Jesus commands us to store up: our soul, our relationships, our memories, and our understanding. Set your mind on these things that truly matter, and not on the fleeting things of this world.

On the weekend of July 22-24 I was blessed with the opportunity to gather in Nashville, TN for the first ever Uncommon Sports Group Members Retreat weekend with several other USG members. I had been looking forward to this weekend for a very long time because I knew that it would give me the opportunity to connect with USG members that I have talked with and worked with over the last year or so in person for the first time. I looked forward to this weekend because I hoped to be able to see the fruits of our labor at USG; from all of our full-time staff as well as the Board of Directors, come to fruition in person by witnessing the fellowship between all of our members and staff. All of this took place and it was a blessing to see, but there were some conversations that took place that weekend that I was not expecting to take place. I was able to leave Nashville not only knowing that USG’s work is both thriving and meaningful for God’s kingdom, but I too left filled and rested in the Holy Spirit. I was not expecting to be both directly and indirectly challenged by one of our board members, Jason Romano. He stated that as a follower of Jesus “my tongue should match my tongue’’ to ensure that there is no damage to my witness to others by the language that I speak in the workplace. I was not expecting to be challenged by Carol Voronyak’s message and to look at my struggle and troubles in my own life on a deeper level of spiritual warfare. I did not expect to be challenged by Johnny Shelton’s message, to look for various ways in which I can grow spiritually in my walk with Christ each day. I did not expect to instantly have a deep sense of community with so many different USG members. I did not expect to engage in multiple intimate and deeply spiritual conversations with various USG staff members that were challenging, enlightening, and encouraging all at the same time. In reflecting on the weekend, I fully expected to see God’s presence in others’ lives that weekend, but I was surprised to see how spiritually filled I left Nashville that weekend. I should not have been surprised because this is what happens when we surround ourselves with the presence of Jesus and brothers and sisters in Christ. Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” You see that is exactly what the purpose of the Uncommon Sports Group community is- to challenge and grow our members both professionally in the sports industry and most importantly in our walk with Jesus Christ as our iron sharpens iron. I am grateful that God blessed me with being able to take part in USG's first-ever Members Retreat and the opportunity to see His work through USG on such a grand stage in Nashville. God Bless.