Latest / 307 Faithful / 14 Surgeries, Football Obsession, and Finding Jesus | CJ Tiller

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14 Surgeries, Football Obsession, and Finding Jesus | CJ Tiller · 307 Faithful

• Devin Davis: All right. Hi there, everyone. This is Devin Davis, host of the 307 Faithful Podcast, and FCA Fellowship of Christian Athletes podcast. glad to have you join us again today. And we've just continued our string of some awesome guests. I've had a couple of in-studio guests lately. We had Brenda Metzler, who was huddle leader at FCA Sports Camp and Laramie. We had Coach Bo Sheets, basketball coach from Riverton at FCA Sports Camp and so a couple in studio guests, but we're we're gonna get back to the our our long distance guests. And I think, well, I don't know. I've had a guest in California, so I I think we're not that far away. But this guy, honestly, I don't know a whole lot about him other than we pass cross our we cross paths at FCA camp in Laramie. And so I'm really excited to interview him because I've got a lot of questions and I and I think you'll really like the story that CJ has to tell. And so I I'm gonna turn it over to CJ Tiller. CJ, welcome to the podcast today. Thanks for taking the time out. And as I said, I I don't know a ton about you. So go ahead and share about who you are and what you do and just tell the the listeners there everything they want to hear. CJ TIller: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I appreciate you having me. I really do appreciate that. well, my name is CJ. I am originally from Chicago. I was born in Chicago. but grew up my whole life actually in Arizona. Gilbert, Arizona, if anybody knows what where about anything about Arizona. So I'm from Gilbert, Arizona. went to high school out there for three years. It's called Williamsfield High School. then I transferred my senior year into California. from there I was blessed enough to be able to Continue to continue my career in football. I do play quarterback, so I was able to attend Boise State University, Utah State University, and currently now I'm at Utah Tech University, in St. George, Utah. So I've been in Utah the last three three years now. So it's been super exciting. you know, I guess we could dive more into facts about me later and my testimony and stuff like that. But yeah, so that's kind of the little gist of me. For everybody out there. Devin Davis: That's awesome. That's you know, from since we kind of connected at at sports camp and obviously did a little checking out who this guy is. You know, I don't allow just anyone on my podcast. just joking. I I'm desperate for people. No, I'm just kidding, CJ. CJ TIller: Ha ha ha. Devin Davis: I saw that you spent time in Boise and then I knew you were at Utah State. So is is Utah Tech is this gonna be your first season at at Utah Tech. how's your college experience gone as a football player? CJ TIller: Yeah, so to answer your first question, yes, this will be. I got here in January. so St. George has been amazing, a golf town. so I've been learning I've I've been kind of golfing a little bit, but I'm not the best, but I'm not the worst. So but yeah, my college experience has definitely been something that's been a part of my testimony. slowly just God just showing me so many things. just with college football alone, and that's with transferring as well, because That's the name of the game now. and so start off at Boise State. I had a numerous amount of offers out of high school that were really could have been really good. but something with Boise just stuck with me. and I ended up going there. And I don't know if you've ever been to Boise, but the first thing you do when you get there, there's like a 20-foot, 25-foot cross on the mountain that lights up. And it's like a beautiful cross. And I wasn't really a religious person growing up. but when I got there, I was like, okay, well, you know, that's that that's awesome. And then be able to get to go to Boise State and you know, honestly through FCA actually was where I was baptized and gave my life to Christ and et cetera, which we'll get into later. But college football in general has been it's been really tough. You know, I've had seven head coaches in the last going into this is my going into my fourth year now. I've had six offensive coordinators, basically six quarterback coaches for me, because I am a quarterback. so I've dealt with coaching change so much. As soon as I get to Boise State, head coach gets fired, basically. offensive coordinator that recruited me was gone. New guy comes in. He was my offensive coordinator. As soon as season leaves, he he was my new offensive coordinator. And then as soon as my first year at Boise State is done. He leaves, new guy comes in, new stuff comes in. So I'm like, okay, this is just wild. And the whole name of the game now is just very interesting. So I took my talent somewhere else, went to Utah State. Same thing. Literally, as soon as I get there, head coach, he's gone. As soon as I get there, and I'm just like, gosh, different play caller now. so I'm just battling and battling and battling and just like new coaches. So I've never been able to be with a coop a coach that recruited me. Like ever. I've never, this is technically my first time here at Utah Tech, being with a coach that recruited me. so it's just it's just been tough. College has been tough, but it's honestly been so amazing to learn and be around a group of guys that have helped lead me, but also just to be around. because football is tough sometimes, and especially if you have your identity wrapped in any sport, it can just drain you so fast. and so It's been tough, but it's been such a blessing, to be honest. and so I would never trade it for a thing. And I'm just I'm so blessed, to be honest. Devin Davis: Yeah, man, a lot of adversity and definitely and things that are beyond your control, obviously. CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: and and so, you know, luckily we know, like you said, where your identity is and in your faith. so now that you're Utah Tech, how many years of eligibility do you have left? CJ TIller: So I have two. So I have this year, and then one more. I could possibly get another. I don't wanna be forty years old playing in college football. So I'm gonna have to think about that. That's a game time decision, so we'll see. Devin Davis: And and Utah Tech, I mean, kind of a relatively new division one program, aren't they? I think they changed names not too many years ago when they played, CJ TIller: It was Dixie, yeah. Devin Davis: yeah, Dixie Division Two. I used to live in Shatteran, Nebraska, and Dixie and Shatteran were in the same conference, the RMAC with each other back back CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: then. So I know they've they've made that transition. And and looking at Utah Tech, w what conference are is Utah Tech in now? CJ TIller: So we are in the big sky. So like NAUs, the Tarletons, all those other schools are we Tarleton's not, I guess. But yeah, all those like like schools are in the big sky. Devin Davis: Yeah, that's a that's a tough, tough conference, some good competition at at that level. So that'd be awesome. Now and CJ TIller: Yeah, really good. Really good conference. Yeah. A hundred percent. It's exciting. Devin Davis: you know, I think just you you you even I mean you brought it up and you talked about your testimony, but you said you weren't really brought up in and a as as a