Michael Redd’s faith has grown stronger since he arrived in NBA

Source: Washington Post

Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Michael Redd always had Christ in his life. But since he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2000, the 29-year-old shooting guard has developed a stronger faith. Not long after he arrived in the NBA, Redd famously declared he would remain celibate until he married his wife and, by all accounts, kept that promise.

Then after signing a six-year, $91-million contract in August 2005, the NBA all-star used part of the money to help his father purchase a church. Redd’s father, the Rev. James Redd, is pastor of the Philadelphia Deliverance Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio. Before his son’s generous gift, the congregation worshiped in storefront and basement churches. At a time when NBA stars are glorified for their wanton lifestyles, Redd stands out as one who puts his faith first.

I talked to Redd about faith and basketball.

Top 12 Evangelicals in Sports

Source: BeliefNet

You can stay home on Sunday to watch football, skip Tuesday night prayer meeting for the baseball game of the week, and miss Saturday’s church retreat in favor of a pro golf tournament–chances are, you’ll still hear about Jesus. Evangelical athletes populate the major sports, and many of them enjoy the chance to be outspoken about their faith–thanking God for that winning field goal, late-inning homerun, or 18-foot putt.

We’ve scanned the sporting world to come up with a gallery of some of the most dominant athletes and coaches working today. Each of these men and women work hard, as their Bibles tell them, “to win the prize,” both in their sports and in their faith.

Allan Houston: Getting Playing Time With God

Source: BeliefNet

Two shining moments from Allan Houston’s career have cemented his place in NBA history: his buzzer-beating shot in Miami that sent his New York Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999, and his 53-point game against the Los Angeles Lakers four years later. But Houston is no showboating superstar. Hardworking on the court, he was a softspoken leader off it, In retirement, Houston has quietly staked his post-NBA legacy on helping fathers and sons come together in a series of basketball retreats called Father Knows Best, held since 2004 in Harlem and soon to expand to New Orleans. We chatted with Houston about how the program got started, why it’s needed, and why athletics and faith go together.

Famous Model and TV Announcer Wins Battle to Protect Life and Family Values in Ecuadoran Constitution

Source:LifesiteNews

Rosanna Queirolo doesn’t fit the standard profile of a pro-life activist.  She’s a former model who has posed in skimpy outfits in Ecuadoran magazines, and is a committed environmentalist who believes in man-made global warming.  She was recently elected to Ecuador’s constitutional convention, its “Constituent Assembly”, on the socialist ticket.

But Queirolo has surprised her political party by becoming the Assembly’s most outspoken and aggressive advocate of human life and family.  It has earned her bitter denunciations from fellow members of the socialist Alianza PAIS and plaudits from Ecuador’s pro-life majority.  Now, Queirolo appears to be winning her battle to preserve family values in the nation’s constitution.

Chuck Norris to give graduation address at Liberty University

Source: Liberty Journal

Actor Chuck Norris has been selected to speak at Liberty University’s graduation on May 10.

Norris, the star of numerous feature films and the long-running CBS television show, “Walker, Texas Ranger,” was a mainstay this year in the campaign of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whom Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed for president.

Falwell said he chose Chuck Norris after speaking with Huckabee recently. “He [Huckabee] and Chuck have become close friends and he told me how he had been impressed with Chuck as a very thoughtful and intelligent person and as a strong conservative Christian. I can’t imagine any profession where it is more difficult to remain true to your conservative Christian values than the entertainment field.”

In addition to his acting career, Norris won many state, national and international karate titles in the mid-to-late 1960s.

Blazers Assistant Coach Monty Williams speaks on his faith

Source:BlazersEdge

Prior to Saturday Night’s tipoff between the Blazers and Bobcats, I had the opportunity to sit down with Blazers Assistant Coach Monty Williams. Coach Williams was kind enough to discuss his work developing the team’s young talent, how he has learned from some of the best coaches in the league, and what is really going on when he holds Coach McMillan back during confrontations with the referees.

Mr. Williams also talks candidly in this interview about his Christian faith and how it sustained him through the trials and tribulations of dealing with a mysterious heart condition.

Here is the transcript of our conversation.

Blazersedge: I understand that Coach Nate McMillan breaks the roster down into groups for video sessions. Who is in your group?

Well, usually I have Travis [Outlaw] and Martell [Webster]. Sometimes I’ll take [Jarret] Jack if I need to show him something or Brandon [Roy] every once in awhile when he’s not getting treatment, James [Jones, on occasion]. More often than note, I’ll have Travis and Martell.

Antonio Tarver Speaks: He got his Magic from God

Source: DogHouseBoxing

Antonio Tarver is focused on Clinton Woods. The two face off on April 12 at the St. Pete Times Forum. Tarver took some time from his hectic training schedule to to talk to Rick Brown of The Ledger. Tarver discussed many things, including what inspires him and if he credits Boxing for saving him.

In regards to what inspires him, Tarver told The Ledger he could never forget where he came from and how blessed he feels to be where he is today, considering how he grew up.