Christianity, like sports, has impact players; Paul was example

Source: Clarion Ledger

“Play ball” are words I have been waiting to hear. Being a sports addict, along with having a grandson that plays baseball, gets me fired up and ready to watch. My lifelong love for the sport has not diminished with age. In my fantasy world I am still hitting home runs and pitching strikeouts for my favorite college team.

But one thing I have noticed over the years is that every successful team has an “impact player” or two. They are the “go-to” guys when you need the big hit or the “stopper” on the mound. In the realm of sports these type plays have always been around.

In 1934 Lou Gehrig was an impact player. He won the Triple Crown with a .363 batting average, 49 home runs and 165 runs batted in. Babe Ruth retired in 1935 with 714 home runs and 2,209 runs batted in. He, too, was an impact player.

The truth is that in all areas of life there are impact players. The sciences, the arts, and the religions of this world all have such men and women. Christianity also has its share of individuals who have profoundly influenced our way of life.

Student-Athletes using audio bibles

Source: Christian Newswire

Audio Bibles are suiting up. Hundreds of student athletes across college campuses are listening to God’s Word in audio.

 

In fact, student athletes from more than 20 major universities, including Auburn, Stanford, Rutgers and Virginia Tech, will listen through the entire New Testament as part of a campaign called You’ve Got The Time. In this volunteer Bible listening initiative, participants listen through the entire New Testament by devoting 28 minutes a day for only 40 days. Sponsored by Faith Comes By Hearing, the world’s premier Audio Bible ministry, You’ve Got The Time reaches people with practical, life-changing Bibles in MP3 format.

American Idol Contestant Mocked for Christian Beliefs by Idol Host

Source: Cybercast News Service

At the Dallas auditions for the 2008 season of “American Idol” last Wednesday, 19-year-old Bruce Dickson discovered that his singing wasn’t the only thing that got a no vote from the judges, who also questioned his decision to “save everything for that one special woman.”

When Dickson, from Bastrop, Texas, was asked to share something about himself, he said he’d never kissed a girl.

“What?” Randy Jackson asked. “On purpose?”

On purpose,” Dickson said. “On my wedding day, that will be my first kiss.”

Jackson’s advice to Dickson after the judges sent him packing: “Go kiss some girls.”

Simon Cowell, eyebrows raised, told him: “Avoid Ryan (Seacrest) on the way out.”

Ham’s journey continues in D-League

Source: Idaho Statesmen

Darvin Ham’s final NBA season came in 2004-2005 with the Pistons. He considered moving into broadcasting after briefly playing overseas, but decided to enter the D-League draft this season so he could share his experiences.

“I just want to help these guys learn how to work hard and wait for their opportunity,” Ham said. “You don’t have to be the star. You just have to build on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses.”

Albuquerque coach Jeff Ruland – a former NBA All-Star – jumped at the chance to draft Ham, taking him with the No. 3 overall pick.

“Darvin brings so much to the table,” Ruland said. “He works hard at the little things and goes about his business the right way. He is the ultimate professional.”

Ham says he’s happy with his career, though it almost never happened. As a 14-year-old, Ham was hospitalized after being struck in the jaw by a stray bullet in his Saginaw, Mich., neighborhood.

On the operating table that night, Ham showed he knew how to survive. It’s a lesson he’s hoping to pass on in the D-League.

“I know God has a purpose for my life,” Ham said.

“I’ve had a great career, and I want to share everything I’ve been through. Hopefully, I can be an inspiration to these young guys.”

Fellowship for Christian Athletes Top 10 Stories for 2007

Source: http://www.fca.org/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=204090DE-BF59-4963-A363D26370753C22

1. Tony Dungy leads Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl XLI Championship and talks on the victory stand about winning “the Lord’s way”; several months later, his book Quiet Strength hits No. 1 on New York Times Best-Seller List.

2. Zach Johnson stuns the golf world by winning the Masters; holding off the game’s top golfers with three birdies on the final six holes, Johnson earns the Green Jacket on Easter Sunday.

3. University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow becomes the first sophomore in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy. Tebow also wins the Maxwell Award for Collegiate Player of the Year.

4. University of Florida guard Lee Humphrey leads the Gators to their second consecutive NCAA men’s basketball title and sets the all-time NCAA Tournament record for three-point field goals with 47.

5. Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres is named the National League Cy Young Award winner after winning a league-best 19 games and leading all of baseball’s starting pitchers in strikeouts (240) and ERA (2.54); also was the NL’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game.

6. Coach Jerry Moore leads Appalachian State to a stunning 34-32 upset of No. 5 Michigan in the college football season opener. The team goes on to win their third consecutive NCAA D-I National Title, the first in FCS/I-AA history.

7. Allyson Felix captures three gold medals in the World Track & Field Championships and produces the fastest 200 meter time in the world this year at 21.81 seconds.

8. Marathoner Ryan Hall shatters the U.S. Olympic trial marathon record and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in New York and becoming the youngest American winner (age 25) since Frank Shorter in 1972.

9. Former Utah Jazz player Derek Fisher (now with the Los Angeles Lakers) skips most of Game 2 of the 2007 Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors to be with his cancer-stricken daughter during surgery and returns to the court in the third quarter after a cross-country flight.

10. Kay Yow, North Carolina State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach, wins the 2007 Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance.

Scott returning to work while undergoing chemotherapy

ESPN anchor Stuart Scott is returning to work less than a month after an emergency appendectomy discovered a malignancy that will result in Scott undergoing chemotherapy this winter.

Following his appendectomy in late November, Scott had a second precautionary surgery to remove the tissue surrounding his appendix. Doctors treating Scott are confident any cancerous tissue was removed, but recommended preventative chemotherapy.

Scott was in Pittsburgh for a Nov. 26 game between the Steelers and Miami when he became ill.

“Talk about a shocker,” Scott said. “But I feel good, am in great hands medically and the doctors are confident they got all the bad stuff. I’m not the type of guy to let this eat up my life. I’ve got strong faith and family and friends who are tackling this with me. I can’t find the words to express how much I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers. I probably won’t be able to get back to you all; but know it means a ton.”

Scott will host Friday night’s ESPN NBA coverage, and lead the coverage of ABC’s Christmas Day studio show.

Said ESPN president George Bodenheimer: ” Stuart is approaching this fight with the same passion and energy we see on air. We’re all encouraged that he is feeling so strong. He knows he has our full support and we look forward to the day when this is all behind him.”

Evel Knievel Video On How He Found God

Evel Knievel recently passed away. Here is a video of his testimony:

Welcome to Jesus Christ’s Superstars

This project started when I heard a soon to-be Super Bowl winning coach witness his faith on national TV. Tony Dungy had just completed an amazing comeback leading his Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl.

On the same day, Dungy’s friend, Lovie Smith – also a Christian, lead his Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl appearance. The week following the media focused on the fact that the game was being coached by two African-American coaches. Tony Dungy, with the Indianapolis Colts, and Lovie Smith, with the Chicago Bears. Both coaches were born-again Christians who would rather praise God than talk about their skin color. When the clock read zero, the Indianapolis Colts were champions. Both coaches used the spotlight to honor God.

It was then that I decided to create this blog to honor those that honor God in a public forum. Whether they are professional athletes, coaches, movie stars, actors/actresses, or politicians. They are someone who uses their celebrity status to witness.

This site is two parts. One part will be listing those celebrities that are Christians. The second part is posting videos and articles of those Christians in action.

Thanks for reading. God bless!