religious person and and tell us about that transformation and how that took place. CJ TIller: Yeah. gosh, I don't even know where to start. It's like technic technically, this is it is my testimony, so I can just share that if that's okay. Because it kind of all ties in together. Devin Davis: Yeah. You bet. CJ TIller: so basically, I was like I told you guys, I was I was born in Chicago, raised my whole life in Arizona. We were more so like the Christmas, Easter family, go to church. and and so that's the time so we go to church, but I never knew anything about God. I lived for the world, I was doing everything for the world. I mean, as we all were at one point in time. and so yeah, in the fifth grade, I was Dyke, well, technically rewind. I have 12 siblings or 11 other siblings. There's 12 of us. Devin Davis: Wow. CJ TIller: it's basically split right down the middle. I grew up with a mixed family. So I have we're not all the same mom and dad. and so I kind of lived if you could put two and two together, I lived my life that way where I thought going to the world and going to people were going to answer something I didn't have. my mom was alcohol alcoholic my whole life basically. and so I never really had my mom in my life for a very long time, which is very tough because You know, it's amazing to have a dad in your life and you know to teach you the world and and teach you how how things work, but it's also good to have your mom because she's just like what a mama bear or something you could say. So yeah, I didn't I didn't really grow up with that. in the fifth grade I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I don't know if you know what that is, but it's a stomach disease and there's all these scientific words I can use. That I have no idea what they mean still to this day, but my Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: mom does. But basically, it's just a really bad stomach disease. I had the worst case of it. there's stages of it. and I had the worst case of it in fifth grade. I've had 14 surgeries and a feeding tube to my heart, Devin Davis: Wow. CJ TIller: and I just was like completely bad. yeah, so I went through that growing up, as well as going through custody battle with my family, with my mom and my dad. and dealing with all this stuff mentally was just like I thought it was better to take my life than to just be here suffering. Me suffering physically and emotionally. and so I was kind of over it. And I felt in the moment when I wanted to do what I was going to do, it was a gun. And I felt like I didn't feel like I had this voice in my head say, It's not your time and it's not done. Again, I am not a religious person, so I was like, Okay, what is this? Like and I s I dropped it and I started crying and you know, thank the Lord that never happened. But yeah, so I went through that and I was always curious about what that was my whole life. And 'cause I never had no nobody point me to like Jesus after that. I like, I didn't know that was, you know, the Holy Spirit talking through me, Jesus talking through me. But no n knowing now I understand that. and then, you know, fast forwarding a little bit, fast forward fast forward a little bit, you know, after my Crohn's disease stuff. I still have it technically. my last surgery was on October fifteenth, two thousand eighteen. it was a ten hour surgery. it was very rough, just battling through the rest of that stuff and and realizing, you know, what was really going on with myself, what was going on with my body and I always prayed to God and I I I didn't know why I was praying to him, but I always prayed to him, just like, you know, God, please deliver me from this. Like, I want to know if you're there, if you're something that's true, if it's a fairy tale, you know, what is this? and so I always he obviously delivered me in a way from that, which has been such a blessing because that was such a hard time in my life. and then obviously I told you guys about me going into college. and so Going into my senior year, this is fast-forwarding even a little more. Going into my senior year of high school, I transferred to Rancho Cucamonga. This is in California. If you know foot football a little bit, the if you know who CJ Stroud is, it's the same high school who he went. He's the tech, he's the quarterback for the Texans. and I surrounded myself with these great group of men that just I don't know why and how, but they just led me and pointed me to the cross. And it was just like, whoa, like, where are you guys at? Like this is so awesome. And so I lived in actually my family didn't move out with move out to California with me. So I actually moved out there myself. I lived in an apartment by myself and it got broken into three times. And this is like in a in a pretty nicer area. And so I was kind of shocked, but it got broken into three times. And I was like, yeah, absolutely no bueno. this I cannot stay here anymore like at all and so I met my friend in math class which is so funny but he's a Disney channel star and he was on Disney Channel and I was like hey man do you think like your parents would let me move in and he was like bro yes we're gonna play Madden every night play 2K and like you know then I play all these games and I'm like okay cool like and then I go to their house and her mom or his mom His mom was like, we d we introduced her to the whole thing. And this is her first time meeting me, like ever. And she goes, you know, I feel like the Lord is tugging me to do this. And I am a house that serves the Lord. And I was just like, sure. I was like, okay. I don't know what this means, but sure, like, okay, like, and you know what? She led me so well. And she obviously took me in. but she led me so well. And to see her and what she had to deal with and gosh, the battles that she had, it was just it was so amazing to see someone like that point me to the cross daily and to see her with her kids and just to see how a Christ-like family acts daily. And to me, it was so inspirational and it really that really like ignited my faith. and then as soon as after that, you know, I head to Boise State and then you know, the rest is history from there where I was able to meet the FCA our FCA chaplain who is Mark Thornton at Boise. and man, he he took me under his wing and and just and just poured into me like daily, poured into me daily. And yeah, I went to church and I started going to church and I started, you know, gosh. Yeah, he was just I'm just like thinking about it now. I'm like really actually thinking about it. But yeah, he poured into me a lot. And I gave my life at youth night at our church. I gave my life to at youth night. and I think three to four weeks later, I got baptized. and and I'm not here to say that I am living perfect at all because you know I'm an imperfect being church chasing a perfect man. and I have had my ups and downs, and I still do to this day. but To see what the Lord has delivered me from has been a blessing. And so that's a long version of the testimony, but to end up saying that like I was a wretched man and the Lord just did his work in me. And and so that's kind of how it all it all started. Devin Davis: I mean, that's that's a crazy story just because I I I don't know, you know, it seems like God works however God works, right? And in some people CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: it's like overnight, you're right, right? You know, like I CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: