Derek Anthony Redmond (born 3 September 1965, in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, England) is a retired British athlete. During his career, he held the British record for the 400 metres sprint, and won gold medals in the 4×400 metres relay at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
However his career was blighted by a series of injuries, and he is best remembered for his performance at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where he tore his hamstring in the 400 metres semi-final but fought through the pain and, with assistance from his father, managed to complete a full lap of the track as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Michael Jinkins offers some good examples of healthy leadership in his recent article.
We often assume leadership to be a positive trait, but in fact, it can be good or bad, constructive or destructive. Or, as I believe, healthy or unhealthy. How do we distinguish healthy from unhealthy leadership? I believe there are 10 characteristics of healthy leaders:
- They lead from spiritual and emotional health.
- They are dedicated to the health of others.
- They represent the character and mission of their organization, but are also capable of objectivity.
- They understand the organization as a social system.
- They provide a calming presence and emotionally well-differentiated leadership.
- They plan.
- They embrace the wisdom of deliberation.
- They are never too old to learn.
- They know what to pay attention to.
- They enlist followers in change.
Click here to read the full article and the details of each trait.
What other traits do you think a leader needs to have? Who do you think is a good leader at work, in your group of friends or at church? Who do you think sees you as a leader?
Tags: leader, leadership
Real life is often more rough-and-tumble than football. Every new day is a series of downs for us, and the devil is always looking for a sack. Some days we gain yardage; other days we feel like it’s three-and-out. Our teenager comes and tells us something, and we’re slammed in the gut. We find a rough patch of skin, sending us to the doctor with apprehension. We have a conflict with someone at church. We’re tired, but we have to put in overtime because the bills are due…
According to the Bible, we have something similar to football padding on a spiritual level-the commitment to a righteous life. Paul called it the “breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14)…
Adam Everett, shortstop with the Houston Astros, told Sports Spectrum that as a Christian, he works hard to maintain his moral integrity during road trips. He said…
Read the rest of the article Protecting Your Heart by David Jeremiah.
Tags: Adam Everett, guilt, Heart, love, righteousness, temptation
College football season is just around the corner, and that has many of us (myself included) very excited.
College (and high school) sports are some of the many things that bring us together. We tie our emotions to them, build our schedules around them, and support our local team. There’s nothing wrong with that. It can be an incredible tool for helping us grow when playing and keeping bonds with our friend during our much longer fan years, but what if there was something more to focus on.
Many of the greatest coaches of all times are known for their focus on character development, on being a mentor of life, on being an example. Coach Bear Bryant, Tony Dungy, Joe Gibbs and others are all great examples of this. They taught their players that there was more than simply winning at stake.
Here is an inspiring interview with Mark Richt, Head Coach at the University of Georgia, from the special features of the movie Facing the Giants. Coach Richt recounts a coaches meeting led by Bobby Bowden (Florida State) after winning the national championship and how it fits into the movie.
If you haven’t seen this movie, we cannot speak highly enough of it. It was an independent film shot with a low budget by the same church that created the movie Fireproof. While it may not have the polish of some blockbusters, it’s an overall a good film and will get any football fan ready football season. It also has some of the best football hits of any movie, has a great message and is safe for the whole family.
Watch the trailer for Facing the Giants:
As with all of the Kendrick brother movies (Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Flywheel), watch it a second time with the director’s commentary turned on. They add some great messages and a lot of humor.
Bonus: Click here to download the 2010 SEC Football Helmet Schedule.
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Another thing that makes us happy is that we get to highlight one of the members of our Authentic Christian Living community (special thanks to a friend of our for making the connection).
Looking for the perfect cocktail attire? Searching for a classy game day dress? Still trying to find that ultimate accessory to tie it all together? Visit the 4 Laces website or Facebook page.
Everyone needs encouragement and they do a great job of serving as an example to others.
