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“Football was my life…..” “In August 2007 I was diagnosed with cancer. God had pulled the carpet slap out from under me…” “I thought I was so alone…Why would God ever want to raise His hand over me again after all the hurt I caused Him?” “It’s going to be all right, even if it’s not the way you wanted it to be….That’s it right there in a nutshell.” “No matter how far down the wrong track you’ve gone, the right track is next door. Both tracks are going in the same direction, just one’s a little off center…..God will let you on the right track 24-7.” —Ray Nettles, July 2009

God's 1st String is a true story of unconditional love, life changing redemption and a joyous victory over the addiction-fueled life of a professional football linebacker. He had anything earthly you could want, but also alcohol and drug addictions which nearly cost him everything, including his soul. From a young age, she had always loved him through thick and thin, no matter what. And when God's power was unleashed during his redemption, there was nothing preventing a surrender which ensured his entrance into heaven after fighting cancer. But it was the joint battle this husband and wife sacrificed through a pure love for God, and each other, that will change your heart, deepen the way you view redemption and infuse the raw power of living in the moment into your own life.

After initially receiving the cancer news, there was silence in the car. When he finally spoke, Ray's attitude immediately became positive. I will beat this. I cannot be beaten. I will overcome. I will be healed. His football mentality was all about winning. Ray didn't like to lose and it wasn't part of his being. Winning was everything. Win at all costs. Win...no matter what. Now Ray was in unfamiliar territory...what if he lost?