was living this way and now I'm not and I'm living for the Lord. But I mean that God started working and and like you said, the key was like really the Holy Spirit started working in your heart back when you were diagnosed. with Crohn's and and and really battling. So d what what age did you say that was at where you really felt like God telling you, hey, it it you got CJ TIller: Fifth grade, what what age would that make me f in fifth grade? Devin Davis: Probably around ten. CJ TIller: yeah, like yeah, around that age, ten, eleven, yeah. Devin Davis: Y you're kidding me. So like from ten years old until w what age were you then? You were at Boise State when you really finally gave your life to the Lord. Isn't that crazy to to th to think about that? CJ TIller: Nineteen. Nineteen's when I gave my life. Yeah, nineteen. Yeah. Honestly, I've never even thought of it like that at all. That's honest that's a new perspective you just gave me. Wow. Devin Davis: Yeah, I I just think, you know, that I I mean, it's it's nuts. I mean, just to see to look back and see how God was working in your life. when when you know, most of the time you weren't really aware of it, but he was just, CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: you know, planting seeds along the way and guiding your path and putting people in front of you to to direct you and guide you. to that that time where you finally said, Hey, I surrender to you, Jesus Christ. And golly, man, isn't he good? Really? Like that's just it's that's amazing CJ TIller: Amen. Amen. He's so good. He's so good. Devin Davis: to think of is is is just how how faithful he's been to to CJ Tiller and to see where you're at right now. And so that that's amazing testimony. So then you moved on to Utah State how did your faith change then? in that kind of next step of of life for you. CJ TIller: Yeah, and I think like I said, I did take like, you know, there's been stepbacks and step forwards and step back. And it's kind of that's kind of in my faith. And because, you know, what I learned at camp this camp this year was like, and I was preaching it to my kids, was like, you know, Ezekiel 36, 26 talks about how he'll instill a new heart and a new spirit in you after you do Romans 10, 9, which is giving your confessing. and so when I got to Utah State, I gosh, I took a step back and I we had an amazing, an amazing FCA chaplain, Josh Longoria. Who who spoke at our camp? Yeah. Who spoke out our camp? I love Josh. Like that is like our Yeah. Yeah. That's so funny. That's my guy. I love him. Devin Davis: He he's o he was okay. He wa he was just mediocre, man. That's a joke. I can't I can't help but say, man, if you can't get bumped up for Jesus Christ, having having that man in front of you consistently, yeah, you must be blind. So it's CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: yeah. Go ahead. I cut you off, but Josh was pretty awesome for sure. CJ TIller: No, you're good. It's so true. It's so true. No, he's he's been amazing and such a mentor in my life. And I wish I was able to take advantage of his wisdom and him in general, while I was there. And I think I was so caught up in football in my identity because I was like, Okay, like, you know, I was this big recruit. I was this person, I am getting paid this money for NIL, like all this da-da-da-da-da stuff. And my Folk I was so fixated on football and not Christ. And I took that step back. And then I was living for the world again. And then I was doing these things. And I was like, okay, like this isn't fulfilling me. And Josh was the he was the first person to tell. He, if you talk to him on the phone, he will be the first person to tell you. I was taking stepbacks and then huge step forwards and then like huge stepbacks. And I was just like, I was lukewarm in a way where I was just like. You know, the devil owns the fence. There's no like you're either on his side or you're not. And so, yeah, you know, it I took a step back and then, you know, towards the end, I was, you know, starting to take steps forward. And then honestly, it re-sparked again once I got to it all started clicking again, I guess I can say, when I got to St. George, Utah Tech. you know, the men and women that I'm surrounded with here c it's tough in Logan. It's it's a Mormon populated area. where it is like very secluded, like very secluded. Like FCA was like the closest thing to church you could probably get. And so it was hard. Like it really was. And it tested my faith for sure and my endurance. you know, but when I got here, it was just like God gave me exactly what I needed. Like literally everything I prayed for before coming here. Like he gave it to me like that. And I was like, okay, like there we go. Devin Davis: Yeah, that's CJ TIller: So Utah State did did wonders for me and I'm I'm honestly forever grateful for that place. Devin Davis: Yeah, it it's it's you know, it again, it's kind of amazing how God meets you where you are at at each stage of your life, to direct and guide you, to continue CJ TIller: Exactly. Devin Davis: to be sanctified, you know, becoming CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: more more and more holy, I guess, even though we're never gonna get there. and and sometimes we can look at the challenges in our lives and and we hate when we're going through them, but they're the biggest blessings also when we look back at how they changed us really. So CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: so the, you know, now here we are kind of fast forwarding. his here we are in in Laramie, Wyoming, at FCA sports camp. And here's a guy that obviously is, you know, that had to be hard being at on the campus of the University of Wyoming when you played for Boise State and then you play for Utah State. But I laughed about CJ TIller: Yeah, we played there, yeah. Devin Davis: that with Josh, but Now and now you're on campus. How in the world I I want to hear how that happened, how you end up there. I know there was a good group from Utah there and Josh came there, but what what were the whatever what fell in place for you to be in Laramie? CJ TIller: Josh. Josh did. Yeah. He was like, you know, 'cause I we served in NAU last year, so Northern Arizona. and you know, when the when camp ti time starts running around, you know, we have to start filling out things and and I'm like, Josh, where are we going? He's like, Wyoming and I'm like, Wyoming? Okay. And he was like, Yeah, we're going to Wyoming this year and I was like, All right, sweet, let's do it. So I signed up for camp and cosh Honestly was was so fun. So fun. Devin Davis: Yeah. You guys brought a great crew from Utah. How many how many huntle leaders do you think there were from Utah? CJ TIller: What like there was a good amount. I mean I fifteen maybe? Fifteen of us maybe? Yeah. There's probably Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: like twelve twelve to fifteen, yeah. Devin Davis: I think men and you guys were a huge part of camp and I mean I I mean a ton of kids, ton of coaches. It was just a huge blessing. And so you know, heading into camp and just going, hey, I you know, we're going to Wyoming. I'm not gonna know a lot of people other than the Utah people, you know, what were your expectations before starting camp and then kind of you know on that drive home. We I talked with Coach Sheets about that on as you're returning home. Tell us about those expectations and then, you know, how you felt afterwards. CJ TIller: Yeah. honestly, I