Archive for December, 2007
Wrestlers Sting & Shawn Michaels on Praise the Lord
WCW/TNA Wrestler Sting (Steve Borden) and WWE Wrestler Shawn Michaels appear on Praise the Lord to share their testimony:
Part 2
WWE’s Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels Testimony
WWE’s HBK Shawn Michaels goes from controversial DX wrestler to born-again:
Part 2
Tennis Star Michael Chang Testimony
Source: http://www.mchang.com/mchang/christianity.html
Michael’s Testimony
Michael’s testimony for Jesus Christ both on and off the court is quite evident. “I thank the Lord Jesus Christ,” he proclaimed in 1989 after becoming the youngest male to ever win the French Open, “because without Him, I am nothing.” Win or lose, he readily gives glory to the Lord, for it is the Lord who gave Michael the talent to play tennis. In this section, Michael responds to the reader’s questions and comments about Christianity.
Read more about Michael Chang’s testimony by reading his tracts here:
George Foreman, the preacher
Source: http://www.georgeforeman.com/preacher.html
George Foreman is an ordained minister. Foreman started his ministry after a religious experience that took place in his dressing room after losing to Jimmy Young in 1977.
Here is just a little song that my mother left me with. I’d just like to share it with you. The last part about “fixable things,” I made that up myself.
How well do I remember when Jesus brought me through; I walked and prayed a night or two, I said “Lord want you take and use me, that’s all that I can do; I give my life to Jesus what about you? what about you, want you make my savior your savior too? I give my life to Jesus what about you.” Remember these words, some things can never be fixed; but many can, the one that are fixable, fix. the others give to Jesus.
George
WNBA’s Ruth Riley talks about her faith
Ruth Riley, a gold-medal winner and WNBA Champion talks about where she finds her peace in life
Dwight Howard: “Without the Lord in your life, you cannot fulfill your dreams.”
Source: http://www.dwight-howard.com/
When Dwight Howard is at home in Atlanta, he attends the Fellowship of Faith Church, International in East Point, Georgia. Dwight is still involved and active with the youth programs at the church. Children and family relationships are very important to him. Dwight believes that without the Lord in your life, you cannot fulfill your dreams.
Free-Agent Pitcher Mike Maroth says ‘we’ll see where God takes our family now’
BPSports article from June 2007, where Maroth talks about being traded from Detroit to St. Louis and leaving his friendships in Detroit.
Source: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5616
Mike Maroth, who spent six seasons with the Detroit Tigers, was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals June 2 for a player to be named later
“My closest relationship is with Nate Robertson and we spent quite a bit of time talking and encouraging each other to press on,” Maroth wrote. “I have been used to spending almost everyday during the season with these guys and now that was going to end. The relationships you build in baseball are special.”
Robertson and Maroth are both Christians.
In 2003, Maroth became the first pitcher since 1980 to lose more than 20 games in a season. But he handled the disappointing season with dignity and class.
“God doesn’t look at the numbers, for one thing,” Maroth told Baptist Press in 2004. “I strongly believe that when we go through trials and struggles, there’s something for us to learn. God’s trying to teach us something or get our attention. I had to really stay close to the Lord during that time so I didn’t start falling away. It’s so easy for us as Christians to all of a sudden turn the other way when we’re going through struggles and look the other way and try to do it on our own.”
The following is from Mike Maroth’s personal blog. Mike is now a free agent. He takes a moment to relect.
Source: http://www.marothbaseball.com/blog.asp
So, here I am…a free agent for the first time in my career. It is a strange feeling , not knowing where I will be next season. It is still early but I am curious to see how this will all play out. I was formally released by the Cardinals last week. I enjoyed my time there, getting to know the city and especially my teammates there. St. Louis was a great place to play but in the end it didn’t turn out the way they or I wanted it to. I didn’t get my job done in the way I know I am capable and I am excited for a fresh start. So, we’ll see where God takes our family now. That will be the hardest part, waiting. We have been praying for the wisdom and guidance we will need to navigate through free agency and to choose a team that is where God wants us to be. We are anxious to see him work it out and lead us in a new direction. We trust Him to protect us and provide for us just like he has always been faithful to in the past.
WNBA’s Tamika Catchings Interview About Her Faith
Sharing the Victory Interview with WNBA Star Tamika Catchings:
SM: What role did your faith play in getting you to the WNBA?
TC: I was raised in the church, but for me it was more of a social thing until I got to college. FCA became a part of my life while at the University of Tennessee. It allowed me to talk about different situations that I wouldn’t have normally talked about. Growing up an introvert, I wasn’t able to express how I felt. FCA made it easier to talk because people understood what I was going through and the different emotions that I felt as an athlete.
