Faithfully
For all the physical gifts Barkley possesses, his greatest gift is his faith.
Barkley, a devout Christian, is at peace. He knows one play, one injury, could end his football career, but relies on his faith to pull him through uphill battles.
"I'm grateful for all the gifts the Lord has blessed me with," Barkley said. "I look forward to attending church each week."
Barkley, who attends Rock Harbor Church, a nondenominational Christian congregation in Costa Mesa, has two playbooks, the more noteworthy one being the Bible.
He favors several chapters from Proverbs, saying they teach wisdom. Proverbs covers a broad scope of human and divine activity, ranging from matters purely secular to lofty moral and religious truths.
"Get wisdom, get understanding," reads Proverbs 4:5.
"We're taught to trust Him and acknowledge Him; it's inspiring," Barkley said.
Barkley's parents and his faith keep him grounded.
"His Christian walk really drives him," Les Barkley said.
Les, who co-owns an insurance business with his brother in-law, invokes Ephesians 3:14-19 when explaining the basis of his family's faith.
"May He strengthen you inwardly through the working of his spirit; may charity be the root and foundation of your life," Les Barkley said, paraphrasing the New Testament epistle.
"Being a young person isn't easy. There are so many pressures for today's teens. My wife [Beverly] and I tell our three children, you can find strength in these verses."
Matt Barkley may not wear his faith on his sleeve -- he prefers to let his actions speak for him -- but he does profess his faith through music. He plays acoustic guitar with a church youth group and is enthused with the results.
A Taylor 400 series is his instrument of choice. He favors Christian rock bands Audio Adrenaline and Third Day but also is a huge fan of U2.