put a lot of expectations on the NAU camp. And I realized that like I shouldn't have. And I felt like I was trying to teach instead of letting the Holy Spirit just move through me. and so for this camp, I just stayed in a lot of prayer. I stayed in prayer for the kids that I didn't even know that I was gonna have, you know, prayer over the camp in general, the coaches, the staff, you know, everything that goes into it. and I was just I was just wanting the spirit to lead me that whole week. And and I didn't know what to expect, you know, like a new group of people, like you said, like you know, one of my better friends, Tanner Rinker, who was at Utah State with me, he's a kicker. I was able to fly down to Colorado, to Castle Rock, Calor, Colorado, stay with him for a little bit and then drive up, 'cause like a two and a half hour, three hour drive. And know, spend time with him. And I I remember talking to him, like, okay, what you think we should expect? You know, like what are like, you know, what are we what do you think is gonna go on? And we were kind of just on the same page where it was just like, you know, we gotta just let the spirit move and we don't know what's gonna happen, you know, because you can get it, we got two differently like I got two different type of groups and than the last previous year and this year. And so, you know, I didn't know what to expect. but coming out of it. You know, the things that I learned personally was just honestly unbelievable and mind shifting, mind changing. and I really had to do a heart posture check. I told my kids the same thing, but also like myself. I was like, You are no better like I am no better than you. Like I have to fix my heart too. And so leaving that camp, like I really, I really just did a debrief. It was just like, okay, like, you know, is my is my heart in the right spot? And everything. You know, Josh said it, I think. the second to last night it could have been or the last night was like if God stripped everything away from you, you know, your family, your loved ones, the necessities you have, all the accessories or whatever it is, like he stripped it all away from you and you just had him, would you be all right? And it was just that Devin Davis: And CJ TIller: one kind of hit me. Devin Davis: isn't that I mean I I I thought of that too because you know we we talk about our love for Christ and and as we have just because the gratitude we have, right? Out of gratitude for what he did for us and and but then to to think about it, I mean we're pretty entitled and comfortable and CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: and it's easy to say with our our lips that Jesus Christ is Lord, but what what are you willing to give up for that? and that CJ TIller: Yeah, yeah, amen. Devin Davis: man, that's that that's hard because that makes us reflect on that really. And and then that boils down to right, is Jesus Christ truly the center of your life? and CJ TIller: Amen. Devin Davis: I mean I think that's a that's a good reminder. I I remember that as well too, just thinking what you know, what would I be willing to? to do that, you know, CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: if if it came down to it. I I don't know. That's a that's a tough one. And but I I think we got the the other interviews that I've done kind of post camp is really pressing into really and and Josh really pressed hard into abiding in Jesus Christ and what CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: that looks like. And and I think that's always kind of in my my mind is me evaluating how am I abiding in him. And I guess that's the question I have for you, CJ, is kind of like, what does abiding in Christ look like to you? What are you doing in your life and your sport to to put that truth into into action basically? CJ TIller: Amen. Yeah. yeah. So we do our debriefs or we did our debriefs after every day of camp. And we had some amazing male huddle leaders, and you know, shout out to them. They they honestly were such amazing men, and we're honestly trying to keep up with each other and do some Zoom calls. But besides the point, abiding. We actually talked about this in my group, and we did like a honestly a whole night of just you know, we say abide, we say it it means remain in some translations. And it says remain and stay. in some translations, but when you really boil down to abide, like how do you stay? How do you remain in him? Well, you can only do that if your heart's there. And so, like I told you, like our my theme for the camp, I know our theme was John 15, 8, I think. Devin Davis: Yeah. Mm-hmm. CJ TIller: but when I was telling our kids and a lot of the other huddle leaders, like, really, like our theme is that, but it's also like your heart. Like your heart is the theme. And so and and that's what he wants from us. And so when I take away from my definition of is abide is like your heart. Is your heart there? Because if it's not there, you're not gonna abide. And so you're not gonna truly trust what he has for you or what his plan is for you. And so for me, that's what it is. And I yes, I believe it is. You have to remain in him, you have to stay in him. and I I believe there's another one, but For me, it is like, is my heart there? Is my heart longing for him? Because if it is, I will remain in him and I'll stay in him. And so yeah, that's how I interpret that thing. And then what was your second part to that one? how how do I how do I remain in full? Devin Davis: I mean, like I can and yeah, how do you remain especially like as a I mean, we're here, we're we're FCA, right? As a as a college athlete. I mean, you know, how does that really affect you? CJ TIller: Yeah. well, obviously with sports, like, and I'm not gonna sit here and say, you know, if I have the bad day, like I'm gonna put a smile on my face with football, like, you know, I still love football as a sport and it is still technically my job. so I have to also remember remember that like it is not my identity. And so like I will have bad days, I will have good days, even if it's outside of football, those those days will happen. but how am I gonna put first to him? You know, sometimes I'll be the first to omit and I'm not gonna hide anything. When I'm on the field, sometimes a different CJ comes out and you know, my mouth maybe does not reflect Christ at all. And and that's just because the old CJ was such a live for the world competitor as well. I'm still a competitor as now, but like it's like how can I reflect Christ every s every single step that I'm taking? and that wasn't it. And so that's something I'm still doing a like I'm having him work work out of me and praying on and just You know, trying to give him to that to me, because it's hard. So, but in other things is just like with my team, you know, being able to spread the word. you know, obviously, like I said, like I want his light to shine through me to others. but I can only do that if I'm abiding. And because if I'm not, then I'm just gonna reflect what the world has to reflect. Devin Davis: Yeah, amen. CJ TIller: and so that's exactly what I'm trying to do with some other amazing male leaders that we have at our school as well. And just having the Lord shine through me at others. Devin Davis: Yeah, I th you know, I th that's a good point is, you know, when it in the Bible when it says, deny your flesh, deny and take up your cross daily, you know, it's not it's not a one time deal. It's a continual day to CJ TIller: Yeah. Anyway. Devin Davis: day battle, right? and that's CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: what we have to persevere in and the the way we do that is to surround ourselves with with people who can encourage us and hold us accountable and keep us walking CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: in that truth and we need that every single day. and I think that you know what you said about your heart. I mean, that's, you know, it it was kind of in my mind thinking about like that's your heart posture, right? Because what your heart loves to do, it does. I mean, you think about, CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: you know, think think about things that you love to do. maybe not, you know, football is one of them, but outside of football or, you know, just things that you have of Deep affections for you don't have CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: to, you don't have to work on, man, because I like to, I like to fly fish. Okay. I don't get to go very often, but I like to fly CJ TIller: see. Yeah. Devin Davis: fish. my my heart's excited to fly fish whenever I get a chance to fly fish. I don't have to make myself CJ TIller: Amen. Devin Davis: go, I gotta go fly fishing again. You know what I'm saying? I mean, and and CJ TIller: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Devin Davis: so if your heart is that way, if your heart posture is on Christ. And that's what keeps you connected with him because you know you you really depend on him daily. so that's that's a good point, a really good point. And one of the other challenging things that I've said is I think the hardest part about that though is that the the the producing fruit is is what how other people can see who who you are, but but also the fact that he wants you to produce more fruit. and what he does to to to do that. How do you think are some of the ways maybe that you've seen in your life that God has worked to to prune you or to to make you a a a bigger producer of fruit? CJ TIller: Yeah. you know, I was actually talking to my pastor about this out here recently. And, you know, he he pulled me aside and and you know, praise the Lord for this ability and this spiritual gift, but to be able to connect with people. and that's something the Lord has been able like just gifted me with ever since I was a child. Like I don't know why. I don't I don't have this special thing that I do and they're just like super cool with me. Like I I just have a way, well. To be able connect with people super fast and make you feel comfortable and make you feel loved. And, you know, that's the spirit, that's Jesus, that's my gift. And and to get people to be connected and feel comfortable. and so for me to be able to, you know, produ plant more seeds is is that way. we actually my goal, I have a vision board right here. and my vision board, the last thing says lead Bible studies and then lead myself. And I've never led a Bible study. Like, you know, with my girlfriend, yes, but with a group of men and women, of 40 to 60 people, I've never done that. And and so yeah, it's it's been crazy to see the Lord being able to just to move here in St. George. I've never done it at any other school I've been at. This is the first school. They've never even had anything before this. there was no been no Bible study. There's been FCA, but you know, the thing about some of this generation now, our generation, my generation, is people are scared of the church title and and people are scared of the FCA title because they feel like they're which they are, which we all are, are imperfect beings. and they don't belong with us Christians or, you know, us people, which is totally wrong. You know, like there's not one person in that church. Besides the Lord Jesus that's in the presence is is clean and perfect. and so my home has been a way for people to be able to come in and just receive something Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: of Jesus. and so that's the way that the Lord has used me to get to others. And honestly, I didn't I didn't know how it was gonna go. I'm very planner and I I love to plan things out. I'm very like kind of O C D ish in a way where it's like I need this, that, I need an order done. and to see things just go on the last second fly, and I'm just like texting everybody I can like, hey, you're coming, you're coming, you're coming, I got pizza, like da da da. Usually that gets done if you say you got pizza and some some like soda or something. but to see the Lord to see the Lord work on that has been has been so awesome. and to see in the last couple of years what the Lord has been working through me. Cause I didn't even know that he was working. And there's a song and it says, even when you don't see it, he's working. in those days of those quiet days and quiet months and weeks, I was like, is he even working right now? Like, I don't like are you done with me? Like it's just like no. And he's been preparing me and preparing me and preparing me, almost like David in the field. and so yeah, to see him work and to be able to see him move within these group of men and women, has been such a blessing. Devin Davis: I I love kind of those small studies, just because you can talk, I think, a little more deeply about things than you can at church, obviously. And CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: and you're just doing life. and so that's that's one of the biggest blessings. I started CJ, I think we're gonna go into our third or fourth year now, coach's Bible study CJ TIller: nice. Devin Davis: here in Riverton. And we we meet during the school year er once a week and CJ TIller: That's awesome. Devin Davis: And and it's been great, just men, you know, about eight to ten men. and we just, you know, truly, honestly, like people think this is crazy, but love each other, right? And because we're there to CJ TIller: Yeah, email. Devin Davis: challenge and encourage and you know, to pray because of life's difficulties and challenges. I mean, we all go through things and and those discussions are probably to me one of the most encouraging. hearts of being a Christ follower. So I I I really, CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: I bet that's been extremely encouraging to you. do you have a CJ TIller: Amen. Devin Davis: have do you have a like what what do you do for your study? Do you have a plan? Do you have a guide? How do you go about the Bible study that you led or that you lead? CJ TIller: Yeah. so I kind of do it like gosh, how do you even you know what? Like I have I have people come share. Like I don't want to be the only one talking. I don't wanna be, you know, like I want people to come up and share their testimonies. I wanna sh I want them to see what and for a lot of people like we I mean like I said, like I have an apartment and there's like forty to sixty people in here. No, forty to fifty people in here. and it's cramped. And I want there's a lot of non-believers and and and people that are that are on the fence or people that are that were saved but aren't living. And it's just like, you know, I want people to share their testimonies. And I want obviously I want to dive into the Bible. I want to hit different parts. but I want different topics every week because we have I have all this little group chat with I think like there's we have to revamp revamp it because there's new people and and old people are leaving and stuff. So, anyways, that's besides the point. I have a group chat with about five people and and us five are the ones that talk. we sit and pray for like a day or two about like who's gonna speak, what and then what we're gonna speak about, and then and then we kind of just go from there. We do it on Friday night, six, no pun intended, like six to seven thirty. but yeah, we we just do it and and we just Devin Davis: Six to seven. CJ TIller: go. I I I know, I you just never know now nowadays. Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: Can't say anything without people doing this stuff. So I'm just like Devin Davis: I'm old, but I'm not that old. I know what that means. CJ. So you didn't. No, that's that's cool. And CJ TIller: That's so funny. Devin Davis: I I just yeah, that's just so much fun. Then you learn, man, I can trust these people. and I know that they've gone through the same struggles I have. And so I have somebody that I can go to and just CJ TIller: Exactly. Devin Davis: I mean, you know, that's that's that's why I, you know, we look at Christ because he went through the same things. That's why God came down in human form, is because now God's CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: not this being that hasn't ever been on earth and struggled through the same things we have. He he has been on earth and he went through the same things that we did as Jesus Christ, God in human flesh. And so we always we always can go to him and we can always go to CJ TIller: Amen. Devin Davis: Jesus. And that's why he made relationships so important in this life is. CJ TIller: Amen. Devin Davis: just the encouragement that we can get from other believers. So CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: I I I I think I the other thing that I really in in talking about that really is like and and looking at your huddle during camp, what were you know what were some of the challenges, what were some of the rewards that that you received from camp, I mean with those kids that were right with you for those almost four days. CJ TIller: Yeah, gosh. I don't think I had any troubles. Like they were like amazing, amazing men or young, young adults, soon to be men. Like gosh, those kids were amazing. I was genuinely blessed this year to have every single kid was amazing. When they had to find out that their phones were gone, they kind of just gave them to me. No problems, no nothing. I was just like, okay, like this is good. This is a good start. I like this. But other than that, like the positive, like these kids were very, very intelligent for where they're at. And I I envied them in a way where I was like, I wish I had that when I was in ninth grade. I had ninth graders and I think two tenth graders. and I envied it. And I was like, you know, you guys are you guys are on a great, like a great start and don't let it stop here. and so I had a r I had a lot of really good c kids. understood the Bible, understood a lot of stories within the Bible. And they honestly had an eye-opening moment when I really started diving deep into like your heart in your heart. And I still I got a text message yesterday from one of them. Like I still get text messages all the time. I was able to get them on the phone with some NFL guys and some college guys, just to be able to talk to them, you know, people that were a part of FCA. and then just being able to be encouraged. and so that was amazing to be able to do that for them. and just show them like hey like it's not just us there's people that are famous out there in the world that are are following Christ and they were part of FCA and and that's so awesome. and so I was able to do that for them which was which was super cool. And then just be able to see them I think it was the last night of worship you know crying and opening up to Devin Davis: Mm-hmm. CJ TIller: me. We were gonna do a group a group me and Tanner's group and as well as No, I think it was just, and Max Alfred's group. us three, we were all gonna combine and just, you know, sit and talk because that's how we learned the kids were gonna talk a little more, with their two groups. and then we didn't. My group texted me in our group chat and was like, what'd they say? they were like, Hey, can we just do our own thing today, like us? And then I was like, sure, like, why not? We sat outside too long and not too long. But like longer than before my little meeting thing I had with other leaders. but and we sat out there and they were just opening up and just like gosh, seeing those kids get up and praying for each other and it it was so good. Like I I wish I could relive that night and honestly Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: the whole camps like over and over again. I was more blessed and I think they were blessed, but it was just so good. Devin Davis: Yeah. Amen. that's awesome. Did you have any like did you have any hard questions asked of you that that that you kind of thought, wow, that's a tough one? Or I'm not quite sure how to answer that. CJ TIller: I don't think so. I think my hardest question is it wasn't even hard. It was more so, you know, why am I still stuck in sin when I still want him? And and so obviously for me it was like, you know, you have the same spirit that dwells that dwelled in Christ that raised him from the dead. So that's number one. You can defeat this, it's not like inevitable. and then Number two, it's your heart. Like, are you truly wanting this too? And then God will work it out of you if you're giving it to him. And so I don't know if I truly had anything that was like super complex, where I had to go ask the other huddle leaders. but yeah, I don't think I had I think I was pretty lucky on that part, but I I I had some really Devin Davis: Yeah. I know sometimes there's CJ TIller: good kids. Devin Davis: yeah, I've heard some kind of some have had some difficult questions CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: that that, you know, so I think that's why you go ahead of time, right? to hopefully CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: help you in case there's some tough questions asked and and do that. CJ TIller: Exactly. Exactly. Devin Davis: So did you did you have anybody in your huddle, any of your kids that gave their life to Christ and and hadn't had never put their trust in him before? CJ TIller: Yeah, that's a that's a good question because the first two nights nobody nobody did anything. I I I think there was only one kid. No, there was only one kid in my group that wasn't a believer. and he even knew the Bible really well. But he was the only kid, and the last night he was asking a lot of questions. He actually was breaking down, crying a lot, and I didn't want to force him into anything. And so Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: And I didn't have to be like there for him to give his life, which I would love to be. But, you know, I encouraged him and he talked to me. He was texting me while I was in my huddle thing and he was like, you know what verse was it or whatever? but Romans ten nine, which I told you about earlier. And so I hope he did. I believe he did, but I can't give a confirmed yes or no. Cause visually I haven't seen anything because the other boys were saved. but for Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: him, I w I should have checked back on that, but I didn't. So Devin Davis: That yeah, and I think I I think that's one of the good things. I I I think the hard thing about camp, the good and the