I got hurt my senior year of college. But you know how you have that feeling of peace and calmness? That is what I felt. Yeah, I was disappointed that I was injured my senior year. I had all these goals and plans. But in some way, the injury made me focus on God more and on what I needed to do for Him.
SM: What did you feel you needed to do?
TC: Being an athlete, sometimes you start to worship your sport. You lose focus of what is important in life because basketball is what you do. I went to school, but when it came down to it, I was missing classes for games, missing church for games. Basketball was what I was thinking about when I woke up.
From the moment of my injury, my relationship with Christ began to grow. And to this day, I continue doing “Our Daily Bread” Bible studies, trying to focus on Him and figuring out what I can do through Him.
SM: How has your faith grown since you got to the WNBA?
TC: I have done a better job of reading the Bible and trying to immerse myself in the word and learn more. I see myself growing in my prayer life, and I’m asking for forgiveness. I’ve kind of gotten over that hump of where I used to be. I live my life in a way that I know He would want me to. I see other people changing around me, too. People who used to cuss all the time don’t around me. They respect me and know that God is the center of my life.
SM: Have any of your teammates kept you accountable in your relationship with Christ?
TC: Last year it was Charlotte Smith. She really changed our team dynamic. We had Bible studies at her house during the season and on the road—she, Ebony Hoffman and I. She was a very influential person because of her walk with Christ.
I was excited to have her on our team when I first found out she would be joining us—not only because she was a great basketball player, but because I knew that her walk with Christ was incredible. I was anxious to be around somebody like that. She changed my outlook on a lot of things through our Bible studies, talks and in just being able to communicate when experiencing the same things.
SM: How do you deal with the stress of going non-stop during the summer and then playing overseas in the off-season?
TC: Prayer. And realizing that this opportunity is going to come and go. So, I try to take advantage of it while I’m in the moment. It does get crazy. There are things I want to do that I can’t because of basketball. Like my family. My brother is married with three boys, and I saw them just four times last year. My nephews are starting to play basketball, and I missed out on their whole season this year. Little things like that are frustrating. But while I’m in the moment, I am going to enjoy it and not dwell on things I don’t have control over right now.
Former Panther, Mike Minter’s new career as a Philanthropist
Source: http://www.mikeminter.com/thephilanthropist.html
Mike Minter : The Philanthropist
“God has given you something to give back, and it might be hundreds of thousands of dollars, or it might be a dollar, it doesn’t matter…it’s just what comes out of the heart.” ~ Mike Minter
There are few people that are willing to not only give their money, but to give their time to causes they truly believe in. While giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to the YMCA and other local charities, Mike also gives of himself to help the world that he cares for so much. Minter recently came back from a mission trip to Africa with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, where they were analyzing the ability to bring food, water, and resources to the more rural and poverty stricken areas.
Asked where this giving spirit comes from, Mike was direct to the point. “It comes straight from my mom. The gift of giving is a gift. I haven’t always had something to give, but I always said ‘When I make it, I’m going to make sure I give back.’ So when I got the opportunity to give, I was on it.”
Why the Y? Mike says, “The first thing we did [when my family moved to Charlotte] was go to the Y, and I saw Christ. I said ‘What’s going on?’ And somebody told me what the ‘C’ in YMCA stood for, and I said, ‘Oh, I’m with you on that.’ Anything with kids, anything that’s going to help kids get faith, learn, grow and be protected, I’m with it.”
“My heart goes to organizations that are helping people, helping them grow, not just giving handouts. Giving a handout is doing the work and giving it to people. What I’m saying is that I’m going to show you how to do the work and you can get the proceeds from YOUR work. It’s biblical with respect to giving a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.”
The Ruckus House Foundation is another aspect of Mike’s philanthropic spirit. The foundation primarily functions to help college students reach their dreams of becoming educators through scholarships.
Mike is also the spokesperson for many reputable charitable organizations. He is the regional speaker for the Kidney Foundation, The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program, the Salvation Army, and the Boys and Girls Club. Mike also sits on the Metropolitan Board of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, and donates funds consistently to ensure that programs for local children can continue.
In 2007, the Minter Family made it possible for a community playground at the University City YMCA providing a new safe place for kids to play.
Coach Joe Gibbs’ ‘Weekly Spiritual Game Plan’
Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs has a feature on his personal site called “Weekly Spiritual Game Plan.” It is available in 3 formats: video, audio, and hard copy (PDF).
Go here now to view the Coach Gibbs “Weekly Spiritual Game Plan:”
