Just mentioning the name “Tom Brady” stirs up all kinds of emotions for sports fans. One does not have to be a regular viewer of the NFL to know this famous name. Like, love or loath him, no one can argue the impact this one player had on the game. On February 1, 2023, Brady officially retired from the game holding just about every record a player in his position could hold. Brady finished out on top with: Super Bowl appearances (10), Super Bowl wins (7, more than any NFL franchise), Super Bowl MVPs (5). He also holds records in: Games started (333), Passing yards (89,214), Completions (7,753), Touchdowns thrown to different receivers (98). How does one person accomplish so much in a single sport, where few others even come close? Maybe take a look at his other records. Brady also holds: Oldest player to win NFL MVP (40 years old), Oldest player to be named First-Team All-Pro (40 years old), Seasons with one team (20, Patriots), Only player to beat all 32 NFL teams. He retired after 23 seasons. The answer, Brady was old (compared to others in his position). https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/what-nfl-records-does-tom-brady-hold-heres-the-long-list/200758/ If you are good enough to stick around long enough the records happen naturally. Surprisingly, Brady does not hold the record for number of active years in the NFL. In fact, he is sixth on the list of games played. Who holds the record for longest career? That honor goes to kicker, Morten Anderson. Anderson played 382 games from 1982-2004, 2006-2007. The all-time NFL leader in games played, earned seven Pro Bowl appearances during his 26-year career. At the age of 47 with the Falcons, he made nearly 90% of his attempts. He holds 17 league records, including most game-winning field goals, most 50-yard field goals in a game, most games with points and most consecutive games scoring a point. https://sportsnaut.com/10-players-with-the-longest-nfl-careers/ Examining the top 10 leaders we find that all but three (Favre, Rice and Brady) were in the kicking position (tie for 10th). In a contact sport that penalizes a player for making contact with the kicker, it makes sense that one of their own should hold the record!
I thought about Brady and the kickers when I was reading the report on the best-selling book in 2023. You guessed it, it was the Bible! But why don’t we see it year after year on the best-seller lists? Normally, best-seller lists are for new releases, but that hasn’t stopped readers from finding something new in the Scriptures! According to Guinness, “The best-selling book of all time is the Christian Bible. It is impossible to know exactly how many copies have been printed in the roughly 1500 years since its contents were standardized, but research conducted by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 2021 suggests that the total number probably lies between 5 and 7 billion copies. In the 21st century, Guinness said, Bibles “are printed at a rate of around 80 million per year.” https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction Barna says that nearly nine out of 10 (88 percent) Americans own a Bible, and they own an average of 4.4 copies of it. https://www.deseret.com/2013/4/9/20517583/poll-many-own-a-bible-but-not-many-read-it Almost ninety percent own a Bible and 100% have an opinion about it. Almost every American owns a Bible (more than one), but few read it. The Bible takes a lot of “hits” but the truth contained within has stood the test of time. Just like those kickers in the NFL, they might not be at the top of the record lists, but their ability to contribute to the game and avoid the hits leave them standing the longest.
Just like a kicker, the Bible doesn’t need to be listed to be relevant. When you put the contents of the Word of God to use you discover the power it has in your life. Like a Monday Morning Quarterback, anyone can have an opinion, but it really doesn’t matter unless you are out there playing the game!
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
I thought about Brady and the kickers when I was reading the report on the best-selling book in 2023. You guessed it, it was the Bible! But why don’t we see it year after year on the best-seller lists? Normally, best-seller lists are for new releases, but that hasn’t stopped readers from finding something new in the Scriptures! According to Guinness, “The best-selling book of all time is the Christian Bible. It is impossible to know exactly how many copies have been printed in the roughly 1500 years since its contents were standardized, but research conducted by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 2021 suggests that the total number probably lies between 5 and 7 billion copies. In the 21st century, Guinness said, Bibles “are printed at a rate of around 80 million per year.” https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction Barna says that nearly nine out of 10 (88 percent) Americans own a Bible, and they own an average of 4.4 copies of it. https://www.deseret.com/2013/4/9/20517583/poll-many-own-a-bible-but-not-many-read-it Almost ninety percent own a Bible and 100% have an opinion about it. Almost every American owns a Bible (more than one), but few read it. The Bible takes a lot of “hits” but the truth contained within has stood the test of time. Just like those kickers in the NFL, they might not be at the top of the record lists, but their ability to contribute to the game and avoid the hits leave them standing the longest.
Just like a kicker, the Bible doesn’t need to be listed to be relevant. When you put the contents of the Word of God to use you discover the power it has in your life. Like a Monday Morning Quarterback, anyone can have an opinion, but it really doesn’t matter unless you are out there playing the game!
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
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