bad, and I was listening to one of my favorite pastors that I listened to online and he, you know, he said he loves camp, but unfortunately the bad part is emotions can w run really really high, right? And so is it an emotional, CJ TIller: Mm, yeah, it's very true. Devin Davis: is it, you know, is it an emotional trust in Christ? or is it a true heart change. And so, CJ TIller: Yeah, that's so true. Devin Davis: I think that's that's the hard thing about it. He he he said, you know, he he could get almost anybody to at camp just with the the circumstances and the music and the fellowship and everything. And CJ TIller: Yeah, yeah, everything. Yeah. Devin Davis: so I I admire that. I think I think a person needs to come to faith in God's timing. and And that's I mean that's and we just have to trust that I I think. So you CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: like you do, you just faithfully pour into him and make sure he knows the truth clearly. And then you know if that's if that's what's meant to be, then that's what what's meant to be. But that's that's one thing that I think is hard about but it's it's so cool to look down. We coaches and staff set in the upper level and to be able to look down and see, you know. You guys, huddle leaders, campers, just arm in arm, raising hands, crying out to to God. I think is just so powerful. one of my favorite parts of camp is CJ TIller: Yeah. Amen. That was so awesome. Devin Davis: yeah, and I I just like, golly, that's it's just so cool to think about if we see that a little bit of that on earth, man. Can you imagine what that's gonna be like? CJ TIller: A hell. Devin Davis: I mean, and and they think people are like, man, I don't want to think about CJ TIller: no, did lose him? Devin Davis: eternal life because it it it scares me. No, man, it's gonna be, you know, years and years that get worship gets better and better and better. There's never, never a time and like I thought that was cool, right? It's CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: it's it's it's just incredible to think about that. So pretty pretty cool to think about that. So Yeah, this is this has been awesome. And I yeah, and and I I'm gonna go back to I think you said your pastor told you that one of your gifts is being able to connect with people. I CJ TIller: Mm-hmm. Devin Davis: think that's the reason you're on the podcast today. right. 'Cause I mean, we're CJ TIller: That's so funny. Devin Davis: sitting in the room on the first day and I told everybody about my podcast and you you connected with me right a c right away on social media. So for some reason I think your pastor was probably right. So CJ TIller: That's so funny. Devin Davis: you know, and and I I was just wondering y you know, NIL money. I I don't know they don't have NIL money for podcast hosts, do they? CJ TIller: That's funny. gosh. Devin Davis: Awesome. Well, what are you looking forward to this season? I guess just thinking here's July, you're gonna be at camp not very long from now. What are you looking at as far as this coming season? Again, from a sports persep perspective, you know, a as a as a leader in Christ, what what are you looking forward to? CJ TIller: Yeah, obviously the season first. I'm still competing for the job. I believe I have it, for sure. you know, but God's will be done. And so I'm so I'm so excited for the season. It's a really good schedule. very tough. I'm excited for this team. We we definitely have rebuilt and put some put some pieces where they were lacking last year. and I think we filled them in good. Now it's really just coming together, making a team. and so I'm excited for that part. to see it all unfold for 30 days straight. really like 20 days, 21 days straight of just, you know, football with each other, physical. Like it's just it's just it's fall camp and sun up to sun down with each other, and we get to really learn about each other. And so I think that's gonna be really exciting. as it always is, camp has its has it has its up and downs. but I think the biggest thing is like You know, we're so close to each other and it's a time to dec like to to mentor and and and to and to minister there because we have this free time with each other and it's you know, all the guys that are so far, we can really be with them for the next twenty-one days straight, sun up to sundown. Like when I tell you sun up, sundown, and it's six AM to nine PM, like it is sun up to sundown. And so to be with them and be able to to minister and in in discipleship together and all this stuff, like It's gonna be super exciting and I'm I'm genuinely so excited. usually you will never hear a football player say they're excited for fall camp and it's usually the response because nobody's ever excited for fall camp. But but I'm excited and I'm I'm ready to go. it's it's gonna be fun, it's gonna be exhausting, I know, but I I've been through a little worse with with going to camp and having like three hours of sleep a day, so and then going up and handling those crazy kids. so I'm super excited for the season and you know, and hopefully we can make a make a long run in the playoffs and you know see what we can do there. And we have tough schedule first three games is Montana State, BYU, and then Montana, which are three powerhouses. So and then you get into conference play, I believe, after that. so I'm so excited. I'm ready to go. Devin Davis: Man, those are definitely top programs. so you got your hands full going into it, but also a chance CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: to to show what you're made of, right? And improve your CJ TIller: Amen. Yeah. Amen. Devin Davis: skills. So that's a that's an awesome challenge ahead. So do you have anything? I before we go there, I guess just popped into my head. I was kind of I mean, we we talk pretty serious here and there's some great, great discussion. Well, what does what is CJ Tiller like to do? when it's not football. what what CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: is what is fun for you? What are you do you have hobbies? How do you spend your time if you're not working out or CJ TIller: Yeah. I wish I could show you. I wish I could show you. I'm a very big gun guy. so I have I have a couple amount of I have about like six six guns. very equipped. I I am a very big gun guy. Like I love my guns. I love shooting. It's a it's a hobby for me. Like it really is a hobby. It's a very expensive hobby, but it's a hobby for me. And then I in Utah State and a little bit of boisey, but mostly Utah State, I was learning how to ride horses and roping. And so, you know, I obviously know how to ride now because I did it so much. But I had a family, I had two families out in in Logan, Utah. I haven't found one out here yet, but I don't know how I met them. Like again, my gift is connecting with people. I they had no no correlation to the football program. I just found them. And they let me go to their farm and just ride whenever I wanted. And that was just amazing. And just be able to go and be with those horses like whenever I wanted. It was like a getaway for me. And I love riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers and stuff. Like I haven't done it in so long. But if I could, I most definitely would. but that is that for me. Horses are that for me. and so that has been something that I've genuinely enjoyed so much, just riding and learning how to rope. And then obviously shooting guns. Devin Davis: Well, if you're if you're