Tags: Bear Bryant, College Football, Football, High School Football, Joe Gibbs, Mark Richt, Movies, SEC, Tony Dungy, University of Georgia
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. - 2 Corinthians 5:16 – 20 (NIV)
Do you consider yourself an ambassador of Christ?
How do you think non-believers view us?
Should that impact how we act?
Where can or should we turn to for strength in following Christ’s example and turning away from the ways of the world?
Tags: ambassador, Word, world view
Wait for the man who pursues you – the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical – the kind of man who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better woman.
Wait for the man who will be your best friend, the one who will drop everything to be with you. Wait for the man who makes you smile like no other guy makes you smile. Wait for the man who respects and loves you for who you are, not who everyone else wants you to be.
Wait for the man who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats and no makeup, but loves it when you get all dolled up for him. Wait for the guy that you know wherever he is, he always wants to be with you.
Wait for the man who praises God for you, and encourages you daily in your walk. And most importantly, wait for the man who is more in love with God than with you!!
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Are you focused on the things God would have you focused on or the things the world would have you focused on in your dating? What do you look for in a boyfriend? What would you add to this list?
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Tags: agape, boyfriend, Christian dating, dating, love, Marriage, teenager, teens, Women
Have you been born again? Where do you take your stand?
What does taking a stand for Christ mean in your daily life? For Newsboys, it means helping those living in poverty. For others, it is being an authentic friend/father/mother, helping others to learn the Gospel, demonstrating and living forgiveness, etc. How can you be His hands and feet?
Video for the song, “Born Again”, the title track off the newsboys new record which releases June 8th, 2010. This video was shot just outside Tijuana, Mexico in the Baja penninsula, where the newsboys will be taking friends and fans this summer to embark on one of the biggest home building projects ever to support the poverty stricken people of the Baja.
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Updated on 7/24/10 with the official video
Tags: born again, ccm, christian living, Music, Newsboys, video
Many of us have gone through hard times – sometimes for a very long time. Here is a great story by Shannon Perry titled Pressing On When Faced With the Impossible. Her story reminds us that our prayers do not have to be eloquent. Sometimes the best thing we can do is fully pour out our hearts to God and listen.
Praying through hot tears for over an hour, the only words I could seem to whisper during my entire prayer time were the same: “God, I trust you.” “Couldn’t I come up with anything better than this?” I thought. After all, these were larger than life situations that needed larger than life prayers. That’s when I heard four more words in my heart…
Tags: hard times, prayer, praying, silence
Tenth Avenue North’s newest single “Healing Begins’ from their CD “The Light Meets the Dark” with a little additional message from the band.
Have you ever asked these questions? Have you had these thoughts? I’ll admit that I can identify with what he is talking about. I struggle with trying to do too many things myself and not asking for help, not asking for accountability, not accepting help. It has only been within the past few years that this has become easier. Let me tell you – it feels so much better to have a group of close Christians to confide in.
Do you have a group of close Christians that you trust enough to really open up to? Are you that person for your friends? Could you be? If not, these relationships start with each of us. It takes a while, but they can start today. Be the friend that you want, to someone else. Be the friend that you need, to someone else.
Tags: friends, Healing Begins, Music, Tenth Avenue North, video
What does “I love you” mean? Is love a feeling?
God doesn’t ask us if we feel like loving. He tells us it’s our responsibility to love-a husband is to love his wife (Eph. 5:28). When we obey, the feeling will follow. But if it doesn’t, God’s agapé love gives even when it gets nothing in return.
Rekindle God’s agapé love in your heart through prayer and reading His Word. Love is an art. Learn it. Help it grow and flourish. “Pursue love” energetically and consistently without waiting for it to happen to you (1 Cor. 14, 13).
Read more about “Love God’s Way” and what David Jeremiah writes about:
- Selfless Love
- Our Responsibility to Love
- Encouragement to Love
Tags: agape, divorce, friendship, husband, love, Marriage, Phileo, problems, wife
