Show Notes
In this episode of Words of This Life, Pablo and Ayo are joined by former ABA champion and NBA player Willie Wise for a rich conversation about life, faith, and what truly gives meaning to human life.
Willie shares about growing up in San Francisco as one of ten children, living “from meal to meal,” and how basketball became the path that eventually led him to Drake University and the 1969 Final Four. From there, he went on to play professionally in the ABA and NBA, facing legendary players and experiencing the highest levels of the game.
Along the way, Willie also shares his experiences growing up during a time when racism and cultural tensions were very present in the United States. He speaks honestly about the atmosphere of the 50s and 60s, the challenges many faced, and how he has continued to view these issues even today.
One of the central lines from this episode captures the heart of his testimony: “Reality is Jesus Christ. Everything else is papier-mâché.” Willie explains how so many things people pursue can seem solid, but in the end only Christ remains as the true reality that gives life meaning.
This episode is also our first remote split-screen recording, and we’re thankful to share Willie’s story with you.
If this episode encouraged you, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe as we continue sharing real and impactful Christian stories from believers who love the Lord and His Word.
More from Words Of This Life Show
AJ and Suzanne reflect on how God honored early consecration, even the simple prayer, "Lord, whatever You are doing on earth, I want to be in the middle of it." Now grandparents, AJ and Suzanne share how life becomes richer when we live for God's pleasure instead of our own, relating their experiences as hosts of the church through opening their home wherever they have lived in cities from coast to coast. This conversation comes with decades of perspective, memories and stories of how God can take that prayer, use all things for His glory, and bless us in the midst of each of the chapters of our lives.
What do we center our busy days around? Our happiness, our ease and comfort, or our accomplishments?
In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we’re sharing what God has been doing in our lives as we’ve been building Words of This Life. We reflect on how our faith has grown through this journey, opening up about life changes, from preparing for parenthood to navigating career uncertainty, and the ways marriage has shaped our walk with God.We also talk about the heart behind the podcast, the impact of the testimonies we’ve heard, and what it means to live out a faith that is real, lived, and shared in community. From mental health to learning across generations, this conversation is a look into what God has been teaching us lately and how He continues to lead us.
In this episode of Words of This Life, we sit down with Brian Windsor to see the Lord’s hand through every part of his testimony. From salvation at 13, to drifting in high school, to years spent pursuing a music career and working in restaurants, Brian shares honestly about the times in his life when his love for the Lord grew dim and the quiet ways in which the Lord continued to draw him back.Brian speaks about the “slow burn” seasons of pressure, the tensions of business, the prayer “Lord, bless it or burn it,” and the need to be tethered to other believers. This conversation is a testimony not of a smooth and clear path, but of a faithful God whose hand was present in success, failure, waiting, and growth.Whether you are a student, a young professional, a parent, or someone simply longing for a deeper experience of Christ, Brian’s testimony is a reminder that the Lord is simply seeking each one of us. Not a perfect testimony, not a flawless path, but people. In every stage in life, and in every turn, He is patiently working to gain us for Himself.
What if God sends you across the globe to a people group you don’t know? Connor reflects on the major chapters of his life, from a childhood in the American Midwest, to the discovery of God’s eternal plan while in college in Texas, and now a season of serving Jesus in Germany. The difficulties, trials, and seasons of chasing success have all been part of God’s ordering of his steps, Connor shares, a directing that guides us home to God Himself. As Connor tells his story of God sending him across the globe to serve Him in a place he never dreamed of, these lyrics come to mind in faith again: “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”