ever I live in Riverton, Wyoming, center part of Wyoming. We have a junior college here, Central Wyoming College. And Central Wyoming is known for its equine studies program here as we have probably one of the biggest equine centers a around and and kids come here just to study horses. have a great rodeo program here. And so there's CJ TIller: Wow. Yeah, I know that. Devin Davis: yeah, there's I mean, I could definitely connect you with some people that would be able to help you out with that. So may h horses, I mean, I I I love horses. I haven't been a around them much, have ridden them a few times, but man, that the horse bug, once you get that, it's it's a it's a hard one to break. I mean, there's just something about CJ TIller: yeah, I'm buying some horses when I get older. When I buy Devin Davis: Ha ha ha. CJ TIller: a house with some land, I'm getting some horses. Devin Davis: That's awesome. So do like gun wise, you said you have a lot of guns. What I mean, do have pistols, AR, rifles? CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: What does it matter? CJ TIller: Yeah, no, I have so I actually have one in my nightstand. I keep one in my car, so I have two pistols. I have a suppressed AR, so it's a suppressor at the end. I have a long rifle nine millimeter and the I have I love colors in a way. Like I love vibrant colors. Not not wearing them because I don't look good wearing vibrant colors, but I like visually like seeing them. So my my AR fifteen is a like powder blue. color almost like that book behind you. And then my long rifle nine millimeter. It's like an AR. It just shoots a nine millimeter. It's like that pink book kind of next to you or whatever color that is. and those are really two stick guns. And then I have a semi-automatic shotgun, which is super fun to go throw clays in the air and shoot. and so yeah I have I actually have three, four, five, five guns. Yeah, five. Maybe I was about to buy a six. That's what it was. But I'm still I'm still pending on that one. So we'll see how that one shakes out. Devin Davis: Yeah, that's that's great. Like you said, it's a that's kind of an expensive hobby too, but I mean as as expensive CJ TIller: It is very expensive. Yeah. Devin Davis: as ammunition was, it still still is. You know, it's if you CJ TIller: Yeah, very. Devin Davis: go go out there and drop a couple hundred dollars in no time at all, with your CJ TIller: Yeah, and you'll shoot it for thirty minutes. Devin Davis: Yep, that's exactly right. But well, that's that's great. I I think just in closing, I mean we've talked about a ton. Is there anything that you have on your mind that you want to share with with our listeners before we pray? CJ TIller: no, I just want to say, you know, thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it. I genuinely do appreciate it. and then like I said, if you take anything away, it's your heart. And you know, I hope you guys continue to push for a relationship, and and test the Lord in that way, where where He will deliver. And so, I thank you so much for having me. and yeah, that's about all I had to Devin Davis: Yeah. CJ TIller: say. Devin Davis: I mean that's that's great. You know, just that's that saying that Josh had that connects with that just clicked on my mind. If you have Jesus, you have CJ TIller: You have everything. Devin Davis: everything. If you miss Jesus, you miss CJ TIller: Everything. Devin Davis: everything. So that's a that's a good CJ TIller: Yeah. Devin Davis: way to end this podcast. I'll go ahead and pray with you and for you. And so I'll go ahead and gotta take my cap off here. CJ TIller: Mm. Devin Davis: And If everybody would join me in prayer, thank you, Lord, for this podcast today. Thank you for CJ's heart. Thank you, God, that you connected us in in Laramie. just pretty awesome to to see the the people that you put in our lives and and that there's a reason for each and every one of them. So I'm just so thankful that I was able to connect with CJ, that he was willing to come on this podcast, that we were able to talk about his faith, his testimony, and just see your faithfulness in his life. Over golly, a long period of time, Father, before he finally put his faith, his trust in you, the challenges that's been in his life, knowing that he's not perfect, I'm not perfect, but Father, you continue to sanctify us in your truth. Your word is truth, is what it says. And I just pray going into this season, God, that your hand of blessing would be upon CJ's heart and his life. doesn't matter Really, what happens on the football field? I pray that I that you will keep him protected, but I pray more than that that his presence in that locker room will lead many to to believe and trust in Jesus Christ, Father. you put him for there for a reason. And I just pray that you would continue to to use his faith and his love and his transformed heart to make that impact in the lives of others. God, keep him safe, bless him. continue to just. guide his path, whatever that looks like while he's in college, while he's playing college athletics, but but also just going forward, Father. You you put those passions in our heart for a reason. you put those gifts in our heart for a reason. I just pray that CJ uses those to glorify you in in wherever you guide, wherever you lead him, Father, that he would just proclaim the name of Christ, Father. Thank you. For this time today, just pray this podcast will bless others as they listen and draw them closer to you. And it's in your son's holy name we pray. Amen. CJ TIller: Amen. Thank you. Devin Davis: All right, man, that was that was awesome. So thanks again, CJ. Sure. Grateful to get to know you. And I I'll definitely be following Utah Tech football. especially when you play BYU. There'd be nothing better than a a butt kick in a BYU. Anybody from Wyoming would would agree with you. We're CJ TIller: A bow open, yeah. Devin Davis: a Utah Tech fan that weekend, that's for dang sure. So Yep. All right, well, CJ TIller: Yes, sir. Appreciate that. Devin Davis: have a good night. Thanks again for joining me and hopefully we can stay in touch. CJ TIller: Yes, sir. We'll do. Of course, always. Thank you so much. Devin Davis: Okay. You bet. Talk to you later. CJ TIller: Yes, sir. Devin Davis: All right, that was CJ Tiller, man. What a great interview. What a great young man. an awesome story to hear about his faith and and how he got to be where he's at right now. And just knowing, golly, man, nobody that follows Jesus has it altogether. We go through battles in life, we go through struggles in life, but we have a savior who who can identify with our weaknesses and and he's there. It's it's Christ. in Christ alone. So I just pray that that was a an encouraging message for everybody. and again, it's just kind of amazing how CJ and I met and and kind of how it got to where we are today. So thanks again for listening to the 307 Faithful Podcast. you can follow us on all of our social media. YouTube is where most people listen to this podcast. you can become a subscriber. And again, you can follow us on Instagram as well. So don't forget to sign up for the FCA Wyoming Wrestling Camp coming up in Lander, Wyoming on August 7th and 8th. you can go to the FCAYoming.org to find out more information and to sign up for that. So again, thanks for listening in today. This has been Devin Davis with you guys again today. it's just a it's just a blessing. So have a great week. Have a great night and open your Bible. see you guys.