After attending the University of New Mexico, Walt Arnold became a free agent for the LA Rams from 1980-81. From 1982-83 he played for the Houston Oilers. In 1984 he joined the Kansas City Chiefs. Walt, his wife Ann, and their children, live in Albuquerque, NM.

Walt Arnold

At the time it was the biggest thrill of my life...

I had played football, baseball and basketball in high school. Suddenly, I was 18 years old and fulfilling a life-long goal. I had received a football scholarship to play at the University of New Mexico.

Playing major college football was fun and rewarding. But it wasn't enough. For some reason something was missing in my life, but I couldn't put my finger on it. What did I need that I didn't have? I knew my folks loved me. I was pretty popular in school. And then there was my brother, Don...

He really didn't know what he wanted to do. The same summer I got my scholarship, Don went to work on a ranch in Texas. But when he came back he was so different. He had such a zest, and a goal for life. What was it that had changed him/ Don told me that at the camp he had become a Christian.

"That's great for you," I said. I didn't need anybody to help me run my life. I knew Christianity was a set of do's and don'ts that would just be a prison and confine me.

But, you know what? I still didn't have a fulfilling purpose and a reason for going on. You live, and the you die. It all seemed so futile.

Maybe that's what made me finally turn to the Bible. I wasn't happy living for myself. I knew I didn't deserve God's love, yet he loved me by sending Christ to earth to die for my sin, that is all the selfish things that kept me apart from God.

Finally, in my room, one night, I said a simple prayer:

"Lord forgive me for my sins. Come into my life and be my Lord. I'm yours. Make me the kind of person you want me to be."

"Did that decision really make your life different?" you ask.

Without a doubt I can say, "Yes." I discovered that Christianity isn't at all a set of do's and don'ts. Christianity is an exciting one-to-one relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.

The more I grew spiritually, the more God became real to me. Knowing god gave me confidence to be me. I didn't have to try to be like anyone else. That's incredibly freeing.

By knowing god better I've realized He'll never leave me. Being a Christian isn't easy, but it is very fulfilling. I've had my share of ups and downs. But I know God will always be there.

If you would like to know more about Jesus and what He can do for you, just click the button on the left side of your screen to change your life.