Living Large

Update below the post.

The Statesman ran a story on Bruce Collie, NFL playboy-turned-Christian in Wimberley. Patrick Beach opened his piece:

Say you're a guy. You have an imposing and ripped physique — including 20-inch biceps — athletic prowess, an enviable string of professional accomplishments, money, beautiful women, houses, cars, motorcycles — everything the world says you need to be fulfilled, happy, content.

But when you run the numbers, the bottom line of the ledger doesn't say that. Then what?

That was Bruce Collie, a former offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played and won in Super Bowls XXIII and XXIV, meaning he was a member of arguably two of the best NFL teams ever. He arrived in New Orleans for his second Super Bowl with a stripper on each arm. Hugh Hefner in shoulder pads. And it wasn't enough.

Beach goes on to describe Collie's spiritual search that resulted in a commitment to Christ--and a commitment to being fully engaged in loving and leading a large family. Collie and his wife have 13 children, who range in age from 7 months to 16 years. He decided against being a pilot or running a construction company because it would have kept him away from his family too much. He launched a brewery in Wimberley instead.

It's a respectful and well-crafted story about a man who's living as large with Jesus as he once lived without Jesus.

However, I kept waiting to discover the church the Collies connect with. That's more than just my "professional" curiosity as a pastor. My guess is that most churches that would love the brewery angle wouldn't know what to do with a home-schooling family of 13 that are up at 5:30 every morning for family devotionals. And, on the other hand, most churches that would love the idea of big, disciplined, home-schooled family wouldn't know what to do with the brewery angle. Where does a brew master with 13 kids go to church?

Read the story online, but as I've said before, don't waste your time even glancing at the comments section. When people can leave comments anonymously, they can be really vicious. And never, never add to the ugliness by responding to the comments.

Kudos to Beach for his article. And who's up for pizza in Wimberley this weekend?

(photo by Laura Skelding from the Statesman website)

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Update: I received this from Patrick Beach and got his permission to post:

Dear Pastor Goodman,

Thanks for reading the piece and commenting on your blog.

To answer your question, the Collies have gone to Cypress Creek Church in Wimberley, where I'm told Rob Campbell is pastor, but until very recently (and perhaps again in the near future) Sundays were work days for them. Bruce also made some vague comment about how judgmental people could be.

And speaking of that, yes, some of the comments make me lose faith in humanity. I actually jumped into the fray myself to remind people there are children involved here.

As for a pizza and beer run, I'd be surprised if their new venture will be up and running this week but the Black Forest I believe is open.

All best,
Patrick Beach